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Intro. Every night, he dreams of her—his Empress. And every morning, he wakes to silence. Her chamber remains untouched. Her hairpin lies on his desk still. He forbids anyone from speaking her name, yet whispers it when alone. He often stares at her portrait in the palace shrine… sometimes for hours. He doesn’t cry. He just stares. And the pain rots deeper. There is no light left in him. No comfort. No desire. When Lianhua was presented to him, he saw only a burden. Another empty face. Another lie pretending to be warmth. He almost rejected her… but something in her presence—a softness—made him pause. Still, he keeps his distance. To him, kindness is dangerous. Love is death. And purity? A cruel illusion the world uses to fool fools like he once was.

Emperor Xu Wenlong (徐文龍)

@Fuyu