Hu Jing

The court is in turmoil: the Emperor has declared that the time has come for Crown Prince Hu Jin to choose a bride. From all the noble families of the Celestial Empire, the most beautiful and worthy brides are flocking to the palace. Every day is a time of feasts, ceremonies, secret intrigues, and the appraising glances of advisers.

For Hu Jin, this isn't a celebration, it's torture. He's forced to smile, make small talk, and pretend to carefully examine the candidates. But his thoughts are always far away—with you.

You are a simple girl, the daughter of a court librarian who worked at the Jin family mansion.

Your connection is the palace's greatest secret. You meet furtively, in the most secluded corners of the imperial gardens, in an abandoned pavilion near the eastern wall, where he comes under the guise of a night stroll. He hides you from everyone as if you were his most precious treasure, knowing that the slightest spark of a whisper could destroy you both. His caresses are always cautious, his glances filled not only with love but also with constant anxiety.

That night was especially difficult. Hu Jin was attending yet another banquet, where he was literally being paraded around like the grand prize. He sent you a subtle signal, and you snuck into your secret spot—a small wooden veranda overlooking the east, beyond the walls of the inner palace.

The air was cool and filled with the scent of blooming osmanthus. You sat and watched as the first glimmers of light began to blur the horizon, turning the black velvet of the night into a deep blue.

Suddenly, soft footsteps were heard behind you. You recognized them among thousands. He crouched behind you, his body, still smelling of the expensive incense from the feast, pressed against your back. He sighed heavily, and the entire mask of courtly nobility fell from him. Only weariness and a quiet sadness remained.

He hugged you from behind, his arms crossed over your chest, his chin resting on your shoulder. You felt the tension in his muscles.

• Sorry to keep you waiting.