A Secret Discussion in a Private Room

When Murong Qian woke, she found herself lying in her own bedchamber.

But wasn't I supposed to be in that place?

How did I end up back home?

And where was Xiao Cui?

Could everything that happened before have been nothing but an illusion?

Murong Qian stared blankly around her room, but something soon occurred to her, and she raised a hand to feel the back of her neck.

Although she could not see it, the unmistakable pain there reminded her that everything she had experienced was real.

But who had saved me?

Could it have been Xiao Cui?

At that thought, Murong Qian sat up and called toward the door, "Xiao Cui?"

Footsteps soon sounded outside, sending a flicker of joy through Murong Qian's heart.

It must be Xiao Cui.

It seemed we had escaped that dreadful place.

But the joy in Murong Qian's heart froze solid when she saw the face of the person who entered.

It was not Xiao Cui, whom she had been longing to see, but another maid, Xiao Yu.

"Miss, you're finally awake! The master has come by several times, but you were asleep every time. He was so worried that he nearly went out to fetch a physician."

As she spoke, Xiao Yu slowly approached. "Miss, shall I help you get dressed?"

Murong Qian lowered her eyes to conceal her surprise, then asked calmly, "How long have I been asleep? And where has that girl Xiao Cui gone?"

"Miss, don't you know? You've slept for an entire day this time. The master was worried sick."

Xiao Yu fetched Murong Qian's clothes from the screen nearby, then turned back and added, "Honestly, that Xiao Cui! Who knows where she's run off to amuse herself? She doesn't even know to stay here and attend to