Lia (Bao Ji)
The rest of the banquet dragged on like a slow, painful death. Some nobles whispered while sneaking glances at me, but most focused on my cousin Bao Si—cold, breathtaking, impossible to ignore.
I tried to imitate Bao Ji's quiet manner, but every now and then my personality broke through.
God, I was bored.
Some guests chatted politely; others simply drank. A few women openly stared at the Emperor like he was a prize stallion.
Look, I'm not blind. The man is gorgeous.
But he has a queen, and I have bigger problems—like being a Romanian woman from the 21st century stuck in ancient China.
That beats "hot emperor" on the problem scale.
When the eunuch whispered that the Emperor wanted to see the Bao family, I thought I was done for.
But all he wanted was to take me as a concubine, too.
Well… good.
The mission just got easier.
Now I was stuck in a carriage with Bao Si, who stared out the window with her usual frosty attitude. My father had gotten drunk from happiness. Lucky him.
"Cousin," Bao Si said suddenly, voice sharp, "I hope you won't embarrass me in the palace."
My eye-roll was automatic.
"That goes for you too… cousin."
Bao Ji would never say that.
Too late now.
When our gazes met, she studied me like she was trying to decide if something was wrong. Then she looked away.
The carriage halted. We stepped out. A eunuch and several maids bowed.
"His and Her Majesty await."
Great. Showtime.
Inside the hall, the Emperor and Queen watched us with expressions so stern I swore they could swallow us whole.
I knew I was supposed to behave, keep my head down, and act like the perfect, polite girl.
But curiosity won. My eyes wandered everywhere—the throne, the carved pillars, the painted ceiling. The scent of incense wrapped around me.
It was like walking into a drama scene—except this time it was terrifyingly real.
"I see you're mesmerized," a voice said.
"Of course I am! Isn't it beautiful? Gorgeous!" I breathed, still staring around.
"Cousin," Bao Si hissed.
"Hm?"
"Cousin!" she whispered again, urgent.
"What?" I answered too loudly, irritation slipping out.
Then it hit me—
This was absolutely NOT how Bao Ji behaved.
I snapped my head toward the Emperor.
He wasn't angry.
He was… examining me. Carefully. Intensely.
The Queen, too.
Panic shot through me. I dropped to my knees.
"I apologize, Your Majesty. I was reckless."
Silence.
Horrible, suffocating silence.
"Why apologize?" the Emperor asked, voice calm yet firm. "You were admiring the beauty of the hall."
Thank every god that exists.
"You may rise."
I obeyed and accidentally locked eyes with him again.
Of course he held my stare. Why not.
"The eunuch will show you your quarters."
We bowed and followed.
My room smelt of jasmine incense and freshly polished wood. Luxurious, delicate, elegant—like a princess suite in a drama. I fell onto the bed. It was stiff but oddly comfortable.
A maid entered.
"My Lady, Her Majesty has assigned me to serve you."
She was stunning—large doe eyes, fair skin, soft features. Too beautiful for a maid.
Life here must be terrifying for someone like her.
"You're beautiful," I said before thinking.
She blinked, then bowed. "Thank you, My Lady. I will prepare food. You must be hungry."
"You got that righ—"
Lia brain kicked in.
"Y-Yes, please."
She hesitated but left silently.
My mouth was going to get me killed.
When she returned, she brought several dishes—each more delicious than the last. I complimented her, she bowed, and I stepped outside for fresh air.
That's when I saw a eunuch leading Bao Si somewhere.
Curiosity: 1
Common sense: 0
I followed quietly.
He led her straight to the Emperor's private garden.
The moment the Emperor saw her, his face lit up like sunshine.
Great. A date.
I fled before they noticed me.
But a few steps from my room, a maid appeared.
"Her Majesty summons you."
Oh, fantastic.
Queen Shen waited in a quiet patio. I bowed.
"Sit," she said gently.
Her voice surprised me. Warm, but controlled.
Her maid poured tea. I copied the Queen's movements—trying not to look like a fraud—and sipped the tea.
Bitter. Horrible. I wanted sugar.
But I smiled and lied, "It tastes nice."
"You don't have to lie," Queen Shen said with a soft, knowing smile.
She had already read my face.
This woman was sharp.
I prepared to bow again, but she lifted a hand.
"No need. You apologise too much. You've done nothing wrong. Save your apologies for when they matter."
If only she knew how unapologetic I was back home.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Her smile was real. Genuine.
"What flowers do you like?" she asked suddenly.
My soul left my body.
I knew only roses.
"Uhm… any type. I like flowers in general."
"Everyone has a favorite." Her gaze sharpened slightly.
Think, Lia. Think.
"What is Your Majesty's favourite flower?"
"Wild plum blossoms… and rosaceae."
"Ro—what?"
"Roses," she said, amused.
"Oh! Yes. Roses. Of course."
Kill me.
"Let's walk," she said, rising. "I'll show you the garden."
Just what I needed.
But refusing a queen sounded like death, so I followed.
The garden was breathtaking. My jaw literally dropped.
The Queen named each flower with calm pride.
When we reached the wild plum blossoms, I ran forward and touched them gently.
"I change my answer—these are my favourite. They're gorgeous."
"I knew you would say that." Her smile deepened.
"How did you—How did Your Majesty know?" I corrected it.
"A feeling."
Then her gaze shifted.
"Oh. His Majesty and Lady Bao Si."
The Emperor was handing Bao Si a flower.
Her face stayed cold, emotionless.
And he liked that???
I looked at the Queen. Something felt off.
Did she bring me here on purpose?
"We should return," I said. "We shouldn't disturb His Majesty."
A lie.
I very much wanted to disturb them.
"It would be rude not to greet him," she said firmly.
I should've kept quiet.
I didn't.
"Wouldn't disturbing them be even ruder?"
Her eyes narrowed.
I made it worse:
"Or… was Your Majesty intending to disturb them?"
Congratulations, Lia. You have questioned the queen of an empire.
Before she could respond, a voice came from behind:
"Admiring flowers too?"
The Emperor.
Wonderful.
We bowed.
Bao Si's expression flickered—annoyance? Just a flash, but visible.
Delightful.
"I didn't know Your Majesty was here," the Queen said smoothly. "Concubine Bao Ji wished to see the garden."
Excuse me?
She threw me under the bus?
Fine. I wasn't going down alone.
"Replying to Your Majesty," I said sweetly, "Her Majesty praised the garden's beauty. I simply couldn't resist taking a look."
Now SHE looked annoyed.
Good.
"Since you're both here," the Emperor said, "let us admire the flowers together."
The Queen accepted.
I declined.
"We wouldn't want to interrupt Your Majesty's time with oncubine Bao Si."
Her glare could've incinerated me.
"It is an imperial order," the Emperor said.
I did not back down.
"Her Majesty and I would be honored… but what if concubine Si is displeased?"
The Queen's soul left her body.
I felt it.
The Emperor looked at Bao Si. "Would it bother you?"
"No, Your Majesty," she lied flawlessly.
In the end, I joined them.
And ruined their date.
Queen Shen didn't stop me.
Interesting.
Emperor Zhou
When the Bao sisters entered, my eyes found Bao Si immediately.
She was radiant.
Still is.
But then—
Bao Ji drew my attention without even trying.
She wasn't shy.
She wasn't timid.
She spoke to me as if we were equals.
Her apology lacked the fear most girls showed.
She felt… different.
After they left, Queen Shen murmured, "Interesting girl."
She meant Bao Ji, of course.
Later, I summoned Bao Si.
I needed to see her.
She arrived, bowed.
We walked together.
Her answers were short and polite.
She liked her room.
Good.
I gave her a flower.
She thanked me—without smiling.
What must I do to earn one genuine smile from her?
Before I could try, I noticed two figures in the distance: Queen Shen and Bao Ji.
Why were they here?
"Admiring flowers too?" I asked.
They froze like thieves caught red-handed.
The Queen blamed Bao Ji.
Bao Ji blamed the Queen.
Subtly, elegantly, almost playfully.
I had never seen Queen Shen like this.
When I suggested we admire the flowers together, the Queen agreed instantly.
Bao Ji resisted with surprising boldness—even against a direct order.
Who was this girl?
Bao Si, sensible and composed, said she didn't mind.
So we walked together.
I focused on Bao Si.
Her presence calmed me, consumed me.
Then—
Just before she left—
She smiled.
Barely.
Softly.
But it was enough to stop my world.
Her smile was more beautiful than every blossom in that garden.