Traveling through thousands of years, I only love you

Chapter 3: First experience of palace life

Li Lingyuan followed Xiao Yi into the palace. The towering palace gate slowly closed behind her, as if completely isolating her from her past. With trepidation, she entered this palace world filled with uncertainty.

On her first night in the palace, Li Lingyuan spent her night in the side hall assigned to her. While the room wasn't as luxurious as the prince's palace, it was still exquisitely elegant. A lavender gauze curtain hung over the carved bed, exquisite porcelain was placed on the table, and flickering candlelight illuminated the room's simple decor. But Li Lingyuan had no time to admire it; her mind was preoccupied with worries about the future.

The next morning, before dawn, Li Lingyuan was awakened by the palace maids. Washing, dressing, and each step followed strict rules. She looked in the mirror at herself, who was becoming increasingly unfamiliar, with her complicated bun and ornate yet heavy hair accessories, and a strange sense of melancholy welled up in her heart.

At breakfast time, Li Lingyuan arrived at the palace dining hall. Many of the palace ladies were already there, whispering to each other, their eyes fixed on her. She sat down at her table, a variety of exquisite dishes spread before her, but she was too nervous to pick up her chopsticks. An elderly imperial concubine looked at her with a hint of disdain, saying, "Is this the woman the prince brought in? Look at how petty she is; I'm afraid she's never seen such a grand occasion." Li Lingyuan was displeased, but she suppressed it, bowing slightly and saying, "I'm new here, so please forgive me if I'm being disrespectful." The imperial concubine was unyielding, saying, "Hmph, this palace doesn't tolerate those who don't understand the rules. Don't think you can act recklessly just because you have the prince's support." Li Lingyuan clenched her fists and was about to retort when a warm hand suddenly grasped her wrist. She turned and saw it was Xiao Yi.

Xiao Yi looked at the imperial concubine with a hint of warning in his eyes and said, "Your Highness, Miss Li is my guest. I hope Your Highness will not make things difficult for her." When the imperial concubine saw Xiao Yi coming out, her face changed slightly, but she still said, "Your Highness, I am also considering the rules of the palace." Xiao Yi ignored her and turned to Li Lingyuan and whispered, "Don't mind it, I am here." Li Lingyuan nodded slightly, but she knew in her heart that this was just the beginning. The struggle in the palace was far more complicated than she had imagined.

During her time in the palace, Li Lingyuan had to participate in various court etiquette activities every day. Whether it was a sacrifice, a banquet or an audience with the emperor, every link had complicated etiquette. At a sacrificial ceremony, Li Lingyuan needed to follow other female relatives to pray to the ancestors. Holding incense and candles, she walked carefully step by step according to the posture and steps taught by the nanny. However, a jealous maid next to her deliberately bumped into her, and Li Lingyuan staggered and almost fell. A low laugh suddenly came from the surroundings, and the maid pretended to apologize: "Sister, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean it." Li Lingyuan knew in her heart that she was doing it on purpose, but she still kept smiling and said: "It's okay, sister, just be careful."

In addition to navigating these challenges, Li Lingyuan struggled to adapt to the rhythm of life within the palace. She discovered the complex interpersonal dynamics within it, each driven by their own agenda and interests. The maids competed for their mistress's favor, while the concubines used any means necessary to secure her favor. In this environment, Li Lingyuan knew she had to learn to protect herself.

She began to analyze the relationships within the palace, drawing on her modern-day knowledge and observational skills. She discovered that several concubines, seemingly friendly, were secretly allied, often speaking ill of one another in front of the Queen Mother. Furthermore, some maids, while ostensibly loyal to their masters, were actually relaying information for other factions. Li Lingyuan silently memorized this information, knowing it could be the key to her survival within the palace.

Meanwhile, Li Lingyuan was searching for clues that might lead her back to the present day. She had heard that the palace library contained many ancient tome, perhaps containing records of time travel or space exploration. So, she seized the opportunity and asked Xiao Yi for permission to visit the library. Xiao Yi, somewhat puzzled, asked, "Why do you suddenly want to visit the library?" Li Lingyuan replied, "I have loved reading since childhood. I heard that the palace library contained many precious books, and I wanted to feast my eyes on them." Xiao Yi agreed and arranged for a young eunuch to lead the way.

When Li Lingyuan entered the library, the overflowing books captivated her. She began browsing the shelves, searching for a potentially useful book. She flipped through each volume, from historical texts to myths and legends, searching for any clues. While leafing through an ancient collection of myths, she stumbled upon a legend about an immortal who traveled through time and space. The story described an immortal who, using a mysterious magical instrument, could travel between different times and spaces. Li Lingyuan's mind struck, wondering if this legend might have some connection to her own journey.

However, life in the palace wasn't always filled with intrigue and searching for clues. Sometimes, Li Lingyuan would feel a touch of warmth. Once, while strolling in the garden, she met a kind old maid. Seeing that she was alone, the maid came over to talk to her. The maid told her many interesting stories and past history of the palace, which gave Li Lingyuan a better understanding of the palace. The maid also told her that while in the palace, she should learn to protect herself, but also not lose her original heart. Li Lingyuan looked at the maid gratefully and said, "Mamma, thank you. I will remember your words."

As time went by, Li Lingyuan gradually gained a foothold in the palace. With her wisdom and kindness, she won the respect of some palace maids and eunuchs. Her relationship with Xiao Yi also became closer. Xiao Yi would take her to play in the palace in his spare time and tell her interesting stories about his childhood in the palace. During one of their outings, they came to a remote corner of the palace where there was an abandoned palace. The walls of the palace were covered with vines, and the gates were closed, exuding a mysterious atmosphere. Li Lingyuan asked curiously, "Your Highness, what is this place? Why is it so desolate?" Xiao Yi replied, "This was once the residence of a concubine of the previous emperor. Later, it was said that some strange things happened, and it was abandoned." Li Lingyuan felt a desire to explore, and she felt that this abandoned palace might hide some secrets.

At a grand banquet in the palace, Li Lingyuan once again became the center of attention. The feast was filled with singing and dancing, as court musicians played beautiful music and dancers danced gracefully. Li Lingyuan, dressed in a pale blue dress intricately embroidered with silver silk, looked like a fairy descending into the world by the candlelight. She sat beside Xiao Yi, gracefully enjoying the performance. Just then, a foreign envoy arrived to toast the emperor. Upon seeing Li Lingyuan, his eyes lit up with amazement. He asked the emperor if he could dance with Li Lingyuan. The emperor looked at Xiao Yi, who frowned slightly, but in this situation, he couldn't refuse. Li Lingyuan stood up, smiled, and approached the envoy. During the dance, the envoy deliberately challenged her with some complex steps, but Li Lingyuan deftly handled them, relying on her excellent sense of rhythm and the dance foundation she had learned in modern times. After the dance ended, the audience burst into warm applause. Xiao Yi looked at Li Lingyuan with pride in his eyes.

After this banquet, Li Lingyuan's reputation within the palace soared. However, this also sparked more jealousy and hostility. Some concubines began to band together, hoping to intimidate her. They spread rumors that Li Lingyuan was a seductress who would bring disaster to the court. These rumors quickly spread, and some palace maids and eunuchs, unaware of the truth, began to criticize Li Lingyuan. Li Lingyuan was distressed by these rumors, but she remained undeterred. She knew that only by identifying the mastermind behind them could they be quelled.

So, she began a secret investigation. By questioning some palace maids and eunuchs, she discovered that the source of these rumors was a concubine who had always been jealous of Li Lingyuan. Seeing Li Lingyuan steal the show at the banquet, this concubine resented her and devised this scheme to frame her. Deciding to take action, Li Lingyuan sought out the concubine and confronted her. Initially, the concubine denied the allegations, but when Li Lingyuan presented evidence, her expression changed drastically. "Your Majesty," Li Lingyuan said, "I have no desire to be your enemy, but I will not sit idly by while you maliciously slander me. I hope you will never do such a thing again." The concubine looked at Li Lingyuan in horror and nodded in agreement.

During her time in the palace, Li Lingyuan experienced countless joys and sorrows. She continued to grow in this complex palace world, struggling to survive, to find a way back to the modern world, and to protect the budding relationship between her and Xiao Yi. She knew that more challenges awaited her, but she was ready.