Chapter 1

Le Huan opened his eyes and blinked several times, trying to clear the blurriness from his vision. After a moment, he slowly looked up at the unfamiliar ceiling above him.

At first, he was bewildered. Then it registered.

This wasn't his home.

His ceiling had never looked anything like this. It wasn't damaged or worn down like the one above him. Instead, the spacious room was topped by a rustic, dilapidated roof made of ancient tiles.

Le Huan's thoughts immediately spiraled.

Was I kidnapped?

If he had been kidnapped, then he needed to survive and find a way to escape.

He tried to sit up, but his body staggered from weakness. His legs felt strangely feeble, and dizziness washed over him. His wrist also ached.

I must have been asleep for a long time.

He had no idea how long he had been unconscious.

Le Huan looked down at his aching wrist and was surprised to find it carefully wrapped in a bandage.

Why is my wrist bandaged?

His confusion only deepened when he noticed that he wasn't wearing his usual clothes.

Instead, he was dressed in a plain robe that looked like something from an ancient Chinese drama. Unlike the elaborate and exquisite costumes he had seen on television, this robe was simple and white. The fabric wasn't particularly high quality, but it was surprisingly comfortable.

Before he could think further, he heard footsteps approaching.

The door suddenly slid open.

A young boy stood outside.

He looked around seventeen years old and was rather short in stature. His features were delicate and pleasing to the eye. The moment he saw Le Huan sitting on the bed, however, his expression froze.

His limpid eyes quickly became misty.

Then—

Thud!

The young boy dropped to his knees and burst into tears.

"Mistress, you're awake!"

Le Huan stared at him in bewilderment.

Who was this boy?

Why was he crying so heartbreakingly?

And, more importantly, why did he seem to know him?

"A-ah... your name?"

Le Huan's voice came out hoarse. He cleared his throat before trying again, this time speaking more clearly.

"Please tell me who you are."

The boy looked up at him. His eyes were already red from crying, but now they were filled with shock and confusion.

More tears rolled down his cheeks.

"The mistress doesn't remember this lowly servant?"

Le Huan didn't know why, but seeing the boy cry made him feel strangely guilty.

Perhaps it was simply because the boy looked so heartbroken.

"Please... if you tell me your name, I might remember. So stop crying. Hush now."

The boy sniffled and hurriedly wiped his tears.

"I'm your loyal servant, Meilin, Miss."

Meilin stared at his mistress.

Something about him seemed different today.

His usual aura had been replaced by something calm and graceful. Somehow, he even seemed more beautiful than before.

Then again, his mistress had always been beautiful.

"Meilin, where am I?" Le Huan asked. "This place looks strange."

"It's only natural that the mistress doesn't recognize this place. You were moved here while you were unconscious."

"What do you mean?"

"After the accident, His Majesty was furious and banished you to the abandoned Eastern Palace."

Le Huan looked around.

Although the palace looked gloomy and old, it wasn't dusty. In fact, it was surprisingly clean.

It must be this boy's handiwork.

He glanced around once more before looking back at Meilin.

"Abandoned? Yes, I can see that."

Then the rest of Meilin's words finally registered.

His Majesty?

Palace?

What the hell is going on?

"Wait. His Majesty? Palace? What are you talking about?"

"Mistress, are you alright?" Meilin asked worriedly.

"Meilin, please explain to me who I am. Don't hesitate or leave anything out. Tell me plainly."

Le Huan pressed a hand against his temple.

A heavy headache was beginning to form.

He was completely confused.

After a moment, he looked at Meilin again.

"It seems that ever since I woke up, I can barely remember anything. So please, Meilin... explain everything to me."

He deliberately phrased it that way.

He couldn't let this boy become suspicious of him.

If this truly wasn't his world, then revealing that he wasn't Na Juan could put his life in danger.

Le Huan listened carefully as Meilin explained everything.

This body's name was Na Juan.

He was the emperor's tenth consort.

However, after an incident that angered the emperor, his position had been reduced until he was effectively the lowest-ranking consort in the imperial harem.

Na Juan came from the Na family, a small and impoverished household. Because of his extraordinary beauty, his family had sold him to the imperial harem.

After meeting the emperor, Na Juan had fallen deeply in love with him.

Unfortunately, the emperor had never returned his feelings.

Instead, he had become increasingly disgusted with Na Juan's desperate attempts to win his affection.

Eventually, Na Juan resorted to drugging the emperor and spending the night with him.

Le Huan's expression became strange.

"So... I was pregnant?"

"Yes, Miss. And you were very happy about it."

Na Juan had loved the child dearly.

But one day, he mysteriously lost the baby.

When the emperor searched Na Juan's room afterward, he discovered a bowl of congee containing abortion medicine.

The emperor immediately became furious.

Na Juan denied ever taking the medicine and insisted that someone had framed him.

The emperor didn't believe him.

He swore that he would never visit Na Juan again and sent him to the Cold Palace.

Grief-stricken, Na Juan later attempted to end his own life by cutting his wrist. Fortunately, he was found before it was too late.

The emperor, however, interpreted the incident as another attempt by Na Juan to gain his attention.

Instead of showing him compassion, he ordered Na Juan to be sent even farther away—to the abandoned Eastern Palace.

Not long after arriving there, Na Juan fell unconscious.

He remained unconscious for three days.

And during those three days...

Na Juan died.

Le Huan had taken his place.

Le Huan let out a long sigh.

So this really is one of those Chinese transmigration novels.

A stereotypical emperor who doesn't know how to communicate, a harem full of scheming consorts, and a supposedly foolish original owner who somehow managed to get himself into one disaster after another.

And, to make matters worse...

This was a world where men could become pregnant.

Le Huan rubbed his forehead.

"What a mess."

He looked at Meilin.

"If that's everything, please leave for now. Give me a moment alone."

Meilin hesitated but eventually nodded.

"Yes, Miss."

He quietly left the room and closed the door behind him.

Once Le Huan was certain he was alone, his expression became serious.

He needed to understand the condition of this new body.

Na Juan's body felt weak and fragile. Even sitting upright had exhausted him.