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Lu Hua felt an icy, numbing cold as though she were being swallowed by the depths of a dark abyss. With a sudden jolt of realization, she opened her eyes, only to find herself submerged in water. Her instincts kicked in, and she thrashed her limbs, desperately trying to propel herself upward toward the surface and the life-giving air she so desperately needed.

Just as her strength began to wane, a firm hand grasped hers and pulled her upward with a determined force. As her head broke the surface, she gasped for breath, the sweet air filling her lungs.

"Hah!!" she panted, her heart pounding as she clung to the edge of the pond. Her savior, a man clad in women's clothing, stood beside her, his expression a mix of relief and curiosity. 'Is he...gay?' she wondered, perplexed by the sight.

Before she could fully process the situation, a young girl, no older than herself, rushed toward her, her face etched with concern. "My lady! Are you alright?" she asked, her voice quivering with worry.

Lu Hua glanced around, bewildered by her surroundings. She was in a place that felt both foreign and archaic, with traditional architecture and people dressed in flowing hanfu. Her mind struggled to piece together the fragments of her memory, only managing to recall her name and the distant place she called home.

The girl continued, her words tumbling out in a rush. "My lady, I understand you are heartbroken by the Second Prince, but it is no excuse to end your life!"

Lu Hua's brow furrowed in confusion, and she instinctively pulled away from the girl. "What nonsense are you saying, girl? What prince?" she questioned, her voice tinged with disbelief.

The girl's jaw dropped, and she exchanged a frantic glance with the man in feminine attire. Suddenly, the man exclaimed dramatically, "Aiyoo! The princess has lost her mind!"

Lu Hua raised an eyebrow, taken aback by the man's high-pitched, feminine voice. "What the hell is going on? Where is this place? Did you kidnap me?" she demanded, her mind reeling with unanswered questions.

The girl began to weep, her shoulders shaking with the intensity of her sobs. "Did the water damage her brain?!" she cried. "We're going to die if her mother hears this!"

Feeling increasingly unsettled by the scene unfolding before her, Lu Hua decided to distance herself from the commotion. She slipped away from the pair as they continued to lament, her instincts urging her to find a way out of this unfamiliar place. As she walked along a winding path, she took in the traditional architecture and the elegant garments, realizing with a jolt that this was certainly not the year 3066.

"Did I travel back in time?" she wondered aloud, the notion both bewildering and intriguing.

Lost in thought, Lu Hua suddenly tripped over the hem of her wet robe, letting out a startled shriek as she braced for impact. Just before she hit the ground, a strong arm caught her, saving her from the fall.

Startled, Lu Hua opened her eyes to find herself face-to-face with a man, his features refined and aristocratic. She pulled away with an awkward smile, murmuring, "Thank you for saving me."

The man, dressed in resplendent gold, exuded an air of wealth and confidence. He offered her a charming smile. "It is no problem. You wouldn't want to ruin a beautiful face, would you?" he quipped, his eyes gleaming with amusement.

Lu Hua instantly pegged him as a flirt, her mind racing with skepticism. 'Why is he smirking like that?' she pondered warily.

"Oh, you are wet. Did you just come out of the bathroom?" he asked, his tone teasing. "You must be new here. Are you a maid?"

"Maid?" Lu Hua repeated, her confusion deepening.

"Yes. My mother did say she's going to send several ladies from noble houses to be my brother's wife's servants. You must be one of them, considering you are beautiful."

"I’m no—" Lu Hua began, but the young man interrupted her, "Well, nice meeting you, pretty lady, but I'm afraid we can't talk for a while since I have to go to the emperor's palace."

With that, he excused himself and walked away, leaving Lu Hua even more bewildered. Her mind raced with the implications of his words. Had she really traveled back in time?

A few moments later, the girl and the man in feminine attire found her once more, their relief evident as they ushered her into a bedroom. Sitting on the bed, a physician checked her over while the girl explained to him, "The Princess tried to drown herself, thankfully Xiang managed to save her."

Suddenly, the door swung open and two women entered—a regal woman adorned in red and heavy jewelry, followed by an elegant figure dressed in purple. The servants and physician immediately bowed in reverence.

"What happened?" the woman in red, whom Lu Hua instinctively recognized as the empress, demanded, her gaze sharp and commanding.

The maid stammered, overwhelmed by the scrutiny. "W-well...the princess tried to take her life by drowning herself. We found out the prince didn't come to the wedding chamber last night and snuck out of the palace. He...he..."

The empress’s eyes narrowed, her voice firm. "Speak!"

The maid flinched, words spilling from her lips in a rush. "The prince snuck out of the palace and went to the brothel to spend the night with whores! T-t-that's why Lady Lu Hua was heartbroken and decided to drown herself! Luckily, we managed to save her in time!"

The empress rolled her eyes, a sigh escaping her lips. "The whore house again. As expected from the son of a whore. But don't worry, cousin, he is only visiting his family."

The woman in purple, Shen Yongjia, sighed. "My stepdaughter is a Chun. Although she is a girl, she still has the Chun's family blood in her veins. This is unacceptable behavior from the Second Prince."

The empress bit her lip. "I will talk to the Second Prince, see what I can do. Don't worry, cousin, I will discipline him. If he still does not listen, I will ask the emperor for help."

"No need," Shen Yongjia replied, her tone resolute. "The Second Prince has made his decision. There is nothing we can do if he does not want this marriage. I had expected better from him." She turned to Lu Hua, her gaze firm. "Pack your things, Lu Hua."

The empress's eyes widened, and she grasped Shen Yongjia's arm. "Wait, cousin! Are you suggesting a divorce?"

Shen Yongjia nodded. "Yes."

The empress tried to reason with her. "But a divorce to a prince will bring shame to the royal family."

Shen Yongjia laughed, a derisive sound. "Shame? What shame? The Second Prince has already brought enough disgrace to the royal family. Surely a divorce will not add to his already shameful actions."

The empress bit her lip harder, contemplating the ramifications. If Lu Hua divorced the Second Prince, it would not only disgrace the royal family but also sever their ties with the wealthiest family. The royal family was on the brink of financial ruin, and Lu Hua's marriage had been a lifeline.

Suddenly, the empress had a bold idea. "Cousin, if you insist on Lu Hua divorcing the Second Prince, then what about letting her marry my third son? He is still unmarried, and I have begun to worry."

Shen Yongjia looked at her. "The Sixth Prince?"

The empress nodded eagerly. "Yes." She approached Lu Hua, taking her hand with gentle persuasion. "Lu Hua, my third son is only 18 years old, a year older than you. He is handsome and tall. If you marry him, the two of you will make beautiful babies."

Lu Hua's eyebrows knitted together in bewilderment. This woman was audacious! "Ah?" she murmured, utterly confused. 'What nonsense is this?' she thought.

Shen Yongjia nodded. "Then, if you say so, I will agree. Lu Hua has been married several times now, and none of her marriages were successful. All thanks to that bastard Rong Xianzong for rejecting her."

The empress beamed, looking at Lu Hua. "Lu Hua, if you marry my son, you will live a good life."

"What?! No, I don't want to get married! Who are you people?" Lu Hua exclaimed, panic rising in her chest.

Shen Yongjia and the empress blinked, taken aback. The physician interjected, his tone calm. "It seems the water has affected her. She doesn't remember anything at all."

Shen Yongjia responded, incredulous. "That's impossible! How can water make someone forget their memories?"

The physician reassured her. "It is only temporary, Lady Shen. She will regain her memory in due time."

"You had better be right."

"Let's leave her to rest. Everyone, please leave," the empress instructed, and the room emptied, leaving Lu Hua alone with her tumultuous thoughts.

Lu Hua rose from the bed and walked to the window, opening it to the sight that took her breath away. Before her lay a sprawling palace complex, its grandeur and majesty unlike anything she had ever seen. The towering walls encircled the compound like a protective embrace, guarding it from the world beyond.

Her eyes widened in awe, the realization settling in with a profound sense of wonder. She had truly traveled back in time.

"What the heck," she whispered, the words barely audible as she stared out at the breathtaking vista before her.