Fu Junlan and the maidservants waiting outside also instinctively rushed into the room to see what had happened.
The female cultivator who burst in found nothing unusual in the room. She quickly sat beside the couch, took Shang Shuqing's pulse, and cast a spell to examine her. Then she asked suspiciously, "Did the County Princess have a nightmare?"
Shang Shuqing nodded. "I'm fine." When she looked up and found Fu Junlan had entered as well, she froze. This was her private chamber. Her gaze instinctively dropped to her bare feet, with a section of her calves exposed beneath her trouser legs. Startled, she swiftly drew both feet beneath the blanket and said awkwardly, "Young Master Fu has come."
Fu Junlan's gaze had followed hers to those crystal-clear, jade-like bare feet. They were beautiful, but her movement to hide them made him suddenly realize the impropriety. This was a woman's private chamber. He hurriedly turned around and said with his back to her, "I heard a scream just now and barged in out of urgency. This humble scholar has been discourteous. County Princess, please do not blame me." With that, he fled outside as though escaping, his face flushed red.
With a guest present, Shang Shuqing could not remain sprawled on the couch. She quickly summoned her attendants to wash and dress her.
Only after everything was in order did Shang Shuqing step outside. Seeing the sun already high in the sky, she knew last night's drunkenness had made her sleep late. It was hardly proper behavior for a respectable woman, and she felt somewhat embarrassed.
When the servants invited her to eat, she declined. First, she had no appetite; second, she was embarrassed to make Fu Junlan wait any longer.
She walked straight to the pavilion, greeted Fu Junlan, and