A week had passed since I arrived at the palace. Or… was dropped into it by fate, chaos, and possibly some interdimensional glitch in the universe. Either way, I spent most of that first week sleeping. A lot. My brain had apparently decided it needed a full system reboot before it could even think about problem-solving.
My dreams didn't help. They were a kaleidoscope of office fluorescent lights, Wei Wuxian's fevered mumbling, YouTube thumbnails, K-pop dance challenges, rose-petal baths, and sword fights. Every time I woke up, I wasn't entirely sure which reality I was in.
Eventually, Madam Hui informed me gently but with zero room for negotiation, that I would be moved to a different residence. Prince Wei's personal quarters.
Apparently, he had chosen to live as far from the main royal residence as geography allowed without moving into the mountains. The quarter was next to the West Gate, connected to the West Town area. A quiet corner of the grounds, surrounded by misty ponds and gardens that looked like they were painted with a scholar's brushstroke. It was peaceful. Isolated. Strategic.
According to Madam Hui, Wei Wuxian preferred solitude. Judging by the hushed reverence in her voice, everyone else preferred not to question it.
My new room was… insane. Like, main-character-in-a-royal-drama insane. It had high wooden ceilings, silk canopy curtains, delicate porcelain comb sets, and a balcony that overlooked a koi pond. There were tapestries on the wall that probably cost more than my college education. And the bed? I could starfish in any direction and still not find the edge.
I was told I was a "noble guest." Apparently, saving the prince from near death while in a mysterious borrowed body bought you premium-tier palace treatment. Which, to be fair, was nice. Also deeply unsettling.
The food? Absurd. It was like the kitchen had a direct link to my cravings. I'd barely mutter something—"Could really go for tea right now"—and boom. Jasmine. Steaming. Perfect temperature. Mention I was "a little peckish," and three servant girls would appear with dumplings, fresh fruit, something that might have been honey-roasted quail, and a dessert that sparkled like it had its own lighting director.
It was… amazing.
And also deeply suspicious.
By the end of the week, my body felt rested, my skin was glowing from unintentional royal skincare, and my anxiety had evolved into something eerily functional.
Which meant, naturally, it was time to get nosy.
I cracked my door open like a spy and tiptoed into the corridor, thinking I could finally explore this palace on my own terms.
I made it maybe three steps before realizing I had… an entourage.
Three servant girls trailed behind me like polite shadows, each one quiet, composed, and impossible to shake. Every time I turned a corner, they turned. When I slowed down, they slowed. When I sped up, one of them actually jogged to match pace.
"I feel like a prisoner," I muttered under my breath, picking up speed like I could outrun imperial etiquette.
One girl, the fastest of the trio, hurried to catch up.
"Is there something you need, Miss?" she asked, all gentle smiles and unyielding protocol.
I sighed. "No. Just... stretching my legs."
Which was technically not a lie. It just wasn't the kind of stretching that required a chaperone squad.
Just as I rounded another corner, Madam Hui appeared, because of course she did. The palace practically manifested her anytime someone broke a rule or wandered off the path.
Her sharp gaze scanned the scene, reading me like a scroll.
"You should not wander on your own," she said firmly. Not angry. Just that calm, terrifying tone used by people who always win arguments.
"There are many rules within the palace," she added. "It's safer if you remain within Prince Wei's residence."
I stopped short, resisting the urge to raise my hands like I was being arrested. "I feel more like a prisoner than a guest," I said, half-joking.
Madam Hui's expression softened, just a hair.
"You are not a prisoner," she said gently, in that diplomatic way people use when they're technically not lying but also definitely not telling the whole truth. "But it is important to follow the rules. For your own safety."
I gave a polite nod, the kind you use when you want to scream into a pillow but are too well-mannered to do it in front of a woman who probably ran military logistics during her free time.
"I understand," I said, my voice even.
I hesitated. "Is it possible for me to visit Prince Wei?"
Her face shifted just slightly. There was a flicker of something—regret, maybe, or concern—but it vanished as quickly as it came.
"He has been transferred to the Royal Infirmary," she said, voice gentle but immovable. "Only members of the Royal Family are permitted to see him."
The knot in my chest tightened.
"Oh," I said. Brilliant. That's all I could manage. Just a single syllable of disappointment.
"Is he…" My voice caught in my throat. "Is he still in serious condition?"
Madam Hui's sharp gaze softened again, her posture relaxing just enough to let a hint of humanity show.
"Once he recovers, I will see if I can arrange it," she said, a rare warmth coloring her tone. "He is strong. And… I know he would be glad to see you."
She placed a steady hand on my shoulder, grounding me.
"For now, it's best to rest. I will keep you informed."
I nodded, grateful, even if a little hollow.
"Thank you," I murmured.
As I was escorted back to my room with my ever-loyal trio of servant girls trailing behind me like I might spontaneously combust if left unattended, I couldn't shake the feeling of being watched.
Not just watched. Monitored. Like someone had put parental controls on my life.
I sighed, muttering under my breath, "Can I have some privacy, please?"
Unfortunately, someone heard me.
"Miss, are you uncomfortable?" one of the girls asked with alarm, stepping closer like I was about to faint.
"No, I'm okay," I said, giving her my best smile-that-is-definitely-not-hiding-a-breakdown. "Just… a little space would be nice."
She blinked. "Of course, Miss."
And yet, nobody left.
Back in my room, I flopped face-first onto the bed. The ceiling above me was hand-painted, probably by a famous artisan who meditated for three years to find the correct lotus petal pattern. I stared at it and sighed.
"I feel like a pampered prisoner," I muttered.
All the silks and snacks in the world couldn't make up for the fact that I wasn't free.
Not really.
***
Four days later, just as my internal monologue was starting to loop into a full-blown existential crisis, Madam Hui knocked gently and stepped into the room.
"Prince Wei is asking for you," she said simply.
I blinked. "Really?"
"He is well enough," she said, eyes kind.
Relief flooded me. I practically bolted from the room only to run directly into a familiar wall of white robes.
Lan Wangji.
Stoic. Immaculate. Still somehow more intimidating than an entire security team with halberds.
"Follow me," he said, with all the warmth of a gently defrosting glacier.
I followed, trying not to trip over my own excitement (or my new robe's very complicated hemline).
He led me through a series of quiet corridors, until we reached a familiar doorway—one I hadn't realized how much I missed.
Inside, Wei Wuxian was sitting up in bed, his long hair loose over his shoulders, a cup of tea in his hand like he hadn't just been nearly killed a week ago.
The second he saw me, his eyes lit up with unmistakable mischief.
"Well, well," he said with a crooked smile. "Is that my beautiful savior coming to check on me?"
Relief crashed over me so fast I almost lost my balance. "You're awake," I breathed, stepping inside. "And alive. Thank God. Or... whatever kind of divine interference is at work here."
He laughed—that familiar, light, irreverent sound—and then winced, placing a hand against his side.
Lan Wangji was there in an instant, not speaking, just quietly adjusting the pillow behind him, movements gentle and practiced.
"They finally let me come back to my own room this morning," Wei Wuxian said, waving a hand dramatically. "After much protest. And bribery. And possibly threatening to haunt the healers if they kept me there one more night."
"He refused to rest," Lan Wangji said, his tone flat, but there was something soft—very soft—under his disapproval.
Wei Wuxian glanced at him with the barest hint of a smirk, then turned back to me.
"Lan Zhan dragged me back himself. You should've seen it. So gallant. He carried me like a fragile maiden in distress."
Lan Wangji looked at him, unamused. "You insisted on walking."
"Carried me emotionally, then," Wei Wuxian said with a shrug, grinning.
Despite myself, I laughed.
This was the Wei Wuxian I remembered from the show—all clever words and careless charm, but you could hear the weight underneath if you knew where to listen. And the way Lan Wangji stayed close to him, wordless and watchful—that was the heart of it. That quiet, unwavering presence.
"You're really okay?" I asked, my voice quieter now. "I was worried."
Wei Wuxian's grin softened, just a little. "I will be. Thanks to both of you."
Lan Wangji said nothing, but his gaze lingered on Wei Wuxian for a moment longer before turning away, arms folding into his sleeves.
"I'm not sure why I'm here," I admitted, lowering my voice. "Or how. But I'm... glad I got to help."
Wei Wuxian tilted his head. "That makes two of us."
"Lan Zhan told me… about what you saw. In the cave."
His tone was calm, but there was an unmistakable weight behind it. The silence that followed wasn't awkward—it was deliberate. Heavy with the unspoken question.
"I need to know if we can trust you," he said, gaze steady now. "Not to speak of it."
I nodded without hesitation. "You have my word. I won't tell anyone. Ever."
Lan Wangji gave a faint nod, barely perceptible—approval wrapped in silence. Wei Wuxian exhaled, his shoulders relaxing slightly as his usual grin returned.
"Good," he said. "Because that could've been an extremely awkward conversation if you said no."
There was a beat. And then, of course, Wei Wuxian couldn't help himself.
"But since we're clearing the air," he continued, shooting a teasing glance at Lan Wangji, "let's acknowledge the very obvious…you caught us in the middle of a… rather intimate moment."
Lan Wangji didn't flinch, but his posture stiffened. His ears, however, betrayed him, turning the faintest shade of pink.
"Wei Ying," he said, voice low. Warning.
"What?" Wei Wuxian asked innocently, eyes wide. "She saw it. There's no point pretending she tripped and hallucinated the kiss."
Lan Wangji turned to the side, saying nothing.
I bit back a laugh and raised my hands in surrender. "Don't worry. Your secret's safe with me. Besides… if I told anyone I saw two legendary cultivators passionately making out in a cave, I'd get locked up for dehydration and delusions."
Wei Wuxian burst out laughing, even though the motion made him wince.
"See, Lan Zhan? She gets it. She's on our side."
Lan Wangji didn't respond. But he didn't correct him, either.
When the laughter faded, Wei Wuxian tilted his head.
"So, Miss Mei Lin… you're clearly not from around here. Mind telling us where you are from?"
I took a deep breath, gathering my thoughts. "I live in the modern world, not this ancient China," I began. "In my world, it's modern times with technology like cars, planes, and the internet. We have skyscrapers, bustling cities, and people constantly connected through their smartphones. Information travels at the speed of light; we can communicate with anyone, anywhere, in an instant. We have machines that do our chores, vehicles that transport us across the globe in hours, and medical advancements that can save lives in ways unimaginable here. It's a world of convenience and constant activity, so different from the quiet, structured life in this palace."
They listened intently as I explained, their expressions a mix of fascination and confusion.
What am I doing?Explain these things to people who have never seen it.
"Do you have a map?" I asked, hoping to pinpoint my location.
Lan Wangji produced a map, and I eagerly unrolled it. However, the map was unlike any I had ever seen. The names and landmarks were unfamiliar, making it impossible to find my bearings.
I glanced down at the map Lan Wangji had handed me. "I don't recognize a single thing. Not Gusu, Yunmeng, Yiling—none of it."
Lan Wangji studied me carefully. "These places do not exist here," he said quietly. "The names you speak of… they are unfamiliar."
I stared at the map, heart sinking. It was like looking at a puzzle with pieces that didn't belong to the same box.
So this was not a part of the drama either.
"Do you know who rules here?" I asked, still trying to orient myself.
Lan Wangji nodded. "This is the Kingdom of Luyang. Ruled by King Zhuang and Queen Li Hua."
Wei Wuxian added, "We're in the royal capital. This palace is the heart of the kingdom."
I tried to hide my disappointment. None of those names matched anything from the drama or novel books.
I wasn't in a story I knew—I was somewhere completely new.
Still, some things were familiar. Spiritual power. Cultivation. Sword fighting. Demonic creatures. That part made some sense.
"So… normal people can't cultivate?" I asked, trying to focus on what I could understand.
"No," Lan Wangji answered. "Cultivation requires a spiritual core. Those are born with the ability."
"And the royal family?" I pressed.
"Most of them do not cultivate," Lan Wangji said. Then, after a pause, he added, "Some are like Wei Ying."
Wei Wuxian rolled his eyes playfully. "I'm the family oddity. A cultivator among politicians. Lucky me."
I smiled, but my heart was pounding. There was something I had to tell them. Something I had been avoiding.
"There's one more thing," I said. "When I look in the mirror… I don't see myself. I see someone else's face. I think… I think I'm in someone else's body."
The room went still.
Wei Wuxian's playful expression vanished. Lan Wangji turned to look at me fully, his gaze sharp and focused.
"What do you mean?" Lan Wangji asked, voice steady but quiet.
"This face… it's not mine. In my world, I'm older. I have a different face. But when I woke up here—this is what I saw in the mirror. A stranger."
Lan Wangji's expression turned grave. He looked at Wei Wuxian. Something silent passed between them.
Wei Wuxian said, "If what you're saying is true… then someone else might be involved. Someone who brought you here. Someone powerful."
"And whoever she was…" I added quietly, "She's gone. Or… pushed aside. I don't know."
Wei Wuxian leaned back, serious now. "Then the first step is finding out who she was."
Lan Wangji's brow furrowed slightly, his gaze distant in thought. "A likeness," he said after a pause. "If we had a portrait of your face, someone might recognize it."
Before I could respond, Wei Wuxian let out a soft laugh. "Yes! Imagine that," he said, eyes sparkling. "Wanted: one missing identity. Last seen staring in horror at her own reflection."
Lan Wangji shot him a look—a subtle but unmistakable stop talking look.
Wei Wuxian grinned but shifted his tone. "In all seriousness, that might not be the safest idea. We don't know who brought you here, or what they want with you. Announcing your presence to the whole city? It could do more harm than good."
Lan Wangji gave a slight nod. "Your arrival was not accidental."
He turned to me, eyes steady and calm but brimming with weight. "The cave. The creature. Someone lured us there to kill us."
A chill rippled through me. "But… why? Why would someone try to kill you guys?"
Wei Wuxian's smile vanished. He leaned back slightly, his posture relaxed but his eyes suddenly sharp. "Let's just say I've made a few enemies," he said dryly. "Being born in the palace doesn't exactly win you universal love."
Lan Wangji added quietly, "There have been previous attempts."
His words settled like stones in the air.
"Not all power struggles are fought in the court," Wei Wuxian said, tone lighter again, but his eyes betrayed the tension underneath. "Sometimes they come with claws. Or venom."
I swallowed hard. "That scorpion… it wasn't natural, was it?"
They exchanged a look. Not of hesitation—more like confirmation.
"No," Lan Wangji said. "It was created."
"Dark cultivation," Wei Wuxian elaborated, voice serious. "It's forbidden for a reason. To create something like that requires not just power, but a complete disregard for life. The scorpion wasn't just dangerous. It was designed to kill."
I felt my blood run cold. Designed to kill. As if someone had planned the entire encounter like a trap. Which meant…
"I was never supposed to be there," I said quietly. "But I got in the way."
Lan Wangji looked at me, his expression unreadable.
Wei Wuxian gave a crooked smile. "You saved my life."
Lan Wangji inclined his head. "We owe you a debt."
"No you don't," I said quickly. "I… I couldn't just stand there and do nothing."
Wei Wuxian studied me for a long moment, and then his voice softened. "And that," he said, "is why we're going to help find out who you are."
"For now," Lan Wangji said, "your safety is what matters. Stay close. Do not draw attention."
In that moment, surrounded by two people who had once only existed on my screen, I felt something shift.
This wasn't just about getting home anymore.
It was about survival.
And maybe, just maybe, it was about purpose.