CHAPTER 651: CHAPTER 651: ANTIDOTE

As for Little Bun, he had already been coaxed by his Wetnurse Nanny and taken out to play during the day.

Little Bun seemed to know his mother was ill.

After breakfast, while the attendants weren’t paying attention, he ran into Xia Ruqing’s room and climbed onto Xia Ruqing’s bed.

With his tender little hands, he tugged at Xia Ruqing’s large hand, whispering into her ear, "Mother, you big lazy bug, you’re still sleeping, get up now!"

"Mother, I’m being very good, don’t worry. Yellow Bean, Da Bai, and Xiao Bai are all waiting for you!"

"Mother, you have to get well!"

In his world, being sick meant lying in bed and sleeping.

But didn’t Mother feel bored always sleeping?

However, since Mother liked it, then he liked it too.

Thinking this, Little Bun cheered up again.

"Mother, you can sleep as long as you want!"

Having said this and feeling relieved, he wiggled his tiny body off the bed and toddled off to find his Wetnurse Nanny.

The little child had no idea that his mother was caught in a silent conspiracy.

「...」

It was already noon when Zhao Junyao returned from the morning court session.

Li Shengan came to report, "Emperor, those merchants selling scented candles indeed have issues!"

Zhao Junyao let out a cold laugh. "Send them to the Ministry of Justice’s Prison for interrogation. Once you’ve asked enough, kill them directly. No need for mercy!"

"And do it within today!"

Li Shengan hurriedly agreed.

Zhao Junyao then inquired, "Any news from within the palace?"

Although Consort Xian Pin seldom made close connections easily, she had always been a conspicuous presence in the palace. Now that she was ill, idle rumors were bound to spread.

Li Shengan, head bowed, hesitated for a moment but decided not to conceal anything. He spoke tremblingly, "Emperor, there are some unfavorable rumors circulating in the palace!"

Zhao Junyao got up and walked to the window, standing there with his hands behind his back. "Speak!"

His aura was like that of a millennium-old glacier, causing Li Shengan to shiver.

"To respond to the Emperor, everyone is saying... that the death of Honored Lady Jiang was caused by Consort Xian Pin!"

"This time... it’s Honored Lady Jiang’s spirit coming to claim her life; it’s Consort Xian Pin’s retribution!"

Zhao Junyao’s silhouette stiffened suddenly. "Retribution? Claiming her life?!"

"Humph! Completely absurd!" He then swept his arm in a wide gesture. "Investigate where these rumors originated!"

Li Shengan agreed again.

Zhao Junyao gave no further instructions. He stood for a while before sitting back down at the imperial desk to review documents. Li Shengan finally had a moment to dispatch others to look into the rumors.

At that moment, Little Zhuzi hurried in. "Grandfather Li! Imperial Doctor Zhang requests an audience!"

"He says he’s found the antidote!"

Li Shengan’s eyes lit up with joy. "Is it true? Summon him quickly!"

Zhao Junyao, inside, heard the news through the window. He felt as if a heavy stone in his heart had finally fallen to the ground, his entire being exhaling in relief.

Imperial Doctor Zhang, carrying his medical box and looking haggard, walked in. Just as he was about to salute, Zhao Junyao waved his hand to dismiss it and cut straight to the point, "You’ve found the antidote?!"

Imperial Doctor Zhang wiped the sweat from his forehead and smiled weakly. "To reply to the Emperor, we have!"

"Fortunately, the most vicious recipes in the Western Regions are not found among the commonfolk, so the toxicity isn’t too strong; it’s just chronic! It won’t take a life immediately."

"And Consort Xian Pin hasn’t been exposed to it many times; she’s merely fallen into a coma!"

"There’s still time for detoxification, and after some recuperation, she will fully recover!"

Zhao Junyao had little patience for the long preamble, but he heard the last two words clearly: ’Fully recover!’

Zhao Junyao himself felt like a fierce beast, cornered and pushed to the brink, finally seeing a glimmer of sunshine. The entire world suddenly brightened.

Qingqing, you will be fine! How wonderful! How truly wonderful!

Thinking this, Zhao Junyao, a grown man, felt his throat tighten slightly.

"Good! Hurry on then!"

"Yes!"

Imperial Doctor Zhang bowed and, carrying his medicine chest, hurriedly left.

Zhao Junyao’s lips rarely curved up so high, his imperial countenance beaming with joy.

One might ask how Imperial Doctor Zhang could develop the antidote so quickly. It was, of course, thanks to those few candles.

As soon as Imperial Doctor Zhang returned to the Imperial Medical Bureau, he sensed something was off with the candles. After a meticulous inspection, he discovered an essential oil extracted from the seeds of a plant called Oblivion Grass.

Oblivion Grass is a miraculous herb. Not only can it alleviate pain when consumed, but it can also induce various hallucinations. It is non-toxic in itself; however, excessive consumption is not good for the body and can easily lead to mental confusion. And its seeds are even less toxic.

But, considering the situation that day, after pondering from all angles, Imperial Doctor Zhang finally came to an answer.

So, one must not touch alcohol!

That was the key.

After ingesting Oblivion Grass, one must not drink alcohol, not even smell it. Otherwise, alcohol would cause the seeds of Oblivion Grass to release an unlimited toxicity. This toxicity would continuously erode the body’s meridians. Eventually, the person would fall into a coma and then gradually starve or die of thirst, as they couldn’t eat or drink.

To validate this result, Imperial Doctor Zhang used some rabbits kept for testing medicines. After replicating the conditions of that day, the result was as he expected: the rabbits were poisoned and fell unconscious.

But when Imperial Doctor Zhang, based on the candles’ composition, concocted an antidote, those rabbits, after being medicated, quickly became lively again.

Imperial Doctor Zhang was moved to tears with excitement. It wasn’t in vain that I toiled day and night to develop this!

「...」

When Imperial Doctor Zhang arrived at Qingya Residence, it was late morning.

Xia Ruqing was still unconscious, having gone hungry for two days and a night in her slumber. Zi Yue watched on, her heart aching.

"My lady would never allow herself to go hungry, and now..." Zi Yue nearly cried.

Zi Su also cried.

Yet Imperial Doctor Zhang calmly said, "Miss, there’s no need to worry so. Consort Xian Pin will wake up very soon!"

After saying this, he handed over a prescription. "This is the antidote, to be taken three times a day. Brew one bowl from three bowls of water. After three days, the medicine will cure the ailment!"

Zi Su was excited, crying and laughing at the same time. "Wasn’t it said... wasn’t it said... there’s no cure for the Western Regions’ poison? Imperial Physician, aren’t you tricking us! You scared us half to death!"

Imperial Doctor Zhang, now more relaxed, explained, "The poison from the Western Regions is indeed difficult to cure. However, it’s much easier if you have the exact toxic substance. One just needs to identify its medicinal properties, concoct a counteracting prescription, and take it for several days."

"The most troublesome part is that for most poisonings, the toxic substance simply can’t be found. One is left to guess the poison based on symptoms."

Imperial Doctor Zhang admitted that regarding the poisons from the Western Regions, which have very similar ingredients, he truly couldn’t have identified it without the candles.

Never mind, no point dwelling on it now.

Zi Su and Zi Ning sent Imperial Doctor Zhang off with great care.

Zi Yue personally oversaw the preparation of the medicine for her master.

Half a Shi Chen later, the first bowl of medicine was ingested.

In the evening, and then again the next morning, the second and third bowls were taken consecutively.

Xia Ruqing finally, around midday, slowly opened her eyes.

"Ah!" She yawned and stretched luxuriously. "I’m so hungry!"

This certain someone had no idea what had happened!