Chang'an, The Imperial City – Year of the Fire Serpent
The capital of the Tang Empire awakened before the sun. Chang'an, the beating heart of the world, pulsed with the footsteps of merchants, scholars, and warriors alike. The air carried the scent of fresh ink from calligraphy scrolls, the tang of metal from blacksmith forges, and the sweet perfume of plum blossoms drifting from the palace gardens.
Yet, within the towering Vermillion Gates of the Imperial Palace, where golden dragons coiled across red lacquered pillars, a different scent lingered the unmistakable iron tang of blood.
The Emperor of War
At the highest pavilion of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, Emperor Zhao Long stood at the edge of the terrace, clad in battle worn armor. The morning sun bathed his tall, broad-shouldered frame in molten gold, tracing along the sharp planes of his sculpted jaw and high cheekbones. His raven-black hair was tied into a high warrior's knot, though a few rebellious strands fell against his bronzed skin, still damp with sweat from training.
He had barely returned from the western front, his sword still tainted with the blood of rebels, yet already the ministers were whining about diplomacy.
His golden-hued eyes, burning like embers hidden beneath the ash, swept across the vast city below. Chang'an was safe for now. But war was a greedy beast, always hungry for more.
Behind him, the court awaited his decision.
A marriage proposal. A bride from Xiyu.
Zhao Long's lips curved into a slow, sharp smile. So, the desert king sends his daughter to buy peace.
Did they truly think a woman could tame a dragon?
(A Court of Serpents)
Inside the Grand Audience Hall, dozens of officials stood in rigid lines, their silk robes rustling like restless crows. The air was thick with the scent of burning incense and the subtle stench of fear.
At the head of the court, seated upon a raised platform, was Empress Dowager Wei (魏太后) the woman who had ruled before Zhao Long came of age, and the only person in the empire who did not flinch before him.
Her silver-streaked hair was immaculately coiled into a jade phoenix crown, her dark eyes sharp beneath elegantly arched brows. Though age had touched her skin, her presence was as commanding as a queen standing amidst warriors.
She tapped a long, bejeweled nail against the lacquered armrest of her throne. "Your Majesty, the council requires your decision. Will you take the Xiyu princess as your consort?"
A muscle ticked in Zhao Long's jaw. He had never needed a wife to conquer lands before he had ridden into battle at fifteen, crushed warlords by twenty, and ascended the throne before thirty.
Yet, the ministers bowed their heads in silent agreement with the Empress Dowager. War drained resources. Peace, however bitter, was a necessary poison.
Grand Chancellor Wei, the emperor's most vocal opponent, cleared his throat. "The alliance will bring prosperity, trade routes, and stability to the empire, Your Majesty." His wrinkled face split into a forced smile. "And perhaps even an heir."
A low scoff escaped Zhao Long's lips. An heir? He had concubines in every corner of the palace, yet none had stirred anything within him beyond fleeting amusement. He had no patience for simpering women who bathed in rose water and whispered lies sweeter than wine.
If this Princess Lin Ruyi was anything like them, she would be forgotten within a fortnight.
Still, he raised a single hand a sign of finality.
"Send word," he commanded, his voice deep, edged with authority. "I will take the princess of Xiyu."
The court exhaled in relief.
But Zhao Long's golden eyes flickered, a silent promise beneath their molten depths.
If this woman was to stand beside him, she would do more than warm his bed. She would have to prove she belonged in his empire.
(The Women's Chambers A Storm Awakens)
While the emperor dictated the fate of nations, the imperial harem raged like a brewing storm.
Within the Pearl Lotus Pavilion, where silk curtains draped like waterfalls and incense curled in the air, Consort Mei (美妃) lounged upon a golden chaise.
She was delicate as moonlight and deadly as poison. A woman of rare beauty dark kohl-lined eyes, lips red as crushed pomegranates, and a figure that made men forget their names.
Her long ink-black hair cascaded over her bare shoulders as she plucked a lychee from a porcelain dish, biting into it with slow, deliberate pleasure.
Across from her, a younger concubine shivered. "They say the new princess is a warrior."
Consort Mei smiled, though it never reached her eyes. "And I say she is a woman. And all women no matter how fierce bleed the same."
She dropped the lychee seed onto the floor, watching as it rolled to a stop.
The desert princess may come with fire, but I will ensure she leaves in ashes.
(Beyond the Empire A Rebellious Bride-to-Be)
Far from the gilded cages of the palace, in the kingdom of Xiyu, a different storm brewed.
Beneath a vast desert sky, where golden dunes stretched to the horizon, Princess Lin Ruyi (林如意) tightened the leather straps of her riding armor.
Her emerald eyes blazed like twin jewels, her full lips curved not in a delicate smile, but in the smirk of a woman who feared nothing.
In one swift motion, she mounted her horse, her silk-lined battle robes cinched at the waist, accentuating both her strength and beauty. A twin pair of curved daggers gleamed at her belt.
From beside her, Xiao Tao (小桃), her loyal handmaiden, huffed in frustration. "Princess, the marriage envoy will be here in a matter of hours! You are to be wed to the Emperor of Tang! You should be preparing, not riding like a soldier."
Ruyi arched a single brow. "Then let him wait."
Her horse kicked up a storm of dust as she raced into the open desert, unbridled and untamed.
Let the Tang emperor think he was gaining a meek wife.
By the time she arrived in his kingdom, he would learn that the golden lotus he sought to claim had thorns sharper than any blade.
A single rider cut through the endless desert a woman draped in silk and steel, hair unbound and wild, like a storm given form.
Princess Lin Ruyi.
The heir of Xiyu. The warrior princess. The woman meant to submit to a dragon.
She yanked on the reins of her stallion, bringing him to a halt near a shimmering blue oasis, its surface rippling beneath the midday sun.
Her emerald-green eyes, sharp and unapologetically fierce, stared at her own reflection in the water.
A bride-to-be.
She scoffed. More like a bargaining chip.
She had fought alongside her father's generals, trained in the art of dagger combat, archery, and war strategy and yet, none of it mattered. In the end, she was being sent to a man she had never met, forced into the role of a consort in a foreign land.
A prisoner in silk.
She pressed her lips together, fighting the rage bubbling beneath her ribs. Let them believe they had tamed her.
But Lin Ruyi would kneel to no man emperor or not.
The rhythmic sound of hooves approached, breaking her thoughts.
From behind, Xiao Tao (小桃), her handmaiden, came riding in, her cheeks flushed from exertion.
Xiao Tao The Mischievous Handmaiden
Appearance was of Soft chestnut-brown hair, lively doe eyes, a round face that made her look younger than she was.
Personality: Sharp-tongued but loyal, always giving terrible advice about men.
She slid off her horse, panting. "Princess! Do you wish to give your poor father a heart attack? The Tang envoy arrives tonight, and you are out here… looking like a bandit!"
Ruyi smirked, running a hand through her long, windswept hair. "Good. Let them see me as I am."
Xiao Tao groaned. "But they expect an elegant bride! A delicate lotus, not… not a desert warrior with dirt on her cheek!"
Ruyi grinned. "Then they are in for a disappointment."
She dug into the saddlebag and pulled out a fresh peach, biting into its golden flesh.
Tang men were said to be arrogant, proud creatures who believed women existed to serve.
She had no intention of making it easy for this so-called Dragon Emperor.
(Chang'an – The Forbidden Palace, Inner Harem)
Far from the desert winds of Xiyu, deep within the imperial harem, whispers spread like wildfire.
News of the Xiyu princess's arrival had already upset the delicate balance of power among the emperor's women.
And no one was more displeased than Consort Mei.
She sat before an elaborate bronze mirror, her long ink-black hair spilling like silk over her bare shoulders, while two attendants brushed fragrant jasmine oil into the strands.
Her reflection was flawless porcelain-pale skin, lips as red as crushed pomegranates, eyes dark as a midnight river.
Yet, her fingers curled into a tight fist, her nails pressing into her palm.
A foreign woman was coming to take her place.
A sharp laugh escaped her. "A Xiyu barbarian?" She leaned back against the carved wooden chair, eyes glinting. "The emperor will tire of her within weeks."
Still… a nagging sense of unease settled in her stomach.
She had spent years weaving herself into Zhao Long's affections, carefully ensuring he saw her as both a lover and an ally.
Yet, he had not called for her in days.
And that alone was enough to plant the seed of fear in her heart.
She turned to her maid. "Find out everything about this… Lin Ruyi."
If the Xiyu princess thought she could claim her dragon, she was sorely mistaken.
(The Dragon's Lair – The Emperor's Private Chambers)
Zhao Long lay on a low chaise, dressed in a loose silk robe of deep crimson, his muscled chest partially exposed beneath the fabric.
A servant poured wine into his cup, but he barely glanced at it.
His mind was elsewhere.
His fingers drummed against the jade table, his golden eyes narrowing.
A bride. A wild woman from the desert.
The thought amused him.
He had seen many beautiful women, but they were all the same soft, obedient, eager to please.
Would this Lin Ruyi be any different?
Would she cower before him? Would she bow her head and whisper sweet nothings, like the rest of them?
Or… would she fight?
The thought sent a slow, thrilling heat curling through his blood.
He had conquered kingdoms, warlords, and empires.
But perhaps… it was time to conquer something else.
His lips curved into a smirk.
Let the games begin.