Chapter 1：Can I Not Live Peacefully?

Everybody says that I am wasting away my life by being a workaholic, but is it really my fault? I had once fallen in love to only be betrayed by the one I love. It is almost hard to trust a man again. I'm so jealous of those romance novels I read. Speaking of novels, I am recently reading one. It's called 'Living Is Hard'.

Since reading it, I have really loved the male lead character because although he is very cold and fearful, he is a very loyal man that will love only that one woman which is the female main character. However, reading this story really got me angry at the female lead because of how she kept on running away from the male lead. If I had someone that is as sincere as that, I

*Ding*

"Who texted me? Oh, voice message..."

"Hey Zhao Ling! There is a meet out for the company tonight. You should come! The location is Rose Lip Outing at 10 pm."

"These people never get tired of their outings do they?"

I've only gone to 1 of the outings since working in this workplace. I am the secretary of the CEO here. Who knows how I was able to deal with someone as perfect as him and narcissistic as him, but let's not talk about work. Today is my break. Something I haven't had in 9 years. I am pretty sure there is something wrong with my boss's brain, too. He does not know how to give us human beings a break, but I suppose I can say I forgive that because I have become very talented. A difference from when I was still only 20 years old.

*Ring*

"Xiao Ling, I know that you are busy, but you are also a woman! You are already 29 years old! If you continue that way I'll die before I get the chance to even see my grandchildren! I've set up a blind date for you on Sunday at 8 pm."

"Mom, stop setting me up blind dates. I promise I'll find you a son-in-law soon."

"Xiao Ling, don't worry. This son is rich and has a good personality. Don't you dear miss out on this date. Do you understand miss! The place is at Valencia."

"Mom! But!"

"No, buts!"

She hanged up on me. "Sigh...Can I not live in peace? Who cares...I'll just binge read this novel before the blind date. I still have about more than 12 hours anyway."

"Wait, I should grab some snacks, too."

Hm? At the corner of my eyeballs, I saw a bracelet on my wrist. When did I have that? I don't remember ever owning a genuine jade bracelet. They are too expensive even with my paycheck. But I don't believe I ever let anyone in my house for the pass days or months. So how did it get here? Sigh...Well, I suppose I should put this in a case. Later, I'll take this to a jewelry appraiser or perhaps I should go and ask all the people I have let in my house recently and see if any of them owns this bracelet.

Huh? I feel so dizzy…*faints*

*Wakes up*

Huh? Where am I? This place doesn't look like home. Who are those people?

"Greetings. Starting today, we are your family from now on. We are parents, and this is your younger sister and brother. There is rule that you have to abide to upon entering this house and that is that you never bully your younger siblings, and you listen to every order. Do you understand?"

Who wants to be your daughter? I don't even know you!

"Yes."

"Good. I have arranged a marriage with the Wu clan. You'll be a concubine to them. Be happy that a family as rich and as prosperous as them is willing to accept you as a concubine despite your lowly dirt upbringing. When you are married into the house, you must do everything you can to bring a son! Don't disappoint me!"

Why am I the one to do this? You have a biological daughter! And give birth to a damn son! You must be kidding. Whatever… I should ignore this and instead be trying my best to go back to my time. But what is up with my tone? Why am I speaking in such a kind manner? I have always been an honest person in front of everyone (except my boss). I wanted to say, "No!", but somehow my mouth is instead doing something else. Just as is my body.

"I understand."

"It's good that you understand. Go clean yourself up and head to the Wu province. Nobody wants to marry a dirty and stinking lady."

This is violating me in modern times! Sexual harassment to be more exact. I want to cry so much right now. Never in my life have I ever expected such a thing to happen to me. If I had woken up in a bed, maybe I would have thought that this is a set up and acting, not real life, but how did I get myself in such a situation?! I was never taught to time travel between times. Boss, help me!

Zhao Ling had only brought her maid Ling Hao with her and a few plain set of clothing with her to the mansion, or rather the province in ancient terms.

In the travel carriage…

"Hao'er, I seem to not be able to remember the things that nee Bai had told me. Please remind me. What is my name? My age?"

"Mistress Xiu, was named Bai Xiangxiu and supposedly at the age of 16."

"I understand, thank you."

Ignoring the weird stare of Ling Hao, her maid, Bai Xiangxiu goes back deep into her own thoughts.

Sigh...So being bought because I was pretty to be made into a concubine is a much better thing than being a servant, but I definitely have to find a way to survive in the Wu family while finding out how to go back to my world. Well, another addition would be how I am able to retain my looks from my world. I thought I had taken over another body like the novels instead, but yay for me! I still have my beautiful face and very proportionate yet curvy body. I am very happy at this occurrence of course! Back in the my time (the 31st century), I was deemed a beauty even though I was never in the entertainment industry, I was still quite famous and had a long line of suitors trying to get my attention. Unfortunately, my life revolved around my boss's life. Everything was about him. My purse had all the things he needed, but I had nothing personal their at all.

Upon arriving at the Wu province Old Madame aka Madame Wu aka Wu Zetian put the concubines in their own courtyards. (By the way, has nothing to do with the female emperor Wu Zetian.) I was put in the Winter Court. The farthest from the center of the entire province to say. If I was really someone trying to vie for attention I would had been sad for this, but this is a good thing. I won't catch any attention and be able to survive much longer and be able to do more things being unnoticed. Being someone who reads too much web novels and watches too many dramas, you can just know that a person can die very easily in these ancient times.