If hell had chandeliers made of lotus lanterns and gold-plated suspicion, this would be it.
The banquet hall shimmered like a fever dream. Rows of red silk draped from the ceiling, incense burned in delicate bows and the room was filled with murmurs and laughter.
I stood near the carved dragon columns, dressed in moon-pale silk robes, a phoenix hairpin sat in my carefully oiled hair.
"My lord… Your Grace," stammered the eunuch, bowing awkwardly. "You may take your seat now."
"Right," I said, pasting on a smile.
"Somewhere visible enough to be judged, but not important enough to be remembered." I whispered.
He blinked. I swept past him.
The concubines were already seated in shimmering rows, arranged like peacocks on display.
I recognized them instantly—every hairstyle, every smug glance, every sharp fan flick. I created them.
Consort Zhen, my personal favorite: elegant, brilliant and cruel.
Consort Mei, all sugar and poison.
And me? Lian Yu, third-ranked male consort. Supposed to be beautiful and tragic.
This banquet wasn't supposed to happen yet.My fingers tightened around the edge of the table.
"Why is he even here?" someone whispered behind a silk fan.
"I thought he was still bedridden. Didn't they say he collapsed from illness last month?" another said.
"Or maybe he's here for his final curtain call…"
I ignored them. I knew the game. They weren't curious. They were threatened. My sudden reappearance threw a wrench in the social hierarchy.
Well, I haven't plan on being here forever, I would've escaped if I knew how to.
As the murmuring, talking and whispering grew stronger— A guard entered, announcing the presence of the king.
Suddenly a hush fell, then chimes rang once. Twice.
Then he entered.
Emperor Long Renzhao.
His intense eyes searching through the crowds. It was as if he was trying to find someone.
His face was unreadable serious but calmed the moment his gaze landed on me.
It wasn't dramatic. Just a pause.But I felt it. Felt it like a rope being drawn tight around my neck.
Please don't make a scene. I begged, trying my best to stay composed.
He took his place at the head of the banquet, lifted his hand, and music resumed.
Platters appeared, wine was poured, then the room breathed again.
I stared at my bowl of lotus soup. Just eat. Stay quiet. Don't—
"Concubine Yu." the emperor interrupted, voice raspier than before.
I froze, holding my spoon mid air. Every head turned toward me.
I lifted my eyes, slowly. "Yes, Your Majesty?" I responded, blinking unexpectedly than necessary.
"Why are you so quiet tonight?." He asked me.
Gosh, why ask me this?, concubine Lian Yu was suppose to be irrelevant.
I swallowed. "I… didn't expect to be invited, Your Majesty. I assumed I was still irrelevant." I replied.
A few gasps. One awkward cough. Consort Mei's hand froze mid-bite.
The Emperor's mouth twitched—just the faintest shadow of amusement.
"So self-aware," he murmured. "And yet, here you are."
Yes, I thought. And this isn't how the story goes.
"You'll stay through the night," he added. "I expect your presence at the lantern release."
Lantern release?Wait. No. No, that wasn't in the original outline. I had written a banquet scene much later—Chapter 14.
if I remembered correctly—and it didn't involve Lian Yu or the Emperor speaking directly to him.
So what the hell was this? I'm I dreaming or something because the chapters are not even going in the rightful way. What if I wake up tomorrow and it's chapter 16.
Oh my goodness —God, please save me from this miserable palace drama novel. Whatever this is, I can't take it anymore.
Then I smiled awkwardly and bowed my head
"As Your Majesty commands." I replied, eyes lowered.
I spent the rest of the day avoiding unnecessary drama and gossip whilst trying my best to keep up with the Lian Yu misery.
Later, as lanterns were floated into the night sky—bright prayers rising like stars—I stood at the edge of the lake, silk robes brushing my ankles.
Something had changed.
I had written a fixed fate for Lian Yu. He was supposed to irrelevant , mysterious and introvert who will die in Chapter 16. And never matter again.
But what happened today felt like a sudden plot twist. The Emperor was getting me involved. Is this my karma for writing such a terrible fate for Lian Yu?
And I couldn't shake the feeling that someone—or something—was rewriting the plot.
Behind me, footsteps whispered over stone. I didn't turn.
"Did you enjoy the banquet?" An unknown voice stirred through my ears.
I startled, just slightly. Then I turned slowly to face the person.
"Who are you?" I asked, with one brows raised.
He laughed awkwardly and responded,
"I'm the only one that knows you aren't supposed to be here."
Ha!, who's this damn weirdo and where did he come from.
I wasn't expecting to be noticed." I replied.
He stood beside me now. Close. Too close.
"You weren't. Not in the original story," he said.
My blood turned to ice. His voice sends chills through my body.
I turned, slow as glass breaking. "What did you just say?"
He looked at me, eyes unreadable. Then, in a voice that felt like it had lived in my head before I ever heard it aloud:
"You really thought you were the only one pulled into your own creation?"
I couldn't breathe.He took a folded piece of paper from his sleeve and pressed it into my hand.
"When you're ready," he said, voice low, "read it."
Then he vanished into the night, like he hadn't just shattered everything I thought I knew.