When Li Chenxi opened her eyes, everything around her seemed strange and ancient. She quickly sat up, her mind racing to catch up—this wasn't because she was still at work late at the office, but because, after that sudden car accident, her life had come to an abrupt end, only for her to find herself in an incomprehensible reality—she had time-traveled.
"What is this place?" she touched her head, feeling a dizzying wave of confusion. Looking around, she found herself in a beautifully decorated room, with intricate wooden carvings on the walls and silk curtains hanging by the bedside. Outside the window was a large courtyard, and lanterns of golden threads illuminated the room with a warm glow.
"Am I dead?" Li Chenxi sighed quietly, looking at the lavish palace-like bed. She vaguely remembered the last thing she did before losing consciousness: her last WeChat message, "Boss, I'm working overtime. Can you approve my overtime pay for today?"
Yes, she was a modern-day office worker, often stressed and overwhelmed by the daily grind at her company. Who would have thought that everything would come to a sudden halt after an accident?
She instinctively remembered her phone's last message: "Boss, I'm working overtime. Can you approve my overtime pay for today?"
That's right, she was a white-collar worker in the modern world, always swamped with office tasks. Who would have thought that one day, everything would end so suddenly in an accident?
Her mind quickly returned to the present—she was no longer the confident, independent modern-day Li Chenxi but instead a delicate and frail noblewoman in an ancient world.
"Li Chenxi?!" she whispered to herself. The face in the mirror reflected her own, yet it was unfamiliar—her eyes held an air of nobility, but there was something fragile about her.
"Am I... the 'Li Chenxi' of this world?" she murmured. The name was hers, but she was not the person she had once been. She was now in the body of a "princess" in an ancient royal family.
As she was pondering this, a soft knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. A gentle voice called from the other side: "Princess, have you awakened?"
Li Chenxi's heart skipped a beat. She responded softly, "Come in."
The door opened quietly, revealing a young maid, probably around sixteen or seventeen, with an expression of relief when she saw that Chenxi was sitting up. "Princess, you're finally awake! You frightened everyone last night. The Prince and the Master were both so worried."
Li Chenxi froze for a moment, her confusion deepening. The Prince? The Master? Was this… an ancient royal palace?
"Princess, you must be hungry. I'll go prepare your breakfast right away," the maid said gently, her voice tinged with genuine concern.
Li Chenxi furrowed her brow. "Wait, tell me—who am I right now?"
The maid paused, looking a bit puzzled. "Princess, are you feeling alright? Did you forget who you are after the shock last night?"
Li Chenxi was taken aback. "You mean, I'm 'Princess'?"
The maid nodded. "Yes, Princess. You're the esteemed daughter of the royal family, the beloved one of the Prince."
"Princess…" The title made her head spin. She wasn't just any person—she was now someone with the title of a princess. But what did that mean? What was her life now?
Before she could contemplate further, heavy footsteps sounded outside the door, and a tall figure appeared in the doorway. Li Chenxi's eyes widened as she saw the man entering the room. Dressed in luxurious royal attire, he exuded an air of authority and charm—he was none other than the "Prince" she had just been told about.
The Prince's gaze fell upon her, his stern expression softening when he saw her sitting up. "Chenxi, you're finally awake."
Li Chenxi froze for a moment, then realized that this "Prince" was her fiancé? Before she could speak, the Prince walked toward her and gently placed a hand on her shoulder, his tone concerned. "You were frightened last night. Don't worry, you're safe now."
She instinctively took a small step back, her heart racing. This unfamiliar feeling made her uneasy. She didn't remember why she was connected to this man. She had crossed over, but why?
"Prince," the maid reminded softly, "The Princess is still weak. She shouldn't be startled."
Li Chenxi could feel the cold sweat starting to form, but she quickly suppressed her anxiety and forced a smile. "It's fine, I'm fine." Then she looked at the Prince. "Thank you for your concern."
The Prince furrowed his brow, as if slightly displeased by her distant attitude, but he said nothing. He simply nodded. "Are you feeling better? I'll have someone take you outside for a walk this afternoon and update you on the latest developments in the war."
"War?" Li Chenxi was startled, her mind racing. She may not have understood the ways of the ancient world, but if what the Prince said was true, war was something she would have to face. How would she manage?
Suddenly, a realization struck her. If this was really happening, and if she was truly in this ancient world, then this time-travel wasn't just a loss—it was an opportunity.
She lowered her voice, her gaze sharpening with newfound determination. "I won't settle for just being a Princess."
She whispered to herself, her eyes becoming resolute as if she had already glimpsed the path before her—the path filled with challenges, power struggles, and everything she needed to change her fate.