CHAPTER 1742: CHAPTER 1742: WHY NOT TAKE OFF THE HAT?

Bai Ruozhu’s expression was very grave. Although it was the first time she had encountered this poison, it was not the first time she had heard of it. She knew this poison was called "Cuckoo’s Blood," as it was recorded in her half-scroll of the Poison Scripture.

Does this mean that this world has the most secretive half-scroll of her Poison Scripture? Or are there books similar to her half-scroll of the Poison Scripture? Or perhaps someone possesses an entire scroll of the Poison Scripture?

Seeing Tang Yin and Wang Shun looking at her, she dared not let her mind wander, and said to them, "It’s a kind of ********, which I have only heard of by name and never seen before. It’s said that initially, the poisoned person does not feel anything, and even the doctor cannot find any problems, but would cough up blood when emotionally agitated. As the poison progresses, frequent coughing and gradual blood coughing occur, and it may be misdiagnosed as tuberculosis, but common tuberculosis medicine has no effect, ultimately leading to death from blood loss."

"If it weren’t for Your Majesty inexplicably coughing blood before, along with reddened palms and soles, I would not be sure it was this kind of poison. Additionally, I believe that after some time, Your lips will also become redder than before. If one doesn’t know better, they might think you have become healthier," Bai Ruozhu continued.

Tang Yin instinctively touched his lips, saying with some astonishment, "Cuckoo’s Blood, the name does fit."

Wang Shun was sweating profusely beside him, thinking to himself, My Emperor, at such a time, worrying about whether the name fits or not, hurry up and think about how to detoxify it.

He anxiously eyed Bai Ruozhu, hoping she had a way to detoxify it.

Bai Ruozhu, however, shook her head and said, "The most difficult part to detoxify this poison lies in the choice of the poison; there are quite a few ways to choose. If just one ingredient is different, the antidote will also be completely different, and the slightest mistake will cause the poisoned person to bleed from the orifices and die."

"So you’re saying we can’t alert the enemy?" Tang Yin frowned.

"Yes, since this is a chronic poison, it requires reapplying poison at intervals. At that time, as long as we find the person poisoning, it will be much easier once we get the poison in his hands." Bai Ruozhu squinted her eyes as she spoke. She knew the person poisoning was likely not the one who made the poison, but she still wanted to use this to find the poison master behind it.

Tang Yin nodded, "I will arrange for trusted people to monitor both inside and outside the guest palace, and definitely uncover that treacherous spy who is poisoning."

Bai Ruozhu pursed her lips and thought for a moment, "Your Majesty, it’s better not to catch him. To be safe, I would like the first obtained poison to be given to me for research, but it’s best to wait until she poisons a second time to retrieve another, to prevent the other side from having too high of a sense of vigilance and playing tricks with us."

Wang Shun couldn’t help but want to applaud; this Master Bai, though a woman, was definitely one who excelled over men. Sure enough, she was careful and steady in her work.

Tang Yin also nodded in admiration, "Your thoughts are comprehensive. Let’s proceed as planned."

"To avoid arousing suspicion, I will not come to the guest palace for a while, and today I will pretend to inquire about my husband’s news," Bai Ruozhu added.

Wang Shun understood, "Rest assured, Master Bai. I will discreetly leak this information."

Bai Ruozhu knew Wang Shun was a clever person, so she felt assured as she withdrew. The task of finding the spy was naturally entrusted to the Emperor, and detoxifying was left to her.

After leaving the main hall, Bai Ruozhu went to where the Imperial Doctors worked, and upon seeing her, Jiu Sheng excitedly came forward.

"Master, finally you’re back. We’ve all been waiting for you to preside over the situation," Jiu Sheng said.

The head of the Imperial Medical Hospital, Mao Xingcai, had perished in the chaos within the palace, leaving the Imperial Medical Hospital leaderless, and there weren’t many Imperial Doctors left.

"My belly is getting bigger and bigger; you guys can’t bear for me to toil along? Just take more responsibility and slowly establish the Imperial Medical Hospital. Also, Guoguo, that child, has a lot of potential. I’ve sent him to learn from you," Bai Ruozhu said with a smile.

Jiu Sheng’s mouth twitched. It wasn’t that he didn’t like Guoguo, but according to the rules, he had to call Guoguo "senior brother," which was indeed somewhat awkward.

"The Imperial Medical Hospital positions are according to official titles. He just arrived, so he can be an apprentice, as he’s still young after all," Bai Ruozhu said, winking at Jiu Sheng, "I don’t have many rules for my disciples; just call each other by name, no need to make seniority distinctions too strict."

Jiu Sheng almost cried out "Master, you’re wise." He was entirely submissive to Bai Ruozhu, who was a young woman, as Master. But to call a seven-year-old child "senior brother" was truly quite awkward.

Bai Ruozhu gave Jiu Sheng a few more instructions, intentionally mentioning in front of other Imperial Doctors that she asked the Emperor about Jiang Yichun, and when Jiu Sheng asked if she took the Emperor’s pulse, she promptly replied, "The Emperor looks very well; there’s no need for me to take his pulse. Having you all is enough."

After leaving the guest palace, Bai Ruozhu sent Guoguo into the palace the next day, but she herself did not enter the palace again, saying she was going to stay at home and rest for her unborn child.

By mid-March, Fang Guizhi and Wa San finally returned to Beiyu City. Both had lost a significant amount of weight, not only because of the tiring journey but also due to the constant hiding and dodging, leaving them mentally exhausted.

Both wore black gauze caps, so when they knocked on the door, the guards at the gate did not recognize them until Fang Guizhi removed her hat, and the guards recognized her.

"Second Miss, you all are finally back. Master will surely be delighted to hear," exclaimed the guard excitedly, and then called people to report the news.

Soon, Bai Yihong, Lin Ping’er, and Bai Ruozhu all rushed to the main door upon receiving the news, meeting the two halfway.

"Guizhi, why have you lost so much weight?" Bai Ruozhu grasped Fang Guizhi’s protruding wrists and asked heart-wrenchingly.

Fang Guizhi was also moved to tears, "I’m fine, it’s Wa San who suffered."

It was only then that everyone remembered Wa San, realizing his clothes appeared much looser, and he hadn’t removed his gauze cap for some time.

Bai Yihong patted Wa San on the shoulder, "Wa San, thank you for taking care of Guizhi. I’ll arrange for a wedding for you two in a few days."

Typically, mourning for a dowager empress is one year among royal kin, half a year for ordinary official families, and three months for common folk without ranks. In some distant areas, there is no strictness on mourning at all.

Wa San and Guizhi had no ranks, so they could marry after some time, though the wedding would not be too grand, just a simple ceremony.

Everyone thought Guizhi would blush, and Wa San would be excited to agree, but Guizhi instead looked somewhat nervously at Wa San, who did not say anything as if he hadn’t heard Bai Yihong’s words.

He had still not removed his gauze cap; according to customs, not removing the gauze cap in front of elders was a sign of great disrespect.

Guizhi’s eyes reddened, and she choked on her words, "Wa San, don’t be like this. Let Ruozhu take a look, maybe it can be cured."