Chapter One: Lost in the Wrong Time and Space

With great effort, I forced my eyes open. My whole body seemed to be gently swaying, and my head throbbed painfully—perhaps I’d caught another cold. What strange weather this has been lately, I grumbled inwardly.

“Young master, you’re finally awake! Please, drink your medicine!” A petite, unfamiliar man pressed a wooden bowl to my lips. Judging by the scent, this was a bowl of herbal soup. I looked around warily: everything was made of wood, a conical hat and rain cape hung on the wall, and the man before me wore his hair in a traditional topknot. This getup, this setting—could it be that I’ve truly succeeded in traveling through time?

I couldn’t help but curl my lips into a smile. Four years of relentless effort had not been in vain. All the arduous training was finally paying off; I had crossed over at last. Oh, yes! Puyi, just you wait for me!

My name is Fang Xiaoyu. My father is an archaeologist, and I am a student at the College of History. Because of my father’s work, I became involved in a time-travel experiment. Throughout four years of university, I was a lab rat, undergoing specialized training and always preparing for this moment. I never imagined that on the day I graduated, my dream would actually come true.

But what did this man call me just now? Young master? Am I not here in body, but in soul? And have I ended up in a man’s body? Oh heavens, how am I supposed to accept this kind of transmigration? Before entering the time machine, I’d made meticulous preparations—a suitcase full of digital gadgets. After all, electricity existed by the late Qing dynasty. Where had everything gone? I searched my surroundings but found no mirror. How dismal! I desperately wanted to see what I looked like now—would I be a blight on the city’s scenery?

I took the wooden bowl reluctantly, now truly missing my shoe capsule, at least it spared me discomfort. Testing the waters, I asked the man before me, “What happened to me? Why do I keep swaying?”

“Young master, you accidentally fell into the water yesterday. You scared me half to death! We’re on a boat right now!” His concern was evident. Since he called me young master, he must be my servant.

Setting down the bowl, I scanned the room ceaselessly. I had to become familiar with my environment and avoid showing any cracks. Yet all these items were old and classical, nothing at all like the late Qing dynasty. “Was it the captain who saved me?”

“No, it was two gentlemen traveling on the same boat who rescued you. Coincidentally, they’re also headed to Nishan Academy to study!” The man gently pressed my shoulder, tucked in my covers. So this was how ancient men showed their gentle care.

Wait—Nishan Academy? Isn’t that the one from the tale of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai? And this man’s style—he hasn’t shaved his head. Could it be…? I furrowed my brows anxiously. “What dynasty is this?”

He looked at me, confused. “Young master, are you feverish? This is the Jin dynasty.”

A huge sigh escaped me, and I collapsed weakly onto the bed. How could I end up in the Jin dynasty? I was supposed to travel to the Qing! All my preparations were ruined. The Jin—such a distant, war-torn era. Oh heavens!

Seeing my silence, the man nervously shook me, “Young master, what’s wrong? The boat’s about to dock. We’ll get a doctor right away.”

Well, I’ve already crossed over. I might as well live here for five years and accept it. “I’m fine. It’s just that I seem to have forgotten everything before. Are you my servant?”

“What? Amnesia?” The man was so nervous he knocked over the wooden bowl. “Miss, don’t scare me! I’m Leaf. Look at me—do you really not remember?”

Why did he call me miss then young master? Am I male or female? Thinking of Nishan Academy, a name suddenly flashed through my mind: Zhu Yingtai. Did I transmigrate into her? But wasn’t her servant called Silver Heart?

“I really can’t remember. Your name is Leaf? And I am…?” I tried to coax my current identity out of him.

“Miss, your name is Liu Yiqing. Don’t you remember? Haitang—do you recall? The master and madam always call you Haitang.” His anxious expression made me feel a bit guilty. At least I wasn’t Zhu Yingtai.

I shook my head. “Leaf, I really don’t remember anything. Can you tell me about my past?”

“Of course, miss…” Leaf wiped away tears and summarized the events.

So, I had ended up in the body of a woman named Liu Yiqing, the youngest daughter of the wealthy merchant Liu Mingyuan from Yangzhou. With her parents’ blessing, she disguised herself as a man to study at Nishan Academy. No wonder I was called both young master and miss. Unexpectedly, I had become another Zhu Yingtai—though I certainly had no desire to turn into a butterfly.

As I pondered, two people entered the cabin—one tall, one short. The tall one wore a blue robe; his features were pleasant enough, but he exuded an air of simple honesty. The shorter one was a refined and delicate gentleman, though a bit undersized, and his attire suggested affluence.

Leaf stepped forward, “Young master, these two gentlemen rescued you. They’re also headed to Nishan Academy.”

I nodded, “Thank you!” I scrutinized them, trying to determine who they might be from history. Though I had a vague guess, I wanted confirmation. “Thank you for saving me, gentlemen. May I ask your names?”

“I am Liang Shanbo of Kuaiji,” the tall man replied.

“I am Zhu Yingtai of Shangyu,” the short one added.

Pressing my hand to my forehead, I wondered how I’d ended up in such turbulent times. If Liang Zhu’s era was the Eastern Jin, war wasn’t far off. Leaf, thinking I was unwell, ran over anxiously, “Young master, are you alright?”

“I’m fine,” I said, rising to stand before Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai. To be so close to these legendary figures made coming here worthwhile. “You’re both headed to Nishan Academy as well?”

“Zhu and I are indeed traveling to Nishan Academy. I heard from your servant that you’re also going there. If you don’t mind, Liu, join us.”

This Liang Shanbo truly was a good-natured soul—befriending strangers without a second thought. Such people always suffer in the end. I could never understand how Zhu Yingtai fell for someone so honest. In modern times, they’d surely divorce.

“It’s my honor to travel with you both!”

From Leaf, I learned much about Liu Yiqing. She was a spirited woman, raised alongside her elder brother Liu Yitang, skilled in both literature and martial arts. Her parents doted on her, granting every wish. She also had a twin brother, Liu Huaitang, who had been frail since childhood.

After disembarking, I walked with Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai to Nishan Academy. A crowd had gathered at the gate. In their midst stood a richly dressed man, declaring, “If you want to live peacefully here, you’ll have to acknowledge me as your leader!”

His arrogant, lewd manner reminded me of a name—Wang Lantian. Yes, this must be Wang Lantian from the story of Liang Zhu, a reckless rascal soon to be put in his place. And the one to do so would be the person I most looked forward to meeting: Ma Wencai, the tall, rich, and handsome man. I wondered what the real Ma Wencai was like—if he matched the television portrayals…

“You, a leader? How dare you?” A booming voice rang out from behind. My nerves tightened. Was it really my Wencai brother?