Wasn't he supposed to be beaten to death? Why did this powerful cousin love him so much?

Jiang Sese screamed and sat bolt upright in bed, panting heavily. Cold sweat instantly soaked through her thin undergarment, sticking stickily to her back.

The scorching heat of the flames and the suffocating feeling of the thick smoke in my dream seemed to linger, and the cold, hateful faces of those people still seemed to flicker before my eyes.

"Miss?! What's wrong, Miss?!" Hongdou, who was keeping watch outside, was so frightened by the scream that she ran in without even putting on her shoes properly.

By the dim light coming in from the window, Hongdou saw that Jiang Sese's face was ashen, her eyes were unfocused, and she looked terrified, as if she had just crawled out of hell.

Hongdou was taken aback for a moment: "Girl? You had a nightmare? Don't be afraid, I'm here!"

Hongdou patted Jiang Sese's back and whispered words of comfort.

Jiang Sese snapped out of her daze and, seeing Hongdou enter, immediately asked, "Hongdou, did I just talk in my sleep?"

Hongdou paused for a moment, then shook her head blankly: "No, miss, I only heard you suddenly call out."

Unlike green calyxes, red beans are clever.

Jiang Sese felt that the difference between novels and reality was that, apart from the protagonist, everyone else in the novel was a fool who would drool even after being cured.

But reality is different.

Everyone has their own little schemes.

Therefore, in order to dispel Hongdou's doubts, she had to give Hongdou a reasonable explanation.

Jiang Sese composed herself, reached out to tidy her damp temples, and her voice was hoarse from just waking up from a dream. She made up a half-truth and half-lie: "Actually, it's nothing. Maybe it's because I listened to Master Wu's words that I had such a dream last night."

Upon hearing this, Hongdou hesitated for a moment, but finally couldn't resist asking curiously, "Miss, what exactly did the master say that has made you so concerned?"

When Jiang Sese left the meditation room that day, her complexion was clearly not good.

I had another nightmare for no reason today.

"Master Liaowu said..." Jiang Sese paused, carefully choosing her words, and sighed, "The master said that my future marriage would likely be fraught with difficulties and not go smoothly. Last night I dreamt that I was confused and didn't even know who the other person was when I was surrounded by people and put into a bridal sedan chair. The ride was so bumpy that my heart was pounding, and in my fright, I cried out like that."

This statement is reasonable, both justifying the cause of the nightmare and without revealing any flaws.

Moreover, the original owner was already very eager to get married.

The original owner sought refuge with Aunt Sun in order to find a good marriage.

Upon hearing this, Hongdou breathed a sigh of relief, a comforting smile spreading across her face. She reached out to straighten Jiang Sese's disheveled clothes and gently advised, "Miss, you're overthinking it. As the saying goes, dreams are often the opposite of reality."

"Furthermore, although Master Wu's words are accurate, his saying that it will be difficult doesn't necessarily mean it's a bad thing. As the old saying goes, good things come to those who wait. Think about it, which of those truly perfect marriages didn't go through some twists and turns before they came to fruition? The difficulty might just be a sign that it's a wonderful match. With your looks and character, young lady, you're sure to find your ideal husband in the future."

Hongdou is indeed clever, considerate, and very good at talking.

Although Jiang Sese was making it all up, after all, Master Liaowu had previously said that she should not get married within a year, and now he was saying that her marriage would be difficult.

Reasonable.

Jiang Sese forced a weak smile, revealing a pale one: "Hongdou, you're right. I misunderstood and scared myself."

Jiang Sese raised her hand and rubbed her still slightly aching temples, saying, "I guess I've been too tired lately."

Hongdou smiled and said, "That's right. After traveling back and forth to Panlong Temple and hearing what the master said, anyone would have doubts."

Seeing that Jiang Sese seemed to have recovered, Hongdou quickly got up and said, "Miss, let me get you a glass of water to calm your nerves."

Jiang Sese nodded.

The next day, just as dawn was breaking, Jiang Sese felt heavy all over, had a splitting headache, and her throat was so dry it felt like it was on fire.

Jiang Sese struggled to sit up, but as soon as she moved, she felt dizzy and had to lie back down on the bed, her cheeks burning hot.

Hongdou touched her forehead, her face turned pale with fright, and she quickly turned around to fetch the royal physician. She also instructed Lü'e to stay by the bedside, and then hurriedly ran out.

Meanwhile, Madam Feng, who was teaching Jiang Sese to ride a horse, had arrived at the horse farm on time.

But Madam Feng waited for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, and still didn't see Jiang Sese.

The appointed time had passed, but Jiang Sese, who was always punctual or even early, was nowhere to be seen today.

Madam Feng frowned. Didn't Miss Jiang send someone yesterday to say she would definitely arrive today? How long has it been?

Could it be that you felt tired and exhausted after returning from Panlong Temple yesterday, and now you want to slack off?

These delicate young ladies are easily swayed by momentary whims, but finding it difficult to maintain them consistently.

Thinking of this, Madam Feng felt a surge of anger.

She had only taken the trouble to teach this young lady because she was entrusted by Lord Xie. She thought this young lady was hardworking, but she didn't expect that she would be so lazy after only a short time. She even complained about being tired and didn't say goodbye.

Madam Feng's face darkened, and she mounted her horse, preparing to turn and leave.

Just as she was about to leave, Jiang Sese's maid, Lü'e, came running breathlessly from the other end of the covered walkway, her hair slightly disheveled. She knelt before Madam Feng's horse and said urgently, "Madam Feng, please forgive me! My young lady caught a chill last night and fell ill this morning with a persistent high fever. She really couldn't come to her riding lesson. She had barely opened her eyes when she hurriedly sent me to apologize to you. Once she recovers, she will immediately inform you and make up for today's lessons. Please forgive her!"

"Miss Jiang is ill?" Madam Feng was taken aback, her anger instantly dissipating. "She was perfectly fine when she returned yesterday. How could she suddenly become so ill?"

Madam Feng silently observed Lü'e's anxious expression, which seemed genuine.

Green Calyx said, "That's right. Miss didn't seem to be in good spirits when she came back from the temple yesterday, and her face was pale. She just said she was tired and wanted to rest. Who would have thought she would have a nightmare last night? We thought she would be fine after resting, but this morning she woke up with a high fever and was unconscious. Miss just woke up briefly, and she was still thinking about her horseback riding lesson today. She asked me to come and tell you, Madam, that she would come to apologize to you in person when she is fully recovered and ask you to teach her... Please forgive her, Madam!"

After speaking in one breath, Lü'e bowed deeply, her head bowed low, her posture extremely humble.

This was all instructed by Jiang Sese.

Although Green Calyx wasn't very clever, she was very obedient.

Madam Feng's expression softened considerably; it turned out she wasn't being lazy or shirking her duties, but rather ill.

Madam Feng's anger vanished instantly, and she comforted Lü'e, saying, "Illness strikes like a landslide; there's nothing we can do about it. Let your young lady rest and recuperate. There's no rush with riding. Her health is the most important thing."

Upon hearing this, Lü'e felt as if she had been granted a pardon and gratefully raised her head: "Thank you for your understanding, Madam. This servant thanks you on behalf of the young lady!"

After Jiang Sese finished instructing Lü'e, she fainted again.

The physician from the prefectural hospital has already come to see me, but whether it will be effective depends on fate.

Hongdou felt like the sky had fallen when she heard this. She hadn't been with her cousin for long, and if her cousin were to die like this, even if the young master didn't say it, he would definitely blame her for not serving her cousin well.

Can she still go back to Tingsong Courtyard?

If she can't return to Tingsong Courtyard, which master in the manor would be willing to take her in if she doesn't feel it's bad luck?

As soon as Hongdou thought about it, her heart sank, and she hurriedly ran to Tingsong Courtyard to find Qingshuang.

Qing Shuang was shocked to hear this: "Is Miss really that ill?"

Hongdou nodded repeatedly, almost crying with anxiety: "Yes, Sister Qingshuang, please, please tell the young master."

The eldest son is not a doctor, but he can still summon the imperial physician.

The Imperial Medical Academy was under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Rites, and its secrets could not be passed on to anyone other than members of the imperial family. Imperial physicians were the emperor's private doctors. What were the officials? They were just a bunch of laborers. Unless it was an extraordinary favor, the emperor would not allow his own doctors to treat his officials.

To the emperor, brothers were subjects, teachers were subjects, maternal relatives were subjects, and everyone else was a slave.

But Xie Jue was the only exception.

Qing Shuang hesitated for a moment: "But the eldest young master is not in the manor right now."

At this time, Xie Jue had already gone to court.

Seeing that Hongdou's body swayed, Qing Shuang quickly went to help her up, gritting her teeth and saying, "You go back and guard Miss Biao first, I'll think of something."