Before figuring out the young woman’s identity, he didn’t want to offend her completely. After all, a woman who could associate with the Chu family’s daughter must have a high status in the capital. If her family background turned out to be higher than his, it would be asking for trouble.

“Are you done? Then I’ll be going.” Shen Yao Xing ignored the calls to stop behind her, her figure weaving through the crowd, disappearing from their sight in the blink of an eye.

Situ Chang Qing took a couple of steps forward, and when he could no longer see her figure, he stomped his foot in frustration.

The servant beside him secretly observed his expression and cautiously asked, “Young Master, shall this slave send someone to investigate this person?”

Situ Chang Qing glanced at him sideways, then turned and walked in the opposite direction. The servant couldn’t read his mood and could only shut up and obediently follow behind.

Shen Yao Xing finally reached her family’s main gate. The guards stationed on both sides showed joy on their faces when they saw her.

“Young Miss, you’ve finally returned!”

The unified shout from the two startled Shen Yao Xing, who was eating an oil cake. She barely swallowed the cake and frowned, muttering, “Why so excited…”

The guards regained their composure and solemnly cupped their hands: “Master Shen has been bedridden for some days now. Steward Luo instructed us to inform you to go over as soon as possible when we saw you return to the mansion.”

Shen Yao Xing was stunned: “Mother really fell ill?”

She had thought it was just Mother Shen’s trick to get her to come back.

“Yes!”

Shen Yao Xing hurriedly passed by the two and entered the mansion, in her haste even forgetting to put down the food in her hands.

“Mother!”

In the east room, Steward Luo, who had been waiting for instructions, heard the young woman’s shout from afar. A look of joy appeared on his aged face. Just as he was about to go out to welcome her, he was stopped by a man’s cold voice.

“Go tell the young miss that the wife-master is sleeping now, and let her come visit another day.” Song shi sat by the bed, gently stroking the face of the sleeping person.

“But the master instructed that if the young miss returned, she should be called to the east room immediately.”

Song shi sat up straight, his gaze coldly glancing at her: “Can’t you see that the wife-master is resting?”

Steward Luo lowered her head, responded with a “Yes,” and left the bedroom.

As soon as she left the courtyard, she saw the young woman hurrying over. Steward Luo quickly reached out to stop her: “Young Miss, please walk slower, don’t bump or knock into anything!”

Seeing her holding food in both hands made her even more nervous: “Young Miss, how can you casually buy these greasy things outside? What if you upset your stomach?”

As she spoke, she took the oily paper packages from the young woman’s hands, intending to throw them away later.

Steward Luo was like a nagging old mother.

Shen Yao Xing didn’t argue with the old woman, her face full of urgency: “Aunt Luo, how is my mother?”

“Young Miss, don’t worry. The master is no longer in serious condition. She’s resting in her room now. Why don’t you wait until the master wakes up before coming to see her?”

That wouldn’t do! She had come all this way, she had to at least take a look to be at ease.

“I won’t make a sound, I just want to go in and take a look!” Shen Yao Xing promised in a low voice.

Steward Luo was more than willing for her young miss to go in, ignoring Song shi’s orders. She stepped aside, gesturing for the young woman to go in quickly.

Shen Yao Xing tiptoed in, truly not making a single sound. Song shi, waiting by the bed, frowned at the sight but refrained from scolding her out of consideration for the sleeping person on the bed.

Shen Yao Xing walked to the bedside, bent down and stared at Mother Shen’s face for a long time. She couldn’t see any signs of illness, and the color of her lips seemed no different from usual.

She glanced at the displeased Song shi, slowly sat down on the nearby armchair, planning to wait until Mother Shen woke up to ask.

Song shi glared at the young woman once more before ignoring her, carefully tending to Mother Shen.

Just as Shen Yao Xing was about to doze off, Steward Luo suddenly came in and woke her up. After whispering something in her ear, Shen Yao Xing followed her out of the east room.

As soon as they reached the guest hall, they saw an elderly woman sitting there drinking tea. Shen Yao Xing whispered something to Steward Luo beside her. After Steward Luo withdrew, she approached politely and said, “Are you Imperial Physician Si?”

The old woman stood up and nodded slightly: “Indeed I am.”

“Please, have a seat.” Shen Yao Xing gestured to the elder, her demeanor proper and graceful, indeed unlike her wild behavior outside: “This time, thanks to Imperial Physician Si, my mother escaped danger. I am deeply grateful!”

“Young Miss Shen, there’s no need for such courtesy. This old one merely followed the Emperor’s orders.”

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Imperial Physician Si got straight to the point.

“This old one came today to inform you of a matter. It concerns Master Shen’s illness. I haven’t mentioned this to anyone else in the household before, waiting for Young Miss Shen to return.”

Seeing the old woman’s serious demeanor, Shen Yao Xing tensed up: “Is there something unusual about my mother’s illness this time?”

Imperial Physician Si nodded slightly and slowly explained: “This old one has carefully examined Master Shen and confirmed it was indeed caused by poisoning. However, Young Miss Shen need not worry too much. This poison is not stubborn; as long as she follows the prescribed treatment for some days, she can recover. What this old one fears is that the poisoner might not give up, and it’s hard to guard against. If Master Shen is poisoned again, it may be difficult to cure completely.”

So it was poisoning…

Shen Yao Xing was silent for a moment, her voice lowering: “Can Imperial Physician Si tell me about the harmful effects of this poison?”

Imperial Physician Si nodded and continued: “This type of poison is relatively rare. Its toxicity is slow, requiring a certain amount to be consumed before showing any reaction. The poisoned person will become increasingly drowsy, eventually dying in their sleep, silently and painlessly. For the poisoner to succeed repeatedly, they must be very familiar with Master Shen’s food and daily routine. So, Young Miss…” Her voice paused slightly, and she looked at the young woman standing there frozen, saying seriously: “You must pay attention to the people around Master Shen.”

…

Shen Yao Xing’s brow had been furrowed since the conversation, unresponsive no matter what Steward Luo said beside her. Even by nightfall, she hadn’t figured out who the poisoner might be.

If it was as Imperial Physician Si said, the poisoner was very familiar with Mother Shen’s diet and daily routine. The one usually responsible for Mother Shen’s meals was only…

“Steward Luo?” As soon as she said it, Shen Yao Xing shook her head in denial. Although Steward Luo was indeed very familiar with her mother’s diet and daily routine, she had no reason to do this, and moreover, she respected Mother Shen so much.

If it wasn’t Steward Luo, then who else could have complete control over Mother Shen’s diet?

In an instant, Shen Yao Xing had a bold idea, but she still felt something was off. Although she knew that the relationship between Song shi and Mother Shen was not very harmonious behind the scenes, it wouldn’t lead to poisoning, and it wouldn’t benefit him either.

Shen Yao Xing irritably scratched her head, the candlelight hurting her eyes.

Just as she was feeling troubled, there was suddenly a knock on the door of her bedroom. Shen Yao Xing was startled and turned her head: “Who is it?”

Qing Shu should be resting at this hour.

“It’s me.” The man’s gentle voice had a hint of ambiguity in the deep night.

Shen Yao Xing’s confusion deepened. She got up and went to open the door. The moonlight cast a cold color on the man’s body, his expression unclear in the face, only the area below his lips visible in the candlelight’s glow. His lips were slightly pursed, seeming not very happy.

“Big brother, why have you come over?”

At this late hour.