We arrived at the courtyard outside.
Palace lanterns hung all around, and the palace maids and eunuchs dared not approach without orders, standing far away and awaiting instructions.
Yue Rongheng asked, "What is it?"
Yun Yin said, "Didn't you previously instruct your subordinates to keep an eye on the Yin family...? Yin Wenxiao has been making frequent moves lately, even contacting the old eunuch who served in the palace during Emperor Hui's reign, as well as Old Madam Yin. A few days ago, our people discovered that the nanny beside her disguised herself and purchased a considerable amount of 'Yanwang Zhui' on the black market."
What is 'Yan Wang Zhui'?
Yun Yin said, "This is an extremely potent and domineering poison. It doesn't need to be ingested. Just smelling it for a short while each day will cause a person to die suddenly within two or three months, or even half a month. Even a highly skilled doctor probably won't be able to detect it."
Yue Rong had a terrible headache. She closed her eyes and heard Yun Yin ask in confusion, "What does the old lady of the Yin family want to use these kinds of medicines that are strictly prohibited by the court?"
What else can it be used for?
Poison is naturally used to harm people.
"Yunyin." Yue Rongheng's expression suddenly turned grim. "Come here."
After whispering a few words, Yunyin nodded and clasped his hands in a fist salute, though he was slightly puzzled. "Your subordinate will take care of it immediately!"
...
The next morning, Qin Sheng was about to leave the mansion.
As the year draws to a close, all the shops in the mansion need to be inventoried and cleared out, and Qin Sheng, the mistress of the house, needs to stamp the inventory list after it is completed.
However, after inspecting all the shops, Qin Sheng did not return home.
The carriage was driven by Caiyue's cousin, Awei, who is now Qin Sheng's confidant.
The unremarkable carriage wound its way through the streets and finally stopped in front of a somewhat secluded clinic.
“Madam, we’ve arrived.” Awei’s voice rang out from outside the carriage.
Qin Sheng, her face veiled, got off the carriage with the help of Qiao'er and Emerald, and looked up at the clinic in front of her.
Miao Shan Tang.
Qiao'er pouted and frowned as she looked at the three large characters "Miaoshantang" on the plaque. "Madam, this Miaoshantang clinic killed someone last year. What are we doing here?"
Because someone had died while treating patients, Miaoshantang looked like it was about to close down, with no one coming to see the doctor.
"Of course there is something."
Qin Sheng clenched the things in her hand and stepped onto the steps in front of her.
The clinic was empty. Although it looked a bit old, it was very clean, and there was a faint smell of medicine in the air.
Qiao'er called out, "Is anyone there? Where did everyone go?"
"..."
After calling out several times, the plain-colored curtain behind them was lifted, and a middle-aged man who looked to be in his early forties came out. He looked surprised when he saw the group of women, mistress and servants.
They probably never expected that their clinic, where someone had died, would still have patients visiting.
"You must be Dr. Yan?" Qin Sheng took two steps forward. "I have some things I'd like to ask Dr. Yan for help with."
Although she wore a veil, Doctor Yan noticed that she possessed a dignified and gentle demeanor, and couldn't help but ask, "It's no trouble at all, Madam, are you here to see a doctor?"
Qin Sheng shook her head and opened a tightly wrapped handkerchief in her hand. "I would like to ask you to take a look at this for me."
Only Qin Sheng and Emerald know about this. Qiao'er went to the kitchen in the morning and couldn't explain in detail when she left, so she doesn't know yet.
"Oh, isn't this your favorite 'Forget-Me-Not'?"
Qiao'er asked in confusion, "Why did you take out this incense ash?"
Doctor Yan accepted the incense with both hands and heard the elegant lady say, "I would like to trouble you to take a look and see if there is anything else mixed in with this incense."
"..."
Upon hearing this, not only Doctor Yan, but also Qiao'er gasped, her fingers trembling slightly.
"Madam, what...what does this mean?"
Does the lady suspect that someone has mixed something into her usual spices? That's impossible!
She's always been in charge of the lady's spices!
At the beginning of each month, the clerk from the Qin family's spice shop would deliver the spices. Qiao'er would personally go to the Yin family's gate to pick them up, and only after checking them would she bring them back to Zhefang Courtyard.
The spices were usually kept in a locked cabinet, and only she and her sister Jade had the key.
Qin Sheng said to her, "Don't be impatient."
Dr. Yan asked them to wait a moment, while he took the spices and looked at them on the counter, and even tasted them in the end.
I waited for about fifteen minutes.
Doctor Yan's face was tense. He came over with something in his hand, his brows furrowed: "Does Madam recognize this 'King Yama's Pursuit'?"
Qin Sheng was taken aback, then shook his head.
However, the name 'King Yama Chase' sounded unusual, so Qin Sheng tentatively asked, "Is it poison?"
Doctor Yan nodded: "If this 'King Yama's Pursuit' is added alone to tea or food, the poisoned person will die suddenly within five days, and the cause of death will be very difficult to find out."
Upon hearing this, Qin Sheng suddenly broke out in a cold sweat.
Qiao'er and Emerald looked at each other, both of them dumbfounded, unable to grasp the meaning behind Doctor Yan's words for a moment.
What... dead or alive?
Doctor Yan continued, "However, this 'King Yama's Pursuit' was not mixed in with the incense. If I'm not mistaken, this 'King Yama's Pursuit' was probably sprinkled into the copper incense burner, and in very small amounts. If the lady burns this calming incense every night, she will die within one or two months, or even three months, when the toxins in her body accumulate to a certain level, and no one will be able to find out anything suspicious about it."
"Doctor, are you saying that someone wants to harm my wife???"
Qiao'er was so shocked that her hands and feet went weak.
Yes, only she and Sister Jade can handle the 'Forget-Me-Not' incense that the lady uses, but the small incense burner is another matter!
Any maid or old woman in Zhefang Courtyard could potentially come into contact with her!
Among those wealthy and powerful families, there are many unspeakable and sordid secrets. Before the incident at Miaoshantang, Doctor Yan was a highly sought-after doctor in the capital, having treated patients in many wealthy households.
Doctor Yan remained silent, only frowning as he looked at Qin Sheng.
"Thank you." Qin Sheng actually gave him a slight bow in thanks, and then had Emerald give her a silver ingot. "This is the consultation fee."
Doctor Yan was about to say something more, but the lady had already left with her maid.
Awei and the others were waiting outside. When they saw them come out, they quickly asked, "Madam, are you going back to the manor?"
Qin Sheng nodded, stepped onto the low stool and entered the carriage. When she lifted the veil from her face, she discovered that her palms were sticky with sweat.
"lady……"
Jade was also filled with lingering fear and said worriedly, "We can't just sit here and wait to die!"
Qin Sheng shook her head, signaling her not to speak yet.
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