Chapter 8: Unreasonable Entanglement

Shen Yishu had never expected such an outcome. Anxious, he demanded, "Then why hasn't my mother woken up yet?"

Physician Zhou pondered for a moment before replying, "Although the old lady is currently out of immediate danger, she suffered from a heart ailment years ago. This collapse is likely a recurrence of that old condition. I shall prescribe a few doses of medicine; have her take them after she wakes from her slumber."

Hearing this, Shen Yishu flared with anger. "Dou Shi, my mother was perfectly healthy before! How could she have a heart ailment? Is this how you’ve been taking care of her?"

Dou Hongyan, truly exhausted by his unreasonable clamor, retorted coldly, "I, too, would like to know whose death caused Mother to weep for seven days and seven nights until her heart gave out and she collapsed, requiring a century-old ginseng to pull her back from the brink of death."

Shen Yishu’s face turned deathly pale in an instant. His lips trembled, and he could not utter a single word.

He knew, of course, who that person was.

That person was standing in this very room, accusing others of harming his mother, never realizing that it was he himself who had caused her harm.

Physician Zhou, having climbed the ranks in the Imperial Medical Academy, was a man of extreme shrewdness. He caught on immediately. Maintaining a calm expression, he remarked, "So the old lady's heart condition was that severe. I failed to detect it during my pulse reading just now; it must be because of your meticulous care over the years that she has recovered so well. As for this current episode, it must have been triggered by a major shock. Could you tell me what happened, so I may prescribe the right medicine?"

Shen Yishu instantly recalled his own demand for a divorce. However, he was not foolish enough to air his family’s dirty laundry in front of an outsider. Moreover, Physician Zhou was a man of the palace; if it reached the palace that he had shocked his mother into a fainting spell on his very first day back at the manor, not only would his reputation be ruined, but his prospects of inheriting the Marquis title would be finished as well.

Dou Hongyan, knowing that Physician Zhou was merely fishing for information for his masters, replied indifferently, "Mother was simply overwhelmed with joy upon learning that her son was not dead."

Physician Zhou was now certain of Shen Yishu’s identity. He said gravely, "I see. With such a heart condition, the old lady must avoid extreme joy or sorrow. Remember, she must not be agitated again, or even the gods themselves would be unable to save her!"

The expressions of both Shen Yishu and Liu Xin’er shifted at once.

One thought: *My mother is actually this ill...*

The other thought: *Does this mean there is no way to divorce Dou Hongyan?*

Liu Xin’er, in her haste, spoke without thinking: "Didn't you just say that Mother was in no great danger? How is it that she is now on the verge of death?"

Physician Zhou, like any medical professional, possessed a measure of pride, especially those from the Imperial Medical Academy. Having served for many years—even treating the Emperor without ever being questioned—his face darkened instantly. "In that case, do not bother coming to the Imperial Medical Academy to request my services again."

With that, he gathered his medical kit and swept out of the room.

Dou Hongyan signaled to Liuyun, who hurriedly followed to present the physician with a generous red envelope. Physician Zhou accepted it, of course; his outburst had been purely for show, but he would never dare slight Dou Hongyan.

Still, his top priority was to return and report the events at the Marquis manor to his master. Though word had already begun to circulate from the manor, he could not afford to remain silent, lest his own life be at risk.

"Physician Zhou..." Shen Yishu snapped back to reality, but the physician was already far away. He glared at Liu Xin’er; this was a vital connection to the palace.

Liu Xin’er felt even more wronged. Biting her lip, she whispered, "I was only concerned for Mother. I didn't think the physician would have such a foul temper... Sister, is he truly from the Imperial Medical Academy?"

Shen Yishu realized then that although the physician hadn't made it obvious, his words had subtly shielded Dou Hongyan throughout. He had even exaggerated his mother’s condition. It felt like a ploy by Dou Hongyan to avoid being divorced. Yet, he did not believe she possessed the cunning to make an imperial physician play along with her performance.

Meeting Shen Yishu’s suspicious gaze, Dou Hongyan sneered, "Do you suspect I hired someone to impersonate a royal physician? Use your head before you speak. You should know that impersonating a government official is a capital crime punishable by the execution of one's entire clan."

Shen Yishu immediately shut his mouth, swallowing his accusations.