Xiao Zhi woke before dawn.
For a long moment, she did not move. She had not wanted to get up for work for most of her adult life, but this was different. At least in her old world, even when everything felt jaded, it still led somewhere. At least she got paid. At least she could spend that money on a concert ticket for her favorite idol. At least she could spend weekends with her friends, or just chill with her cat while binge-watching dramas. Work was bearable then.
But here, why was she even doing this? Why was she even waking up in the morning? This was not even the real world. Was she really doing all this just to survive? Survive from what? They might as well kill her right there, right then.
Her chest rose and fell slowly. She could feel the ache in her shoulder, a painful reminder of yesterday's labor. Gone were her manicured fingers, replaced by dry, rough skin on her palms.
She sat up slowly, using every bit of will she had. A soft groan escaped her throat, which she quickly swallowed.
She remembered those motivational quotes she used to scroll past on social media. To survive the day when you feel like you have no reason to live, just start slow.
One step at a time.
All she needs to do is survive today. Do not get slapped. Do not die. Pretty easy.
She crossed the small space of her chamber, knelt beside the drawer, and opened it.
The pill was still there. She sighed in relief. Then she reached for the jar beside it, the ointment Ruhan had left her. Her fingers hovered over it for a heartbeat longer than usual.
Her mind wandered back to him.
She took a small dab and applied it to her sore muscles. There were too many bruises to count. It felt like the ointment was never enough. This was the third bottle Ruhan had given her, and it was almost empty. Would he come back to give her a new one?
Again, her thoughts drifted to the handsome eunuch.
The cold paste stung immediately against her skin. She resisted the urge to grimace, forcing herself to breathe evenly as the chill lingered. Pain means you are still alive.
She rose and washed her face with cold water. The basin trembled slightly beneath her touch. When she looked down, her reflection appeared in the rippling surface. Pale, disheveled, almost like a walking zombie.
Who is this girl?
She remembered looking into the mirror when she first arrived in this world, back in Hua. She had looked radiant and beautiful, like a celebrity stepping out of a spa. She could not remember when that was anymore. How long had she been trapped in this cursed world? Weeks? Months?
She dressed quickly, moving automatically, as if on autopilot.
Today, the maids had sent her to work in a different wing. Apparently, the labor in her usual quarters was not enough. She was now assigned to another section of the palace, where a different group of concubines stayed. Xiao Zhi had long lost count of how many concubines she had served, or how many had slapped her for amusement. Kabil certainly had a talent for collecting women.
By the time she finished, the sun had begun to sink. Evening had come.
She sighed. She had survived the day. She gave a mental high five to herself.
Journey back to her room was blurred. Again, everything felt like autopilot. Her thoughts kept wandering as she walked, back to the one person she still had not seen.
Ruhan.
Lost in thought, she did not notice the familiar palace paths giving way to unfamiliar ones. Only when the walls around her changed did she realize she had wandered somewhere unknown.
Her heart skipped a beat. Great. Just great. I'm lost.
She slowed down, scanning her surroundings. This part of the palace was quiet, tucked away from the main halls. The air felt cooler here, and the only sound she could hear was her own heartbeat.
It felt like a scene straight out of a horror movie.
She shivered.
Then she noticed it.
Thin wisps of steam curled into the air, emerging from behind a tree.
Curiosity got the better of her. Following the steam, she came upon a structure hidden between stone walls. Her eyes widened, and for a moment, she held her breath.
A man-made hot spring.
"A hot spring? In the middle of the palace?" she muttered.
In front of her was a big, no, huge pool. The water bubbled gently, steam rising steadily into the air. The stonework was carefully carved and well maintained, designed in a way that made it clear it was not for servants or even concubines. It had been built for someone important. Tughril had no natural hot springs. This was crafted, constructed.
Her mind drifted, unguarded for the first time in days.
She glanced around, listening. The palace was quiet here, too far from the main halls to draw attention. No voices. No footsteps. Only the faint sound of water moving.
Back in her world, she had only seen places like this in TV ads or glossy brochures for luxury tourist destinations. And now it was right in front of her, exactly as advertised.
The thought brought a faint smile. Her body ached from the day's labor, and the idea of submerging herself, even briefly, in warm water was too tempting to resist.
She removed her outer garments and eased into the pool.
The heat wrapped around her instantly, sinking deep into muscles that had forgotten what relief felt like. She let out a long breath she had not realized she was holding. For the first time that day, she relaxed, just a little.
For a fragile moment, pain and fear loosened their grip. She sank lower, letting her shoulders submerge, listening to the soft bubbling of the water. The warmth spread through her, loosening the tension she had not known was gripping her spine and ribs. Her muscles sighed against the heat.
If I had my phone, I'd be posting selfies with cucumber slices on my eyes right now.
She joked to herself, trying to keep the reality of her situation at bay.
Then she heard it.
A faint sound. Someone's voice.
A shift in the steam. A ripple across the water that had not come from her movement.
Her gaze snapped up. Through the mist, a silhouette appeared. Tall, broad-shouldered, and way too close.
She panicked.
"Ah—!"
She opened her mouth to scream, but the world moved faster than she could. A firm hand clamped over her mouth, steadying her in place.
The heat of the water vanished from her mind, replaced by the terrifying, solid weight of the person pinning her against the stone edge.