In all his years of life, Zhao Yan had never encountered someone like this!
Prince Zhao Yan stepped out of the room with a sharp click of his tongue, the sound cutting through the stillness like a blade.
His guards, already stationed outside, straightened at the sound, their faces betraying a flicker of surprise.
The prince was not one to lose his composure, not even in the most infuriating of situations. But tonight, his brisk steps and the tension in his shoulders told a different story.
His black robes billowed behind him as he strode away, his mask obscuring his expression. Yet, the change in his demeanor was unmistakable. The smirk that had briefly graced his lips moments ago was gone, replaced by a rigid seriousness.
There was a coldness coming off his body that put everyone at arms length.
His eyes danced dangerously as he gazed at everything before him.
Even without seeing his face, the guards could tell that their master was no longer amused.
As he walked, he suddenly stopped, his sharp gaze snapping back to the hut where Hua Jing was staying. His eyes gleamed with something indescribable—an emotion neither his guards nor even he could fully name.
"Deng Mi," he said, his voice low but commanding.
The guard nearest to him stepped forward. "Yes, Your Highness."
"Investigate," Zhao Yan said curtly, his tone leaving no room for interpretation.
Deng Mi nodded without hesitation. "As you wish, Your Highness."
Something was definitely wrong.
With that, Zhao Yan resumed his pace, his steps quick and decisive. He disappeared into the snowy night, his mind churning with unanswered questions.
There was also an animalistic essence in his demeanor that was very hard to place.
The Hua Jing he had encountered tonight was not the Hua Jing he knew.
Something had changed.
---
Back inside the hut, Hua Jing's maid stood frozen for a moment before turning to her with an expression of pure exasperation.
"Young Madam!" she burst out, her voice filled with frustration. "Why didn't you bow? That was the prince! The prince! How could you be so rude?"
If the prince took offence to her behaviour then things would become very difficult for them in the palace!
The punishment they would be given would be too dire and with how weak and sickly Hua Jing had been since birth, there was no way she would survive!
If the other consorts caught wind of this then they would definitely not leave Hua Jing alone!
With Seven wives now, the harem felt like a jungle and everyone was a predator trying to catch a prey.
The prince had yet to select his imperial concubine and with Hua Jing's behaviour right now, there was no way the prince would favour her!
The other wives would also try and harm her so they desperately needed the Prince's protection!
Right now, they were the bottom feeders and needed Zhao Yan's protection very much but why?
Why had the madam changed so much?
Many things did not add up. This was definitely not the madam she was used to!
Hua Jing, lounging casually on the wooden chair as if she hadn't just confronted royalty, raised an eyebrow. "And?"
The maid gasped. "And? Young Madam, as his consort, you are required to show respect! Do you know how much trouble you could bring upon yourself for behaving this way?"
She began pacing the small room, wringing her hands as she muttered. "In the palace, there are rules. So many rules. You must bow when he enters, when he speaks, when he—"
Hua Jing waved a hand lazily, cutting her off. "Yeah, yeah, bow, respect, palace rules, blah, blah, blah. You've said it all."
"Young Madam!" the maid cried, looking like she might faint from frustration. "This is serious! If the prince is offended, it could mean—"
"Enough." Hua Jing's voice was calm but firm, silencing the maid instantly.
The maid looked at her, bewildered. Hua Jing leaned back in her chair, her gaze distant, as though she were looking past the room and into another world entirely.
"You don't get it, do you?" Hua Jing said softly, more to herself than to the maid.
"Get what?" the maid asked cautiously.
Hua Jing didn't answer. She couldn't. How could she explain to this woman that none of this mattered to her? That she didn't belong here? That she was from a world where she bowed to no one, let alone a masked man who claimed to be her husband?
The thought made her laugh softly, a bitter sound that startled the maid.
"Young Madam?"
Hua Jing shook her head, pulling herself out of her thoughts. "Never mind," she said, her tone dismissive.
The maid huffed in frustration, clearly unsure how to deal with this version of Hua Jing. "I don't know what's gotten into you, Young Madam, but you must take these things seriously. This isn't just about you. It's about the survival of many people including yourself, the palace, the kingdom—"
"Can you tell me all about myself?" Hua Jing interrupted suddenly, her voice cutting through the maid's rambling like a knife.
The maid blinked, caught off guard. "What?"
Hua Jing leaned forward, her eyes sharp and intense. "You keep talking about rules and the palace and my role as the prince's consort. But what about me? Who am I? Tell me everything about myself. Now."
She needed to know what she was getting into so that she would plan accordingly. She also needed to find out the best way to get out of this place and go back to her world.
Seeing how scared her maid was after she did not bow down to that masked idiot, things in this world did not sound as simple as she thought!
There was a danger lurking and she needed to try and avoid it at all costs.
The maid's mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water, struggling to process the request.
Her initial analysis seemed correct, the young madam had definitely lost her memories after her accident.
She decided to be a bit gentler with her, "Young Madam, well..."