After ten years of accompanying me in my studies, the entire court begged me to shut up.

Chapter 93 A Potentially Deadly Potion

Yang Shen took the porcelain bottle, uncorked it, and poured out a pill.

The pills were still dark brown, exactly the same as the ones his father had brought back.

"I am not knowledgeable in medicine. Perhaps we should find an imperial physician to take a look?"

Zhu Houzhao immediately said, "Li Chun, go and fetch the imperial physician!"

Li Chun clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Yes!"

Yang Shen quickly instructed, "Commander Li, this matter must not be publicized!"

Li Chun nodded: "Don't worry, I know people who can help me."

After saying that, he turned and left, and returned a moment later with a young man.

The man was in his early twenties, with a thin face. He bowed as he entered and said, "Xue Xinfu from the Imperial Medical Academy greets Your Highness the Crown Prince."

Zhu Houzhao waved his hand: "No need for formalities."

Xue Xinfu then turned to Yang Shen, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "Yang, my study companion."

Yang Shen returned the greeting and gave him a careful look.

Li Chun explained from the side, "Back then, my father participated in suppressing the rebellion of the Duzhang barbarians in Sichuan. His father, Xue Kai, was a military doctor who accompanied the army. My father was hit by a poisoned arrow from the rebels, and it was thanks to his father that he was able to treat him. The Xue family has been practicing medicine for generations, so they are trustworthy."

Yang Shen nodded and, without beating around the bush, asked directly, "Physician Xue, have your Imperial Hospital verified the elixirs that the Medicine King Sect presented to His Majesty?"

Xue Xinfu said, "Reporting to Yang, when His Majesty summoned the new head of the Medicine King Sect, several highly respected officials, including the head and judge of the Imperial Medical Academy, had already studied it and confirmed that his elixirs were without problem."

Yang Shen's brow twitched slightly.

Xue Xinfu continued, "His Majesty also issued an edict requiring the Medicine King Sect to supply this medicine to the palace on a long-term basis."

Yang Shen frowned even more deeply. Could the early death of the Hongzhi Emperor be related to this medicine?

"Physician Xue, what do you think of this medicine?"

"The magistrate and judge have both reviewed it, so I, a mere student of grain, naturally have no objections."

"I just wanted to ask for your opinion."

Upon hearing this, Xue Xinfu pondered for a moment and said, "In my humble opinion, the main ingredients of this pill should be astragalus, codonopsis, and atractylodes, all of which are herbs that replenish qi and nourish the vital energy. If it has any effect, it can indeed invigorate people and improve their appetite."

Yang Shen asked, "Can it cure all diseases?"

Xue Xinfu shook his head: "What medicine in this world can cure all diseases? Even ginseng can kill people if it is not taken for the right condition."

If this medicine is said to cure illness, I cannot agree; but if it is said to be nourishing, then there is some truth to it.

Yang Shen stared at him: "His Majesty was unwell, but this medicine will cure him. What do you think about this?"

After a moment of silence, Xue Xinfu finally made up his mind and said, "Your Highness, Yang, there is something I am not sure if I should say."

Zhu Houzhao said impatiently, "Just say what you have to say!"

Xue Xinfu said, "Actually, His Majesty's cold was already seven-tenths better after being treated by the Imperial Hospital for seven days. Even without taking the medicine from the Medicine King Sect, he should be fully recovered in the next few days."

Yang Shen's heart skipped a beat, and he nodded, saying, "Thank you for your explanation, Physician Xue."

Xue Xinfu returned the greeting: "You're too kind, Yang. If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."

After everyone left, Yang Shen stood in the hall, his brows furrowed.

The early death of the Hongzhi Emperor is a well-established fact in history.

If there really is a problem with the medicine from the Medicine King Sect—

"Yang, what are you thinking about?"

Zhu Houzhao leaned closer and waved his hand in front of his eyes.

Yang Shen snapped out of his reverie, clasped his hands in a respectful bow, and said, "I have other matters to attend to, so I will take my leave now."

"Huh? You're leaving already?"

Zhu Houzhao looked bewildered, watching Yang Shen's hurried departure, and scratched his head: "Li Chun, what's wrong with him?"

Li Chun shook his head: "This subordinate does not know."

Zhu Houzhao muttered, "That's all very mysterious."

Yang Shen left the palace, and it was already dark.

"Wang Er, prepare a carriage, and be quick!"

Wang Er was stunned: "Master, it's already dark, where are you going?"

"Development Zone".

"Go now? The city gates are about to close!"

"Then hurry! Get out of the city before the gates close."

Wang Er dared not ask any more questions, and quickly found a carriage to leave the city and head south.

Yang Shen leaned against the car wall, his eyes closed, but his mind was racing.

The chief disciple of the Medicine King Sect offered medicine that could cure all diseases; the common people flocked to it, and even the emperor took it.

This tactic seems increasingly familiar.

Wasn't this the same scam that all those health product fraud schemes used in my past life?

First they create hype, then they reap the profits, and finally they run away with the money.

But this time it's different; they've managed to fool the emperor.

An hour later, the carriage stopped at the entrance of the workshop in the development zone.

Yang Shen jumped out of the car and headed straight for the clinic, where the lights were still on.

It was called a clinic, but it was actually just two rooms on the east side of the workshop, which were temporarily set up for Liu Qing's use.

Yang Shen pushed open the door and went in. Liu Qing was sitting at the table, flipping through a medical book by the light of an oil lamp.

Hearing the noise, she looked up and saw Yang Shen. She was quite displeased and asked, "What are you doing here so late?"

Yang Shen didn't waste any words. He took out two small porcelain bottles from his pocket and placed them on the table.

"Miss Liu, could you please take a look at these two pills for me?"

Liu Qing put down the medical book, picked up the porcelain bottle, uncorked it, and poured out the pills.

First look at it, then smell it, then scrape off a little powder with your fingernail and put it in your mouth.

Her brows gradually furrowed.

"Where did this medicine come from?"

Yang Shen said, "Never mind where it came from, just tell me if you can tell what kind of medicine it is?"

Liu Qing held the pill up to the oil lamp, examined it carefully for a moment, and said, "This medicine is somewhat similar to my Hundred Herbs Pill, but the formula is different."

"How are they different?"

Liu Qing pointed to the pill and said, "My Hundred Herbs Pill uses Astragalus, Saposhnikovia, and Atractylodes macrocephala, mainly to prevent wind-cold and to warm and nourish the body. This pill contains Astragalus, Codonopsis, and Atractylodes macrocephala, but the dosage is much higher, and there are also some other herbs."

Yang Shen pressed further, "Anything else?"

Liu Qing smelled it again and said, "There is another ingredient, aconite."

Yang Shen's heart skipped a beat: "Aconite? What's its use?"

Liu Qing looked up at him, her expression solemn, and said, "Aconite is known as a potent medicine. If used correctly, it can restore yang and reverse collapse, even bringing the dead back to life. If used incorrectly, it is a deadly poison. Adding aconite to this medicine can make people feel invigorated and energetic for a short time, but in reality, it is depleting the body's reserves."

Yang Shen asked, "Under what circumstances would this medicine be used?"

Liu Qing thought for a moment and said, "Unless a person is on the verge of death and needs strong medicine to keep them alive, most doctors will not easily use aconite in medicine, let alone in such a large dose."

Yang Shen felt a chill run down his spine.

He took a deep breath and asked again, "Miss Liu, let me ask you, what would happen if someone with a weak constitution took this medicine for a long time?"

Liu Qing looked at him suspiciously: "You're so young and full of energy, why are you eating this?"

Yang Shen shook his head: "It wasn't me."

Liu Qing thought for a moment: "Is it that crown prince? That kid has better stamina than you, but he has too much internal heat, so he doesn't need this at all."

Yang Shen stared at her: "Just tell me, what will happen?"

Liu Qing remained silent for a moment, then slowly said, "If someone's health is already poor, and they take this medicine for a long time, they will surely die within a year at most."

Yang Shen's body trembled, and his mind went blank.

The Hongzhi Emperor in history died a year later.

He stood there, speechless for a long time.

Seeing his strange expression, Liu Qing asked, "Where did this medicine come from?"

Yang Shen snapped out of his reverie and, instead of answering, asked, "Are you sure this medicine contains aconite?"

Liu Qing nodded: "I have studied with my master for ten years. If I couldn't even identify aconite, I would have been expelled from the school long ago."

Yang Shen put the two pills back into the porcelain bottle and tucked them into his pocket.

"Thank you, Miss Liu!"

Liu Qing suddenly stopped him and said seriously, "Whoever is taking this medicine, make him stop, otherwise, the consequences will be unimaginable."

Yang Shen nodded and went out the door.

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