Chapter 64: His Highness Took Off His Clothes

"Ah?" Zhou Heyu looked somewhat puzzled. "What did you figure out? There's nothing wrong with the sweet soup, and there's nothing wrong with the things placed around the room either. That means your judgment is flawed!"

Lin Zhaozhao felt that this person was a bit foolish, totally wasting such a handsome face.

[As expected, when the heavens open a window for someone, they close a door.]

[You've really mastered the persona of a pretty idiot!]

Jun Wuhen, "?"

How did Zhou Heyu end up as a pretty idiot again? Besides, weren't you interested in this prince's face? Why are you back to judging what he looks like?

Jun Wuhen didn't realize that he had subconsciously started comparing himself to Zhou Heyu.

Lin Zhaozhao pointed out the window, then turned to the dishes on the table, and said, word by word,

"These China roses on the windowsill, the fireflies, the pastries, as well as the incense in the room and the sweet soup—if I put it this way, can you understand?"

Jun Wuhen's cold, composed expression sank into silence.

Zhou Heyu immediately widened his eyes. "You mean..."

"The mastermind's methods are indeed brilliant, and their understanding of medical principles is much deeper than ordinary people's. These few items don't seem very connected when viewed individually, and they don't even contain any toxins. However, if they are all combined together and mixed with the toxins already present in His Highness's body since childhood, it accelerates the effect, making someone irritable and causing blood to reverse flow."

"Have mercy on us, Milady! Everyone here follows the rules," the estate's head steward said, his face turning pale. "Even if we had the courage of the heavens, we wouldn't dare harm His Highness! These things... we truly had no idea they were poisonous!"

Lin Zhaozhao thought for a moment and said, "Not knowing is normal. Without decades of foundational training, it's very hard to spot this kind of thing."

"You say these things are poisonous, do you mean the flower fragrance is poisonous? But what does that have to do with fireflies?" Zhou Heyu was still somewhat confused.

"The incense burning in the room attracts these fireflies. The fireflies themselves are not toxic, but when this aromatherapy is combined with them, it becomes a completely different story."

Lin Zhaozhao picked up a pastry from the side, held a candle close to it, and illuminated it carefully. Everyone could see a faint layer of powder dusted over the pastry. "The fireflies come into contact with the China rose pollen in the middle, and the pollen together with the toxins from the fireflies falls onto the osmanthus pastries."

"This in itself already intensifies the poison, and when paired with the sweet soup, the principle is similar to medicinal cuisine. Medicinal cuisine can regulate the internal organs and strengthen the physique, but if used improperly, it can also leave a person severely depleted of vital energy and blood."

Lin Zhaozhao saw that the other person still didn't understand, so she simply explained, "For example, when people eat mutton, mutton itself has nourishing properties, but if eaten together with pumpkins or pears, they counteract each other, causing internal heat and indigestion."

"The several things I mentioned follow the exact same logic. The mastermind is extremely patient; using this method for a month or two might not show any results, but accumulated over a long period, this kind of neurotoxin-like substance gradually intensifies in the body, mixing with the toxins already present within you. If it goes unnoticed for another year or two, I'm afraid..."

Zhou Heyu swallowed hard. "Afraid of what?"

"Gulp!" Lin Zhaozhao placed her hand against her neck, mimicking a death pose, and then said, "This person uses poison to the absolute extreme, but they probably didn't expect that the original toxins in His Highness's body happened to be in similar amounts to these poisons, creating a mutual check and balance. However, if another year or two really passes and the subsequent toxins worsen, the body will present a pulse of death. Once that happens, even if the legendary immortals descended to earth, they couldn't save him."

"Thud!" Hearing this, all the attendants who had remained in the room dropped to their knees, shouting, "Please save our Prince, Milady!"

"Well, about that..."

Lin Zhaozhao scratched her head.

Zhou Heyu asked, "Do you not have a way to treat it? I can write down everything I know about the toxins in the Prince's body and give it to you. We can research it together, and perhaps..."

"No," Lin Zhaozhao said. "It's just that this is the first time so many people have knelt down to beg me, so I'm a little nervous. I've never encountered a scene like this. As for treating this poison, it's not a big problem!"

"Really?" If this isn't a big problem, then what is?

Lin Zhaozhao said, "I'll write you a prescription, but Your Highness, you must understand that there are far too many toxins in your body, so I must come every month to administer acupuncture for you!"

"You know acupuncture?" Zhou Heyu was somewhat surprised.

He knew that the skill of acupuncture was generally only passed down within prominent medical families. There are many acupuncture points on the human body; once inserted incorrectly and hitting a fatal point, it could spell disaster.

Lin Zhaozhao thought she should be modest. "I understand a thing or two!"

[Understand a thing or two? My past experience of administering acupuncture and curing patients is far greater than all the meals you've ever eaten! How dare you stare at me with such distrustful eyes? Keep looking! Once I get close to Jun Wuhen, I'll have him scoop your eyeballs out!]

Jun Wuhen, "..."

Fine, the young lady puts on such a gentle and refined facade, but who would have known her inner thoughts are so wild!

He just knew she liked him; otherwise, what would she be thinking about in her mind regarding getting close to him!

Of course, Lin Zhaozhao said this also considering that, after all, she was no longer in her previous body, where she held various medical instruments with a steady hand.

Doing acupuncture on Jun Wuhen was a major affair. Zhou Heyu would certainly have to report this matter to the people who treated the Prince alongside her.

The imperial physicians in the estate, especially Zhou Heyu's own father, would be the very first to object. After all, although the Prince had toxins in his body over the years, they hadn't threatened his life. If treatment were rushed and the balance of toxins within the body were disrupted, leading to disaster, who could bear that responsibility?

"This official disagrees! I will never allow such an ignorant, wet-behind-the-ears kid to treat the Prince!"

Zhou Father said with absolute certainty, "I believe Your Highness also has a scale in your heart and knows whether to trust this old official's words or the words of some punk!"

Jun Wuhen, "Let her treat it."

Zhou Father, "..."

So it turns out I'm the only one without a scale in my heart!

Fine, fine, you two play your games, don't come looking to me to treat you in the future!

However, treating it as a matter of urgency, Jun Wuhen directly had Lin Zhaozhao take a seat. "Eat first. Aren't you hungry?"

Lin Zhaozhao found the man quite interesting. "Aren't you anxious to treat your illness?"

"Things have been this way for all these years. Treating it a little earlier or a little later makes no difference."

That was what he said, but Lin Zhaozhao always felt that perhaps the man didn't want to be cured at all.

Regardless of how erratic, unfathomable, and powerful the major villain in the book was, towards the later stages—whether the author had lost their mind or something—the villain actually felt life was meaningless and committed suicide by taking poison.

Anyway, "This maiden is almost finished eating. Your Highness, please have them clear out, and then take off your clothes."