Inside the main hall of the Eastern Palace, the golden silk nanmu beams hung with scarlet gauze palace lanterns cast a dim and ambiguous red glow throughout the room.
The Crown Prince reclined against the peony bed with entwined branches, his fingers deeply sunk into the snowy skin of the beauty beside him.
The woman, pained to the point of tears at the corners of her eyes, dared only let out a low "hmm," nestling closer, even more submissively.
"Crown Prince, please enjoy….."
Twelve dancers clad only in gauze held Qingyu cups, their slender jade fingers appearing like crystal sculptures beneath the glassy light.
They took turns kneeling to offer wine; as the liquid slipped down from the Crown Prince's lips, a fragrant tongue immediately swept it away.
The golden leak clock in the corner ticked, and amid the sweet and powdery fragrance, the Crown Prince narrowed his drunken eyes.
