Fu Zhen was embroidering when the maid came to deliver a message.
"Miss Cousin, the madam says the marquis has returned and asks you to go to the front courtyard to have a chat."
Fu Zhen's hand slipped while embroidering, and the needle pricked into her finger. A bead of blood oozed out from the wound and dripped onto the embroidery pattern.
She lowered her eyes and stared at the damaged pattern for a while before throwing it on the table. "Got it. I'll go right away."
It had really come true.
In the main courtyard, Madam Bai was talking to the marquis who had just returned from the military camp about Fu Zhen. "Speaking of it, Zhenzhen has already reached the age of puberty. But she's as slender as a willow branch. It seems a gust of wind could blow her away. Her complexion is so pale, and she's so thin that only bones are left. It makes me feel bad just touching her. She's really suffered."
Chen Xuan was a typical military general. He was tall and imposing, with a faint "川" shape between his eyebrows, which showed that he often frowned.
"Her father is truly a scoundrel! I don't know what my little sister saw in him back then. Humph!" Thinking of the past, Chen Xuan frowned even tighter and let out a cold snort.
Madam Bai sighed and said, "Zhenzhen is already feeling sad. Don't mention Sister Chen in front of her later."
These old matters were like a mess. They both hated Chen Peizhu for her disgraceful elopement. But after all, they had grown up together as a family. No matter how much resentment there was, after all these years, only pity was left.
Not to mention that she had passed away early.
Although Chen Xuan didn't say anything, Madam Bai knew that he was not feeling well. He had tossed and turned in bed for several nights and had a hard time falling asleep. No matter how well he concealed it from others, he couldn't hide it from his wife.
Fu Zhen walked into the courtyard and immediately saw the imposing man sitting in the main seat. She lowered her head to hide the complex look in her eyes and bowed. "Greetings, Uncle."
Madam Bai quickly supported her and chided gently, "We're just family getting together. Why be so polite? Your uncle doesn't care about these formalities."
Chen Xuan nodded, silently approving of his wife's words.
"I'm usually in the military camp and don't stay at home often. If you have anything to do, just tell your aunt. Don't be polite," he said in a deep voice. Seeing Fu Zhen's nervousness, he comforted her, "The marquis's mansion is your home. You're the proper second young lady here. If anyone talks nonsense in front of you, you can scold or punish them as you like. Your uncle and aunt won't blame you."
These words were not only for Fu Zhen but also for the servants in the mansion.
She was a proper master, not a freeloader.
It was a very caring speech, but Fu Zhen didn't pay any attention to it.
Because this part didn't appear in her dream.
Fu Zhen's heart skipped a beat. She felt confused and panicked.
It had clearly coincided with the dream just now. Why did it seem different now?
What was going on?
She tightly clenched the embroidered handkerchief in her sleeve, but on the surface, she tried to look touched. "Thank you, Uncle. Thank you, Aunt."
Chen Xuan nodded. "Serve the meal."
He waved his hand, and the maids filed in.
Although the marquis's mansion was wealthy and prominent, since Chen Xuan was a military general who knew the importance of food, he didn't allow extravagance and waste at home. The dishes served at this time were just enough for the three of them.
It was a family dinner tonight. Fu Zhen noticed that only three people were there, and Chen Tingfeng was nowhere to be seen. Her eyes flashed, and she hesitantly asked, "Won't Cousin have dinner with us?"
Madam Bai picked up a chopstick of crispy bamboo shoots and put them into Fu Zhen's bowl. Hearing this, she said, "He made an appointment with his classmates to go to the restaurant tonight. It was decided a few days ago, and it's really hard to decline. I'll ask him to apologize to you tomorrow."
Fu Zhen quickly said, "No need, Aunt. I just asked because I didn't see Cousin. If Cousin gets punished because of me, it will be my fault."
Sure enough, Chen Tingfeng wasn't here!
It had come true again!
What on earth was going on?
Fu Zhen recalled the dream in her mind and suddenly noticed a detail - although the dream happened from the perspective of "Fu Zhen", it was all related to Chen Tingfeng!
Thinking of the scene that had just come true, the marquis came back to see her. It was only natural for an uncle to visit his niece. Even if she hadn't had that dream, the marquis would surely come back. So this verification didn't count.
The only thing that truly matched the dream was Chen Tingfeng's absence.
Her heart skipped a beat, and her breathing quickened.
Could it be that as long as it was related to Chen Tingfeng, things would develop as they did in the dream? As for the scenes where Chen Tingfeng was not present, it seemed that she could change them...
She lowered her head and gently bit her lips, looking solemn.
This was just the first verification. She had to find a way to verify it one more time!
She remembered that in the dream, after Chen Tingfeng came back drunk, she had sent him a bowl of hangover soup to curry favor, but it was accidentally knocked over by Yuanbao, the servant beside him...
Fu Zhen closed her eyes.
Then she would send the hangover soup tonight.
After dinner, Fu Zhen bid farewell to them and returned to her small courtyard.
The half - embroidered pattern damaged by the blood stain was still on the table. She looked at it expressionlessly and then cut it into pieces with scissors.
When she was in the countryside, her father often stayed away from home and didn't give any money to the family. She had to find a way to earn some money by herself, or she would have starved to death long ago.
There was an embroideress in the village. She was a widow with only one son. But her son was promising and had learned hunting skills from a hunter, so the family wasn't short of money.
Fu Zhen knew her skills. She deliberately starved herself for a few meals and went to ask for help. The embroideress was soft - hearted. Seeing her pitiful and sweet - tongued, she half - heartedly agreed to teach Fu Zhen a lot of embroidery techniques.
It was thanks to the embroidered products that Fu Zhen didn't really starve to death in that shabby house.
She casually threw the tattered embroidery pieces away, picked up the teacup beside her and took a sip. Then she saw Cuihuan rushing in from outside and whispering, "Miss, the young master is back."
After dinner, Fu Zhen had asked Cuihuan to keep an eye on the outside.
He had finally come back.
She calmly finished the cup of tea, stood up and asked, "Is there a small kitchen in our courtyard?"
Cuihuan nodded and replied, "Of course there is. Does Miss want to cook something?"
Fu Zhen shook her head. "I know an old remedy for relieving hangovers. I often made it for my father when I was in the countryside, and it worked very well. Cousin must have drunk a lot when he was with his classmates. A bowl of hangover soup at this time must make him feel much better."
Saying that, she walked towards the kitchen.
It didn't take long to cook the hangover soup. After a while, she put the soup into a bowl and placed it in a food box.
"Let's go," she said.
Chen Tingfeng's courtyard was called Baiqu Courtyard, not far from Zhuqing Courtyard. Fu Zhen wore a light blue cloak, carried a lantern and knocked on the door.
Hearing the noise, Yuanbao quickly opened the door. Seeing Fu Zhen, he quickly bowed. "Greetings, Second Miss. May I ask what brings Second Miss here?"
Fu Zhen moved aside to let Yuanbao see the food box. "I heard that Cousin had been drinking. I happen to know a remedy for relieving hangovers, so I made this hangover soup myself. I wonder if Cousin is still awake?"
"The young master is in the study. Please come in, Second Miss." Yuanbao stepped aside and invited Fu Zhen in.
Compared with Zhuqing Courtyard, Baiqu Courtyard was obviously more secluded. Only the yellow flowers planted in the corner near the house added a bit of color to the courtyard.
As Fu Zhen approached, the yellow flowers swayed gently, emitting a delicate fragrance.
Yuanbao invited Fu Zhen to sit in the outer room for receiving guests, then turned around and knocked on the door of the study. He said respectfully, "Young master, Second Miss is here."
The door of the study opened, and the dim yellow light spilled out, illuminating his handsome and cold face.
It was Chen Tingfeng.
As he approached, Fu Zhen smelled a faint smell of alcohol mixed with the pine - cypress fragrance on his body. It was very pleasant.
Her eyes lit up. "Cousin!"
Chen Tingfeng nodded coldly. His gaze passed over her fair face and landed on the food box carried by Cuihuan.
Seeing this, Fu Zhen explained, "I heard that Cousin came back from a social gathering. I guessed that Cousin had drunk a lot and must be feeling uncomfortable. This is the hangover soup I made. My father often drank it, and it has a very good effect on relieving hangovers. If Cousin doesn't mind..."
Her voice became softer and softer, as if she was a little shy. A blush appeared on her fair earlobes.
Chen Tingfeng looked at her with his deep eyes. After a few seconds, he responded.
Yuanbao then stepped forward to take the food box.
Fu Zhen stared closely at his movements. She could almost hear her rapid heartbeat in her breathing.
"Bang!"
The food box was knocked to the ground!
Fu Zhen stood up immediately. The look in her eyes flickered. Under the dim yellow candlelight, her expression was even a bit distorted.
It was true. Once she got close to Chen Tingfeng, everything that happened in the dream would come true one by one!
It was really a prophetic dream!
Fortunately, everyone's attention was attracted by the knocked - over food box, and no one noticed Fu Zhen's expression. She quickly covered up her expression and pretended to be stunned.
Yuanbao and Cuihuan immediately knelt on the ground.
Yuanbao lowered his head tightly, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead. "This servant deserves to die!"
Chen Tingfeng looked at the messy ground and frowned slightly. "Don't even have the strength to hold a food box?"
He was in a bad mood. He waved his hand and asked someone to come forward to clean up. "Go and kneel in the courtyard for two hours."
Yuanbao kowtowed and quickly got up and went out.
"Cousin, the hangover soup was knocked over. Then you..." Fu Zhen bit her lips, looking a bit self - reproachful.
"It's okay," Chen Tingfeng shook his head and stood up. "Thank you for your kindness, Cousin."
Seeing this, Fu Zhen proposed to leave.
After leaving the courtyard, she let out a long breath. She gently placed the hand holding the handkerchief on her chest. Her heart was still beating rapidly, indicating her uneasiness.
Behind her, Chen Tingfeng had deep and profound eyebrows. He stared at her back for a long time until she disappeared. Then he slowly lowered his eyes.
The dim yellow candlelight illuminated half of his face, making it hard to tell what he was thinking.