“I have a question!”

Everyone’s gaze turned in unison.

Pei Yu cleared his throat, thinking: What, can’t Imperial Physician Pei ask questions? Who made that rule?

“The lady and Third Madam—no matter how I applied needles, they wouldn’t wake up. Why did they both suddenly wake up at once? Does it have something to do with the Yin Realm?”

“I don’t know!”

Yan Sanhe answered crisply.

“I also have a question.”

Everyone’s gaze turned in unison.

Young Master Pei cleared his throat, thinking: What, can’t I ask questions? Who made that rule?

“Why were the ones who fainted the lady and Third Madam, and not others?”

Last time, Second Madam could be explained by pregnancy and a weak constitution, but Madam Mao and Third Madam didn’t fit that pattern, did they?

Especially Third Madam—her vitality was stronger than his own. She could cry for ages without getting winded.

“I don’t know either!”

The answer was even more direct.

Yan Sanhe truly didn’t know. This heart demon had been strange from the very beginning, completely different from all the heart demons she’d resolved before.

“Can I ask a question?”

Xie Zhifei’s voice also sounded weak. “Yan Sanhe, why did I faint?”

You?

Yan Sanhe’s gaze shifted. “Imperial Physician Pei, what was Xie Zhifei’s pulse like?”

Pei Yu: “The pulse seemed normal, just a bit weak.”

Li Buyan blurted out: “Wasn’t it because of heart palpitations?”

Hearing this, Xie Zhifei’s sharp gaze swept toward Pei Xiao like a blade: You told her?

Pei Xiao looked bewildered.

Did I say something?

When did I say it?

I don’t remember.

Xie Zhifei silently ground his back teeth, thinking he’d settle accounts with this kid later.

At this moment, Pei Yu walked up to Xie Zhifei and took his pulse again for a while.

“It’s not because of heart palpitations. Heart palpitations don’t produce this pulse pattern. I’ve been treating Chengyu’s constitution since he was young—I can’t be wrong.”

The pulse was normal, yet he still fainted, and it wasn’t because of Boss Zhu.

Then why?

Everyone stared at Yan Sanhe.

Yan Sanhe wanted to know the reason more than anyone. After a pause, she said: “Describe how you fainted.”

Xie Zhifei composed his expression. “As soon as I stepped through the threshold, I felt the world spinning, then everything went black and I knew nothing.”

Yan Sanhe’s expression changed. “Zhu Yuanmo, are there still formations in this residence?”

“Miss Yan.”

Zhu Yuanmo quickly explained: “All the formations have been removed. I can swear to heaven.”

“Then why does Xie Zhifei’s experience sound so similar to mine yesterday?”

“This…”

Zhu Yuanmo was stumped.

Xie Zhifei: “Brother Zhu, it really was very similar to Yan Sanhe’s. The moment I crossed the threshold, something was immediately wrong.”

Zhu Yuanmo’s brows furrowed tightly. “Imperial Physician Pei, how is Third Master’s blood vitality?”

Pei Yu stroked his beard: “He’s a young man with a virgin body—naturally his blood vitality is robust.”

Xie Zhifei’s blade-like gaze swept toward Pei Xiao again: Can’t your father avoid mentioning “virgin body” in front of Yan Sanhe?

Young Master Pei was bewildered again: How is this my fault too?

“Then there’s only one possibility.”

Zhu Yuanmo: “Third Master’s soul and spirit are shallow.”

Li Buyan: “What does that mean?”

Pei Xiao: “What does that mean?”

Xie Zhifei: “What does that mean?”

Three voices shouted almost simultaneously. Zhu Yuanmo pulled out a handkerchief to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead before speaking:

“My formation was designed to ward off malevolent forces. ‘Malevolent’ means fierce and evil. To ward off malevolence, fierceness, and evil, the formation itself must be more fierce and evil, or it can’t suppress them.”

“Oh my…”

Young Master Pei felt his head ache. “Brother Zhu, can you speak in plain language?”

“In plain language…”

Zhu Yuanmo glanced at Xie Zhifei.

“Though the formation has been removed, the malevolent energy I deployed when setting it up remains. Ordinary people can’t sense this energy, but those with shallow souls and spirits will feel it. Third Master’s birth date is…”

“July fifteenth,” Young Master Pei blurted out.

“No wonder. For those born on the fifteenth of the seventh month, if they’re not ghost fetuses, their souls and spirits will be somewhat shallow.”

Zhu Yuanmo pulled three copper coins from his pocket, tossed them on the table, then rapidly moved his five fingers.

Suddenly, he stopped.

He looked up, eyes narrowed. “Third Master had a serious illness nine years ago and nearly reached death’s door?”

Young Master Pei nodded emphatically. “Yes, yes, yes! My father worked to save him for three days and nights. He nearly didn’t make it.”

“Not only is his soul shallow, but his spirit is also faint.”

Zhu Yuanmo sighed softly. “If Third Master doesn’t believe me, just step outside the Zhu residence and see how you feel.”

Could such a thing be possible?

Xie Zhifei found it strange. “Zhu Qing, carry me to the side gate.”

Zhu Qing entered, crouched before Xie Zhifei, and Xie Zhifei climbed onto his back.

Zhu Yuanmo looked toward Yan Sanhe on the bed, respectfully saying: “Miss Yan, please rest a moment. I’ll accompany Third Master to test this.”

Yan Sanhe closed her eyes wearily. “Go ahead!”

Xie Zhifei, lying on Zhu Qing’s back, reached out to pat Li Buyan: “Hero Li, come along too!”

Who are you to order me around?

Li Buyan was about to retort when she saw Xie Zhifei’s sharp gaze fixed on her, then glancing lightly at the bed.

Li Buyan finally realized—from the guest courtyard to the side gate and back would take at least half an hour.

This half hour was precious to Yan Sanhe.

“Let’s go!”

Li Buyan casually put her hand on Pei Yu’s shoulder. “Imperial Physician Pei, you come too.”

What kind of behavior is this!

What kind of servant girl acts like this?

Pei Yu’s old face flushed bright red.

…

The group hurried to the side gate.

Zhu Qing stepped through the threshold and bent down to set Third Master down.

The instant Xie Zhifei’s feet touched the ground, strangely enough, all the dizziness and weakness vanished completely.

He swung his fist—he felt like he could kill a young tiger with one punch.

This was truly bizarre.

Xie Zhifei stepped back through the threshold.

Dizzy!

Dizzy!

Dizzy!

Xie Zhifei was so frightened he quickly retreated, looking at Zhu Yuanmo with some confusion.

Thinking Xie Zhifei still didn’t believe him, Zhu Yuanmo said: “Which year were you born, Third Master? Let me calculate in detail for you.”

“No need, no need!”

Xie Zhifei’s face turned deathly pale. If they calculated further, even the secret that he wasn’t actually Third Master Xie might be exposed.

“I do have a shallow soul and faint spirit. Every year on my birthday, my family invites monks and Taoists.”

“Even after all these years, it still hasn’t been suppressed.”

Young Master Pei rummaged in his pocket and pulled out a yellow talisman, forcibly stuffing it into Xie Zhifei’s hand.

“Take this for now. Later I’ll have an eminent monk copy some soul-calming scriptures for you. After today’s ordeal, your soul and spirit are even weaker.”

Xie Zhifei: “…”

It wasn’t that they were still weak—it was that the inner essence had been replaced with a different person.

This body was Third Master Xie’s body, but the soul was Zheng Huaizuo’s soul. Even after nine years, the body and soul hadn’t perfectly merged.

Therefore, encountering the malevolent energy left by the formation, Zheng Huaizuo’s soul—which shouldn’t exist in this world—couldn’t withstand such intense malevolent force and lost consciousness.

“So I can’t enter the Zhu residence anymore?”