The Great Song Dynasty: You were put in charge of teaching, and you produced a whole bunch of prime

The next day, something of moderate importance happened in the disaster camp.

While inspecting a sewage ditch that was being dug, Zhou Yuan slipped and fell into it because the ground was wet.

The ditch wasn't deep, and he only suffered minor injuries, but he was covered in mud and looked quite disheveled.

This was originally a very ordinary accident.

But by evening, Zhou Yuan began vomiting and having diarrhea, developed a high fever, and started talking nonsense.

The doctor came and diagnosed it as "wind-cold entering the body, evil qi attacking the heart," and prescribed several doses of medicine, but there was no improvement at all.

On the third day, Zhou Yuan's condition deteriorated rapidly. He began to convulse and foam at the mouth, and it looked like he was about to die.

This caused an uproar throughout the entire camp.

Upon receiving the news, Zhou Yuan's father, Zhou Boyan, ran to the palace gate in tears, knelt on the ground, and pleaded with the emperor that Jiang Lin had mistreated his son, which had caused him to contract a serious illness and risk his life.

Public opinion was in uproar once again.

Those conservative officials who had previously fallen silent and were dissatisfied with Jiang Lin immediately jumped out like sharks smelling blood.

"I knew Jiang Lin was a scoundrel! He made the sons of the powerful and wealthy shovel latrines and do hard labor; that's utterly disregard for human life!"

"If anything were to happen to Young Master Zhou, Jiang Lin would be held responsible!"

"We urge Your Majesty to severely punish this scoundrel to set an example!"

The newly established positive impression of Jingshi Academy was instantly cracked.

In Jiang Lin's small courtyard.

Qian Duoduo was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.

"Headmaster, what are we going to do? Rumors are flying everywhere that our academy killed someone! Lord Zhou's spittle is practically flooding our doorstep!"

Jiang Lin's expression turned serious for the first time.

He went to see Zhou Yuan in person.

The child lay on the bed, his face bluish-purple, barely breathing, and his body burning hot.

Shen Kuo examined the ditch where Zhou Yuan had fallen and tested the water he had drunk and the food he had eaten, but found nothing wrong.

"Master, it doesn't seem like poisoning, nor does it seem like a common cold." Shen Kuo's brows furrowed tightly. "His symptoms are very strange, and his pulse is extremely erratic. I... I've never seen this kind of illness before."

Jiang Lin remained silent.

He knew this was neither an accident nor an illness.

Someone is pulling the strings behind the scenes.

The venomous snake finally took its first bite.

Moreover, it bites accurately and fiercely.

He chose to target Zhou Yuan because he knew that Zhou Yuan's father, Zhou Boyan, was timid and easily swayed.

The method he used was also extremely clever; it wasn't simple poisoning, but an unknown "disease" that even Shen Kuo couldn't detect.

In this way, even if Zhou Yuan dies in the end, it can only be classified as "accidental infection." Even if Jiang Lin is innocent, he will still be burdened with the blame of "ineffective scholarship and disregard for human life."

The reputation of Jingshi Academy will be ruined.

What a wicked scheme!

"Headmaster!" Just then, Niu Aihua rushed in from outside, holding a letter in her hand.

"An urgent letter from the palace! Delivered personally by Eunuch Chen!"

Jiang Lin opened the letter; it was written by Zhao Lingjun.

The handwriting was very messy, and it was clear that the writer was very anxious.

The letter contained only one sentence: "Headmaster, beware of 'Gu' (a type of poison/drug)."

insanity?

Jiang Lin's pupils contracted sharply when he saw the word.

He understood instantly.

No wonder Shen Kuo couldn't detect any toxins, and no wonder Zhou Yuan's symptoms were so strange.

This is neither a disease nor a poison, but comes from a more mysterious and insidious realm—the art of witchcraft.

During the Song Dynasty, although the imperial court explicitly prohibited it, witchcraft and sorcery continued to circulate secretly among the common people, especially among the barbarian tribes in the southwest border region.

This thing is ethereal and intangible, yet it truly exists. It uses special insects and herbs, along with incantations and rituals, to take lives invisibly.

King Zhao Xi of Jing has even resorted to such insidious methods.

It seems he was truly driven to desperation.

"Master, what is 'Gu'?" Su Shi asked, puzzled.

"Something that can kill without leaving a trace." Jiang Lin's face was cold.

He handed the letter to Shen Kuo.

Shen Kuo gasped in shock after reading it.

"Witchcraft? This...this is beyond the scope of natural philosophy!" He looked utterly defeated. "Headmaster, if it's Gu, I...I'm powerless to help."

Even Shen Kuo, a technology enthusiast, was at a loss, and the others looked at each other, at a loss for what to do.

"Are we... just going to watch Zhou Yuan die?" Qian Duoduo asked anxiously. "If he dies, our entire academy is finished!"

Jiang Lin didn't speak. He walked to Zhou Yuan's bedside and looked at the boy who had fallen into a deep coma and was barely breathing.

He remembered the "experiences in cleaning latrines" that Zhao Lingjun had read.

This usually arrogant and domineering playboy, after having his trousers torn by a dog, wrote down his thoughts: "Those who are rich but heartless are no different from maggots."

He then recalled what Zhao Lingjun had said: Zhou Yuan had jumped into the icy river to measure the riverbed.

This boy, despite his many flaws, is changing. He is trying, clumsily and diligently, in his own way to become the "useful person" that Jiang Lin hopes for.

He was a student at Jing Shi Academy.

He was his student.

A chilling glint flashed in Jiang Lin's eyes, a feeling he had never experienced before.

Anyone who messes with me, whether you're a prince or the Emperor himself, will pay the price.

"Shen Kuo." Jiang Lin's voice was calm, but beneath the calm lay a raging fire of anger.

"exist!"

"You previously researched a drug that could slow down blood flow in the human body, inducing a state of suspended animation, right?"

"Huh? Right!" Shen Kuo was taken aback, then realized, "It's made from several ingredients of anesthetic powder, combined with the saliva of snow toads. It can drastically reduce heart rate and respiration, making a person look like a dead person. However... the effects of this medicine are very unstable, and I haven't conducted any live experiments yet..."

"Let's do it now," Jiang Ling said decisively.

"What?!" Everyone was stunned.

"Headmaster, what are you doing? This is too dangerous!" Su Shi hurriedly tried to dissuade him.

"What's the difference between Zhou Yuan's current condition and being dead?" Jiang Lin countered. "With medication, there's still a glimmer of hope. Without it, he can only wait to die. Which do you choose?"

Everyone fell silent.

"Shen Kuo, go and prepare. Also, bring the strongest liquor from your laboratory, the more the better."

"Niu Aihua, go to the best coffin shop in the city and order me a top-quality coffin made of golden nanmu wood."

"Qian Duoduo, go to the Zhou residence and tell them that Zhou Yuan is dying, and ask them to prepare for his funeral. Remember, cry as pitifully as possible, the more pitiful the better."

"Zizhan, go and write a eulogy immediately. The title is 'Elegy for Zhou Sheng.' It must be written with sincerity and deep emotion, so that everyone knows that Zhou Yuan unfortunately fell ill and died while measuring the land and helping the disaster victims. He is a hero of our Jingshi Academy."

Jiang Lin issued orders one by one, his calmness terrifying.

Although no one understood what he was trying to do, seeing his unquestionable gaze, they instinctively split up and went about their business.