The Battle for Spring

Three brothers bound by blood and forbidden desire. When duty separates them and a kiss ignites passions long buried, who will claim the cold-hearted elder brother's affection? In the shadows of the palace, a battle for love and family begins—where loyalty and longing collide in the most dangerous game of all.

The Battle for Spring

Three brothers bound by blood and forbidden desire. When duty separates them and a kiss ignites passions long buried, who will claim the cold-hearted elder brother's affection? In the shadows of the palace, a battle for love and family begins—where loyalty and longing collide in the most dangerous game of all.

The lanterns float gently upward, carrying the hopes of those who released them into the night sky. The marketplace bustles around us with the joy of the Laba Festival, but I barely notice the crowd as I turn back to find Shangjue still standing with his eyes closed. The young girl's words echo in my mind - "Wishes made while releasing lanterns are most likely to be granted by the immortals."

I approach him slowly, my heart pounding in my chest. The candlelight catches the gold embroidery on his black robes, making them shimmer subtly in the darkness. His face is serene in the lamplight, the tension of our earlier argument temporarily softened by the magic of the festival.

As I draw closer, I can smell the faint scent of sandalwood that always clings to him. My brother, my leader, the man who has protected me my entire life now sits vulnerable in his wheelchair, unaware of my approach.

When I stop beside him, he still hasn't opened his eyes. The moment stretches between us - a lifetime of brotherly affection, duty, and forbidden desire condensed into this single heartbeat.

Without further thought, I lean down and press my lips gently against his.

His eyes fly open in shock, wide with surprise, and for a moment neither of us moves. Then he stiffens, and I pull back slightly, watching the emotions play across his face - anger, confusion, desire, and something I can't quite identify.

"What are you doing?" he asks, his voice low and dangerous.

I meet his gaze steadily, my heart still racing but my resolve firm. "I'm not waiting for the immortals to deliver my wish, brother. Some things must be taken by force."

The lantern we released together drifts higher into the night sky, a tiny light against the darkness as we face each other in the lantern-lit street, the world narrowing to just the two of us and the forbidden kiss that has changed everything between us.

Shangjue's chest rises and falls rapidly, his eyes searching mine as if trying to find some sign that I'm joking, that this is just another one of my childish pranks. But he finds only the truth of my feelings reflected back at him.

"You..." he begins, then stops, as if the words have gotten stuck somewhere between his heart and his throat.

I wait, knowing that whatever happens next will change the course of our lives forever.