Chapter 35 Foxglove
"That thing is called foxglove. Doesn't the name sound a bit unusual?"
It actually looks a bit like Rehmannia glutinosa, but not quite.
My master also said that foxgloves look like larkspur, especially when they are in bloom, they are almost exactly the same as larkspurs.
The only difference is the thickness of the petals.
Today, the aunt in charge of medicine must have mistaken foxglove for delphinium.
Foxgloves are quite pretty, aren't they!
But foxglove...
My master once said that his father, who was also my grandmaster, had used digitalis to prepare medicine.
It seems to be for the wife of the advisor's nephew, who said that the elder had a heart condition that she was born with.
Excessive fright can trigger an illness.
Back then, the advisor went to great lengths to prepare medicine for that elder's heart ailment.
The master said that digitalis was among the prescriptions left by the master for treating congenital heart disease.
Digitalis has a very good effect in treating heart disease.
However, the more effective a herb is in treating a certain disease, the more toxic it is in other aspects.
This is also the reason why every medicine has some degree of toxicity.
Medicine King Valley has planted a lot of foxgloves, and some elders have gone to study them, but many have gotten into trouble because of studying foxgloves.
What I remember most clearly is a young apprentice who accidentally ate a foxglove fruit while joking with someone.
He immediately started convulsing, vomiting, and having diarrhea.
The pulse disappeared in less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.
In the end, it was only through the master's use of the Twenty-Four Heavenly Needles that the young medicine boy was pulled back from the brink of death.
"It terrified everyone!" Lian Qiao said earnestly.
Song Zhimian was also stunned. She had heard of Rehmannia glutinosa, but she had never heard of Dioscorea opposita.
However, with the current booming commerce in Chongqing, and countless trips made to the other side of the sea, it seems normal that some alien species might be accidentally brought in.
"That little medicine boy was so careless!"
These herbs are strictly controlled, how can you just eat them casually!
"He thinks he's Shennong!" Song Zhimian said.
Lian Qiao sighed.
"It's no wonder that medicine boy was so badly injured. Who could have known that herbs that would be harmless to rabbits would cause such a serious problem to humans from just a tiny bit of them!"
Song Zhimian...
"Would it be okay for the rabbit to eat it?"
"That's right! There are many rabbits used for drug testing in Medicine King Valley."
Some medicines are prepared and given to rabbits. The elder once said that rabbits' internal organs and meridian pathways are very similar to those of humans.
If rabbits can take many medicines without any problems, then humans will likely be fine too.
But who can know...
"The foxglove rabbit was fine after eating it, but the young apprentice, being greedy, almost lost his life after stealing one or two fruits!" Lian Qiao continued to explain to Song Zhimian.
Song Zhimian thought about it and realized it made sense.
In many modern laboratories, aren't rabbits or mice used for experiments?
"Then... could it be that the young apprentice ate something else before taking the digitalis?"
Even though I'm not knowledgeable in medicine, I know that some medicines or foods are incompatible and shouldn't be taken together," Song Zhimian offered her opinion.
Lianqiao nodded vigorously.
"Zhimian, you're so smart, you even thought of this."
You were right!
The young medicine boy drank a cup of medicinal wine before touching the foxglove; it was for treating asthma.
Later, my master conducted another experiment, and found that even rabbits, if given alcohol and then fed foxgloves, would die within a short time.
Song Zhimian felt as if something flashed through her mind.
Lian Qiao noticed that Song Zhimian had suddenly stopped talking, as if she had thought of something.
"Zhimian... what do you want to do?"
You can't hide what you're up to from me!
"We're in this together!" Lian Qiao whispered, holding Song Zhimin's hand.
Just as she came to her senses, Song Zhimian quickly grabbed Lian Qiao's hand.
"No, I was just thinking about something."
"Is it related to what I just said?" Lian Qiao asked back.
Song Zhimian remained silent for a while before nodding.
I'm thinking about something!
"But I can't think of it completely right now, let me think about it carefully! I'll tell you what I'm thinking tomorrow." Song Zhimian held Lian Qiao's hand tightly.
Lian Qiao noticed that Song Zhimin's hand seemed to be trembling, so she quickly grasped Song Zhimin's hand tightly.
"It's okay, take your time to think it over, and tell me only after you've thought it through!"
...
That night, Song Zhimin didn't sleep a wink, tossing and turning in her room, constantly thinking about the things on her mind.
After organizing all the usable and useful information...
Song Zhimian finally figured out what to do.
It's great that you succeeded!
If it doesn't succeed... no one will notice, and it won't implicate anyone else.
However, every step must be taken skillfully and at the right time, making everything seem like a coincidence!
Song Zhimian finally figured out what to do!
The next morning, when Lian Qiao came to return the clean shoes and socks, Song Zhimian grabbed her hand.
"Lianqiao, I need your help!"
"Your problems are my problems. I'll do my best to help you if it's within my power!"
...
On this day, Song Zhimian followed Yue Siyi and Lian Qiao followed the medicine-managing aunt to Princess Shou Kang's villa once again.
Just like yesterday, I checked everyone, everything, and every place.
Aunt Cui also led the people from the Sixth Bureau to the villa to check it out in the evening.
Everything is ready and there is nothing wrong.
Aunt Cui was very satisfied.
...
Another day passed, and on June 22nd, it was Princess Shou Kang's birthday.
Early in the morning, the Imperial Household Department delivered the gifts that His Majesty had bestowed upon Princess Shou Kang to her palace.
Following that, gifts from the Imperial Concubine, congratulatory gifts from other nobles in the palace, as well as gifts from the Crown Prince, princes, and other nobles, were all delivered to Princess Shou Kang's palace.
Song Zhimian also got up early in the morning, just as dawn was breaking, to prepare.
At the second quarter of Chen Shi (7:45 AM), Song Zhimian and the other candidates for female officials arrived at Princess Shou Kang's villa with the eunuchs.
Everyone was busy at their respective posts, not daring to slack off in the slightest.
At 2:45 AM, Princess Shou Kang arrived at the separate residence.
Following closely behind, the sons and daughters of noble families in the capital, who had received invitations from Princess Shou Kang, arrived one after another.
Luxury cars from Beijing are flocking to the outskirts of the city.
The princess's villa, which had been quiet for many days, has finally become lively again.
Song Zhimian also saw some people she recognized.
She never expected that her younger sister, Song Zhiqing, was among the invitees...
Seeing Song Zhiqing's haggard face, which was completely covered by makeup, and her eyes filled with despair, Song Zhimin remained calm.
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