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

"Strange Challenges" in the Magic Pool

Lin Chen stood stunned in the grand hall of the Jinbi Palace, a scene of chaos before her eyes. The Emperor remained seated on his ridiculous throne, seemingly oblivious to the shock and confusion felt by every concubine present. And she, one of the protagonists of this absurd banquet, simply couldn't comprehend her own situation. The concubines, adorned in their ornate dresses, each had a complex gaze, a mixture of worry and anticipation.

"Come! Come! Come! Concubines, today's 'Life Challenge' officially begins!" The Emperor waved his hand, and the feathers of his exaggerated feather crown flickered, as if ready to take flight. "Each concubine will enter this 'magic pool'! A mysterious treasure is hidden within. Whoever finds it first and brings it out will receive the Emperor's special favor!" He spoke with a smug expression, as if he were hosting a grand talent show.

Lin Chen was speechless. A magic pool? Treasures? A challenge? She was beginning to wonder if she'd been dragged into some bizarre, time-traveling variety show. The emperor in the palace clearly lacked the seriousness of an emperor. Instead, he seemed like a nerd ready for a comedic performance, even a bit clown-like.

She looked down at the "magic pool." The water was crystal clear, and a few glittering gems could be vaguely seen at the bottom. Near the pool lay a few strange props—a golden mesh ball, a shimmering stick, and even a few glowing rubber bands. She simply couldn't understand what this strange "challenge" was!

"The rules of the challenge are simple! Each concubine will jump into the pool in turn, relying on their own wisdom and ability to obtain the treasure! Whoever fails and falls to the bottom of the pool, ahem..." The emperor made an extremely mischievous gesture, "will have to stay at the bottom of the pool forever!"

"Stay at the bottom of the pool forever?" Lin Chen's heart skipped a beat. Her expression remained calm, but her heart was already surging with turmoil. She had thought this was just a simple talent show, but she hadn't expected it to be a life-or-death challenge.

"And..." The Emperor pretended to be mysterious, pointing his finger at the pool, "There are some unknown secrets in the pool. There are strange creatures beneath each pool, and they will 'test' the concubines. Remember, if you encounter these creatures, you can't resist easily, otherwise, the pool water will become 'deadly'!"

"Creature?" Lin Chen's heart sank suddenly, and all kinds of absurd scenes emerged in his mind. He even began to wonder if he was being abused in a "weird reality show".

Li Xiangfei, clad in a thin, gauze veil and a sweet smile on her face, walked briskly towards the "magic pool." She appeared completely composed, seemingly unconcerned about this so-called "life challenge." Lin Chen, however, noticed that her steps began to tremble slightly, and she unconsciously tightened her grip on the golden mesh ball.

"Li Xiangfei, are you ready?" The emperor's voice was filled with unquestionable teasing.

"I'm ready, Your Majesty." Li Xiangfei nodded slightly, then jumped lightly into the pool.

The water in the pond rippled, and Li Xiangfei quickly sank into the water. The surroundings instantly became silent. Lin Chen couldn't help but swallow his saliva and stared at the water nervously.

However, a few seconds later, a mysterious bubble appeared above the water. Then, Li Xiangfei's head emerged from the water, still wearing that sweet smile, but her expression was slightly different. A flicker of panic flashed in her eyes, and she murmured softly, "Your Majesty, there's... a monster!"

Before she could finish her words, a gigantic water snake suddenly rushed up from the bottom of the pool, its maw wide open, nearly swallowing Li Xiangfei whole. The water instantly churned, and the snake's body shimmered with a dazzling array of colors, like a magical monster.

"Ah! Help!" Li Xiangfei screamed in horror, waving the golden net in her hand vigorously, trying to break free from the water snake's attack.

The Emperor's expression changed rapidly, from initial joy and anticipation to a hint of anger. Lin Chen was stunned by the scene before her. What on earth was this "life challenge"? If she didn't participate, could she watch the other concubines fall into such a dangerous situation?

"Li Xiangfei, you're not performing very well..." The emperor didn't seem to have much sympathy and shook his head slightly. "The water snake is not the little thing you think. It is not only a guard in the pool, but also a test of the challenge. It seems that Li Xiangfei is doomed to fail."

Lin Chen was about to say something, but the situation was rapidly deteriorating. Li Xiangfei's struggles became more intense, and the water snake's attacks became more and more fierce. Finally, Li Xiangfei's figure completely disappeared into the pool, as if even her voice had been swallowed up.

"Is she dead?" Lin Chen couldn't help but ask in a low voice, a chill rising in his heart.

The Emperor smiled calmly, "Dead? How could that be possible! She was simply sucked away by the water. She will be back in the palace in a few days. But then... she won't be a 'noble concubine' anymore. She might be transferred to serve somewhere else."

Lin Chen couldn't believe what he was hearing. This world was truly outrageous. The emperor could treat his concubines so cruelly, and this absurd challenge was actually being staged here. There was no rationality at all.

"Next, it's your turn, Imperial Concubine Lin Chen." The Emperor's voice suddenly became high-pitched. "Are you ready to accept the challenge? Remember—the challenger must retrieve the treasure from the magic pool within five minutes, otherwise... they will lose their chance forever!"

Lin Chen took a deep breath, her heartbeat quickening. She now knew that the Emperor had no rules at all. All his "challenges" were based on his mood and entertainment, and she was nothing more than a pawn in this absurd game.

However, since she has been dragged into this absurd world of the "magic pool", she can only choose to face the difficulties. Although she is extremely resistant in her heart, she has no other choice.

She walked to the edge of the pool, took a deep breath, and prepared to step into this "pool" challenge full of strange creatures and magic.

Chapter 6: The Emperor's Reality Show Across Time and Space