Chapter 367: Chapter 140 Undermining the Foundation
The Imperial Apothecary and the Medical Officer Institute both have Shennong Shrines.
Medical officers often visit the Shennong Shrine during festivals to pay their respects so as to be influenced by the grace of the Medicine King.
However, the Shennong Shrine at the Southern Pharmacy was far from being as bright and spacious as that of the Imperial Apothecary. The small courtyard was located in a wasteland behind the storehouse, and although it was quite clean, it was damp and gloomy due to lack of sunlight. As soon as one entered the courtyard, the darkness seemed to deepen.
He Xiu, leading the way, walked briskly up to the door and unlocked the lock that hung outside.
The heavy wooden doors of the Shennong Shrine creaked open, revealing a thin crack through which a sliver of light penetrated from outside, illuminating the dim hall.
Right in front of everybody, underneath the towering statue of the Medicine King, a person was kneeling on a straw mat.
This person was facing away from everyone, with a particularly frail figure, who did not stir at the sound. The benevolent expression and smiling gaze of the Medicine King cast a shadow that appeared peaceful and gentle, like a butterfly perched on a lotus dais, ready to take flight in the next moment.
Unable to help himself, Shi Changpu whispered, "Physician Lu?"
At the sound, the figure paused, then slowly turned around, revealing a beautiful face.
Shi Changpu was taken aback, glancing over at Qiu He who was equally surprised.
This was a young woman.
Although Shi Changpu already knew that Lu Tong was a new Imperial Medical Officer this year and not very old, he had imagined that a Commoner Medical Worker who topped the spring exam would have had some years of experience. To him, ’young’ meant someone younger than the white-bearded old men of the Medical Officer Institute, yet the girl in front of him seemed no more than seventeen or eighteen, more like a sheltered young miss who knew little of the world.
Was she the one who had tampered with the red fragrant fleeceflower roots? Shi Changpu was skeptical.
"Lu Tong," Zhu Mao, with a stern face, stood at the threshold of the shrine without entering. He glared at her, "Envoy Qiu from the Imperial Apothecary has questions for you, come out and speak."
Lu Tong nodded her head, "Yes," and got up as instructed. However, as soon as she stood, she stumbled violently. He Xiu quickly reached out to support her, preventing her from falling.
Her knees must have gone numb from kneeling too long.
Shi Changpu looked at Zhu Mao with a hint of reproach in his eyes. Keeping such a frail girl kneeling in the shrine for three days was simply cruel.
Zhu Mao did not notice Shi Changpu’s gaze, watching tensely as He Xiu helped Lu Tong into the courtyard.
Qiu He was waiting in the courtyard.
As soon as Lu Tong exited the shrine, she saw in the courtyard an old man in a tan round-necked brocade robe, with white hair and a plump figure, squinting and sizing her up from not too far away.
Zhu Mao introduced, "This is Envoy Qiu from the Imperial Apothecary," and then pointed to the middle-aged man in a stone-colored long robe, "This is Chief Physician Shi."
Lu Tong greeted them with a bow, "Envoy Qiu, Chief Physician Shi."
With a stroke of his beard, Qiu He’s seemingly dull eyes were sharp as he said, "I’ve heard that you took charge of cleaning and organizing this batch of red fragrant fleeceflower roots for the Imperial Apothecary?"
"Yes."
"Then tell us, how did you go about cleaning and organizing this batch of red fragrant fleeceflower roots?"
Lu Tong raised her head, and in an instant, all eyes in the courtyard - some curious, some tense - fixed on her, with only He Xiu full of concern.
"I used black bean juice, perilla juice, azurite juice, indigo juice, and pulverized centipede juice boiled in water to soak and cleanse the red fragrant fleeceflower roots."
As soon as she finished speaking, everyone in the courtyard was momentarily stunned, and Qiu He’s eyebrows knitted together.
Zhu Mao rebuked lightly, "What folly. Red fragrant fleeceflower roots have always been cleaned with lukewarm clear water; who authorized you to take such liberties?"
Indeed, before Lu Tong’s arrival at the Southern Pharmacy, the processing of red fragrant fleeceflower roots had always been as such for many years, and He Xiu had done the same.
Qiu He raised a hand to stop Zhu Mao’s interrogation and turned to Lu Tong, "Why did you process the red fragrant fleeceflower roots in such a manner?"
Lu Tong paused to think before kneeling down.
"It’s common knowledge that red fragrant fleeceflower roots are highly toxic, but within seven days of being harvested, most of the toxicity fades. This is beneficial for those preparing medicinals but is the opposite when it comes to preserving the medicinal properties."
"The fluff of red fragrant fleeceflower roots is most poisonous. Although the roots and stems lack fragrance, they are where the intense medicinal properties lie. However, using black bean juice, perilla juice, azurite juice, indigo juice, and pulverized centipede juice boiled in water to soak them for a day and night preserves the medicinal qualities of the roots and stems."
"I reviewed the Southern Pharmacy’s supply records and found that the entire palace only uses red fragrant fleeceflower roots for making One Dream Pill. As long as the roots are processed this way, preserving their medicinal nature while eliminating the fragrance, it not only protects the health of those making the medicine but also allows One Dream Pill to be most effective."