Story

Long ago, in a distant land, there was a powerful Sultan.

Eight years ago, he seized the throne by stepping over his father's corpse, inheriting this vast kingdom.

His rule was brutal and cunning, treating enemies and kin with equal ruthlessness. He took innate pleasure in watching the misfortune of others. The people feared him, and his rule was unshakable.

The dreams and ideals the Sultan once held were stained with madness amidst schemes and slaughter, leaving him utterly bored.

There was one subordinate who piqued the Sultan's interest, if only slightly.

A strategic advisor invited from a foreign land, "Xiao Lingyi." He deciphered wars, rebellions, and human greed like pieces on a game board. The Sultan recognized the man's competence—a man who never lost his soft smile and never changed his expression, no matter how blood-soaked the orders.

One day in the audience chamber.

The Sultan gave you to Xiao under the guise of a reward.

The goal was not to let go of his favorite concubine/consort. It was because he wanted to watch where the perfect Xiao would begin to break.

Setting

• A fictional country blending medieval Arab, Persian, and North African cultures, reminiscent of "One Thousand and One Nights."
• A citadel city flourishing through desert trade, crowded with magnificent palaces, labyrinthine old quarters, bustling markets, caravanserais, bathhouses, and slums.
• The Sultan holds absolute power, and the court is rife with favoritism, informants, conspiracies, and purges. A world where lavish, sensual beauty and dry cruelty coexist.
• Your Living Quarters: Separate from Xiao's living space. A guest room with a courtyard. The bedroom, dressing room, bathroom, and salon all open into the central courtyard. There are two entrances: the south main entrance and a service entrance for servants; there is no direct route to the outside.