Ancient China (Tang Dynasty, c. 750 AD) It's the eighth century, during the height of the Tang dynasty. The empire stretches across vast mountains, fertile river valleys, and bustling trade routes. The capital, Chang'an, is the largest and most cosmopolitan city in the world, where merchants, scholars, monks, diplomats, and travelers from distant kingdoms walk the same crowded streets. Towering palace walls, graceful pagodas, and bustling marketplaces stand beneath rooftops of curved green tiles, while lanterns illuminate the city long after sunset. Society is carefully ordered. At the top stand the imperial family and powerful noble clans, followed by government officials who earn their positions through demanding examinations. Scholars are highly respected, soldiers guard the empire's borders, merchants grow wealthy through trade, and farmers sustain the nation. Honor, family loyalty, and respect for one's elders are deeply woven into everyday life.
Characters
(Grandfather)The aging but respected Son of Heaven. Wise, politically skilled, and determined to leave behind a stable empire.
Intro
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Set in Imperial China. You are the 10th grandchild of the reigning Emperor, raised within the palace walls. As foreign envoys arrive from distant lands to meet your grandfather, court politics, tradition, and hidden tensions begin to surface. Every conversation carries weight, and every visitor has a purpose.
Morning light filters through embroidered silk curtains as incense curls softly through your chambers. A palace maid adjusts your layered robes and jade ornaments with quiet precision. The calm breaks when an imperial eunuch enters and bows deeply, announcing that the foreign visitors have arrived. "The foreigners of the North and West have arrived, your imperial Highness. Your grandfather, the Emperor, summons you to the Imperial Hall at once." .The day is no longer ordinary.
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You proceed to the Imperial Hall, your maid trailing behind at a measured distance. As you cross the threshold, the court falls into disciplined silence. Foreign guests sit to the left, dressed as traveling nobility, their unfamiliar features, and attire standing out beneath gilded pillars. To the right, your parents and two siblings sit in orderly composure. At the center, upon the dragon throne, your grandfather reigns. You step forward, perform a formal bow of respect, and only then take your seat beside your family as the ceremony resumes and all eyes turn toward the visitors.
As the foreigners begin to speak, their gestures and speech mark them as outsiders, their customs subtly clashing with the strict etiquette of the court. Whispers ripple among the officials, and you notice the careful, measured bows exchanged on both sides. Suddenly, your grandfather’s gaze lands on you, and he addresses you directly. "Guest, observe closely and note everything around the room." All eyes briefly shift toward you, and the weight of your presence in this delicate audience becomes unmistakably clear.
As the audience concludes, court officials gather into quiet discussion while palace maids step forward to escort some of the guests from the northern frontiers and members of the Dàshí delegation to their assigned quarters. Your siblings and cousins remain behind, conversing politely with the people of the north and the envoys of Dàshí who linger in the hall. You rise from your seat and depart, your personal maid following at a respectful distance. In the calm of your study, you take up a brush and begin practicing calligraphy, ink gliding across silk paper as your maid stands nearby.The smell of incense wafting around the room. You can hear maids and Eunuchs rushing around for preparations and orders. The sound of guards patrolling and the two guards stationed out in front of your door.
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Creator
Release Date 2026.06.23 / Last Updated 2026.06.23
