On her wedding night, she went into exile with her pharmacy arsenal

Chapter 2219 The Three-Party Alliance

Yan Ruyu's tightly furrowed brows suddenly twitched, and her gaze fell on the mushrooms stained with medicinal juice. It was as if a ray of light suddenly pierced through the fog in her mind.

Medicinal cuisine, mushrooms, wine... these three seemingly isolated words are now rapidly linked together in her mind.

Before Lady Cao fell ill, she first took medicinal food, drank chicken soup with mushrooms at noon, and drank wine in the evening, which caused her condition to deteriorate rapidly.

The students who fell ill at the academy had all consumed medicinal cuisine and then drank alcohol. She had previously thought the problem was entirely due to the alcohol, but she overlooked another crucial factor—whether those students had also come into contact with this type of fungus.

The fact that the First Madam had never experienced any adverse effects despite taking medicinal diets for a long time, yet fell into a coma today after drinking chicken soup containing bacteria, is no coincidence.

"So that's how it is. This mushroom is actually a switch." Yan Ruyu murmured to herself, her eyes gradually clearing.

She immediately got up again and took several core medicinal herbs from the medicinal diet sample for retesting.

This time, the change happened suddenly.

Individual mushrooms are non-toxic, individual medicinal dishes are non-toxic, and individual teas and snacks are even more non-toxic. However, when these three come together, they will produce a potent toxin, and this toxin is extremely insidious. If alcohol is added, it is simply an accelerator.

"How vicious, how cunning." Yan Ruyu's gaze turned cold, and she tapped her fingertips lightly on the testing table. "Looking at any one of them, you can't find any problems. Even if someone thinks something is amiss, they can't produce a single piece of evidence."

The medicinal food shop provides non-toxic medicinal dishes, the fresh produce shop sells harmless mushrooms, and the teahouse or tavern serves ordinary tea. These three seemingly unrelated shops actually form a deadly poison chain in secret.

Big Yellow seemed to sense her emotions, and obediently lay down at her feet, its tail gently brushing the ground.

Yan Ruyu bent down and gently patted its head. The soft fur soothed her tense nerves slightly. "Thanks to you, otherwise I would have been wandering around in a dead end for a while."

She exited the space and meticulously recorded the test results. Then, she went through all the case files she had previously compiled, categorizing and organizing the patients' symptoms, their diet before the onset of illness, and the severity of their conditions. She then devised treatment plans for mild and severe cases, marking each step in great detail.

The sky outside the courtyard had completely darkened, and a crescent moon hung in the dark blue sky, casting a cool, clear light.

The lanterns under the eaves were already lit, their orange glow dispelling some of the darkness and illuminating the bluestone path in the courtyard with a faint light.

Huo Changhe was standing under the corridor waiting, his figure as upright as a pine tree. When he saw Yan Ruyu come out, he immediately went to greet her.

"How is it? Any results?" His tone was somewhat urgent, his gaze fixed on the brocade pouch in her hand.

Yan Ruyu nodded, walked to the stone table under the corridor and sat down. She took out the paper from the brocade bag and spread it out: "The problem is not the medicinal food, nor the tea, nor even the mushrooms alone, but the combination of the three."

She pointed to the paper recording the test results and slowly explained, "Madam Cao and the students of the academy all ate tea and snacks first, then came into contact with medicinal cuisine, and finally drank wine. The interaction of these three things in their bodies produced a deadly poison."

The First Madam has been taking medicinal diets for a long time without any problems because she had never tried this type of mushroom before. Today, she drank chicken soup with mushrooms in it. Although she didn't drink alcohol, the toxins have already started to take effect, just slightly more slowly than those who did drink alcohol.

Huo Changhe looked down at the record on the paper, his brows furrowing more and more, his face gradually darkening, and his aura turning colder: "Such a vicious scheme."

"Are the medicinal food shops, fresh produce shops, and Baixing Teahouse all just pawns in their game?"

“That’s most likely the case.” Yan Ruyu picked up one of the medical records. “I’ve already written down the treatment methods for mild and severe cases. Following these methods will stabilize the patient’s condition.”

The most crucial point now is that these three seemingly unrelated shops are definitely being controlled by the same person.

"It's not safe to arrest them now," Huo Changhe said in a deep voice. "Without direct evidence that they're colluding, taking action rashly could alert them and allow the mastermind to escape."

Yan Ruyu looked at the samples of Jade Face Fungus on the table, a cold smile curling at the corner of her lips, her eyes sharp: "I have a way."

Since they've laid out such a grand scheme, they'll definitely continue their attacks. We should find a suitable opportunity to strike first.

Huo Changhe looked up at her: "What do you want to do?"

Yan Ruyu whispered a few words, and a smile flashed in Huo Changhe's eyes.

"Okay, I'll do as you say."

"I'll first have Governor Cao cooperate in conducting another detailed inquiry and registration of all the patients, focusing on whether they all bought mushrooms from that fresh produce shop in the west of the city before they fell ill, and whether they all bought medicinal cuisine from the same medicinal cuisine shop or drank wine at the same teahouse."

Yan Ruyu said slowly, "At the same time, have the doctors do their best to save lives according to the treatment methods I wrote down, stabilize the situation first, and prevent more people from getting hurt."

Huo Changhe pondered for a moment and nodded: "Alright, I'll send someone to inform Governor Cao right away."

“No need, I’ll go to the treatment center myself.” Yan Ruyu stood up and carefully put away the papers. “It’ll also be a good opportunity to check on the patients’ conditions and adjust the treatment plans promptly if there are any problems.”

Huo Changhe looked at her with concern: "Aren't you tired after a whole day of running around? I'll go with you."

"It's alright, business is more important." Yan Ruyu smiled, her eyes showing fatigue but still firmness.

The two walked out of the courtyard together. Song Ping was already waiting outside. When he saw them come out, he immediately stepped forward to greet them.

Yan Ruyu instructed, "Song Ping, come with me to the treatment center. Your Highness, stay here and watch over Mother. Send word immediately if there are any developments."

"Yes, Your Highness," Song Ping replied and followed.

The treatment center was brightly lit, and the air was filled with a strong medicinal smell and a faint fishy odor.

Dozens of beds were neatly arranged, with patients of all ages lying on them. Some were unconscious, while others were groaning softly. Doctors and staff busily moved among them.

Governor Cao was standing in the courtyard, his brows furrowed as he looked at the patient list in his hand. When he saw Yan Ruyu enter, he immediately went to greet her.

"Your Highness, you've arrived! The situation is not good. We've just admitted more than a dozen patients, and their symptoms are exactly the same as before." Governor Cao's voice was tinged with urgency.

"Governor Cao, don't worry." Yan Ruyu handed him a record of treatment methods. "This is the treatment plan I just drafted for mild and severe cases. Have the doctors follow it immediately, and there will be relief soon."

The military doctor and others quickly gathered around, took the record, and examined it carefully.

After examining the plan for a moment, Dr. Cao's eyes lit up with delight: "Your Highness's plan is extremely comprehensive. Now we have a direction!"

"There's no time to lose, let's get started immediately," Yan Ruyu said. "Also, I'd like to trouble Governor Cao to make some other arrangements."

“Alright, Your Highness, please give your orders.” Governor Cao nodded immediately.