After transmigrating into a historical novel, Wen Mian expected at least a decent role. Instead, she became a low-ranking palace maid. Other maids read their masters' expressions and survive through clever schemes. Wen Mian, however, only stares back blankly. [Why are you looking at me? I didn't do anything.] Fine. If she couldn't play palace politics, she would simply endure her years of service and leave the palace at twenty-five. That was the plan. Until the emperor suddenly chose her to be his personal maid. Serving the emperor is like serving a tiger. On her very first day, Wen Mian had already begun composing the epitaph on her future grave. *** Emperor Zhaoyan has a secret. Since ascending the throne, he has been able to hear the thoughts of everyone around him. Ministers plotting rebellion. Consorts smiling while hiding daggers. Endless schemes echo through his mind every day, making the Forbidden City colder than ever. During a harem interrogation, he prepares to expose the guilty- Until a different voice suddenly appears in his mind. [Why are you still looking at me? Never mind... I'm hungry.] [I want red bean milk rolls... roast duck... roast goose...] Emperor Zhaoyan: ... In the cold palace, this one girl's chaotic thoughts become the only warmth he hears. And this time, he refuses to let her go. *** (Mini Theater) Wen Mian expressionlessly pulls her hand out from beneath the apricot-yellow silk quilt. Her hand is... wet. Emperor Zhaoyan's voice turns hoarse. "Since things have come this far, you belong to me now. You cannot leave the palace. My beloved, stay here with me. I will never mistreat you." Wen Mian glares at him. "Your Majesty... are you trying to steal someone's future wife?"

"Make me your wife." I asked desperately He looked at me like I was some sort of insect, "And Why would I do that?" He folded his arms "Please," I begged, "keep me with you! If not wife, make me your slave!"

❝𝐈 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐦𝐞.❞ A hundred concubines lived in Emperor Sylvos' inner court - the heart of his thorned fortress. With a cruel ranking system, only favored concubines had the honor of meeting with His Majesty. And only the woman able to bear him a child could become empress. Raine Stjorme had climbed the ranks to the top. And after praying each night, she was finally with child. Yet all this was rewarded with the cruelest of fates. Murdered by the man she loved, Raine cursed Emperor Sylvos with her dying breath. She cursed his whole court as they snickered at her final moments. And her curse had taken root. Now, Raine awakens three years before her destined death, on the fateful day she first encounters the emperor. Armed with this second chance, she vows to make him fall - and to bring his empire down with him. But when faced with the tyrant who claimed her heart, could she still follow through? ✦✦✦ 𝙏𝙍𝙊𝙋𝙀𝙎 𝙄𝙉𝘾𝙇𝙐𝘿𝙀𝘿: -𝙀𝙣𝙚𝙢𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨 -𝙎𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 -𝙁𝙤𝙧𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙭𝙞𝙢𝙞𝙩𝙮 -𝘼𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙙 𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙜𝙚 -𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙡𝙚 -𝙑𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙞𝙧𝙡 -𝘽𝙖𝙙𝙖𝙨𝙨 𝙁𝙈𝘾 -𝙈𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙨