The Eldest Young Mistress of the Marquis Manor has not been unfaithful! Even if she were to be, it would only be with her own husband.
The moment she saw Xiao Ling sit up on the bed, Madam She burst into tears right there on the spot. "My child, oh, my child! Since you were still alive, why didn't you tell your mother?"
"Do you have any idea how much Mother has been..."
The more she cried, the more distraught she became. By the time the physicians arrived, Madam She was still covered in tears. "Quick, take a good look and see if my Ling'er is alright!"
However, any keen observer could see that Xiao Ling was in a state of extreme frailty. The physicians brought by Steward Tian were all accomplished in their own right, but after taking turns checking Xiao Ling’s pulse, which was weak and thready, they all shook their heads in succession.
"What is going on?"
"Is it possible... that the Heir will not survive?" Xiao Nian'an tentatively asked.
"We cannot say that for certain, but the Heir has suffered grave injuries. It is already a miracle that he is clinging to life. My medical skills are limited, and I fear I cannot bring the Heir back from the brink of death."
"Please, forgive our incompetence."
They all knelt in unison.
"Is my Ling'er really beyond saving?" Madam She wailed.
Suddenly, word came from outside the manor that a physician had been sent by the Shen Residence.
"The Shen Residence?" Madam She hadn't sent anyone to notify them, so how could they know what was happening at the Marquis Manor?
"It is a physician sent by the Shen Residence to attend to the Third Young Master's health," Steward Tian explained. "Should I let him in?"
At this point, there was nothing left to do but treat a dead horse as if it were alive. But when Shen Feiwan saw the man, she knew immediately that he had not come to treat Xiao Nian'an. The man was Qi Hui, a cousin of Concubine Li from the Shen Residence.
It was impossible for him to have been sent by the Shen family.
The only explanation was that Shen Lianxin was trying to probe Xiao Ling's true condition, and it was entirely possible she would try to pull some trickery in the shadows.
"Eldest Young Mistress, Madam Shen from the residence sent me," Qi Hui said, bowing deeply. "I am not a man of great talent, but I happen to know a prescription that can address the Heir's condition."
"Is that so?"
Shen Feiwan did not respond immediately, instead glancing at Madam She.
Madam She was so consumed by worry that she could not speak, and she turned her gaze toward Shen Feiwan. "You are Ling'er's wife. You decide."
This was a clear attempt to shirk responsibility. If Xiao Ling were to take the medicine and something went wrong, it would all be Shen Feiwan's fault.
Shen Feiwan studied the man before looking back at Xiao Ling. She took a few steps toward him. "Heir, can he be trusted?"
Xiao Ling appeared so weak that he seemed as if his next breath might not come. Even simply leaning there appeared to cost him all his strength. He could not utter a word before he coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood.
"Heir!"
Shen Feiwan looked at Xiao Ling with concern. Seeing that he offered no warning, she turned back. "Then use it. If my husband can recover, I will certainly reward you handsomely."
Qi Hui had prepared a great many excuses, but since Shen Feiwan had given her consent without asking a single question, a look of joy immediately appeared on his face. "Very well, I shall go prepare it at once."
Shen Feiwan watched his retreating figure, then leaned over and whispered a few words into Zhuying’s ear.
"Yes, I shall do it at once, Mistress."
As she watched Zhuying leave, Shen Feiwan returned to Xiao Ling’s side. She would wait patiently; she was waiting for the perfect opportunity.
Before long, Qi Hui returned with the carefully prepared medicinal decoction. But no sooner had the medicine been administered than Xiao Ling vomited blood and fell into a dead faint, showing no signs of waking.
Madam She, overwhelmed with grief and terror, fainted as well. The other concubines were terrified. Xiao Nian'an stood there, his face ashen.
Just a moment before, Shen Lianxin had returned, supported by her maidservant. She stood behind Xiao Nian'an and slipped him a note, whispering that she had found this physician herself—not for any other reason, but to ensure that Xiao Ling would be left without an heir. Otherwise, there would be no place left for them in the Marquis Manor.
But after Xiao Ling drank the medicine, he looked as if he were dying. Xiao Nian'an’s brows were tightly locked, his emotions unreadable. Shen Lianxin lowered her head and remained silent for a long time; she, too, realized that Qi Hui was a quack. If the scheme were exposed, she would need to prioritize protecting herself!
Everyone was shocked, but Shen Feiwan maintained control of the situation.
"Steward Tian, go and summon other physicians!"
"No matter the cost of the consultation fees, you must keep calling for doctors. Call upon every renowned physician in the city!"
Steward Tian acknowledged the order and went to carry it out immediately. The other concubines were anxious, none daring to meet Shen Feiwan's eyes.
Just then, Madam She regained consciousness. "My child!"
Hearing Madam She’s cry, Shen Feiwan swept a glance over Shen Lianxin and then looked at Qi Hui. "Quack! Someone, bind him and take him to the magistrate. Conspiring to harm the Heir is a capital offense."
What?
Qi Hui fell to his knees with a thud. "I am wronged! The medicine... the prescription was not mine!"
"Then who gave it to you? This is a matter of life and death; do not spout nonsense!" Shen Lianxin, who had remained silent until now, suddenly interjected. She stared fixedly at the man. "Since the Eldest Young Mistress trusted you enough to use your medicine, it is clear she had the utmost faith in you."
This provocation was clearly meant to imply that Shen Feiwan had meddled with the medicine.
"We should deliberate on this matter," Xiao Nian'an suggested. "You all look after my brother; I shall head to the palace to request the Imperial Physicians."
Could he really get them to come? Leaving aside the fact that his rank was lower than Xiao Ling's, even if he did manage to enter the palace, he had no intention of genuinely bringing an Imperial Physician here.
Upon hearing the mention of Imperial Physicians, Qi Hui turned deathly pale.
"No, do not bring the Imperial Physicians! I will tell everything, everything! It was your mother who heard the Heir had awakened, so she sent me. She gave me a thousand taels of silver and told me to have Xiao Ling drink this medicine! She said it would guarantee that you two would conceive a child!"
Shen Feiwan listened, watching him coldly. "Are you saying that my own mother bribed you?"
"...Yes."
Qi Hui recited the story they had rehearsed, but his eyes darted around, and he dared not look at Shen Feiwan.
The room fell into a deathly silence. Madam She, sitting to the side, felt as though her heart were falling into an abyss. Hearing this, she was overcome with heartbreak, her body trembling with rage.
Could it really be Shen Feiwan...?
But if Shen Feiwan had truly intended to do something, she wouldn't have needed to wait until now. She had had countless opportunities to harm Xiao Ling while he was so weak and unconscious. Why would she wait until now?
At this moment, Shen Feiwan stood there, speaking calmly. "Heaven watches what men do. Qi Hui, you poisoned the Heir first, then concocted lies to destroy the relationship between the Shen Residence and the Marquis Manor—you have committed a grave crime. If you reveal the mastermind now, I may spare your life."
"If you do not, the charge of murdering the eldest son of the Marquis Manor alone is enough to warrant your execution by a thousand cuts."
Qi Hui knelt there, his face drained of color. He had made inquiries before coming; he had heard the eldest daughter of the Shen family was gentle and virtuous. How was she... more terrifying than a demon?
He cast a strange, panicked look toward Shen Lianxin behind him.
This thoroughly startled her. She hurried to scold him, "What are you looking at me for!"