Plotting with You: The Forensic Scientist in Ancient Times!-Chapter 245 - 244: A Weighty Favor

"Mother, are you still living peacefully at home these days?" Miao seemed reassured, but Zhu Yu was not yet. She also scrutinized Miao.

"Don’t worry." Miao knew what her daughter was concerned about, "These past few days, Madam didn’t even need me to serve in her room, and she has been particularly kind to me every day.

Even the tea and snacks in my room have become much more exquisite than before."

"Would she really be so kind-hearted?" Zhu Yu was skeptical.

Miao quickly waved her hand: "Don’t worry, the Divine Doctor who came with you checks my pulse every day, and truly, nothing is wrong with me.

Not only am I fine, but since I started taking the medicine prescribed by the Divine Doctor every day, I feel much more energetic than before.

Besides, I reckon that Madam genuinely wants to get along well with me."

She lowered her voice, unable to hide her pride and relief: "Madam feels that you’ve married well, your husband is handsome and powerful, and treats you with such affection, so she wants to foster a good relationship with me, which would also make her get along better with you.

As for Zhu Ning’s marriage, she has been searching high and low but hasn’t found anyone satisfactory. She’s probably hoping you’ll help Zhu Ning find a promising husband in the Capital of Jin Country."

Zhu Yu smiled, "That’s good, as long as they don’t trouble you, anything is fine."

Anyway, it’s their own wishful thinking; I haven’t agreed to anything.

Right now, the situation is turbulent everywhere, and it’s uncertain how long this surface peace can last. It could be shattered overnight.

When that time comes, the currently prosperous Capital of Jin Country will also become a perilous place full of crises.

If at this time we truly help Zhu Ning secure a marriage there, there are probably only two possible outcomes: either this legitimate sister, with her simple mind and self-righteous nature, ruins them, or she ends up ruining herself with these traits.

Zhu Yu felt she neither had deep enough feelings for this legitimate sister to risk her own life for her, nor did she have such great hatred to push her into the fire pit.

Knowing her daughter wasn’t hurt or sick, Miao felt at ease and didn’t stay longer in Li Garden, saying that since she had returned, there would be many opportunities to meet. As her daughter and son-in-law had traveled hard, she didn’t want to disturb them, so she left by herself.

As soon as Miao left, Yan Daoxin, who had already returned to his room, came out again, gesturing mysteriously to Zhu Yu and Lu Qing, then turned around and went back into the room.

Zhu Yu and Lu Qing quickly followed him in. Fu Lu helped to close the door behind them.

"What’s up? Why so mysterious?" Zhu Yu asked, puzzled.

"After you left, I found an excuse to check your father’s pulse." Yan Daoxin wasn’t being vague or trying to whet their appetite this time; he directly told them, "Zhu Yu’s previous suspicion was correct; he really was poisoned slowly."

Lu Qing was stunned upon hearing this. Even though Zhu Yu had previously harbored such suspicions and worries, she was still shocked to hear it confirmed.

"Is it serious?" She hurriedly asked.

"Don’t worry, it’s not serious. Chronic, really a very slow kind.

For now, there’s nothing major, just that although he looks rosy, his body is actually being depleted," Yan Daoxin waved at her, "However, luckily we came to Shuo Country this time, and Zhu Yu had this concern.

Otherwise, another three years or so, even if saved, he would be greatly weakened, unable to fully cleanse the poison without damage.

No need to worry now, I’ve prepared medicine for him and I’ll personally brew it for him to drink daily. By the time we leave, it’ll be mostly cleared.

As long as no one plots against him after that, living to seventy or eighty wouldn’t be a problem."

"What’s the source?" Lu Qing asked.

Yan Daoxin pursed his lips, "I did ask about his daily meals and activities. Essentially, he eats from the same dishes as Princess Shuo, except for the ginseng tea made with supposedly rare herbs that the legitimate daughter from the Zhu Family prepares for her dear father every day out of filial piety.

Your father said he doesn’t like drinking it, but because of his daughter’s filial piety, he keeps it every day, though most of the time he drinks it, sometimes secretly doesn’t.

Fortunately, he’s like this; otherwise, detoxing would not be so smooth.

But when I asked to see that ginseng tea, he refused, insisting it couldn’t be the tea, must be something else, and that he’ll be more careful."

Zhu Yu understood immediately.

In this family, if anyone certainly couldn’t harbor any ill thoughts towards Zhu Cheng, it would perhaps be Pang Yuzhen and Zhu Ning, because the greatest glory and wealth for this mother and daughter come from Zhu Cheng.

Zhu Jie, Zhu Feng could still have ambitions to become the next Prince Shuo, hoping their father would retire early and make way for them.

Only Pang Yuzhen and Zhu Ning, whether the son or brother becomes the new Shuo Prince, their lives couldn’t be more comfortable than now.

And as someone who knows nothing besides attending pretentious poetry, tea, and flower gatherings, where could Zhu Ning get the so-called "rare herb ginseng tea", the answer is almost without suspense.

From Zhu Cheng’s reaction, he probably also knows it clearly but doesn’t want to reveal it in front of an outsider like Yan Daoxin.

However...

"Does Father know that by taking the medicine you prepared, he can completely detoxify and recover over time?" Zhu Yu asked Yan Daoxin.

"Of course... not! I wouldn’t know what plans you two might have, and moreover, no healer would speak without reservation." Yan Daoxin answered.

"Excellent, then tomorrow when you check father’s pulse again, you must tell him that although there’s some improvement, it’s not completely curable, merely treating the symptoms not the cause, so you need to change the prescription and have him drink the new medicine while it’s hot.

After he drinks it, he’ll find the medicine pungent and naturally ask what’s in the new prescription.

Tell him that it’s mixed with the blood of his closest kin as a medicinal guide."

"Closest kin? Whose?" Yan Daoxin squinted as he listened to Zhu Yu, guessing most of it by now, "You want to use your blood for your dad’s medicine? What’s the purpose?"

"The Pang Family is cunning enough to both strengthen their power and use this poisoning tactic to secure themselves even more, going so far as to let this poison be handed to father by his most beloved legitimate daughter, served personally.

So it’s no surprise that now you’ve discovered the problem mainly lies in the daily filial ginseng tea, Father, while still concerned for Zhu Ning, doesn’t want outsiders to know despite his suspicions.

In this case, to help him make up his mind, besides letting one daughter unknowingly owe him, another must willingly shed blood for him when informed, only then can he accept this heavy favor."