Chapter 282 Poisoning Lu Zhaoruo
"This substance is called 'five-day consumption'."
She lowered her voice even further, as if whispering ghostly words: "Take the essence from that ore, refine it into an invisible, odorless, and traceless poison. Just burn it in a sealed place for five days, let it absorb the smoke, and you will be done."
"Five days later, the toxin will be like a seed deeply planted in the lungs and internal organs. Even if the source of the fragrance is removed, there will be no way to save it. Within ten days, the person who is poisoned will feel shortness of breath and chest tightness, and coughing will gradually begin. After more than a month, they will cough up blood and wheeze, and become emaciated. After two months, their lungs and internal organs will wither and decay. Even if Hua Tuo were to be reborn, he would only be able to diagnose it as 'acute tuberculosis attacking the heart, and medicine is ineffective'."
When Yunxiu's gaze fell upon the porcelain bottle, her fingertips trembled almost imperceptibly, and she dared not take it with her own hands.
She simply turned her head to gesture towards the pomegranate.
Shiliu was already terrified. She quickly covered her mouth and nose tightly with a handkerchief and took the bottle with trepidation, as if she were holding a branding iron.
Yunxiu stared intently at the small bottle, a flicker of fear flashing in her eyes before being swallowed by an even stronger surge of excitement and greed: "Imperial Physician... can you really not detect anything?"
Lin Yingyu's smile deepened, becoming eerily unpredictable: "Princess, rest assured. This poison enters with the smoke and fire, silently eroding the lungs and internal organs. The Imperial Hospital's ordinary methods cannot detect even a trace of it."
This disease was later known as "silicosis".
The culprit is the invisible dust formed from crystalline silicon dioxide.
These people, trapped in their narrow-minded views, only see it as an acute illness, little do they know that it is only five days of smoke and is destined to decay within a hundred days.
And it was in that hidden quartz vein on Guiyu Island that she, with her toxicological knowledge that was ahead of her time, refined this pale ore into the deadly and traceless Asura Smoke.
Shiliu, standing nearby, spoke up urgently: "Your Highness! This is truly a godsend! That Lu woman is about to walk right into our trap to save this beast! We can just detain her, imprison her in the water dungeon, and ignite this 'five-day consumption'... No one will know!"
Upon hearing this, Lin Yingyu's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and an unexpectedly satisfied smile appeared on her lips: "Oh? It's such a coincidence? That's... perfect."
This saved her a lot of planning work.
Yunxiu did not respond immediately, but fell into deep thought.
She knew that Lu Zhaoruo was exceptionally quick-witted.
If it were any other day, to burn this poisonous incense around her without her noticing for five days would be nothing short of a pipe dream.
Whether it's secretly placed in her room or bribed by someone close to her, it's very easy for her to notice.
Everyone in her Yunshang Pavilion was as loyal as an iron barrel.
However, at this moment... Yunxiu's gaze slowly swept over the dying Abao on the ground...
Right now, this is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
Lu Zhaoru will surely come to save his beloved pet.
She only needed to imprison him in the water dungeon that had been prepared beforehand.
Once the poisonous incense is lit, Lu Zhaoruo will be like a bird in a cage, unable to escape!
Five days later, once the toxins have taken deep root in the lungs and internal organs, she can release the person and even feign concern.
At that time, Lu Zhaoruo would only think that she was unwell due to physical and mental exhaustion after being imprisoned for several days, and would never have imagined that she had been poisoned and that her death was imminent!
Thinking of this, the last trace of hesitation in Yunxiu's eyes vanished, replaced by a ruthless, cold light.
She slowly raised her head, looked at Lin Yingyu and Shiliu, and said in a cold, hard voice: "Fine! We'll proceed with this plan."
“Madam Lin, you will personally arrange this ‘five-day consumption’ treatment.”
A cruel, expectant smile played on her lips: "I, the Lady, want to watch her...walk right into my trap, and wither away step by step!"
"What happened?"
A voice, authoritative yet not angry, rang out from under the corridor.
Everyone looked on in astonishment, only to see that the Grand Princess Linglang had somehow appeared on the steps, her phoenix eyes slightly lowered as she swept across the courtyard.
Seeing that all the servants in the courtyard had been dismissed, leaving only her daughter Yunxiu, her confidante Shiliu, and a woman with a honey-brown complexion, exotic attire, and unfamiliar eyes, she couldn't help but frown.
She had come to inquire after hearing that her daughter had made a fuss over a cat, only to find her dismissing everyone else and having a private conversation with someone of unknown origin.
Yunxiu's expression changed drastically, and she hurriedly stepped forward: "Mother, why have you come..."
Lin Yingyu felt a chill run down her spine and instinctively lowered her head to avoid eye contact.
Shu Linglang's gaze was sharp as she first swept over the bloodstained iron cage and the dying white cat on the ground, then coldly fixed on Lin Yingyu: "Who is this? Why is she here?"
Shi Liu was so frightened that her legs went weak.
Yunxiu stammered and could not speak.
Seeing their flustered expressions, Linglang knew there must be something going on. She stopped questioning Lin Yingyu and turned to Yunxiu, her voice cold and deep: "You detained Madam Lu's cat and dismissed everyone else to have a private conversation with this stranger... Could it be that you intend to do something improper to Lu Zhaoruo next?"
Before Yunxiu could explain, she had already guessed seven or eight parts of the truth from her daughter's past impulsiveness and the current situation. Her tone suddenly turned cold: "Do you intend to secretly detain her in the mansion and use torture? That's utter nonsense!"
Yunxiu's face turned pale when her secret was exposed.
Shu Linglang's eyes were filled with a knowing disappointment and a fierce look: "Is Xiao Yeming just a figurehead? Is Princess Yongfu just a figurehead? Detaining a royal merchant in broad daylight, are you afraid that your enemies won't find a reason to impeach me?"
Suppressing her fear, Lin Yingyu stepped forward, curtsied, and deliberately softened her voice: "This commoner, Lin, greets Your Highness the Grand Princess."
She paused briefly, then cautiously but opportunistically offered her contribution: "Seeing that Your Highness is being harassed by that Lu family, I am indignant and have offered a plan... I have obtained a rare overseas stone that can be refined into an invisible and odorless poison. If someone inhales it continuously for five days, the poison will be deeply implanted in their lungs, and they will inevitably cough up blood and become dehydrated, and even the most renowned doctors in the world will find it difficult to detect the source!"
Yunxiu hurriedly chimed in, "Yes, Mother! I plan to arrest Lu Zhaoruo for the crime of intrusion when she comes looking for the cat, imprison her in the water dungeon, and burn this incense for five days! After five days, I will release her."
She even raised her face, with a naive malice, and assured her, "Mother, rest assured, I will not lay a finger on her, nor harm her in the slightest. After I release her in five days, even if she is terminally ill, everyone will just think that she is weak and frail, and no one will be able to trace it back to me!"
"Utterly foolish!"
Shu Linglang shouted angrily, a cold glint flashing in her eyes: "No physical harm? Do you think this self-deceiving trick can fool Xiao Yeming's eyes and shut Princess Yongfu's mouth?"
She took a step closer, her voice chillingly cold: "To deal with someone like Lu Zhaoruo, whose every move has far-reaching consequences, using such a foolish trick that gives others a handle to use against you is no different from digging your own grave! Even if you didn't harm her in the slightest, the mere charge of 'establishing a private prison and imprisoning a royal merchant' would be enough to give your father a hard time in court!"
Yunxiu said anxiously, "Then...then what should we do? Mother, my arm still hurts! You love me the most, please help me get rid of Lu Zhaoruo!"
Shu Linglang took a deep breath, suppressing her anger, and said, "If we're going to take action, it's not about privately detaining or imprisoning someone!"
Her sharp gaze swept over the two of them: "You think imprisoning them in the water dungeon is foolproof? If you use force, you'll give them ammunition to accuse you!"
Lin Yingyu was also a smart person, and immediately asked, "Then what does Your Highness, the Grand Princess, think we should do?"
Shu Linglang looked at Abao, who was on the verge of death in the iron cage, and narrowed her phoenix eyes: "When Lu Zhaoruo comes, Xiu'er, you should go and apologize in person. Tell him that you should not have punished the cat with a cane. He has already been reprimanded by me and knows that he has repented."
Yunxiu was stunned: "Mother! She actually wants her daughter to apologize to her?"
Shu Linglang gave her a cold look, and she immediately fell silent.
"After making an apology..."
Shu Linglang continued, "Welcome her into 'Tingzhu Pavilion' with the courtesy due to an honored guest, and treat her as a distinguished guest. Tell her that I admire her talent and wish to invite her to stay for a few days to learn embroidery skills."
She paused for a moment, then added, "In addition, the gown she made for me at the Rainbow Dress Gathering that day, I have come to appreciate it more and more since then."
Her gaze finally settled on Lin Yingyu, and she said meaningfully, "As for you... that incense that 'helps to calm the mind' will be lit in Tingzhu Pavilion. Make sure that Madam Lu stays comfortably and peacefully, and doesn't want to leave. Do you understand?"
Lin Yingyu's heart skipped a beat, and she immediately bowed deeply: "This humble woman... understands. I will certainly not fail Your Highness's trust and will definitely make that poison..."
She immediately changed her tune: "The 'Mind-Calming Incense' permeated the air day and night, helping Madam Lu to calm her mind and recuperate, making her linger there."
When Yunxiu heard that her mother not only did not stop her, but instead gave her an even more ruthless plan, she was overjoyed.
But then she thought that she had to bow down and apologize to Lu Zhaoruo, and the feeling of humiliation clung to her heart like a poisonous vine, which was worse than killing her.
However, her mother's imposing presence was overwhelming, and she dared not disobey. She could only clench her fists tightly and grit her teeth inwardly: "It's just a temporary apology... What Lu Zhaoruo will have to pay is her life!"
At this moment, Ah Bao, who was on the verge of death in the iron cage, heard this vicious plot clearly!
Large tears, mingled with blood, rolled down its emerald green eyes as it silently cried out in its heart, "Mother...please don't come...this is a trap...they want to burn poison to harm you..."
After giving her instructions, Linglang's gaze inadvertently swept over the white cat again.
But the cat, though covered in blood, stared intently at him with its bright blue eyes, filled with a grief and despair that was almost human-like, unlike any ordinary beast.
She paused slightly, a faint sense of surprise crossing her mind: "This cat... is unusually intelligent."
Without saying much, he turned and left.
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