Sima Han saw this and kicked the door open.
As everyone walked in, they didn't linger and directly pushed open the door to the east wing room. Upon entering, they saw Zheng, dressed in black, holding Shen Xiaoyan, clad in a bright red robe, on the bed.
Yue Qingxin, filled with worry, was the first to reach the bedside. She stood there, stiff as a board.
Sima Han, following closely behind Yue Qingxin, glanced at her with a hint of surprise before turning his gaze to the bed. The sight there stunned him into silence.
What had happened to Shen Xiaoyan?
The people behind them looked at the two with confusion. Why were they both reacting so strangely?
Shen Xiaoming, who was walking last, felt a bit awkward about entering his brother-in-law's room so early in the morning.
However, the people ahead of him had entered the room and remained silent, which made Shen Xiaoming puzzled.
Normally, Brother Yizixie or Brother Taobao would have relentlessly teased his brother-in-law, right?
Why were they both speechless upon seeing them embracing?
Suddenly, Shen Xiaoming felt an unprecedented sense of dread.
Shaking off his thoughts, Shen Xiaoming bypassed the others and hurried to the bedside.
But seeing Shen Xiaoyan with her eyes tightly closed, her face pale, and her chest seemingly still, Shen Xiaoming felt the sky and earth crumble.
"Big Sister~"
He uttered the word feebly, and all his strength seemed to vanish with it.
He swayed a few times and finally slumped to the ground, soft as mud.
Before Lu Taobao, who was by his side, could help him up, he was already crawling towards the bed.
Propped on the edge of the bed, Shen Xiaoming's face was streaked with tears as he choked out, "Brother-in-law, what's wrong with Big Sister?"
Seeing Shen Xiaoming like this, Zheng felt an unbearable pain in his heart.
Perhaps this was the bond between siblings?
Shen Xiaoming's reaction was so strong just seeing Shen Xiaoyan unconscious.
Pressing his lips together, Zheng forced himself to calm down.
After a long while, Zheng finally spoke, "I don't know what's wrong with her..."
Shen Xiaoming stared at Zheng in shock, exclaiming, "How could..."
How could he not know what was wrong with his sister?
Weren't they together the whole time?
Seeing the disbelief on Shen Xiaoming's face, Zheng's eyes were filled with bitterness.
Even he didn't believe his own words.
Because Shen Xiaoyan had collapsed right in front of him.
And it had happened without any warning.
Yizixie furrowed his brows, looking from Shen Xiaoyan to Zheng, his expression growing serious. "You should put her on the bed first. Holding her like this isn't a solution."
Although he was unwilling to let go of Shen Xiaoyan, Zheng knew he couldn't just stand there doing nothing, holding her.
With Yue Qingxin's help, Shen Xiaoyan was gently laid on the bed.
Looking at Shen Xiaoyan lying on the bed, so still.
Her peaceful face seemed to tell everyone that she was merely asleep.
But how could she have fallen asleep like this?
Waiting a little longer, Yue Qingxin finally couldn't bear it any longer and asked, "What exactly happened?"
Hearing the question again, everyone's eyes turned to Zheng, waiting for an answer.
Zheng clenched his fists, his fingernails digging into his flesh. Blood dripped from between his fingers onto the floor.
Yet, he felt nothing. Only in this way could he maintain his composure.
"She was fine when she woke up, but as she was about to get out of bed, she collapsed without any warning, and her face instantly changed like this."
Hearing Zheng's explanation, everyone was a bit taken aback. Was it that simple?
Yizixie pondered for a moment before asking, "Did she show any prior signs? Or were there any unusual circumstances?"
Zheng looked surprised, thought for a moment, then shook his head painfully. "No."
"This is strange. Without any warning, how could she suddenly faint?"
Yizixie muttered to himself and walked towards the exit.
Seeing Yizixie like this, Namuchong glanced worriedly at Shen Xiaoyan and followed him out.
The two walked one after another, all the way to the entrance of the Shian Courtyard. Namuchong then quickened her pace and stood before Yizixie.
"What are you thinking about?"
Yizixie shook his head innocently and said, "I'm just wondering why Shen Xiaoyan is like this."
Namuchong stepped forward, grabbed Yizixie by the ear, and said, "You can fool others with this, but you can't fool me... Tell me, do you know something? Or have you thought of something?"
As soon as Namuchong finished speaking, she felt a gust of wind pass by her ear.
Then, she looked at her hand and found it empty.
She was still wondering where Yizixie's ear had gone when she heard Zheng say urgently, "You really know? Tell me quickly."
Following the sound, she saw Yizixie being held by Zheng, his feet off the ground, dangling in the air.
Looking at Zheng's face, Namuchong couldn't help but shudder.
She had never seen Zheng like this before.
It was truly terrifying.
Yizixie, suspended in mid-air, had no control over his body.
He tried to move, but found that his body only swayed back and forth.
Seeing this, Yizixie felt both amused and helpless.
In all his years, this was the first time he had been hung up like this.
The only thing he hadn't experienced yet was probably being beaten while suspended.
Just looking at Zheng's face, he suspected that if he didn't explain the reason, he would soon experience that too.
Concerned for Shen Xiaoyan's safety, Zheng had no regard for anything else.
Seeing Yizixie's prolonged silence, he grew more anxious. "What do you know?"
Hearing this, Yizixie's eyes widened in alarm as he looked at Zheng. He could hear a choked sob in Zheng's voice.
It was understandable, after all, lying on the bed in the room, her life and death unknown, was his beloved.
After a moment of consideration, Yizixie sighed. "Put me down, and I'll tell you slowly."
Hearing this, Zheng immediately put Yizixie down, so quickly that Yizixie was almost on the ground the moment he finished speaking.
This gave Yizixie a fleeting illusion that he hadn't been suspended at all.
He shook his head, dispelling the thought from his mind, and looked at Zheng sternly.
"I discovered someone else's spiritual imprint on Shen Xiaoyan, or rather, within her. Her current coma is likely related to this spiritual imprint. She seems to be fighting against it."
After speaking, Yizixie hesitated for a moment before continuing, "That's why I asked you if Shen Xiaoyan had been acting any differently before."
Zheng recalled carefully. Shen Xiaoyan had been perfectly normal, with no unusual behavior.
"Or, is there anything she didn't have before, but obtained recently?"
Yizixie's question gave Zheng a jolt.
If there was something she obtained recently, it could only be the bracelet given by that old man.
Clearly, Yizixie and Namuchong had also thought of this. The three exchanged glances.
Could Shen Xiaoyan's current condition be related to that old man who was addicted to alcohol?
But why would that old man do this?
They had only met for the first time. There was no need for such a drastic action, even if it was for a drink.
Although they couldn't figure out the reason, they had a suspect. Now, they didn't need to wait around idly at home.
The first priority was to find that muddled old man.
"But, where do we find that old man..."
Namuchong's voice was very soft, as if afraid of disturbing Zheng and Yizixie, who were lost in thought.
However, even though they were thinking, they clearly heard Namuchong's words.
Yizixie looked at Namuchong with amusement. This girl could also be so cautious.
Zheng, on the other hand, gnashed his teeth.
If that damned old man could never be found, so be it. But if he found him, he would make him pay.
At the same time, far away from the imperial capital, two old men sat by the river, leisurely drinking wine.
One of these two was that muddled old man.
"Achoo!"
The old man sneezed three times in a row, which amused the elder sitting next to him. "You didn't steal this wine from somewhere, did you? Is the owner scolding you right now?"
The old man's face turned stern. "I told you, this is a gift from my little disciple. How could it be stolen?"
The elder laughed heartily. "You? You can even take a disciple? And have such good wine? It's unlikely. She's probably just another little drunkard..."
The old man snorted proudly. "You're just jealous. Just wait, when there's an opportunity, I'll let you meet her, and then you'll envy me."
The elder smiled faintly. "Then I shall indeed wait."
"Huh?"
Seeing the muddled old man's expression change, the elder asked curiously, "What's wrong?"
The old man shook his head dejectedly. "Didn't I give my bracelet to my little disciple? I left a spiritual imprint on it so I could find her later. But just now, I discovered that the spiritual imprint has disappeared. This is truly strange. Could my little disciple be a master of concealment?"