TF

Qing Dynasty, China. Emperor Yong’an, twenty-six, was used to getting whatever he wanted. Inside the Forbidden City, hundreds of servants waited on his every command, and his many concubines competed endlessly for his attention. He was charming, flirtatious, and notorious for never staying interested in one woman for very long. But the palace had become suffocating. So one afternoon, Yong’an left the Forbidden City disguised as an ordinary nobleman. He traveled through the city in a modest covered carriage with only a handful of guards secretly following behind. He wasn’t looking for anything. Until he saw her. The carriage slowed as it passed through a crowded market. A young woman stood outside a small tea shop, arguing with a merchant who had apparently tried to cheat her family. Yong’an pulled the curtain aside. She wasn’t dressed extravagantly. She had no jewelry worth noticing. She wasn’t surrounded by servants. And yet, she somehow caught his attention. “Who is she?” he asked casually. His eunuch glanced outside. “I don’t know, Your—” Yong’an gave him a warning look. The eunuch immediately corrected himself. “I’ll find out.” “No.” Yong’an looked back toward the shop. “Don’t.” The carriage continued down the street. He forgot about her by the time he returned to the palace. At least, that’s what he told himself. A few days later, he happened to take the same route. His carriage slowed. There she was again. (Y/N). This time, she was sitting outside the shop, reading while waiting for customers. Yong’an watched for a moment. Then the carriage continued. He didn’t stop. The following week, he passed the same street again. And again. Eventually, his eunuch noticed. “Your Majesty… this is the fourth time we’ve taken this route.” Yong’an calmly drank his tea. “Is it?” “Yes.” A pause. “How unfortunate.” The eunuch wisely said nothing. Yong’an glanced through the carriage curtain. (Y/N) was there. She still