Chapter 259: Chapter 259: Falling into a Coma, In Great Danger
’The smell of this medicinal soup...’
Yuan Heng had already picked up the medicine bowl, ready to show Ji Qingwu how brave he could be.
Ji Qingwu raised her hand and placed it on his small arm.
"Wait a moment."
She took the bowl from him and asked, "Where did this medicinal soup come from?"
Seeing her doubt, Little Shunzi, who was standing to the side, replied, "I retrieved it from the Imperial Hospital this morning. It was made according to the prescription Miss Ji wrote yesterday."
Ji Qingwu’s gaze fell upon the thick, dark medicinal soup. Outwardly, it looked no different from yesterday’s.
Little Shunzi might have seemed impetuous, but he was sharp. He lowered his voice and asked, "Did you notice something wrong?"
Ji Qingwu replied calmly, "No. The Young Master’s condition has improved greatly. He doesn’t need to take this medicine for dispelling the chill today."
Hearing her words, the joy on Yuan Heng’s little face was plain to see. His dark eyes shone as he stared at her.
Ji Qingwu looked at him and said, "I also caught a chill in the wind yesterday. So it doesn’t go to waste, just give it to me."
Yuan Heng quickly pushed the medicinal soup toward her. "It’s still hot. Drink it quickly. You’ll feel better right away."
Ji Qingwu took the medicine bowl, which was decorated with a Ruyi Pattern. Her movements were smooth, as if she hadn’t noticed anything unusual.
She brought it to her lips and took a small sip.
’This medicine... just as I thought, there’s something wrong with it.’
The taste on the tip of her tongue, besides the heavy sour and bitter flavors, now had a hint of sweetness.
A simple test with a silver needle wouldn’t have detected it. If not for her sensitivity to the scent of medicinal herbs, she likely wouldn’t have noticed either.
There was something wrong with the medicine prepared by the Imperial Hospital for the little prince. Anyone who could have come into contact with it was a suspect.
However, with the Empress Dowager and the high-ranking consorts all out of the palace to attend the ancestral worship ceremony with the Emperor, who would try to harm Yuan Heng through her?
Ji Qingwu didn’t know who could be so audacious, nor was she sure if Little Shunzi could be trusted.
Without a change in expression, she set the medicinal soup down. "This medicine’s potency is suitable for a child. It’s not quite right for my symptoms. I’ll brew a stronger dose for myself later."
After the meal.
Yuan Heng had to complete his daily lessons with the Grand Tutor, so Ji Qingwu remained in Qianyuan Hall.
She hadn’t been able to identify the extra ingredient just from tasting it.
Ji Qingwu had tasted numerous medicines and had developed a tolerance to mild poisons, so she wasn’t afraid of it being toxic to her.
She found a secluded spot.
She whispered, "Sunflower seeds, sunflower seeds..."
After saying it twice, Ji Qingwu realized something was wrong. That wasn’t the system’s name.
It had been so long since she’d contacted it that she’d almost forgotten.
Ji Qingwu cleared her throat, pretending the blunder never happened.
She continued, "Peanuts, Peanuts, Peanuts, Peanuts, Peanuts..."
Likewise, having not received a command from its host for a long time, the system’s response was sluggish, like an old, worn-out machine.
Just as Ji Qingwu was beginning to think she’d gotten the name wrong again, she finally heard the cold, mechanical voice.
[Dear host, how may I assist you?]
Ji Qingwu let out a sigh of relief. "Peanuts, I’m so glad you’re here. Quick, help me analyze what drug is in my system."
[Host reminder: a full-body scan requires 1000 points.]
Ji Qingwu said, "If I recall correctly, the contract I signed in the smart-brain states that I can get one free physical examination every six months."
[Query complete. Your last free examination was conducted on the dragon boat.]
Ji Qingwu thought back. That did seem to be the case, but she had spent ten thousand points to resolve the situation that time, which was hardly what she’d call ’free.’
She ground her teeth. "How many points do I have left?"
[One thousand two hundred...]
Ji Qingwu immediately challenged it.
"That’s all the points I have left? You unscrupulous peanut-pincher, did you skim from my hard-earned points?"
[Apologies. A system lag occurred. Memory has been cleared. Host’s current points balance is twelve million, three hundred ninety-seven thousand, eight hundred.]
’Over ten million...’
’These aren’t just points; they’re the fruit of her hard labor over the past four years.’
’It was time to spend them generously.’
’She wouldn’t feel the pinch at all spending it on her son. Even if she ran a hundred scans, it wouldn’t make a dent in the number of digits in her point balance.’
Ji Qingwu said magnanimously, "A mere thousand points. Take it."
[Please remain still, host. The scan results will be available in one minute.]
Ji Qingwu sat up straight, feeling a blue light envelop her body as a soft crackling sound, like static electricity, buzzed in her ears.
Soon, the system’s voice sounded again.
[New substance identified in host’s body: Blood Crow Vine.]
Ji Qingwu had heard of this herb. Blood Crow Vine counteracted the Ru Lan in her prescription. The combined effect of the two...
...would cause a person to fall into a deathlike coma.
But Blood Crow Vine was incredibly rare and difficult to cultivate. It couldn’t be found in either Nanchu or Beili.
Legend had it that it was an ingredient used by the San people of Xijin to create their secret medicines.
Ji Qingwu asked, "I don’t feel dizzy yet. Why is that?"
[The time for it to take effect has not yet arrived. It will activate when the host is sleeping at night, causing you to silently slip into a coma.]
Ji Qingwu asked, "How do I counteract this poison? I can’t just not sleep, can I?"
[The dosage detected in the host is minimal. You will recover naturally after sleeping for twenty-four hours.]
’Sleeping for a day and a night wasn’t a huge deal.’
Hearing this, Ji Qingwu relaxed.
But then her heart leaped into her throat again.
’Oh no!’
That medicine was meant for Yuan Heng, and it contained a secret medicine from Xijin.
’The little guy is in danger!’
Ji Qingwu hitched up her skirts and ran outside, encountering a little eunuch from Qianyuan Hall on the way.
She grabbed his arm and asked, "Where is the Young Master now?"
The little eunuch, who was sweeping with a broom, was startled by her. "His Highness is in... in the study," he stammered.
Ji Qingwu asked, "Where is the study?"
The little eunuch pointed her in the right direction.
The study was in the west wing of Qianyuan Hall. Ji Qingwu quickened her pace, but just as she ascended the steps, she heard a heavy thud behind her.
She whirled around and saw the little eunuch she had just questioned lying on the ground.
A glittering blade was embedded in his throat.
Ji Qingwu had no time to wonder how it happened. Her brows knitted tightly as she shoved open the study doors.
The study was empty. No one was behind the desk.
Ji Qingwu cried out in a panic, "Yuan Heng?"
’Was she too late...?’
Ji Qingwu suddenly felt as if she couldn’t breathe.
There was an assassin behind her, but she didn’t know where Yuan Heng was or if he was in danger.
The image of the little eunuch lying on the ground flashed repeatedly in her mind.
Just then, a small figure emerged from behind a bookshelf.
Seeing Yuan Heng, holding a classic text and completely unharmed, appear before her, Ji Qingwu’s heart began to settle.
"Come here."
Sensing her tension, Yuan Heng didn’t ask any questions and quickly ran to stand before her.
Ji Qingwu hugged his small body tightly. Feeling the warmth emanating from him, her heart finally settled back into her chest.
In a calm voice, she told him, "Yuan Heng, there’s an assassin outside."
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