Seeing Gu Yi rolling back and forth on her couch, Tao Jia anxiously asked, “Beauty, what’s wrong? Is your stomach hurting? Are you feeling unwell?”

Gu Yi stopped moving and gave a pitiful, bitter laugh: “Hahaha.”

This frightened Tao Jia, who took a small step back, “Beauty, are you having a nightmare?”

Nightmare, bad dream, this was indeed a nightmare!

Gu Yi, seeing Tao Jia’s startled expression, took a deep breath.

“Go out first and let me be alone for a while. If Concubine Wang summons me for breakfast, tell her I caught a chill last night and am feeling unwell…”

“Yes, my lady…” Tao Jia retreated from the bedchamber and closed the wooden door.

Where exactly had she gone wrong…

Gu Yi calmed her mind, and gradually optimism overcame pessimism.

There must be a way to break this cycle…

The first time, she hadn’t met the female protagonist and choked to death on flatbread.

The second time, she met the female protagonist but was killed by a falling flower pot.

She summarized her experiences from the previous two rounds…

Perhaps she hadn’t gained enough favor…

Maybe she needed to become sworn sisters with the female protagonist, to be illuminated by the protagonist’s halo…

While Gu Yi was busy analyzing ways to break the cycle.

On the other side, her maid Tao Jia used Gu Yi’s excuse to politely decline the small palace maid sent by Concubine Wang.

The small palace maid excitedly ran back to the main hall of Xiu Yidian and whispered a few words in Huang Li’s ear.

After hearing this, Huang Li sneered, “What? Concubine Gu has only been here a few days and is already acting prideful, not showing proper respect to our Concubine.”

She turned and went into the hall, exaggerating the situation when reporting to Concubine Wang.

Concubine Wang raised an eyebrow and smiled lightly, “Concubine Gu is delicate and frail… she should get more exercise. Have her go to Huan Yi Ju for me today.”

Huang Li curtseyed and left.

Gu Yi was sitting in her chamber when trouble came from above—she still received that dusty water-blue silk.

The plot was truly stubborn, haha.

She calculated the time and went to Huan Yi Ju right on schedule.

Gu Yi met Zhao Wan again as expected.

This time, she was determined to max out Zhao Wan’s favor toward her.

Gu Yi sent her maid Tao Jia away early.

She wanted to have a one-on-one, heart-to-heart talk with the female protagonist.

Gu Yi handed the silk to her, “After you’ve washed it, deliver it to the side hall of Xiu Yidian… What is your name?”

Zhao Wan: “This slave is Wan’er.”

Gu Yi: “Are you Zhao Wan?”

Zhao Wan looked surprised, “How does the Beauty know my surname is Zhao?”

Gu Yi sighed, tilting her head up at a forty-five-degree angle, putting on a sad expression, “You resemble someone I once knew…” She paused for a moment, then continued, “Are you… related to Teacher Zhao Jie?”

Zhao Wan’s heart skipped a beat. She curtseyed and said, “Beauty, may I speak with you privately…”

There was hope!

Gu Yi took out a small handkerchief, pretending to wipe the corner of her eye, and followed Zhao Wan to a shaded path beside Huan Yi Ju.

Zhao Wan walked a little while before stopping.

This spot was backed by a white rock artificial mountain, away from others and very secluded. Zhao Wan bowed and asked, “Beauty, how do you know Teacher Zhao Jie?”

Gu Yi combined the plot with her fabrications: “When I was young, I traveled with my father to Ji Province. Because I was frail in my childhood, I recuperated in a separate courtyard in Cang County of Ji Province. Disguised as a boy, I entered a school and saw Teacher Zhao Jie. I admired his character and was deeply impressed.” The further she spoke, the sadder her tone became, “I never expected the Zhao family to experience such great changes. I… I thought all of his descendants had scattered… Who exactly are you?”

Zhao Wan thought for a moment. The Zhao family had indeed run a school in Cang County of Ji Province for several years, and local gentry children often came to study. Seeing that Concubine Gu seemed to be of an appropriate age, she half-believed her and said, “This slave is indeed from the Zhao family. My father and Teacher Zhao Jie were cousins…”

Fine… it was your father, but you say he was your family’s cousin…

Gu Yi didn’t expect the female protagonist to open her heart to her immediately, “I see…” She smiled, “Teacher Zhao enlightened me. Since you are from the Zhao family, if you need any help in the palace, I will do my utmost to assist you.”

Zhao Wan curtseyed gracefully, “Thank you for your kindness, Beauty.”

Gu Yi didn’t dare rush things, “In that case, I’ll return to Xiu Yidian now.”

Zhao Wan: “I bid the Beauty farewell.”

Cross-generational friendship was so difficult!

Gu Yi smiled and slowly walked away, but the female protagonist didn’t try to keep her.

A day later, Zhao Wan came to deliver the silk.

Gu Yi asked her to stay and chat in the side hall. She had specially prepared persimmon cakes that the female protagonist loved, having asked the palace kitchen to make them.

“You’ve done your work well. Take this box of persimmon cakes with you. I found them delicious—see if you like them too.”

Zhao Wan dared not accept, “This is all part of this slave’s duty. The Beauty is too kind.”

Gu Yi persisted, “What I give you is yours. Take it.”

Zhao Wan finally accepted.

By the evening of the third day, to be safe, Gu Yi went to wait near Huan Yi Ju, planning to “accidentally” encounter the female protagonist and bask in the protagonist’s caring attention.

At the first quarter of the Hai hour (around 9:15 PM), the moon was bright, the stars sparse, and a gentle breeze was blowing.

Zhao Wan was surprised to see Gu Yi holding a white paper lantern, casually walking along the garden stone path.

“I pay my respects to the Beauty.”

Gu Yi smiled, “You’re also strolling in the garden?” Thank heaven, I’ve finally found you! Good thing I didn’t give up!

Zhao Wan’s face flushed slightly, “This garden happens to be between my quarters and Huan Yi Ju. When no one is around, this slave often comes to admire the flowers.”

I understand—the Emperor also “accidentally” encountered you here many times. The plot didn’t lie to me!

Gu Yi smiled and said, “I’ve also come to enjoy the flowers. Would you like to walk with me?”

Zhao Wan: “Yes, Beauty.”

The two walked slowly through the garden. Gu Yi watched the lantern in her hand gently sway.

“When I was young, my father was always busy with official duties. My mother would calculate the time and always hold a lantern, waiting for him outside our home. My mother said that even when my father returned late, seeing that candlelight would dispel the fatigue of the day.”

Zhao Wan’s heart stirred, a bitterness spreading through her. She slowly said, “No wonder the Beauty has such a gentle nature. I imagine you must have been the precious pearl of a harmonious household.”

Gu Yi laughed softly a couple of times, “I imagine you were the same. The Zhao family is scholarly, with men of righteousness and women of propriety, nurturing a character like yours.”

Zhao Wan was stunned, her face reddening, “The Beauty flatters me…”

Gu Yi knew when to stop.

The two walked side by side, reaching the end of the garden stone path.

Before parting, Gu Yi made one last attempt, “In this deep palace, true friends are rare. Meeting you is like meeting an old friend. If you don’t mind, I would like to call you a good friend. Though I have rank, I am merely a Beauty, so please don’t think you’re trying to gain my favor. I… sincerely wish to be your friend…”

Zhao Wan looked at her face, thought for a moment, and bowed, “If you don’t mind, this slave is willing.”

Gu Yi raised an eyebrow, “This slave?”

Zhao Wan realized her mistake and murmured, “Zhao Wan is willing.”

Gu Yi said happily, “Then we’ll meet again.”

Zhao Wan nodded.

The two parted reluctantly at the fork in the path by the lake.

Gu Yi felt certain she had succeeded this time.

May the protagonist’s halo shine upon me!

Thinking about it carefully, the female protagonist was truly impressive. In the book, Zhao Wan came from a distinguished family, had a gentle and kind temperament, but was extremely strong and principled inside—otherwise, the heartless Emperor wouldn’t have fallen in love with her.

Gu Yi walked with light steps toward Xiu Yidian.

Thunder rolled across the sky, reflecting a blue flash on the lake surface beside her.

Gu Yi turned to look and, across the rippling lake, saw slanting bamboo shadows at the lake’s edge and glimpsed a procession of people.

The man leading them had an upright figure and wore bright yellow.

A long line of palace servants followed behind.

It was the Emperor.

Gu Yi stopped in her tracks, planning to slip onto another path to avoid the heartless Emperor.

She turned to the right, but her foot suddenly slipped. Looking down, she saw a very abrupt stone that had appeared out of nowhere.

She instinctively dodged to the left, but her falling posture didn’t slow.

Tragically, Gu Yi fell headfirst into the lake, her forehead hitting hard against a strange rock at the lake’s edge.

Before her eyes, that familiar flash of white light appeared yet again.

Unbelievable!

Gu Yi opened her eyes once more, just in time to see her maid Tao Jia lifting the bed curtain for her.

“Has the Beauty awakened?”

Gu Yi was completely dispirited, “Is today the fifteenth of the sixth month?”

Tao Jia nodded, “Yes, my lady, it is indeed the fifteenth of the sixth month.” She paused for a moment, “Today is the day for turning the tablet. Would my lady like to offer some gifts?”

Gu Yi lay motionless on the couch, utterly dejected.

Was this truly a death loop… Would she have to repeat this endlessly?

Was there no way to break the cycle?

Didn’t the legendary butterfly effect work? At each fork in the road, shouldn’t small choices lead to earth-shattering changes?

But no matter what she chose, the outcome was always her death, dying an unnatural death.

Where had she made the wrong choice…

Seeing no response from Gu Yi, Tao Jia thought she was just waking up and still drowsy, so she repeated, “Today is the fifteenth of the sixth month, the day for turning the tablet. Would my lady like to offer some gifts?”