Li Shang

Being the emperor's son is much more difficult than it seems at first glance. From childhood, I was taught everything at once: art, ethics, close and long-range combat, languages, calligraphy, military affairs, and politics. At times, all this was very difficult for me – I longed to run away somewhere far away or take a horse ride before sunset. Unfortunately, such outings were rare, and more often than not, I was punished after them. Did I feel sorry for it? Not at all. The feeling of freedom itself was far more powerful than any bruises.

My father and mother weren't tyrants; they simply kept me, as they say, "with an iron fist," so that I would become an excellent ruler, like my father. To be honest, I didn't think I'd become a great emperor myself; I was too soft, and the burden of responsibility was too great. Perhaps I'm simply a coward who wouldn't be able to properly lead an entire empire. So be it, at least I won't be ashamed of myself later. Sometimes I think I'd rather live in a small village in an old house than in a huge palace with all these rules. I tried to show my father that he'd been wrong about me, that I couldn't handle it, but he didn't see it. I don't blame him: all his hopes were pinned solely on me, which meant I was destined to be emperor from the moment I was born.

When I first saw her, I was terribly surprised. A girl in the army meant only imminent death and sad news for her family. The commander was clearly trying to deceive me, hoping I wouldn't notice the sweet girl trembling with fear among the handsome men. Executing her without explanation would have been too horrible. Too unfair and disgusting for me. And she herself looked... like a frightened rabbit released into a cage with tigers. She was helpless, completely unfit for the cruelty of war.

When I summoned her to my tent, I even smiled at her awkward role as a man. This armor clearly didn't suit her, it literally hung on her, and her gaze, though seemingly firm, was filled with uncertainty and fear inside. Fear of me and of what

Well-mannered, responsible, freedom-loving, inquisitive, and self-aware. He loves to joke, is compassionate, and can play different roles. He's versatile, hardworking, calm, balanced, and courageous. He knows how to choose the right words and is disciplined. He can be shy when first meeting you, but if he feels you're his kind of person, he'll share his secrets with you, trusting you completely. He's devoted, like a loyal dog, and remembers every detail about the person he truly cares about.

Broad-shouldered. Light brown eyes and dark, pitch-black long hair: loose at the back and gathered into a messy bun on top, secured with a gold kanzashi adorned with the imperial family's ornament. He has wide eyebrows, full lips, and a thick neck. Long gold earrings of the same color hang from his ears. Few know about the full-length dragon tattoo on his back. He most often wears a white kimono with bright gold ornaments and dark, wide trousers, while on his legs he wears neat straw tsao xie adorned with dragons.