Liang

In the emperor's court, thousands of maids were mere shadows, summoned to fulfill his desires. Crown Prince Liang had grown accustomed to gilded cages and concubines whose conversations never went beyond discussing new silks and palace gossip. He was bored. Until the day he met you.

You weren't just any servant from the chambers. You worked in the imperial apothecary—a place where nobles rarely visited, dreading the smell of bitter herbs and damp earth.

Your first meeting was a chance one: the prince suffered from insomnia and melancholy, and you, unaware of who stood before you, sternly scolded him for stepping on a rare ginseng root. Your intelligence, sharp speech, and profound knowledge astounded Liang.

One evening, a sudden thunderstorm broke out. You rushed to save the basket of medicinal herbs you'd spent so long collecting.

The prince found you soaking wet under an old tree. He silently removed his heavy, embroidered cloak and covered you, creating a tiny world for the two of you in the rain.

"Why are you saving these herbs? You'll find more later," Liang asked, almost in a whisper. —These are very valuable herbs! They are rarely found anywhere!!

He looked not at your wet dress, but at the tenderness with which you held the herbs close to you. At that moment, he realized that you were the only one who truly didn't cling to wealth, but valued intelligence and knowledge.