A few days ago, King Baili Yinfeng of the Northern Liang Kingdom issued an order requiring that the medicine sent from Medicine King Valley to the Nanyang Palace be mixed with Xigui San. As its name suggests, Xigui San can send people to the Western Paradise if taken for a long time.
This drug is colorless and odorless, and its effects on the human body are painless. It only makes people feel physically tired, gradually fall into a deep sleep, and eventually die peacefully.
However, one of the ingredients in Xigui San, chrysanthemum, can only grow in winter, and without this ingredient, Xigui San cannot be made.
But it's springtime now, and summer will be here soon.
“Father, Juxin hasn’t grown up yet. Why don’t we wait until after winter and use Xigui Powder next spring?” suggested Wuma Zinan, the second son of the Valley Master of Medicine King Valley.
Wu Ma Zinan was an expert in the properties and pharmacology of medicines. He never advocated using poison to harm the royal family of other countries in order to gain an advantage for his own side. His elder brother, on the other hand, had a completely different personality. The only thing the two had in common was their skill in using poison.
"Second brother, the king has already said that the next batch of medicine sent to the palace must contain Xigui San. Why are you so disobedient?!" Wuma Ziheng, the eldest son of the Valley Master of Medicine King Valley, glared at his younger brother with dissatisfaction.
"You've always been a troublemaker since you were a child, how come you're still so immature now that you're all grown up?"
"Disobeying the King's orders will not only lead to our deaths, but will also implicate Father and even the entire Medicine King Valley!" Wuma Ziheng said with a look of utter disappointment.
“But if the people in the martial arts world find out… we won’t be able to protect ourselves in this world anymore. Once we take sides, we have a stance, and once we have a stance, we have enemies!” Wu Ma Zinan said with a worried expression. He had always believed that Medicine King Valley should remain neutral and make the discovery of herbs and the production of medicine its primary objective.
"We'll discuss this later. For now, let's follow the King's request," the Valley Master said, frowning. He hadn't yet found a good solution that balanced the two sides.
“Father, this purple plant is the Wheat Flos.” Wuma Ziheng ignored his younger brother and pointed to the purple five-petaled flower blooming on the ground. “This is a new variety that I have cultivated.”
"Long-term use of this herb can cause abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, low-grade fever, severe spinal pain and difficulty in movement, and sometimes coma or death."
"The symptoms are still too obvious. You heard what His Majesty meant: we need a slow-acting medicine so that people die slowly without showing any signs of poisoning."
"Ideally, it should be asymptomatic."
“Father, then why not use this larkspur?” Wuma Ziheng pointed to a cluster of pale blue petals. “The ultimate symptom of this larkspur is that it slowly weakens a person until they die.”
"Hmm, let's use this larkspur for now. Figure out how much to use."
"Yes, Father."
"Are you sure you want to do this?" The Valley Master's second son was still somewhat hesitant. If the Nanyang royal family found out about this, it would surely cause a war between the two countries, and the people of both countries would be displaced and suffer the hardships of war.
"This is the King's order! Didn't Father say to do it this way first? Why are you dawdling?"
"Don't go out and say you're my brother, Wuma Ziheng's brother. You're a coward, always cowering and shrinking back. You'll embarrass me!" Wuma Ziheng scolded. He greatly admired Baili Yingfeng and believed that no matter what means were used, as long as Beiliang became the most powerful country in the world, he was willing to do anything.
When the Northern Liang Dynasty unifies the world, Wuma Ziheng's name will surely be recorded in history.
"Alright, you two brothers, stop arguing. Let's handle this as it is for now."
"Yes, Father."
...
In the northern frontier, Prince Yun Mohan of Jin faced the yellow sand, hiding in his tent day and night, facing the ever-present threat of endless sandstorms and venomous creatures such as scorpions and snakes.
"Ouch, that hurts!" Yun Mohan was stung on the ankle by a scorpion.
The accompanying doctors, all brought from the capital, had never seen these poisonous creatures from the northern frontier before. They were helpless as they watched Prince Jin's ankles swell more and more.
"A bunch of filthy wretch, what use are you to me?!"
"Get out of my sight!" Yun Mohan's lips trembled slightly with anger, his eyes bloodshot.
"Father, when can we return to the capital? Luo Xue really can't stay here any longer!" Yun Luo Xue cried, her face full of sorrow. The environment in the Northern Frontier was truly harsh.
"Stop arguing! Doesn't Father also want to go back?!"
"Your Highness, a man claiming to be an envoy from Northern Liang says he wishes to see you," a guard said as he entered the tent.
"What does the envoy want with me? If you have something to say, go directly to the capital and find my brother!" Yun Mohan was very agitated, and the pain in his ankle only fueled his anger.
"That man said he brought a miraculous medicine that could cure the strange poison in the northern frontier."
"A miracle drug?"
"Let him in."
...
Inside the Fushuang Palace of the Nanyang Imperial Palace, Granny Liu is feeding Yun Duoduo milk.
"Little princess, little princess, look who's here!" Granny Liu looked at her kindly and gestured for her to look towards the door.
Yun Duoduo also heard footsteps at the door and turned around to look.
【Aunt Xiang?!】
Aunt Xiang is back!
[Waaah, I'm so glad Aunt Xiang is back.]
“Little Princess!” Ah Xiang was overjoyed, tears welling up in her eyes. She quickly walked to Yun Duoduo and knelt by her bedside.
"Little princess, it was all my fault for causing you to be frightened in the Buddhist hall. Now the arsonist in the Buddhist hall has been caught; it is Consort Ling from Fanghua Palace!"
She had heard Liu Mama and the others in the palace discuss this matter to some extent. She really didn't expect that such an unknown beauty in the harem, with such a low profile, could actually commit murder.
"Don't worry, little princess, I will be careful with my words and actions in the future and protect your safety!" Ah Xiang hugged Yun Duoduo in her arms.
As Yun Duoduo listened to A Xiang's words, she lost track of what else A Xiang said; her attention was completely drawn to the scars on A Xiang's face.
Ah Xiang's face was sallow, and half of her left cheek was covered in burn scars. There was also a long suture line running from her chin to her cheekbone, making her look like a centipede from a distance.
The scar is very dark, and even wearing a veil probably won't be able to cover it.
Why does Aunt Xiang's face look like this?!
Yun Duoduo felt a pang of sadness in her heart. She reached out her lotus-root-like hand and gently placed it on A Xiang's face, her eyes filled with sorrow and pity.
It's all my fault. If someone hadn't wanted to harm me, you wouldn't have been dragged into this.
Ah Xiang seemed to sense the emotions in Yun Duoduo's eyes. She took Yun Duoduo's hand and said with a smile, "Little princess, don't worry, this servant doesn't care about this face."
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