Chapter 1

　　The winter in Yecheng seemed to have come very early this year. From the beginning of the winter, heavy snow as white as goose feathers have been spilling down continuously. 　　Standing on the high palace wall, I could see the ice and snow in the Imperial Palace not far away, miles of red stretching out to mark the celebration of a wedding. 　　Cristin took a cloak and put it on for me, and cautiously persuaded me, "My lady, it's freezing outside. Let's not look at it. Let’s go back, or you might be in pain later." 　　I shook my head stubbornly, lying on the palace wall, I refused to let go, "Let me look at it for a while, just a while, the palace hasn't been so lively in a long time." 　　After the monarch of the Eastern Kingdom was accepted, the gongs and drums shook the sky and the whole country celebrated. 　　Emperor Zach Xiao didn't let me participate in the post-sealing ceremony, so I could only watch it quietly after he left. 　　"My lady…" Cristin still wanted to persuade me, but she probably thought that my stubborn temper would not listen, so she stomped her feet in irritation, and said, "The servant will go and change your heating pad." 　　I wanted to tell her no, but before I had time to speak, she took the already cold heating pad from my hand and ran away without a trace. 　　This girl has become more and more unruly recently, it seemed like it’s time to give her a proper lecture. 　　With nothing in my hand, I simply lay down on the palace wall as I saw from a distance the woman dressed in phoenix coronet and a robe of rank standing beside Zach, who has donned on a big red wedding dress. 　　She’s to be the new queen of the Eastern Kingdom. It was such a pity that I was too far away, I couldn’t even see what she looked like. 　　"Hey, have you heard? It was said that the face of our new queen was like a model carved out of Princess Lisa’s face. People who had no idea would think that the princess was back from the dead." 　　"Really? Are there really two people who look alike in this world?" 　　"Otherwise, why do you think she was chosen to be queen? Don’t you think it’s because she looks exactly like the late princess?" 　　"That's a good thing to say, but it's a pity that the lady of Showa Palace..." 　　My feet slipped suddenly and I couldn't help but exclaim. The voice behind me stopped abruptly with my exclamation, and was replaced by a stern shout, "Who’s there?" 　　I turned my head, embarrassed. The palace maids and eunuchs who were chatting saw me. They were so surprised that they turned as pale as a white paper. They knelt to the ground, "Concubine Lisa, forgive us. The slaves didn't know that you were here to enjoy the snow. We…" 　　"It's nothing, I was just taking a look around since I have nothing to do. I know you are busy, just ignore me," I said generously, pretending to not have heard the gossip they just said. 　　The palace ladies were grateful for my words and for granting them amnesty. However, I’ve suddenly lost the interest in continuing to watch, so I walked back to the palace leaving an alternating trail of deep and shallow footsteps on the white snow. 　　Throughout the night, I was in a daze, and I couldn't muster the energy to do anything. Compared with the hustle and bustle outside, Showa Palace was as quiet as a Cold Palace. 　　I lay on the couch tossing and turning, thinking about how Zach must be in the bridal room with the new queen by now, the woman who was rumored to be carved out of Princess Lisa’s mold. 　　To be precise, every concubine in Zach’s harem was more or less similar to that of Princess Lisa, either in eyes, nose, or eyebrows, except for me. If there was any similarity between me and the princess, it was probably the word "Lisa" in my name. 　　The heater below my feet was already cold, I changed my sleeping position and shouted through the curtain, "Cristin, go and change the heater for me." 　　Soon, the sound of deliberately lightened footsteps approached, followed by the bedding on my feet being lifted. 　　The next moment, my cold feet fell into a pair of warm hands, "Why is it so cold?" 　　The familiar breath made me agitated causing me to suddenly sprang up from the bed. 　　I stared at Zach, but the words were full of bitterness, "The Emperor does not accompany the new queen at this time in the bridal chamber, but why does he come to his concubine?"