Bright red droplets of blood splashed onto the bell. As if corroded by something, it began to emit faint wisps of white smoke with a “sizzle.”
The eerie, scalp-tingling ringing abruptly stopped.
Everyone snapped back to their senses, staring in disbelief at the scene before them.
Seizing the moment, Shen Lingwei picked up the bowl of talisman water and splashed it toward the smoking incense burner on the ground.
“Chi—!”
A burst of white smoke rose from the burner as it was extinguished, and the suffocating haze gradually dissipated.
When the smoke cleared, everyone saw Shen Lingwei standing atop the tall ritual altar, her clothes disheveled, hair loose, and a trace of blood at the corner of her lips.
Hu Wang, on the other hand, sat collapsed on the ground, his pupils dilated, his face filled with panic.
“Th-this is impossible… how could you…”
The illusion shattered, and everyone’s awareness returned as they stared fixedly at the scene.
Shen Lingwei bent down and picked up the copper bell that had fallen to the ground.
“Master, how long do you plan to keep acting?”
Intricate patterns were carved inside the bell, and a residue of white paste remained. “Don’t you intend to explain to everyone what’s smeared inside?”
Hu Wang’s face turned ashen, staring at Shen Lingwei as if he had seen a ghost.
Damn it! How could a mere woman from the inner quarters know the secret behind this?
Shen Lingwei flipped the bell over and revealed a hidden compartment at the bottom.
“And that smoke just now—it came from here, didn’t it?”
A collective gasp rose from the crowd.
As she examined the evidence, Shen Lingwei explained, “If I’m not mistaken, the inner wall of this bell is coated with a hallucinogenic paste made from datura and cinnabar. The smoke also contains lead and mercury. Together, they stimulate both hearing and respiration, causing immediate disorientation.”
She paused, then said clearly, “So the Second Young Master’s earlier ‘calmness’ was not the departure of any evil spirit—it was because he was frightened senseless and drugged by these poisons. Isn’t that right?”
Hu Wang lay sprawled on the ground, staring at Shen Lingwei in terror, as if she were a demon.
“Y-you demon woman… what do you know…”
“I would also like to know—what exactly does she know?”
A cold, sharp voice rang out.
The courtyard gate was suddenly pushed open, and a tall figure strode in, followed by Chen Fan and several guards.
It was Pei Jinzhi.
He first swept his gaze across the chaotic courtyard, then fixed it on Shen Lingwei. When he saw the blood at the corner of her lips, his eyes darkened instantly.
He walked up the altar step by step, the aura of authority and killing intent around him making Hu Wang collapse completely.
“M-Marquis…”
Knowing the situation was hopeless, Hu Wang began wailing, making a last desperate attempt.
“It’s her!” He pointed at Shen Lingwei, biting back. “She’s a demon! I don’t know what method she used to break my technique. This woman is no ordinary person—she must have entered the residence with ulterior motives—”
“Silence!”
Before he could finish, the Old Madam’s furious voice cut him off.
Supported by Madam Zhang, she stepped forward trembling, her eyes burning with rage.
“You wretched fraud! At a time like this, you still dare to argue? Do you think I and everyone here are blind?”
She pointed at the bell and the drugs on the ground, her hands shaking with anger.
“These filthy tricks—you deceived me out of my money, which is one thing, but you nearly cost Ke’er his life! You deserve to die!”
The Old Madam was so furious she clutched her chest, unable to stand steady.
Pei Jinzhi stepped forward to support her, then looked at Hu Wang with cold indifference, as if looking at a dead man.
“Men! Drag this deceitful charlatan away. Give him fifty heavy strokes, then take him along with these items to the prefectural office. Inform the magistrate to sentence him severely!”
“Yes, My Lord!” Chen Fan responded, signaling the guards behind him.
Two guards stepped forward, seized Hu Wang, and dragged him away.
“Old Madam, spare me! Marquis, spare me—!”
One guard, annoyed by his noise, swiftly dislocated his jaw and dragged him out like a dead dog.
Silence returned to the courtyard once more.
The Old Madam took a deep breath, suppressing her surging emotions, and turned toward Shen Lingwei.
“Good child…” She reached out to hold Shen Lingwei’s hand, but Shen Lingwei avoided it.
“Old Madam, my hands are dirty…”
The Old Madam lowered her gaze and saw the blood on her hands. Her eyes reddened immediately.
“You’ve suffered. If not for your desperate protection today, my dear grandson would truly have been ruined. You’ve saved Ke’er’s life again—you are the great benefactor of our Marquis residence.”
“You overpraise me, Old Madam. I only did what I should,” Shen Lingwei replied.
The Old Madam exchanged a few more polite words and even discussed entrusting the entire Jinghe Courtyard to her management.
It was clear she intended to place great importance on Shen Lingwei.
Shen Lingwei stood to the side, listening carefully. Just as she was about to speak, her vision suddenly blurred. The strength she had been forcing herself to maintain seemed to drain away instantly, and her body went limp.
Hu Wang’s earlier soul-affecting technique had still caused damage.
The Old Madam was in the middle of speaking when she noticed Shen Lingwei’s pale face and bloodless lips, and was immediately alarmed.
“Shen?”
Shen Lingwei could no longer hear anything. Her mind buzzed with a sharp, static noise.
She saw the Old Madam calling out something, saw the shocked expressions of the others.
The light before her grew increasingly blurred. Just before losing consciousness, she saw a handsome face appear close to her, along with a pair of dark eyes filled with panic.
The Old Madam had just realized something was wrong and was about to step forward when someone moved faster.
It was her son.
In the blink of an eye, he steadied Shen Lingwei’s falling body, his face showing restrained panic.
“Chen Fan, fetch a physician!” Pei Jinzhi ordered urgently.
The Old Madam stood frozen, her mouth slightly open. Before she could speak, she saw her son lift Shen Lingwei horizontally into his arms and stride out of the courtyard.
Halfway there, as if suddenly remembering something, he turned back and said,
“Mother, I’ll take her to be treated first.”
The Old Madam nodded absentmindedly and waved her hand. “Go. Use the best medicine. Take good care of her.”
Pei Jinzhi nodded and left quickly.
The Old Madam watched her son’s departing figure, her brows knitting tightly.
Madam Zhang, observing her expression, spoke softly, “Old Madam, it’s chilly here. Shall we return inside?”
The Old Madam didn’t move. After a long while, she let out a heavy sigh.
“Did you see Jinzhi’s expression just now?”
Madam Zhang’s heart trembled slightly, but she lowered her gaze and replied, “The Marquis was simply flustered in the urgency of the moment. Madam Shen suffered for the Second Young Master and is our benefactor. The Marquis has always valued loyalty and righteousness—it’s only natural that concern would unsettle him.”
“Loyalty and righteousness…” The Old Madam repeated the words, a bitter smile forming on her lips.
“I would rather it truly be just that. But look at Shen’s face—and then at his reaction just now… it clearly was… sigh.”
After weighing her words, Madam Zhang ventured cautiously, “This servant dares to say—these past years, the Marquis has suffered too much. Since Madam passed away five years ago, he has shut himself away for just as long. Now that someone has finally caught his eye… perhaps… it is a good thing?”
The Old Madam froze.
But then, thinking of something, she sighed again. “If that were truly the case, it would be simple—at worst, he could take her as a concubine. What I fear is… that he sees Shen as nothing more than a shadow of Yuniang.”