#knh fic

[alexiethymia]

angsty and slightly dark knh fic idea:

jinshi and maomao’s push and pull of ‘I want you to trust me’ and ‘I don’t want to burden you’ comes to a head when jinshi’s identity as the emperor’s eldest son finally gets revealed.

“…you knew didn’t, you?”

Maomao could avoid a straightforward answer just like she always did, but it was too late for that now.

“…yes.”

“I see.”

A broken laugh.

“No wonder you could never believe in my words. You must have been laughing at such foolish fantasies.”

“I’ll accept any punishment.”

“That won’t be necessary. I apologize for having troubled you. But please…just go.”

When she finally lifts her head, she sees a face that squeezes her heart. Jinshi looked pained even as he turned his face away from her, even as he screwed his eyes shut and tried not to let the tears fall. It was as if he was holding himself from falling apart only until she finally left.

And it is then that she is finally hit with the bitter reality. Oh. I no longer qualify as a woman he trusts.

As she finally leaves, she keeps clutching her fist to her chest. She doesn’t know what face she’s making. Strange, I wasn’t suppose to know how to care for someone this much.

everyone closest to jinshi probably would have known, but I think he would take it hardest from maomao, because he’s never kept anything from her as much as possible.

miscommunication will always be their enemy. jinshi gives up hope because this is an unavoidable trap for maomao. he finally stops calling on her. since he can’t be with maomao anyway, he’ll accept anyone. (I keep thinking that gyokuyou’s niece might be set up as a possible rival for maomao? someone who might genuinely fall in love with jinshi.)

maomao, because she still doesn’t know how to process it, and because she’s the worst kind of tsundere who won’t even acknowledge she’s in denial might end up accepting it because of course what else could she expect? Not realizing that she’s become just that much colder. Or she might justify it as jinshi being self-sacrificial again. And so she takes matters into her own hands and seduces him, perhaps even drugs him with aphrodisiac (not realizing that she’s repeating the same trap her mother set a long time ago) so that it’s a done deal, so that jinshi doesn’t get silly ideas of pushing her away. Because jinshi is a decent guy, she knows he is, he wouldn’t leave her after that, and if maomao has to use that against him then so be it.

but this is the wrong thing to do because jinshi will always feel that maomao was forced into it. the easiest thing would be for maomao to say it with her own words but she’s gotten used to jinshi being able to read her all this time, so it just becomes this tangled web of toxic and repressed feelings until something gives.

I’d want to explore how their inability to voice out their desires ends up harming them. They both just want the best for the other, but they keep assuming they know what that is without asking (and answering) just what it is they want. For Maomao to stay with Jinshi, even if he is the emperor’s son and all the burdens that come with that. For Jinshi for Maomao to be with him even if that means she will have to give some things up.

Because the thing is, Maomao is already resolved. She has no problem expressing that resolve [to stay with Jinshi despite everything] to other people, so all that’s left is for her to actually say it to the person in question.

[maomaop]

Purple hyacinth

Jinshi x Maomao angst fic / contains light novel and wn spoilers. This is my first fic, so it's far from being perfect but I hope you enjoy! lmk if you want a part 2

Jinshi was preparing to leave for war; he didn’t know if he would return, if he would ever see her again, and that's why he couldn’t sleep a wink that night. Thoughts filled only with her, he decided to write. Write in an attempt to express through his words the thousands of emotions he was feeling. Why a letter? Because in these last months, they had the unfortunate circumstance to communicate solely through letters. It was their only means to stay in touch.

Jinshi’s duties had been nothing short of overwhelming and tiresome as of late, which had resulted in fewer visits. It has been three months since they last faced each other, held each other, and shared a moment together. Love came with sacrifices, and theirs was particularly harsh. However it is no surprise to them as they were both ready to endure such hardships if it meant securing a future together. 

Jinshi’s eyes welled with tears as he wrote. First one droplet, then a second, and a third. He remembered the day he promised to make her his wife, and this goal was what motivated him to work tirelessly. This is all he ever wanted; in fact, this is what they both desired. She was not a woman of many words, but she never failed to communicate her affection to him. He remembered how every time they met, she would cup his face and look at him with a worried expression, asking how much sleep he had gotten lately. The way she warmed his whole body with just her touch and took care of him with so much love. All of her actions spoke louder than any of her words.

The chances of seeing her again were too slim; he didn’t want to have any regrets. He didn’t want to leave her without words; that would be most cruel of him. And God knows if there’s anything he cares about in his doomed life, it's her. He has eyes only for her. Nothing else matters as much to him as she does.

His royal status kept him trapped, preventing him from having the freedom to fully love her as he so desires. However, nothing could ever make this love disappear, no matter the circumstances; nothing could negate these strong feelings. Not when her existence is synonymous with light. Not when the thought of seeing her fills him with a joy he has never felt before her. She was everything. He had never asked for anything in life, yet he wanted one thing: her.

No other woman could ever compare, not even the flowers that high-ranked nobles introduced to him in hopes of marriage. He smiled at them when he didn’t want to, and had to reject them after showing no interest. The thought of being destined with another woman made him sick. His desire was only for her. Yet, he could not have her.

Condemned to his rank, which some people would think of as a blessing out of pure ignorance, he on the other hand, only thought of it as a curse. Love becomes a luxury the higher your rank goes. The general public believes that people standing at the top of society should be able to have everything they desire, but they don’t. They can’t because of other pointless matters, or so he thought. They can't obtain the most important thing they desire in life—they can't be with the person they cherish the most, they can't have the freedom of loving and being loved by someone.

Jinshi was very much aware of that; yet the moment he saw her, he felt as though his entire world had been turned upside down, as if something had shifted right then and there. Whether for better or worse, he approached her, and later he realized he couldn’t detach himself from her—not in this lifetime, nor in any other. He craved only her touch, longed to see only her, desired to hear only her voice, and wished to gaze upon only her face for eternity. Their hearts, their souls, are bound by a red string, and not even death could ever change that.

Their coming together and growing close was destined, just as their separation was.

So Jinshi tirelessly wrote. He wrote until his hands began shaking. Yet when he finished the scroll, he cursed and complained that it wasn't enough. He felt like those words were not strong enough to describe what he felt. He thought that a mere letter wouldn't suffice. He had to do more, but at that moment, his body succumbed to exhaustion, unable to bear the weight of his heavy heart any longer. 

That night he dreamt of her, of course he did. He dreamt of them living together, leading a peaceful life in a small house far away from the society he loathed so much, where he had everything he ever needed. 

A love so profound, a love so strong, but a love doomed to such an unfair fate that even the skies shed tears as he did in his sleep.

It was time for him to depart, it was time to leave her. He didn’t want to, but he had to because his life was never about what he wanted, but always about what he had to do. He gathered the scroll of paper and made sure to ask Gaoshun to deliver it to her, along with a red camellia he had picked himself the night before. He couldn’t bring himself to do it, not when his body, heart, and soul were yearning for her with every passing second. He feared that if he saw her again, even for a second, he would never be able to leave her. Yes… He wouldn’t be able to do it at all.

Suiren began to prepare him, but he wasn’t paying attention to his surroundings; his thoughts were consumed by memories of her. She looked at him through the mirror while she styled his hair, silently observing. It wasn’t the time for conversation; she understood the situation well. Suiren understood why he hadn’t uttered a word since she entered the room.

She knew what her grandson was currently experiencing, and she found it rather unfair. However, she wouldn’t dare to speak those words aloud. Instead, she closed her eyes while continuing to tend to his hair, silently praying that he would return home safe and sound. Yes, that was all she desired—for them to be together.

Time passed, and Gaoshun returned to report the successful delivery of the letter. They had to depart immediately; a long journey lay ahead of them. Jinshi walked with a stern face, trying to convince himself that he had cried enough, that he couldn’t cry anymore now. It was too late. He didn’t want to think about her, he didn’t want to look sad when he should look proud; but trying to forget someone only led to endless thoughts of them. So he walked with Gaoshun by his side, not as Jinshi but as the Moon Prince. Taking a deep breath, he made his way to the carriage in silence.

Gaoshun looked at him calmly, just like Suiren; he knew all too well how Jinshi was feeling at the moment. He vowed to protect Jinshi with his life in front of the emperor, but they both knew that danger couldn’t be avoided in times of war, not even for Ka Zuigestsu. The emperor had fallen sick, and so the responsibility to lead the country in battle fell on Jinshi. He had a duty, and they were all aware of it.

Jinshi looked at the garden full of medicinal plants she would probably love. He thought about giving them all to her—common herbs though they were, but she wasn’t one to refuse gifts. His heart beat fast at the thought of her. Everything he laid his eyes on reminded him of her. She was more than just a simple lover; she was his whole world.

As he left the palace, Jinshi was once again struck with an unbearable pain plaguing his heart. It was one that wasn’t curable, one that would leave scars for the rest of his life, and most importantly, one he couldn’t do anything about, no matter what. No doctor, no medicine would be able to ease his pain, only she would. Yes, only her… he smiled softly. 

Looking up at the sky from the carriage window, he thought that by now, she would be awake. Soon she would discover what his future held, no, their future. The one they had been yearning for had just disappeared as if it were nothing. He thought that maybe they shouldn't have held back so much… That they could’ve had so much more while they still could, but unfortunately, they didn’t. They had hope; it was a gamble. The worst-case scenario was him becoming emperor, and they both didn’t want that. Little did they know back then that a much worse fate awaited them…

He felt relieved that he could leave her with a letter, one he wished she would cherish her whole life, one that held so much love. He didn’t know how she would react to it; he hadn’t thought about that. He only desired to leave her with words that would convey the same weight as his feelings. That’s all he hoped for.

As they were leaving the capital, thousands of civilians flooded the streets, waving goodbyes to their loved ones. Women and children cried at the sudden departure of their fathers, brothers, and even their sons. Jinshi discreetly looked at the crowd behind the carriage’s curtains, glancing at the faces of all those women. Perhaps he was wishing for her presence to bless him. Maybe he hoped to wave goodbye to her, to hear her voice in the crowd screaming his name and yearning for his safe return. He found the courage to chuckle amidst all these melancholy feelings, considering this an almost impossible scenario, knowing she wasn’t fond of such displays.

His lone wish was to be freely loved by the one he held dear in his heart. He often found himself wondering, was this too much to ask for? When deep down, he knew it was a foolish wish for him to have. After all, he was the Moon Prince; his status alone could never allow him to have that, not in this lifetime. His fingers released the curtain, and he clenched his fists. Gaoshun stared at him, knowing she was the one person in the entire world who could make him lose his composure. He recalled the moments when she was kidnapped by the Shi clan, shared a dance with Rikuson, and nearly fell from a tower while trying to save Lady Lishu — the list seemed endless. Yes he knew, Jinshi was thinking of her.

The mournful voices began to dissipate as they neared departure from the capital. Jinshi reminisced about every moment he spent with her; his heart felt warm as memories flowed through his head. He searched his robe for a medicine she had made for him, a pill that promotes sleep and relaxation. He looked at the miniature glass bottle in his right hand and smiled. He opened it, and Gaoshun immediately handed him a bottle full of water. He took one pill, swallowed it, and then took a second. Just as he was about to take a third, Gaoshun stopped him with a panicked look on his face. Jinshi nodded and put the pill back in the bottle.

He brought the bottle close to his heart and lay down. Gaoshun didn’t say a word aside from “Do you need anything, Sir Jinshi?” 

Keeping his eyes closed he replied “No”. Gaoshun nodded and closed his eyes, lost in his own thoughts.

Jinshi had never been fond of medicine due to numerous bad experiences—enduring murder attempts through poison and countless days of forced rest. However, this was different; it was a gift, at least in his eyes. A special one he cherished wholeheartedly. It was the last one he received from her. Simple medicine though it was, but to him it meant much more than that.

After ten minutes, the medicine took effect. He still held the bottle firmly. A tear escaped from his eye as he mumbled in his sleep, “I miss you.”

His soul now wandered in his most precious dreams—a place where he found comfort in her presence next to him.

[zanyana626]

UPDATE: we got a few Jinshi x reader fics on here now!

Honey & i've never had somebody, so I don't know how to love by @idyllcy

Clumsiness by @stsgooo

Ok, I'll say it cuz I'm sure there's a couple of us out there thinking the same thing...

WHERE'S THE JINSHI X READER FICS AT PEOPLE???? I mean, look at him!!!

I honestly can't think that I'm the only one here who wants to read fics about this guy!

[stuffeddeer]

Perfect | The Apothecary Diaries | Jinshi x reader

cw - you're mute, jinshi calls you perfect a disgusting amount of times, gn neutral but you're referred to as: concubine, doll, toy, flower of the emperor's

i need to feed the tag to revitalize it

Jinshi gently cups your cheeks, palms resting against your face. The calluses tickle your soft skin, making you shiver momentarily.

With a kiss to your forehead, Jinshi lets out a sigh - a long breath, rather. A breath of relief and respite, brought only on by your presence and kind gaze. Unkind gaze. You stare at him in annoyance, bottom lip puffed out as you pout at him. He pays it no mind.

"I find you immaculate; unsullied and... perfect." The purple haired man finds no shame in his words, merely reporting fact like he would to anyone else. Except, maybe without all of the affection and adoration.

The man seems almost obsessed, if you didn't know any better. With a gentle swipe of his thumb back and forth, back and forth across your cheek, you wonder if perhaps he is.

"No flaws on this wonderful face. No flaws on your pretty little pout. I wish you'd glare at me forever." The last sentence is less than a whisper, spoken only to himself that you happen to catch due to the proximity he holds you in.

Your pout loosens, biting nervously on your bottom lip instead after sucking it in. Still, you've yet to say a word to the man. What got into him, possessing him to say all of this? Soft hands cup his, gently tugging them from your face.

"Please," he nearly whimpers, eyes wide in panic.

The reaction makes your eyes widen in tandem, hands stilling as they hold gently onto his, less than a few inches from your face. Head cocking to the side, you silently express your confusion (and maybe concern).

He trembles at your silent words, letting out another long breath; this one more a sigh of embarrassment and acceptance. "You... are perfect. You're like a gift from the heavens just for me, crafted in the image of a thief after nothing more than my heart. I wish to hold you, may I?" The last sentence is tacked on, spoken quickly as his hands move back to your cheeks.

Pursing your lips together slightly, you give him a small pout. The question was merely for show, a courtesy while he did as he pleased anyway. "To stay such a low ranking concubine for the emperor is a waste. You need to be paraded, heralded for your perfection. You— " Jinshi can't stop himself from pressing another kiss to your forehead.

"No. I think I'll keep you to myself. A doll for me to pose as I please, yes? A toy made just for me, as I spoke earlier."

You roll your eyes, an amused smirk tugging at your lips. Jinshi nearly swoons.

"That, right there! Your wonderful reactions. You..." he can't explain it. How is he to summarize everything that makes you you?

A deadpan look is shot at him. Of course you react with your face, isn't that communication? Your hands move to hug at the fabric of his robe, trying to turn his attention back to what you're saying, rather than how you look. Or whatever is on his mind - you didn't bother to learn.

The action works, Jinshi blinking a few times as he sits up slightly. His eyes focus on yours, waiting to decipher your actions. Noticing his obedient change, focusing entirely on you now, you take that as your queue to communicate. So you try.

A neatly manicured finger points to your chest, tapping against the fabric twice. You. Following, you drag both hands up in fists before crossing your forearms. An X..? The action is followed by your hands creating a heart shape, finished by the same pointer finger tapping Jinshi's chest. Heart... Me. Jinshi thinks. You don't heart him. Love? You don't love him? He speaks it out loud, asking if he understood you correctly.

You shake your head, face scrunching up to showcase your disproval. Once again, your arms cross in the shape of an X. So it's not don't, he now knows. "Don't... No...? Maybe unsure? Are you unsure if you love me?"

A smile cracks on your lips, biting one briefly to try and keep it from growing wider. You shake your head - as amusing as his guesses were, they're terribly wrong. This time repeating all the steps, you make the same actions. Point to you, make an X, make a heart, point to Jinshi. Of course, he still seems lost, gazing at you with focused concentration. His eyebrows are knitted together as he tries to unravel your meaning.

For a small moment, your lips part in a mousey sigh. While it's been a few months now since you lost your voice, you still haven't kicked the muscle memory of opening your mouth to respond - or react, in this case.

You hold up your left palm flatly, right hand miming holding a brush as you trace imaginary circles with it. Right away Jinshi knew you were asking for something to write with. He's quick to move. While he doesn't want to be away from you, his hands leave your cheeks so the purple haired man can quickly get you what you ask for - whatever you ask for.

Gently dipping the brush in ink, Jinshi watches you paint characters so delicately onto the paper. You're a bit anxious doing so, knowing how expensive the material is, but knowing you'd just feel worse making him get up again to find something new. That's alright, you'll just write small.

The characters read I can't love you.

He frowns. "Can't... the X," Jinshi makes the symbol with his arms, "meant can't?"

You nod quickly, gently settling the brush down over the paper. Once again, you point to yourself, hold up an X, make a heart, then point to Jinshi.

"You can't love me. You can't love me. But... you can." The eunuch was confused. You can, so easily. He's trying so hard. "Please?" Jinshi whispers.

If you could chuckle - could laugh, you would, but you only pout once again. Picking up the brush, the pads of your fingers gently move down the soft paper. It wasn't the first time you've used it, but so freely felt wrong. Either way, you brushed out more characters.

I'm the emperor's

I'm a concubine

I can't—

Jinshi pouts as well, his hand gently resting over yours to stop the brush work. "You can't love me," he finishes for you. Frowning, you nod.

"He has a habit of giving up lower ranked concubines to those of merit."

You smirk. What merit has Jinshi earned? A mere rear palace eunuch. One with prestige, sure, but not enough to be rewarded with a flower of the emperor. None of this is spoken, of course, but Jinshi easily catches the mirth in your eyes.

Clicking his tongue, his pout deepens. "Teasing me without a voice... only one as perfect as you could accomplish such a feat."

The smirk pulls into a grin, feeling pride at his understanding.

"But, if I may be so bold, I'm sure the emperor will gift you to me. You're mine, after all - I've claimed you."

An eyebrow cocks at his haughty tone, unimpressed and doubtful. The intention gets across as Jinshi huffs, reaching over to pinch your cheek. "Don't be so cruel. You are, you know! And the emperor will agree. He doesn't visit you, anyway."

Insult to injury, but you suppose he's right. You had arrived to the inner court around 5 months ago, and just before your time to finally meet the emperor had arrived nearly 2 months after, you lost your voice. Hearing the news, he decided to meet with someone else while you recovered - something that never happened.

"I hadn't meant anything by that. But it's a good thing now, right? You get to be mine instead. No one else gets to traverse your perfect mind."

You click your tongue this time, the sound one of few you can still make with your mouth. For a eunuch, Jinshi had quite the balls on him. Annoying.

The purple haired man grins at the newly painted characters on the page, unable to hide his excitement at your writing. "Yes! And I'll only be worse once you're finally my spouse."

Unable to keep it at bay, a soft smile appears on your lips. His spouse, huh? Eunuch or otherwise, spending your life by his side sounds very lovely.

Jinshi grabs your hands, pulling them against his chest as he leans in toward you. With a kiss to your forehead, he whispers, "Perfect. You're mine and you're perfect."

[aflockofravens]

Y'all this is crazy to me. I have been on this hellsite for damn near 15 years and I don't think the total amount of notes I've received in that entire time amounts to what has happened in the last month?

All because I have lots of feelings about Jinshi, Maomao, and KNH.

[killerandhealerqueen]

I need to get back to writing for Killer and Healer, I miss my boys

[ladykyriaa]

I now understand why people complain about writing bcs I've had my laptop opened the last 5 hours. And I've written less than 500 words not knowing how to continue

[joocin-thebox]

not that it matters but ive changd my ao3 handle to Royal Blue Rue

[yournotsolocalpharmacist]

The itch of making a KNH University AU fic sure needs SCRATCHING…

[mcgrillzdumpinc]

Been binging your jinmao fics and I absolutely love everything you’ve written. You get them to a T and the scenarios/what ifs you're making are fueling my KnH drought.

Have you ever thought of how their dynamic will be IF Lakan and Fengxian got married ang Maomao had a complete family from the start, including Luomen, and Jinshi as the original crown prince with Ah-Duo as the empress? Basically a huge WHAT IF AU. Throwing it here because this has been in my brain and I don't have someone to share it.

Thank you so much!!! I'm glad you're enjoying my story so much :)

If Maomao was raised by Lakan & Fengxian and Jinshi was crown prince... I feel like, at the core of it, the jinmao relationship would be similar to canon. Even if Maomao never became Consort Gyokuyou's lady-in-waiting (since it might be a bit politically dicey to have the daughter of the neutral faction's leader working for one of the Emperor's consorts), I can still see her figuring out the face powder poisoning and catching Jinshi's attention that way. And while it's great for her family that she's got the crown prince's attention, that doesn't mean she'd want it. Maomao will always be Maomao, even if she was raised by her biological parents. This very pretty and powerful man suddenly develops an interest in her and her basic reaction is "so??? he's annoying"

One thing I can see being different is Maomao maybe not being so quick to talk down/back to Jinshi. Until she feels like they're on friendly terms, she'd likely not risk her and her whole family's lives on calling the crown prince a worm to his face. As much as Jinshi would actually really like her to.

[kumeko]

WIP game

Months later, finally got around to doing this after getting tagged by @snickerdoodlles. Procrastination is my middle name, evidence is in the wip folder. XD Let's see if anyone bites!

RULES: make a new post with the names of all the files in your WIP folder, regardless of how non-descriptive or ridiculous. Let people send you an ask with the title that most intrigues them, and then post a little snippet or tell them something about it! Then tag as many people as you have WIPs.

So, I'm going to cheat on this a little because I have like...dozens of wips and no one has time for that. I really need to organize my files better because it's a mishmash of unpublished fics and wips which only makes hits harder. I half wonder if I should order this by fandom but yolo. Some will be obvious and others will be a fun guessing game. Also any series I have in progress are fair game.

a lion's pride

baby blues

merlinGwainePercyTristan

the sequel I shouldn't have written

sprained ankles

let it go

honk honk

knitting club

eleanor the architect

sab malina the curse of immortality

ingrid spirited away

damijon part 2

steampunk cloti

marius marius marius

xiaolumi week

pearlrose domestic sequel

knh epilogue chapters!

DDD odette darkness

obsession?

if no one else loves you i will

something something 2 robots find balance

codepdency at its finest

the new pet

sad sex

aldermin fluff

drabble on the ship that doesn't exist in the work why

raven palace (soft)

oh no living forever alone

dan heng is not dan feng

the weird bros

And some of these I'm staring at going, huh, I haven't opened that file in a while, wtf is that about. I will find out when you do! I also really need to start writing drabbles for these one off series I'm watching so they can get beyond that initial start and I can cross them off the list....

The only saving grace is this game is not about plot bunnies, because oh boy. Oh boy. No one needs to see that lengthy file. The ones for FGO alone...

And I'll tag @risualto and @onceabluemoonwrites as my pass it forward! I can really feel my lack of activity in fandom spaces right now XD In time, in time.

[alexiethymia]

a flower by any other name would taste as poisonous

A butterfly flaps its wings and a hurricane happens in a far-off place. 

In this case an old eunuch decides to take a different route from his usual one. It takes him by the Garnet Palace, where he’s just in time to stop a loving attendant from feeding an infant a spoonful of honey. Sufficiently warned, the attendant never bears the crushing weight of guilt for the rest of her life. 

The infant still dies though. It’s nothing surprising. Infants before a certain age would always be vulnerable and susceptible to natural illnesses. It is no one’s fault. 

If the child still died though, what did this change? Surprisingly, a lot. 

Eight years later a boy is crying after having a favorite toy taken from him once again. 

A girl, merely a year younger than him, asks him in a dispassionate tone where it hurts. 

Startled, the boy stops crying. Eyes shining, he looks at this girl who resembles a wood sorrel and decides she’s his new favorite. 

How is it that those two seemingly random encounters could lead to this particular scene, one resembling a painting?

On one side, an existence like a celestial nymph, voice of sweet honey, a beauty that could topple nations if he so wished.

One would think that no one could compare, and yet the beauty on the other side was not overshadowed. She was a vision no less stunning for she was once known as a top courtesan of the pleasure district. 

It was perhaps fortunate that no one was a witness to this display for no one could hope to count how many hapless victims would be felled by such visions of loveliness. 

As to what these beauties were doing, no one could have guessed for in between them stood a single Go board.

tap

tap

“I must admit that while I was expecting a visit from his Imperial highness soon, I didn’t think it would be for this.”

The celestial nymph flushed. 

“Apologies for taking some of your precious time, Feng Xian-dono.”

tap

tap

The unfettered beauty took her time deciding her next move. The man who was also called Jinshi did not fool himself into thinking it was because he was a worthy opponent. Although he was used to using his excellent looks as a weapon, why is it that before this woman he felt as if he were merely a mouse being played with? A finely sculpted brow conveyed enough with one gesture. He felt as if he were playing two games at the same time.

“And? What is so important that the Prince of the Moon felt the need to risk Lakan’s wrath to come here? Why, you even roped Lahan into this plan of yours.” The cold beauty didn’t smile but he had a sense that she was amused.

Jinshi wondered. Did he rope Lahan or did that miser rope him? It didn’t matter. Shaking his head, he hoped he was equally composed when he answered, “I must admit it was that esteemed personage’s recommendation that sent me your way. Aside from him, only you could fight on equal ground with our honored strategist.”

tap

tap

Seemingly bored but only just, such that she could not be accused of disrespecting him, his opponent continued her queries, “And? Surely, you don’t hope to best that girl at a game of Go? She has utterly no interest at the game. It’s a wonder if she takes after us at all. I often wonder how she came to be so uncute, though of course Lakan would disagree.”

Jinshi would as well. Or to be more accurate, he both agreed and disagreed. While that girl was often distant, on the whole he could not help but find her adorable.

And from the shadow of a smile he could spy on his opponent’s face, he gathered that she was much the same, and could only dote on her daughter in this roundabout way. Although parent and child both claimed no similarity, he thought in this manner you could not doubt their familial tie.

Likewise with her father, though she only had disdain for the man (not that it would stop that eccentric’s entreaties to be called Papa from happening, thought Jinshi with a shiver). He’ll leave it up to Gaoshun to commiserate. 

That wary cat only showed affection for her honored grand uncle. In much the same way, as much as she protested, she and her sire were a lot alike. There was also their utter disinterest in anyone ordinary and unexceptional.

Like him.

Any other family would have accepted just by virtue of who he was. But it mattered not to this particular family who cared not for prestige or power. This family was content to keep to itself and occupied with its members’ various obsessions. Rather than consider it an honor to be connected to the noble line of the rulers of this nation, Jinshi thought that Lakan rather saw him as some annoying fly. 

And for that annoying fly to not only buzz around his beloved daughter but also to dare be in the proximity of his beloved wife, the only two people that eccentric fawned over and adored with all his heart, ah surely this was a perilous gamble indeed. 

But for an ordinary person like Jinshi, no Ka Zui Getsu, this was the only thing he could do.

Ironic that when he wanted it most, he could not rely on this excellent appearance of his, the only thing extraordinary about him. This family cared not a whit for that. At first he had wondered why that apothecary continued to be unaffected by him, but to have someone like this for a mother, he realizes she must have already been bored by the sight. (She had actually scoffed at him after they had seen each other once again in the rear palace.)

It left him scrambling, but also strangely relieved. 

“It’s not that I want to best her. At most I hope to be on equal footing.” Slightly abashed, he shakes his head. “In truth, it is our honored strategist whom I wish to have a match with. Though it may be impossible, the Sage tells me my best hope lie with the only person to have bested the Grand Commandant more times than even him.” 

Seemingly intrigued if the slight lifting of one brow indicated such, the once courtesan inquired, “Oh? And to what end if I may ask?”

How to answer.

Grappling with something in himself, Jinshi finally admitted, “Merely to be acknowledged, I suppose. To be seen and recognized.”

To be accepted. 

By whom, his companion seemed content not to ask if the curl of her mouth was any indication.

Maomao had often complained (though she would deny it with a blank look if asked) in a bland tone that she thought she must surely be adopted by the one she called father, for surely she had no resemblance to this beauty in front of him. Chicken bones she called herself. (Incidentally, she was adamant that she was not ugly enough to be related to the fox. She was, in her own view, perfectly normal. Jinshi almost spat out his tea upon hearing this if only it wasn’t unbefitting his station.) 

But seeing what could pass for an amused look on this normally expressionless face, Jinshi for the first time in front of another great beauty, blushed for he could only see traces of the one he yearned for in this visage. 

Truly, they were mother and daughter indeed. 

He was caught in a daydream of a scene years into the future, with Maomao dressed in such finery, of when he could finally lavish her with all his attentions as he pleased. 

tap

tap

The harsh clack of the Go stones brought him back from his musings and his attention onto the board. Upon seeing how he was completely dominated, he let out a deep sigh. 

“A long way to go, your highness.”

As if echoing his thoughts, an imperious voice declared his resounding defeat. If not for the twinkle in her eye he could detect, he would no doubt feel as if he was not even worth the heel of her shoe, never mind that he was the current Imperial heir. Distantly, he wonders if this was the sight that bewitched and entrapped that eccentric so long ago. 

Privately laughing at his own folly, he decides he was no better for it was the same look from that tiny wood sorrel that sealed his fate. Flowers could heal, but they could also be poisonous. He knew better than most. No matter. Regardless of the outcome, he would swallow her whole.

Truly there was a long way to go before he could turn that dream into anything close to reality. He doesn’t mind tasting defeat again and again for the chance of victory one day. 

Once more, he resets the board.

notes:

Jinshi and the Imperial brother are still switched at birth so he still doesn’t know who he really is.

The imperial brother still dies in infancy but not so soon after his birth. Since Luomen manages to stop the honey incident, the tragedy with Aduo’s head maidservant doesn’t happen later on. He doesn’t get punished nor does he get driven out.

Because he doesn’t get driven out, Lakan isn’t pressured into a military expedition to reclaim the honor of the family. He manages to redeem Feng Xian immediately.

Lakan still somehow ends up the head since his younger brother doesn’t really see himself suited to the position. He still ends up taking the headship from his father probably because Feng Xian was insulted or something and he wants to spoil her. His father and sister-in-law probably still end up leaving on their own like in the original timeline rather than being driven away. One way or another, Maomao, Rahan and Rahan-nii end up being raised together.

Maomao is still the same. Sure, she’s raised as a noble lady but she still spends half of her life at the pleasure district with Feng Xian, her sisters and penny-pinching granny. I doubt Lakan would stop them since this isn’t a conventional family after all.

Luomen probably sneaks in town undercover to still be an apothecary for those who might need it most, with Maomao accompanying him.

Since Maomao is raised as a noble, one way or another she ends up as Jinshi’s playmate. Of course, Jinshi still ends up attached. And of course Lakan puts a stop to it as soon as he can. It doesn’t have anything to do with any political maneuvering. He’s just an overprotective papa.

Maomao still ends up in the rear palace, this time as Luomen’s apprentice so of course she ends up crossing paths with Jinshi once again when they’re older.

And so the adventures of the young prince and apothecary still continue, fates still intertwined.

[maomaop]

GUYS !!!! remember when I said I had many ideas for a jinmao bridgerton au?? well with @hotinplaid we cooked up something and the first chapter is almost ready !! STAY TUNED

[randomositycat]

I love knh fics

give me the "what are we?"

[travalerray]

KNH fic!!!

[cor-corbinian]

Hello everyone :)

My name is Cor (he/him)

I publish works on AO3.

Here on my tumblr you will find my writing updates, my random thoughts concerning my fandoms, as well as my art as soon as I feel comfortable posting it here.

My Upload Schedule over on AO3

English/Englisch | German/Deutsch

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POSTED -> TMA|DN - A Helping Eye (Crossover Roulette) Chapter 1/3 [SIDE: Death Note]: 13.02.2024 - 22:00 CET

POSTED -> BSD - Sky Casino Chapter 1/9 [I'm Sorry]: 13.02.2023 - 22:00 CET

TMA|DN - [DE] A Helping Eye Kapitel (Crossover Roulette) 1/3 [SIDE: Death Note]: 14.02.2024 - 22:00 CET

PMMM|BSD - Magic and Abilities (Crossover Roulette) Chapter 3/3 [Snippets]: 15.02.2024 - 22:00 CET

BSD|SxF - No Longer Human (Crossover Roulette) Chapter 1/3 [SIDE: SPYxFAMILY]: 15.02.2024 - 22:00 CET

PMMM|BSD - [DE] Magic and Abilities (Crossover Roulette) Chapter 3/3 [Snippets]: 16.02.2024 - 22:00 CET

TMA|DN - A Helping Eye (Crossover Roulette) Chapter 2/3 [SIDE: Magnus Archives]: 16.02.2024 - 22:00 CET

BSD - [DE] Sky Casino Kapitel 1/9 [Es Tut Mir Leid]: 16.02.2023 - 22:00 CET

BSD|SxF - No Longer Human (Crossover Roulette) Chapter 2/3 [SIDE: Bungou Stray Dogs]: 19.02.2023 - 22:00 CET

BSD|SxF - [DE] No Longer Human (Crossover Roulette) Kapitel 2/3 [SIDE: Bungou Stray Dogs]: 23.02.2023 - 22:00 CET

BSD - Sky Casino Chapter 2/9 [don't look a gift horse in the mouth]: 26.02.2023 - 22:00 CET

BSD - [DE] Sky Casino Kapitel 2/9 [Einem Geschenkten Gaul Schaut Man Nicht Ins Maul]: 01.03.2023 - 22:00 CET

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Bungou Stray Dogs (BSD) | Puella Magi Madoka Magica (PMMM) | The Magnus Archive (TMA)/The Magnus Protocol (TMagP) | Spy x Family (SxF) | Jujutsu Kaisen (JJK) | Heaven Officials Blessing (TGCF) | Genshin Impact (GI) | Star Wars (SW) | Percy Jackson (PJ) | The Apothecary Diaries (KNH)

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