PRAGYA's POV
It's only been a few days since I arrived in this world, and I never imagined the reality of a time machine. What sorcery has trapped me here? The boredom is killing me. There's nothing in this world—no internet, no Wi-Fi, no social media, no Facebook, no Instagram, no WhatsApp, not even television. I can't make calls or have anything I want. I just sit in my palace, doing nothing but sleep or ponder random thoughts.One morning, the door to my bedroom swung open, and Li Mei entered. Approaching my chamber, she announced, "My Lady, your breakfast has been served.""What is it?" I inquired, listlessly."It's a soup, specially prepared for My Lady," she replied. Soup happens to be my least favorite dish."Leave it. I have no desire for soup. I dislike it, Mei," I protested. Yet, Li Mei persisted."My lady must eat, or I won't know what to tell His Majesty," she implored. Rolling my eyes, I retorted, "If he inquires, tell him I refuse anything offered by his government," I snapped in frustration.Everyone in this palace seems overly concerned about the king. 'What if he finds out?' 'What will I say to him?' I'm tired of this constant worry. Someone needs to find a way to get me out of here. Despite my hunger, I resolved not to touch the soup. I truly detest it."Li Mei, isn't there anything else to eat besides this soup?" I questioned. She confirmed there wasn't."Alright, is there flour in the kitchen?" I asked, realizing that no one understood my dietary preferences, so I would have to cook for myself."Yes, My Lady, we have some wheat flour," she responded earnestly."And sugar?""Yes, My Lady, we have that as well,""Good. Mei, would you escort me to the kitchen?""The palace belongs to My Lady, but may I ask why you wish to visit the kitchen?" she inquired sweetly."To prepare my own meal, Li Mei. What else would I do?" I replied.I donned my wedding sari as it was the only attire I possessed in this world. I have many Diyi, but none seemed appropriate for cooking. Entering the kitchen, I was struck by its enormity and orderliness, equipped with all the essential cooking implements. The absence of electricity was evident, yet the girls worked diligently, kindling wood fires. Surprisingly, I was not treated as a concubine. Although taken aback, I was comfortable with the situation. However, being addressed as 'My Lady' and receiving prostrations made me uneasy.Accompanied by Li Mei, I began to cook. The cook next to me was gossiping about me, spreading rumors."His Majesty brought home another concubine yesterday," one cook remarked.Another chimed in, "I wonder why His Majesty went to such lengths to capture her."A cook retorted, "His Majesty is powerful. Why would he need to capture her? She should be grateful to be selected by His Majesty."Yet another interjected, "It's because she's from another world and even managed to kick Jing Ke, the finest warrior, without a sword.""Really? Jing Ke was defeated by the new concubine? And without a sword?" the first cook gasped in disbelief. I swelled with pride."He's been bedridden and immobile since that day. I'm curious how she kicked him to cause such a condition," a maid added."What?" I exclaimed in shock, learning that the warrior was still bedridden. All eyes in the kitchen turned to me."Is the warrior bedridden because of the new Lady?" I inquired."Yes, but why does that concern you? What are you preparing? Are you new here?" another cook asked, her tone authoritative, possibly a supervisor."Watch your words, Li Er. This is Lady Pragya, His Majesty's fourth concubine," Li Mei interjected. At that moment, everyone in the kitchen bowed respectfully."My Lady, please forgive us. I was unaware that you are the wife of His Majesty. I assure you, it won't happen again," Li Er, the supervisor, pleaded."You may stand," I commanded. As they rose, the cooks who had been gossiping approached, begging, "My Lady, we were ignorant of your presence. We implore you not to hold our earlier words against us. Please show us mercy," they pleaded, kneeling at my feet."What is this nonsense? Stand up. You are entitled to your opinions about me. No one can deny you that right, and you've said nothing offensive," I reassured them, and they returned to their duties.I began to prepare Parata for breakfast. "Mei, hand me the chickpeas, please," I requested. She complied. As I washed the chickpeas, the king's arrival was announced."Everyone out," he commanded. His voice was laced with anger, but I remained indifferent and continued with my breakfast. Following his order, the kitchen emptied, leaving just the two of us."What are you doing here?" he demanded, still seething."Isn't it obvious? I'm making my breakfast," I replied, focused on my task."Have you forgotten that you are my concubine?" he questioned. "The Imperial concubine," he reminded me.I paused and responded, "I haven't forgotten. I remember everything. But if the power and title you possess have made you forget who you truly are, then that power and title might just be your downfall, Your Honor," I remarked."What do you mean?" he inquired, puzzled."I mean, Your Honor, that no one understands me better than myself. Anyone who claims otherwise is deceiving," I stated and resumed baking my Parata."I had the maids prepare breakfast for you," he informed me.I halted my baking and approached him. "That's all I'm saying, Your Honor. You had the maids bring me soup, correct? But I dislike soup; it makes me ill. Do you wish for me to be sick? Surely not," I said, returning to the oven to prepare my breakfast."You should have mentioned that," he replied, feeling guilty."No trouble. I can cook for myself," I responded. My paratha and boiled peas were ready."Would you like to try some?" I offered."No, thank you," he declined."Alright," I began eating in the kitchen. He looked at me with disdain. "What?" I inquired about his gaze."Have you no dining manners? Leave the kitchen at least," he commanded."Sir, back in 2021, my family always ate in the kitchen," I explained."This is madness," he muttered. I smiled and offered him some paratha. "Try it, sir, you might like it," I suggested. He hesitated but eventually tasted it."It's good. You're also a skilled cook," he complimented, continuing to eat the paratha. I beamed."May I speak if you permit?" I asked. He nodded, his mouth full of paratha."I wager since becoming the king of Qin, you've not enjoyed your favored dishes, have you?" I probed, looking him in the eye. He ceased eating and met my gaze, a hint of sorrow in his eyes. He nodded."I must leave now," he announced, starting to exit."Your Honor," I called out. He paused and turned to me."How fares Jing Ke?" I inquired. "He's recuperating. Your skills surpassed his expectations," he replied before departing.After breakfast, accompanied by Mei, I visited the wounded Imperial soldier Jing Ke. His condition filled me with remorse."My Lady, I'm grateful you're here," he greeted."Don't be silly. I had to come and see you. You are in this condition because of me," I said."My Lady, it is not your fault. Besides, I am recovering now," he said."You must get better. After all, you are the finest Imperial soldier in the country," I said."Your fighting skills are admirable. I respect that," he said. After finishing my visit with Jing Ke, I approached the imperial doctor to inquire if there was a possibility for me to return to my former world.
King Jing Zheng's POV
A few days have passed since the arrival of my new concubine. Her entrance into my world was bizarre; she fell from the sky. Initially, I suspected she was an enemy spy. But her attire, her manner of speaking, her walk, even her footwear, all seemed outlandish. I considered her mentally disturbed until the Imperial physician clarified everything.According to the physician, she hails from another era of our world, approximately 2230 years in the future. The concept was somewhat fantastical and hard to believe, yet it was the truth. Her requests further confirmed that she came from a more advanced civilization. She asked for something she called 'a phone,' claiming it allowed her to speak with others without being in their presence. She also sought precise timekeeping, mentioning a device from her time known as a watch, which informed her of the exact time and date. Beyond these, she requested numerous items that do not exist in our world: Wi-Fi, cars, laptops, tablets—terms I had never encountered before.Another notable aspect of her is her lack of fear towards me. It simultaneously angered and intrigued me. She seems to fear nothing. I am acquainted with many women, including my three concubines, but she stands apart from them all. She is the only woman in my realm who dares to challenge me. She is indeed different, which is why I resorted to some coercion to make her my concubine. She was quite insistent on that point."You have no right to marry me without my consent," she declared.She even demands rights, despite being a woman. How absurd!No one has ever treated me with such disrespect, impoliteness, and rudeness. She will certainly regret this behavior. Lady Pragya claims she is from India. This morning, her guards reported that she was in the kitchen, cooking like a servant. When I approached her, she was engrossed in preparing something unfamiliar. Her actions irritated me."Your Majesty, she is disgracing you in front of your maids and servants," Cheng Gu remarked. He was correct. I commanded everyone to leave the kitchen, including Cheng Gu.It was just she and I left in the kitchen. I inquired about her activities.Without glancing at me, she retorted, "Can't you see? I am making my breakfast." Her arrogance astounds me. She shows no respect. Her reply and arrogance infuriated me."Have you forgotten that you are my concubine?" I questioned. "The Imperial concubine," I bellowed in anger.She approached me, unfazed, and stated, "I haven't forgotten. I remember everything. But if the power and title you possess make you forget who you truly are, that same title and power will be your downfall, don't you think, Your Honor?"Her words were harsh and unexpected. Reflecting on them now, I realize she is correct. Her words reminded me of my true self. Yet, I feigned confusion. I did not want to acknowledge the value of her words to me. I refuse to inflate the ego of the queen of arrogance."What do you mean?" I asked."All I am saying, Your Honor, is that no one knows me better than myself. Anyone who claims otherwise is a liar," she stated. This girl's confidence is not unfounded. She possesses significant knowledge. Her words compelled me to introspect."I ordered the maids to prepare you breakfast," I said. I had instructed the head cook, Li Er, to make whitefish soup, my favorite dish.She paused her baking and approached me, saying, "That's precisely what I'm addressing, Your Honor. You commanded the maids to fetch me soup, correct? But I detest soup. It invariably makes me ill. What is it that Your Honor desires? Surely not my illness," she challenged. Her words left me at a loss; naturally, I didn't wish her ill health, but I was unaware of her aversion. Her response was bold and assertive. Would she dare speak to her future husband in such a manner?"You should have mentioned that," I admitted, feeling guilty. It seemed the most appropriate form of apology since I couldn't bring myself to utter a direct apology to a woman."There's no need for concern. I can prepare my own meals," she replied, always ready with a retort. She plated her food, which was, as usual, something novel to me."Would you like to try some?" she offered."No, thank you," I declined."Alright," she began to eat, standing there in the kitchen, prompting my distaste. "What?" she inquired, presumably in reaction to my expression."Have you no dining etiquette? At the very least, step out of the kitchen," I remarked."Sir, back in 2021, my entire family would dine in the kitchen," she explained. Her manner of addressing me was different, yet somehow appealing."This is madness," I whispered to myself. Yet, she grinned and offered me a taste of her meal. "Try it, sir, you might enjoy it," she insisted. Reluctantly, I accepted and was surprised by the flavor. It was exquisite, and I found myself unable to resist indulging further."This is excellent. You're also a skilled cook," I complimented, continuing to eat. Her smile then emerged, genuine and radiant. She was truly beautiful when she smiled.Rein in your emotions, fool. I mustn't let her see them. After all, I am the king."May I speak, if you permit?" she requested, the first time she had ever sought my permission. Her politeness was necessary. I nodded, unable to respond verbally as I savored the delicious, unnamed dish before me."I wager that since becoming the king of Qin, you've scarcely tasted your once-favored dishes," she observed, locking eyes with me. Her words halted my meal; her audacity to evoke such memories was unsettling. Memories of my less fortunate days, my childhood, surfaced. I was determined not to reveal any emotion to her, to not appear vulnerable before my concubine. Silently, I turned away and strode towards the door, yet her voice halted me once more."Your Honor," she called out. "How fares Jing Ke?" she inquired. An imperial soldier, Jing Ke was renowned as our finest warrior, a master of swordplay from his youth. However, just two days prior, Lady Pragya had disarmed and dismissed him from the field with remarkable skill."He is recuperating. It seems your prowess exceeded his expectations," I remarked before exiting.Back in my palace, Lady Pragya's words haunted me, particularly the last. My childhood was a shadowy, agonizing chapter. Like any child, at five, I harbored bright, ambitious dreams for my future. Our tranquility was shattered when the Zhou forces invaded. Hailing from a small town named Pyongyang in Wei, my father was conscripted into Wei's army, leaving my mother and me behind in the village.One day, I witnessed her and the King of Zhou, Ting Ming, in a romantic encounter at my father's house. The sight devastated me. It remains etched in my memory as if it were yesterday. The sounds of his groans and her moans still echo in my ears. My father died in battle, and Ting Ming rose to become the king of Qin and the other six states. I enlisted in his army while he took my mother as his concubine. I was merely a ten-year-old boy when I joined his ranks, living only with thoughts of avenging my father.Eventually, I seized an opportunity and initiated a rebellion. I deserted his troops and waged war against him for six years. In the end, I triumphed over Qin. He fled and now hides in secrecy. I am determined to find him, and when I do, he will pay dearly for his actions. My mother, Ting Lu, has lost her sanity and now resides in the southern palace. My time in Zhou's troop was filled with suffering, and it was there that I lost my sense of humor and my noble values. Today, Lady Pragya reminded me of those days, the beautiful days of my childhood.A month has passed since I last saw Lady Pragya. My duties demanded my attention throughout the month.Why am I concerned about checking on my concubine? Such matters never troubled me before. What makes Lady Pragya so special?She is indeed special. There's something about the way she perceives the world. She possesses a certain power, an ability to read minds.Why can't I stop thinking about her? There are countless matters that require my focus. Wait... No... Could I be missing that eccentric, Pragya? Impossible.My guard approached me hastily and bowed. "You may stand," I commanded, eager to learn of the urgent news he carried. "Speak, Cheng Gu," I urged."Your Majesty, you tasked me with overseeing My Lady in recent days," he reported."Yes, what of it?" I inquired."I have discovered that she maintains a clandestine relationship with our warrior, Jing Ke," he revealed. Shocked, I realized this girl had tested my patience to its limits. It must end now. I refuse to be like my father."From the beginning, she maintained a relationship with him and frequented his residence," Cheng Gu stated. In anger, I went to her palace. We do not reside under the same roof. She is merely my concubine. To dwell with me in the same palace, she must either bear my child and become the first-ranked lady or ascend to be the Queen of the state.She was in her palace, sitting on her bed when I entered. As usual, there was no reaction from her. Drawing closer, I took her hand, which seemed to startle her. "What are you trying to do?" she yelled in a manner unlike anyone else. I commanded everyone to leave us in privacy. It was her lack of tact that always made my blood boil."You are my concubine, Pragya. Remember that. I have the right to do anything on you," I said boldly. She has to stop her nonsense over here. "Who do you give the right to shout at me like that," I said still furiously. "And, who the heck gave you the permission to treat me like that?" she answered me back. I couldn't resist her further. I slapped her. She fell onto the bed. She stood up caressing her cheek. Her eyes were full of tears. "Don't dare to answer me back. This is not your world. This is my world, my land, OK. As long as you are on my land, you have to obey the rule I make. Or else I will chop off your neck, get it?" I shouted at her holding my sword on her neck. I haven't seen her fearing me like this since day one. She just nodded. I put my sword to the sheath. "Now, describe your relationship with Soldier Jing Ke," I requested of her."What do you mean?" she asked back."Don't dare to lie me if you want your life," I said.With a bitter smile and tears streaming down her face, she said, "Are you feeling jealous? Please, don't say that."I lost control. I pinned her to the wall suffocating her. "I tell you this, if I get anything weird between you two, believe me I will kill you both,"