He was poisoned

"It's poisoned."

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone in the room's expressions changed drastically, and they looked at Doctor Wang in panic.

Although Cheng Yayin had a premonition in her heart, she still couldn't suppress her shock when she got the conclusion, and a chill ran down her spine.

She tried her best to suppress the trembling of her teeth and asked in a calm voice, "Doctor Wang, do you know what poison he was poisoned with?"

Doctor Wang: "It is still impossible to draw a conclusion at this time. Madam, please tell me in detail the symptoms that Lord Pei has suffered from poisoning."

Cheng Yayin then described Pei Songsheng's dementia in detail. Doctor Wang paused for a moment and asked, "According to what Madam, after the poison took effect, Lord Pei mistook himself for someone in the book. May I ask if this is his favorite book?"

"That... I guess so." Because it involved Pei Songsheng's health, Cheng Yayin didn't dare hide anything from the doctor. Just as she was about to confess that she had written the letter, Doctor Wang revealed a look of enlightenment and said firmly, "I understand. Lord Pei was poisoned by the Soul-Separating Powder."

"Soul-Separation?"

Doctor Wang explained, "This poison originates from the Western Regions. Anyone who is poisoned by it will gradually lose their soul and mind, becoming trapped in their most sincere obsessions or deepest fears. Once the poison has completely seeped into their meridians and internal organs, they will lose their mind and become a madman, with no chance of ever regaining consciousness."

Cheng Yayin was horrified. "How could this happen? Is there a solution?"

Doctor Wang shook his head. "Soul-Separation Powder originates from the Western Regions. I don't know much about it. If I want to develop an antidote, it would be best if I could get a copy of it and study it carefully."

Cheng Yayin thought about it but had no clue. She said dejectedly, "But I don't know when and how he was poisoned. If someone tampered with his diet, it would be easy to investigate, but he and I eat the same food. How come he was poisoned and I am fine?"

"Madam, you don't know, the dangerous thing about this poison is that it doesn't have to be taken internally to be effective. Touching or smelling it can also have the same effect, which is why it's so difficult to guard against." Doctor Wang thought for a moment and said, "In my opinion, the poison must have been placed on something close to Lord Pei or something he uses frequently. Madam, you should immediately check all of Lord Pei's daily belongings."

He looked around and said, "But the poison should not be in this room, otherwise the lady would have been poisoned as well."

Cheng Yayin said in embarrassment: "To be honest, he and I don't sleep in the same room on weekdays. His bedroom is somewhere else."

Doctor Wang raised his eyebrows in surprise when he heard this. Cheng Yayin felt a little embarrassed, but she couldn't delay her work, so she took him to Pei Songsheng's bedroom at the other end of the courtyard.

Imperial Physician Wang was a frequent visitor to the palace. Apart from showing a little surprise at the beginning, he took out a silver needle from the medicine box as if nothing had happened and began to search around the room.

They checked everything from bedding to storage shelves, but found nothing unusual.

Cheng Yayin brought Doctor Wang to Pei Songsheng's study again, and this time she quickly discovered something was wrong - the problem was with the pen that Pei Songsheng usually used. As soon as the silver needle was placed on it, it quickly turned black.

Doctor Wang took a handkerchief and wrapped the pen, then held it under the lamp to examine it carefully.

It was a wolf-hair brush with a white jade handle. The jade was warm and smooth. When it was placed close to the candlelight, the part where the brush was usually held glowed with an abnormal luster, which made Cheng Yayin feel a chill in her heart.

Doctor Wang checked other places in the study and confirmed that the only problem was this pen. He carefully put it into his medicine box and said he would take it back to try to find out the ingredients of the Soul-Separation Powder attached to it.

Cheng Yayin asked him to stay, as there was another patient she needed him to see.

Cheng Yayin took him to Du Lanxin's place.

Du Lanxin was asleep. Doctor Wang took her pulse and said in a deep voice, "It is indeed the same poison that Lord Pei was poisoned with."

As expected, Cheng Yayin hurriedly asked, "Can she still be cured?"

Doctor Wang's expression was much more serious than when he was treating Pei Songsheng just now. He shook his head helplessly and said, "This girl has been poisoned for a long time. The poison has already penetrated her lungs. There is still no way to save her."

After going around in circles, she got the same result, and Cheng Yayin felt extremely disappointed.

When Doctor Wang was sent away, he saw her distraught look and said, "Madam, don't be discouraged. I will naturally do my best to come up with an antidote for Master Pei. However, there is a traitor hiding in the Pei Mansion, and Master Pei cannot catch the murderer himself. Everything depends on you, Madam."

Cheng Yayin naturally understood what he said and had already thought about it in her mind.

The first person she suspected was Jian Zhu.

She and Pei Songsheng had always slept in separate rooms since their marriage, a fact that couldn't be spread, so only their closest confidants were allowed into the inner courtyard. Lan Yue and Yi Xing couldn't possibly have murdered Pei Songsheng, and if anyone could stealthily manipulate Pei Songsheng, Jian Zhu was the first choice.

But she quickly dismissed this idea. If it were Jian Zhu, he could have been more secretive, leaving no physical evidence. And she also believed in Pei Songsheng; someone he trusted would never betray him.

After seeing off Doctor Wang, Cheng Yayin slowly walked back to the inner courtyard. The moonlight was dim tonight, the sky starless, and thick clouds obscured the moonlight, shrouding the entire sky in darkness.

Cheng Yayin thought about the murderer hiding in the thick fog, and about the poison Pei Songsheng had contracted, and a chill grew in her heart. That man had been so cruel, using a pen as a weapon, attempting to kill a prominent official.

He must have known that Pei Songsheng came from a distinguished family. If he rashly harmed his life, Imperial Tutor Pei would certainly not let it go and would pursue the case to the end. Therefore, he resorted to such a sinister method. If he succeeded, not only would Pei Songsheng no longer be able to investigate the case, but if it weren't for the Pei family's connection to Imperial Doctor Wang, who could have guessed that Pei Songsheng was murdered?

When Cheng Yayin thought that Pei Songsheng would lose all his sanity like Du Lanxin and be trapped in fear and pain forever, a surge of anger ignited in her heart.

The real culprit behind these disappearances is more complicated than originally thought.

I originally thought that he was just an ordinary person with some connections, but now it seems that he even knows the progress of cases that have not been heard by the Dali Temple. He can get strange poisons from the Western Regions and even plant people in the homes of court officials. He must be rich or noble, and even have connections with the officialdom.

But now Pei Songsheng, who was able to discuss the identity of the murderer with her, had fallen into the other party's trap and it was unknown when he would wake up.

Cheng Yayin was still lost in thought as she watched Pei Songsheng sleeping on the couch. Across the room, Jian Zhu, after receiving a diagnosis from Imperial Physician Wang, was already blaming herself. She sobbed, "It's all my fault. If I had been more attentive, you wouldn't have been so foolishly harmed. If anything happens to you, I, Jian Zhu, will just find a rope and hang myself."

Cheng Yayin scolded lightly: "Nonsense, your master is not beyond saving, why are you saying such depressing words?"

Jian Zhu realized that he had said something wrong, so he slapped his lips, wiped his tears and said nothing.

Cheng Yayin continued, "You've always been the only one serving him. Do you have any idea who could have tampered with his paper and pen?"

Jian Zhu: "When the Master is at his desk, it's true that I'm the only one serving him with his writing brush and ink. However, there are quite a few people involved in the purchase, storage, replacement, and cleaning of the mansion's stationery. Besides, the inner courtyard isn't always guarded, so it's not impossible for a determined thief to sneak into the study and poison it."

If that's the case, it might be difficult to investigate. Cheng Yayin sighed, sat down at the table wearily, and leaned her forehead in thought.

At this point, letting Pei Songsheng fall asleep was not a solution, so he asked Yixing to extinguish the incense burner.

Jian Zhu looked at Pei Songsheng lying on the bed, then at Cheng Yayin sitting at the table, and asked if he wanted him to move the adult back to her room so that she could rest.

Cheng Yayin said quietly, "No need, go and rest by yourself, you will be busy later." She was afraid that Pei Songsheng would wake up if he moved, and she really didn't have the energy to deal with him tonight.

Jian Zhu looked at Pei Songsheng worriedly, but this was the lady's bedroom, so it was really inconvenient for him to stay any longer, so he had to go downstairs.

Cheng Yayin planned to spend the night on the chaise longue in the outer room. Lanyue brought a mattress and made it for her, saying, "The Imperial Physician Wang we met tonight also treated you three years ago."

Cheng Yayin was quite surprised and asked suspiciously, "How could that be? Did you make a mistake?"

This incident happened suddenly, and she didn't have time to make arrangements before inviting Doctor Wang to come. Lan Yue and Yi Xing both saw Doctor Wang's face, so there was no need to worry about them leaking it, but she didn't expect her to say that.

Three years ago, she was seriously ill and on the verge of death. Her father went around seeking famous doctors. During that period, there were at least eighty doctors who came into the Cheng residence. There must have been one among them who looked like Doctor Wang, so Lan Yue made a mistake.

Unexpectedly, Yixing also swore, "It's true. I remember him too. His temperament is very special, so I would never have mistaken him. I just didn't expect him to be the imperial physician."

Why would Doctor Wang treat her when she has no relatives or friends? Is it because of his father's connections?

But if that was the case, why didn't he show any clues when he met Doctor Wang just now, as if he was seeing her for the first time.

Cheng Yayin was confused, but even more tired. She put all this behind her and planned to ask her father next time she got home, so she fell asleep on the neatly made chaise longue.

The chaise longue was not as comfortable as a bed. Cheng Yayin did not sleep well and woke up very early.

Perhaps because he was too busy recently, Pei Songsheng slept for a long time and only woke up when he heard the sound of orioles singing outside.

The moment he opened his eyes, Cheng Yayin still held a glimmer of hope in her heart, maybe the person who woke up was Pei Songsheng?

But seeing his eyes change from confusion to clarity, and then to undisguised tenderness when he looked at her, she knew it was impossible and couldn't help but sigh secretly.

Doctor Wang had specifically warned Pei Songsheng before leaving last night that, while his condition was caused by poisoning, it was like common hysteria and he couldn't tolerate any stimulation. In other words, Cheng Yayin would have to repeat this play of playing house with him, disguised as a character from a book.

After all, it was the second time, so Cheng Yayin was no longer as flustered as before. She quickly adjusted her mood, looked up and gave Pei Songsheng a bright smile, "Husband, you're awake."

Pei Songsheng sat up, rubbed his solar plexus, and said, "Give me the medicine."

Cheng Yayin: ...? !

It turned out that Pei Songsheng was crazy, not stupid, and this method certainly could not be hidden from him.

She was about to explain that it was just an ordinary calming incense, but Pei Songsheng suddenly approached, grabbed her wrist and pulled her in front of him, grinning evilly and saying, "But you just let me sleep. As expected, you just can't bear to hurt me."

Cheng Yayin: “…”

She watched Pei Songsheng put on an expression with a face as clear as the breeze and bright as the moon, saying, "Woman, I knew you had fallen in love with me a long time ago." The corners of his lips twitched slightly, and his throat felt like it was filled with lard, and he couldn't utter a word.

It wasn't until Pei Songsheng came over and pretended to kiss her that she suddenly pushed him away and raised her palm to block him. "Stop, I have something serious to tell you."

Pei Songsheng looked at her leisurely.

Cheng Yayin said solemnly, "Someone in this family wants to harm you."

Unexpectedly, Pei Songsheng didn't show any surprise at all. He nodded and said, "I know."

"You know?"

"That's you."

“…”

Pei Songsheng took her hand that was blocking them, and moved closer to her with a smile. He put her hand against his cheek and rubbed it coquettishly while talking. "But you can't bear to kill me. Your heart is as soft as your mouth. You won't really kill me."

Cheng Yayin felt that she really wanted to kill now.