“Young Madam, are the prescriptions from those people still here? Could I have a look?” Doctor Liao suddenly spoke.
“Yes, they are all with me. I’ll have the maids bring over all the prescriptions for you to see,” Qin Xixue replied readily.
Immediately, Qin Xixue urged her two maids to retrieve the five prescriptions from the dressing table drawers.
After examining them, the two doctors stated that there were no issues with the prescriptions.
This left both doctors perplexed.
“Doctor, this ‘pig abscess’ you mentioned, what kind of poison is it?” Madam Qin asked curiously.
“Madam, the pig abscess poison is actually called 'Yin Sheng Hua.' It’s a poison refined from Golden Leaf Chrysanthemum, Black Heart Lotus, peach blossoms stained with miasma, purple vine from the Southern Border’s Han Bi Cao, and the Jin Xi Gu. Those poisoned will first develop abscesses on their faces, which then spread to their bodies, causing them to rot and die. Because the symptoms of the poisoned are so disgusting, we physicians also call it pig abscess,” Doctor Liao explained to them.
His words made Prime Minister Qin, Madam Qin, and Qin Xixue turn pale with fright.
“Father, Mother, I don’t want to die! Sob sob…”
“Alas, my unfortunate daughter, who exactly have you offended? How could someone administer such a malicious poison to you?” Madam Qin asked with a worried frown.
“Father, Mother, it must be those little bitches in the mansion who poisoned me.”
Qin Xixue’s swollen, abscess-covered face had its features distorted. Her brows were furrowed, her eyes blazing, and her expression was fierce.
Upon hearing Qin Xixue’s words, Qin Zhihong felt a flicker of displeasure. Although those concubine daughters were not as outstanding as Qin Xixue, they were still his flesh and blood. He did not want to see Qin Xixue engage in a fight to the death with them.
“Xue’er, without concrete evidence, do not make baseless accusations.”
However, Qin Xixue became very angry upon hearing Qin Zhihong’s words.
“Father, they have poisoned me before, so how can I be wrongly accusing them?” Qin Xixue said indignantly.
“Young Madam, ordinary people cannot obtain the Yin Sheng Hua poison because it is only found in the Miao territory of Southern Zhao. Those who usually obtain this poison are merchants who have done business in Miao territory. Because Yin Sheng Hua also has the effect of repelling wild beasts, merchants would sprinkle the powder around them when camping outdoors to ward off beasts. At the same time, Yin Sheng Hua also has a preservative effect. Although it can cause living beings to rot and die, if the powder is sprinkled on fur coats, it can act as a preservative. This powder is very rare and outrageously expensive, so it is very difficult for ordinary people to obtain it. Only merchants are willing to buy this powder at a high price,” Doctor Liao patiently explained to everyone.
“Doctor Liao is correct. Pig abscess is indeed Yin Sheng Hua. Young Madam has been poisoned by this…,” another doctor began, but Qin Xixue interrupted him.
“Merchant, ha, I know who poisoned me. Doctors, please examine these ornaments I bought.”
As Qin Xixue spoke, she immediately lowered the hands covering her face and walked quickly to the dressing table. She opened another drawer and immediately took out the jewelry boxes, asking the maids to pass them to the doctors.
“Doctors, please help me see if there’s anything wrong with these ornaments?” Qin Xixue asked.
The two doctors took out the handkerchiefs they carried and picked up an ornament each to examine. They quickly understood what was happening.
Subsequently, they placed the ornaments back into the boxes.
“Young Madam, these ornaments of yours have all been soaked in the Yin Sheng Hua potion,” Doctor Liao stated astonishingly.
“What? Xue’er, didn’t you buy these ornaments from the Moon Beauty Accessories Shop? Mother will go settle the score with them,” Madam Qin said with a furious expression.
“Mother, don’t be rash! Shouldn’t we first ask the doctors if my poison can be cured?” Qin Xixue asked, on the verge of tears.
“Young Madam, if you wish to cure the Yin Sheng Hua poison, you must find medicinal herbs called Di Ji Cao and Pu Di Cao. Drink them boiled in water for three consecutive days, and the Yin Sheng Hua poison will be dispelled. Most doctors know this method of detoxification. I find it very strange, why did the doctors you previously invited to examine you prescribe only cooling medicine?” Doctor Liao asked, full of confusion.
“You say most doctors know how to cure this poison?” Qin Xixue retorted.
“Yes, although Yin Sheng Hua poison is difficult to obtain, it is easy to cure. Most doctors know how to cure it. As long as Di Ji Cao and Pu Di Cao are found and boiled in water for a few days, you will recover,” Doctor Liao affirmed.
“Zilan, where did you find the doctors who came to see me?” Qin Xixue turned and asked her maid.
“Miss, I, I… I found them on the street…”
Before the maid Zilan could finish speaking, she received a slap from Qin Xixue.
“What a waste! You’re making me furious.” Qin Xixue roared at the maid.
“Prime Minister Qin, Madam Qin, I have already told you the method to cure the Young Madam’s poisoning. I shall take my leave now.” Doctor Liao did not want to get involved in others’ affairs and quickly departed.
“Then we thank both doctors for their help today. Shu Qin, go to the steward’s office, collect two taels of silver to see the doctors out, and then go to the pharmacy to buy Di Ji Cao and Pu Di Cao,” Madam Qin said with a smile.
“Yes, Madam!”
Afterward, Madam Qin’s personal maid, Shu Qin, led the two doctors away from the Qin residence.
After the two doctors had left, Qin Xixue glanced at the jewelry box the maid had placed on the table and said coldly, “Mother, I cannot let this go. I must seek revenge from the owner of the Moon Beauty Accessories Shop.”
“Xue’er, Mother supports you. However, the owner of the Moon Beauty Accessories Shop has no feud with our Qin family. Why would he harm you?” Madam Qin asked, somewhat confused.
“He knows Leng Ruoli. The other day when I went to the Moon Beauty Accessories Shop to choose ornaments, I had a conflict with Leng Ruoli. He saw everything from the attic. Later, he invited Leng Ruoli and a few others to sit upstairs for a long time. When they came down, each of them was carrying many ornaments. Therefore, I suspect Leng Ruoli incited the owner of the Moon Beauty Accessories Shop to recommend the poisoned ornaments to me. I will not let this matter go easily.”
Qin Xixue’s face was dark purple, and accentuated by the numerous abscesses, it was as red as a purple radish.
“Xue’er, no. Since this matter involves the Cold Princess Consort, we cannot act rashly. The Cold Princess Consort is no longer the fool she used to be. Her standing in the hearts of the Emperor and the Empress Dowager is even higher than that of the Cold King. If we provoke her, the Emperor and the Empress Dowager will surely hold a grudge against our Qin family,” Prime Minister Qin said with a serious expression.
“Father, are we just going to let this matter go like this? I can’t swallow this injustice,” Qin Xixue said petulantly.
“Who said we’re letting it go like this? Xue’er, listen to your father. We…”
Prime Minister Qin pulled Qin Xixue and Madam Qin together and whispered into their ears.