My hands... are actually glowing?
What kind of ghost situation is this?
Could I really be the chosen heroine, about to awaken some hidden superpower?
I widened my eyes, staring at my own fair and slender hands. I saw that my skin, originally like jade, was suffused with a faint golden light, dimming and brightening, flashing rhythmically like breathing.
"Your Ladyship, are... are you all right?" Shen Li asked cautiously, her face pale with fright and her voice completely out of tune.
"I'm fine. Stay calm. Just a minor scene." I waved my hand with feigned composure, while panicking like crazy inside.
Isn't this [Time-Space Shuttle Bead] a bit too unstable?
It didn't do this the last time I used it!
Before I could even react, the golden light flared brightly, instantly enveloping me.
I only felt my vision blur and the world spin, as if my whole body was being sucked into a massive vortex.
When I opened my eyes again, the surrounding scenery had completely changed.
It was no longer my familiar bedchamber, but an antique room.
Carved wooden windows, exquisite screens, and a faint fragrance of sandalwood permeating the air—everywhere exuded a classical atmosphere.
Could it be that I... traveled through time again?
I hurriedly checked my body. Fortunately, it was still this same outfit, still this same face.
It seemed that this time it was only a soul traversal; my physical body was still back in the original world.
When you arrive at a place, you must adapt to it. I took a deep breath and began to survey my surroundings.
This was a study. The bookshelves were lined with ancient texts, a few ink wash paintings hung on the walls, and the desk was set with brushes, ink, paper, and an inkstone.
It seemed that the owner of this body should be a man of letters.
I walked over to the desk, picked up a book at random, and flipped it open.
"On the XX day of the XX month of the XX year, the Empress conspired to frame the Su clan, intending to use the crime of ** to put her to death..."
Crap! What is this? A diary? And the content is explosive!
I hurriedly turned to the next page.
"On the XX day of the XX month of the XX year, the Empress colluded with **, intending to ** at the banquet..."
My heart began to race. It looked like this time travel had brought me to the right place!
I turned the pages one by one, growing more and more alarmed the more I read.
This diary recorded in detail how the Empress plotted step by step to frame me, including what would happen at the banquet, what methods the Empress would use, and even the details were written down clearly.
This was simply a "Empress's Self-Destruction Plan"!
With this information, I could prepare in advance, take things as they come, and completely ruin the Empress's conspiracy!
I closed the diary excitedly, my heart filled with fighting spirit.
However, just at that moment, I suddenly felt a wave of dizziness.
"Hiss..."
I clutched my head, feeling my mind descend into chaos. Countless fragments of memory surfaced, only to vanish just as quickly.
I tried hard to grasp those fragments, but found that they slipped through my fingers like sand, ultimately vanishing without a trace.
When the headache gradually subsided, I realized I had forgotten something.
I couldn't remember... What had I forgotten?
I tried hard to recall, only to find my mind completely blank.
I clearly obtained key information about the Empress's conspiracy, but I had forgotten it... Forgotten what important thing?
Right! That mysterious warning letter!
I remembered!
Before I traveled through time, I received a mysterious warning letter which said the Empress was going to make a move against me, telling me to be on my guard.
But... what was specifically written in the letter? Who sent it to me?
No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't remember!
Damn it!
Aren't the side effects of this [Time-Space Shuttle Bead] just too infuriating?
Every time I travel through time, I lose a chunk of memory. If this keeps up, I'll turn into an idiot sooner or later!
No, I must find a way to get out of this predicament as soon as possible, or I will sooner or later be toyed to death by the Empress!
I took a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down.
Now was not the time for self-pity; I had to seize the time and use the information I controlled to prepare for the Empress's conspiracy.
I walked out of the study, found a deserted spot, chanted the mantra silently, and activated the [Time-Space Shuttle Bead].
The golden light lit up once more, and I returned to my own bedchamber.
"Your Ladyship, you're finally back!" Seeing me, Shen Li ran over excitedly and threw her arms around me. "You suddenly froze just now, you scared this servant to death!"
"I'm fine." I patted her shoulder and comforted her, "By the way, is there any movement from the Empress's side?"
"Empress said that to celebrate favorable weather and national peace, a grand banquet will be held in the Imperial Garden three days from now, inviting all concubines, imperial relatives, and high-ranking court officials to attend," Shen Li reported.
A banquet?
I sneered coldly. It seemed the old hag was finally going to make her move!
"I understand." I nodded, already having a plan in mind.
Three days later, the Imperial Garden.
Decorated with lanterns and colorful banners, it was exceptionally lively.
People from all walks of life gathered together, exchanging cups and talking and laughing merrily.
I wore a light purple court dress, standing low-profile in a corner to observe everything around me.
Lu Zhao had also come. He wore a dark black brocade robe, with an upright figure and a heroic bearing that caused many noble young ladies to cast frequent sideways glances.
He saw me too; his gaze lingered on me for a second, and then he looked away as if nothing had happened.
I sneered inwardly. Go on, keep pretending!
The Empress attended in full regalia, sitting in the primary seat with a hypocritical smile on her face as she exchanged pleasantries with everyone.
"To be able to gather here with all of you today, this palace is exceedingly gratified," the Empress raised her wine cup and said, "For the prosperity and flourishing of our Da Liang, and for the Emperor to enjoy enduring health, let us drain this cup together!"
"Empress's words are entirely correct!" Everyone raised their cups in unison and drank them down in one gulp.
After three rounds of wine and five courses of dishes.
The Empress lowered her wine cup and said with a smile, "To be able to invite all you lords to attend the banquet today, this palace feels deeply honored. All of you lords are the pillars of talent for our Da Liang, exhausting your hearts and blood, serving with utmost devotion for the prosperity and flourishing of our Da Liang — truly something to be admired!"
"Empress flatters us; your humble subjects dare not accept such praise," various officials demurred.
"Where, where, all you lords deserve it indeed," the Empress said with a smile. "Speaking of which, this palace recently heard about a matter and found it somewhat peculiar. I would like to ask all you lords to help deliberate on it."
"Please speak, Empress."
"It's like this: recently, some strange illnesses have appeared in the palace, and some concubines have fallen unconscious for no apparent reason, leaving the imperial physicians at their wits' end. This palace suspects that someone might be using some kind of sorcery in the palace, attempting to bewitch the masses and disrupt the inner court," the Empress said.
I sneered inwardly. It's finally here!
"What the Empress says is entirely correct! The appearance of sorcery in the palace is by no means a trivial matter; it must be thoroughly investigated!" A minister immediately stood out and said.
"Your humble subjects second this!" Other officials also expressed agreement.
The Empress nodded with satisfaction, then turned her gaze to me, smiling as she said, "Speaking of which, Su younger sister's medical skills are also exceptionally brilliant. Why not ask Su younger sister to help take a look as well? Perhaps she can find some clues?"
Knowing all along that she would point the spearhead at me, I wasn't surprised in the least.
I slowly walked to the center of the main hall, gave a slight bow toward the Empress, and said, "Empress flatters me. This concubine's medical skills only scratch the surface; how would I dare to display my slight skill before experts in front of all you lords?"
"Su younger sister need not be so modest. Everyone has witnessed your medical skills," the Empress said with a smile. "Just consider it a favor to this palace, and see if you can find any clues."
"Since the Empress has so graciously invited me, this concubine should not refuse." I nodded and said, "Then this concubine will make a fool of herself."
Just at that moment, an official suddenly clutched his chest and collapsed to the ground with a pale face.
"Oh my! Lord Li, what has happened to you?" The Empress exclaimed in shock and hurriedly asked.
"Your... your humble subject... chest... hurts..." Lord Li groaned in agony, his face turning paler by the moment.
"Quick! Quickly summon an imperial physician!" The Empress hurriedly commanded.
Several eunuchs hurried forward and hastily carried Lord Li off to the side.
Looking at Lord Li collapsed on the ground, the corners of my mouth hooked into a cold smile.
The good show was about to begin!
"Su younger sister, look at this..." The Empress pointed at Lord Li lying on the ground and said, "Lord Li has fallen ill so suddenly — could it be that he has been struck by some kind of sorcery?"
"Empress jests. How would this concubine know anything about sorcery?" I said, feigning an innocent expression. "However, this concubine does understand a little medicine. Why not let this concubine feel Lord Li's pulse and take a look?"
"Very well, then I must trouble Su younger sister." The Empress nodded, though inwardly she felt immensely proud and pleased.
Hmph, Su Mingyue, let's see where you can escape this time!
I walked over to Lord Li, squatted down, and reached out to press my fingers against his pulse.
A moment later, I raised my head, the corners of my mouth curling into a meaningful smile.
"Empress, all you lords, this concubine has finished the diagnosis," I slowly said.
"How is it? What kind of illness does Lord Li actually have?" The Empress asked hurriedly.
Instead of answering immediately, I glanced around the surroundings and then slowly said, "Lord Li... has no illness."
No illness?
As soon as my words fell, the entire main hall instantly erupted into an uproar.
The Empress's expression changed drastically, and she demanded sternly, "What did you say? No illness? Lord Li is clearly in agonizing pain, how dare you say he has no illness?"
I stood up, smiled faintly at the Empress, and said, "Empress, please calm your anger. Everything this concubine has said is the absolute truth. Lord Li is... simply faking his illness."
"Faking illness? You... you're spouting nonsense!" Trembling with rage, the Empress pointed right at the bridge of my nose and cursed, "Su Mingyue, you actually dare to publicly slander a high-ranking imperial official. You are simply utterly lawless!"
"This concubine wouldn't dare," I said calmly. "This concubine is only speaking the plain truth. If the Empress doesn't believe it, you can invite an imperial physician to feel Lord Li's pulse and see whether what this concubine said is true or false."
The Empress's face turned livid.
Yet, if she didn't do this, she wouldn't be able to prove that I was slandering him.
For a moment, the Empress was caught in a dilemma.
"Enough, stop all this arguing!"
Suddenly, an authoritative voice rang out.
Everyone followed the sound to look, and saw the Emperor approaching from somewhere, standing at the entrance of the main hall, looking at us with a gloomy expression.
"I want to see for myself what on earth is going on here!" The Emperor said angrily.
Seeing that the Emperor had arrived, the Empress hurried forward and said with a wronged expression, "Your Majesty, please listen to this concubine's explanation. It is this Su Mingyue..."
"Enough!" The Emperor impatiently interrupted the Empress, then turned his gaze toward me, asking in a deep voice, "Su Mingyue, you just said Lord Li is faking his illness. Do you have proof?"
I nodded and said, "Replying to Your Majesty, this concubine has proof."
With that, I retrieved a silver needle from my sleeve, walked over to Lord Li, and without the slightest hesitation, drove it directly into one of his acupuncture points.
"Ah!"
Lord Li let out a miserable scream and leaped straight up from the ground.
"You... what did you do to me?" Lord Li pointed at me, demanding furiously.
I gave a cold laugh and said, "I was just helping you wake your mind up a bit. Lord Li, how do you feel right now? Does your chest still hurt?"
Lord Li's face flushed red and turned pale by turns, stammering and unable to utter a single word.
"Your Majesty, you've seen it, haven't you?" I turned around and said to the Emperor, "Lord Li is completely fine; he was simply faking his illness to frame this concubine!"
The Emperor's expression was gloomy, his sharp gaze locked onto Lord Li as he demanded in a deep voice, "Lord Li, is what Su Mingyue said true or false?"
Frightened out of his wits, Lord Li fell heavily to his knees, kowtowing like pounding garlic: "Spare my life, Your Majesty! Spare my life, Your Majesty! Your subject... your subject... your subject was forced into this..."
"Forced? Who forced you to fake an illness to frame My concubine?" The Emperor asked angrily.
Lord Li raised his head, glanced at the Empress, and then quickly lowered it again, not daring to speak.
I sneered inwardly. Old hag, let's see how you talk your way out of this now!
"Your Majesty..." The Empress's face turned pale as she opened her mouth, wanting to say something, yet completely at a loss for what to say.
"Enough!" The Emperor let out a furious roar, cutting off the Empress, and then turned his gaze back to me, asking in a deep voice, "Su Mingyue, tell Me, what on earth is going on here?"
I nodded and said, "Replying to Your Majesty, the matter is like this..."
I recounted everything I had seen in that ancient novel world regarding the Empress's conspiracy to the Emperor, detail by detail.
Naturally, I concealed the matter of the [Time-Space Shuttle Bead].
Upon hearing my narration, the Emperor's face turned livid with irrepressible fury.
"Empress! What incredible nerve you have! How dare you commit such a frantic and deranged act right under My very nose!" The Emperor roared, pointing a finger at the Empress as he cursed.
Terrified, the Empress collapsed weakly onto the floor, trembling all over as she begged repeatedly for mercy: "Spare my life, Your Majesty! Spare my life, Your Majesty! This concubine was only temporarily muddle-headed, I beg Your Majesty to spare this concubine just this once!"
The Emperor gazed coldly at the Empress.
Just as the Emperor was about to issue an order to dispose of the Empress, I suddenly felt a pang of palpitation.
A sense of ominous foreboding surged into my heart.
Something wasn't right!
This matter was definitely not this simple!
The Empress... seemed to still have a backup plan!
"Your Majesty, this concubine has a question, and begs Your Majesty to bring your clear discernment to bear," I suddenly spoke up.
The Emperor frowned and asked, "What is it?"
I took a deep breath and slowly said, "This concubine wishes to know why the Empress went to such painstaking lengths to frame this concubine?"
As soon as my question left my lips, the entire main hall fell into absolute silence.
Everyone held their breath, waiting for the Emperor's reply.
The Empress's face was pale, her gaze flickering restlessly as if she were desperately trying to conceal something.
The Emperor's brows were tightly locked, his sharp gaze fixed intently upon the Empress as he demanded in a deep voice, "Empress, tell Me, what on earth is the meaning of this?"
The Empress shuddered all over, as if she had finally made up her mind. She raised her head, looked straight at the Emperor, and said, "Your Majesty, the reason this concubine wanted to frame Su Mingyue is because..."
At this point, the Empress suddenly paused, then whipped her head around to glare viciously at me, biting out every single word: "Because... she is not Su Mingyue at all! She is an impostor!"
My heart plummeted sharply.
An impostor?
She... she actually knew?!
Impossible!
That's utterly impossible!
I had clearly acted seamlessly; how could she possibly know my true identity?
Could it be...
A flash of insight suddenly crossed my mind.
It was the warning letter!
The only reason the Empress suspected me must be because she saw that warning letter!
But...
Who on earth sent that warning letter to me?
Damn it! Aren't the side effects of this [Time-Space Shuttle Bead] just too infuriating?
While my thoughts were in utter turmoil, the Empress suddenly burst into a shrill, piercing laugh.
"Hahahaha... Su Mingyue, did you think you were hiding it well? Did you think you had fooled everyone? You were wrong! Terribly wrong! I knew all along that you weren't the real Su Mingyue! I knew from the start that you were an impostor!" the Empress shrieked frantically.
My heart sank straight to the bottom of the abyss.
"Your Majesty, this woman is not Su Mingyue at all! She is a demonic woman of unknown origin! She is trying to bewitch Your Majesty and disrupt the court! I beg Your Majesty to bring your clear discernment to bear and execute this demonic woman!" The Empress pointed straight at me, screaming at the top of her lungs.
The Emperor's expression was dark and gloomy as he looked at me with a piercing gaze, demanding in a deep voice, "Su Mingyue, is what the Empress said true?"
My heart stopped beating altogether.
How should I answer?
If I confessed my true identity, I would undoubtedly be branded as a demoness and executed by capital punishment.
However, if I continued to deny it, the Empress would surely produce even more evidence to prove my identity.
By then, I would have even less way to clear my name.
What should I do?
What on earth should I do?
Just as I was sinking into utter despair, Lu Zhao suddenly stepped forward. He walked to my side, looked at me with a steadfast gaze, and slowly said, "Your Majesty, your subject believes Su Mingyue..."
Before he could finish his sentence, the Empress rudely cut him off.
"Lu Zhao! Have you lost your mind? You actually believe a demoness? Have you forgotten that she is an impostor?" the Empress roared.
Ignoring the Empress entirely, Lu Zhao continued looking at me, his gaze gentle yet firm.
"I believe you, Su Mingyue..."
His words were like a warm ray of sunshine, illuminating the dark chambers of my heart.
Looking at him, my heart was filled with deep emotion and gratitude.
*I believe you, Su Mingyue...*
He believed in Su Mingyue, not in me.
If he knew I wasn't the real Su Mingyue, would he still believe in me?
I didn't know.
I truly didn't know.
Just as I remained torn and hesitant, the Emperor suddenly spoke up: "Enough! Stop all this arguing! I will make my own judgment!"
With that, the Emperor stood up, walked right in front of me, looked deep into my eyes, and slowly said, "Su Mingyue, I will ask you once more: Who... on earth are you?"
His voice was filled with majesty and oppressive force.
I took a deep breath, raised my head to look at the Emperor, and slowly said, "Your Majesty, this concubine is..."
"Enough!"
An abrupt voice rang out, cutting off my words.
Following closely, a dark shadow flashed, and a masked figure appeared right in front of me, grabbing me firmly by the wrist.
"Come with me!" the masked figure said in a low, hoarse voice devoid of any emotion.
Stunned for a moment, before I could even react, I was yanked along by the masked figure and dragged running toward the outside of the main hall.
"Stop right there! What do you think you're doing?"
With an angry roar, the Emperor immediately gave the command: "Guards! Capture them at once for Me!"
Nimble and extraordinarily swift, the masked figure sprinted all the way while dragging me along, dodging wave after wave of pursuing guards.
Before long, we reached the perimeter wall of the Imperial Garden.
With a single agile bound, the masked figure vaulted up onto the wall, then turned back and extended a hand toward me.
"Hurry!" the figure urged.
Gritting my teeth, I jumped up after him.
The masked figure grabbed my hand and pulled with all his might, hauling me up onto the wall.
Then, pulling me along, he flipped down off the wall and vanished into the vast night.
Behind us came the Emperor's furious roar: "Pursue them! You must capture them and bring them back!"
Dragged along by the masked figure, I ran wildly all the way. Not knowing how long we had run, we finally reached a desolate, uninhabited mountain forest.
The masked figure finally came to a halt and released my wrist.
Gasping heavily for breath, I leaned against a tree trunk, inhaling great mouthfuls of fresh air.
"Who... who on earth are you?" I looked at the masked figure and asked tremblingly.
The masked person didn't answer, simply standing there silently without moving a muscle, like a statue.
"Why did you save me?" I continued to ask.
The masked person remained silent for a moment.
Sigh, when will these days ever come to an end!
I, Su Mingyue, a distinguished medical sage of the twenty-first century, am actually trapped inside this wretched bead, shuttling back and forth across time and space!
And I always keep turning up as a substitute!
Have I had it easy, let me ask you?!
This damn [Time-Space Shuttle Bead] swallows up my memories every single time I use it, leaving my brain feeling like mush. Past events are all hazy, just like a dream...
Fortunately, the "Su Mingyue" I inhabited this time around is at least a medical practitioner, allowing me to put some professional skills to use so I don't starve to death on the streets.
Still, the job of a substitute concubine is genuinely no walk in the park; that old hag of an Empress thinks up new ways to harm me every single day!
Case in point, bright and early this morning, that girl Shen Li ran in all flustered: "Your Ladyship! Your Ladyship, it's terrible! The Empress is holding a banquet tonight and specifically named you to attend!"
Well, great, it's bound to be nothing good!
I rubbed my temples, cursing inwardly at what new scheme that old hag was trying to pull.
No way, I had to scout out the situation first!
Gritting my teeth, I activated that damn bead once more.
My vision blurred, and I arrived at a strange place... well, it looked somewhat like the Empress's bedchamber, but not quite; it seemed to be a different point in time... I seemed to see the Empress and an official conspiring about something... "fake illness," "banquet"... I hurriedly memorized these keywords, and my vision blurred again...
Damn it!
I lost another chunk of memory!
I shook my head, trying hard to recall the fragment I had just witnessed. I felt like I had grasped something, yet I couldn't articulate it clearly... In any case, tonight's banquet definitely had fishy business going on!
That evening, I braced myself and attended the banquet.
The Empress's powder-caked face was smiling like a blooming chrysanthemum, making me want to retch.
"Consort Su, I hear your medical skills are brilliant. Today happens to be a wonderful opportunity for you to showcase them," she said with a smile that didn't reach her eyes, her gaze filled with venomous malice.
Hmph, trouble was indeed arriving!
I sneered inwardly while keeping my expression completely unperturbed.
"Empress flatters me; this concubine only scratches the surface."
At that moment, an official clutched his stomach and collapsed to the ground with a pale face, groaning in agony.
"Oh dear, oh dear, my stomach... it hurts terribly..."
With "concern," the Empress asked, "What is wrong with Lord Li?"
Lord Li said weakly, "Your humble subject... your humble subject doesn't know why, but a sudden, excruciating pain has seized my abdomen..."
The Empress's eyes rolled, and she immediately looked toward me: "Consort Su, quickly go take a look at Lord Li. What is to be done?"
Heh, it finally came!
Thinking to myself, based on the fragment I had just seen, Lord Li's illness was nine chances out of ten fake!
I walked over to Lord Li, feigned taking his pulse, while rapidly brainstorming a countermeasure in my mind...
"Reporting to the Empress," I said with feigned composure, "this concubine knows a thing or two about Lord Li's condition..."
Hearing this, the Empress immediately perked up: "Oh? Has Consort Su managed to discern some clue?"
I smiled slightly, my tone carrying a trace of imperceptible sarcasm: "Lord Li's condition is not a genuine abdominal pain at all, but rather... feigned."
As soon as these words were spoken, the entire audience erupted in shock!