Do you ever feel like you are lost in life, without knowing what to do with yourself? Or perhaps when you find yourself in a situation that is too complicated to handle, so you wish to deal with it immediately? What do you do when you get into a challenging situation? Do you sit back and enjoy the ride, although the walls are burning around you? Or do you at least get up and try to find possible solutions? One thing to keep in mind is: you should never be idle when you are going through something difficult.

I woke up to the sound of Hua Er's footsteps. She looked at me and smiled. The tray of food hit the table gently.

"You're up early," I said groggily. "Thank you."

"No worries," she responded lightly. She looked too happy. "The Emperor wants to see you later, so please dress nice."

"Where are you going?"

"Ah, my cousin wants to have a chat with me. You know, the Emperor had sent my mother many gifts."

"Good to know."

"Ying Yue," she kneeled down to face me. "I-I'm sorry. I didn't know that you'd be mad, you don't have to please His Majesty if you don't want to... I—"

I shifted my body to face her, still in bed. "I'm not mad about that. I'm mad that you didn't tell me before. The Emperor is a powerful, influential man, do you know what can happen to me if I refuse to sleep with him? Hypothetically, of course. It's best to provide the full details, without sugarcoating anything."

"I apologize deeply for the miscommunication."

She was too kind for me to hold a grudge. Besides, I promised Lei Shu to treat her well. It was not nice of me to lash out at Hua Er when this was just a slight misunderstanding. Lei Shu was probably worried sick. I imagined her alone, perhaps meeting her relatives from time to time, but she must have missed Hua Er dearly. Once the Emperor starts to dote on me, I'll ask him to let Lei Shu in the Palace. If he refuses, I will plead. It was harsh to separate a mother from her daughter, and vice versa. This is something I should do for them.

"I forgive you," I mumbled while I sprawled my legs around and stretched.

"I will see you soon then, I suppose?" Hua Er asked, giggling at my morning stretch.

"Yeah," I gave her a sloppy smile. "Thank you for the food."

The mirror placed on my small desk wasn't as big as it was back home. It was a tiny little circular mirror, the back of the mirror had little designs on it. I assumed the material on the back of the mirror was bronze, and I was sure I was right because of the videos I watched a month ago. If I wasn't stuck here, I would've actually enjoyed my time in Ancient China. It was a pretty sight. Many would've paid to get in. This was the real Forbidden City, with the real servants, concubines, emperor, and empress. There was real food, real furniture, real chambers, real clothing, everything around me was not a dream. I ended up here, randomly or for a reason. It didn't matter because I was going to get out soon.

After my mind focused on the situation I found myself in tears. I gripped the mirror with my right hand. I wanted to smash it into pieces and destroy everything in this room. All the heavy emotions that I still haven't let out from last night, erupted like a sad volcano. My eyes were swollen from yesterday, but it would be even worse after I finished with my useless crying.

Nevertheless, I will stay strong for my family and my friends back home.

Before I did my makeup, I slipped into a nicer attire, a pink and white hanfu with a blue sash. I wiped my tears aggressively, then looked at myself in the mirror again. I still looked good, I guess. We were not assigned maids yet. I couldn't look 'Imperial Concubine' enough, but this would do. The makeup that the women have on was not my style of makeup. They piled too much blush on their face. The women here powdered their faces, but I refuse to put anything on my skin without a primer. After filling my brows with the pigment given and putting a light blush on my cheeks and my eyes, I applied natural eyeliner using the black pigment for my eyebrows. If I'm going to be here for a while, I'll have to at least outshine the other concubines.

I was excited to try the lipstick paper, it was something I always wanted to make but I was too lazy to. As I pressed my lips onto the paper, I heard the sound of light footsteps that were coming closer. "Ah," the familiar and infamous voice spread around the room, causing me to cringe, "you look beautiful."

The Emperor had a side view of me, but I took a glimpse of him from the mirror I held up in front of me. He really was attractive, but creepy with the remark. I barely even knew him. I was here to mate, wasn't I? I cringed before I stood up and dipped my head down while intertwining my hands. "Greetings to Your Majesty."

"Please don't stand on ceremony," he said, beaming for the first time. He held my wrists and gently separated my hands. "This is the first time I've seen you be polite."

I almost got offended before I saw the light in his eyes and the way he chuckled after his cheeky remark. How did the Empress win him over? He wasn't that uptight and bitter like the Empress. The Emperor had a role to carry out, and a role to hide who he truly was. Being a ruler, was like wearing a mask of authority. Many just want to be held. Are you lonely? Are you happy? I wanted to ask the Emperor, but I knew I couldn't.

Because I suspected who his true self is, I couldn't help myself but grin at his joke. "I truly apologize for my behaviour yesterday, Your Majesty, but it doesn't define who I am. I'm a respectful Imperial Concubine."

"Nonsense, the Empress is quite austere in the way she holds herself. It is to represent herself in a strict manner, so the concubines do not think twice to oppose her. The Empress is a woman who is the head of the harem, she needs to keep the harem in control," he replied, the smile on his face was completely wiped off when he mentioned his annoying wife. "But I reassure you, she's a kind-hearted, virtuous person."

I couldn't help but laugh to myself at his delusional opinion about her. The Emperor is whipped!

"Right, so is there a particular reason why Your Majesty is here?" I asked, scratching the back of my head.

Uh oh. I forgot to do my hair.

I guess he didn't seem to notice as he wandered off in my chamber, pacing.

"I want to take you out for a walk," he said, then turning around to face me. "Ying Yue, have you ever been to a garden before?"

Plenty of times actually, but in this case, I'd have to lie to him. Plus, walking around this place will give me a chance to find Lan Yun. "No, never, Your Majesty. I was always working on a farm, I never got the chance to see such beautiful flowers. This is such a different place for me."

His face softened. "I am glad you are here, you look like you belong here. A girl like you should never work at a farm."

I forced myself to give him a smile. So if I was ugly, I should be working on a farm? Is that what he was implying? "What do you mean by that, Your Majesty?"

"My apologies if that was offensive, I meant that you are beautiful and very..." He paused and tried to think of what he was trying to say next. He knows he shouldn't wake up the beast within me. It would not look very good for him. "Special. By special, I mean your personality. I am very fond of your willingness to stand up for yourself. However, you must not do it too often."

"Of course. Anyway, it's an honour to see the gardens with you, Your Majesty," I walked towards him, combing through my hair. Not to mention, I am also glad that I haven't cut my hair for years. "I may need someone to do my hair for me first... I usually don't braid my hair..."

"Ah, your lady-in-waiting is reuniting with her cousin?" he asked me, deep in his thoughts.

I nodded. "I apologize for the inconvenience."

"The Empress has plenty of time actually," he gave me an innocent grin. "She loves doing hair, and you two also need to talk things out. Maybe it can solve the conflict between you two?"

This guy is nuts and oblivious. The only thing that this will create is a catfight, and me getting lashed twenty times. I sighed. "If that is what you want, Your Majesty, then I will go talk to the Empress."

"I'll let a guard escort you to her chamber. Usually, you'll have a eunuch but for now, this won't be the case."

He, surprisingly, gracefully walked out of my room. I watched him walk out, feeling a little bit of emptiness.

Soon after, a knock interrupted my lonely thoughts, causing my head to immediately turn to the right of me. It was Lan Yun, it was definitely him... and he was beautiful. His skin was not as pale as the Emperor's skin. His facial features were perfect, there were no flaws I could point out. The best part is that: he could relate to me, and understand the situation I was going through.

"Milady—"

"Listen, I don't know whatis going on," I interrupted him, I tried to hide my excitement from him, but I knew I failed. "I was in a accident in 2018, and now I'm here."

"You too?" an obvious expression of relief was shown on his face while he let out a deep breath.

"Yes, oh, my name is ,by the way."

"," he responded, then turning around to make sure nobody was around, "Listen, I don't know what's going on either, but we'll talk soon. Right now, you need to go to the Empress. Meet me at the bridge after the performance."

"What performance are you talking about?" I knitted my brows.

"Some get-together with the Emperor and some of his... concubines," he cringed. "And why did you even come here? And be one of them?"

"I thought this was my only choice! And besides, you're here!" I hissed, waving my hands everywhere.

He raised an eyebrow. "Oh, because I was here?"

"Yes," I snapped back a little aggressively. "Now please, I don't want to be late to get my hair done."

I was so caught up in our conversation, that I almost forgot to talk to the Empress. I already know she's starting a fuss about me to the Emperor.

"You ever find how weird it is that we already know the language?" he asked me while we walked to our destination.

"Yes, and how funny it is that some of the words we use aren't translated?" I said, giggling to myself.

I was so delighted to know that someone else was going through this with me. I'm really glad I found Jaxon sooner than I thought I would find him. This was going well. Too well, but I won't question it.

", how did your hair get so long in such a short period of time?" I eyed Jaxon's hair skeptically. It had to be extensions.

"I found some sort of material that looked like hair, but it was white so I had to dye it in black ink," Jaxon responded. "I tried to keep it as secretive as possible, so I tied it in a bun and put the headpiece on myself... I've been hiding it for a very long time."

I couldn't help but burst into laughter, the idea of him sneaking around to look for a material that looked like hair made me crack up. " It had to be something from an animal! Or it could be silk!"

"Don't say that so loud! I could get killed!" he scolded me but tried to hide the smile that played out on his face.

"I'm sorry!" I exclaimed, but I was still smirking to myself.

We paused. We were a few steps outside the Empress's chamber. As we both looked at each other in the eyes, our smiles faded soon after. I'm sure both of us realised that our comic relief wouldn't last that long, and I know it won't help us get back home. His eyes glistened, sparkling from the natural sunlight. I looked away because I could feel my face flush. I was hoping Jaxon couldn't distinguish the difference between my authentic blush and my makeup blush. After he kept staring at my flustered face, I knew he could.

"Well, we're here," Jaxon broke our silence, then placed his hand on my shoulder. "Good luck, don't let the Empress humiliate you."

Laughing again, I looked down at my shoes. "Thank you."

"You wore shoes the first time, didn't you?"

", don't even remind me, I was coming back from shopping."

"Where's it now?"

"I'm not telling you before you steal it and sell it when we go back."

"Don't you think this language sounds so strange?"

"Yes and Jaxon, you're making me late."

"Right, have fun."

I walked into her palace with a smile on my face. She sat on her throne. Her eyes darkened immediately when I entered inside. The room was spacious, way bigger than my chamber. This palace must have had multiple rooms as well. I can admit that I was jealous. There were a few concubines sitting along the long carpet. However, it did not look like a formal meeting. As I walked towards her, I kneeled down and bowed. "Happiness and peace to the Empress."

A few girls, I was guessing to be the unappreciated concubines, was surrounding her. They didn't speak much, but I heard a few whispers.

"She's very beautiful," one girl whispered softly, while the rest had joined in the chatter.

"Please get up," The Empress looked at me and, for once, beamed at me. She calmly held my wrist and helped me up. "What brings you here?"

She doesn't even know. I had to play my cards right. If I tell her that I'm walking through the gardens with her husband and I needed her to do my hair, she would be furious and beat me up in front of her minions. If I inform her that the Emperor wanted me to come with him and she was obligated to do my hair for me, I may avoid problems. I have never thought before I had spoken, so this was a first for me.

If I die in her chamber, it was the Emperor's fault. How dare he leave me here without telling his wife about my visit?

I forced a smile, showing my pearly whites. "His Majesty wanted us to take a stroll into the gardens, but he thought about our conflict... Since I do not have maids yet, His Majesty thinks this would be a good way to discuss the issues we have between each other and to leave it aside."

Her hair is already very gorgeous...

She doesn't even have to do her hair.

Her hair isn't even perfectly straight. It's kind of wavy and it's definitely not my type.

Do you like girls now? Why are you judging her hair like that?

"That's enough! Please don't speak when I am talking to someone," the Empress shrieked, waving away the girls. "We just had a misunderstanding. I think our problems are resolved already."

"Please forgive us, Your Majesty!" the girls kowtowed nervously.

The power the Empress has is quite shocking. I don't even think she has respect in this Palace, I feel as if her power exists due to fear and the title.

"He wants me to do your hair, hm..." she uttered, then running her fingers through my hair. "That's no problem, do you have any pins or jewellery to decorate your hair with?"

"No, he didn't give me any."

"Oh, that's terrible. I was gifted with so many," she mocked as she slanted her eyebrows upwards and frowned. "I won't use mine on you, unfortunately, but I will simply style your hair as an Imperial Concubine would. I think that is fair, right?"

I nodded. I scanned around the room to see what the other concubines were doing. My eyes stopped at another pair of eyes. The girl looked at me with concern. She tried to mouth something at me, but I couldn't make out the words she was trying to say.

The Empress did my hair silently.

After the Empress did my hair, she turned me around and looked me deep in the eyes. "What great beauty you have. You have such fair skin for a farmer girl, beautiful eyes, and nice features."

She leaned forward like she was about to kiss me. Her eyes were dark pools of hatred, narrowing ever so slightly to display her anger. I looked at her with a straight face, waiting for what she would do next. Her nostrils flared and her grip on my wrist was a little too harsh. I could tell that there were suspense and tension in the room with all the girls who looked uneasy and anxious.

Before I could act, she forcefully pressed her hand above my chest and pushed me. I landed on my back with a thud.