Chapter 42

Chapter 42

Physician Huai hurriedly composed himself, then spoke in a low voice to Shen Si behind the bed curtains. “This young lady’s pulse is peculiar. Her qi is obstructed, with signs of damp heat and excessive internal fire.”

After a moment’s thought, he continued, “Ordinary excess liver fire would not produce such a pulse, nor would it make the body burn this intensely. In my opinion, she has likely been poisoned.”

Shen Si raised his cold, somber eyes. “What poison?”

Physician Huai considered the question carefully before answering, “Most likely a fire toxin.”

“But an ordinary fire toxin would not cause pain throughout the body.”

After pondering for a few moments, he added, “I once heard of an insect from the Western Regions called the Red Poison Bug. It carries an extremely potent venom and feeds on fire ants. Once bitten, a person rapidly develops a high fever and pain throughout the body. Only immersion in water can bring relief.”

“The Red Poison Bug’s venom can also rob its victims of their senses. Driven by the fever, the poisoned person will stop at nothing to throw themselves into water. The venom itself is not fatal. Soaking in water for an hour will purge most of it, though the victim may continue to suffer pain for several days. That is why most victims do not die from the poison itself, but from drowning.”

He stroked his beard. “Few people in the capital know of such creatures from the Western Regions.”

“Marquis, you may check whether this young lady has any bite marks. A bite from a Red Poison Bug will leave a conspicuous red swelling.”

Shen Si lowered his gaze to Ji Hanyi’s pale, delicate arm, which had been exposed by her restless struggling.

On the inside of her arm was a small patch of swollen red skin, with a tiny puncture clearly visible at its center.

He looked down at the woman in his arms with a complicated expression. There were no other women in Xie Yuheng’s inner residence, and she was merely a sheltered lady of the household. Who would use such a poison on her?

He asked, “Will soaking in water clear the remaining venom from her body?”

Physician Huai nodded repeatedly. “Rest assured, Marquis. It will.”

Only after Physician Huai left did Shen Si slightly loosen his hold. The woman in his arms immediately began squirming again.

Her soft, seemingly boneless fingers climbed onto his shoulder, and tears once more shimmered in her eyes. She seemed to be coaxing him, her cheek pressed against his chest and her fingertips clutching the fabric over his shoulder. Her hoarse cries for water were soft and weak.

Her hibiscus-pink dress cast a rosy glow over her cheeks, making her look as alluring and delicate as a fair spring day.

Shen Si lowered his head to look at Ji Hanyi. Her eyes were fixed on him, yet it seemed he was not the person she truly saw.

It was just like the year she had fallen into the water. When he pulled her out, she had looked at him in the same way — half coy and half seductive.

She had been nearly fourteen then, her figure already beginning to fill out. He had almost lost his reason over her. He had nearly resorted to every means at his disposal to destroy her marriage match with the Xie Family, yet the name she called was that of another man.

That day had been a nightmare for Shen Si.

And yet, to his bitter frustration, the memory of her alluring figure had refused to leave his mind after all these years.

He had never wanted to see her again.

He had avoided everything related to her, but in the end, she had effortlessly stirred up both his thoughts and the desire buried deep within him.

Shen Si took a deep breath and lowered his eyes, staring intently at the woman in his arms. His fingers tightened around her waist before the tension in his body finally escaped in a long sigh. Carrying her, he headed for the bathing chamber where the water had been prepared.

The bathing tub was enormous and filled to the brim.

Shen Si had only just set Ji Hanyi down and was about to leave to summon her maid when she plunged straight into the tub.

Water splashed loudly, soaking a large patch of Shen Si’s white robes. Droplets ran down his clothes and dripped from the hem.

In all his years, this was the first time anyone had managed to drench him like this.

A trace of helplessness crossed his face. When he lowered his head toward the tub, he saw Ji Hanyi leaning over its edge. Her long, silky hair clung to her cheeks as she raised her head, seemingly looking at him.

Droplets slid down her face and gathered at her chin, poised to fall. Her eyes remained hazy and innocent.

Her full red lips parted in a soft sigh, as though she had finally found relief. With her head tilted slightly back, she no longer complained of heat or pain, and even the feverish flush on her cheeks was gradually fading.

However, her loosened collar drifted with the rippling water, and creamy white skin showed through her thin inner robe. Shen Si abruptly closed his eyes, turned around, and left the bathing chamber.

Rongchun was summoned inside, but she did not dare glance around. Keeping her head lowered, she followed an older maid into the bathing chamber.

By the time Ji Hanyi regained some awareness, she learned that she had already been soaking in the water for an hour.

When Rongchun heard Ji Hanyi finally speak, she was so overjoyed that she burst into tears again. She then recounted everything that had just happened.

Ji Hanyi’s entire body was exhausted. She leaned against the edge of the tub with a hand pressed to her brow. When she heard that Shen Si had carried her back, her fingertips stilled slightly.
In truth, the moment she realized she could no longer control herself, she had used the last shred of her reason to head toward Shen Si’s courtyard.

Shen Si’s courtyard was the quietest place in the entire Shen Residence. Shen Si had always preferred peace and quiet, and the servants from the other courtyards would never dare venture there without good reason.

Deep down, she also trusted Shen Si. He was an honorable gentleman of lofty character. Though cold and distant, he would never stoop to dishonorable conduct.

Even if he refused to help her, he would not take advantage of her. At least with Shen Si, she still had a sliver of hope of protecting herself.

Fortunately, her gamble had paid off.

She simply hadn’t expected Shen Si to bring her into his courtyard. She had thought he would refuse to get involved.

Now that her mind was gradually clearing, she began to carefully piece together everything that had happened.

Li Mingrou must have done something to her. That was the only explanation for her strange behavior today.

Rongchun had also said that she kept calling for water. The plum grove was right beside the waterside pavilion, and Li Mingrou had invited her there. If she had gone and lost control of herself, then jumped into the water beside the pavilion, she could already imagine what would have happened.

The guests today weren’t limited to women of the inner household. Some of the men who had accompanied them were resting and chatting in the distance on the other side of the pavilion. If she had jumped into the water in full view of everyone, then even if she were rescued, those men would have seen her soaked through. Not only would her reputation have been ruined, but her entire family would have been too ashamed to hold their heads up. The Xie Family would have had her repudiated immediately, dissolving her marriage without the slightest hesitation.

For a young lady from a noble family, her reputation mattered more than life itself. The slightest rumor tinged with scandal was enough to destroy a woman’s entire life.

And an act as shocking as suddenly jumping into the water, with no regard for the decorum expected of a noblewoman, would have left her unable to hold her head up ever again.

Outside the room, Shen Si had changed into green robes and now stood by the door, listening to the report Wen’an had brought back from the front courtyard.

Wen’an lowered his voice. “The Xie Family seems to be looking for Young Madam Xie.”

“The Eldest Master of the Xie Family is also waiting at the rear gate of the inner courtyard. The banquet should be ending soon, so he is probably here to collect Young Madam Xie as well.”

Shen Si gazed coolly across the courtyard. As always, his eyes betrayed nothing of what he was thinking.

The medicine pot on the brazier beside the door burbled away, spreading the faint scent of medicinal herbs through the air. It had been a long time since such a scent had filled this courtyard.

All the maids had been sent away, leaving only an elderly matron waiting in the outer room to attend them. The vast courtyard was so quiet that even the sound of falling snow could be heard.

Wen’an couldn’t begin to guess what was on the Marquis’s mind. After a moment, he spoke again in a soft, respectful voice. “A matron from Her Majesty the Empress came by again just now to urge you to go. She said the Marquis was to make a trip to the East Warm Chamber off the main hall. Several noble young ladies are there as well…”

Shen Si glanced at Wen’an. His gaze was so frigid that Wen’an shuddered and immediately fell silent, retreating to one side.

Even after withdrawing, Wen’an couldn’t stop his thoughts from running wild. Just what was the Marquis waiting outside the door for?

He had clearly gone to the government offices early that morning, only to turn back midway.

Besides, the Marquis had never been one to meddle in other people’s affairs. If something did not concern him, he wouldn’t so much as lift an eyelid. Yet today…

His master undeniably treated the woman inside differently. Today, Wen’an had finally gotten a clear look at her, and her beauty was far more breathtaking than he had imagined.

At first, he had thought his master’s long drought had finally been blessed with rain and that the Old Madam and Her Majesty the Empress would soon have joyous news to celebrate. Who could have guessed that the woman inside was already married?

Heaven help him. Wen’an hardly dared think about what he had witnessed.

His master was as aloof and untouchable as a wintry pine beneath a cold moon, a man whose status was unrivaled in the capital. Yet the only woman he had ever treated differently was another man’s wife.

He had even carried her into the inner chamber, a place where he never allowed outsiders, and laid her on the bed he himself normally slept in.

That was his master’s bed — and his master was notoriously fastidious about cleanliness!

Wen’an would never dare breathe a word of this to anyone. Even if he did, no one would believe him.

Despite seeing it with his own eyes, even he found it hard to believe. Admittedly, in that fleeting glimpse, the woman had been extraordinarily beautiful — so beautiful that calling her a peerless beauty would be no exaggeration. Wen’an had seen his share of noble young ladies, but he had truly never encountered beauty quite like hers.

But no matter how beautiful she was, she was still married! He could only assume she had once saved his master’s life. Otherwise, there was simply no explaining any of this…

Shen Si stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his face cool and remote. Yet that flushed face kept resurfacing in his mind.

He frowned in faint irritation. Her scent still lingered in his nostrils, leaving his thoughts in a rare state of disarray.

He had even begun to worry about her position in the Xie Family.

Shen Si’s eyes chilled. Just then, a soft, delicate voice came from behind him.

“Lord Shen.”