“General! General! Miss is awake!”
The maid Chunhua rushed into the front hall, calling out urgently to General Hua, who sat at the main seat.
Hua Liangjun’s heart leapt with joy. Ever since his daughter had nearly drowned in that accident, she had remained unconscious. Now that she was awake, this was truly the happiest news he could have hoped for.
Without thinking about the visitors present, he immediately rushed toward the South Garden.
Hua Liangjun’s wife, Li Xiangmei, could only smile awkwardly and say, “I do apologize. Our general treasures our youngest daughter Miao Miao more than anything. Hearing that she has woken up has left him so overjoyed that he forgot his manners. I hope General Sun will forgive him.”
Seeing this, Sun Zhou quickly replied, “Not at all, madam. I must first congratulate you! Originally, I was sent by the emperor to propose for the Third Prince. Now that the young lady is awake, I can return and report to His Majesty.”
With that, Sun Zhou handed over the imperial edict to Li Xiangmei.
Li Xiangmei was taken aback.
That Sun General had been sparring with her husband earlier, only to be waiting for this moment! A marriage proposal from the royal family—specifically for the Third Prince—was audacious, to say the least.
She could only imagine what the Empress had in mind.
She barely glanced at the edict and hurried to the South Garden.
There was no doubt in her mind: the Empress had ill intentions.
..
Meanwhile, Hua Miaomiao lay in bed, contemplating her situation.
She had been on a covert mission, the warehouse exploded, and somehow, she ended up here.
Looking down at her clothing—three layers inside, three layers outside—she shuddered.
And her hair… how could it be so long?
The room was decorated in an antique style, just like those in period dramas on TV. Even the little girl in front of her wore similar attire.
The only problem? From her outfit, she couldn’t tell which dynasty this place belonged to.
What was happening?
Suddenly, with a loud clang, the door was pushed open from outside.
Startled, Hua Miaomiao sat up quickly, adopting a defensive stance.
Hua Liangjun rushed in and froze at the sight of his daughter, who looked like a frightened bird.
He didn’t dare step closer.
Seeing her alert and wary eyes, he felt something was off. Was his daughter’s mind… not quite right?
Li Xiangmei approached with the edict in hand. Seeing her husband frozen at the doorway, she asked, “What is it? How is Miao Miao?”
Pushing him aside, she went to the bedside and slapped Hua Miaomiao lightly on the back. “Lie still! Look at yourself!”
The strike left Hua Miao Miao’s arm burning, and she hadn’t expected such strength from this seemingly delicate woman.
Given her authority, Hua Miaomiao had no choice but to lie back down and watch the woman in front of her.
Observing everyone’s antiquated attire in the room, she was now almost certain she had somehow ended up in a strange place.
“Sir! Why are you just standing there? Come over here!” Li Xiangmei called to her husband, waving him over.
Chunhua quickly brought over a stool and placed it beside Hua Miao Miao’s bed.
Hua Liangjun sat down, and Li Xiangmei angrily threw the imperial edict at him. “Look at this! I told you to resign from your post before, and you didn’t. Now look—everything’s ruined!”
Hua Miao Miao lay in bed, utterly confused by their conversation.
After reading the edict, Hua Liangjun angrily threw it to the ground. Before he could say more, Li Xiangmei instructed Chunhua, “Chunhua, go out and close the door!”
Chunhua bowed slightly. “Yes, madam,” she replied, leaving and gently shutting the door behind her.
“Madam, what should we do now? Aren’t they forcing me to marry?” Hua Liangjun struggled to maintain his composure as head of the family.
Li Xiangmei, though furious, understood the ways of the royal family.
This imperial marriage was simply the Empress’s method of humiliating the Third Prince.
Suppressing her tears, she said to Hua Miaomiao, “Miao Miao… it seems your father and I can’t protect you. The emperor has granted you in marriage.”
Hua Miaomiao, previously confused, froze at the words “granted marriage.”
Li Xiangmei continued, “Miao Miao, the emperor has granted you in marriage to the Third Prince, Xiao Jinyan.”
Hua Liangjun’s face was a mixture of anger and helplessness. “Miao Miao… this must be the Empress’s doing, deliberately trying to make the Third Prince embarrassed.”
Hearing their words, Hua Miao Miao felt even more bewildered. Could someone tell her what was really going on?
Seeing their anxious expressions, she asked, “Who… are you two? And… where am I?”
The couple exchanged worried glances. Has this child’s mind gone astray?
Li Xiangmei immediately shouted to the doorway, “Chunhua! Quickly fetch the imperial physician!”
“Yes, madam!” Chunhua responded and hurried off.
Hua Miao Miao watched their retreating footsteps, utterly confused. Since waking, she had been in a constant haze. She had just been on a mission, and it was only an explosion—how did she end up here? Could it be… a time-travel situation?
Just as she was lost in thought, the physician arrived.
After bowing to Hua Liangjun and Li Xiangmei, he approached Hua Miao Miao’s bedside.
“Miss, please extend your hand. I will take your pulse.”
Obediently, she held out her wrist. The physician gently placed his fingers on it, feeling the rhythm. After a moment, he said to the parents, “General, madam, her pulse is steady. There is no danger.”
“Then why doesn’t she recognize us?!” Li Xiangmei asked anxiously.
“Madam, do not worry. Let me administer a treatment.”
The physician produced a silver acupuncture needle. Hua Miao Miao watched him approach, her heart racing. Though anxious, she decided not to resist—she wanted to understand her current situation.
With a precise motion, he pierced her Fengchi acupuncture point.
Instantly, memories that weren’t hers began to flood her mind like a torrent.