PDLP Chapter 20 Good intentions
Chapter 20 Good intentions
The imperial physician frowned and carefully sniffed the water: "There's more than just aconite powder in this water; there's something else too!"
Zhao Yunzheng looked up: "What is that?"
The imperial physician said solemnly, "Your Highness, please wait a moment while I boil the water in this cup!"
Looking at the exquisite butterfly cookies on his desk, Zhao Yunzheng felt a mix of emotions.
The imperial physician's words gave him a glimmer of hope.
He hesitated for a moment, then looked at Shadow One: "Prepare the stove."
Chen Xi, standing to the side, felt a chill in her heart: She only put aconite powder in the water, what else could be in the water besides aconite powder?
Moreover, when the water was brought over, she secretly glanced at it but didn't see anything.
Could it be that the imperial physician has become senile?
Regardless of whether there was anything else in the water, it was an undeniable fact that Xu Jiaojiao had taken some kind of poison in the water.
This time, Xu Jiaojiao won't be able to turn things around.
Chen Xi quietly raised her eyes and looked at Prince Chen sitting in front of the desk.
With his striking eyebrows, bright eyes, and refined demeanor, he was a rare and handsome man. How many young women in the world could resist his charm?
Chen Xi had already begun to fantasize about the day she would become Prince Chen's woman and receive his exclusive favor.
The more she thought about it, the more smug she felt, and the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up...
Just then, a faint smell of garlic wafted over.
Chen Xi couldn't help but frown, muttering to himself, "What's that smell?"
Not only Chen Xi, but everyone in the room had this question.
Cao Lingyun raised her hand and waved it in front of her nose: "What's that smell? It stinks!"
The imperial physician had already made up his mind, and immediately took the water cup from the stove: "There is also a fine realgar powder in the water, but the amount is very small, so I did not notice it at the time."
"Realgar?" The princess hesitated slightly. "What's the use of soaking realgar in water?"
The imperial physician stated the facts he knew, not daring to make a hasty conclusion: "Judging from the realgar powder floating on the water, Consort Xu should be using the water-refining method to extract fine realgar powder, but why Consort Xu would do this, I do not know."
"What else could it be?" Chen Xi asked impatiently, "Of course, it's for making drugs!"
When Xu Jiaojiao was still a maid, she taught Chen Xi how to use realgar to repel insects, and she specifically instructed Chen Xi not to burn realgar with a strong fire, because this would produce arsenic, a highly poisonous substance.
It was because of that small tip that Chen Xi learned that realgar could be used to make poison.
Now that the imperial physician has mentioned the presence of realgar in the water, Chen Xi naturally won't miss the chance to kick Xu Jiaojiao while she's down.
She immediately told him what she knew.
Unexpectedly, the imperial physician shook his head upon hearing this: "No, there's no need to grind realgar into such a fine powder to make arsenic."
Zhao Yunzheng's eyes were unfathomable.
He wanted to know what Xu Jiaojiao was up to.
He looked at Yingyi and said succinctly, "You go and investigate yourself."
Upon receiving the order, Yingyi personally led his men to Shi Nuan Pavilion.
He investigated very carefully, and only returned to Mingqian Academy with many things when the first hint of dawn appeared on the horizon.
There was a small box among them, which he held in his own hand.
Upon his return, everyone in the room who had been eagerly waiting looked over.
Yingyi placed the box in front of Zhao Yunzheng, her words tinged with guilt: "Master, I found a string of finished summer-cooling incense beads in Shi Nuan Pavilion, as well as a lot of antidote powder and antidote pills made from realgar."
Zhao Yunzheng was slightly taken aback.
Summer-cooling fragrant beads?
Detoxification powder?
Antidote pill?
Upon hearing that there were fragrant beads for relieving summer heat, the imperial physician immediately stepped forward to examine them.
Upon approaching and smelling the fragrance emanating from the box, the imperial physician's eyes lit up with excitement: "These summer-cooling fragrant beads are truly of the highest quality!"
Seeing that Zhao Yunzheng was somewhat confused, he immediately explained to him: "These summer-cooling incense beads can dispel summer heat, eliminate dampness, prevent disease, and even drive away miasma in the mountains. When an acute illness is triggered by summer heat and evil qi, they can be chewed and taken to relieve the urgency. Because of their complicated production process and the large number of medicinal materials required, they are extremely rare and hard to come by!"
The string of pearls in front of the prince not only has a pure aroma, but each one is also uniquely shaped, showing the painstaking effort put into its creation…”
Zhao Yunzheng couldn't help but lower his eyes to look at the summer-cooling beads in the box.
Each bead is carved into the shape of a snow lotus, and on the back of each snow lotus is carved the character "宸" (Chen). Although the character is crooked and uniquely ugly, one can immediately feel the pure love of the person who carved it.
These summer-cooling fragrant beads were made for him by Xu Jiaojiao!
"Your Highness! Master Xu has fainted! Please release her from the secret room!" Suddenly, Lianye's cries came from outside: "Your Highness, those two vats of water in the courtyard are the ones Master Xu used to refine realgar powder. The water Master Xu used to make pastries is not from those two vats at all. Master Xu really did not poison her. Please investigate!"
Upon hearing that Xu Jiaojiao had fainted, Zhao Yunzheng's heart tightened.
Lianye's voice continued: "Your Highness, Master Xu has always been patient. She injured her body while making the summer heat relief beads for you. She was afraid that you would be angry if you knew, so she wanted to wait until she recovered before telling you. Unexpectedly, before she could even say it, she was framed!"
Your Highness, my mistress is afraid of upsetting you and forbids me from speaking, but I can't just stand by and watch something happen to my mistress!
Your Highness, if you don't believe me, you can send someone to Shi Nuan Pavilion to check. The summer heat-relieving incense beads are in the box on the master's dressing table!
Your Highness! Please save my mistress! If she stays in the dark room any longer, she will truly die!
Inside the room, Zhao Yunzheng's hand tightened suddenly as he looked at the summer-cooling incense beads that Yingyi had already found.
A deep sense of guilt welled up inside me!
He was wrong!
At the welcoming banquet, she risked her life to shield him from a knife; in the dead of night, she would dig up black ginseng for him; when summer came, she would make fragrant beads for him to cool off.
Xu Jiaojiao did so much, yet he still locked her in a dark room!
Zhao Yunzheng closed his eyes tightly, a subtle pain shooting through his heart.
How could a woman who is so devoted to him possibly harm him?
He took a deep breath, calming his anger and guilt: "Investigate! The aconite powder contains poison. Everyone who receives or purchases it must be registered. We can find out who poisoned it with a simple investigation!"
Chen Xi's pupils contracted, beads of cold sweat appeared on her forehead, and her hands, which were tucked into her sleeves, tightened involuntarily.
Outside, Lianye knelt for a long time but Prince Chen did not come out, and she was extremely anxious.
Will the master's plan fail?
No, she had to find a way to get Prince Chen to see his master!
Just as I was about to shout a couple more times, the door to the house opened.
Seeing Prince Chen's tall figure, Lianye's eyes reddened, and she kowtowed repeatedly: "Your Highness, the master's wound has reopened. The dark room is cold and damp, making it difficult for the wound to heal. Now the master's wound is festering and swollen. In addition, the master has not eaten for a day and a night. The master's body is too weak to endure it and has developed a high fever. He has now fainted!"
"Your Highness, please release my mistress from the dark room! She really can't hold on much longer!"
Seeing Lianye's reddened forehead, Zhao Yunzheng frowned slightly, a complex expression flashing in his eyes...