Sara lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling while the soft shuffling of her handmaid's footsteps echoed gently across the chamber. She hadn't dared to leave the mattress. After everything that had happened just moments before, the thought of facing anyone else made her chest tighten. Yet, the memory of the glowing quest screen lingered in her mind, repeating endlessly:
"Prove Your Innocence."
A sick sort of irony curled in her gut. It felt like a punishment. Or worse—a second chance she never asked for.
This wasn't a dream. She'd stopped telling herself that. The air here was too sharp, the pain too tangible. When she shifted beneath the covers, the ache in her limbs reminded her again: this body wasn't hers, but it was real.
She was Hau Lianxue now.
Would she ever return home? Did she want to? The thought chased itself in circles, dizzying and hollow.
Her eyes remained fixed above for another heartbeat before closing against the weight of her thoughts. Fatigue clung to her lashes, but sleep would not come easy. The thick blanket pressed against her chest as she clutched it tightly, her brows furrowed.
Then, a soft, clear voice cut through the stillness.
"Young miss… are you feeling well?"
Sara—now Lianxue—blinked, startled by the question. Her eyes shifted toward the source. Ming'er stood just a few steps away, bowing slightly, her hands tucked neatly before her. Her voice was cautious, as if afraid to speak.
It had been so long since someone asked that of her.
Her thoughts scrambled for the right response. Should she pretend to be the old Lianxue? But that would be exhausting—and dangerous. She let out a sigh, heavy with defeat, and pulled herself upright, legs dangling over the side of the bed.
"Not really…" she murmured.
Ming'er's eyes widened slightly—part fear, part something else. Curiosity, perhaps.
Sara lifted her hand and gestured vaguely to the room. The long sleeves of her robe slipped down her forearm, the movement unintentionally graceful. "I don't even know what's happening. And somehow… I have to survive?"
There was desperation in her voice. A tremor that had nothing to do with fear of Ming'er, but everything to do with the invisible burden she now carried. The handmaid hesitated, clearly unsure how to respond. They sat in silence, the space between them stretched taut like a bowstring.
A breeze drifted in through the open window. A soft chime tinkled, drawing Lianxue's gaze outward. The garden beyond was lush and deep green, peaceful in a way that felt foreign. She stared for a long moment, mesmerized by the way the wind made the chimes dance.
Something loosened in her chest. Her hands unclenched in her lap. Her shoulders relaxed.
She would survive. Somehow, she had to.
"Ming'er…" she finally said, voice quieter this time. Her eyes met the maid's. "I need to see what happened."
The expression that crossed Ming'er's face was pure horror. "Oh no, young miss! You mustn't! You're still recovering, and you were—"
Before she could finish, Lianxue reached out and gently took her hands, startling her. Ming'er flinched—an instinctive response born of habit and past cruelty, not from Sara, but from the girl whose body she now wore.
"Please, Ming'er," Lianxue said softly, lowering her head and bringing Ming'er's hands to her forehead in a plea. "My life may depend on it."
Ming'er gasped, recoiling in surprise. "Young miss, don't bow like that! If anyone saw—I'd be whipped!"
She knelt quickly, flustered and anxious, so that their eyes met without the gesture of submission. Her hands tried to guide Lianxue's face upward, panic rippling across her expression.
"If it means that much to you…" she relented, voice shaking. "Then we'll go. But at least let me help you into proper clothes first, yes?"
She gave a small, hopeful smile and gently brushed a few loose strands from Lianxue's cheek, coaxing a little warmth into her mistress's solemn face.
The dressing screen stood tall and painted with faded lotus blossoms, worn at the edges like the life Lianxue had inherited. Behind it, the morning light filtered through lattice windows and cast soft patterns on the floor, lending a fragile stillness to the air. Ming'er, sleeves tied up and brows furrowed in focus, carefully unfolded a pale lavender gown embroidered with faded silver clouds. It was beautiful, if modest—far more elegant than Lianxue expected, given how neglected her past self had been.
"Raise your arms, young miss," Ming'er said gently, her voice warm but cautious, like she was tending to a wounded bird.
Lianxue, lifted her arms obediently, and the cool silk brushed over her skin like water. The fabric pooled at her ankles, heavy with forgotten grace. There were no elaborate jewels, no shimmering jade clasps or phoenix brocade. Still, Ming'er had selected the finest of what little she seemingly had.
As Ming'er tightened the sash and straightened the folds, Lianxue sat before the bronze mirror stand. Her breath caught.
The girl staring back at her had pale, moon-touched skin, dark almond eyes, and a fullness to her cheeks and lips that made her look… soft. Feminine. The kind of beauty that should have inspired poetry, not cruelty. She was plush—not thin and graceful like Hana had been—but her beauty was unforgettable. The curve of her jaw, the long lashes that brushed the high slope of her cheeks, the way her collarbones peeked out from beneath the lavender silk.
She leaned forward slightly, studying herself with quiet awe.
"She's so beautiful..." Lianxue thought. "Why did she become so bitter?"
Her hand rose, brushing her cheek in a slow, uncertain motion. But the moment her fingertips made contact with her skin, the memory surfaced—unbidden, sharp.
Maids laughing. Cold water splashed into her basin. A comb tangled deliberately in her hair and pulled too hard. "Spoiled fatty," one hissed, "just crying again so her father feels bad for her." Then footsteps retreating and silence.
Lianxue flinched, her body recoiling from the mirror as though struck. Her breath hitched.
Behind her, Ming'er rustled through a worn wooden box of hair ornaments, too busy searching to notice. Lianxue quickly righted herself, hands folding neatly into her lap, eyes dropping to the floor. Shame crept into her chest like fog.
"Let's see…" Ming'er muttered aloud, "Where did I put that phoenix pin..."
Lianxue blinked. Her silence coaxed Ming'er to keep talking.
"oh! Did you hear about Elder Brother Li from the Fire Sect? Rumor says he broke a sword over the Palace gates demanding to see Princess Hana's body." Ming'er clicked her tongue. "Heard he nearly fought Prince Jinhai, too. They say the Empress had to intervene."
"The Empress?" Lianxue asked, voice soft.
Ming'er nodded. "Mm. She's been acting strange ever since the ceremony. Used to dote on the Princess like a second daughter. But after her coming of age?" She leaned closer, lowering her voice. "One of the kitchen girls swears Hana's handmaid—Liling, I think? She disappeared the night of the attack. No one's seen her since."
The words settled heavy in the air. Lianxue's gaze lifted slowly, her eyes meeting her own in the mirror once more.
Ming'er hummed thoughtfully, selecting a simple jade pin shaped like a sprouting bamboo leaf. "I'll use this one. It matches the lavender and you've always looked best in green, young miss. Soft colors suit you."
Lianxue gave a small nod, her heart pounding.
Ming'er stood at the foot of the bed, her eyes scanning the room, the soft sunlight filtering in through the windows. She tilted her head slightly, as though debating something in her mind, before she looked back at Lianxue, a gentle smile playing on her lips.
"Young miss," she began, her voice soft but earnest. "I must say, you've never looked more… radiant. The gown suits you perfectly."
Lianxue blinked at the compliment, her cheeks flushing faintly at the sudden attention. She faintly smiled, but the words didn't quite reach her heart. She hadn't ever believed the beauty that people saw in her. It wasn't her own reflection she saw; it was the same girl who had been mocked, ignored, dismissed. Still, there was a strange flutter in her chest at Ming'er's words, a warmth that she hadn't allowed herself to feel before.
"Thank you," she murmured, looking away quickly, as if to dismiss the compliment.
Ming'er, ever observant, didn't push. She reached out and gently helped Lianxue to her feet, her hands steady and comforting as they guided her. But the moment Lianxue's feet hit the floor, the weight of the gown and the unfamiliar sensation of the silken fabric pooling around her legs made her falter.
Lianxue took a wobbly step forward, her movements awkward and uncoordinated. The long dress, which trailed behind her like an elegant waterfall, suddenly felt like a tangle of fabric, catching on her feet and threatening to trip her. She lifted the hem in an exaggerated fashion, making a little noise of frustration as she tried to walk.
Ming'er frowned, stepping forward. "Young miss, please, be careful," she urged, her voice laced with concern. "You shouldn't rush—"
But Lianxue stopped her with a hand gently resting on her shoulders, "I'll be alright, just a little unsteady from resting for so long..."
Ming'er's heart softened. She sighed, clearly exasperated but unable to resist charm of her young miss. "Young miss, please," she insisted, her voice nearly a whisper, but there was no denying the doting affection in it. "You mustn't—"
"Ming'er, if I stay here in bed all day I'll rot away... At least let us wander about for a time."
Ming'er sighed in defeat but nodded reluctantly, trailing behind her as Lianxue stumbled forward, still grumbling about the uncomfortable dress, and making exaggerated strides as though the gown was snake coiling around her.
As they passed the servants in the hallway, their whispers rose, barely audible, but clear enough to reach Lianxue's ears. The murmurs were less than kind, mostly accusations and whispers about her actions, the grief over Hana's death, and their suspicions. But none dared to speak too loudly, offering only simple bows as they passed by her. There was no respect in their eyes, only distance. And yet, Lianxue took slow, deliberate steps, trying her best to walk in the formal gown and traditional garb.
As she passed the main building, a familiar sound echoed out from the gathering room. Two men were bickering loudly, their voices rising in anger, in what sounded like an argument barely restrained. Lianxue paused, recognizing the unmistakable cadence of Wei Yichen—and the icy sharpness of Prince Jinhai. Her steps faltering, as she listened to their bitter exchange.
"You should have stopped her! You're the one who was supposed to protect her!" one man shouted, slamming his fist against the wall.
"And what were you doing? Watching her die like a coward?" The second man growled back, his voice equally heated.
Lianxue remained where she stood, her heart pounding. She didn't want to get involved, but the sight of their fury, the tension that was almost palpable, held her in place. A fight was brewing, and the threat of violence lingered in the air.
Just as she thought it might escalate, a third figure stepped from behind a pillar, his presence commanding and calm. He was taller than the others, his robes darker, more refined, and though he stood with an air of detached grace, there was an edge to him. His eyes scanned the bickering men before he spoke, his voice cutting through the noise like a blade.
"Really? You two are still arguing over this?" The man's voice dripped with sarcasm, but beneath it, there was an undeniable sharpness. "Both of you failed. Let's not pretend otherwise."
Lianxue's breath caught in her throat as his eyes snapped to hers. There was no warmth in his gaze. No pity. Only an unsettling coldness that sent a shiver down her spine. A twisted, almost cruel smile spread across his lips, and for a moment, Lianxue felt as though she were staring directly into the abyss.
Her heart skipped a beat, her legs threatening to give way as she quickly averted her gaze. Without another word, she turned and hurried away, the man's mocking eyes never leaving her.
"Let's go, Ming'er!" Lianxue called, her voice breathless.
Ming'er, concerned, hurried to catch up, but Lianxue wasn't stopping. She was already heading toward Hana's chambers, drawn by an almost magnetic force.
The building was nearly destroyed, the signs of the demon attack still evident in every shattered piece of wood and ruined banner. Blood stained the floors, the air heavy with the stench of death and decay. Lianxue's feet faltered for a moment, her breath shallow as she carefully stepped through the debris.
She pushed the door open, her eyes scanning the room, looking for anything that could give her some clue—something, anything, that could point her toward the truth.
As she stepped carefully into the room, the floor beneath her feet groaned. She paused, her eyes falling on a small, delicate object lying on the ground.
A hairpin.
It was simple, unadorned, but there was something about it that felt… wrong.
Lianxue knelt slowly, picking it up carefully. She ran her fingers along its surface, her thoughts spinning. The pin had the faintest traces of blood on it, but that wasn't the oddest thing. If Sara, Lianxue, remembered right Hana only wore gold and this hairpin was copper with barely any traces of silver on it.
To put it bluntly, it simply didn't belong in a place where the most sought after and desired woman would be. It was simply to simple for a princess, at least to Lianxue.
Gripping the hair pin tightly in her hand, she went to stand only to gasp as she found Ming'er held with a blade to her neck, the three cultivators staring at her with cold eyes as Ming'er whimpered to scared to move. A whisper of, 'young miss...' Coming from her lips which resulted in the blade pressing against the skin of her neck more, a bead of crimson doting the blade.
"Ah Princess Lianxue... What is that you've found?" The man with dark, abyss, eyes and a twisted grin asked, his eyes glinting dangerously as if warning her to lie.
"Mo Qianshi..." She gasped, her memory of the book and of Lianxue coming into play as her eyes widen in fear and her breath caught in her throat. She felt like she was standing in front of three very, very, hungry lions.
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📜 Status Update:
Current Quest: Prove Your Innocence
Clues Found: Copper Hairpin
Known People:
Ming'er (Loyal)
Hau Wenji (Unknown)
Mo Qianshi (Dangerous)
Wei Yichen (Disgusted)
Li Jinhai (Heartbroken)