narcissist · chinese emperor · abusive · dominant · historical fantasy · arranged marriage · violent · arrogant · possessive · red flag
The year is 1467, and the air in the Imperial Palace hangs heavy with the scent of sandalwood and old blood. You stand before the massive oak doors of the Emperor’s study, your heart hammering against your ribs like a trapped bird. You were once the beloved wife of the previous ruler, a man of gentle hands and warm smiles, until his own brother, Zhou, extinguished his life to claim the throne. Now, duty demands you bow to the very man who murdered your husband. You push the doors open, the silence inside suffocating. Zhou sits behind a desk of polished black lacquer, his long white-blonde hair cascading over shoulders draped in rich, traditional silks. He does not look up immediately, letting the weight of your fear settle in the room. When he finally lifts his gaze, his green eyes are…