The Culinary Chronicles of the Court Physician: The Disgraced Princess Consumes Poison to Create Medicine
In the imperial harem’s forest, a court lady crouched down, rustling through the undergrowth as she searched for something.
Her hair was tied up in two buns, and a star-like beauty mark adorned her face—she had an undeniably bright and cheerful aura. Her name was Ming Lan Xin. She brushed aside the lightly snow-covered fallen leaves and found a cluster of winter mountain mushrooms.
“Heh heh heh, I finally did it.”
After a grueling two-hour search, her fingertips were frozen from digging through the frost. Just as she eagerly began picking the mushrooms and placing them into her basket, a voice called out from behind her.
“Those are poisonous mushrooms, you know. Are you sure that’s okay, Court Lady Food Healer?”
A shiver ran down Lan Xin’s spine as she turned around.
Standing there was the imperial geomancer. If she recalled correctly, his name was Zhen. His beauty was enough to make anyone stare in awe, and he wore a refreshing smile.
And yet, just being near him gave Lan Xin goosebumps.
“W-what? These are poisonous mushrooms?”
“Yes, that’s bitter chestnut mushrooms. They look similar to winter mountain mushrooms, but they contain a deadly poison. Every year around this season, people die from mistaking one for the other.”
Lan Xin’s face turned pale.
“Uwaaah, this is why I hate mushrooms!”
There were just too many poisonous ones that looked almost identical to edible ones. Ever since she became a court lady in charge of food medicine, she had grown to dislike mushrooms.
That said, she had no problem eating them when they were already cooked. She still drooled just remembering the taste of the shiitake stir-fry she had sneakily sampled.
“…And yet, you can’t even tell the difference between poisonous and edible mushrooms?”
Zhen’s gaze was laced with venom.
At that moment, Lan Xin realized—ah, he must be in an incredibly bad mood.
“I hate to say it, but maybe being a food healer isn’t for you.”
Crack! Lan Xin’s confidence shattered into pieces.
However, she was known for being tough. Blushing, she stubbornly retorted.
“T-that’s not true! This was just an accident! Normally, I can tell the difference just fine! Lady Fei Ling always praises me, you know? She says, ‘Lan Xin, you’re such a hard worker,’ and ‘Having you around is a great help.’”
“Oh?”
Zhen narrowed his eyes.
“Fei Ling is kind, after all.”
His words clearly carried thorns, but Lan Xin’s eyes sparkled with delight.
“Yes! Lady Fei Ling is truly wonderful. Whenever I return from errands, she always prepares tea for me. The tea she makes is absolutely delicious! Yesterday, she made yuzu tea—it was so sweet and thick, I thought my cheeks would melt!”
“…I see.”
The air around Zhen grew icy.
Puffing out her chest proudly, Lan Xin delivered her finishing blow.
“Have you ever tried Lady Fei Ling’s tea?”
◇
“Tea? I don’t mind making some… but why all of a sudden?”
“No reason. I just wanted to try the tea you make. That’s all.”
That evening, Zhen visited Fei Ling’s chamber and, as soon as he sat by the window, requested tea.
Having no idea about his earlier exchange with Lan Xin, Fei Ling blinked in surprise but still brewed some yuzu tea.
Zhen took the tea cup, savoring the citrus aroma before taking a sip.
“It’s sweet. Did you soak the yuzu in honey? …I’m not particularly fond of sweet things, but this is quite good.”
Peering into the jar of yuzu tea concentrate, he commented:
“You cooked it down like a jam. I thought yuzu tea was usually made by just soaking the fruit without heating it.”
“Many fruits and vegetables lose their nutrients when heated, but yuzu is special. Heating it actually increases its beneficial properties. If you’re drinking it for medicinal purposes, it’s best to simmer it thoroughly.”
She added that it had benefits like preventing colds, promoting restful sleep, and relieving fatigue.
“It’s perfect for the cold season.”
The two of them sat by the window, sipping tea under the hazy moonlight.
After a moment of quiet, Fei Ling spoke.
“…You bullied Lan Xin, didn’t you?”
“Oh? Did she say I bullied her? I was just trying to be helpful.”
“She said you pointed out her mistake and saved her from picking poisonous mushrooms. …But knowing you, I’m sure you teased her.”
“Well… who knows?”
Zhen shrugged but found himself surprised.
Normally, people would try to hide their mistakes, yet Lan Xin had openly shared what had happened—even mentioning that Zhen had helped her.
“…She really is a pure-hearted girl, that Ming Lan Xin.”
◇
The next morning, Lan Xin arrived at the medical quarters with bright red eyes.
Alarmed, Fei Ling quickly asked what had happened.
Scratching her cheek, Lan Xin grinned sheepishly.
“I borrowed a book on mushrooms from the archive and spent all night reading it. I had no idea there were so many kinds! It was really educational.”
“…Lan Xin, you’re quite the diligent student.”
“Oh no, I still have a lot more to learn! I won’t mistake poisonous mushrooms again!”
She was practically on fire with enthusiasm.
However, since she wasn’t used to reading, just one night of studying had left her with dark circles under her eyes.
Seeing this, Fei Ling gently smiled.
“Then, let’s start with a cup of tea, shall we?”
……
…
Lan Xin had one thought in her heart.
Someday, she wanted to be a court lady worthy of her beloved mentor.
She wanted to help Fei Ling, who constantly sacrificed herself to heal others. She wanted to repay the kindness she had received.
And for that, she would do whatever she could.
“Well then, what’s on today’s agenda? Should I clean? Should I grind some roots? …What? Peel insect shells? Hiiii! That’s the one thing I can’t doooo!”
…She would do whatever she could.
The imperial harem’s winter had only just begun.
