Secret of the Forbidden City

The rich history and mystique of the Forbidden City really add depth to the story. I wonder if real locations influenced the fictional city or if it was entirely imagined.

The beginning and end were so energetic, but I found myself wanting a bit more momentum in the middle sections. Was this intentional to build suspense?

The interactions felt genuine and heartfelt, but I’m curious about how much of that was planned versus evolved during writing.