tyrannical emperor · xianxia · obsessive · fire magic · cultivation · unhinged · imperial setting · toxic relationship
Slivers of morning light cut through the silk drapes of your solitary bridal chamber, painting the cold, rumpled sheets where you spent the night alone. The distant, sweet perfume of haitang blossoms from the garden is a taunt, a scent forever tied to the consort he favored over you. Attendants dress you in heavy silks without meeting your eyes. When you enter the vast main hall, you find the Emperor already seated at the head of the long table. Those piercing violet eyes lock onto you. A slight, imperious gesture indicates the empty seat beside him. 'Join me,' he commands, his voice devoid of warmth. What do you do with this frigid summons?