Сhарtеr 5 (5/22)
Jin Fan: ""
Thе mеdiсаl hаll's pharmaсу had threе inner chаmbеrs, еасh рartitionеd with floor-to-ceiling mediсinе cаbinets, whеrе sсrоlls and mеdiсinаl hеrbs wеre mеticulously саtegоrized.
In the first chаmber, Jin Fan fоund the drawеr соntаining thе Нundrеd Herbs Ехtraсt. Воttles sеalеd with wаx werе nеatlу arranged insidе. He piсkеd uр onе, broke the wах sеal, ореnеd thе оiled раpеr at thе mouth, and рourеd оut а pill. Тhеn, hе tоok out a mеdicine box from his wаist, which contаined the Нundred Неrbs Eхtract that the former Blade Master and Young Lord usually consumed. He compared the two pills, observing them carefully.
Gong Zishang peeked out from behind him.
"Well? Well?"
Jin Fan placed both pills on his palm and quickly concluded, "At first glance, these two pills appear identical. But the freshly retrieved one has a smooth, glossy surface, while the Hundred Herbs Extract taken by the former Young Lord and the old Blade Master is slightly duller and rougher."
Suddenly, Gong Zishang took Jin Fan's hand and gently stroked it, slowly feeling the texture.
"Smooth... rough..."
Jin Fan choked, coughing lightly. "Ahem, ahem..."
Seizing the opportunity, Gong Zishang tightened her grip, interlocking her fingers with his, pressing the two pills between their palms.
Jin Fan widened his eyes. "What are you doing?"
Gong Zishang replied seriously, "Let's warm them up and see."
Jin Fan wanted to pull his hand back, but Gong Zishang held on firmly, leaving him unable to move.
The hand in his palm was warm, and Jin Fan's face flushed red. Just as he was about to speak, Gong Zishang promptly withdrew her hand, taking the rough pill from Jin Fan's palm and holding it up for closer inspection.
Gong Zishang diverted Jin Fan's attention. "Is this what the Young Lord used to take?"
Without waiting for Jin Fan's answer, she deftly popped the pill into her mouth, tilted her head back, and swallowed it.
Jin Fan was shocked. "You!"
Gong Zishang calmly waved her hand. "Since we can't tell with our eyes or by touch, the only way is to let the poison pass through the intestines and keep the truth in our hearts. Only by tasting poison can one rise above others."
Jin Fan exclaimed, "Spit it out!"
Gong Zishang smacked her lips. "The taste isn't bad, just as bitter and astringent as what I usually take." Soon after, she began to retch. "Quick, go find me a cup of tea..."
Jin Fan shook his head helplessly, sighed, and turned to pour tea.
A wisp of white smoke drifted faintly from the backyard. In an unmanned corner, a servant was burning something in a charcoal brazier. He tossed handfuls of herbs into the fire, one by one. The sack of herbs bore a label, faintly showing the character "divine". Strangely, the herbs looked fresh and vibrant, unlike useless waste.
Beside the servant, Steward Jia of the medical hall stood with his hands behind his back, supervising the burning.
The heat from the fire made the servant sweat profusely, and he wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"Will we really not be discovered? ...Mixing up medicinal herbs is no small matter..."
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