The room was filled only with the sound of Leng Yecheng's gradually deepening, even breaths.
Su Wan stood still, the coolness in her fingertips slowly fading, replaced by a kind of ignited, calm excitement. Like a top predator encountering prey worth going all out for.
His final warning had been icy and direct, tearing away all pretense of tenderness and laying the bare essence of their transaction out before her.
Good. This made things simpler.
Su Wan walked back to the bedside, her gaze falling on his profile, once again deep in sleep. Now, all his sharpness was收敛 (sheathed), leaving only a sickly pallor and exhaustion. But Su Wan would no longer be deceived by this appearance. Within this seemingly weak body slept an incredibly sharp and dangerous lion.
She needed to gain the initiative faster. And the initiative was built on a complete understanding of his condition.
Without further hesitation, Su Wan cleansed her hands again and reopened her acupuncture case. This time, the needles she took out were longer and thinner.
She needed to perform a deeper探查 (probing) to confirm whether that strange sensation of toxic stagnation was just her imagination and to understand its specific connection to his brain injury.
Her fingertips gently brushed aside the slightly damp black hair on his forehead, locating the acupoints.
Baihui (DU20), Fengchi (GB20), Shenmen (HT7), Zusanli (ST36)… One by one, the silver needles were accurately inserted, twirled, or lifted, her technique complex and ancient. Any seasoned traditional medicine master present would be astonished by this long-lost "Lingshu Pulse Probing" technique.
Su Wan was fully focused, her mental energy highly concentrated. Through the subtle sensations at her fingertips and the extremely faint feedback transmitted through the needles, she perceived every slight flow and blockage of his qi, blood, and nerves.
Time passed quietly.
Finally, as the last needle was placed at his Taichong point (LR3), Su Wan's brows were彻底锁紧 (tightly locked).
It wasn't her imagination.
There truly was an extremely hidden, cold-natured neurotoxin lurking deep within his meridians and brain. This toxin was insidious. It wasn't directly fatal but slowly eroded the nervous system, amplifying emotional fluctuations, inducing mania and depression, ultimately destroying a person's mind不知不觉 (imperceptibly), driving them either to madness or into a true vegetative state.
The poisoner's methods were highly sophisticated, and they clearly didn't want him dead immediately, but rather to make him suffer, to slowly and irreversibly崩溃 ("collapse") "naturally."
Leng Yecheng's previous "vegetative" state was likely largely caused by this toxin, not merely the head trauma. That attack might have just provided the perfect opportunity to administer the poison and cover it up.
What made Su Wan's heart pound even more was that there seemed to be another force within him—or perhaps his own powerful will and physical constitution—constantly fighting against this toxin on instinct, containing most of its destructive power below a certain threshold. This was what allowed him to retain the possibility of awakening and even erupt with such astonishing strength and insight at critical moments.
This was a man with a will of iron.
Su Wan slowly removed the needles, already formulating a preliminary treatment plan in her mind. Detoxification was key, but the process had to be extremely cautious. Otherwise, toxin backlash or violent reactions during the cleansing process could cause secondary damage.
She needed several special medicinal herbs.
After writing the prescription, Su Wan noticed Leng Yecheng's breathing seemed smoother than before, and the tight frown on his brow had eased slightly. The Lingshu technique, though primarily for probing, also had a certain soothing and regulating effect.
She tucked him in, her movements inadvertently carrying a doctor's professional gentleness towards a patient.
Just then, the bedroom door was knocked on gently.
"Young Master, Young Madam, the Madam has ordered some ginseng soup to be sent over." It was the butler, Zhong Shu's voice, respectful but carrying a trace of barely perceptible scrutiny.
Su Wan's eyes sharpened. She quickly closed the acupuncture case and shoved it under the bed, simultaneously rubbing her eyes fiercely to make them slightly red. Instantly, she put on an expression of weakness mixed with a hint of惶然无措 (panicked helplessness).
She took a deep breath before speaking softly. "Please come in."
Zhong Shu entered with a tray. His eyes swept the room quickly and precisely, glancing over the Young Master who seemed "still asleep," finally landing on the "Young Madam" with reddened eyes, seemingly on the verge of tears yet forcing herself to appear composed.
"Young Madam, you've had a hard time," Zhong Shu said, placing the soup on the table, his tone soothing. "The Young Master is under divine protection; he will surely recover. You must take care of your health as well."
"Thank you, Zhong Shu," Su Wan lowered her head, her voice thin and slightly choked. "I... I will take good care of my husband."
Zhong Shu nodded, took another look at Leng Yecheng, and then bowed and retreated.
The moment the door closed, the weak expression vanished from Su Wan's face, her eyes turning cool again.
This butler was no simple man. That seemingly concerned glance was actually assessing Leng Yecheng's condition and evaluating her, the new "Young Madam."
The Leng family was indeed a place where every step was fraught with danger.
She walked to the table, looked at the bowl of steaming ginseng soup, her eyes flickering. Out of professional habit, she下意识地 (subconsciously) gave it a light sniff.
Ginseng, astragalus, wolfberries... all good nourishing ingredients.
But... there seemed to be an extremely faint, discordant sweet smell, cleverly masked by the strong medicinal aroma.
Su Wan's eyes turned cold instantly.
She picked up the bowl, walked to the potted plant by the window, and without hesitation, poured the entire contents into it.
Regardless of who ordered this soup sent, or who it was intended for, until the situation was clear, anything entering this room had to pass her inspection.
She turned around, looked at Leng Yecheng sleeping peacefully on the bed, and a cold curve appeared at the corner of her mouth.
"Leng Yecheng, you see," she murmured to herself, as if speaking to a partner. "There are quite a few people who want you dead. It seems our deal needs an upgrade."
She didn't just need him awake; she needed him alive.
And this covert war surrounding the position of the Leng family head, due to her arrival, was destined to create even greater waves.