Duanhua spent another day playing in the East Fourth Hutong. When it was getting late and she estimated that her father should be finishing work, she headed back to the residence.
On the way home, the horse pulling the carriage suddenly collapsed, causing the carriage to tilt forward. Duanhua was nearly thrown out, but luckily, two maids on each side held her back. All the maids accompanying her were trained in martial arts, which helped to avoid any accident.
Still shaken, Duanhua was helped up and asked, "What happened?"
A maid, despite her scraped arm, lifted the curtain and asked loudly, "What happened?"
The coachman, pale with fright, had been thrown from his seat when the horse collapsed. He picked himself up, holding his head, and quickly replied, "My lady, the horse's foot seems to have sprained and it cannot stand up."
The guard immediately approached and asked anxiously, "Has the lady been injured?"
