With the Marquis giving the order, the servants did not dare delay and quickly prepared everything.
Some thin bamboo tubes were brought, their nodes hollowed out. One end was shaved into a smooth, narrow tip. They also prepared sesame oil, honey, pork fat, and the like.
After that, warm water and two clean soft cloths were made ready.
As the servants busied themselves, the previously deathly still atmosphere was broken, and a faint sense of life returned.
Shen Lingwei walked to the couch, crouched down, and looked at the unconscious Pei Ke.
His small face was pale, his brows tightly furrowed. Even in his coma, his body twitched from time to time, as if something was tormenting him.
And this little face bore a fifty percent resemblance to what she looked like as a child.
Shen Lingwei first warmed her hands over the basin of hot water, then applied a little pork fat to her palms and gently placed them on Pei Ke’s abdomen.
His stomach was swollen and distended, like a stone had been stuffed inside.
She began massaging, gradually increasing pressure, moving in a clockwise direction, stroke by stroke—neither too light nor too heavy.
“Second Young Master, bear with it. Once it loosens, it won’t hurt anymore…”
Her voice was soft and gentle, like soothing a baby.
Miraculously, even in his unconscious state, Pei Ke’s tightly clenched teeth loosened slightly.
She began applying pressure in a steady rhythm.
One stroke, then another, following the direction of the intestines—pushing, kneading, rubbing, pressing, from light to firm.
Pei Jinzhi stood three steps away, his gaze fixed intently on Shen Lingwei’s busy hands.
At this moment, Shen Lingwei was fully focused, her body leaning forward, a light sheen of sweat forming on her forehead. Her deliberately bound waist, due to exertion, revealed a soft curve, and sweat slid down the side of her face, dampening part of her clothing.
“Pfft—”
Suddenly, a loud sound of passing gas echoed in the room, followed by an indescribable smell spreading through the air.
But Shen Lingwei did not even frown, continuing her movements with full concentration.
“This… it actually worked?” Imperial Physician Zhou exclaimed in disbelief.
Shen Lingwei did not relax. She turned to Madam Zhang and asked, “Madam Zhang, how is the honey on the stove? I need to shape the plug while it’s hot and guide the stubborn blockage out!”
Massaging the abdomen only promoted circulation and dispersed gas. The true “enema guidance” was the final step that would determine the Second Young Master’s life or death.
After a while, a rumbling sound came again from Pei Ke’s abdomen. Soon after, his eyelids fluttered slightly, and he slowly opened a small slit.
“Ke’er! You’re finally awake!” the Old Madam exclaimed excitedly as she stepped forward.
Everyone in the room breathed a sigh of relief.
But Shen Lingwei had no time to celebrate. She extended her hand toward Chen Shitou. “Bring it.”
Chen Shitou hurriedly handed over the bamboo tube, sesame oil, and honey.
Shen Lingwei took them, mixed the sesame oil and honey in a three-to-one ratio, poured them into the bamboo tube, and sealed the other end with a soft cloth.
“Please help turn the Second Young Master onto his side and curl his legs.”
Madam Zhang personally stepped forward, intending to help turn Pei Ke, but something unexpected happened.
Just as her hands were about to touch him, the previously quiet and newly awakened Pei Ke suddenly recoiled as if startled. He shrank back violently into the corner of the bed, clutching a pillow, staring at everyone defensively.
Madam Zhang’s hands froze midair, not daring to move further.
Everyone in the room was stunned.
“Ke’er, Grandmother is here. Be good, let Madam help you…” the Old Madam tried to approach.
But Pei Ke wrapped himself into a cocoon, trembling violently in the corner.
The atmosphere in the room instantly dropped to freezing point.
“What should we do?” the Old Madam said, belatedly realizing the situation.
“This child has always been deep-minded since he was young and extremely afraid of strangers’ touch. Even I cannot get close to him.”
The imperial physician also shook his head. “If we force it, I’m afraid the Second Young Master will convulse. If his heart meridian is damaged, even immortals would find it difficult to save him!”
Shen Lingwei froze as well, her brows tightly knitted.
That’s right.
She had forgotten—this Second Young Master had a special constitution and was extremely sensitive and resistant to others’ touch.
But if the enema was not administered, the stone-like blockage in his abdomen would completely cut off his life.
For a moment, all eyes fell on Shen Lingwei.
Even Cook Liu and the others looked at her with complicated expressions, unsure whether to hope for her success or failure.
Everyone stood there, helpless before the small figure in the corner.
Chen Shitou anxiously rubbed his hands. “Madam Shen, this… what should we do?”
Shen Lingwei stared at the small figure in the corner, tightening her grip on the bamboo tube.
After a long moment, she took a deep breath and said to the Old Madam and Pei Jinzhi, “Marquis, Old Madam, please have everyone withdraw. Leave only Chen Shitou and Madam Zhang to assist.”
The Old Madam hesitated. “This…”
Shen Lingwei’s gaze was earnest. “The Second Young Master fears strangers. The more people there are, the more frightened he becomes. Please trust this servant once.”
The Old Madam looked at the still trembling Pei Ke, then exchanged a glance with Pei Jinzhi, feeling utterly helpless.
With tears in her eyes, she said, “Shen, if you can cure Ke’er, I will make the decision—this Jinghe Courtyard kitchen will be under your control from now on. Additionally, your monthly wage will be doubled. How about it?”
Shen Lingwei bowed, both surprised and honored. “Thank you for your generosity, Old Madam. Please rest assured, this servant will do her utmost.”
Soon after, everyone filed out, leaving only Chen Shitou and Madam Zhang in the room.
Shen Lingwei then instructed the servants to set up the stone mill outside the courtyard and rotate it in the same rhythm as before.
She herself took out a small bear-shaped cloth doll from her robe—it was something she had sewn for An’an.
“Second Young Master, look. This little doll is just like you. There’s a little monster hidden in its belly, which is why it hurts so much.”
Pei Ke did not move. His gaze flickered over the doll briefly before shifting away.
Shen Lingwei was not discouraged. She had Chen Shitou bring a plate and a silver spoon. Like before, when she had soothed him, she began tapping in rhythm, matching the sound of the stone mill outside.
“Ding… ding…”
The rhythm was slow and steady, like a heartbeat.
Gradually, Pei Ke’s breathing steadied, and his trembling lessened.
“Second Young Master, do you remember this sound?”
She raised the doll again and said, “Look, the little doll seems to feel better when it hears this sound. But the thing inside its belly will keep growing. If it’s not taken out in time, it will eventually burst its stomach open with a bang. How scary would that be?”
Pei Ke’s gaze shifted back again, this time with clear fear.
“But don’t worry, Second Young Master. This servant has a way to quickly catch the bad thing inside its belly. Watch closely!”
Shen Lingwei raised her hand and gave Chen Shitou a signal.
Understanding immediately, Chen Shitou stepped forward and held the doll.
Then Shen Lingwei lifted the bamboo tube and pointed it lightly toward the little bear’s backside.
In the next moment, as if performing a magic trick, a lump of dark, muddy substance suddenly appeared in her hand.