When Lan Yue woke up, the first thing she saw was a face far too close to her own.
Cold. Sharp. Murderous.
Liu Ruyan was staring straight at her, eyes dark and unfriendly, her expression twisted as if she were seconds away from snapping Lan Yue's neck. The distance between their faces was so small that Lan Yue could even see the faint crease between Liu Ruyan's brows.
Lan Yue jolted awake, her heart skipping violently.
"G-Good morning…" she greeted awkwardly, forcing a stiff smile.
Liu Ruyan's gaze didn't soften in the slightest. If anything, it grew colder. She straightened, stepping back just enough to give Lan Yue room to breathe.
"The mistress has summoned you to her inner chamber," Liu Ruyan said flatly, her tone clipped and unfriendly.
Inner chamber?
So early in the morning?
Lan Yue's heart sank.
What on earth did Zhao Lingxi want at this hour?
As she hurriedly dressed and followed Liu Ruyan through the quiet corridors, Lan Yue's mind raced. Had she been discovered? Did Zhao Lingxi recognize her from last night?
Her chest tightened.
Did she see my face?
No. That shouldn't be possible. Lan Yue clearly remembered how she had deliberately kept to the shadows during her escape, her face lowered, her movements careful.
Still—
"Dammit," she cursed inwardly. I knew I should've worn a mask.
As if that wasn't enough, another unease gnawed at her.
Her space.
Ever since she woke up, she had tried again and again to enter it. Each time, she was met with an invisible rejection, like slamming into a wall she couldn't see.
Nothing responded.
No access.
No warmth.
No familiar pull.
Her breath hitched.
Could it be… gone?
No. Impossible.
When she had first arrived in this world, her abilities were still there. She was certain of it. Then why now?
Lan Yue clenched her fists inside her sleeves, forcing herself to calm down.
Now is not the time.
If Zhao Lingxi truly suspected her, then any slip. Any hesitation would be fatal.
When they finally reached the mistress' inner chamber, Lan Yue took a slow breath and announced herself properly.
"This servant Lan Yue greets my lady."
She stepped inside.
At first glance, the room seemed empty.
Her eyes swept across the elegant furnishings—soft silk drapes, incense curling faintly in the air, sunlight filtering through carved wooden windows—yet Zhao Lingxi was nowhere to be seen.
Just as confusion began to rise, Lan Yue's gaze paused.
A folding screen stood near the far end of the chamber.
Behind it… steam drifted upward.
The faint sound of water rippling echoed softly through the room.
Lan Yue's heart skipped.
A wooden bathtub had been set within the inner chamber itself, partially concealed by the embroidered screen. Through the thin silk panels, she could vaguely make out the silhouette of a woman reclining in the bath, her long hair gathered loosely, shoulders bare above the waterline.
Rose petals floated on the surface of the water, their fragrance mingling with the warm steam, creating an intimate, almost suffocating atmosphere.
Lan Yue immediately lowered her head.
Why on earth would Zhao Lingxi summon her while bathing?!
This was terrible timing.
Should she… leave?
Before she could decide, she spoke instinctively, her voice respectful.
"My lady."
Silence followed.
The sound of water stilled.
Then—
"Come here."
Zhao Lingxi's voice rang out, cold and clear.
Lan Yue blinked.
Her heart thumped violently.
She hesitated for a brief moment before stepping forward, carefully lifting the edge of the screen and entering the bathing area. Her head remained bowed, her posture rigid, as if she were walking into an execution ground.
Steam brushed against her skin.
Warm. Heavy.
She stood stiffly, waiting.
"Look at me."
Lan Yue froze.
Slowly, she lifted her head.
And instantly regretted it.
Zhao Lingxi reclined against the edge of the tub, her black hair loosely pinned, a few damp strands clinging to her pale neck. Her collarbones were sharp and elegant, her shoulders smooth, her skin glowing faintly under the steam and candlelight.
Water lapped softly against her form, petals drifting lazily around her.
Lan Yue's composed expression cracked for a split second.
Her gaze involuntarily slid downward before she could stop herself.
Oh my goodness, fuck maybe I should have looked!
Zhao Lingxi's eyes darkened immediately.
Her lips curved downward, displeased.
"My face," she said coldly, "is up here."
Lan Yue snapped back to her senses.
"I apologize for my unbecoming behavior," she said quickly, lowering her head again.
Even as she spoke, her thoughts betrayed her.
Damn, she had always thought her new chest was well-endowed, but this... Was unfair.
Truly unfair.
"Come closer," Zhao Lingxi suddenly ordered.
Lan Yue stiffened.
She watched as Zhao Lingxi scooped up a handful of rose petals from the bath, slowly crushing them between her fingers. Red petals stained the water like faint traces of blood.
Lan Yue took an unconscious step back.
Her heart raced.
Wait.
Was she in trouble?
"Don't make me repeat myself."
The sharpness in Zhao Lingxi's voice made Lan Yue flinch.
She immediately stepped forward, dread pooling in her stomach.
Is this it?
Is this where the female lead finally wipes me out?
But that didn't align with the original plot.
Lan Yue wasn't supposed to die yet.
Soon but not now.
"Bathe me."
"…!"
Lan Yue's mind went completely blank.
For a moment, her thoughts short-circuited.
Bathe… her?
"Did I stutter?"
"No—no, my lady!" Lan Yue answered instantly, panic overriding reason.
She moved before she could overthink it.
It's fine, she told herself desperately. We're both women. This is normal. Completely normal.
Servants bathing their masters was common in ancient times.
Completely.
Totally.
Normal.
Still…
Her hands trembled slightly as she carefully dipped the cloth into the warm water, gently washing Zhao Lingxi's arm, then her shoulder.
Zhao Lingxi watched her closely, her gaze sharp and unreadable.
Lan Yue felt like she was under a microscope.
Why couldn't she have Chen Mei do this? Lan Yue complained inwardly.
Chen Mei who followed Zhao Lingxi everywhere with shining eyes and open admiration would've been thrilled.
And why was Zhao Lingxi glaring at her like she was an enemy?
Did she do something wrong?
Every second felt unbearably long.
Finally, the ordeal ended.
Just as Lan Yue moved to help Zhao Lingxi dress, she was abruptly stopped.
"Leave."
Lan Yue blinked.
She bowed deeply, relief flooding her chest, and turned to go.
What kind of mood swing was that…?
Just as she reached the exit...
"Where were you last night?"
Lan Yue froze.
Her heart slammed violently against her ribs.
Slowly, she turned around, her face calm, composed.
"I was sleeping with Mei and Ruyan."
The lie slipped out smoothly.
Zhao Lingxi stared at her.
Silently.
Coldly.
Lan Yue's back was soaked in sweat beneath her robes. Shit, shit, shit. She knows. She knows it was me. Seconds passed like hours.
Finally...
"Scram."
Lan Yue didn't wait for permission twice.
She bowed and left immediately, her heart lodged firmly in her throat.
That was terrifying.
Inside the chamber, Zhao Lingxi watched her leave.
Her gaze lingered.
She compared Lan Yue's retreating figure to the one from last night.
The height.
The build.
Almost identical.
Her lips pressed into a thin line.
Lan Yue had changed.
She used to cling to her, flatter her, smile too brightly.
Now she was cautious.
Guarded.
Different.
Zhao Lingxi's lips curled slowly into a cold smirk.
Different or not...
Lan Yue was still a snake.
And snakes…
Were meant to be eliminated.