How could I forget? Everything that happened between us. Maybe it would have been better if I didn't remember.
That day when I tried using my bracelet, lighting struck and something went wrong. Next thing I knew, I woke up in the body of Li Cui'er. Her life was supposed to be peaceful. I was the one who changed it. I married someone she would have never met in her original life and changed history. As a member of the Hou family, we are never supposed to change history, only record it. But I was willing to suffer the consequences if it was for him. I never thought I would regret it. If only we never met.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Your highness, we better get back," Xiao ("little") Lan warned me.
"But I'm bored." It's been a month since I woke up as Li Cui'er. She is the 6th daughter of Emperor TaiLong, but only the daughter of a forgotten concubine. After suffering from a fever, I was the one who woke up in her body. I want to go home but I don't know how. It's not the first time I time-traveled but it was never like this. The bracelet only lets me observe history directing in the sidelines, never be apart of it like this.
"There are other things to do, it's better if we go back." Xiao Lan advised. I look at the high wall, there's no way for me to climb it.
"Fine, let's go."
"Yes!" Xiao chriped.
"Cui'er, what trouble have you got yourself into now?" Turning away, it's Zhang YiLan. He is a famed general of the Tang Dynasty. Defending the border and expanding the empire are his greatest feats. I never thought that I would meet him and interact with him in his younger days.
"YiLan GeGe ("older brother"), when did you come?" I run up to him.
"Just now, her ladyship wanted to see my mother so I came along."
"So that's why. Then, come and play with me. I'm bored with studying."
"That will not do, you should finish before playing."
"I don't want to~" I complained. It's too boring. I already know everything, my grandpa made me study those old texts when I was little.
"Cui'er." He says sternly.
"Fine." I pout.
In the month I spent here, aside from my maid Xiao Lan and my mother, Zhang YiLan and Madam Zhang are the ones I have the most interactions with. Apparently, Li Cui'er is childhood sweethearts with him, but unfortunately, they haven't met since they were 7. His father was appointed governor of a province and his family had to move away. Their mothers are also close friends, hence why they played together in the first place.
My mother didn't question my change in attitude because of the fever, instead, she's worried that I might fall sick again. I don't want to worry her too much. It's not easy being a low-ranking concubine with only a daughter. The emperor doesn't pay much attention to her, so her concern is to survive and keep her daughter alive. Looks like the dramas were right about the competition of the back palace. It was my first time traveling further than 100 years back but the stupid lighting had to strike at that time. JiaLi also go stuck. I wonder if she's doing okay.
"As I thought, this is boring." I try to balance a brush on my finger.
"What's wrong?" Someone suddenly asks. Surprised, I drop the brush. Looking at the window, there stands a young man.
"Who are you and how did you get in here?" I cautiously back away.
"Me? That's not important. I promise that I'm not here to hurt you so don't worry."
"How can I trust you? You could be here to kill me." I squint my eyes at him in suspicion.
"I don't even know who you are, why would I be here to kill you?" Sounds reasonable.
"Then why are you here?"
"I got lost."
"Oh! I remember that there were supposed to be foreign ambassadors coming today. Looking at your clothes, you don't seems to be from around here."
"That's right." He affirms.
"Your highness, her ladyship want you."
"En, I'm coming!"
"If you take a left down that way, you should be in the general hall if you keep going." I gave him directions. Although I haven't been here long, I know the overall outline of the palace from historical records.
"Thank you, I'll come see you again." Then he leaves.
"You have been coming here for a week already." I drew on the paper with my brush.
"I know." He leans on the window still.
"Are you not worried someone might catch you?"
"No problem, you'll help me come up with an excuse then." I sigh. The week that he's been visiting me, we became fast friends. Sometimes, he would tell me about his homeland. It sounded like an exciting place.
"Do what you want then. Here, I finished drawing." I hand him my painting.
"What's this?" He starts laughing. My cheeks start to heat up.
"I drew you." He stops his laughter.
"There's no way that's me. Do I look that ugly to you?"
"Well sorry I have no talent then." I pout.
"Don't worry, I can draw so you don't have to." He chuckles.
"Are you any good?" I question his ability.
"At least you will be able to tell what I draw is human." He replies.
"Then you have to draw me and we'll see if you're lying or not."
"Alright, I promise I will draw one for you someday." He smiles.
"You better remember." I threatened him jokingly. He laughs lightly in reply. Then suddenly, YuZhong looks reluctant about something.
"Cui'er, I'm leaving tomorrow."
"Ah, that fast? Will I ever see you again?" He is my escape from dying from boredom here.
"Don't worry, I'll definitely come back again."
"You better not forget me." I warn him.
"I should be the one to say that." He softly chuckles.
"If only I could go with you. This place is too restricting. I wish to go outside those walls for once."
"Then I will help you leave. I'll free you from here." His eyes brighten up at a sudden idea.
"Ah, how? Aren't you going back tomorrow?" I'm confused. Maybe he does have a way?
"I'll get you out one day, I promise. In return..." He pauses.
"In return what? Do you want something? I have my jewelry, will that work as payment?" I pull out a hairpin from my hair and hands it to him.
"If I get you out, then marry me." His sudden proposal threw me off.
"Marry you? I have no say in that. Despite how I act, I am still the daughter of the Emperor, my marriage is for the Empress to decide." That's right. Historically, marriages of imperial family were usually for political reasons.
"No problem, I have my ways." The next day, they left just like that. I don't know how long I'll have to wait. I should have given him a deadline.
YOU ARE READING
Forgotten Moonlight
Romance"I'm tired. I'm tired of this, of everything, and what I am most tired of is being forgotten by you. If there is a next time, I will be the one who forgets." As her eyes closed, the memories vanish along with her and the passing time. "I was wrong...
