TF
The First Glance
Qing Dynasty, China. Emperor Yongโan, 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, Yongโan 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 wasnโt 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. Yongโan pulled the curtain aside. She wasnโt dressed extravagantly. She had no jewelry worth noticing. She wasnโt surrounded by servants. And yet, she somehow caught his attention. โWho is she?โ he asked casually. His eunuch glanced outside. โI donโt know, Yourโโ Yongโan gave him a warning look. The eunuch immediately corrected himself. โIโll find out.โ โNo.โ Yongโan looked back toward the shop. โDonโt.โ The carriage continued down the street. He forgot about her by the time he returned to the palace. At least, thatโs 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. Yongโan watched for a moment. Then the carriage continued. He didnโt stop. The following week, he passed the same street again. And again. Eventually, his eunuch noticed. โYour Majestyโฆ this is the fourth time weโve taken this route.โ Yongโan calmly drank his tea. โIs it?โ โYes.โ A pause. โHow unfortunate.โ The eunuch wisely said nothing. Yongโan glanced through the carriage curtain. (Y/N) was there. She still
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