"I am going to miss you so much," Lei Shu sobbed, burying her face in her daughter's chest. ""Please be careful. Hua Er, you are a very selfish girl to leaveyour mother like this. Of course, I can live with the salary you receive, but thatwill never compare to having you in front of me. I love you so much..."

"Thank you for accepting my wishes, mother. I love you too, I have to go now," Hua Er responded as she pulled away from the embrace. She took her mother's hand and held it.

I walked a bit further, leaving them alone to say their goodbyes. I felt many emotions rushing through my body, it was really overwhelming. I was anxious to face the Emperor but excited to go back home. I really wish I had my phone...

When we arrived, the guards ushered us in a certain format, a double-file line. It wasn't a big crowd of girls as I thought it would be, I guess the Emperor isn't sexually aroused this time of the month. One thing I understood, was that I would be the black sheep—not considering the fact that I was centuries ahead of them, but the fact that I was the only girl dressed like a peasant, in the sea of all these girls born into wealthier households. I could not compare. Not all of us could make it, this, I know.

The main palace was spacious. It was well built, and if I only had my phone with me, I would've taken some gorgeous pictures. The first thing I saw when I walked in, was red. Red everywhere. I don't know why I thought that was relevant to me at the time, but it was like a big warning sign to me. Red meant danger, seduction, violence, love, anger, and much more that can make someone laugh or cry. I didn't know how to feel about that much colour in a place like this, but I couldn't repaint the walls with white.

Besides, red is my favourite colour.

The walk was pretty silent except for my small sentences of fascination. A tall, elderly eunuch had already lectured us about the palace rules, while an older woman who I assumed would be a maid, gave us another boring lecture. Hua Er attempted to calm me down but I was still nervous. I think I was shaking as well.

We stopped walking and waited for the Emperor and the Empress to call us in. It was a wide hallway and all of us could fit in it. Hua Er had told me to follow what the other 'future concubines' do, as she couldn't be able to babysit me and whisper to me on what to respond with.

"Send in the girls to seek audience!" a eunuch ordered.

We all walked in an orderly fashion, but I was shaking underneath my flowy hanfu. The only thing on my mind was a question, which was 'what did I get myself into?' My heart was pounding rapidly, my hands were getting clammy, and my breaths were abnormal. I gave Hua Er one last look before kneeling down.

We kowtowed to the Emperor, and I followed what everyone else was saying. "Great blessings to the Emperor and the Empress."

Never in a million years, would I expect myself to be doing all of this. I would've hated to suck up to a couple of people who were probably doing war crimes and executing their maids for simply accidentally tripping, and not to mention, mock the ones who are less fortunate than them.

Hopefully, this Emperor Xue is not a tyrant, and we can get along just fine.

"You may all rise," the Emperor said, observing all of us with a grim expression. Although he looked a little bit strict like he has never laughed for days, he is a little bit attractive. Unfortunately, I'm not here to look for love. I pretended to not notice his lingering stare at me. It was because of my outfit, wasn't it? I knew it. He'll probably assume that I came as an insult—as a revolutionary statement.

The Empress was also eyeing me, and so were the maids around her. I'm going to be a laughing stock in this room. It was also weird to me that the Emperor was involved in concubine selection. I've heard only the Empress was involved.

While I daydreamed, the Emperor had brief conversations with the girls, questioning them about their names, abilities and interests. Alas, it was my turn.

"What is your name?" the Emperor asked as we both made eye contact.

I seduced him with my eyes, raising my eyebrows a little bit. If this doesn't work, I don't know what will. "My name is Han Ying Yue, Your Majesty. This is my lady-in-waiting, uh, Hua Er."

I didn't even know her damn last name. I wanted to curl myself into a ball and roll away from this place.

"Your lady-in-waiting looks oddly familiar," the Empress said, with a devious smirk on her face. "She's the one who tried to be a concubine. It's quite unfortunate that she didn't get accepted, isn't it, Your Majesty? The choice of outfits as well, Ying Yue... I don't know if I have the heart to reject you too."

I don't even need to describe the tone of her voice as she said that. An infant can tell that she was throwing a massive amount of shade towards Hua Er and me.

One or two girls near me snickered, as well as the Empress. Alright, sure, I was dressing like a peasant girl who was on her way to the market, but at the same time, at least I have the decency to respect people who are below me! I gave them a side-eyed glare. I won't take the Empress's snarky comments towards me personal, but insulting Hua Er will not be tolerated. The Emperor looked as still as a statue, watching my every move. He glanced at Hua Er, then raised an eyebrow.

"Why is your lady-in-waiting dressed like that, shouldn't she clean herself before coming here? You know it is very disrespectful to come like this to the palace, so tell me why would I accept such behaviour?"

My jaw clenched and my muscles tightened up. I bowed. I dipped my head down before looking straight towards the Emperor.

"My lady-in-waiting sacrificed her one hanfu for me, hence she is wearing a less pleasant attire, Your Majesty," I spoke elegantly, I was even shocked at how full of grace I was speaking in. I faced the Empress and let a deep breath out from my nostrils. "It is a bit disrespectful, isn't it, Your Majesty? To belittle someone due to something they could not control? So what if we aren't wearing pretty attire with our hair was done up? Does beauty play such a big part? I mean, I get it. You could say it could be disrespectful, but what if that was all we had? A plain hanfu."

"You foul-mouthed peasant! Apologize immediately! How dare you disrespect your superiors! Did you forget where you are?" the Empress exclaimed, immediately standing up from her throne and widening her eyes in shock.

Boy, she was mad.

There were dramatic gasps in unison, I didn't look around, but I knew all eyes were on me. What did I get really myself into?

I looked at Hua Er from my peripheral vision. She didn't react. She continued to put her head down. I faced the Empress again. No matter what, I'm not getting Hua Er in trouble. I chose to stand my ground. "And how dare Your Majesties disrespect my lady-in-waiting? I'd rather you insult me."

I could sense the fury in the room, and the strong source was the Empress herself. I glanced quickly at the Emperor, his expression was a little less grim. He looked amused.

The Empress did a quick motion with the sleeve of her hanfu, for dramatic effect, of course. "You—"

"Your Majesty, please appease your anger!" I kowtowed to her, as my head pressed against the ground, I smirked a little to myself before getting up to face her.

"Enough!" the Emperor roared, standing up from his throne. His wife sat down frantically, still giving me a dirty stare.

"My apologies, Your Majesty," I bowed. I peered up at him innocently as my lips curled up.

"I have chosen," Emperor Xue said, glancing towards me. "Li Fen, Ming Xia, and Ying Yue."

"B-But, Your Majesty, you haven't asked Ying Yue any other questions? Talents? Skills? We need to do more than this," the Empress spoke again. She placed a hand on her husband's arm and shook him gently.

The Emperor, thankfully, gave her a short, simple smile before addressing us again. "No need, Empress, I have already chosen."

"Thank you, Your Majesty," all three of us said.

The Empress looked absolutely pissed, I couldn't help but laugh to myself. Her expression changed while the Emperor placed his hand on her's. "As you all may not know, your purpose here is to serve the Emperor. You will be accompanied by His Majesty at your chamber later in the weeks."

She smiled at us. "My sisters, please be well behaved. Concubines who do harm will be strictly punished... This is a competitive system... Winners will win... Losers will lose. Not all of you will be the lucky bunch."

Blah, blah, shut up. I want to leave already and sleep. This day was such a mess. I looked around the room to search for the so-called Lan Yun. I searched for a guard with short hair, but all of them had smoothly conditioned hair, some tied their hair in a bun. Lan Yun wouldn't have short hair, would he? It would be unusual to have short hair in ancient China.

They had healthier hair than mine to be honest. I suspect Lan Yun perhaps got hair extensions... if it was invented at this time.

After the Empress and I's public conflict, we all stood up and were escorted to our chambers. The room itself wasn't as bad as I thought it was. It was by far, better than the room I was in last night. The bed was comfortable and way better than the one I was sleeping on last night as well.

Sorry, Hua Er!

I was given a set of nightclothes to put on, and I don't want to admit it, but it was genuinely cozy. Unfortunately, Hua Er slept on a lower bed than me. I had suggested to her that we can take turns with the bed throughout the days being here. When we settled, I laid in bed, thinking deeply about the 'assembly' and what our roles were. I suddenly shot up from my bed and tapped Hua Er's shoulder. "By 'accompanying His Majesty in your chamber', what does the Empress mean by that?"

"Well, you may have to talk to His Majesty, entertain His Majesty with instruments, you may have to perform arts for certain events," Hua Er took a long pause and broke eye contact with me, "you have to bear children for His Majesty."

"What?" I hissed, furrowing my eyebrows in disgust. Hua Er avoided my gaze but I stood up and walked in front of her. "Why didn't you tell me that earlier? I am not going to do that. Does he require that as a must? Or can I just frolic around the harem? Why can't I just frolic around the harem!"

"His Majesty wouldn't force you, but you should know that there's night attendance and—"

I was furious. If only Hua Er and Lei Shu told me that this was the case, I would've backed out and become a maid or something. My heart sank. "I have to have sex with the guy?!" I can't. I couldn't. I was not to lose my virginity to a man like that. He can try but he won't succeed. I need to find Lan Yun soon, before I fall too deep into the abyss of trouble. My small body couldn't hide my anger at Hua Er. I've watched Imperial action dramas, but I hardly am educated on harem affairs.

"Don't be disrespectful! The walls have ears," she whispered softly, then sighing. "I'm sorry. We should've told you sooner—"

"Yeah, you should've," I snapped back at her. I uncrossed my arms and returned to my bed before I start a tantrum.

This is just one big nightmare that I can't get out of. I regretted everything. I can't believe what I got myself into, what I've done, and if only I didn't go into that stupid car. In the night, I tossed and turned. I couldn't sleep. One, I thought about my family. Two, I thought about me staying here because I couldn't get out. And three, I thought about Cherry.

Cherry's birthday. I missed Cherry's birthday.

A flashback of Lei Shu's voice played in my head. Lan Yun has no idea how to get back to the present, and that is a big, big problem. Cherry's going to know that I disappeared after the car accident. She might think that I have escaped or ran away from the scene. Or she might have the idea of me being kidnapped.

Oh, God... I imagined my face on every TV screen right now, and my parents with a reporter, begging for me to come home or for someone to find me. What if my family thinks I was kidnapped?

My parents. My family. My sister.

I broke down in tears, the realisation of me never coming home hit me. I sobbed on my pillow to make sure Hua Er didn't hear me. My heart sank as I gripped onto my bedsheets. What if I died and this is just me living another life in another universe or something? Or what if this is a whole dream and I'm in a coma?

No matter what, I am going to find out how to get out of here. There is no way I'm staying here, somewhere that has no wifi and electricity. How could I even come with that? I must've sounded like a spoiled brat with first-world problems, but I was so used to technology that it'll be a pain for me to cope with the lack of industrialization. I need to talk to Lan Yun, and I need to talk to him soon before I lose my mind. I leaned the back of my head into the pillow and wiped my tears.

I was still in disbelief. How could this even happen? I couldn't think about any possible solutions, all I thought about was my family and my friends.

I spent all night overthinking how to solve this puzzle, but thinking about all the problems that come along with my solution to this mess, just terrified me. All I know is that the only way to be able to go back home was to talk to Lan Yun and try to find a way to get the hell out of here.

Crying will not solve my problems.