Song Jae didn't even know how she left the main courtyard after receiving her New Year money. On her way back to the Snow Courtyard, her thoughts were consumed with how to avoid attending the palace banquet. She didn't want to accidentally run into that crazy second male lead, Chul Kwan.
While lost in thought, she suddenly felt someone behind her. Turning around, she saw Song Nabi and Song Nari.
"What does my little sister want to say?" Song Jae asked.
"Nothing," Song Nari replied sweetly. "I just noticed elder sister looked distracted earlier while speaking with grandmother. Has elder sister committed a crime and is now afraid that grandmother or father might find out?" Her face was full of concern.
If Song Jae hadn't read the novel's plot, she might have really thought Song Nari cared for her—that she was different from her mother and Song Nabi.
"Little sister must be mistaken," Song Jae replied calmly. "I was just thinking about which dress to wear to the New Year banquet at the palace."
With that, she excused herself and left, not bothering to pay any more attention to Song Nabi and Song Nari.
Upon arriving at Snow Courtyard, she ate, then quickly went to bed—wanting to save her energy for the banquet.
But as she slept, she suddenly found herself in the palace. People were gathered around a room filled with strange noises—sounds of moaning and whispers.
As she walked closer, she saw herself—yes, her—and the third prince, Chul Haneul. Her clothes were ripped, her face flushed, and the third prince was on top of her.
Song Jae was horrified.
How can this be? I haven't even met the third prince face to face before! No—this must be a dream!
She screamed in her mind.
The crowd whispered behind her. As she turned to look, she saw the female lead, Tae Hae, standing there with tears streaming down her face.
After one last glance at the third prince, Tae Hae ran off.
The third prince, dazed from being caught, hurriedly put on his clothes and chased after Tae Hae—leaving Song Jae behind, half-naked and humiliated, to bear the shame and the whispers calling her a slut.
She jolted awake, her face soaked with sweat.
Looking around, she realized she was still in her room. Song Sena stood nearby, eyes red from crying.
"Thank God," Song Jae whispered. "I really thought it was real..."
"Sena, what happened? Why are you crying?"
"Miss, I came in to wake you up—it's almost time to go to the palace. But you were screaming in your sleep. I tried to wake you, but you wouldn't respond. I was so scared something had happened to you," Sena said tearfully.
"Don't worry, I'm fine. It was just a bad dream. Quickly prepare water—I want to bathe. So i won't be late entering the palace."
Sena nodded and left the room.
Left alone, Song Jae couldn't help thinking about the dream.
Seems like life's been going too smoothly—I almost forgot... I transmigrated into a novel. I'm Just a cannon fodder in this world.
Trying to recall the events in the novel, she remembered: after the Crown Prince returned from the border, the Emperor hosted a palace banquet for high-ranking officials and their families. It was during this banquet that Song Nabi and the second prince's consort, Tae Yong, drugged her drink.
Their plan was to have her sleep with a palace guard... to ruin her reputation.
But somehow, it was the third prince who ended up in the room with her. She could guess why Song Nabi hated her—it was all because of jealousy. The original host, who was now her, was born to the first madam. As long as she and her brother were alive, it would always remind the world that Second Madam Jin was once just a concubine.
But what confused her more was Tae Yong. The original host had never offended her before, so why would she go so far as to drug her at the banquet? No matter what, she had to find a way to change the plot before it reached that point.
She recalled that in the original story, the Crown Prince left for the border and didn't return for three to four years. It was said a war broke out during that time, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't remember the reason for it.
When Song Sena arrived, Song Jae took a bath and got dressed in a light purple winter Dangui hanbok, adorned with jade and pearl earrings and a matching hairpin.
Stepping out of her room, she made her way toward the main courtyard. The only person who hadn't arrived yet was her elder brother.
Her grandmother sat in her usual chair, giving instructions in her serious tone.
"Remember, once you're in the palace, be composed. Don't cause trouble for the family. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Grandmother," they all answered.
Soon, her brother arrived. Song Jae quickly climbed into his carriage—she had no intention of sitting with Song Nabi and Song Nari. She also didn't want to slip up and say something that might make them suspect she wasn't the original Song Jae.
Once her brother entered, the coachman started driving the carriage.
"Sister," Song Ji turned to her, his voice filled with concern, "if you face any problems in the palace, come find me. If possible, I'd rather you not enter a place like that at all—it's full of schemes and hidden traps."
"Don't worry, Brother," Song Jae smiled. "I'll be careful and try not to cause trouble. The way you say it, it sounds like I'm off to fight in a war."
"I see my little sister has learned how to tease me now," he chuckled, pinching her cheek gently.
When they arrived at the palace gates, they had to come down from the carriage—as it wasn't allowed inside the palace.
As she stepped out, Song Jae was stunned by the crowd. Everything was organized into two lines: one for men, one for women.
She said goodbye to her brother and walked over to join her sisters and Second Madam Jin. Together, they followed the servants into the palace.
They were led to the great hall where the New Year banquet was being held.
Sitting inside with her sisters and mother, Song Jae couldn't help feeling bored. She had always hated events like this, even in her past life.
The hall itself was divided in two—one side for the women, the other for the men.
It was only when the Emperor arrived that the men and women would sit together.
Feeling bored, Song Jae quietly slipped out of the hall to take a walk around the palace. She knew Princess Chul Yun-Hee would be busy with the Empress Dowager and the Empress, so she didn't bother looking for her.
Instead, she spotted Lee Cha nearby and walked over. The two of them exchanged a glance and left the banquet hall together.
"You don't like coming to banquets like this, do you?" Lee Cha asked.
Song Jae gave a small sigh. "No. I find it too boring, watching everyone pretend to be noble and proper. I can't even eat properly. If I do, people will look at me like I'm some hungry ghost. These parties aren't for me."
"I feel the same way," Lee Cha nodded. "But I'm my mother's only daughter, so she always forces me to come—says it's for my future and that I'll understand when I'm older."
Hearing those words, Song Jae couldn't help but laugh. It reminded her of her past life. Her mother used to say the exact same thing.
They eventually arrived at the garden and decided to rest there for a while.
Just then, a man stepped out from one side of the garden—it was Hwang, the Crown Prince's personal guard.
"Eldest Miss Song Jae, my master would like to speak with you for a moment," he said, bowing politely.
Hearing that, Song Jae's heart clenched.
Why now? This is exactly why I didn't want to come to the palace.
She gave a calm but firm response. "Sir, I'm currently with my friend. Please tell the Crown Prince that it is not proper for an unmarried man and woman to meet in secret."