Previously, when she fell ill, it wasn't like this, so the biggest reason was likely that after arriving in the capital, she met Song Ze and Song Xun.
What the mind dwells on, the dreams recall; what the body suffers, the illness reveals.
But this reason was not convenient to discuss with Yi Yancen.
Yi Yancen was at a loss whether to laugh or cry. "You're usually so smart, how can you do something so foolish? If you want to recover your memories, Doctor Lou always has a way, why endure being sick?"
Xie Jiang wanted to say something but couldn't. "Alas, you wouldn't understand."
Lou Yi'an wasn't omnipotent.
When she transmigrated, she hadn't inherited Song Er's memories.
Lou Yi'an was skilled in medicine, not in soul-summoning.
It was rare that during these two bouts of fever, some residual memories of Song Er would drift out, and she wanted to absorb as much as she could.
Yi Yancen said with a hint of disappointment, "If you're willing to tell me, perhaps I could understand."
But Yi Yancen didn't want to trouble her and immediately changed the subject. "Do you endure self-inflicted pain to recover your memories because you want to find and take revenge on those who hurt you?"
"If my deductions are correct, those people are all dead." Her entire family was dead. "I just want to understand what happened during that period."
Yi Yancen unconsciously furrowed his brow. "Since they are all dead and the past is in the past, why trouble yourself?"
Xie Jiang feigned nonchalance. "It's just a little cold and fever. If I were seriously ill or in too much pain, I wouldn't torment myself like this."
Yi Yancen knew he couldn't persuade her. Once she made up her mind, she would never easily change it.
The two tacitly stopped discussing the topic.
Yi Yancen held her hand and accompanied her as she walked slowly, admiring the scenery around the lake.
But no matter what the scenery was, in his eyes, it was all about her. Kuaishuge.
Seeing a bridge over the lake, he seemed to already see her passing profile, her upright and proud back.
Seeing a small boat on the lake, he thought of her leisurely lying on it for a nap, a fan covering her face from the annoying sun. Anyone who dared to disturb her would be met with a disdainful glare.
Seeing the open-air terrace outside the water pavilion, he could imagine her leaning over the railing, reaching out to touch the lotus leaves in the lake.
His eyes were filled with her.
They passed a white marble corridor, almost level with the water surface, leading to a stone pavilion in the middle of the lake.
Yi Yancen led her onto it. They walked along the lakeside for a long time, and it was just right to rest their feet in the pavilion.
The pavilion had stone tables and benches for resting, but there were no railings around the edges.
The water surface was almost level with the pavilion floor. If the wind picked up a bit, the lake water would spill over the edges.
Many finger-sized fish swam around the hexagonal pavilion. Xie Jiang and Yi Yancen's arrival didn't disturb their playful activity.
"Are these fish so tame that they don't even run when they see people?"
Xie Jiang squatted down at the edge and tried to catch a fish. To her surprise, the seemingly docile fish instantly vanished.
"Hey?"
Xie Jiang moved to another side to play. "I should have brought a net to scoop them up."
Yi Yancen held her back, helping her roll up her sleeves. After letting her play for a while, Yi Yancen pulled her up, afraid she would catch a chill.
"Don't play with water until you've recovered."
She was the most troublesome person in the world, yet at times, she was incredibly fragile.
If he had known that being in the water for a moment would make her catch a chill, no matter how angry he was with her, he wouldn't have done it.
Fortunately, she recovered relatively quickly this time. If she had been like she was last night, he didn't know how worried he would have been.
Fresh tea, fruits, and pastries were laid out on the stone table.
As they strolled along the lake, someone had quietly made arrangements for their path.
If the young master were to feel thirsty or hungry in his own residence, even for a moment, it would be a dereliction of duty for Tian Kangtai and all the stewards.
Yi Yancen raised his hand to test the water; it was warm. He poured a cup and handed it to Xie Jiang.
When Xie Jiang finished drinking and put down the cup, she saw a figure lingering by the lake. "Wen Feng seems to have something to tell you, but he's afraid to disturb you."
"Don't mind him," Yi Yancen said without looking back.
"Wen Feng always has good judgment. If it weren't important, he wouldn't come to bother you. If you have something to do, go ahead. I'm just a little sick, do you need to attend to me?"
"I don't want to go anywhere today. I just want to be with you."
"Will you come back tonight after you're done with your business?" Isn't it good to have power? Why are you so clingy?
"I'm not busy."
Xie Jiang looked at Wen Feng on the shore. "You're not busy? Wen Feng is practically digging a three-courtyard house with his foot by the lake."
Yi Yancen's eyes narrowed slightly. "I think it's Young Master Xie who is busier. Rushing me away so eagerly, what are you planning to do?"
Since last night, he had been using Aunt He's words to try and dismiss him. From morning until now, how many times had he been told to leave?
Xie Jiang said, "Of course, I'm summoning my subordinates to discuss matters. I'm someone who strives for success. Now that the Emperor's attitude is clear, shouldn't we discuss how to gain more benefits from him?"
Yi Yancen replied, "Didn't you say before that you wanted to cling to my leg? What benefits do you want? I'll help you get them."
Xie Jiang's eyebrows shot up. "If you say so, then I won't be polite. Give me the title of a Prince of a Different Clan."
Yi Yancen poured himself a cup of water. "Before the Xie clan moved overseas, they already held the title of Marquis Jinghai. Now that they've returned with the four southern islands, they will at least be granted the title of Duke, and being enfeoffed as a Prince of a Different Clan is not surprising. This former residence of Prince Qing has already been bestowed upon you, which clearly shows the Emperor's intentions."
"Until the imperial decree is issued, who can say for sure whether it will be a Duke or a Prince of a Different Clan?"
"Were you aiming for the title of Prince of a Different Clan from the beginning?"
"Of course." It was a great tool for concealment, and it had its uses.
"Even if the Emperor intends to grant the Xie clan the title of Prince of a Different Clan, that title will go to your elder brother, Xie Tangqing, not to two Princes of a Different Clan for your Xie family."
Yi Yancen never thought she would covet power, but her personality was such that she might want to play with the title of a king. There was nothing she wouldn't dare to use for amusement.
"I'll be content as a carefree Marquis of the South Sea. The title of Prince of a Different Clan can go to my brother."
The image of the Xie brothers as devoted siblings was very solid.
Yi Yancen raised his hand to test her forehead temperature. Perhaps due to the insufficient dosage of the medicine, her temperature showed no sign of receding.
Yi Yancen sighed and gently stroked her face. "How could your brother bear to let a young lady like you venture out on her own?"
"Why can't a girl venture out? If it weren't for you despicable and shameless men, who schemed and plotted to confine women to the inner chambers, at least half of the people standing in the imperial court today would be women of extraordinary talent and ability."
Yi Yancen looked at her and smiled, his dark, deep eyes sparkling with brilliance. "You're absolutely right in your scolding, but don't include me in that. I support whatever you want to do."
"But I can't help but feel distressed."
Sometimes, he truly wished she were just an ordinary girl, like all the young ladies of noble families in the capital, whose biggest worry each morning was which skirt to wear and which hairpin to match.
He knew that was impossible.
But how could he not wish for his girl to be carefree for her entire life?