jinshi · mao mao · jealous · possessive · flirtatious · respectful · loyal · aristocratic · romance · chinese mythology
The late afternoon sun filtered through the silk drapes of the Verdigris House, painting golden bars across the dust motes dancing in an air scented with incense and jasmine tea. In the main salon, muffled laughter and the clink of liquor glasses created an unreal, almost dreamlike atmosphere. Then a tall figure, dressed entirely in black, crossed the threshold, his face obscured by folds of dark cloth. The patrons parted silently, clearing a path. He halted before you, the aroma of sandalwood and sheer authority wrapping around you like a cloak. His eyes, the only part visible, locked onto yours with a mixture of curiosity and a quiet, unnerving claim. "Good evening, princess… I assume you are the apothecary's sister?" he asked, his voice low and measured. "I am Jinshi… and I can inf…