"Young Master Pei is quite knowledgeable in medicine, let's go take a look together."
Jiang Yu looked at Pei Zhi with a meaningful gaze, because Jiang Yu herself was not sure whether Pei Zhi had really told Qin Ke'er about the Qin family's affairs.
Pei Zhi didn't react; she sat there as if in a daze.
"Young Master Pei?"
Jiang Yu called Pei Zhi again, and Pei Zhi suddenly came to her senses, "What did the Empress Dowager just say?"
"I say you are quite knowledgeable in medicine. Come with me to see Miss Qin."
"I......"
Pei Zhi followed behind Jiang Yu, her palms sweating. How could this be? She clearly hadn't told Qin Ke'er about the Qin family, so how did Qin Ke'er know everything?
Upon arriving at the palace where Qin Ke'er and Sun Shu lived, Pei Zhi hesitated to step inside.
"Come in, Young Master Pei."
In the courtyard, the palace servants who came and went were all carrying out Mei Chu's instructions in an orderly manner. When they saw Jiang Yu arrive, they all knelt down and bowed. "Saving lives is the priority. There is no need for such formalities."
Hearing the commotion outside, Sun Shu ran out of the house. When she saw Pei Zhi, she could no longer contain her tension and rushed up to grab Pei Zhi's collar.
However, due to her extreme weakness, Sun Shu collapsed to the ground.
"Was it you? Was it you who told Ke'er about the Qin family?" Sun Shu's eyes were bloodshot, and her gaze was extremely fierce.
It's not necessarily true that Sun Shu and Qin Ke'er have a very deep friendship.
But now that they've both fallen on hard times, they've become so dependent on each other.
If Qin Ke'er were gone now, she would be the only noblewoman left in this vast Dayu Imperial Palace.
"Shu'er, I didn't."
"You didn't?" Sun Shu clearly didn't believe Pei Zhi's words. "You're the only one who's come to see us during this time. I was bedridden, and it was Ke'er who went to greet you. Did you talk to her about the Qin family in the courtyard?"
"Pei Zhi, how cruel you are."
"Shu'er, how could I tell Ke'er these things? Do you think I would force her to die?" The current situation made Pei Zhi begin to doubt whether she had told Qin Ke'er at all, and Pei Zhi's vision began to blur in waves.
"But she's already contemplating suicide!"
Sun Shu sat on the ground, panting heavily. "Pei Zhi, the Qin family... the patriarch is unconscious, and the young master and young lady are both in Dayu. Now you're forcing Ke'er to die, is it... that you want to take over the Qin family?"
Sun Shu's words made Pei Zhi's eyes narrow sharply.
"Shu'er..."
“Miss Sun, let Young Master Pei go in and check on Miss Qin first. Maybe he can save her.” Jiang Yu’s voice rang out at the right moment. “Granny Ling, go and help Miss Sun up.”
"Let her in? She's a murderer."
"Don't worry, Miss Sun, there's more than just Young Master Pei in the room."
Upon entering the house, the strong smell of blood made Pei Zhi frown uncomfortably.
"Young Master Pei has arrived." Mei Chu was writing a prescription for Qin Ke'er when the gauze wrapped around Qin Ke'er's wrist stung Pei Zhi's eyes. Pei Zhi stepped forward and checked Qin Ke'er's pulse; it was beating extremely weakly...
"Given her current condition, she's barely clinging to life. I'd say she's lucky; very few people who cut their wrists actually survive."
Mei Chu was already burdened with a lot of trouble, and this young lady from a prestigious family was adding to his problems.
Mei Chu naturally knew that only Pei Zhi had visited Qin Ke'er and Sun Shu recently. Her eyes narrowed slightly, and she spoke again, pretending to be casual, "How much hatred could there be between you two? You're just teenagers."
“I didn’t say that.”
Pei Zhi spoke again, emphasizing, "Let me see the prescription."
Mei Chu's prescription was naturally excellent. After reading it, Pei Zhi handed the prescription back without saying a word.
Pei Zhi stayed in the room with Qin Ke'er for a whole day. When she came out, Jiang Yu had already returned to Zhaoning Palace, and only Sun Shu was standing outside.
“I’m sure I didn’t say that.”
"Hmph, no villain ever admits to it first. Pei Zhi, I used to think you were a righteous person, but it turns out I, Sun Shu, misjudged you."
Sun Shu walked past Pei Zhi into the house. "From now on, all our past friendship is null and void. You can leave now, and you don't need to come here anymore."
Half an incense stick later.
"Miss, Young Master Pei has left."
Sun Shu had been standing outside for too long, and her face was deathly pale. She was unable to get out of bed.
"It's fine as long as you leave."
"Miss, are you sure it was Young Master Pei who said this?"
Upon hearing this, Sun Shu's eyes became inscrutable. "In all this time, only Pei Zhi has come. If it's not Pei Zhi, then who could it be? Nowadays, the Qin, Sun, and Gong families are all severely weakened. Even if it's not Pei Zhi, it's still related to the Pei family."
"Miss, what do you mean...?"
"The Pei family's act of sending festival gifts to other families is intriguing in itself."
Sun Shu closed her eyes wearily. These aristocratic families, sometimes they can eat people.
She herself was one of them.
......
After leaving the palace, Pei Zhi was distraught and went straight back to her courtyard upon returning home.
"Young Master, the Patriarch requests your presence."
"Ah Hao, I'm really too tired. Go tell Father that I'll go see her again first thing tomorrow morning."
Pei Zhi's mind was in complete turmoil. The image of Qin Ke'er lying on the bed, Sun Shu's questioning expression, and... Jiang Yu's meaningful gaze kept flashing before Pei Zhi's eyes.
"Young Master, this servant will go and report back to the Master immediately."
Fifteen minutes later, Ah Hao returned again, saying, "Young Master, the Patriarch says he must see you tonight."
Upon hearing this, Pei Zhi felt an urge to cry for some reason.
"I understand." Pei Zhi's voice already had a slight nasal tone.
Candlelight was still burning in Pei Jian's room.
"Father."
"I heard Qin Ke'er cut her wrists. You must have been here today, right?" Pei Jian asked Pei Zhi directly about Qin Ke'er's situation after they met.
Pei Zhi nodded upon hearing this, "Yes, I went there with the Empress Dowager of Dayu."
"How is she?"
"His life is not in immediate danger, but he remains unconscious."
During the half hour that Pei Zhi stayed with Pei Jian, the father and daughter mechanically exchanged questions and answers, and Pei Zhi gradually began to feel numb.
"Alright, it's getting late. Ah Hao said you're tired too, Zhi'er, go back and rest."
“Father, then I shall take my leave.”
Pei Zhi held on until she returned to her room, at which point her legs gave way and she collapsed to the ground.
"Young Master!"
"Okay, I'm a little tired and want to be alone for a while."
Only when Pei Zhi was the only one left in the room did she struggle to get up and walk to the bedside, her face already covered in tears.
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