Morning light crept through the silk curtains, pale and quiet.
The candle from last night had burned down to wax.
Its thin smoke curled upward, tracing the air like fading memory.
文倩 (Wén Qiàn) .. or rather 林树敏 (Lín Shùmǐn) sat still on the edge of the bed.
Her fingers trembled around the blanket.
This wasn't a dream.
She had woken up twice, pinched herself until her skin reddened, and still, the silk didn't vanish.
The air still smelled of lotus and sandalwood.
This was real.
Too real.
She drew a slow breath.
If this was the world of The Moon and the Throne, then she was living inside the story.
Inside the concubine who killed the Queen.
Her chest tightened at the thought.
No... Not me... I'd never do that...
This wasn't a dream.
She had truly transmigrated into The Moon and the Throne.
And worse
She was inside the body of the concubine who killed the Queen.
Her pulse thudded unevenly.
No..! That won't be me.
Never me...!
A soft knock.
"May I come in, my lady?"
Shumin hesitated
"...Yes."
The curtain lifted.
A young maid stepped inside, eyes red, tray in trembling hands.
" 早上好!(Good morning)My lady, are you all right?"
Shumin blinked. "Who… are you?"
The tray clattered to the floor.
Porcelain rolled, soup spilling onto silk.
The maid froze, face draining of color.
"Y..you don't remember me?" she whispered, voice cracking.
"I'm 舒嫣 (Shū Yān)… Shu Yan!"
Her eyes filled with tears.
"How could you forget? Did I do something wrong ..My lady ?"
She dropped to her knees, clutching Shumin's sleeve.
"Please...my lady, don't cast me away."
Shumin's chest tightened.
"I.... no."
She reached out quickly.
"头疼,对不起 (Just a headache. I'm sorry)..Shu Yan."
The maid looked up through her tears, disbelief and relief mixing in her gaze.
"You scared me," she whispered.
"You've never forgotten me before."
Changed...
The word lingered in the air like smoke.
Shu Yan tidied the room in silence, lighting incense with careful hands.
Shumin watched her, the way her movements were so practiced, so familiar to this body, yet foreign to her.
When the maid finished, she said quietly
"His Majesty and Her Majesty will pass through the garden soon. Would you like to see them?"
The Queen. 顾昭瑶 (Gù Zhāoyáo).
The woman Shumin had once admired through a screen.
Her chest tightened. "Yes."
Shu Yan blinked. "You want to go out? You haven't....."
"I said yes."
The maid bowed quickly. "Understood, my lady."
---
Cold air brushed Shumin's face as they stepped outside.
The garden was wide and bright, the air sweet with plum blossoms.
Servants bowed as she passed, whispering softly.
"She still leaves the Cold Palace?"
"The King never visits her...."
She ignored them.
At the far end of the bridge, she saw them
the King 李湛 (Lǐ Zhàn) and the Queen 顾昭瑶 (Gù Zhāoyáo).
He in black, she in crimson.
Grace and power, walking side by side.
They looked perfect together.
Her throat tightened.
That was the Queen she'd admired the woman who smiled even when doomed to die.
Not this time, she thought. I'll save you.
The Queen's gaze lifted, meeting hers from across the garden.
It wasn't cruel..just calm, curious.
A faint, gentle smile curved her lips before she turned away.
The King didn't even glance at Shumin.
And yet, that one smile from the Queen made her heart ache.
She was alive. Still untouched by the ending Shumin had read a hundred times.
When the royal pair disappeared from view, Shu Yan stepped closer.
"My lady, are you... all ..right?"
Shumin's voice was steady. "I just wanted to see them."
The maid hesitated, looking uncertain.
"Please, my lady, don't be upset...."
Shumin cut her off, words sharp:
"你有病吗 (Nǐ yǒu bìng ma)!! They're lovely together. Why should I be upset?"
Shu Yan flinched, bowing her head. "huh..no?..!!.Forgive me.. my lady..."
Shumin sighed quietly. "Forget it... Let's go back."
-----
The Cold Palace welcomed her with its usual silence.
Shu Yan brought a bowl of medicine.
"For your headache," she said softly.
Shumin nodded, sipping it slowly.
"Yeaakkkk!!"
The taste was bitter, grounding.
When Shu Yan left, Shumin walked to the window.
The garden glowed faintly under the sunlight, petals drifting through the air like snow.
Her heart calmed.
"I'll save her," she whispered to herself.
"Maybe after that… I can leave this world."
The wind stirred through the courtyard as His Majesty strode ahead, his black robe trailing like a shadow.
Shumin's breath caught.
'This day… I remember it...oh!..no!'
Today the King would go hunting with less guard.
He'd be ambushed.
Grievously wounded.
The Queen would spend sleepless nights praying beside his bed.
Her pulse raced.
'Not this time. I won't let it happen..'
She gathered her robe and ran.
Silk brushed marble. Servants gasped as she dashed down the steps, almost slipping on the polished floor.
Before anyone could stop her, she spread her arms wide
blocking the King's path.
The soldiers froze.
李湛 (Lǐ Zhàn) halted mid-step.
His gaze was sharp, cold, imperial.
"How dare you," he said, his voice like frost.
"Do you think the Cold Palace gives you courage, Concubine?"
Shumin swallowed hard, heart pounding.
"You can't go," she said quickly.
"It's dangerous...!! Someone will attack you."
A flicker of amusement crossed his eyes
cruel, disbelieving.
"Attack me?" he repeated. "Who would dare?"
"Please..!! Your Majesty," she pressed on, "just this once....listen to me!"
The King's expression hardened.
He stepped closer, the scent of sandalwood and steel sharp around him.
"Move aside," he said softly, "before I forget you exist."
His hand brushed her shoulder
not gently, but with enough force to make her stumble.
Pain shot up her arm.
Still, she didn't let go.
Desperation drove her next move.
She dropped to her knees, grabbed his leg, and clung on like her life depended on it.
"Please don't go!" she blurted. "你有病吗 (Nǐ yǒu bìng ma)! Don't go the Queen Zhāoyáo
will be upset!"
The words slipped out before she could stop herself.
Silence...
The King froze.
Every guard turned to stone.
His gaze darkened until it felt like winter itself had entered the courtyard.
"What did you just say?....
What kind of filthy language are you using?"
he asked slowly, dangerously.
His voice dropped lower. "Did you dare mention the Queen's name?"
He jerked his leg back, eyes narrowing.
"Watch your tongue, Concubine....Her name isn't meant for your filthy mouth."
His shove sent her stumbling backward
her foot caught on the edge of the stone path, and she fell, splashing into the shallow pond beside the bridge.
The water was cold.
Her hair floated around her face, silk robes heavy as chains.
Above her, the King glared down, disgust shadowing his features.
He turned sharply, cloak sweeping, and walked away without a backward glance.
The guards followed, murmuring nervously.
The cold water clung to her like second skin.
Shumin coughed, wiping her face with trembling hands.
One of her guards hesitated, glanced at the King's fading figure, then stepped forward quickly.
"Concubine, please...allow me."
He reached down and pulled her out of the pond, his grip firm but respectful.
Her silk robe was soaked through, heavy as chains.
She stood there, dripping, breathing hard, staring in the direction the King had gone.
' That forest...
He'll be ambushed there.'
Her pulse quickened.
The book's words flashed in her mind ..
the arrow..
the blood ..
the Queen's scream...
'Not again...!'
Before the guard could stop her, she turned and ran.
"Wait...Concubine! You'll catch a cold!"
But she didn't care.
Her feet splashed through puddles, wet silk dragging, hair plastered to her neck.
She ran past the garden, through the narrow corridor, out the back gate.
The forest loomed close dense, dark, silent except for the rustle of leaves.
And there, just as she remembered
the King, bow in hand, aiming at a small white rabbit.
His one remaining guard stood a few steps behind, unaware of the shadow between the trees.
Her breath caught.
She saw it
a faint glint of metal, the shimmer of an arrow.
' Now!'
She sprinted forward and threw herself toward him.
The world blurred.
Her shoulder slammed into his chest, and they both fell
hard.
An arrow whistled past, slicing the air where his head had been.
It hit a tree trunk with a solid thunk.
The forest went silent.
For a heartbeat, no one moved.
Then the King's body shifted above hers
solid, heavy, alive.
His breath came hot against her ear.
She blinked up, dazed, realizing how close they were
her soaked robe pressed against his armor, his hair brushing her cheek.
"Get off me," he said, voice low and cold.
She blinked, breathless. "You're welcome."
His jaw tightened. "You...."
But then his gaze shifted, catching the arrow embedded deep in the bark.
His eyes darkened.
"Guard!" he barked.
The soldier rushed forward. "Your Majesty!"
"Find who did this," the King ordered.
"Now."
The guard sprinted into the trees.
The King's attention returned to Shumin, still lying on the grass, her wet hair tangled around her face.
He looked down at her not gratitude, not softness, only disbelief.
"You knew," he said slowly. "You knew this would happen."
Shumin smiled faintly, though her heart was still racing.
"I told you not to go," she said. "You didn't listen."
His eyes narrowed.
"Do you realize what it means to touch me without permission? To throw yourself at me like..."
"Like saving your life?" she interrupted, half laughing, half breathless.
"I know. Terrible crime."
For a moment, he just stared at her expression unreadable, somewhere between fury and confusion.
Then he exhaled sharply, as if disgusted with himself.
"Take her back to the palace," he told the remaining guard.
"And make sure she doesn't speak of this."
He turned toward his horse.
"Wait!" Shumin called after him. "At least admit I was right!"
He mounted without looking back.
"You're insufferable," he said flatly. "And completely out of line."
She grinned, wiping mud from her cheek. "Still alive though."
He paused for half a second
barely noticeable before spurring his horse forward and vanishing into the trees.