Fu Zhen returned to her room. After dismissing all the maids, she plopped down on the bed. Only then did she start to feel a lingering sense of unease.
If it could be considered a coincidence that Chen Tingfeng didn't return home for dinner, was it also a coincidence that Yuanbao knocked over the food box, just like in her dream?
Even if she had been reluctant to believe it before, she now had to admit that the dream she had last night was a premonition of her life!
She was extremely flustered. She climbed onto the bed and wrapped the quilt tightly around herself, but still felt a chill seeping into her bones. The cold made her shiver involuntarily.
The scenes from the dream kept flashing before her eyes. Her mind was in a complete mess. She felt that everything that had happened in the past two days was like a huge net, tightly binding her. She was like a moth caught in a spider's web, struggling in vain.
She tightly closed her eyes, trying to fall into a deep sleep.
She needed to sleep. Only after waking up could she carefully think about what to do next!
The candle in the room flickered. Perhaps the lamp oil had run out. With a "crackle", the room was instantly plunged into darkness.
Fu Zhen didn't know how much time had passed. She felt drowsy, with images constantly flashing before her eyes. Finally, the picture froze on the mocking faces of the maids.
"Fu Zhen" was locked in the room, constantly cursing. None of the maids or servants outside paid any attention to her. They just gathered under the corridor, chatting in whispers.
"What a young mistress! Everyone in the wealthy families of the capital knows that she got this position by despicable means. Otherwise, with our young master being so upright and polite, how could he have embarrassed her on their wedding night?" The maid who spoke was quite good - looking. She said disdainfully.
A younger maid beside her tugged at her sleeve and glanced into the room. Seeing no movement, she said in a low voice, "Keep your voice down. Although we all know these things, on the surface, she is still the young mistress. If she hears you, we'll be scolded and beaten again."
An embroidery - working maid scoffed at this. "I've never seen a young mistress like ours. Not only can't she win her husband's heart, but she also only uses despicable means. As expected, someone from the countryside just can't be presentable!"
"Exactly," the beautiful maid shook the tassels on her hand. "She even dared to poison the guests brought back by the young master. It's a waste for her to be a young mistress. In my opinion, she should go to the battlefield and use these ruthless means to poison the enemy soldiers!"
As soon as she said this, everyone around burst into laughter. Their words were full of ridicule, with not a hint of respect.
Fu Zhen knew that she was dreaming again, but she couldn't wake up. She could only listen self - destructively to the servants' harsh words. Her heart felt like it was on fire, burning so painfully that it seemed to scorch her internal organs.
Suddenly, the scene changed.
The room was pitch - black and quiet. The "Fu Zhen" on the ground was already lifeless. The rain outside the window kept pouring in, falling on her unclosed eyes, as if they were her falling tears.
However, the maids' room was brightly lit. Several maids were rolling around noisily, laughing non - stop. Occasionally, they would curse at her, using extremely harsh words.
Fu Zhen's eyes were filled with bloodshot. The resentment in her chest kept boiling. At this moment, she seemed to be that "Fu Zhen" who had died on the ground, the "Fu Zhen" who had suffered and died alone, unnoticed by anyone!
There was a "boom" in the sky. Lightning flashed and thunder roared. The silver - dragon - like lightning seemed to sense her deep - seated resentment and instantly split open the fog in front of her eyes.
Fu Zhen suddenly opened her eyes. Her body was covered in cold sweat, as if she had just been fished out of the water.
She gasped for breath, her throat burning. She couldn't help but cough, and once she started, she couldn't stop. She coughed so hard that it felt like she was about to vomit her heart out.
Cui Huan, who was on night watch outside the room, heard the noise and immediately pushed open the door. Seeing Fu Zhen looking half - dead, she immediately said anxiously, "Miss!"
She quickly poured a glass of water and helped Fu Zhen drink it slowly. She reached out to touch Fu Zhen's forehead and, feeling the burning temperature, panicked and said, "Miss, you have a fever!"
Fu Zhen was still coughing non - stop. Cui Huan anxiously patted her on the back while shouting outside, "Biyu! Go and call the doctor quickly!"
"Okay!" Biyu replied and rushed away in a hurry.
Fu Zhen finally managed to suppress the itch in her throat. Leaning on Cui Huan, she gasped for breath in small gulps. Her vision kept going black and white. Her heart was filled with hatred, and the pain in the dream made her shed tears uncontrollably.
Since childhood, she was afraid of nothing but pain. But in the end, she died in excruciating pain!
Thinking of the black - red blood she vomited at the end, how could she not understand? She had clearly been poisoned.
She had forced Chen Tingfeng to marry her with medicine, but in the end, she also died from poison.
How ridiculous.
Cui Huan lovingly wiped the tears from her face with a handkerchief. "The doctor will be here soon. Be patient, dear miss. Stop crying. Your eyes will swell up later."
Fu Zhen didn't know why she was crying. The grievances, bitterness, and helplessness in her heart were like the rising tide, overwhelming her.
In the dream, she just wanted a good future. Why did she end up dying with her eyes wide open?
One wrong step led to a series of wrong steps.
Perhaps she should never have pinned her hopes on Chen Tingfeng in the first place...
Right, Chen Tingfeng!
Fu Zhen was suddenly startled. Remembering the result she had verified today, she couldn't help but feel a mix of fear and relief.
She already roughly knew that these two dreams were warnings for her! Heaven had taken pity on her and let her know her fate, giving her a chance to change it!
She wiped the tears from her face. Her red - rimmed eyes glinted coldly.
In the dream, she was greedy for wealth and glory. In reality, she still wanted them! Since pestering Chen Tingfeng would bring misfortune, couldn't she just avoid him?
There were wealthy families everywhere in the capital. Was she afraid she couldn't find a good man?
She lowered her eyes and thought deeply. There were still nearly two years until Madam Bai arranged for her to get married. During this period, she had to find a way to get to know other wealthy young men in the capital...
Doctor Li was dug out of his bed in the middle of the night and rushed over in a hurry. Seeing Fu Zhen's pale face, his heart skipped a beat.
He carefully felt her pulse for a moment and frowned. "Miss, this fever is caused by excessive shock and the stagnation of qi in the internal organs. Fear can damage the kidneys. Moreover, Miss has a deficiency of qi and blood and is in poor physical condition. If she doesn't take good care of herself, it may have an impact on her health in the future."
Cui Huan anxiously asked, "What should we do?"
By this time, Fu Zhen had gradually calmed down. She grabbed Cui Huan's hand and looked at Doctor Li, saying gently, "Please prescribe the medicine, Doctor."
Doctor Li took out the pen and paper he carried with him. After writing the prescription, he told the maid to go and get the medicine. He said to Fu Zhen with concern, "Miss, you should keep a calm mind in the future. You must not let your emotions fluctuate too much. Otherwise, if your internal organs are really damaged, it will be troublesome. Also, I notice that Miss is thin and pale. I think you must have suffered a lot in the past, which has led to your poor physical condition. You should also nourish your body well in the future."
Fu Zhen thanked him. "Thank you, Doctor. I'll remember everything."
As soon as a doctor was called to Fu Zhen's courtyard at night, the main courtyard found out in no time.
Madam Bai rushed over in a hurry, her hair still loose. Seeing Fu Zhen's pale face, she gently touched her face. "Zhenzhen, what's wrong?"
Fu Zhen opened her eyes. Seeing her anxiety, she comforted her. "It's okay, Aunt. I just have a fever. I'll be fine after taking the medicine."
"Why did you suddenly have a fever for no reason?"
Fu Zhen lowered her eyes. She couldn't tell her that she had been scared sick after dreaming of her miserable death. So she just said, "I had a nightmare. I was so shocked that I got sick."
Madam Bai immediately thought of her past and felt heartache. "Good child, don't be afraid. Now that you're in the Marquis's Mansion, you'll have a prosperous life from now on. No one will dare to bully you again."
Fu Zhen was held in her arms. She pretended to be touched on the surface, but her heart was as calm as still water.
Life in the Marquis's Mansion was good, but she would eventually get married. Whether her future would be good or not was still unknown. Where was the so - called "from now on"?
If she didn't fight for herself, she might end up being married into a family of moralists. If she fought blindly and delusionally tried to stay in the Marquis's Mansion forever, she would only end up as a wronged ghost.
How sad and ridiculous.
She closed her eyes, covering up the unwillingness in them.
In the future, she would fight, but not directly. She needed to calm down, plan carefully, and be cautious every step of the way to gradually achieve the life she wanted.
Madam Bai said a few words of concern. After seeing her drink the medicine with her own eyes, she left relieved.
When she reached the front of Baiqu Courtyard, Chen Tingfeng just opened the door. Madam Bai saw that he had just thrown on a cloak and come out. She understood immediately. "Your cousin is physically weak. She had a nightmare and got a fever from shock. She's much better after taking the medicine."
"Shock?" Chen Tingfeng was a little confused.
Madam Bai sighed. "Your cousin had a very hard time before. She often went hungry and cold and was beaten and scolded by her scoundrel father. If she hadn't sent a letter, she might have been sold to a brothel by her father by now."
Chen Tingfeng nodded. After watching Madam Bai walk away, he looked far in the direction of Fu Zhen's courtyard.
Although Madam Bai's explanation seemed reasonable, Chen Tingfeng had a hunch that something was wrong.
He remembered that after the sobering - up soup was knocked over in the evening, Fu Zhen had over - reacted. At that time, he had thought that she was just angry because the soup had been knocked over. Now that he thought about it, it would be more accurate to describe her reaction as panic rather than anger.
Why was she afraid just because a servant had knocked over the sobering - up soup?
Chen Tingfeng lowered his eyes and thought. There seemed to be quite a few secrets about this cousin of his.