She was halfway back to her assigned chambers when she heard the voices.
"Did you see her? The foreign girl?"
"The Crown Prince has never invited anyone to dine alone before. Not even Lady Meifeng."
Soyeon froze. Two women stood in the shadows ahead, their silk robes marking them as high-ranking. Concubines. Of course.
She tried to slip past quietly, but one of them stepped into her path.
"Well, well. The latest toy."
The woman was beautiful, devastatingly so, with sharp features and calculating eyes. Her robes were deep purple embroidered with phoenixes. High rank, then.
"I'm sorry," Soyeon said carefully. "I don't think we've been introduced—"
"Li Meifeng. First ranked concubine of His Highness the Crown Prince." Her smile was poisonous. "And this is Lady Chen Hua, second ranked. We wanted to... welcome you."
The other woman, softer, prettier, but with the same frosty eyes, laughed. "Welcome her? Sister Meifeng, you're too kind. We wanted to warn her."
"Warn me?" Soyeon's stomach sank.
"Oh yes." Lady Meifeng circled her like a predator. "You see, girls like you come through here all the time. Pretty little novelties that catch His Highness's eye. He's fascinated for a week, maybe two. And then..." She snapped her fingers. "He moves on. And those girls? They're left with nothing. No rank, no protection, no future."
"I'm not trying to—"
"Save it," Lady Chen Hua said. "We know your type. You think you're special because you're exotic. Because you saved the Second Prince. But you're not. You're just the flavor of the month."
Anger flared in Soyeon's chest. She had been through too much today, magic wardrobes, assassins, palace intrigue, tension with not one but two princes, and she was done being polite.
"You know what's funny?" she said, her voice sweet. "You're both so worried about me taking your precious Crown Prince's attention. But here's the thing—" she smiled "—I already refused him. To his face. In front of the entire court. So maybe the real question is.….why hasn't he visited either of you in so long that you're this threatened by a stranger?"
Both women's faces went white with rage.
"How dare you!"
"I'm just a foreign girl with no rank and no status," Soyeon continued, channeling every mean girl she had ever dealt with in med school. "If I'm this much of a threat to you, what does that say about your position?"
Lady Meifeng's hand flew up, but she stopped.
A shadow fell over them. A guard, massive and stern-faced, stepped forward.
"Lady Su Yan," he said formally. "His Highness the Crown Prince has assigned personal guards to ensure your safety. We've been instructed to escort you to your chambers. And..." His eyes flicked to the two concubines. "...to report any threats to your wellbeing directly to His Highness."
Oh. That was good.
Lady Meifeng lowered her hand, her face twisted with fury. But she bowed stiffly. "Of course. We were simply.…greeting our new sister. Weren't we, Lady Chen?"
"Yes," the other woman gritted out. "Simply greeting her."
"How kind," Soyeon said with a smile that was all teeth. "I look forward to getting to know you both better."
She swept past them, the guard following, and didn't look back.
Only when she was safely in her chambers did she let herself collapse against the door, heart pounding.
She had just made enemies. Powerful enemies. On her first day.
Great. Just great.
~
"Jiwoo-ah," Soyeon mumbled into her pillow the next day. "I had the craziest dream..."
The bed was soft. The sheets were silk. Everything smelled like flowers.
Wait.
Soyeon's eyes flew open.
The room was huge. Ornate. Definitely not her tiny officetel in Seoul. Silk curtains hung from the ceiling. Painted screens depicted mountains and rivers. Morning light filtered through rice paper windows.
"Oh no," she whispered. "Oh no no no."
She was still here. Still in ancient China. It wasn't a dream.
The wardrobe was real. The princes were real. The concubines who probably wanted her dead were real.
"Shit."
A soft knock on the door. "Lady Su? Are you awake? We've come to help you dress."
The same servants from yesterday entered with cheerful smiles, carrying fresh robes and cosmetics.
"Good morning, my lady! His Majesty the Emperor has requested your presence in the throne room this morning. We must make you presentable—"
"The Emperor?" Soyeon's voice came out as a squeak. "Why does the Emperor want to see me?"
"We don't know, my lady. But it's a great honor!"
An hour later, Soyeon was once again dressed in elaborate silk, this time in soft green and cream, her hair arranged with jade ornaments, her face painted with subtle cosmetics that made her look ethereal.
She barely recognized herself in the mirror.
"You're so beautiful, my lady," one of the younger servants sighed. "Like a fairy from the western mountains."
"Thanks," Soyeon muttered. "Can fairies go home to Seoul?"
"What's Seoul, my lady?"
"Nothing. Let's go."
~
The throne room was somehow more intimidating the second time.
Both princes were present. Prince Zhao Yifeng gave her an encouraging smile. Prince Liang Jian's expression was unreadable as stone.
The Emperor studied her with his sharp albeit tired eyes.
"Su Yan," he said. "You have rendered a great service to this empire by saving the Second Prince's life. Such merit must be rewarded."
"Your Majesty is too kind—"
"However." His voice hardened. "Your background remains unclear. Your story, suspicious. Until we can verify your identity and intentions, you will remain in the palace under supervision."
Soyeon's heart sank. She was a prisoner. A fancy, well-treated prisoner, but still.
"Furthermore," the Emperor continued, "your medical skills may prove useful. Therefore, I am assigning you to serve as personal physician to the Second Prince."
What?