The Culinary Chronicles of the Court Physician: The Disgraced Princess Consumes Poison to Create Medicine
It was like a banquet.
In the imperial kitchen, rare ingredients gathered from all across the continent were displayed.
Fei-Lin Fei Ling was in awe.
It had only been fifteen days since the merchant caravan had left the capital. They must have used relay horses, moving without rest to gather all these goods. This was yet another reminder of the vast power of the empire that had conquered the continent.
Sea’s Eight Delicacies, Bird’s Eight Delicacies, Plant’s Eight Delicacies, Mountain’s Eight Delicacies—altogether, the Four Eight Delicacies.
After finishing her inspection, Fei Ling tied her sash and raised her voice.
“Begin the preparation immediately.”
With this, she would surely eliminate the emperor’s poison.
“If you need assistance in the preparation, you may use the palace maidservants.”
“No, I must decline… I cannot trust them.”
Fei Ling flatly refused the official’s suggestion.
“If permitted, I would like to request Ming Lan Xin. She will not be informed of His Majesty’s illness.”
Lan Xin was the only maidservant who had remained loyal to the deposed princess.
The official let out a thoughtful hum but eventually nodded in agreement.
“However, if you fail to cure the poison, Ming Lan Xin will also be executed.”
“That is fine. No matter what kind of poison it is, I will neutralize it.”
Lan Xin would surely cry out, What kind of promise did you just make?! But in the end, she would steel herself and help. That was the kind of woman she was.
Before Lan Xin arrived, Fei Ling began the preliminary preparations.
She set a pot of water to boil.
After some time, someone stepped into the kitchen.
The imperial kitchen was under strict guard, monitored by the palace guards—no outsiders could enter. Assuming it was Lan Xin, Fei Ling spoke without turning around.
“Lan Xin, you came. I can’t leave what I’m doing right now…”
Suddenly, she felt a killing intent, and her body froze.
The person behind her was not Lan Xin.
Understanding dawned on her.
“Zhen, it’s you, isn’t it?”
Turning around, she saw a man clad in a robe as dark as woven shadows.
The palace guards lay collapsed behind him.
Whether they were asleep or unconscious, she did not know. But judging by the mayflies fluttering in the air, it was clear they had been poisoned.
Brushing back his long, tied-up hair, he spoke.
“Poison… or medicine?”
“You should be able to tell just by looking.”
Zhen’s eyes darkened, as if in disappointment.
Fei Ling continued.
“You once said that poison must be met with poison. But a poison that cannot be transformed into medicine only layers poison upon poison, making it stronger.”
Indeed, with the emperor’s poisoning, Heaven’s Poison, Earth’s Poison had been unleashed upon the world.
“I will use medicine to eliminate poison.”
Green and purple—clashing eyes met in a fierce gaze.
“I see… What a pity.”
Zhen drew a hidden dagger.
Its sharpened tip glinted as it was aimed at her, and Fei Ling tensed her nerves.
She felt no sorrow.
She had known this would happen the moment she chose medicine over poison.
As long as only Bai Ze could cure the emperor, killing Fei Ling would complete Zhen’s revenge.
But she had spent too much time with him.
She had almost forgotten—
(That we are enemies.)
If Zhen truly intended to kill her, resistance would be meaningless.
If her throat was slit, her chest pierced, her stomach cut open—no matter how resistant to poison she was, she would die.
As easily as a storm scattering blossoms.
“You once told me to die at the bottom of hell.”
“Ha… What are you talking about?”
Zhen stepped forward.
The distance between them disappeared in an instant, his violet eyes closing in with a cruel smile.
“This is the bottom of hell. Isn’t that right?”
Believing she was about to die, Fei Ling shut her eyes and braced herself.
But no matter how long she waited, death did not come.
Instead, she felt a burning sensation on her lips.
“…?!”
A kiss.
Why, at a time like this—?
She tried to pull away, but the blade was pressed against her neck, preventing her from moving.
His tongue entwined with hers, pouring Human Poison into her.
A potent toxin slid down her throat, seeping into her chest.
Her heartbeat pounded wildly, as if trying to break through her ribs.
Her arms and legs went numb, and she collapsed onto her knees.
Zhen caught her effortlessly.
Her consciousness began to fade.
The last thing she heard was a dark, possessive whisper.
“I would never kill you. I will never let you go, no matter what happens.”
For some reason, it sounded almost like a desperate plea.
