Plotting with You: The Forensic Scientist in Ancient Times!-Chapter 494 - 493: A Final Rally Before Death

Setting aside the nervousness of the servants and eunuchs, King Fan’s complexion showed visible improvement. His face had gained a healthy red hue typical of normal people, his eyes were less protruding, and his breathing had become significantly more steady.

Even as an observer, Zhu Yu could clearly see these changes, let alone King Fan himself.

Therefore, he was quite delighted, becoming increasingly cordial towards Yan Daoxin, often engaging him in conversations about his experiences across the Four Seas and even couldn’t help but ask if Yan Daoxin could concoct that kind of Immortal Elixir for longevity.

Zhu Yu could tell that Yan Daoxin was actually quite impatient but had no choice but to endure and accompany King Fan in conversation, using the opportunity to continue observing King Fan’s condition.

After talking for a good while, given King Fan’s frailty, he began to feel fatigued. Yan Daoxin and the others then took the opportunity to bid farewell and return to the side courtyard, leaving space for King Fan to rest.

Returning to the side courtyard, with no one else around, it finally became more convenient to speak freely.

"The medicine you prepared for King Fan works remarkably well!" Zhu Yu said to Yan Daoxin, "I noticed his complexion improved, his breathing stabilized, and his vitality became much more robust."

Yan Daoxin lifted his eyes to look at her, sighing slowly with a troubled expression, and shook his head.

"This..." Zhu Yu was a bit puzzled. She had clearly seen King Fan getting better day by day; logically speaking, even if Yan Daoxin didn’t appear jubilant, he should at least feel relieved.

But now...why did he seem even more solemn than before?

Because Lu Qing didn’t accompany them to deliver the medicine, he hadn’t seen King Fan for several days and didn’t know what difference there was between today and the previous occasion. As a result, he could only look at Yan Daoxin with the same puzzled expression, waiting for an explanation.

Yan Daoxin sighed again: "You know of ’last-glow of the setting sun’, right?"

As soon as Zhu Yu heard this term, her eyes widened, she looked at Yan Daoxin in shock, and couldn’t help but draw a sharp breath.

"Is it that serious?" Lu Qing knew that Yan Daoxin, although often joking inappropriately, would never be vague when it came to treating illnesses. If he said this, there must be a reason, and most likely it’s accurate.

"The poison has been steeping in his body for so many years, it’s long since penetrated to the marrow." Yan Daoxin nodded, speaking in a low voice, "If I were to break his bones now, the insides would probably be blackened.

At this stage, even if an immortal descended, he couldn’t save him, let alone me!

All I can do now is try to expel as much of the toxic build-up threatening his life as possible, and then use mild tonics to suppress the remaining toxins, barely sustaining his life.

As for how long he can hold on, I can’t say for sure. It could be three months, two months, or he might as well be found dead by tomorrow morning. It’s all possible."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yu’s expression also turned serious.

If, like other neighboring countries, Fan Country had a Vassal King with heirs, and a Princely Heir already appointed, then apart from this Vassal King, there would at least be someone to stabilize the situation.

Thus, whether it would be a blessing or a curse could at least be judged from the ruler’s stance.

However, the situation in Fan Country is particularly complex.

King Fan has no heirs, and over all these years, he ruled autocratically, solely fixated on immortality, trying every method to extend his life, without any intention of designating a successor.

Then there’s the High Priest, supposedly in seclusion—who knows if he’s hiding, waiting for King Fan to succumb to the poison so he can emerge and reap the benefits of their work?

Therefore, if anything happens to King Fan, who can predict what will become of Fan Country? Their best option would be to leave before King Fan can no longer sustain, otherwise once Bhutan plunges into chaos, the situation might spiral beyond their expectations.

"He’s still unwilling to directly investigate the High Priest?" Lu Qing asked.

Yan Daoxin nodded: "From what he implies, it seems he still isn’t ready to admit he trusted the wrong person."

"He’ll likely come to realize soon enough." Zhu Yu pointed in the direction of the courtyard outside, "The number of servants in the inner quarters of the Prince Mansion has noticeably reduced, presumably, those who had the chance to touch the elixir or were involved in King Fan’s daily life have mostly been rigorously interrogated.

The next ones to suffer might be those subordinates in the outer courtyard, but given the difference in their status from servants, King Fan likely wouldn’t dare to be too harsh.

If he fails to find anyone to take the blame, he’ll have no choice but to consider the High Priest."

"Indeed, I hope King Fan’s life force is strong enough to last until he’s willing to move against the High Priest, allowing us to see if he’s the one we’re looking for. Let him die after we’ve left," Yan Daoxin sighed.

In this way, another three days passed, and the Fanwang Mansion was almost at the point of paranoia; even those who had no contact with the elixir were increasingly anxious, fearing unwarranted accusations might drag them into the mess.

The little eunuch, who regularly brought them food supplies and seemed extra considerate—perhaps due to receiving their silver ingots—warned them in a roundabout way that heads rolled almost daily in the Prince Mansion, advising them to be extremely cautious and avoid going out to prevent bringing trouble upon themselves.

In fact, they would heed this warning even without being told, but they still thanked the little eunuch for his kindness and caution.

On the following day, a different person appeared to deliver the food. It took Zhu Yu some time to coax information from an old lady who had brought the supplies. The little eunuch was involved in serving King Fan when the poison outbreak occurred, had touched the elixir, and with no other suspects in sight, was also apprehended and interrogated. It was still unknown whether he lived or not. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

The news startled Zhu Yu, who didn’t expect King Fan to be so ruthless towards those around him.

Meanwhile, she became more aware of how unshakeable the High Priest’s position was in King Fan’s eyes.

Seemingly without any other way to find evidence of someone else wanting to harm him, King Fan would finally have to confront the problem of the High Priest.

"Does the Divine Doctor really believe the problem lies with the tonic elixir?" After Yan Daoxin helped him take his pulse, he couldn’t help but ask.

Although he had been feeling quite well under Yan Daoxin’s daily treatments, which warmed his demeanor towards him, his tone still carried an unpredictable quality when he brought this up.