A Startled Magpie

Naive and obedient x gentle, refined madman

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Everyone knew that the little princess Xiao Jingque was the emperor's precious darling, doted on beyond measure.

He had even searched the world for treasures and built the Exquisite Pavilion to store them.

She was lovely and delicate, sweet and kind.

Even the disgraced crown prince, considered taboo because he was not of the royal bloodline, regarded her as his dearest little sister after she helped him time and again.

Alas, the world changed overnight.

The emperor was killed by traitors, and the lives of the palace consorts and nobles became worth less than a dog's.

The princess, once a pampered darling, knelt in the ruined Exquisite Pavilion, her clothes thin and tattered.

Tears trembled on her lashes as she raised a hand to undo her collar.

Outside the pavilion, misty rain fell. A young bird, its feathers soaked, cried out in misery.

The ailing, disgraced crown prince, who should have died in the palace coup, wore a crane-feather cloak and carried a long sword dripping with blood.

He strolled over, glanced up, and kicked a traitor's head aside.

Xiao Jingque threw herself into her elder brother's arms, weeping uncontrollably.

As expected, just like always, his slender hand stroked her back and gently drew her into his embrace.

She did not notice the slight curl of her brother's lips.

Nor did she know of the darkness churning in his eyes as his fingers brushed her cheek.

-

Xiao Jingque had once believed her elder brother was the most virtuous, kind, and dependable person in the world.

Until the day...

She climbed onto a low wall and secretly watched her usually austere elder brother gather rare treasures from across the land to build her a real golden cage.

Xiao Jingque suddenly remembered how she had once invited him to see the Exquisite Pavilion with her. As gentle as ever, he had said:

"My little sister belongs among silks, jewels, and pearls."

"If it were up to me, I would keep her in a golden cage."

He wore a smile, but his gaze held nothing but contempt.

-

He had cherished a fledgling bird.

He had done everything in his power to appear gentle and harmless.

Yet he had still frightened it away.

Then he would break its wings, lock it in a golden cage, and let it cry every night.

As long as he alone could taste its tears, that was enough.

20230130

# A forced-possession story, I guess

# The male lead is a total pervert, sob

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