Bao Ji (Lia)
It had been a few days since I started etiquette lessons, and at this point, I was convinced the instructor wanted me dead. I failed at everything. Literally everything.
Sewing? I stabbed myself more times than a soldier on a battlefield.
Flute? A dying pig's scream would sound better.
Calligraphy? The brush looked like it went through WW2 and was preparing for WW3.
Walking lessons? I looked like someone dodging invisible bees.
Meanwhile, the Emperor somehow found ways to spend time with Bao Si every single day.
While I dragged myself back from lessons—exhausted, sweaty, emotionally dead—my maid would appear with another piece of heartbreaking news:
"The Emperor invited concubine Bao Si for tea."
"They went for a walk."
"He played Go with her."
"He bought her hairpins from the market."
If I hadn't ordered my maid to secretly stalk them, I wouldn't have known how close they'd gotten in just a few days.
Could I stop it?
Nope.
I was too busy trying not to be the palace clown.
Which—by the way—failed too.
Maids whispered behind their sleeves, concubines giggled when I walked by, and I became the official joke of the palace.
Normally, I wouldn't care. But seeing the story unfold exactly like in history—while I failed miserably—made something inside me snap.
"My lady… are you feeling okay?" my maid asked gently.
"Yes. Why?" I lied.
I wasn't okay. I was seconds away from crying, screaming, or throwing etiquette manuals at someone's head.
"My lady looks very pale…"
I stopped. My tears started blurring my vision. I bit my lip, trying to hold myself together until I reached my room—
"Concubine Ji?"
I froze.
Please… not the Queen.
Not now.
I inhaled sharply, wiped my tears, forced on a smile, and turned.
"Yes?"
"Her Majesty would like to see you."
Of course she does. Why rest when you can suffer more?
"Let's go," I said, ignoring my maid's worried protest.
Inside the hall, I bowed. "Your Majesty, I pay my respects."
"Sit."
I obeyed.
"I've heard you have failed every etiquette lesson," Queen Shen said calmly.
What did she want me to say? Congratulations?
Since I stayed silent, she continued, "Is it truly that hard for you?"
Nah. Not at all. It's not like I'm a 21st-century Romanian girl time-travelling to 778 BC with zero preparation.
"I will improve," I said quietly. My whole body felt heavy.
I was tired—mentally, emotionally, spiritually.
Where are you, Bao Ji?
I really need you…
No answer.
"Is something bothering you?" the Queen asked.
"No… I'm just a little tired."
"Your cousin is the opposite of you," she said, sipping tea while watching me.
Of course she is. She's the beauty of the dynasty.
"Concubine Si has even managed to grow close to His Majesty."
Wow. She really knew how to twist the knife.
"I'm aware, Your Majesty."
Just thinking about it made my chest tighten. Everything was going exactly as history said, and I was powerless.
My hands began trembling.
"I would like to return to my chamber… I'm not feeling well."
Queen Shen stared at me for a moment—too long—but finally said, "Very well. Go and rest."
I bowed and lifted my head—
And the world spun.
The dizziness hit like a truck.
The room warped, swallowing itself.
I gasped loudly—like a fish thrown onto land.
"My lady!"
"concubine Ji, are you alright?!"
I shook my head, unable to inhale properly. Tears streamed down my face. I collapsed to my knees, clutching my chest.
"Call the physician," the Queen ordered.
"No! Please—no…" I croaked.
"Why not?"
"Just don't…" I begged through shaking breaths.
"Everyone outside," the Queen commanded. "Do not let anyone in."
The hall emptied.
Queen Shen knelt beside me, her voice soft—softer than I'd ever heard.
"Calm down. Breathe. You will be alright."
"Will I?" I cried. "Everything is falling apart. I can't do anything—nothing goes right. I can't… I can't…"
She hesitated, then placed a steady hand on my back.
"Calm yourself first."
I sobbed harder, rocking slightly.
I wasn't supposed to be here.
I wasn't supposed to fail.
I wasn't supposed to be alone.
I wanted my real bed, my real clothes, my real life.
I wanted to hide.
At some point, my cries softened. I felt hands helping me up, guiding me somewhere. She spoke to someone—her maid? Mine? I didn't know. I didn't care.
She could've sold me at that moment and I wouldn't have resisted.
Eventually, she laid me in a warm bed.
"Rest. If you need anything, tell me."
I said nothing. I simply turned my back to her.
Not out of disrespect—just exhaustion.
When I opened my eyes, I realised this wasn't my room.
The scent was… lavender?
The curtains were gold.
The blankets gold.
I turned—and saw Queen Shen asleep in a chair beside me.
She… stayed?
The moment my feet touched the floor, her eyes opened.
"How do you feel?" she asked, smiling faintly.
"I'm better." I blinked. "Your Majesty… did you stay with me?"
"I couldn't ignore you entirely."
"You could have asked the maids to stay."
"And let people gossip about your breakdown?" She narrowed her eyes. "They already laugh enough. I will not give them another reason."
My chest tightened—but not painfully this time.
"Thank you, Your Majesty… I don't know how to repay your kindness."
She stepped toward me, stopping my attempt to bow.
"You can repay me by not failing."
I smiled weakly. "I wish that too… but the universe seems to disagree."
She looked confused. I cleared my throat.
"I mean—I will do my best, Your Majesty."
"Good. You may return to your chamber. I excused you from lessons for three days."
"Thank you."
Before I left, she said casually:
"By the way… you have a very interesting mark on your wrist."
I froze.
Slowly turned.
"??"
"It's unique. I haven't seen anything like it."
"Everyone has a unique birthmark," I said quickly.
"Not like this," she replied.
I fled the room.
Outside, I glanced at my left wrist.
The faint, cold-coloured circle glowed subtly.
I must hide it better…
"My lady," my maid whispered, "Her Majesty was truly kind. She didn't let anyone enter. She even threatened to kill anyone who gossiped about your breakdown. And she stayed with you all night."
I stopped walking.
Someone cared.
Someone stayed.
I hadn't expected it to be the Queen.
– Emperor Zhou –
My routine these past days was simple:
Attend court—rush through it—escape.
Then hide behind pillars like a stalker to watch my lovely Bao Si during lessons.
She was perfect. Elegant. Graceful.
And then… there was Bao Ji.
No matter how much I tried focusing on Bao Si, my eyes always drifted to the chaotic mess sitting behind her.
I didn't watch her because she was beautiful. She wasn't ugly—none of my concubines were. But she wasn't Bao Si.
I watched her because she was… hilariously bad.
She stabbed herself sewing.
Her calligraphy looked like a brush fighting for its life.
Her walking resembled a newborn deer.
And the flute? An insult to the instrument.
Was she always terrible? Or were the rumors lies?
Today was the same. Court ended early, and I rushed to my secret spot.
I found Bao Si immediately—yellow robes, elegant hairpins, perfect posture.
But something felt off.
Too quiet.
Too peaceful.
"Is something missing?" I asked the eunuch.
He bowed. "If Your Majesty means a person… Lady Bao Ji did not attend lessons. Her Majesty excused her due to illness."
Ah.
So that's what was missing.
The chaos.
For three days, lessons were painfully calm. Beautiful, yes—but missing something.
I hated admitting it… but the silence felt strange.
After lessons, I took Bao Si out to buy her things—hairpins, robes… anything she looked at. I would sell myself if it made her smile.
The next morning, I expected another quiet session.
Instead—
There she was.
Bao Ji.
The lesson began—and she shocked everyone.
Her calligraphy was flawless.
Her flute notes perfect.
Her qin playing rivaled Bao Si's.
Her walk? Graceful.
What in the world…?
How can someone change like this?
Who is she?
She was an enigma—contradictory, confusing, impossible to understand.
– Bao Ji (Lia) –
After returning from the Queen's chamber, I locked myself in my room.
Didn't eat. Didn't speak.
My maid worried, but I didn't care.
I felt empty.
But I couldn't stay like that forever.
I came here for a reason.
I had to fight.
The next morning, on a whim, I picked up the flute.
Perfect sound.
What?
I rushed to try the qin—beautiful.
Calligraphy—flawless.
Walking—elegant.
I hugged my maid. She nearly died from shock.
So that's it…
Another piece of Bao Ji had merged with me.
She wasn't gone—she was part of me.
And I needed her.
When I arrived at lessons and performed perfectly, everyone stared.
Even Instructor Mama was speechless.
But Bao Si… Oh, she was NOT happy.
Her mask cracked for a moment, revealing frustration.
After class, she waited for me outside.
"Cousin really knows how to impress people," she said coolly.
"I'm not as good as you… cousin," I replied in the same cold tone.
She studied me, smirked, then left.
She actually smirked.
My maid blinked. "What's wrong with Lady Si?"
"Her ladylike facade is cracking. Her true colors are peeking," I muttered.
"I don't understand…"
"You don't have to."
I turned and walked away.
A new plan was forming.
And this time…
I wasn't failing.