Chapter 20: Detoxification Pills
The footsteps outside the door gradually faded away until they disappeared completely.
Only then did Zi Su dare to lift the hem of her skirt and quietly slipped in. When she saw Song Qingyuan's eyes were open, tears immediately welled up in her eyes: "Miss! You are finally awake! This servant... This servant thought I would never see you again!"
She rushed to the bed and wanted to hold Song Qingyuan's hand, but was afraid of hurting her, so she could only clutch the corner of her clothes and cry inconsolably.
"Don't cry." Song Qingyuan spoke, his voice still hoarse, but compared to before, there was a hint of unquestionable calmness. "Is the medicine bowl with the antidote pills that the prince gave me still there?"
Zi Su was stunned, then nodded with a sob: "Yes... yes, I was afraid you would need it later, so I didn't dare to take it."
"Give it to me."
Although puzzled, Zi Su immediately brought over the cold white porcelain medicine bowl on the table. There was a thin layer of dark brown medicine residue at the bottom of the bowl.
Song Qingyuan forced herself to sit up. This simple action almost exhausted all her strength, and cold sweat instantly soaked her shirt. She took the medicine bowl, gently rubbing her fingertips on the slightly cool porcelain wall, but her eyes were fixed on the medicine residue.
Under the candlelight, her face was paler than a white porcelain bowl, but her eyes were surprisingly bright.
She reached out her other hand's index finger, gently picked up a little medicine residue, and brought it to her nose. A faint, fishy-sweet smell, mixed with the strong medicinal smell, penetrated her nostrils.
It is "Red Snake Gallbladder".
Although this substance is a good detoxifier, it has strong medicinal properties and requires an extremely rare "Xue Ding Hong" as a guide to achieve its maximum effect. "Xue Ding Hong" is a forbidden drug tribute from the Western Regions. Ordinary people may not even have heard of it, let alone obtain it.
How could a doctor in the palace have such a thing?
Unless... the person who poisoned her and the person who gave her the antidote were from the same source. Or, in other words, the antidote itself was another, deeper trap.
Shen Yanzhi, what is he investigating? Is this poison really as simple as the princess's handwriting?
A terrible thought grew wildly in Song Qingyuan's mind.
She crushed the medicine residue between her fingertips, the fine powder bringing a touch of coolness. She suddenly smiled, a smile that didn't reach her eyes, but instead seemed to have been quenched by ice.
"Perilla."
"I'm here." Zi Su looked at the unfamiliar expression on her young lady's face and felt inexplicably frightened.
"Wrap the medicine residue at the bottom of this bowl carefully with oil paper and hide it in the place closest to your body. Don't tell anyone and don't give it to anyone." Song Qingyuan's voice was very soft, but every word was clear, with an irresistible majesty.
"Miss, this is..."
"This is our amulet, but also our death warrant." Song Qingyuan interrupted her and handed the medicine bowl back to her. "Remember, from today on, except for what I hand you personally, any medicine given by anyone else must be tested with a silver needle before taking it."
Zi Su shuddered, nearly dropping the medicine bowl in her hand. Finally understanding something, she nodded palely, "Yes, I'll take note!"
Song Qingyuan then lay down again and closed his eyes, as if he had run out of strength.
But her hands under the quilt were clenched tightly.
Her nails dug deep into her palms, and the sharp pain kept her absolutely awake.
The warm fragrance of Hibiscus Garden had not yet dissipated, but a layer of frost had already covered Shen Yanzhi's heart.
That faint fragrance now smells ironic.
The person who harmed him and the person who poisoned Song Qingyuan, these two clues were like two poisonous snakes, lurking in his mind, but he couldn't find the snake's head.
Concubine Xue was demoted to Princess Xue and confined to her own palace, cutting off his most capable aide in the palace.
He himself was also imprisoned in this palace, under the pretext of reflection, but in reality it was a prison.
One month.
A month later, those political enemies who were eyeing him covetously in the court had probably already eaten away his position completely.
Shen Yanzhi stood in the corridor with his hands behind his back. The evening wind was bleak, making the anger in his heart even more anxious.
"Your Majesty."
Butler Qi Ming lowered his head and walked quickly around from behind the moon gate, looking a little embarrassed.
"What's the matter?" Shen Yanzhi's voice showed no emotion.
"A maid from Madam Wen's courtyard requested an audience, saying she had something important to tell you... I saw you were upset, so I wanted to get in your way."
Shen Yanzhi's brows knitted slightly.
Wen Yue? What could be so important about that woman who was usually so quiet that she barely even felt her presence?
He walked towards the study, but before he got close, he saw a slender figure kneeling upright on the bluestone slab. It was Qiqiao, the maidservant beside Wen Yue.
Qi Qiao obviously didn't expect the prince to come from this direction. She looked up suddenly, her face full of astonishment.
She thought that the prince didn't want to see her, so she decided to kneel here and wait until death.
"Your Highness!" Qi Qiao knelt down and held up a letter in her hand. "This is from my aunt. She said it might help you out!"
Urgent need?
A hint of sarcasm flashed in Shen Yanzhi's eyes.
His current predicament is the emperor's wrath and the infighting in the court. What kind of extraordinary abilities can a woman in the harem have?
He didn't say anything, just held out his hand.
Qi Ming hurried forward, took the letter and handed it to him.
The envelope was unsigned and was written on the most ordinary plain paper.
Shen Yanzhi opened the letter and glanced at it casually at first, but when his eyes fell on the unfamiliar crop names on the paper and the shocking per-acre yield behind them, his eyes, which were as silent as dead water, finally showed a hint of life.
The pictures drawn on the paper were strange. One was called "sweet potato" and the other was called "jade wheat". Next to them were densely marked in tiny calligraphy with the planting methods and the yield that far exceeded that of rice.
If it's true...
If this thing can be presented, it will be a great contribution to the country and a life-saving measure for the people!
At that time, what would a mere house arrest order mean?
Shen Yanzhi's fingers holding the letter paper tightened unconsciously.
He raised his head, his gaze fixed on the kneeling Qi Qiao, and for the first time, his voice showed a distinct rise and fall: "Your aunt, do you have anything else to say?"
Qi Qiao's heart trembled at his gaze, and she quickly said, "My aunt said that Prince Xin will know at a glance. Her words carry little weight, and I only hope that Prince Xin can break this impasse and protect the safety of the palace."
Protect the palace from top to bottom...
The corners of Shen Yanzhi's mouth slowly curved into a very faint arc, but the smile did not reach his eyes, instead revealing a chilling coldness.
He folded the letter carefully and put it in his arms with a solemn gesture.
"Qi Ming."
"I'm here!"
"Go, call all the stewards and farm heads in the palace who are knowledgeable about farming to come to the study."
Shen Yanzhi's voice was not loud, but it carried a decisiveness that brooked no room for argument.
"Don't miss a single one, immediately, right now!"
Qi Ming's heart trembled. He didn't dare to delay even a little bit and bowed and replied, "Yes! I'll go right away!"
He turned around and was about to walk out, his steps quick and urgent, as if he couldn't wait to gather everyone together and send them to the prince.
"etc."
Shen Yanzhi's voice was not loud, but it was like an invisible rope, firmly fixing Qi Ming in place.
"Go and get Madam Wen..." Shen Yanzhi paused and changed his words, "No, I mean 'invite' Madam Wen to come as well."
"yes"
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