Bao Ji (Lia)
"Your Majesty, I would like to go back and rest."
I heard a faint voice in the background. I didn't even know whose voice it was. I couldn't focus enough to figure it out.
All I saw were two eyes staring at me.
The Emperor's eyes.
He was the first to look away.
That snapped me back to my senses.
What was that? What just happened?
I looked around to see if anyone noticed. The Queen was looking between me and the Emperor. Not jealousy. Not anger. More like… she was analyzing what just happened.
Bao Si's face, though?
A completely different story.
She wasn't happy at all.
Before anyone could say anything, I excused myself and started walking back. I didn't even know who was walking behind me—and honestly, I didn't care. I just wanted to get to my room.
That night, I didn't sleep for one second.
My mind kept replaying the image of me and the Emperor, looking into each other's eyes. No matter how hard I tried, it wouldn't leave my head.
At one point, I even started working out.
When my maid saw me, she looked like she'd seen a ghost. I tried explaining that I was just trying to tire myself out, but she looked even more confused. So I just gave up and went back to bed.
At 6 a.m. I was already up, drinking that awful tea.
It still tasted terrible, but I was used to it.
For three hours, all I did was sit outside, completely absent-minded. I thought maybe I'd finally fall asleep sitting there.
Then I heard someone calling me.
"Concubine Bao Ji?"
I stood up.
The eunuch.
Great.
"The Emperor is waiting for Lady Ji for tea."
My eyes widened. "What? Me??"
"Yes. You. The Emperor is currently with the Queen and concubine Bao Si. They are waiting for you, concubine Ji."
"I would love to go," I said quickly, forcing the sweetest voice I could manage, "but I'm not feeling well. I would like to stay in and rest."
The eunuch looked at me in silence.
I shot my maid a look—help me.
"Yes," my maid said immediately. "My lady is not feeling well."
Thank God she isn't dumb.
"I will let you rest. I will report it back to His Majesty," the eunuch said, then left.
"My lady, why did you lie?" my maid asked, confused.
"Technically, I didn't lie."
I stared at her. The silence and the way she was looking at me wasn't helping.
"Okay," I admitted. "I guess I could've gone. BUT I didn't sleep all night, and I'm too tired to deal with anything, so… it wasn't exactly a lie."
What am I even saying?
It's not like he asked me on a date or some shit. Why did I refuse instantly?
Then the lantern festival flashed in my mind again—his eyes, my eyes, that stupid moment.
Seriously? Now my brain is bullying me?
It meant nothing.
So why can't I forget it?
"My lady?"
"Hm?" I answered, still half inside my overthinking delulu-land.
"What if the Emperor brings the physician to check?"
I snapped my gaze to my maid so fast it could've broken my neck.
"No. He wouldn't."
I stayed silent for a few seconds while the little wheels in my brain started turning.
"Tell me he wouldn't. Please tell me the Emperor won't bring the physician."
"He might," my maid said carefully. "In the end, my lady turned down His Majesty, saying you're not well. He might do that."
Fuck.
I forgot we're not in modern times where you can just say "I'm sick" and hide in bed.
Here?
This is the ancient era. Kings. Emperors.
If the physician checks me, he'll know immediately I'm fine.
I started pacing back and forth in my room, panicking.
Then I stopped.
Why the fuck am I panicking? It's not like I stole candy. And I didn't exactly lie. It was half a lie.
"Please don't come. Please don't come. Please don't come," I started chanting under my breath like it would magically stop him.
"His Majesty arrived!" I heard the eunuch shout outside my door.
"FUCK. ME. SIDEWAYS."
I jumped into bed so fast I nearly flew.
My maid opened the door.
Please don't betray me. Please don't betray me. She was given to me by the Queen, but still—if she opens her mouth now, I'm dead.
I don't even care if the Queen finds out I lied. I literally said I wasn't well just to avoid their little tea party.
But in front of the Emperor?
No thank you.
The moment the door opened, the Emperor rushed in like his butt was on fire.
"Physician!" he barked. "Check concubine Ji quickly. What is wrong? Is she okay?"
Worried.
He looked worried.
About me?
ME?
Behind him stood the Queen and Bao Si. The Queen looked worried too. Bao Si had her poker face… mixed with annoyance.
I disturbed them?
Good. Be mad, cousin.
But seeing the Emperor and the Queen actually worried about me moved something in my chest. It made me feel… less alone.
"What is wrong?" the Queen asked, worried.
When the physician approached my bed, I started talking fast. Too fast. If he takes my pulse, he'll feel it's normal. The only thing he'll feel is my heart going bum-bum way too fast now.
"I just have a terrible headache. I couldn't sleep at all last night, so now I'm tired and I have a headache," I said, trying to mostly look at the physician or the Queen—but my eyes kept drifting back to the Emperor's worried gaze.
The physician took my pulse anyway, checked me, then bowed.
"Reply to Your Majesty: concubine Ji is tired from not being able to sleep last night. That is why she is having headaches. I will prescribe medicine."
The Emperor nodded, then looked at the eunuch. Then he turned to my maid.
"Maid Mei, go with the physician. Prepare the medicine for concubine Ji."
My maid bowed and left with the physician, leaving me alone with the Emperor, the Queen, and Bao Si.
"Oh, cousin." Bao Si came closer, sat on the edge of my bed, and took my hand. "What happened to you? How come you couldn't sleep last night? Something was on your mind?"
I tried to pull my hand away, but she held it so firmly I thought she'd leave fingerprints on my skin.
I looked at the Queen.
Her eyebrow was slightly raised. Her face literally said: what the actual fuck?
I tried to signal her with my eyes: help me.
But Bao Si wasn't done.
"Or more exactly… someone was on your mind?"
I blinked. "Someone? What do you mean?"
"Nothing," she said, voice smooth. "Maybe thinking about someone made you sleepless."
Who was she hinting at?
Then I looked at the Emperor and it hit me.
She thinks I was thinking about the Emperor all night?
"Or maybe you kept thinking about the person who bumped into you," Bao Si added sweetly. "He was mysterious."
What the hell is wrong with this woman? She never spoke like this before.
"Why would I think about that person?" I snapped. "I don't even know who it is. And to be honest, I don't even care."
I yanked my hand out of hers, then added, "Or maybe you're the one thinking about that person, but you're too ashamed to admit it."
Bao Si went silent.
Good.
I don't know what game she's trying to play, but it's not working on me.
Before she could reply, the Emperor suddenly grabbed Bao Si by the arm, pulled her up, and moved her back.
"Don't talk nonsense," he said sharply. "Let her rest."
"I was j—" Bao Si tried.
"You can go back," the Emperor cut her off.
I just… stared.
Did he really send Bao Si away?
Because of me?
No. No way.
It can't be because of me.
Right?
Bao Si left the room, and then—like it wasn't already insane enough—the Emperor sat down on the edge of my bed.
"Try to rest today," he said. "If you need anything, just let me know."
He noticed my shocked face and corrected himself quickly.
"I mean… your maid. You can tell your maid. And if… you know… your maid can't help you, tell her to let me know."
We stared at each other.
My breath caught. My heart thudded loud.
Then he added, softer, "Or let Queen Shen know."
I nodded.
That's all I could do.
He stood up and left.
What… what was that?
What is this feeling?
I tried to shake it off, but the moment I did, the Queen sat down beside my bed.
"How are you feeling?" she asked.
Before I could answer, she added, "For real."
She knew.
"I'm okay," I said. "I just have a headache because I couldn't sleep."
She gave me that look. The look that screamed: I don't believe you for one second.
I sighed. "Okay, okay!! I don't really have a headache… but I really didn't sleep, and I'm too tired to deal with Cruella— I mean, to deal with Bao Si."
The Queen smiled and gently patted my head.
"In front of me, you don't have to pretend or lie," she said. "Just tell the truth. You know I don't eat people."
This woman truly deserves to be Queen.
"Okay," I muttered.
"We can deal with her on other days too," the Queen said calmly. "We still have time."
"We will have to," I said. "Especially after today. I don't know what her motive was with those questions, but she isn't playing with me."
"I noticed too," the Queen replied. "She probably wanted to get you into trouble. She just didn't expect it to backfire."
"True."
Our conversation got cut off when my maid returned with the medicine.
"Let me," the Queen said, taking the bowl and feeding me herself.
I felt like a little sister being spoiled by her big sister.
It was… nice.
Then I took one sip and made the ugliest face of my life.
"Oh God. It's way too bitter. I can't drink it."
"Bring sweets," the Queen ordered my maid instantly.
"Seriously?" I asked, shocked.
"What?" she said, like it was obvious. "You said it's bitter. You'll eat something sweet after."
"But—"
Pointless. Completely pointless to argue.
I drank it.
My maid returned fast, and I stuffed my mouth with sweets like my life depended on it. The bitter taste was still there, but it was better.
"Now try to rest," the Queen said. "If you need anything, let me know."
I nodded and laid down like a good little girl.
After she left, my maid closed the door and came to me with a huge grin.
"His Majesty cares about my lady," she whispered.
"What? No."
"Of course he does," she insisted. "I heard that the moment the eunuch said my lady wasn't well, the Emperor stood up without saying a word and rushed here. He even ordered that if the physician isn't here in two minutes, his head will be between his legs."
I stared at her, speechless.
Does he really care?
"He was just worried someone would die in the palace," I said quickly. "He wasn't worried about me."
Did I believe that?
Fuck no.
He literally sent Bao Si away. His face looked worried as hell.
But no. No. He cares about all his concubines. If someone dies, people will gossip about him. He doesn't want a bad reputation. That's it. That's the reason.
"Yeah," I said, forcing it. "That's the motive."
"I want to rest now," I told my maid.
I turned on my side and closed my eyes, trying to sleep.
But my mind whispered: what if he actually cares about you?
Stop it.
Don't think.
It's nothing.
I'm imagining it.
But all I could see—eyes open or closed—was his worried face.
The next morning, I woke up feeling fresh.
Good. Happy.
That happiness lasted exactly two seconds.
My maid rushed in.
"My lady, His Majesty ordered all the concubines to go for a walk with him."
All of us.
"What the hell?"
I wanted to stay in. I really did.
But I can't lie this time.
"Well," I muttered, already bracing myself. "I guess I have to go."