The heavy footsteps grew louder, echoing through the small hut. Hua Jing straightened instinctively, her body tensing. Beside her, Xia Lin clutched the edge of her apron nervously, her eyes darting toward the door.
"Who could that be?" Hua Jing whispered, her tone low but sharp.
"I don't know," Xia Lin murmured, her voice trembling slightly.
The footsteps stopped just outside, and for a moment, all was silent. Then, the door creaked open.
A man stepped inside, his presence commanding. He was dressed in a fine green robe that shimmered faintly in the morning light, his long hair tied neatly in an intricate style. His features were sharp and flawless, his piercing gaze sweeping over the room with quiet authority.
Hua Jing's first thought was that he was ridiculously handsome. Her second thought was more troubling. There was something familiar about him. She tilted her head, narrowing her eyes as she studied him.
Where have I seen him before? she wondered. The image of his face tugged at the edges of her memory, but it remained frustratingly out of reach.
Before she could say anything, Xia Lin gasped softly and dropped into a deep bow. "Master Wei Ling," she said reverently, her voice trembling with respect.
The man—Wei Ling—nodded slightly, acknowledging her gesture before turning his attention to Hua Jing. She, of course, remained standing, her arms crossed as she regarded him with open curiosity.
"Lady Hua," Wei Ling said, his voice smooth and composed. "The prince is having breakfast and has invited you to join him."
Xia Lin straightened immediately, her eyes wide. "Of course, Master Wei Ling. I'll prepare her right away!"
Hua Jing raised an eyebrow, glancing between Wei Ling and Xia Lin. The maid's nervous energy was almost contagious, but Hua Jing remained nonchalant. "An invitation? How thoughtful," she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
Wei Ling's gaze didn't waver. "It was not a request," he said calmly.
Hua Jing's lips twitched into a smirk, but she said nothing.
With a short nod, Wei Ling turned on his heel and left the room, his long robes trailing behind him gracefully.
Once the door closed, Xia Lin let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. "Young Madam, please! You must take this seriously. I'll get you ready right away!"
Hua Jing turned to her, a bemused expression on her face. "Who was that?"
"Master Wei Ling," Xia Lin said, her tone reverent once more. "He is the prince's most trusted confidant. They've been close since childhood. Master Wei Ling has served His Highness loyally for years."
Hua Jing frowned, her mind still churning. Why does he feel so familiar? she wondered. But she brushed the thought aside for now. "Alright, fine. Let's get this over with."
---
A short while later, Hua Jing stood by the door as Xia Lin fussed over her appearance.
"You look much better now," Xia Lin said, stepping back to admire her work.
Hua Jing glanced at her reflection in the small mirror. Her hair was tied up neatly, and the simple dress she wore was free of wrinkles.
The dress was a very beautiful blue. The fabric was not great, however.
Hua Jing had been atop star for many years and she could tell when a piece of clothing was low or high quality.
When she was still young and living in the Hua mansion, Chen Li often bought her counterfeit dresses while Hua Ling was adorned in the most luxurious fabric.
In this life, things seemed the same as well. These clothes must have been the only things she came out of her father's house with.
That Chen Li!
Hua Jing cursed her a million times in her heart.
She had never met someone whose heart was as black as that vile woman!
She looked... presentable. But as far as she was concerned, this was all for show.
"Can we go now?" Hua Jing asked impatiently.
Xia Lin nodded quickly, and the two of them stepped outside.
Hua Jing stopped in her tracks, her eyes widening as she took in her surroundings for the first time.
The estate was sprawling, surrounded by rolling hills covered in snow. The buildings were grand and intricately designed, with curved roofs and ornate carvings. Servants moved about briskly, their heads bowed as they carried out their duties.
She had only seen such a landscape in movies.
She had acted in a few period dramas herself and the setting often looked like this but the experience was still different.
This was just too beautiful and too real!
Hua Jing's eyes scanned the landscape, her mind already working. So this is where I've ended up.
If I need to get out of here… She let the thought trail off, her focus shifting back to the task at hand.
She followed Xia Lin through the winding paths, her curiosity tempered by the simmering irritation that still lingered from her earlier encounter with the prince.
When they finally arrived at the dining hall, Hua Jing felt her irritation spike again.
There he was. Prince Zhao Yan.
He sat at the head of a long table, his posture immaculate. His mask glinted in the light, and his dark robes were spotless, as if they'd never known a single speck of dust.
The robes he wore were dark and gleaming and on the sleeves, there was the embroidery of a phoenix.
The phoenix had to be his sygil because it was dotted on everything surrounding him.
The air around him seemed almost unnaturally composed, and Hua Jing found herself inexplicably annoyed.
Does this man ever relax? she thought. The urge to ruin his pristine appearance was overwhelming.
Perhaps a splash of ink across his robes? A streak of paint on his mask?
Her mind turned with all the possibilities but all changed in an instant.
The prince's gaze shifted to her, and Hua Jing stiffened slightly. His eyes were sharp, assessing her with an intensity that made her want to fidget—but she refused to give him the satisfaction.
"Lady Hua," he said finally, his voice calm and cold. "Sit."