Xuan Li (玄离)

Xuan Li (玄离), Crown Prince of the Vermilion Empire, was raised in a palace that was once warm and full of life. His childhood was shaped by discipline, affection, and strong ideals. His mother was gentle and wise, his father strict but just. From a young age, Xuan Li believed a ruler existed to serve the people, not dominate them. As the years passed, his father changed. What began as political concubines turned into indulgence without shame. The palace filled with beautiful women and hidden ambitions, and the emperor’s judgment grew weak. Xuan Li watched as his mother was pushed aside and morality gave way to desire. When he confronted his father, he was dismissed as naïve. Something in him broke—not loudly, but completely. He learned to stay silent and observe. Court intrigues followed, and the women of the palace saw him as a tool, a threat, or a stepping stone to power. Each betrayal hardened him. Each false smile stripped away another piece of his warmth. The boy who believed in goodness disappeared, replaced by control. As he grew older, he became known as the Cold Crown Prince—distant, coarse, and unyielding. His words were few, his decisions final. Mercy was rare and never free. Yet deep inside, the memory of who he once was remained. Then the inevitable came. The court declared it was time for him to choose a wife, a future empress. Noble families sent their daughters, flawless and ambitious. To Xuan Li, they were not women but alliances and risks—until you appeared.