Lu Hua was trying to find her place in this strange new world, caught between her past and a present she was still figuring out. Zihao, the Sixth Prince, was starting to feel like a steady presence in her life, doing small things that made her heart feel funny, even if she wasn't sure why.
His courtship continues.
One morning, she went to her usual spot by the window, where the sunlight made everything feel a bit warmer. There was a new book waiting for her. It wasn't like the bird books Zihao had given her before. This one had a cover with mountains and weird looking ships, like something from a faraway place. She ran her fingers over the title, and a wave of homesickness hit her, not just for those places in the book, but for her own time, her real home. She glanced at Zihao, who was sitting nearby, reading a scroll. He didn't look up, but she could tell he knew she was there.
A few days later, while she was sorting herbs with Beihe, her hands smelling like dried plants, Lu Hua let out a quiet sigh. "I miss tian mian jiang," she said under her breath, thinking of that sweet, savory sauce from her old life. She didn't even realize she'd said it out loud. But that night at dinner, there it was, a small bowl of tian mian jiang next to her rice. She froze, staring at it, then at Zihao. He was fiddling with his chopsticks, acting like nothing was up, but she knew he'd done it. Her stomach did a weird flip.
One evening, they were hanging out in his study. The air smelled like ink and old paper. Lu Hua was reading that travel book again, lost in stories about far-off lands. Zihao was sketching, his brush moving quietly. A piece of her hair slipped out of its pin and fell across her cheek, but she didn't notice. Zihao stopped sketching. He looked at her hair, then at her face, and slowly reached out, like he was going to tuck it back.
Lu Hua caught the movement out of the corner of her eye. Her instincts kicked in, she'd been through too much to let her guard down. Her hand shot up and grabbed his wrist before he could touch her. His skin was warm, his pulse racing under her fingers. They both froze, staring at where her hand held his wrist, his fingers so close to her face. Zihao's face turned red, and Lu Hua felt her own cheeks get hot. His eyes met hers, wide and surprised, and the air felt heavy, like something big was about to happen.
After a second that felt like forever, Lu Hua let go, pulling her hand back fast. Zihao dropped his arm and went back to his sketch, but his hand was shaky. They didn't talk for the rest of the night, the silence feeling awkward.
---
While Lu Hua was dealing with whatever was going on with Zihao, someone else was creeping into her life. Lei Jun was obsessed. Seeing her again yet out of his reach, was driving him nuts. He regretted what he had done, but it wasn't just regret, it was like he needed her to notice him, to fix his mistake.
He started hanging around the palace library, saying he was reading old medical books from the Xuan dynasty. Really, he picked a spot by the windows so he could watch the path to Zihao's quarters. He wouy wait for Lu Hua to show up, maybe bringing back a book. When he saw her, he would spread out scrolls on his table, pretending to be busy.
"Princess," he say, jumping up and bowing, his voice a little too eager. "Good to see you. Are you okay? The palace can be damp this time of year. Maybe you need a tonic..." He'd trail off, hoping she'd say something.
Lu Hua saw right through him. The first time, she just nodded. "I'm fine, Physician Lei." she said, short and cold, and kept walking.
He tried again another day, stepping in front of her a little. "Do you like reading about the western provinces?" he asked, pointing at her book.
She stopped and gave him a look that could stop a storm. "I like peace and quiet, Physician Lei," she said, her voice sharp. "You keep messing that up." She walked around him without looking back.
Every time she shut him down, it hit Lei Jun hard. Her not caring was worse than if she'd yelled at him. It made him feel like nothing. He'd stay in the library after she left, staring at where she had been, his jaw tight, hands gripping a scroll he wasn't even reading.
Jiang Chen noticed everything. He saw Lei Jun's fake study sessions, the way his eyes followed Lu Hua, the way he got hopeful and then mad when she ignored him. Jiang Chen stayed close to Lu Hua whenever Lei Jun was around, standing just behind her, looking relaxed but ready to step in. The third time Lei Jun tried to block her path, Jiang Chen moved forward, putting himself between them. It was a small move, but it made Lei Jun back off, his face pale.
---
Another trouble came.
The calm Lu Hua was starting to feel with Zihao didn't last. Dexiu's drunken threats from before weren't just talk. He looked at her like she was something he owned, something he had thrown away and now wanted back. It made her skin crawl.
She could tell he was planning something. His eyes followed her too long across the palace courtyards, and she heard whispers from servants who worked for him. She stuck close to Jiang Chen, stayed away from quiet paths, and kept her eyes open. But Dexiu was a prince, with power and tricks up his sleeve. He knew the Empress liked Lu Hua and Zihao, and he knew people were talking about why they didn't have a kid yet. He decided to use that against her.
One afternoon, a servant ran up to Lu Hua, out of breath. "Princess! Come quick! The Empress is sick in the West Lotus Pavilion! She asked for you!"
Lu Hua's heart sank. The Empress had been kind to her, like family. She didn't think twice, she followed the servant, worry making her forget to be careful. Jiang Chen stayed right behind her, his hand near his sword. The servant took them to a small pavilion by the lotus pond, far from the main palace. It was too quiet.
"Inside, Princess," the servant said, pointing to the door. "The Empress is waiting."
Lu Hua pushed the door open and stepped into the dim room. It smelled like incense, heavy and sweet. Jiang Chen tried to follow, but the servant blocked him. "The Empress wants to see the Princess alone!" he said, his voice firm.
Jiang Chen's hand went to his sword. "I go where the Princess goes," he said, his voice low and dangerous.
Before he could push through, two big guards stepped out from behind pillars, blocking him. The door clicked shut, locking Lu Hua inside.
There was no Empress. Dexiu stood in the middle of the room, a creepy smile on his face.
"Lu Hua," he said, his voice smooth and gross. "Finally alone."
Her stomach dropped. "Where's the Empress?" she asked, stepping back, looking for a way out. The windows were locked. There was no escape.
"She's fine," Dexiu said, laughing softly. He smelled like wine, but his eyes were sharp. "I just needed to get you here. We need to talk."
"There's nothing to talk about," Lu Hua said, trying to keep her voice steady even though she was scared.
"Oh, there is," Dexiu said, stepping closer. His eyes ran over her, making her feel sick. "People are talking. They wonder why Zihao hasn't given you a kid. It makes him look bad. You too. Even the Empress." He leaned in, his voice low. "But I can fix that."
Lu Hua's heart stopped. "Get away from me," she said, her voice shaking but firm.
He didn't listen. "Picture it," he said, his voice slimy. "In a few months, you say you're pregnant. My kid. You'll come back to me, Lu Hua. Where you belong. We'll say it's fate... or maybe that Zihao's too weak to do his job."
His hand reached for her waist, trying to pull her close, to start his awful plan right there.
The smell of the lotus pond and incense made her feel sick. Memories hit her hard, water in her lungs when she first came to this time, the cold cellar floor, that crazy servant boy's eyes. The feeling of being trapped, helpless, like she didn't belong to herself.
No!
The word screamed in her head. Something deep inside her woke up, a strength she'd gotten from the System, meant for running or surviving, not fighting. As Dexiu's fingers touched her robe, she just moved.
Her fist clenched, pulled back, and swung. It wasn't a perfect punch, but it was fueled by fear and anger. Her knuckles hit his jaw with a loud *crack*. It felt like hitting something solid, too strong for a normal person. His head jerked to the side, eyes rolling back, his creepy smile gone. He didn't yell or stumble. He just fell, hitting the floor hard, not moving.
Lu Hua's breaths were loud and shaky. She stared at him, the *crack* ringing in her ears. Was he dead? Fear hit her hard, not just that he might wake up, but that she might have killed him. Her eyes flicked around the room. A heavy bronze incense burner sat on a table. She grabbed it, the cold metal heavy in her hands.
A sob slipped out. She lifted the burner high, her arms shaking with fear and anger. She couldn't let him get up. Couldn't let him touch her again. She swung it down with all her strength, hitting his head with a dull *thud*.
The room went quiet. The burner fell from her hands, clanging on the floor next to Dexiu. She stumbled back, pressing herself against the wall, her hands covering her mouth. She stared at him, not moving, and realized what she'd done. Her heart pounded, her mind racing.
Outside, she heard noise, Jiang Chen shouting, then the sound of fighting. Her heart jumped. He was trying to get to her. She wanted to yell for him, but her voice wouldn't come.