The Garden of Familiarity

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of wandering, she reached an open door that led to a beautiful garden. The scent of flowers wafted through the air, and a soft breeze tugged gently at her hair. The grandeur of the space was overwhelming, with marble statues dotting the landscape and flowers in a vibrant array of colors.

There, in the center of the garden, sat the princess.

Xiaoyun paused at the entrance, her breath catching in her throat as she took in the sight of the princess. The golden locks of the woman shimmered like strands of sunlight, cascading down her back in gentle waves. Her porcelain skin seemed to glow in the soft sunlight, and her delicate features radiated an almost ethereal beauty. The princess was surrounded by an aura of grace and serenity that made her seem untouchable, an idealized image of beauty and perfection. It reminded Xiaoyun, uncomfortably, of her own original beauty.

"Mei Lin!" the princess called out, her voice warm and familiar. "There you are. I was starting to worry you might still be unwell."

Xiaoyun's heart skipped a beat at the mention of her name. Mei Lin. That was who she was now. For the moment, it was all she could be.

"I'm fine, Your Highness," she said, inclining her head slightly. "Just… a little disoriented."

The princess rose and crossed the garden to her, her lavender gown flowing behind her. She placed a hand gently on Xiaoyun's shoulder. "You took quite the fall yesterday. I was worried about you."

Xiaoyun stared at her, momentarily disarmed by the genuine concern in the princess's eyes. "It was nothing," she said quickly, her tone dismissive. "You know I'm not one to be kept down for long."

The princess smiled, her expression softening. "Of course. That's why I value you so much, Mei Lin. My closest friend."

Friend? Xiaoyun's mind whirled. She hadn't expected this level of intimacy. If the princess saw her as a friend, that gave her leverage. She decided to lean into it.

"Naturally, Your Highness," she said, her tone tinged with self-satisfaction. "Where would you be without me to keep you grounded?"

The princess laughed, the sound light and genuine. "You always know how to make me laugh."

They sat together at the stone table, and the princess poured Xiaoyun a cup of tea. As they spoke, Xiaoyun carefully observed the princess, trying to glean more about her role in this strange new reality. It was clear she trusted her deeply, even relying on her for advice.

"Mei Lin," She said suddenly, her tone serious. "I've been meaning to tell you something. There's been tension between the two princes lately, and I'm afraid it might escalate. I need your guidance."

Xiaoyun blinked, startled by the sudden shift in conversation. "Tension? Over what?"

The princess sighed, looking down at her tea. "It's complicated. Prince Jian and Prince Xuan have always had their differences, but–"

Xiaoyun froze, her teacup halfway to her lips. "Wait. Did you just say… Prince Jinhai and Prince Ren?"

The Princess nodded, her expression weary. "Yes. The two of them—"

Before she could finish, the garden door creaked open, and a servant entered, bowing deeply. "Princess Anming," the servant said, their voice polite but urgent. "The royal steward has requested your presence in the west hall."

Anming sighed, rising gracefully from her seat. "It seems my peaceful morning is over," she said with a small, apologetic smile. "We'll continue this conversation later, Mei Lin. Thank you for listening."

Xiaoyun inclined her head as the princess departed, but her thoughts were anything but calm. Prince Jinhai. Prince Ren. Princess Anming. The names echoed in her mind, each syllable pulling her closer to a truth she had been avoiding.

As soon as the garden door closed behind the princess, Xiaoyun slammed her teacup onto the table, eyes wide with realization. Her pulse quickened, and she clutched the edge of the stone table for support.

She knew those names. They weren't just random princes in some foreign palace—they were characters. Characters from Ming's incessant ramblings.

She was in Ming's manhua.