At last the amulet lay within her grasp, Susan's trembling fingers brushed against its cool surface. As she held it aloft, an ethereal glow enveloped her, and the world she knew dissolved into an otherworldly radiance.

When the brilliance of the light finally waned, Susan found herself no longer in the confines of her office but in a world that defied explanation. The towering skyscrapers and modern conveniences had given way to majestic palaces and tranquil courtyards. She was no longer Susan Mitchell, office assistant, but rather Ru Língyi, a palace maid in the Forbidden City of the Qing Dynasty in ancient China.

Clad in elegant, silk robes and caught in the hallowed traditions of a bygone era, Susan—now Língyi—struggled to make sense of her newfound existence. Her once-familiar technology and modern life were replaced by ancient customs and protocols .

Língyi soon realized that her journey was not just a matter of time and place but a profound transformation of self. She adapted to her role as a palace maid, mastering the delicate art of serving the imperial family while navigating the intricacies of the ancient court.

Yet, as she acclimated to her life in the palace, Língyi's modern sensibilities clashed with the customs and expectations of her new world. She had to tread cautiously, for revealing her true origins could have dire consequences.

As the days turned into weeks and the seasons shifted like the sands of time, Ru Lingyi forged unexpected bonds with fellow palace staff, shared secrets with sympathetic eunuchs, and even found solace in the whispered tales of a compassionate imperial concubine .Through these connections, she discovered the hidden layers of intrigue, danger, schemes and rivalries in the harem of Qing Dynasty.

Her office assistant skills proved invaluable even as she uncovered crucial information, used her organizational prowess to navigate treacherous waters, and sought answers about the amulet that had brought her here. She soon realized that she held a key to altering the course of history itself.

In the ancient palace, amidst the ornate chambers and secret corridors, Língyi's journey took a profound turn as she became not only a witness to the past but an active participant in its unfolding drama.

*****************"****************************

"HOW DARE YOU!!!!!" ...A female shouted.. from an inner chamber

and immediately....,Rû Língyi fell to her knees face down, trembling and confused of how she got here and now she is been punished for what she knows nothing about..

while her face was still on the tiled floor of the room she found herself, Lingyí tried examining the whole event, tried recalling,but still nothing ringed a bell to her, until a heavy spank on her back brought her to reality....

"You little thing, Can't you hear her highness taking to you??... or are u daft ".... a furious lady barked at her.

from the sound of the lady's voice, Língyi could tell that the woman inside the inner chamber must be the highness that the furious lady is referring to, but who then is this highness? ---

"Her highness.. what highness?" língyi asked herself.

mmmmm..."I'm sorry ..your highness", Língyi stuttered as she continued kneeling and bowing her head.

She kept quivering, while processing how she got here, what she did , and her way out of this unknown situation until she was interrupted again by the furious lady.

" ungrateful thing!!..it's best you are sent to the Office of Careful Punishment".. the lady yelled at her again

" I'm sorry your highness " Ru Lingyi quickly replied again in fear, not that she knew where or what the place meant.

*then... came some silence .... *

..Now her highness stepped out from the inner chamber through a curtain linen.

one could feel the aura she carried, as if she owned half of the world.

Língyi rolled up her eyes to get a glance but could only see the flower pot sole of her shoes and the lower end of her garment ...

"You are sorry" Her highness chuckled

"sorry for what? " she asked Língyi calmly as if she was speaking to her beloved daughter.

It was then Língyi remembered she has no idea of her offence ..She tried looking up to see the face of this woman;her highness but she couldn't for fear has eaten down to her bones .

"what am I sorry for, what should I say?".. Rû Lingyí said to herself while struggling to figure out what she can do.

Meanwhile,Her highness kept walking around calmly as if nothing is happening..but just like the speed of light, Her mood immediately transitioned

"I see you don't want to speak".. Her highness spoke again, but this time with another tune

"Who is there?.. Guards!!!! " her highness called out

and immediately, Two guards ran inside, bowing to her in respect .

"execute her !!" Her highness commanded

The word 'execute' was like a wave of air that raised up Língyi's face unconsciously .

But before she could get to see the face of Her Highness... She was already loosing her breath , Lingyí tried speaking as she was been strangled by the two guards but all her struggles were effortless. life was gradually failing her . The grip of the two guards on the rope was rapidly increasing and she could barely hold unto anything . She needed a miracle, but how can any come to her in this strange world she found herself...

and just at the last moment, a voice came in from where seemed to be the entrance of the hall.

"Stop it!!!" ...the voice commanded .

Immediately, the guards left hold of Lingyí and she helplessly fell to the ground battling to catch a breath.

She looked up and saw the woman who wanted her dead,this woman was beautiful, young and looked so innocent. Lingyí carelessly took a scan on her dress and the interior of the room. And it was then it dawned on her that she was in Ancient Chinese Dynasty.

Rû Lingyí's thoughts where swiftly brought back by the sudden fear she saw on this woman's face .

Surprised by her change of composure , Ru Lingyí guessed that the one that commanded her release must be His Majesty or someone higher than her.

Meanwhile,the footsteps of this unknown person gradually increased as he or she approached the main hall.

Rû Lingyí couldn't help but turn to see who had such authority over this chameleon of an highness.