I traveled through time and space and became a drama queen in the harem!

A strange arrangement of fate

Lin Chen returned from the garden, her emotions mixed, her thoughts becoming increasingly chaotic. She had originally thought that, having traveled through time as a noblewoman in the imperial harem, she might be able to live a stable life, enjoying wealth and glory. However, she now realized that she was nothing more than a small pawn in this vast palace. Every action, every word, even every glance seemed to harbor danger.

On her way back to her room, she encountered some of the concubines, all of whom had stern expressions and wary eyes. Lin Chen sensed that the atmosphere in the harem wasn't as warm as she'd imagined. Even the most beautiful women weren't as harmless as they appeared. A thought gradually emerged in her mind—she could no longer simply rely on the emperor's favor. If she wanted to live longer and better, she had to gain a foothold in this dangerous harem and find her own supporters.

"Miss, you're back just in time." A familiar voice came, interrupting her thoughts.

Lin Chen looked back and saw that it was the gentle woman from yesterday, standing at the door, holding a roll of silk in her hand.

"What's the matter?" Lin Chen asked, trying to sound calm. She knew that everyone in the palace seemed to have their own agenda, and no one could be fully trusted.

The woman bowed her head and said softly, "Miss, there is a 'Shocking Banquet' in the palace today. This is a major event that happens once a year. The emperor will summon all the concubines and nobles to the banquet. At that time, all the concubines will perform a piece of music, and the emperor will personally judge who is the most favored and whose performance is the best. Who will receive more favors."

Lin Chen was stunned. What kind of bizarre arrangement was this? A performance? There was actually this kind of "talent show" in the harem? She was a little bewildered. Although she was the emperor's favorite concubine, it was clear that this banquet was an extremely complex game, one that depended on the fate of every concubine. And how could she, a modern person with no idea how to "perform," possibly stand out at such a banquet?

"What kind of 'program' are you talking about?" Lin Chen couldn't help but ask. She felt that this palace was simply too imaginative and full of absurd rules.

The woman's expression was slightly mysterious. She whispered, "Each concubine will perform a special performance that she specializes in, whether it's singing or dancing, poetry, or even some daring performances. For example, last year a noble demonstrated how to dance with a sword, and another imitated the emperor's speech and behavior at the banquet, which greatly impressed the emperor." She paused, looking at Lin Chen with a deep gaze. "This year's 'Shocking Banquet' will be a little special. The emperor will give each concubine a special opportunity to participate in an unprecedented challenge."

"Challenge?" Lin Chen was stunned. This was something new. She had always believed that the struggles in the harem were all open and covert, but now it had turned into a dramatic competition.

"Yes," the woman nodded, a hint of worry visible in her expression. "This year's 'Shocking Banquet' is more than just a performance. Rumor has it that the Emperor plans to change one of the events into a 'Life Challenge,' requiring each concubine to demonstrate an ultimate skill. Those who fail will be 'eliminated.'"

"Eliminated?" Lin Chen was stunned. This was like a strange fusion of a modern variety show and a palace drama. It was absurd! Why was the emperor actually going to hold a "life and death challenge" in the harem?

The woman added in a low voice, "Yes, elimination. There's a deeper meaning behind this challenge. The Emperor is not only using this activity to assess the concubines' abilities, but is also looking for a 'suitable' concubine." She paused and whispered, "According to rumors, 'suitable' concubines will become future empresses, while those who fail to meet the requirements may be 'handed over' to other powerful officials, or even sent directly to the cold palace."

Lin Chen's heart skipped a beat. The cold palace? She nodded expressionlessly, but a chill ran deep inside her. This so-called "life challenge" was clearly no ordinary palace game, but a brutal selection system that determined the fate of each concubine. And she, a newly arrived "outsider," was completely unprepared. How could she face such a terrifying challenge?

"Miss, if you're not good at acting, you can choose another method." The woman's tone dropped a few degrees. "This challenge also has a special form called 'Battle of Minds,' where victory is achieved through wits and strategy. However, this method is quite dangerous and requires caution."

"A battle of scheming?" Lin Chen's mind suddenly grew even more confused. She had thought she only needed to demonstrate her skills to perhaps win the emperor's favor, but she hadn't expected this to be a life-or-death game that required both wit and strength. She even began to wonder if the day she traveled through time had already doomed her to an absurd fate.

"You tell me this, do you have a purpose?" Lin Chen's eyes gradually became sharper. She already felt that the woman in front of her was not just a simple palace maid. Her identity and purpose were far more than what they seemed.

The woman's expression froze for a moment, then she bowed her head and replied respectfully, "Miss, I just hope you can be prepared and not put yourself in trouble."

Lin Chen was secretly alert. It seemed that she hadn't simply been informed of the situation; there must be a deeper conspiracy behind it. She needed to know more information to gain a firm foothold in this palace game and not become an eliminated pawn.

She understood that the next challenge would be the true test of her survival in this harem. Furthermore, since the harem had so many absurd rules, her response would have to defy common sense, even requiring her to game these rules in order to survive longer in this suspenseful and dangerous world.

Lin Chen took a deep breath and secretly made up her mind: She must walk on the edge of life and death in the whirlpool of this palace and become the one who can truly control her destiny, rather than a puppet at the mercy of others.

Chapter 4: The Emperor’s “Strange Favor”