Granny Tian had never seen such a scene before. With a thud, she dropped to her knees and cried out:
“Nanny Zhang, this has nothing to do with me!”
She pointed toward Shen Lingwei. “These past two days, everything the second young master ate was made by her! It was her—she made all kinds of strange pastries for him. I’m just a kitchen helper, responsible for washing and cutting vegetables. This really has nothing to do with me!”
Seeing this, Granny Guo also quickly knelt down and added, “That’s right, I’m only assisting as well. Whatever the second young master eats is all made by Sister Liu and Madam Shen. It has nothing to do with me…”
Cook Liu shot Granny Tian a fierce glare as they turned against each other.
Nanny Zhang let out a cold laugh, though the smile did not reach her eyes. Instead, it carried a chilling sharpness.
“You’ve all washed your hands of it quite cleanly! The imperial physician has just examined him and said that the second young master is suffering from internal accumulation. He consumed overly greasy and indigestible food, causing intestinal obstruction and severe constipation. Since this happened in Jinghe Courtyard, not a single person in the kitchen will escape responsibility!”
Her gaze paused briefly on Shen Lingwei. “All of you, come inside. The Old Madam will question you personally.”
Cook Liu’s legs went weak, nearly collapsing.
Granny Tian and Granny Guo supported each other, their faces pale as paper.
…
Inside, the air felt even heavier and more suffocating.
The Old Madam sat in her chair, her eyes red and swollen, her face seeming to have aged more than ten years.
To one side, Pei Jinzhi sat with his robe slightly lifted. Though he said nothing, his gaze fell on them like blades, heavy and oppressive.
The authority of someone long in power was impossible to ignore.
At that moment, an elderly imperial physician with white hair and beard walked out from the inner chamber. The Old Madam hurried forward.
“Physician, how is my grandson?”
The physician sighed deeply and cupped his hands. “Old Madam, the second young master is suffering from ‘spleen constraint.’ His vital energy is already weak, and he mistakenly consumed rich, greasy, and nourishing foods, causing accumulation to transform into heat, leading to dryness and blockage in the intestines. The hardened stool has now formed like a stone in his abdomen, unable to move up or down. His qi flow is completely obstructed.”
“Then… can we use purgative medicine?” the Old Madam asked urgently.
“That must not be done!”
The physician’s tone was grave. “The second young master’s constitution is too weak, and he is now unconscious. If strong purgatives are used, the medicine may not even take effect before his intestines rupture and ulcerate. At that point, even the greatest immortals would be powerless to save him.”
The Old Madam’s vision darkened, and she nearly collapsed.
“Old Madam!” Nanny Zhang quickly steadied her.
The room fell into dead silence.
Granny Tian trembled even more violently, not daring to make a sound.
At that moment, Pei Jinzhi slowly rose from his seat, walked to the physician, and cupped his hands.
“Physician Zhou, if medicine cannot be used, are there any other methods? No matter what herbs are needed or how much silver it costs, the Marquis’s residence will spare no expense, as long as he can be saved.”
Physician Zhou frowned, remaining silent for a long while before lowering his head in shame.
“If it had been earlier, while he was still conscious, gentler methods might have offered a chance. But now… his stomach qi has already failed, and medicine cannot be administered. I truly do not dare take this risk.”
Hearing this, the Old Madam felt as though struck by thunder.
“K’er… my dear grandson… he is only five years old. Is there truly no hope for him?”
She cried out in grief, her voice so sorrowful it moved all who heard it.
The atmosphere in the room dropped to freezing. Even Pei Jinzhi’s face showed a rare trace of defeat. Though he said nothing, the violent aura emanating from him made the entire room feel like an icy abyss.
Granny Tian and the others trembled like sieves, collapsing to the ground.
It was over!
Everything was over!
If the second young master truly died, they would all be buried with him!
At that moment, Shen Lingwei slightly raised her head and bowed to the Old Madam.
“Marquis, Old Madam, this servant may have a method to help the second young master relieve himself without harming his spleen and stomach.”
As soon as she spoke, all eyes in the room turned toward her.
“You… you truly have a way?” The Old Madam stopped crying, looking at Shen Lingwei in disbelief.
Shen Lingwei nodded, her voice steady.
“What is most urgent now is to expel what is blocked inside his abdomen. Once this root problem is resolved, with a light and easily digestible diet, plenty of water, and gradual recovery, he will naturally improve.”
Physician Zhou frowned, his tone carrying displeasure. “Do you think I do not understand this principle? The problem is that the second young master is unconscious—medicine cannot be administered. Even enemas require something that can dissolve the accumulation. The honey method has already been tried and failed. You are just a cook—what method could you possibly have?”
Shen Lingwei looked at him and spoke boldly. “Physician, what if we do not go through the mouth, but instead remove what is blocking the intestines directly?”
Hearing this, Physician Zhou’s eyes widened in anger, his beard trembling.
“Absurd! The intestines are deep within the abdomen—how could they be accessed? Do you intend to cut open his stomach?”
“You woman, stop spouting nonsense here!”
Clearly, he dismissed Shen Lingwei’s idea entirely. He turned and bowed to the Old Madam and Pei Jinzhi.
“Old Madam, Marquis, such outrageous claims must not be believed. I have practiced medicine for thirty years and have never heard of such a method. If attempted recklessly, the second young master may not even survive to feel the medicine’s effect—he may die in agony on the spot!”
“This…” The Old Madam hesitated.
Shen Lingwei’s suggestion was indeed too unbelievable.
Shen Lingwei remained calm and said lightly, “What the physician says is reasonable. I do not understand medical theory and dare not speak carelessly. However, when I was in my hometown, I once saw a traveling healer use this method, which is why I mentioned it.”
The physician sneered. “A rustic trick from some village quack, and you dare present it in the Marquis’s residence?”
Shen Lingwei smiled faintly. “Whether the method is crude or not is unimportant—as long as it works.”
“You…” The physician was momentarily speechless.
At this moment, Pei Jinzhi fixed his gaze on Shen Lingwei. “Are you certain this method will work?”
Shen Lingwei stood up, meeting his scrutinizing gaze, and said clearly, “If the Marquis does not trust me, I am willing to sign a military pledge.”
The room fell silent once more. Everyone held their breath.
Pei Jinzhi stared at her, as if trying to find signs of nervousness, guilt, or hesitation on her face.
But under the candlelight, Shen Lingwei’s eyes were clear and unwavering. She stood straight, neither humble nor arrogant, as if what she spoke of was not a life-and-death pledge, but an ordinary request.
Pei Jinzhi had seen many people bow before him.
In their eyes, there was fear, calculation, flattery, and panic.
But none were like Shen Lingwei—calm like deep water, unfathomable, yet capable of reflecting his own image.
His gaze lingered briefly on her slightly full waist before he spoke slowly:
“Do you know what it means if you fail?”
Shen Lingwei suddenly smiled.
Usually, when such a question is asked, it means a decision has already been made.
What the other party seeks is merely an added assurance.
“Marquis, the Marquis’s residence saved the lives of me and my daughter. I have no reason to harm the second young master.”
“If I must speak of selfish motives, I only wish for the second young master to recover well, so that in the future he may eat a few more meals that I prepare. That is all.”
Pei Jinzhi looked at her again.
This time, her brows and eyes were gentle like spring water, the light in them brighter than the moon above.
After a long moment, he averted his gaze and ordered the servants:
“Do as she says. Make the preparations.”