Chapter 96

The Culinary Chronicles of the Court Physician: The Disgraced Princess Consumes Poison to Create Medicine

From the moment she became aware, Fei Ling had always wished to be medicine. But had she ever wanted something as strongly as this?

(I will definitely save you, Lan Xin.)

After carrying Lan Xin to the clinic, Fei Ling began preparing the antidote.

Zhen Zhen dealt with a variety of poisonous insects. Some were specially created, while others were ordinary insects. The one that attacked Lan Xin was a species of centipede, the Red Centipede. She used this common insect to ensure that no one would suspect anything if it were discovered that it had attacked while passing by a shrine.

The neurotoxin of the Red Centipede wasn’t lethal, but the issue was the sheer number of bites. Lan Xin’s arm and shoulder had swollen up, turning bright red and hot, in a terrible condition.

Luckily, everything needed to prepare the antidote was gathered.

Fei Ling pulled out Zhen Zhen’s pipe from her sleeve.

(This tobacco is an herb that neutralizes poison from insects.)

Zhen Zhen, who carried the poison of humans, had a natural immunity to toxins. But unlike Fei Ling, he wasn’t completely unaffected by them. This tobacco was proof of that. He smoked it to continue handling poisonous insects.

She took the leaves from the pipe and brewed them in a pot. The broth turned a vivid red.

(If it were just tobacco, it would be poison, but this is an herb, like tea leaves.)

She added sugar to the pot, dried and ground beef bones and pig skin gelatin, and a bit of bark. After mixing, she added crushed ice and stirred with a spoon. Once it thickened, she removed the ice and poured the mixture into a cup.

(Now, just bury it in the snow.)

After about five minutes, the mixture retrieved from the snow had set into a jelly.

Now, just add fresh cream, and it was ready.

Calling out, Lan Xin immediately lifted his eyelids.

“…You finished the medicine?”

“I have prepared it. It’s an herbal jelly tea, please have some.”

Fei Ling scooped the cool jelly and offered it to Lan Xin. The clear red jelly glistened, with cream swirling around it, reminiscent of striped agate.

But whether Lan Xin could see it clearly was uncertain. The neurotoxin could temporarily paralyze the optic nerve, and he must have been suffering from dizziness, palpitations, and nausea.

“Can you eat it?”

“I can… Though I feel like throwing up… but I’ll manage.”

Gathering his remaining strength, Lan Xin took the spoon into his mouth.

“Oh, it’s like… I’m eating the scent of the wind… sweet and refreshing… Hehe, it’s Fei Ling’s medicine flavor.”

It seemed to be pleasant, as Lan Xin half-closed his eyes in delight.

The toxin from the centipede could be broken down by heat. When bitten, it’s best to pour hot water over the wound. However, after a significant amount of time, heating the area could make the poison spread.

So, to counteract the poison, the fire medicine was applied directly to the toxins.

(Herbal tea is the fire medicine.)

Also, centipedes despised strong plant scents. Cedar, camphor, and mint were particularly good for repelling them, but the scent of this special tea also helped keep the centipede away.

The fragrance worked by stimulating the sense of smell, making food seem more appetizing even when one wasn’t hungry. This was why people often couldn’t taste food when they had a cold and their nose was blocked.

“Fei Ling, the numbness is gone, and I can breathe again. My vision is still blurry, but I can tell you’re here.”

“That’s good. The antidote will work soon.”

Fei Ling sighed in relief and gently patted Lan Xin’s head.

“You did well.”

“Ah, don’t say that, you’re making me want to cry.”

Lan Xin’s eyes glistened as he hugged Fei Ling tightly. The strength in his arms gradually weakened, and he fell asleep.

A doctor battles with poison, but so does the patient.

Detoxification requires great strength.

By the time he wakes up, the poison should be fully gone.

After covering him with a blanket and taking a moment to breathe, the outside of the clinic began to get noisy. Peeking out the window, she saw the guards surrounding the clinic.

“Cai Fei Ling, we know you’re here! Immediately—”

“You don’t have to shout, I can hear you.”

Fei Ling stepped outside, feeling as if she were being treated like a criminal.

“Why did you disappear?”

“I was kidnapped and held captive. Lan Xin saved me, and I’ve just returned.”

“Kidnapped? Who did this?”

“I don’t know. I was taken while unconscious and imprisoned in a shrine. I never met the person who kidnapped me.”

Fei Ling quickly lied, protecting Zhen.

Lies were poison. She had never once deceived anyone, yet she couldn’t understand the feelings stirring inside her.

“How many days has it been?”

“…Four days.”

Has it been that long? Most of the ingredients she used wouldn’t spoil because they were dried, but the poison had already taken its toll. The emperor’s life was in danger.

“We’ll question you later. For now, take her to the imperial kitchen, and we’ll start preparing the medicine.”

“I can’t allow you to start making medicine without knowing the details of her disappearance.”

“The emperor’s life takes priority… Doesn’t it?”

The guards exchanged glances, and Fei Ling continued with a firm tone.

“Poison waits for no one. Only someone from a family of healers like me can stop it. If you let me through, I will definitely neutralize it.”

No one dared to oppose her clear and determined words. The lead guard lowered his head.

“Understood. —Take the healer to the palace.”

The guards surrounded Fei Ling and escorted her to the palace. As they crossed the bridge between the inner and outer palace, she faintly smelled the familiar scent of Zhen’s pipe, but she didn’t turn back.

Poison and medicine could never coexist. That was how it should be.

Because they don’t overlap, medicine is medicine, and poison is poison.

Proudly, yet in solitude.