Chapter Ninety-Eight: Something’s Not Right Here

In a small grove on the outskirts of the city, the thick dampness of wood filled the air, and Hua Rong felt bewildered. Her vision wavered, and she saw a curtain hanging nearby. "Where is this place... How did I get here? Who am I?"

Hua Rong struggled to raise her hand and knocked on her head, but nothing came to mind. The pain in her head was sharp and unsettling. She forced herself to prop up her arms and managed to sit upright, finally casting her gaze around the room.

It was a small wooden cabin, windows on all sides letting in light and revealing a clear, quaint scene. Yet the room was bare, too simple, and the furnishings did not match the cabin’s decent construction.

"What on earth is this place?"

She took a deep breath and looked around in confusion, her heart pounding as if she’d suffered a heavy blow.

Just as she was lost in her anxious thoughts, a woman dressed in a gauzy gown entered, carrying a bowl of medicine. She glanced at Hua Rong, her tone calm and her face expressionless. "You’re awake."

"Ah, who are you!"

Though she had no idea where she was, Hua Rong was naturally wary in this unfamiliar environment.

The woman only scoffed, "I am Cui Liu. I’m here to take care of you."

She moved the stool aside and placed the medicine bowl on the table beside the bed. "Drink the medicine. I don’t want trouble, and I have to report back."

There was a faint bitterness in her words, hard to decipher. The bitter scent of the medicine made Hua Rong instinctively recoil. "I feel fine… But who are you really? I don’t know anyone named Cui Liu."

"It doesn’t matter if you don’t know me. You’ll get used to it. Strange, how are you so calm?"

If an imperial concubine were kidnapped into such a strange place, shouldn’t she be weeping and screaming, causing a ruckus? Hua Rong’s composure was unexpected.

Hua Rong looked around, still lost in confusion, her mind filled with questions: Why was she in this strange place?

After a long silence, she murmured, "I… I can’t remember anything. Can you tell me what happened?"

"What? Are you saying you’ve lost your memory?"

At this, Cui Liu showed an inexplicable hint of delight, her reaction difficult to understand.

Why was she pleased?

With her mind a blank slate, Hua Rong expected the caretaker to be gentle and comforting, but the attitude was odd and unsettling.

Caution welled up within her. Hua Rong unconsciously retreated two steps, her eyes lingering on Cui Liu.

Though claiming to care for her, Cui Liu’s face never showed worry or concern, rather a trace of impatience, as if she was forced to complete a task.

"No, I must leave!"

Certain that the situation was unfavorable, Hua Rong’s first instinct was to escape.

But as she stood up, Cui Liu seized her by the nape in a swift motion. "You want to go? Did I say you could?"

The cold tone made Hua Rong’s heart race with fear. Cui Liu forcefully threw her onto the bed, one leg pressed against Hua Rong’s body. "Listen well. Drink the medicine now, or I won’t be so polite!"

The bowl hovered at Hua Rong’s lips, the threat clear: she would force it down if Hua Rong resisted.

Feeling a surge of panic, Hua Rong swallowed, her mind in turmoil. "If she wanted to kill me, she wouldn’t have waited for me to wake up..."

Not wanting to provoke her, Hua Rong could only grit her teeth, take the bowl, and gulp down the medicine. The bitter taste lingered on her tongue, making her want to retch.

Clutching her chest, she struggled to suppress the urge to vomit. "Ugh—"

Cui Liu looked at her with disdain, her cold aura filling the room. "Let me tell you, this is a dense forest. Wild beasts roam outside. Since you’re amnesiac, stay put. Otherwise, you’ll walk straight to your death."

With that, she slammed the door and left, plunging the cabin into silence once more.

Hua Rong slowly got up, nervously pacing around the cabin. Her fingers traced along surfaces, and she saw that her pale fingertips picked up no dust.

Her brows furrowed. "Clearly, this place is extraordinary. It’s definitely not my home!"

Besides a few basic furnishings, the cabin lacked the warmth of a woman’s boudoir. Not even a dressing table; only three or four rough sets of clothes in the wardrobe.

"No, these people must have ill intentions. Keeping me here must serve some purpose. I must escape!"

With this thought, Hua Rong hurriedly turned to gather her things, only to find she had brought nothing with her. The only item was a jade pendant hanging at her waist. "This is valuable. It must be from my family. If I escape, I can use it to find them!"

She ran to the window, scanning the surroundings. Once sure no one was outside, she breathed a sigh of relief. "Now’s my chance!"

Resolute, she nodded, lifted her leg, and slipped out the window.

Her body was delicate, but she moved with agility and lightness, making the act of climbing out effortless.

"Thud!"

Her feet landed steadily. She dusted off her hands and smiled with satisfaction. "Did they really think such a place could keep me captive? They’ve underestimated me!"

Stooping low, Hua Rong quietly slipped out of the yard, everything going smoothly.

Yet, on the rooftop, Cui Liu was gnawing on an apple, two large bites already gone. Watching Hua Rong’s graceful figure fade into the distance, a cold smirk curled her lips.

"If you’re so eager to court death, you can’t blame me."

She tossed the apple aside, jumped down, and made no move to chase after Hua Rong. Instead, she entered the cabin, built a fire, and prepared for the coming night.

As Hua Rong moved through the sparse woods, the rustling leaves and occasional gusts became a strange encouragement, spurring her feet to run even faster.