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

Although the eldest son never said it outright, Qing Shuang has always acted prudently and meticulously.

Now that my cousin is critically ill, if something were to happen to her...

Qing Shuang dared not think too deeply about it.

"But the eldest young master is attending court, and the palace gates are heavily guarded..."

Qing Shuang murmured, her brows furrowed, and she made up her mind: "This matter cannot wait!"

Qing Shuang made a quick decision and summoned the guards from Ting Song Courtyard. She instructed them in a deep voice, "Take the token and go to the palace gate to find General Zhao, the commander of the imperial guards on duty. Tell him that the young lady in the manor has fallen ill with a sudden illness, has a high fever and is unconscious. Her life is in danger. Please inform the eldest young master immediately and ask for his instructions."

"Just this one sentence, no more words, go quickly!"

The guard responded sternly and accepted the jade token handed to him by Qing Shuang.

In the Hall of Supreme Harmony, civil and military officials stood on both sides.

The Minister of War was personally presenting a report to the northwestern border garrisons regarding winter military pay and defense adjustments.

Xie Jue's face was calm, his eyelids slightly drooping.

He wore a scarlet official robe of the second rank, with a jade belt around his waist. The jade buckle was smooth and lustrous. His features were refined and aloof, like a pine tree covered in snow or a towering cliff.

Xie Jue was rapidly weighing the several confidential reports he had just received.

Just then, a young eunuch cautiously walked to Xie Jue's side.

The young eunuch, with his head bowed and hands tucked into his sleeves, quickly handed a slip of paper to Xie Jue and then swiftly withdrew.

Xie Jue subtly withdrew his fingers, taking the note into his palm.

Not even her eyelashes trembled, and her face remained calm and composed.

The Minister of War's voice continued.

Xie Jue calmly unfolded the note.

There was only one line of small print on the note.

Miss Jiang has fallen seriously ill and is in critical condition.

Xie Jue's expression remained unchanged, but in the brief pause between the Minister of War's words, he suddenly turned to the side and gave a look to the eunuch standing not far from the throne.

The eunuch was stunned for a moment, then quickly bent over, tiptoed, and moved to Xie Jue's side.

He looked at Xie Jue with a puzzled expression.

Xie Jue did not look at him, but merely moved his lips slightly and said, "Send word to the official on duty at the Ministry of Rites to request the head of the Imperial Medical Academy to come to my residence immediately."

Xie Jue was appointed as the head of the Imperial Medical Academy, which was also the head of the imperial physicians.

The word "please" coming from his mouth was practically a command.

"Yes." Although the eunuch was startled, he didn't even glance at him twice and immediately bowed obediently in response.

The eunuch acted extremely quickly, and in no time, the news reached the ears of the official on duty at the Ministry of Rites.

When the official heard that it was an emergency at Lord Xie's residence and that the imperial physician was specifically requested, he was so shocked that he almost jumped up. He dared not delay for even a moment and immediately ran to the Imperial Hospital to deliver the message.

The head of the Imperial Medical Academy was also alarmed upon receiving the order.

This Lord Xie is young but holds a high position and is deeply favored by the Emperor, so his power is growing daily.

Judge Feng dared not delay, and quickly picked up his medicine box and hurriedly boarded the carriage prepared by the Ministry of Rites.

Xiyuanli.

The window was half-closed, and the sunlight was filtered through the sparse bamboo shadows, falling on Jiang Sese's flushed cheeks.

When Jiang Sese woke up in a daze, she felt as if her whole body had been burned, with pain seeping from every crevice of her bones, and her throat was so dry it felt like it was about to burst into flames.

Was the original owner's body that bad?

Jiang Sese is in good health and rarely gets a fever; she only catches a cold once or twice a year at most.

As a result, when this body developed a fever, Jiang Sese felt like she was about to lose half her life. Her head ached, her throat hurt, and she had no strength at all. She felt so uncomfortable that she wanted to cry.

Jiang Sese bit her lip, the pain briefly bringing her back to her senses.

During this period, the family physician and Aunt Sun both came to visit.

Aunt Sun even went to beg Madam Wang for help for Jiang Sese, to see if she could find another doctor to take a look, but Madam Wang only said that since the family physician couldn't do anything, then other doctors would be even less able to do anything.

Jiang Sese called out in a hoarse voice, "Red Bean..."

The sound was as soft as the wind blowing through cotton wool.

Hongdou, who had been watching over the bed, rushed over, her eyes red-rimmed: "Miss, you're awake?"

He then instructed Lü'e, "Lü'e, quickly bring the medicine!"

Green Calyx quickly replied, "Yes."

Jiang Sese shook her head, her fingertips clutching the brocade quilt, her strength very weak. "Go and fetch a basin of warm water. Remember, it must be warm water, not cold or hot. Get a clean brocade handkerchief. Then go to the kitchen, put some salt and sugar in a bowl, dissolve it in warm water, and bring it to me."

Hongdou was stunned for a moment. Although she was anxious and confused, she still did as she was told.

Soon, Hongdou brought in a basin of warm water and a bowl of lightly sweetened salt water.

Jiang Sese propped herself up to sit up, her back supported by a soft pillow. As soon as she moved, her vision went black.

Jiang Sese gritted her teeth and gestured to Lü'e to soak the handkerchief in warm water, wring it half-dry, and place it on her forehead.

"Then wipe my neck...and armpits..."

Jiang Sese said in a trembling voice, "These areas have many blood vessels; wiping them can help dissipate heat."

Green Calyx and Red Bean looked at each other. Blood vessels?

The two dared not neglect their duty and, following Jiang Sese's instructions, carefully wiped her with a warm handkerchief.

When the handkerchief touched her skin, it carried a slightly cool moisture, which reduced the burning heat and made Jiang Sese feel a little more comfortable.

"Change the handkerchief on your forehead whenever it gets hot, don't stop."

Jiang Sese closed her eyes, fine beads of sweat appearing on her forehead, and said with a sigh of relief, "Bring that bowl of sugar and salt water over."

Green Calyx quickly brought the bowl to her lips. Jiang Sese took small sips, and the warm water, a mixture of salty and sweet flavors, slid down her dry throat, strangely relieving the feeling of lightheadedness and weakness.

Jiang Sese remembers seeing a science video while browsing short videos before, which said that dehydration is the worst thing to do when you have a fever, and that sugar-salt water can replenish fluids and maintain electrolytes, which is much more effective than simply drinking plain water.

Jiang Sese remembered something else and, panting, instructed, "Open a crack in the window to let in some air, just make sure there's no draft. Change the blanket I'm covered with to a thinner one; a thick blanket keeps the heat from escaping, making it harder for my fever to break."

The two did as instructed, changing to thinner blankets and pushing the window open a crack about an inch wide.

A cool breeze swept in, brushing against Jiang Sese's cheeks and clearing her muddled mind.

The handkerchief on her forehead cooled down and then warmed up again, and the two of them changed it back and forth seven or eight times. The burning sensation on Jiang Sese's body actually lessened a little.

Jiang Sese leaned against the soft pillows, still feeling weak, but no longer as drowsy as before.

Jiang Sese raised her hand and touched her forehead; her temperature seemed to have gone down a little.

Relieved slightly, she was about to ask Lü'e to bring the medicine she had brewed when footsteps suddenly came from outside the courtyard, accompanied by Hongdou's delighted voice: "Cousin, I heard that the palace has sent someone..."