Everyone turned around to see Shen Lingwei standing at the doorway at some point, holding a tray in her hands. On it sat a bowl and several other items.
The moment Hu Wang saw her, a trace of coldness flashed in his eyes as he sternly rebuked, “You ignorant woman who knows not the immensity of heaven and earth! I am conducting a ritual here—how dare you interrupt at will? You truly do not know the meaning of life and death!”
Shen Lingwei met his gaze directly, without the slightest fear. “Master, are you truly certain that this bowl of talisman water is saving someone, and not harming them?”
Hu Wang turned sharply, his eyes blazing with anger. “Insolence! You, a mere woman, what do you know of Daoist arts and mysteries? This is sacred water summoned through a ritual of forty-nine burned talismans. How dare you question it? Your repeated interruptions are a grave disrespect to the gods!”
The Old Madam’s expression also darkened, and she spoke with displeasure, “Shen, do not speak nonsense. Someone, take her away!”
Two old maids stepped forward at once.
With a thud, Shen Lingwei knelt to the ground and pleaded, “Old Madam, this servant does not understand Daoist arts or gods—but I understand the Second Young Master.”
She pointed toward Pei Ke, who was still trembling in the corner. “Old Madam, look at him. Does he look like someone who is being exorcised?”
The Old Madam froze, her heart aching even more.
“This servant dares to ask—if this bowl of talisman water is forcibly poured into him, and he cannot endure it, damaging his mind or leaving lasting harm… what then?”
The Old Madam’s expression changed drastically, the color draining from her lips.
Hu Wang’s eyes sharpened as he shouted, “This sacred water is a divine object. How could it harm the Second Young Master in the slightest?”
Shen Lingwei did not yield. “Then, Master, do you dare let me examine it?”
Hu Wang snorted coldly. “Ridiculous! This sacred water was summoned after forty-nine days of ritual. A single drop can cleanse evil. This is not well water from your kitchen for cooking!”
He turned and cupped his hands toward the Old Madam. “Old Madam, this woman is clearly stalling for time. If we delay further, the evil will take root completely, and even I will be powerless to save him!”
The Old Madam tightened her grip on her prayer beads, torn with indecision.
Shen Lingwei took a deep breath and stared at Hu Wang. “Master, your repeated refusals—are you unwilling, or unable?”
Hu Wang’s expression changed, a murderous glint flashing in his eyes.
If he continued to refuse, it would only arouse suspicion.
Fine. At worst, this water only contained talisman ash. Could a woman skilled only in cooking really detect anything?
“So be it,” Hu Wang flicked his sleeve and stepped aside. “Go ahead and examine it.”
He stood aside, his eyes full of disdain.
Shen Lingwei stepped forward to the altar, reached up, and removed a silver hairpin from her head, slowly dipping it into the bowl.
All eyes were fixed on the hairpin.
Hu Wang stood with his hands behind his back, looking entirely composed.
After several seconds, the hairpin was lifted out—but it had not changed color. It remained bright silver.
Hu Wang laughed. “You all see it, don’t you? This sacred water is divine—where would poison come from?”
“You lowly woman, daring to profane the gods and disrupt the ritual. Old Madam, I request that she be severely punished today to appease the gods’ anger.”
The Old Madam sighed, disappointment filling her eyes as she was about to signal the servants.
“Master, why the hurry?” Shen Lingwei spoke again, her tone steady.
“Some poisons are subtle. Perhaps they require more time. Why not wait a little longer?”
Hu Wang felt a flicker of unease.
He knew best whether the water was poisoned—but could this woman be trying to frame him?
No matter. If so, it would also be a good opportunity to eliminate her.
A glint of calculation flashed in Hu Wang’s eyes before he said, “Very well, we shall wait another quarter of an hour. But if after that time the hairpin does not change color, what then?”
Shen Lingwei’s voice remained calm. “If it still does not change after a quarter of an hour, I will accept any punishment.”
“Good!” Hu Wang agreed immediately, a trace of ruthlessness hidden in his eyes.
For a moment, the courtyard was so silent one could hear a pin drop.
All eyes were fixed on the bowl of talisman water and the silver hairpin.
A quarter of an hour—neither long nor short—felt like an entire hour.
Pei Ke had been soothed and now sat beside the Old Madam.
The servants in the courtyard did not dare breathe loudly. The only sound was the wind rustling the banners.
Finally, the time passed.
Shen Lingwei slowly reached out and took the hairpin from the bowl.
Hu Wang sat cross-legged on a cushion with his eyes closed, looking calm and immovable.
“Well? I already said this is sacred water bestowed by heaven. How could a lowly woman like you—”
“Mas… Master…” The young Daoist beside him tugged at his sleeve, his voice trembling.
“What are you panicking for?” Hu Wang opened his eyes impatiently, about to scold—but froze the moment his gaze fell on the hairpin.
“This… this is?”
His face filled with disbelief as he stared at the darkened section of the hairpin, as if struck by lightning.
“How is this possible?”
He hurried forward, snatching the hairpin to inspect it closely.
The hairpin now showed two colors. The upper half remained bright silver.
But the lower half had developed a faint grayish tint—not deep black, but clearly discolored.
The surrounding crowd collectively gasped when they saw the change.
Shen Lingwei turned around calmly. “Master, do you have anything to say now?”
“Impossible!”
As if suddenly realizing something, Hu Wang glared at Shen Lingwei. “I would know whether this water is poisoned! You must have tampered with it!”
“Speak! What did you add to the sacred water?”
Shen Lingwei let out a cold laugh. “Everyone saw my every move just now. What could I have added?”
“Besides, I have no reason to do so.”
Hu Wang choked, unable to respond, his brows furrowing deeply.
The Old Madam also frowned, uncertain of what to conclude. “This matter is no small issue. Since you both insist on your claims, is there a way to prove it?”
Cold sweat appeared on Hu Wang’s forehead as his mind raced.
Prove it? How?
The water indeed contained cinnabar—but that was to make the talisman water “effective.” He knew it better than anyone.
But he could not admit it.
Gritting his teeth, he was about to speak—
“Old Madam,” Shen Lingwei said unhurriedly, “this servant has something to say. I wonder if I may?”
“Go ahead.”
Shen Lingwei lifted the hairpin toward the sunlight so everyone could clearly see the discoloration.
“The reason this silver hairpin changed color is because the water indeed contains poison. It’s just that the toxicity is mild, so it did not change immediately when first immersed.”
She turned to Hu Wang and said word by word, “But Master Hu has traveled the world for many years. Surely you know better than a common woman—cinnabar poison reacts with silver and turns it dark, but it takes about the time of half a cup of tea to show.”
Hu Wang’s face turned pale, fine beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
His mind raced before he finally said, “I may not know what method you used to blacken the hairpin, but as a man of the Dao, my duty is to heal and save lives, to eliminate evil. Why would I do something that would ruin my own reputation?”
His words sounded reasonable, and the crowd began murmuring again, brows furrowed.
However, Shen Lingwei once again pointed out the crux of the matter.