The night was deep.
The maidservant standing guard outside the door covered her mouth, stifling a yawn.
Inside the room, on the ornately carved bed decorated with flowers of wealth and prosperity, Li Mengxi suddenly opened her eyes.
She sat up, gasping for breath.
Drenched in sweat.
She had another nightmare.
It wasn’t exactly a nightmare—it was a dream of the day she died in her previous life.
It was too brutal.
In the instant she opened her eyes, Li Mengxi’s gaze was filled with hatred and murderous intent.
After a moment.
Li Mengxi slowly let out a breath, gradually calming her turbulent emotions.
She didn’t know why, but when she woke up two days ago, she discovered she was still alive.
There was still about a month left before the day she died.
Now, she wasn’t dead.
Yesterday, she returned to the Li Residence and saw that her younger brother was fine, and her mother was fine too.
Li Mengxi’s face turned cold as she thought of Li Ya and Su Fei—that pair of adulterous dogs who had come together without proper matchmaking.
“Qingcui.”
Her slender fingers gently parted the bed curtains as she got out of bed.
Candlelight flickered across the woman’s bare face.
Her pink lips were slightly pressed together, her brows lightly furrowed—her features were like a painting.
Qingcui, who was on night duty, heard her mistress’s call and quickly rose, entering the inner chamber.
“Madam, what’s wrong?”
As she asked, Qingcui went to fetch an outer cloak and helped drape it over her mistress’s shoulders.
It was already October—though the days were still warm, the nights were somewhat chilly.
“Madam, would you like a cup of warm milk?”
Li Mengxi sat down on the beauty couch, massaging her temples. “Mm.”
Because she had just woken up, her voice carried a hint of softness, lacking the authority it held during the day.
Qingcui couldn’t help but feel her ears go numb.
Her mistress’s voice was truly beautiful.
Qingcui left the inner chamber and went to the tea room, where a dedicated maidservant kept warm tea at all times.
After Qingcui left, Li Mengxi reclined lazily on her side on the beauty couch.
She thoughtfully reflected on matters from her previous life.
To be honest, she truly never expected that Li Ya and Su Fei would end up together.
In two more days, Li Ya would return from the border. Her return could only be described as glorious.
When Li Ya returned this time, the Old Emperor would issue an edict conferring upon her the title of Youqi General.
In the candlelight, Li Mengxi curled her lips in a cold smile.
She had never harbored any jealousy toward Li Ya becoming the Youqi General.
But in this life, she hoped Li Ya would not be able to take that position.
However, thinking about it was one thing—Li Mengxi still didn’t know how to go about it.
A woman of the inner chambers couldn’t possibly influence the Old Emperor’s decision.
Qingcui came over carrying a small cup of warm milk and warm water.
Li Mengxi sat up, drank the warm milk, then took a few sips of warm water to moisten her throat.
She was about to go back to sleep.
But just then, voices came from outside the room.
Qingcui frowned slightly and stepped out of the inner chamber.
Who would dare disturb her mistress in the middle of the night?
Outside, Miao Ling had been telling the guard maidservant that she had urgent business with the young madam. When she saw Qingcui open the door and walk out, she quickly stepped forward.
“Qingcui, the Heir has suddenly developed a fever. I need to see the young madam.”
Miao Ling’s voice sounded extremely anxious.
Since it concerned the Heir, Qingcui didn’t dare delay. She brought Miao Ling into the inner chamber.
Inside, Li Mengxi raised her eyes to look at Miao Ling, who had followed Qingcui in.
Upon seeing the Consort of the Heir Apparent, Miao Ling hastily bowed and said urgently, “Young Madam, the Heir has suddenly developed a fever.”
Li Mengxi remembered this matter.
In her previous life, Su Fei had also suddenly developed a fever at this exact time.
Doctor Hu from the residence had prescribed medicine.
He drank the medicine for a day, but his fever didn’t improve—the temperature just wouldn’t go down.
In the end, they had to enter the palace to summon an imperial physician.
Back then, Li Mengxi had personally cared for Su Fei without rest for two days and two nights.
She had truly regarded him as her husband.
Thinking of this, Li Mengxi let out a silent, cold laugh.
Back then, she had treated Su Fei as her husband, as someone she loved, which was why she worried.
Now… she didn’t worry at all.
Wasn’t it just a fever? At worst, he’d burn until he became an idiot.
Li Mengxi wasn’t anxious inside, and she wouldn’t show it on the surface either. She asked calmly, “Has Doctor Hu been sent for?”
Miao Ling quickly replied, “Yes, he has.”
Li Mengxi nodded, gently rubbing her temples with her fingers, pretending she wasn’t feeling well herself.
She asked, “How did the Heir suddenly develop a fever? Was the Heir in good health during the day?”
Miao Ling suppressed her anxiety and replied respectfully, “When the Heir returned in the evening, he felt some discomfort in his throat. Doctor Hu was called to take his pulse at that time. Doctor Hu said it was a mild cold—nothing serious—and that a few days of recuperation would bring a full recovery.”
“However, we didn’t expect the Heir to suddenly develop a fever in the middle of the night. Lu Xi has already sent someone to fetch Doctor Hu.”
Li Mengxi stopped asking further questions. She instructed softly, “Qingcui, help me change.”
Qingcui extended her hand, and Li Mengxi placed her hand on her arm, standing up.
She walked behind the folding screen and changed her clothes.
When she came out from behind the screen and sat at the dressing table, Qingcui took a comb and began to arrange her mistress’s hair.
After a simple tidying of her appearance.
The group made their way to the Eastern Courtyard.
Li Mengxi and Su Fei resided in Wenren Tang.
Within Wenren Tang there were several courtyards.
Ever since the two of them had married, Li Mengxi lived in the West Courtyard, while Su Fei almost always stayed in the East Courtyard.
The married couple—one in the east, one in the west.
…
In the dead of night, the Yongning Hou Mansion was utterly silent.
Servants of the East Courtyard moved about on quiet feet.
When they caught sight of the Consort of the Heir Apparent, they bowed their heads in greeting one after another.
Their manners were impeccable.
Three years ago, when Li Mengxi had first married into the Hou Mansion, the Old Dowager had bypassed the Marchioness and placed the authority to manage the household directly into her hands.
It was for this reason that the Marchioness harbored some displeasure toward her daughter-in-law, Li Mengxi.
The moment Lu Xi saw the Consort of the Heir Apparent arrive, he felt a sense of relief. “Young Madam.”
He bowed respectfully.
Li Mengxi walked into the inner chamber. “How is the Heir?”
Lu Xi replied with deference, “Doctor Hu has just finished taking the Heir’s pulse and has written a prescription. I have already arranged for the servants to decoct the medicine.”
Li Mengxi nodded. She walked to the bedside.
She looked down at Su Fei’s pale face from above.
A flicker of coldness passed through the woman’s eyes.
The man lying on the bed—his dark hair spread across the sheets, his face pallid—only made his naturally handsome features appear even more striking.
He was currently unconscious.
Intermittent coughs escaped from between his slightly pale lips.
Li Mengxi held a handkerchief in her hand and gently dabbed at the fine cold sweat beading on his forehead.
It was clearly a tender gesture of wiping away sweat.
And yet, at this very moment, what she was thinking was—how to kill him without making a sound!
She desperately wanted to… strangle Su Fei to death, but she knew that now was not the time.
Because Hidden Guards were concealed all around Su Fei.
She could not act rashly.
Li Mengxi asked in a gentle voice, “Doctor Hu, how is the Heir?”
Doctor Hu clasped his hands in salute, not daring to raise his eyes, and kept his head lowered as he replied to the Consort of the Heir Apparent’s question. “The Heir’s fever was brought on by a chill. If the fever does not subside, I fear it may harm his heart and liver.”
When Lu Xi and the other servants who attended the Heir heard Doctor Hu’s words, the worry on their faces needed no concealment.
If anything happened to their master, they, as servants, would be punished.
Li Mengxi gave a slight nod. “I am much obliged.”
Doctor Hu raised his hand in a parting salute, reminded them of a few things requiring attention, then clasped his hands and withdrew.
A servant brought in the prepared medicine.
Just as Miao Ling was washing her hands, ready to feed the medicine to the Heir, she heard the Consort of the Heir Apparent’s voice.
Li Mengxi said, “Give the medicine to me. I will feed it to him.”
The Consort of the Heir Apparent wished to personally administer the medicine to the Heir. The servant bowed respectfully and raised the tray slightly higher.
Lu Xi moved a chair to the bedside so that the Consort of the Heir Apparent could sit down.
He then took it upon himself to prop the Heir up halfway, letting him lean against the headboard while he supported his master.
Li Mengxi’s slender, fair fingers held the soup spoon and gently stirred the medicine a few times.
Her brow and eyes were exceedingly gentle.
She scooped up a spoonful of the medicine, handed the bowl to Qingcui, and brought the medicine to Su Fei’s thin lips.
A man in a coma would not open his mouth on his own.
Li Mengxi used one hand to grip and pinch the side of Su Fei’s face.
The man’s mouth was forced slightly open.
She seized the opportunity to swiftly pour the medicine in.
And deliberately let nearly half of it spill from the corner of his lips down to his chin.
The medicine dripped onto his body.
Stains from the medicine instantly appeared on Su Fei’s blue undergarment.
He had always prized cleanliness above all.
With soft brows and gentle eyes, Li Mengxi fed Su Fei half the bowl of medicine—nearly half of it dripping onto his undergarment.
Lu Xi very much wanted to urge the Consort of the Heir Apparent to let someone else feed the medicine, but he knew he could not voice such a request.
Until the entire bowl of medicine was finished.
Li Mengxi released her hand that had been pinching Su Fei’s face.
The man’s face had already been pinched red.
Li Mengxi was quite satisfied with that amount of force. She stood up, pressed a hand to her chest, and feigned discomfort as she staggered a step.
Qingcui hurried over anxiously to support her mistress. “Young Madam,” she turned her head to look at Miao Ling, “quick, go fetch Doctor Hu.”
Li Mengxi frowned slightly and stopped her. “No need to call Doctor Hu. I simply haven’t rested well lately and feel a bit dizzy. Help me back so I can rest for a while.”
She furrowed her brows, looking genuinely unwell.
Li Mengxi turned and instructed Lu Xi, “Take good care of the Heir. If anything happens, send someone to the West Courtyard to report immediately.”
No one would suspect that Li Mengxi was deliberately choosing not to remain here to watch over the Heir.
After all, over these three years, the Consort of the Heir Apparent had attended to nearly every matter concerning the Heir with great diligence.
Lu Xi and the others all bowed in salute.
Li Mengxi lowered her gaze to take one more look at Su Fei, her expression indifferent, then turned and left.
Qingcui supported Li Mengxi as they walked out of the room, asking in a worried whisper, “Young Madam, shall we still call Doctor Hu over to take your pulse?”
“Wait until daytime. It’s too late now.” As Li Mengxi said this, she released the embroidered handkerchief from her hand.
That handkerchief—she had just used it to wipe Su Fei’s sweat.
She had endured her disgust and held onto it for this long.
The handkerchief fell to the ground.
Li Mengxi’s embroidered shoe happened to step right on top of it.
Her steps did not pause because of this. She merely gave a faint instruction: “The handkerchief is dirty. Take it and burn it.”
Anything Su Fei had used—she found it filthy.
“Yes.” Qingcui respectfully picked up the embroidered handkerchief, and she would personally take it to be burned.