Chapter 043
Chapter 43: It’s Just Too Obscure
[Elder Sister Yin Shuang still bears many poison scars, so she always wears a silver mask.]
[In the original story, after Seventh Uncle died, she wore a human-skin mask to regain her face, returned to Great Yu, took revenge, and seized the throne. Yet even then, the poison inside was never fully cured.]
[I want to see what poison could be this troublesome.]
Yun Zhan listened and recalled their first meeting.
It was two years ago near the border. She was filthy and covered in sores. Three beggars pinned her to the ground.
They meant to violate her. He thought the girl doomed. The result shocked him.
With no weapon, she fought like a wild thing. She bit through one man’s throat and swallowed his blood. The other two shook with fear and tried to run, but their legs failed. She dropped the dead man, grabbed another by the collar, and smashed his head to the earth until he fainted. She picked up a stone and crushed his manhood. The last man wet himself. She walked to him with the stone and pounded until skull and face became pulp.
After she finished, she looked at Yun Zhan, who had watched in silence. Her eyes were fierce, like a wolf-cub lost to blood.
Would she attack him too. He found it almost amusing.
“Calm yourself,” he said gently. “You are not my match, and I will not harm you. I am not your enemy.”
She did not answer. She only closed her eyes and collapsed.
He was not one to meddle, yet pity rose for a killer. He saved her and hid the bodies. He erased every trace.
[Wow, Elder Sister Yin Shuang smells nice. It is not Mother’s scent.]
[It is cool and sweet, like ice cream. I want a bite.]
[Stop. My task is to diagnose poison, not crave ice cream.]
[Ice cream ruins my resolve. So tempting.]
Yun Wan Ning’s small swallow pulled Yun Zhan back to now. He looked at Yin Shuang. The woman before him was calm and clean, far from the filthy wolf-cub of that day. No one could link them. All this change came from his choice. Pride stirred in him.
[Hmm, this poison is called Ruined Flower. It is infamous among poisons and medicines.]
[That impostor was vicious to feed her this.]
[Ruined Flower makes the body rot from within. In half a year the victim becomes pus. Like a blossom decaying.]
[The cruelest part is that the victim watches the slow ruin day by day. The body suffers. The mind breaks.]
[Luckily, Seventh Uncle found a doctor who suppressed the poison. Otherwise she would not be here.]
Madam Yun’s heart shook. She looked at Yin Shuang with pity. Deaf, mute, severed meridians, and such poison. What a bitter fate.
Even Yun Zheng was shocked. Who would do this to a girl. Heaven should judge them.
Yun Zhan’s hands curled. Fear and relief mixed in his chest. That poor physician Qiu Hong had stumbled into merit by suppressing the poison. Otherwise…
[In truth, this poison is not hard to cure. It is only too obscure, so most physicians have never heard of it.]
[Refine twenty-six herbs into pills. Use Tianshan snow lotus, figwort root, bitterwood, black nightshade, devil’s needle grass, purple root fungus, and others. Take the pills for seven days.]
[Then use silver needles to gather the poison to one place. Seal the twelve major points to stop spread: Tiantu, Xuanji, Shencang, Huagai, Gongsun, Neiguan, Linqi, Waiguan, Shenmai, Houxi, Lieque, Zhaohai. Finally, cut the middle finger and drain the poison.]
[After detox, her body still needs careful care. Though the meridians were mended, some blocks remain and hinder her progress.]
[If she could cultivate my inner art, Free and Easy Nine Channels, it would be perfect. That art repairs itself and would restore her meridians and her face.]
[To restore beauty fast, match it with Skin Rejuvenation Ointment.]
[Ah. How did I forget Skin Rejuvenation Ointment.]
[Women love beauty since ancient times. This ointment clears scars, acne, and sores, and makes the skin smooth and fair. It is a trade secret. Once made, it will crush the heroine’s future Snowflake Cream.]
[So much money lost because I cannot speak.]
Madam Yun lifted a fresh page, blew on the ink, and handed it to Yun Zhan. As always, she made two copies. One for the record. One for use.
Yun Wan Ning was used to her mother writing down her thoughts. She happily caught Yin Shuang’s sleeve and blew tiny bubbles. Her bright eyes hooked Yin Shuang’s heart.
Holding the pink dumpling, Yin Shuang softened again and again. This baby was not ordinary and too adorable. She wanted to kiss her, but feared Madam Yun would mind. She held back and only hooked a small finger with the baby’s tiny hand.
“Thank you, Eldest Sister-in-law,” Yun Zhan said with a smile as he took the page. He read and tucked it away with care. His fine features held quiet joy.
“Do not be so formal,” Madam Yun said with a feigned glare. “Am I not your family.”
Yun Zhan smiled at once: “Please calm down, Eldest Sister-in-law. In my heart you are the same as my mother. How could I not see you as family.”
“All right. Little Fourth needs to feed,” Madam Yun said as she waved. “You two go do your tasks.”
“Yes,” Yun Zhan said with a soft laugh. He stepped to Yin Shuang, took Yun Wan Ning into his arms, and kissed her soft cheek: “Little Fourth, Seventh Uncle will come tomorrow and bring you a gift.”
His Little Fourth was his best helper.
“Ya,” the baby cooed.
[Goodbye, Seventh Uncle. You do not need to give me a gift. Give it to Elder Sister Yin Shuang.]
[If you do not act now, when Elder Sister Yin Shuang reclaims her throne, your chance will pass.]
Yun Zhan fell silent.
This little bun truly shipped him with Yin Shuang. A trace of regret brushed him. Yin Shuang could not hear the child’s heart.
That afternoon, Yun Zhan gathered herbs and prepared medicine according to Little Fourth’s voice. He worked without pause until late night.
“Seventh Lord, are you unwell,” Yin Shuang asked. He had shut himself away, and the scent of herbs filled the air. She worried. She thought of his strange question last night, and her brows knit.
When Yun Zhan came out, the bitter scent was stronger. Yin Shuang clenched her handkerchief. Her heart sank.
He lowered his head and sniffed his sleeve. He could not smell it now, but he knew she could. He sighed and rubbed his brow: “No. I am fine. Do not worry.”
She looked at the side chamber and pressed her lips: “Then this medicine.”
“It is for you,” he said.
“For me,” she asked in surprise. She had not thought of this answer.
He heard her drop the word servant and his mood rose. “Yes. I met a skilled physician and received a recipe that cures a hundred poisons. I was preparing it. Yin Shuang, will you take it,” he said as he drew a small bottle and held it out.
Yin Shuang took it without pause and lowered her gaze: “How should I take it.”
“You truly dare take anything I give you,” he said with a soft sigh as he patted her head. [If I gave poison, would she swallow it.]
She did not answer. She pulled the cork and swallowed a pill. It tasted sweet.
“This is a honey pill,” Yun Zhan said. “It is made with honey.”
“One is not enough. Take another. Twice a pill, three times a day, for seven days,” he said. After that, he would use silver needles to draw the poison. He needed a physician to practice on first.
The next day in the imperial palace, court had just ended when Su Jian stopped Yun Zheng. Many officials watched.
“Grand Commandant, why do you block this Duke’s way,” Yun Zheng asked. He stood proud in purple robes with his hands behind his back. His presence pressed like a cliff.
“Why. Has His Grace forgotten that my daughter fell into the water in your manor. You owe me an answer,” Su Jian sneered.
Days had passed. His spies found nothing. He could not accuse the princess without proof. His anger fell on Yun Zheng.
Yun Zheng was not easy prey. No one had ever taken advantage of him.
“Oh,” Yun Zheng said as he lifted a brow. “I did not push your daughter. Why ask me for an answer. How odd.”
“She fell in my manor on my daughter’s full month celebration. Civil and military officials attended. Do you think I should assign each guest a guard,” he asked.
“When your residence hosts an event, do you give each guest a guard,” he asked.
“If you ask me, your girl is not young and Madam Su was at her side. Why did they not avoid danger. If your girl kept away from the water, this would not happen,” he said.
“I sympathize with her misfortune. I will send tonics later. But if you demand an explanation, forgive me, I see no need,” he said.
“In fact,” Yun Zheng said as his eyes cooled, “your daughter’s fall ended my daughter’s celebration early. Our guests left at once. My wife and I worked hard to prepare it. Who should I ask for an answer.”
“I held my tongue, thinking you would not wish a mishap either. But you come to demand first. Then shall I demand how your daughter ruined my banquet,” he said.
Su Jian almost spat blood.
“You invert right and wrong. Shameless,” he said.
“Likewise,” Yun Zheng said with a cold laugh. “Speaking of shame, Grand Commandant, you are no better.”
“Is there more. If not, move aside. I am in a hurry to go home to my wife,” he said.
Su Jian trembled with rage. His chest heaved. His organs hurt. How did such a rogue enter court. Was the late emperor blind.
Yun Zheng returned home with a smile that would not fade. Madam Yun saw at once and asked: “Did something pleasant occur.”
“Of course,” Yun Zheng said with pride. “After court, that old fool Su Jian stopped me to demand an answer for Su Qian Xue. I was inspired today. I left him speechless and black-faced. It felt wonderful.”
He told the story from start to end. Madam Yun laughed.
“My husband is truly powerful,” she said sweetly.
“Naturally,” Yun Zheng said as his mood rose higher. If he had a tail it would point to the sky.
[Father did beautifully. Father is amazing.]
[Still, I am very curious. How did the heroine fall into the water.]