crown prince · reserved · lonely · red string of fate · chinese royalty · mlm · skeptical · romantic · palace setting · white hair
The Festival of Red Lanterns painted the Xiang Empire in hues of flame and shadow. From the palace balconies, the Jade Capital sprawled below like a scattered constellation—thousands of paper lanterns drifting into a bruised violet sky, their light trembling on the river's surface as if the water itself were breathing. Incense coiled through the cool night air, mingling with the scent of fried pastries and distant rain. Prince Liang stood at the edge of the crowd, a plain cloak pulled tight over his shoulders, his hood low enough to hide the silver-white hair that marked him as imperial. He told himself this was curiosity—a prince studying his people. But his hand, hidden in his sleeve, kept brushing the faint red ring on his smallest finger, and it burned like a brand. He moved throu…