The nurse was stunned for a moment, looking at Rong Dai in astonishment. Could this series of interrogative sentences be any more classical?
The nurse laughed in spite of herself: "It seems you've been watching too many time travel dramas. It's July 17, 2018 right now, 3:27pm Beijing time. We are still the prosperous, democratic successors of communism!"
"What?" Rong Dai was stunned!
2018! She remembered that the Upstream Kingdom was founded in 903 AD, and she was enthroned as Empress in 973 AD after entering the palace for thirty years...
A whole thousand years!
Just now, the girl had used the word "time travel", and although she didn't really understand it, she could still grasp some meaning.
She had become someone from a thousand years in the future!
This, this, this...this was simply earth-shattering and unheard of!
Huge waves churned in Rong Dai's heart, and her head buzzed loudly.
But after all, she had been Empress for thirty years, and was raised in a prestigious family. She knew very well how outrageous and sensational such matters were.
If she was careless, she would become an outlier.
She quickly put on a bright smile and looked at the nurse: "Oh...I'm a bit confused, I thought I was reading a book."
The nurse didn't notice anything amiss either, and after instructing her on a few things, left the ward.
"How strange, how strange...how did I end up here?"
This was a private ward. After the nurse left, Rong Dai finally breathed a sigh of relief, staring at her own hands, feeling terrified and uneasy.
The wound below her abdomen ached slightly, and she had no choice but to lie down and think.
"Ow--"
As soon as she lay down, her head felt a sharp, stabbing pain. She couldn't help but gasp.
She guessed it was because she had been too tense earlier, and now that she had relaxed, the original owner's massive amount of memories flooded into her mind.
Although fragmented, it was enough to help her understand this world a thousand years later.
Rong Dai's face was full of shock after absorbing it all, and the unease in her heart lessened slightly.
"How strange, how strange...why did I end up here?"
This was a contracted marriage, not much different from her marriage to the Emperor - just empty formality. "Fate, oh fate!"
Two hours later, she had calmed down. After all, she had been Empress for thirty years. Although the situation was shocking to hear about, it was not perilous.
As Rong Dai recalled her past life and the original owner's memories, she drifted off to sleep in a daze.
"When will she wake up?"
In her sleepy haze, she heard someone speaking. The voice was very pleasant, but full of endless coldness.
She slowly opened her eyes to see three people standing in the ward.
Two women and one man. One was the nurse from before, one was a woman with a gentle and elegant appearance who was smiling at her.
Rong Dai frowned slightly. As a royal consort who had spent thirty years in the palace, she had long trained a discerning eye for the women in the harem, to know human from ghost!
This woman...had evil intent!
The remaining man was tall and heroic, handsome, just a little cold.
But compared to the Emperor, his looks were not enough to attract her.
She remembered from the original owner's memories that this man was her absent husband in this life, Huo Shaoting, CEO of the Huo Group.
"I'm sorry to trouble you to come over, please accept my apologies."
Noticing Huo Shaoting's icy gaze, she had no choice but to force herself to say something.
"Sister Rong, why didn't you tell me and Shaoting when you got sick? Fortunately you're alright... "
Before Wen Shilan could finish speaking, Rong Dai's jet black eyes glared sharply at the other, emanating an overwhelming sense of pressure.
"When I'm speaking to my husband, what business does a petty concubine have interrupting? Do you not understand propriety?"
Wen Shilan's face instantly turned red, and she unconsciously clenched her fists!
Petty concubine!
How dare she mock and ridicule her so!
But she would not lose her composure in front of Huo Shaoting. Squeezing her seductive peach blossom eyes, two lines of clear tears rolled down her cheeks.
"Shaoting, there are still things to do at the company, so I'll go first. You...take good care of Sister Rong."
With that, she really left, leaving a very aggrieved back view for Rong Dai.
Rong Dai: "???"
How dare a petty concubine be so brazen? And still dare to show attitude?
The next second, she realized her mistake!
This was a favored concubine! She should not have berated her so in front of her husband. If she wanted to deal with her, it should be done secretly!
Blunder! A blunder!
She was really muddled!
Rong Dai felt endless regret. Seeing Huo Shaoting's gloomy expression, she tried her best to maintain the propriety and grace befitting the principal wife.
"I won't do it again next time. Today...I'm not feeling well and my mind is a little fuzzy."
Huo Shaoting glanced at her coldly, then went to the window to make a phone call. Rong Dai strained to listen.
"The steward will come to pick you up later. Don't disturb me over such things again next time. Also, don't humiliate her like that anymore. Otherwise, you'll have to bear the consequences."
Before Rong Dai could react, the deafening sound of the door slamming shocked her heart into wild pounding. The ward became completely silent again.
"Good fortune never comes alone, misfortune does not strike alone. Alas...this inescapable fate, no matter where I go."
Rong Dai sighed. She had not expected that even a thousand years later as the principal wife, she would still have to contend with petty concubines and their schemes. It really was vexing.
"Mistress, why didn't you let the family know when you were getting surgery? If Old Madam found out, she would have been so worried!"
Not long after the room had quieted down, the door opened again and the steward Li Shu and maid Wang Ma entered.
As soon as she came in, Wang Ma couldn't help but express her concern. Rong Dai did not know what to say, so she let them arrange to recuperate back at the old Huo residence.
"Mistress, Old Madam and Madam won't be back for a few more days. Please don't worry and focus on recovering, I will serve you well."
Once at the Huo residence, Wang Ma supported her to the marital chambers she shared with Huo Shaoting.
"Thank you for your trouble." She nodded, leaning against the soft bed. It felt much more comfortable than the one at the hospital.
"Then Mistress should rest first." Wang Ma tucked her into bed.
Leaning against the headboard, Rong Dai looked around the room. Most of the things were still decorated for the wedding celebration, but all brand new.
"Favored concubines eclipse the wife..." She thought of Huo Shaoting's icy eyes and sighed lightly.
"Oh well, I'll have to make do with the circumstances."
Feeling uncomfortable leaning on her wound, she mumbled to herself and nestled under the quilt.
She had to think carefully about how to survive here.
Her husband did not dote on her, her mother-in-law did not like her, the only consoling thing was the old grandmother who cared for her.
At least the situation was not completely disastrous.
Lying in bed staring at the ceiling lost in thought, Rong Dai let out a long sigh and closed her eyes, falling into deep sleep.
