The morning light, faint and dim, filtered through the heavy velvet curtains of the Royal Palace Bedchamber, falling on Su Ling’s sleeping face. Her long eyelashes fluttered a few times, and she slowly opened her eyes.
The sight that met her eyes stunned her for a moment—this perspective seemed… Something was off? Moreover, she instinctively wanted to raise a hand to rub her eyes, but found that the arm she lifted was pale, long and powerful, with well-defined knuckles—completely unlike her own slender, soft hands.
“Mmm…”
A lazy nasal sound came from beside her, carrying that uniquely cold magnetism of Queen Sista that she knew so well. Su Ling whipped her head around, her heart nearly leaping out of her chest.
The next moment, her body practically froze instantly. She saw “herself”! The “Su Ling” beside her was curled up among the soft down pillows and blankets, her silver hair spread out like clouds, sleeping soundly. That peaceful sleeping face was exactly what she saw in the mirror every day.
“This… what is going on…”
Su Ling realized with shock that her voice had changed too. That low feeling… it wasn’t like hers, more like… Queen Sista’s voice! She sat up abruptly, the heavy silk quilt sliding off, revealing Queen Sista’s mature, elegant, well-defined body. Could it be that she and Queen Sista had swapped bodies?
“Aaaah—!”
A short scream was muffled as she covered her own mouth with her hand. Su Ling’s mind was in chaos. Almost at the same time, the “Su Ling” beside her was also startled awake.
Those beautiful pink eyes opened, at first filled with the daze of just waking up. But in an instant, that gaze became sharp, cold, and full of scrutiny. Without a doubt. That look could only belong to one person. It was Queen Sista.
Queen Sista looked at the person before her who was wearing her own body, her face full of terror and on the verge of tears, and frowned slightly. Even though she made that expression with Su Ling’s delicate, pitiful face, “Queen Sista” was still full of oppressive authority.
“Quiet, Su Ling.”
“Queen Sista” spoke. The voice was Su Ling’s soft, sweet tone, but the tone was a queen’s unquestionable command.
“What happened? Why are you in my body?”
Su Ling nodded frantically. Tears were already welling up in her eyes. Making such an expression with Queen Sista’s face looked extremely incongruous and pitiful.
“Your Majesty… I don’t know why, but we… we seem to have swapped!”
“Queen Sista” sat up calmly. She looked down at her own now fair and small hands, then raised her eyes to carefully examine the “self” across from her. She even reached out to gently pinch “her own” cheek, then rubbed it, confirming the real tactile sensation.
“It hurts…” Su Ling sucked in a small breath.
“It seems it’s not a dream.”
Queen Sista concluded. Her tone was terrifyingly calm.
“Hmm, interesting.”
“I-Interesting?!” Su Ling nearly fainted.
“What do we do now, Your Majesty! This morning, you… no, I… I, wearing your body, have to meet with the Minister of Finance and the Northern Envoy, inspect the New Military Camp this afternoon, and there’s the palace banquet the day after tomorrow! I… I can’t do it!”
Compared to Su Ling’s panic, Queen Sista appeared unusually composed. She threw off the covers and got out of bed, stepping barefoot onto the soft carpet, adjusting to her now smaller stature and different perspective, then walked to the large floor-length mirror.
What was reflected in the mirror was Queen Su Ling’s figure. Her figure was petite and delicate, wearing a soft nightgown, her silver hair that reached her waist slightly disheveled. But her posture was straight, her gaze cold, exuding an aura that warned others to keep away.
“Calm down, Su Ling.”
Queen Sista said to her “self” in the mirror, or rather, to the person behind her who was truly using her body.
“Panic won’t solve anything. For now, we have to adapt as the situation demands.”
“Adapt?”
“Yes.”
Queen Sista turned around.
“From now on, you are ‘Queen Sista,’ and I am ‘Queen Su Ling.’ In front of others, we must maintain this appearance until we find a way to swap back.”
“But… but…”
“No buts.”
Queen Sista’s eyes blazed.
“First, stop your tears and that expression. That kind of weakness should never appear on my face.”
Su Ling quickly tried to hold back her tears. She tried to make “Queen Sista’s” face look serious. But the effect was minimal. Instead, she just looked even more wronged.
“Queen Sista” sighed. She walked over to her. This action now even required her to look up slightly. She patted “her own” shoulder.
“Listen, Su Ling. Imitate me. Speak less, keep a cold expression, and for things you can’t decide, say ‘discuss later.’ I’ll find opportunities to prompt you.”
Su Ling nodded timidly. But her heart was still uneasy.
Just then, the Head Maid’s respectful voice came from outside the door:
“Your Majesty, Her Highness the Queen, are you awake? Do you require assistance with washing and dressing?”
Su Ling jumped in fright and looked at Queen Sista for help. Queen Sista sighed. She lowered her voice and said:
“Remember what I said.”
Then she raised her voice and spoke. Her voice was deliberately made soft, yet still carried a hint of coolness that was hard to imitate.
“Come in.”
The door was pushed open. A procession of maids carrying washing utensils and clothes filed in. The leading Head Maid first bowed to Su Ling, who was sitting on the bed and wearing the Queen’s body.
“Your Majesty, good morning.”
Then she turned to the “Queen Consort” standing before the mirror.
“Her Highness the Queen, good morning.”
Su Ling was so nervous her palms were sweating. She imitated Queen Sista’s usual manner and nodded slightly. She forced a low voice from her throat:
“Mm.”
The maids began to bustle about. When dressing “the Queen,” Su Ling was stiff as a puppet, letting the maids manipulate her into the ornate and heavy black-gold queen’s formal robe.
Meanwhile, “Queen Sista” naturally spread her arms, letting the maids put on the much lighter silver-white long dress of the Queen Consort. The whole process was fluid and smooth.
She even habitually lifted her hand slightly to make it easier for the maid to tie the ribbon at the back.
That was a small habit that Su Ling herself had never noticed. The Head Maid vaguely felt that today’s “Queen” was unusually silent and stiff. As for “the Queen Consort”… Her aura seemed much stronger than usual. But she didn’t dare to ask more. She simply assumed that the Queen was tired from last night, and that the Queen Consort was in a good mood today.
Breakfast was held in the small dining hall. Today, Phil and Tii were also present, which was rare.
They were now important palace officials and guest advisors, and due to their close relationship with Su Ling, they often came to the palace as guests. Phil, with her fluffy cat ears twitching, curiously observed today’s unusually silent “Queen” and unusually cool “Queen Consort.” She leaned close to “Queen Consort” Queen Sista and asked in a low voice:
“Su Ling, are you okay? Your complexion seems a bit…”
She instinctively wanted to nuzzle Su Ling with her head. Queen Sista stiffened slightly. She deftly sidestepped to avoid it. Then she said coldly with Su Ling’s voice:
“I’m fine, Phil.”
The tone was so cold that Phil’s ears perked up. She inexplicably felt a chill. So she obediently sat back down.
Tii, on the other hand, put down the book in her hand. She looked at the “Queen” and “Queen Consort” with great interest. The faint smile at the corner of her mouth grew deeper. She took an elegant sip of black tea.
“Nice atmosphere. It seems… you two rested quite well last night?”
Su Ling was struggling to cut a piece of lamb chop using Queen Sista’s body. Hearing that, her hand trembled. The knife scraped against the plate with a harsh sound. Her face flushed, and she quickly lowered her head.
Queen Sista, on the other hand, elegantly wiped the corner of her mouth with a napkin. Meeting Tii’s probing gaze, she used Su Ling’s face to produce an expression that could be called a smile.
“Indeed. Something interesting happened, quite unforgettable.”
She looked at Tii meaningfully.
“Perhaps you might know the reason behind it, Tii?”
Tii raised an eyebrow.
“Oh? I’d like to hear the details.”
“We’ll talk after the meal.”
Queen Sista said indifferently, ending the topic. Throughout the entire breakfast, Su Ling ate without tasting, terrified the whole time, afraid of being found out.
During the morning audience with the Minister of Finance, Su Ling sat upright on the throne, trying to keep a stern face. She listened to the Minister ramble on about this year’s tax revenue and budget.
“…Therefore, Your Majesty, regarding the repair funds for the Eastern Canal, could we increase them by thirty percent?”
The Minister of Finance finally finished and looked up expectantly. Su Ling’s mind was a mess. She had no idea about how much the canal repairs should cost. She nervously gripped the armrest of the throne. Remembering Queen Sista’s instructions, she tried to lower her voice:
“Discuss later.”
The Minister of Finance was taken aback. Although the Queen was usually cold, she was extremely decisive and rarely spoke such vague words. Queen Sista, standing to the side and behind the throne, saw this. She took half a step forward. She reminded gently with a cool voice:
“Your Majesty, the report you reviewed yesterday seemed to mention that the original budget for the canal repairs has been verified and inspected, and is sufficient for routine maintenance. Perhaps the Minister has additional details to add?”
Su Ling immediately realized. She quickly nodded.
“Mm, what details?”
The Minister of Finance wiped his sweat. He quickly explained that he simply hoped to speed up the process, and so on. In the end, with subtle eye cues from Queen Sista, Su Ling managed to maintain the original budget.
After the Minister withdrew, Su Ling secretly let out a sigh of relief. A layer of cold sweat had already broken out on her back. She quietly glanced at Queen Sista beside her. The other was also looking at her. Using Su Ling’s eyes, she conveyed a look that said “well done.”
All day long, it passed in this atmosphere of high tension and eerie understanding. Su Ling struggled to play the role of the cold and capable Queen. Meanwhile, Queen Sista perfectly embodied a clever, cool Queen Consort who occasionally “reminded” the Queen.
Night fell. Finally, it was time for bed. After dismissing all the maids, Su Ling collapsed onto the luxurious bed as if drained.
“I can’t take it anymore… Your Majesty… I really can’t do it… There’s still the banquet tomorrow… I’ll mess up…”
Queen Sista stood by the bed. Looking at this pathetic version of “herself,” she rubbed her forehead. Doing this motion with Su Ling’s hands actually looked a bit cute.
“You did slightly better than I expected. At least you didn’t lose face in front of the Minister.”
Su Ling wanted to cry but had no tears.
“What do we do now? Can we still swap back?”