Chapter 34 When alchemists refine elixirs, they often use…

Alchemists often used a mixture of minerals such as cinnabar, mercury, realgar, and mica to refine elixirs. Some alchemists would also repeatedly heat and cool the mixture to decompose and recombine the minerals, forming even more toxic mixtures.

They firmly believed that gold, when placed in a raging fire, would not lose its brilliance. The cinnabar shimmering and the mercury flowing in the alchemical furnace were, in their eyes, a path to the divine and a means to curry favor with secular monarchies.

Lin Fengzhi silently worried for the First Emperor.

It turns out that the First Emperor started taking elixirs so early on. He was really lucky to survive. In the original history, he lived to be forty-nine years old despite taking elixirs for so long.

The mercury in the elixir can indeed stimulate the central nervous system, resulting in a temporary surge of energy. Arsenic can also dilate facial capillaries, giving the face a rosy hue. Realgar can even temporarily stimulate sexual function.

However, long-term use of Jindan can lead to heavy metal poisoning. Accumulation of heavy metals in the body can damage the liver, kidneys, and brain, ultimately causing death.

Historical records state that in his later years, the First Emperor massacred residents within a radius of dozens of miles simply because a meteorite bore the inscription "The First Emperor will die and the land will be divided," which is suspected to be a neurotoxic reaction caused by mercury poisoning.

Not to mention his sudden death in the dunes in 210 BC, which was likely caused by the combined effects of physical exhaustion from repeated excursions and potential metal poisoning.

It was too dark last night, and Lin Feng only saw the First Emperor's face clearly in the sunlight today. His face did not yet show any signs of depletion of qi and blood or decline of the internal organs caused by an overdose of elixirs.

Lin Fengzhi breathed a sigh of relief, and then decided to take a strong medicine.

"The elixir Your Majesty speaks of is made from gold, cinnabar, realgar, and other such substances?"

The First Emperor replied, "Many alchemists use this formula to refine elixirs for me. Even the test boys have tasted it without any problems. The head of the Imperial Carriage Office recruited Master Li for me. Master Li is over seventy years old, yet he has white hair and a youthful face, and is in good health. He claims it is due to the effects of the elixirs. I have used them a few times, and they have also had miraculous effects."

Lin Fengzhi took a sip of water to calm herself, her eyes glancing at Zhao Gao beside her and the otherworldly-looking alchemist at the end of the table. She said, "Those who attempt to gain immortality through unorthodox methods will only be rejected by Heaven. Those who refine elixirs will be subjected to tribulations by lightning, and those who consume them..."

A lightning tribulation descended.

In an instant, the First Emperor thought of the alchemist's furnace exploding while refining elixirs. Was this not divine retribution? As the one who consumed the elixir, the First Emperor immediately thought of all his recent minor ailments.

He has been suffering from insomnia and thirst lately, and occasionally experiences visual and auditory hallucinations. Is this also a punishment from heaven for those who consume it?

Lin Fengzhi's words were vague, and the First Emperor felt a chill run down his spine.

But then Master Li, who was at the end of the table, suddenly stood up and said angrily, "Divine Envoy, I respect your extraordinary abilities and do not wish to have any conflict with you, but why are you spouting nonsense here!"

Master Li was wary of the First Emperor's previous protection of Lin Fengzhi and also of her displayed supernatural abilities. Last night's fireworks display did indeed make him admire Lin Fengzhi's methods, but that did not mean he would submit to her.

We're all working for the First Emperor, sharing the same livelihood. What? You want to monopolize everything and even smash his bowl?

He's been swindling—no, I mean, practicing magic and sorcery for so long, what kind of troublesome people hasn't he encountered? Seeing that even the First Emperor was about to fall for his rhetoric, he originally thought he'd keep to himself and this woman of unknown origin with extraordinary skills. Who would have thought that this woman would threaten to ruin his livelihood the moment she opened her mouth.

This is intolerable!

Besides, what kind of tribulation is this? It's just a furnace explosion. So what if the furnace explodes? Who doesn't have an explosion when refining pills?

"As the saying goes, at seventy, one's spleen is weak and skin is dry. Black spots appear on the back of the hands, and one must use a cane to walk." Lin Fengzhi put down her chopsticks and glanced at the Taoist priest surnamed Li: "Master Li is over seventy years old, with a full set of teeth, and he eats meat and rice with gusto. His eyes are sharp, and I heard that he can still keep up with a galloping horse. He is even more energetic than Prime Minister Li, who is sixty years old."

Li Si, sitting to the left of the First Emperor, raised an eyebrow but remained silent, watching the show unfold.

At this time, Li Si, as prime minister, stood at the pinnacle of power. He was meticulous in his demeanor, with a neatly trimmed beard. Perhaps due to his study under the Confucian master Xunzi, and being a representative figure of Legalism himself, he possessed both the sternness of Legalism and the elegance of Confucianism.

But in any case, to a discerning eye, he was a somewhat dignified, thin old man.

Compared to Master Li, he looked much older.

In contrast, Master Li, apart from having completely white hair and beard, showed no signs of being an old man.

Lin Fengzhi stood up, and all eyes followed her. She slowly walked to Master Li, looked him up and down, and then slowly paced around his seat before saying leisurely, "Master, why is your white hair not as lustrous as that of an ordinary old man?"

Master Li's expression froze: "My white hair is natural; what does it matter to me what other people's hair is like?"

"Then is the white powder stain on the collar also natural?" Lin Fengzhi asked.

"This...this is just some lead powder that accidentally got on my hands while I was refining elixirs for His Majesty..."

Lin Fengzhi gently twirled a strand of hair that she had brushed aside when she circled around Master Li earlier, and in an instant, her fingertips fell a dull, ashen color.

As ordinary people grow old, their hair has a silvery-gray sheen and remains supple.

This was learned from Master Li. The hair was hard, brittle, and easily broken; a gentle rub would cause powder to fall off.

Lin Fengzhi is difficult to evaluate.

Zhao Gao's expression changed repeatedly, because this Master Li was someone he had recommended. Zhao Gao couldn't help but speak up in defense of the master: "Divine Envoy, perhaps, perhaps Master Li was expelling lead and mercury during his cultivation, which is why there is powder of lead and mercury stuck to his clothes."

Zhao Gao was on the verge of despair. He had just been reinstated, only to be punished again because of the sorcerer.

"Is that so?" Lin Fengzhi glanced at the trembling Master Li, then turned to the First Emperor and said, "Then why does Master Li still have a pungent smell of acetic acid and metallic odor? Is this also due to alchemy? What kind of alchemy materials require acidic substances?"

Lin Fengzhi originally wanted to say it was a reaction with vinegar, but then changed her approach.

The First Emperor listened again and again, his face gradually darkening.

In the First Emperor's mind, the importance and authority of Lin Fengzhi and Li Xianshi were incomparable. One was the incarnation of the Black Bird who captivated his mind and prompted him to send important officials to search for him everywhere; the other was a sorcerer offered by his subjects who could be substituted at will.

Lin Fengzhi had completely deciphered the mystery surrounding Master Li, and Ying Zheng understood her unspoken meaning. Master Li was not, as he claimed, a man over seventy years old.

His hair and beard may have been dyed, or they may have been naturally gray.

In short, he may have deceived the First Emperor.

Being deceived was a common occurrence for the First Emperor on his quest for immortality, but this does not mean that he was used to it.

However, there is something even more important at this moment.

The First Emperor asked, "Divine Messenger, may I ask what problems might arise for those who consume elixirs?"

They are quite afraid of losing their lives.

Lin Fengzhi sighed, looking very worried.

Ying Zheng's heart trembled, and countless bad thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant.

She said, "They will have a short lifespan."

Ying Zheng's anxiety finally died.

What he thought was an elixir of immortality turned out to be a death warrant, which is truly absurd and laughable.

Fortunately, Ying Zheng at this time was not the extremely fearful and almost insane emperor he became in his later years, driven by a thirst for immortality. He was in his prime, full of ambition, and his fear of death had not yet overwhelmed his reason.

He paused for a moment, then ordered his men to shave Master Li's hair. Sure enough, beneath the silvery-white hair were black roots.

Li Xianshi felt his legs go weak under the First Emperor's gloomy gaze. He saw Lin Fengzhi, who remained carefree, and realizing that his current predicament was entirely her fault, he gritted his teeth and, in a panic, clung to her, crying out, "Your Majesty, didn't that woman deceive you too? Those fireworks and looms were nothing but gimmicks. She's just like me, deceiving you!!"

Having witnessed the black bird enter his body with his own eyes, how could Ying Zheng possibly listen to his baseless claims?

Thinking of all the golden pills he had consumed since Master Li appeared by his side, he suddenly lost his appetite. Unwilling to listen to his further explanations and ramblings, Ying Zheng ordered Meng Yi to deal with Master Li, dismissed the others, and spoke to Lin Fengzhi alone.

Meng Yi was happy to be able to deal with the alchemists who had deceived the First Emperor, but he was also saddened by Lin Fengzhi's statement that taking elixirs would shorten one's lifespan.

He closed the door and waited outside. He couldn't help but worry.

-

"Divine messenger, is there any way to remedy the shortened lifespan caused by this elixir?"

Lin Fengzhi was eating a bowl of sweet tofu pudding, still feeling regretful that chili peppers hadn't been introduced to China yet, otherwise she could eat spicy food. Although Zhu Yu also had a spicy flavor, she always felt something was missing. She vaguely replied, "This tofu pudding and soy milk can alleviate His Majesty's erysipelas."

Plant proteins can bind to heavy metals, absorb some heavy metal ions, and reduce intestinal absorption.

The First Emperor suddenly realized that the tofu pudding and soy milk were brought by a divine messenger, and must have some supernatural properties.

"Your Majesty, please remember, you must never consume the elixir of immortality again. Soy milk and tofu pudding should also not be consumed in excess."

The First Emperor was filled with mixed emotions. The anger on his face had slowly subsided. He took out the golden elixir from his sleeve and casually tossed it away.

He thought he would deal with all the sorcerers later.

"Your Majesty said today that you would work together with me to ensure that everyone in Qin is well-fed and clothed, and you even granted official positions to women. There are some things I should tell Your Majesty." Lin Fengzhi was unsure of his intentions, thinking that the dosage of strong medicine wasn't enough, and she absolutely couldn't let him take any more elixirs. Since they were to work together to build Qin, the First Emperor, as her partner, had to maintain good health and not die before his due lifespan: "Does Your Majesty still remember the dream?"

The First Emperor sat upright, his expression solemn as he spoke of the nation's foundation and his own death: "I dare not forget this day and night."

"Has Your Majesty ever considered why salted fish was used to mask the stench in the coffin-carrying carriage?"

Ying Zheng closed his eyes, seemingly returning to that coffin, with endless salted fish clinging to his body. Although he was extremely confident that even in death his authority would still awe his subjects, and that no son, regardless of who succeeded him, could insult their sovereign with salted fish, he was still deeply disturbed by everything he had experienced in his dream.

These past few days he'd been thinking about it day and night, and the only explanation for that situation was that he died so suddenly that he didn't have time to make arrangements for his affairs.

For the sake of the Qin dynasty, Ying Zheng, though dissatisfied, had no choice but to grit his teeth and make sacrifices. However, judging from Zhang Han's dream, the dynasty was not secure.

"His Majesty was weakened by the elixirs he took, and the exertion of the tour had taken its toll, so he fell ill and never recovered. He died in the sand dunes."

Ying Zheng stared blankly, then suddenly opened his eyes and looked at Lin Fengzhi's lips moving.

Until I heard her say that Zhao Gao and Li Si forged an imperial edict, installed Huhai on the throne, and squandered the entire Qin Dynasty in less than three years.

Ying Zheng was struck as if by lightning. The words "less than three years" and "squandered everything" kept swirling in his mind. It seemed as if he was learning these words for the first time. Only after he finally understood them thoroughly did an endless rage suddenly rise in his chest, as if it would burst out of his throat at any moment.

The jade chopsticks brought by the attendant snapped in his hand, the fragments falling to the ground with a soft sound.

"Hu Hai, Zhao Gao, Li Si..." The three names popped out from the First Emperor's teeth, and a murderous intent flickered in his dark eyes.