“Ah! How did she go in already? It’s not the right time!” Niu Qi was truly panicked now. He clutched his large bull horns, pacing in circles, muttering, “It’s over, it’s over, it’s over! She didn’t eat the soul-forgetting cake, she didn’t follow the correct time, the cake was eaten by those damned fish, and now my time mirror is gone. I’m really finished, ah—what to do, what to do? If the Judge finds out…”
Chapter One
Wu Xiaopei felt dizzy and heavy, her head pounding. She tried to shake it to clear her mind but found even the slightest movement excruciating. Unable to lift her hand to massage her head, she slowly turned her head, using her one agile eye to survey her surroundings.
A carved vanity came into view, its mirror covered with an intricately embroidered silk depicting birds and flowers. Closer inspection revealed a small round table with several chairs, the smooth, dark wood polished to a shine, indicating its high quality and well-maintained condition.
To the right, a half-open carved lattice door allowed a glimpse outside to a half-tilted roof of what appeared to be a gazebo for relaxation.
Just as she wanted to look further, a green shadow blocked her view, and she heard a voice from above—
“Xiaoxuan, the lady is awake. Please bring the washbasin; I’ll help her freshen up.”
“Yes, I understand.”
The voices were pleasant, soft, and soothing. Wu Xiaopei thought how lucky this lady was to have someone to help with her morning routine, unlike her, who had to do everything herself. As she mused, a sudden sharp pain, like thousands of needles piercing her body, overwhelmed her.
“Ah, it hurts so much!” she cried out, grimacing in pain. “Don’t pull me up so hard!”
