Chapter 51 Chapter 51 Bella/After this, he will have a new...
Due to an unexpected situation, the Spencer group, who decided to return to Hank County after the wedding, stayed in Mellenwick for half a month.
During this time, Heinrich's condition improved.
According to the doctor's diagnosis, his ability to wake up means that his life is not in danger, but he will still have to go through a very painful recovery period.
The toxins that have been deep inside the body for a long time begin to attack again after the medication is stopped, and one can only rely on one's own willpower to resist.
During the treatment, Heinrich hardly ever went downstairs. He locked himself in a dim room and would not let anyone approach him except the doctor.
Two weeks later, the doctor announced the good news: "Mr. Duke's willpower is incredibly strong, and his recovery is much faster than I expected! His condition is now stable, and he can resume his normal life."
He paused, wanting to speak but then stopped. "But... we haven't figured out a way to treat the toxins in his body yet, unless we boldly resort to leeching. I can't guarantee he won't get sick again, so... please ensure your own safety."
Violet crossed herself. "Thank you, doctor. I'm grateful to God for saving my life."
Isabel didn't say anything. Through the crack in the door, she saw Heinrich half leaning against the headboard, the collar of his white nightgown open, and the wound torn by pain was oozing dark red blood.
She looked away, gently closed the door, and pretended not to see what happened.
-
Back in Chalvis, Isabel personally selected the doctor to care for Heinrich.
The manor is huge, and the Duke is always missing.
Injured animals in the forest like to hide and lick their fur.
Isabel respected his habit and did not look for him on purpose. She just checked his recovery status from the doctor's records on time.
She would not blindly follow the doctor's advice and use bloodletting therapy on Heinrich. If she continued with this treatment, she was afraid that he would be tortured to death again.
After careful inspection, Isabel could basically confirm that it was datura poisoning.
Western doctors have limited knowledge of plant toxins, so they don't notice the symptoms of poisoning in the early stages.
If it wasn't confirmed that Sophia was a local, Isabel would have suspected that this woman was also a time traveler.
She had gone to great lengths to hide this hidden chess piece. She had actually managed to find this classic poison from a domestic intrigue novel.
To put it simply, Datura is the initial form of drugs, and it is also the culprit that causes central nervous system disorders and hallucinations and manic symptoms.
Fortunately, this is still a lightweight raw plant toxin that has not been purified. Even better, Heinrich is strong and can withstand the torment, otherwise his second half of life would be ruined by it.
Isabel called Victor over, wrote a prescription and handed it to him: "Victor, follow the list I wrote and get everything on it."
Victor frowned, looking troubled: "Duchess, I'm sorry, I don't quite understand."
Isabel looked up.
"If I understand correctly, is licorice the sweet grass used to make licorice candy in Hank County? And mung beans... are you talking about fodder crops? Honestly, I've never seen this kind of legume. I've only seen it in Sisyphus's Travels to the East. And calamus, is it the paper-making cattail from Hesland?"
Victor asked the question in one breath, which made Isabel suddenly realize a serious problem.
The oriental medicinal materials she found based on the Compendium of Materia Medica and Qianjin Fang are difficult to collect in the West.
Although the Principality of Ceylon is similar to Britain and France in the previous life, it did not conquer the world in this time and space.
Because the ancient Eastern power not only did not close its doors to the outside world, but instead began to explore the ocean from the Ming Dynasty and gradually became a dominant lion.
The two distant maritime overlords knew of each other's existence, but did not disturb each other and maintained a peaceful state.
Butterflies flap their wings, which means that some oriental plants that were introduced to China in later generations no longer exist today; some already exist, such as Acorus calamus, which was brought by missionaries traveling to the East, but it was considered an oriental witchcraft grass that summoned mysterious powers, and similar cattails cannot be used as substitutes.
Victor is considered a highly educated person. Even he has never seen something, so his subordinates will have no idea about it. However, the mandrake poison cannot be delayed.
Isabel took a deep breath, feeling a little irritated for a rare time, and couldn't help but curse in her heart a group of ignorant foreigners.
"I've included a diagram for each herb. Find out which ships have been to the East. They're likely buying and selling Eastern goods at high prices on the black market. If not, we'll have to place an order with a shipping company and wait for them to cross the ocean and bring them here for us." Isabel said decisively. "In short, this concerns Heinrich's lifespan. We must find him."
Victor nodded: "Yes!"
Although the arrangements were very neat, Isabel knew that it was very difficult to go to the East. Most shipping companies only transported silk and porcelain, and it would be extremely difficult to find herbs.
I'm afraid I'll have to resort to the last resort, spending a lot of money to place an order and have the shipping company make a special trip. But this round trip will take more than two years.
We can only hope that our Spencer ancestors will grant our descendants some luck.
Perhaps it was Margaret’s revelation, because a few days later, Victor really brought good news: “Duchess, we have found all the herbs on your list!”
Isabel frowned: "All?"
"Yes, all of them." Victor couldn't hide his excitement. "What a coincidence! These herbs are for sale on the black market."
How could there be such a good thing in the world that you get a pillow just when you are sleepy, and it comes at such a coincidence?
Isabel's eyes moved slightly, but she didn't say much.
The most urgent task is to detoxify Heinrich, and we can figure out the rest later.
She took the herbs, carefully labeled them, and wrote a list: "Tell the kitchen to brew the medicine according to the list, three times a day, and watch the Duke drink it on time."
Victor pushed his glasses up and looked around curiously several times.
Ever since he witnessed Isabel's grace in turning the tide, he, like Emily, had developed the habit of never questioning the Duchess's decisions.
Even though the list required the Duke to drink a black medicine every day that had an unknown origin, a bitter taste, and was enough to make people collapse at first sight.
For several days, the air over Chalves was filled with the strange smell of mysterious oriental herbs.
The maids covered their noses while boiling medicine, secretly suspecting that the Duchess had become the heir and wanted to kill the Duke directly.
But I only dare to say this in my heart.
Because Isabel came to check every day to make sure Heinrich didn't secretly throw it away because it was too bitter.
Fortunately, the Duke was very honest and the medicine bowls he delivered were always empty.
The maids sighed that the Duke's love-brain was hopeless, and he even drank tons of this medicinal soup that looked like a shoe sole that had been soaked for three days and three nights.
Of course, Isabel could see that everyone was quite dissatisfied.
But so what? People in power don't need to explain themselves to others.
After returning from Mellenvic, Lady Violet completely handed over the housekeeping power to Isabel.
The servants, having been under house arrest, knew that the new Duchess was no pushover. There was no period of adjustment between master and servant, and they were all incredibly obedient.
When it comes to things like stewing evil oriental medicinal soup, just roll up your sleeves and get to work.
After taking Chinese medicine for a month, Isabel confirmed that Heinrich was almost recovered.
Chalves is a big place. If you want to avoid someone, you can go a whole month without seeing them.
But Isabel decided it was time to call out the coward.
-
In the dim bedroom.
After drinking the bitter medicine that made his tongue numb again, Heinrich leaned back on the bed and tried to calm his urge to vomit.
He closed his eyes and took a nap.
He actually hadn't had a good night's sleep these days, and was always groggy and half asleep.
In the dream, young Heinrich followed his grandfather and father and swore an oath to the statue of Margaret - in the name of Spencer, to inherit the glory of Margaret.
The little boy didn't know what Spencer's glory was. He only knew that he had to devote himself to the family like his grandfather and father.
In a blink of an eye, Xiao Haiyin grew up and inherited the legacy of his elders.
Looking down, he saw a huge hole in his chest, blood dripping out.
He fell in a pool of blood, and the huge lion and rising sun flag swallowed up his body, completely completing his dedication.
“Dongdong——”
There was a steady knock on the door, followed by the sound of the doorknob being turned.
Heinrich was a light sleeper and opened his eyes almost at the same time.
"who?"
In the darkness, Isabel walked in carrying a kerosene lamp.
Light sources illuminate dim rooms.
Seeing that it was her, the man suddenly turned his head and said in a hoarse voice as if it had been rubbed by sandpaper: "I have already taken the medicine, what are you doing here?"
Isabel held the lamp: "Look at you."
Heinrich looked away, as if he found the light too dazzling. "No, you can go out."
Isabel's eyes swept over the wound on his wrist that was eroded by repeated friction, then looked at the iron chain at the foot of the bed, and walked straight forward.
Heinrich quickly raised his voice: "I said, please get out!"
Isabel didn't move. She took two more steps forward, and the light fell on the hem of her skirt.
Heinrich immediately got up from the bed and moved away from her.
Isabel continued to move forward, one step, two steps.
The carpet absorbed the sound of her footsteps as she approached slowly but surely.
"Don't come over here!" Heinrich began to back away. "I told you to get out! Don't you understand?!"
His back was pressed against the cold wall, with nowhere to retreat.
Finally, he roared like an angry beast, trying to scare her away: "Get out! Stay away from me!"
Under the light, Isabel looked at him quietly, never stepping back.
Heinrich was breathing heavily, his chest heaving violently. He met the other person's calm gaze, as if his strength had finally run out.
He lowered his head, his black hair covering his eyes, and his voice was hoarse: "Don't come near me, please..."
Isabel stopped in front of him and squatted down.
Her eyes were level with his, and she could clearly see the red bloodshot in his eyes, as well as the thin layer of tears that were about to overflow.
"Hein, your poison has been cured," she said. "You are conscious now. Even if you weren't, I can protect myself if I'm prepared."
"Who knows how long I can stay awake like this?" Heinrich laughed, a laugh even more awful than crying. "Do you understand? I'm a lunatic! I strangled a pastor in my dreams and nearly killed my wife on our wedding night..."
He yanked open his robe, revealing a crisscross pattern of old scars on his chest—sword wounds from the battlefield, cuts from when he lost control. "Look! These are all proof of my madness! The heir to the Spencer family is a loser who can't even control himself!"
"I can't control myself! I can't control myself... I almost..." His voice trailed off, his whole body trembling, "I almost... strangled you to death..."
"I beg you..." His voice was dry, "Audrey, don't come near me."
Isabel stared at him, gently reached out her hand, ran it through his sweaty hair, and pressed his head against her shoulder.
Heinrich stiffened.
"You won't hurt me again. You're not crazy, you're not a monster." Isabel's voice was soft, with body warmth. "You promised me that you would be my partner."
Her shoulders were light, yet carried a strange sense of stability, like the only unmoving anchor in a storm.
"Heinrich, stand up and walk with me."
The lights flickered, and her ice-blue eyes were like the quiet deep sea, more beautiful than the priceless Atlantis sapphire.
Heinrich turned his head away, his shoulders shaking violently, but no sound came out.
Nightmares flashed through my mind.
It was when he was eight years old and broke his ribs while riding a horse. He gritted his teeth and said it didn't hurt. His taciturn father treated him. That day, Chalvey was in chaos. In the crowd, little Hein waited for a long time, but he didn't see his mother.
It was when he was fifteen and was insulted as a bastard born by his mother. It was in the corner of the banquet hall, he was looking at the backs of his mother and godfather standing side by side, his mother's profile showing a smile he had never seen before.
When he was eighteen, he saw his grandfather and father lying in a pool of blood. His mother raised a gun, pointed it at her temples, and said with tears in her eyes: "I killed Ludwig... I am free..."
It was the empty family hall, with Uncle Joyce's body hanging from the rafters, and his younger brother Edmund pointing at him and screaming, "You killed him! You monster!"
It was the day he inherited the title. He watched as his godfather, whom he once admired so much, crowned him with his blood-stained hands.
It was amidst the day-to-day suffering that he finally welcomed a ray of light, but on their wedding night, it nearly annihilated her.
During the most difficult moment, he thought about ending his meaningless life.
But someone held his hand, helped him untie the chains that bound his limbs, and whispered, "It must hurt... Have a good sleep."
"I want you to wake up…Heinrich."
"But if you don't want to, it doesn't matter. I will go on for you..."
Those voices rang in my ears.
In his dream, he seemed to have returned to his childhood.
The doctor bandaged his wound and said he was very strong and a little hero who never shed tears.
A teardrop fell on the dark carpet, leaving a dark water mark.
Another drop fell into her palm.
She hugged Heinrich, and as if through time and space, she hugged the five-year-old child who dared not shed tears.
At that moment, all defenses collapsed instantly.
His shoulders were shaking violently. He had tried his best to suppress it, not daring to reveal even a hint of vulnerability, which turned into silent sobs.
Live on.
She couldn't be left alone trapped in Chalvey's cage.
He had to survive, stand up, and stand by her side.
Isabel quietly waited for the emotional outburst to end.
His display of vulnerability was brief.
Soon, the curtains were drawn back and sunlight streamed into the dim room.
Isabel stood up: "Heinrich, it's a nice day today."
Heinrich looked up hesitantly, his face dry, as if everything that had just happened was an illusion.
The tall man was pulled to his feet by her.
The sunlight diffused and fell on the two people's clasped hands, coating the red marks on his wrists and his countless old scars with a faint golden light.
Heinrich didn't look out the window, but just stared at her.
His skin, which had not seen the sun for a long time, was extremely pale, making his pupils look even darker and deeper, like a vampire from underground in a Gothic novel.
After a long pause, he slowly stretched out his hand, and his slender knuckles touched a ray of sunlight.
Warm and dry, like a new life.
His pupils reflected Isabel's face.
The other hand held hers tightly, as if holding the sunshine.
In the first half of his life, he was consumed by empty devotion. From now on, he will have a new faith.
The breeze gently blew his hair, and Heinrich closed his eyes and silently recited her name in his heart.
-----------------------
The author has something to say: I believe in what my wife taught me, Amen.
Next chapter: Sister
I wrote all the fictional background stories in this story! The East is a dragon! Later, we'll have a special story about our family of four traveling to the East.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
