After the event with the Grand Duke, the new doctor had used healing magic on Kayla’s back. It was the first time she’d seen magic, but she’d been in too much pain to feel any awe or wonder. The next morning, Kayla began eating normally again. She glanced nervously at the spot on the floor she’d been beaten on last night, but it had been scrubbed clean of blood while she was being treated.

None of the servants seemed to know what happened, or at least were really good at hiding it. All the faces were familiar, so at least no one had been silenced. The thought of the former doctor getting killed because of her made Kayla shudder and drop her chopsticks.

“Young lord?” Chujiao asked softly, stepping closer.

“It’s nothing.”

Chujiao bowed her head and stepped back. Kayla waved her hand and the serving girls quickly cleared away the dishes. An older servant entered, her more elaborate clothing signifying she was a higher-ranking servant.

“Matron Li,” Chujiao greeted her softly.

“Young lord, the Grand Duke ordered me to dress you and escort you to the study,” Matron Li said. Kayla nodded, feeling too frightened and exhausted to disagree. She stood up and allowed a line of serving girls to dress her in multiple layers of silk robes, forcing herself to hold still every time a girl’s hand brushed against her back. Last night had been the first time in her life Kayla had been subjected to such violent abuse, and it had been fucking terrifying. Even though all the wounds were gone, her back still tingled when touched.

Kayla kept her face expressionless with immense effort as a serving girl smoothed out the fabric against her shoulder blades. Her face naturally settled into a cold expression as she followed the older servant down multiple corridors. It was probably Wenyuan’s usual expression and route, and despite everything being strange and unfamiliar, Kayla’s body knew where to turn corners and stepped into the study as though she did this every day. The older servant bowed and left, leaving Kayla alone in the room.

It was filled with scrolls and books, with shelves upon shelves stacked high with them. Kayla was able to read the calligraphy hanging on the walls without any trouble and understand their meaning despite not recognizing any of them, giving her a strange feeling of anxiousness. The door opened again, and Housekeeper Wang entered. Kayla instinctively stiffened. The events of last night remained at the front of her mind as she cautiously stepped further away from the man.

“Good morning, young lord,” Housekeeper Wang said, bowing his head slightly.

“What do you want?” Kayla asked suspiciously.

“The Grand Duke ordered me to instruct you on the things you’ve forgotten and answer any questions you may have,” Wang replied. Kayla tensed even more at the mention of the Grand Duke. Not only was she trapped in a body about to die horribly, she was trapped with a man who could hurt her at any time.

“Alright then,” she finally said. It wasn’t a good idea to go against the Grand Duke, given how violently he reacted last night. She also needed more information. Kayla sat down at a table, nodding for Wang to begin speaking. The housekeeper remained standing.

“Young lord, what do you remember about the court?” he asked.

Kayla remembered quite a bit from the novel, but she remembered the court as it was when the story was three years in. “Why don’t you just give me a rundown?” she asked.

Wang bowed his head. “As you wish. The court is headed by the Emperor, Zhao Yin, who has reigned over the Empire for 23 years. Under him are the Three Departments and Six Ministries.”

The housekeeper moved to spread out an organization chart on the table, pointing to each name as he spoke.

“There is the Department of State Affairs, the executive administration branch, headed by the Central Secretariat, your grandfather the Grand Duke.” Kayla nodded. Xianchun had become a contender for Crown Prince after wrestling the Department of State Affairs from Grand Duke Zhao and instituting his friend as the new Central Secretariat.

“Then there is the Secretariat Department that is responsible for drafting policies, headed by the Secretariat Director Liu Hongyu, the Grand Duke’s ally and the father of Imperial Consort Liu. There is also the Chancellery, headed by Director He Shirang, also your grandfather’s ally.” All of this seemed vaguely familiar, but Kayla couldn’t remember what role in the story these two had played.

“Beneath the Three Departments are the Six Ministries, the Ministry of Personnel headed by Minister Jun Shao, the Ministry of Revenue headed by Minister Dong Shiqing, the Ministry of Rites headed by Minister Liu Xiu, the Ministry of War headed by Minister Zhao Wei, the Ministry of Justice headed by Xie Yinan, and the Ministry of Public Works headed by Minister Hu Weizhi.”

Kayla’s head swam as she tried to retain all the names.

“Wait, so I guess Minister Zhao and Minister Liu are the Grand Duke’s allies?”

“Yes, Minister Liu Xiu is the Secretariat Director’s nephew and the Grand Duke’s nephew-in-law. Minister Zhao Wei is your distant relative and Minister Liu’s son-in-law. Minister Xie and Minister Hu are also the Grand Duke’s allies.” the housekeeper explained. Kayla let out a long sigh.

“Could you give me a copy of this chart?” Kayla asked weakly. The housekeeper bowed his head obediently.

“Then what is my position?” Kayla remembered Wenyuan being underqualified but not what for.

“The young lord is the Left Secretariat of Justice, one of the two Secretaries of the Ministry of Justice, ranked right below Minister Xie,” Wang said. Kayla dropped her head into her hands. Right, Zhao used his grandson to screw over his political enemies.

“Alright, um, could you give me a rundown of what I’m responsible for again?”

“The young lord assists Minister Xie in running the Ministry of Justice,” Wang said. “Please don’t worry too much about managing your duties, young lord. The Grand Duke has arranged for you to be sufficiently assisted.”

“Great.” Kayla nodded, turning her gaze to the ceiling. So he’s completely a puppet. Looks like I won’t have any wiggle room here either.

//////////

After her lunch, Chujiao bowed and began to direct the servants out of the room again, deftly placing the scrolls Kayla was desperately trying to memorize back onto the table.

“Chujiao,” Kayla called out, stopping the young woman as she bowed and began to leave. The other servants paused too. Kayla waved for them to continue, and they quickly left the two alone in the room.

“How may I assist you, young lord?”

“I wanted to ask you about how I normally act and some other things,” Kayla explained. “My brain’s still jumbled up.”

Her mind flashed to the former doctor and Kayla’s face scrunched up. “But if it’s difficult for you, it’s ok to leave or not answer,” she quickly added. The last thing she wanted was to get Chujiao killed as well.

“Not at all, young lord. Chujiao is happy to answer any questions you may have.”

Kayla nodded gratefully. “Thanks, I appreciate that. Could you tell me how I normally am? Like, my personality and how I act with you guys.”

“Of course. The young lord had the proud manner suiting his station and was well-versed in both literature and martial arts,” Chujiao described succinctly. “Your lordship treated the servants with both magnanimity and might, and was reserved in his expression.” Kayla immediately translated the description in her head. So he wasn’t too great in either and was a proud asshole who was cold and rude to the servants.

“What about you?” Kayla asked.

“This lowly one has been the young lord’s personal maid since ten years ago,” Chujiao replied. Kayla nodded, sympathizing with the young woman who had to put up with Wenyuan’s shit for ten years.

“And how do I normally act around you?” Kayla asked.

“The young lord has treated me kindly and graciously.” So he probably didn’t abuse her but was still an asshole.

“Alright. Now tell me a bit about who I normally interact with,” Kayla said.

“The young lord often meets with the sons of Minister Hu and Minister Xie, as well as lower-ranking officials who seek the Grand Duke’s patronage. Your lordship often drinks with Secretariat Director Liu,” Chujiao explained. Kayla nodded slowly. Liu Hongyu? He’s like a whole generation older though, why would Wenyuan be drinking with that guy?

“Alright, thank you. You can go now, I might have questions to ask later if that’s alright,” Kayla said. Chujiao bowed.

“Of course, my lord. Please excuse me then.” The young woman gracefully exited the room, closing the door soundlessly behind her. Kayla shook her head, filled with more questions than before. Chujiao couldn’t be older than 25, how young had this kid started working? Wasn’t that child labor? Then again, Wenyuan got killed in a way that probably violated the Geneva Convention multiple times, so it wasn’t like she could apply modern standards.

She turned her attention back to the scrolls. Kayla’s first priority was figuring out the situation and finding a way to survive. Everything else could come after that.

////////

Even after going through all the scrolls that were even remotely relevant, Kayla still didn’t see any way to get out of her predicament. The magic theories went straight over her head, and there were so many names and titles in politics that they all got jumbled up. After silently screaming in a corner for a while, it occurred to Kayla that she could try praying. Weren’t there usually a few Gods or Goddesses involved in most isekais and transmigrations? At this point, she would try anything. After asking Chujiao, Kayla hurried to the household’s shrine to try her luck.

Kayla hurriedly kneeled before the golden statue of a Buddha, having shooed everyone out. Clasping her hands together, she began to pray desperately.

Please please please let me get the hell out of here! I didn’t do anything, I don’t want to die! I’d rather be homeless than suffer like that. I’m really really sorry about the doctor, I promise I’ll burn incense for him every day for the rest of my life, please just let me get out of here!

Kayla squeezed her eyes shut, praying for a miracle that would have her open her eyes back in the shitty apartment. Anything was better than dying horribly as Wenyuan did.

There was a soft glow of warmth that washed over her, and Kayla opened her eyes hopefully. The room around her had melted away into a white expanse. Oh thank god, I’m gonna get to plead my case! The isekai novels didn't lie to me!

Kayla looked around, getting up to get a better view.

“Hello, Kayla.” She whirled around to the familiar voice. The smiling face of Zhao Wenyuan greeted her.

“Wait, it’s you!” She gasped, pointing a finger at him accusingly.

“It’s me,” Wenyuan agreed. “I’m here to offer you my help.”