Seeing Li Jin return, Ping'an immediately reported, "Your Highness, this servant has already ordered the bathing tub to be prepared and placed in your bedchamber. The medicinal herbs and the medicine pot have also been placed outside as you instructed."
"Mm." Li Jin nodded. "Ping'an, first arrange for them to heat the water."
Having received Li Jin's order, Ping'an immediately had the maids waiting nearby heat water for the medicine pot.
Li Jin stood to the side, watching the maids' every move. Seeing the water was about ready, he looked at Ping'an and said, "Ping'an, bring the medicinal herbs over to me. I will put them in myself."
Ping'an volunteered, "Your Highness, perhaps let this servant do it?"
Li Jin shook his head. "You are not clear on the proportions. Putting in too much or too little will affect the efficacy."
Perhaps due to his experiences in his past life, Li Jin was not reassured even if Ping'an wanted to help with the medicine for treating his own condition.
"Yes."
Hearing Li Jin say this, Ping'an did not dare to volunteer further, as he knew he was a rough fellow. If he were to clumsily put in the wrong amount, wouldn't that ruin everything?
Li Jin took the medicinal herbs brought over by Ping'an and began adding them according to the ratio.
At the same time, while picking up the herbs, Li Jin would also secretly inspect them to prevent any mishaps. Li Jin did this not because he doubted Ping'an, but because he feared someone might have tampered with them when Ping'an wasn't paying attention.
Sure enough, Li Jin actually discovered several extra herbs among these medicinal materials.
These extra herbs were clearly carefully added by someone. Their appearance was almost identical to the herbs Li Jin required, and a layman would be unable to tell the difference. He just didn't know which courtyard the person who tampered with them was from.
However, Li Jin was not a layman. As the saying goes, prolonged illness makes a doctor. He had long memorized the medicine used to cure himself perfectly.
Seeing Li Jin suddenly stop, Ping'an asked, puzzled, "Your Highness? What is it?"
"It's nothing." Li Jin shook his head and immediately instructed, "Ping'an, these are ready. Pour them into the bathing tub."
"Ah, yes."
Upon hearing this, Ping'an, not bothering with anything else, poured the medicinal liquid from the pot that Li Jin said was ready into the bathing tub, mixing it with the hot water inside. The water instantly turned blue.
"Your Highness, Your Highness, the water... the water has turned b-blue??" Ping'an, who had never seen such a situation before, was greatly startled.
"There's no need for alarm. It's normal."
Unlike Ping'an, seeing the water change color, Li Jin's tense heart actually relaxed a little.
Because only by turning blue could it be considered successful.
Li Jin issued a dismissal. "That will be all. Ping'an, you and the others may leave now. I wish to bathe."
Although Li Jin said it was normal, Ping'an, still uneasy, repeatedly urged him, "Yes, Your Highness. But if anything unexpected happens, you must call for this servant. This servant will be waiting for you outside."
Faced with Ping'an's nagging, Li Jin was not annoyed. "Alright, I will."
In a short while, the entire large bedchamber held only Li Jin alone.
Li Jin did not enter the bathing tub immediately. Instead, he added certain herbs from those earlier, and only after those herbs had completely dissolved in the water did he get in.
Although it was Li Jin's own courtyard, there was no guarantee that there were no other spies. Therefore, Li Jin had secretly held back, only listing all the required herbs without giving the specific formula.
Shortly after entering the tub, Li Jin couldn't help but show a pained expression. Furthermore, as time passed, some black, foul-smelling, unknown substances began to seep out from Li Jin's body.
However, those black substances only existed for a short while before being absorbed by the blue water in the tub. Gradually, the blue water began to change, turning deep purple.
Meanwhile, Li Jin's expression in the tub became increasingly pained, and his complexion turned deathly pale.
Li Jin didn't get up. He endured the pain, soaking in the tub for a full two hours before finally rising and leaving the tub. Just after leaving, he didn't call Ping'an immediately. Instead, he waited until his complexion had somewhat improved before calling out for Ping'an to enter.
When Ping'an entered, he was immediately dumbfounded. "Your Highness, are you alright? Why is your complexion so pale? It couldn't be..."
"I am fine. I just need to rest for a short while."
Li Jin shook his head. He calmly picked up the teapot, poured a cup of tea, lifted it, and took a small sip.
"Your Highness..."
"Ping'an, from now on, every five days, you are to do exactly as I instructed today."
____
Meanwhile, Wei Shiwan was secretly meeting with the spy she had placed in Zhou Xiaoru's courtyard.
"Reporting to Your Highness, regarding the medicinal herbs the Heir Apparent ordered Ping'an to acquire, this servant has inquired with a familiar physician from the medicine hall. The physician said most are herbs for recuperating the body, but some are actually poisons."
After delivering her report, the maid produced a letter from the physician at the medicine hall and presented it to Wei Shiwan.
Wei Shiwan accepted the letter, opened it, and studied its contents carefully.
The letter detailed the properties of each medicinal herb Ping'an had acquired, with special emphasis marking those that were poisonous.
After reading it thoroughly, Wei Shiwan held the letter over an oil lamp, where it quickly caught fire and began to burn. "Have you secretly passed the contents of this letter with our contact in Zhou Xiaoru's place?"
"It has already been delivered," the maid confirmed. "Concubine Zhou even arranged for several additional potent herbs to be mixed in with the ones the Heir Apparent requested."
"Very good. To avoid suspicion, you should return now. Also, have the person you sent continue to secretly watch Zhou Xiaoru. If Zhou Xiaoru shows any unusual movements, report to me immediately."
"Yes, Your Highness."
The maid nodded to Wei Shiwan, then cautiously withdrew.
To act against Li Jin so hastily—it seems I overestimated her, Wei Shiwan thought to herself.
Wei Shiwan hooked the corners of her lips in a faint, mocking smile and asked the trusted maid beside her, "Xiao Tao, has Zhou Xiaoru come here these past few days?"
Xiao Tao nodded. "Yes, Your Highness. Concubine Zhou has been visiting in secret. She claimed she wished to see the Eldest Young Master and even bribed servants in the courtyard to keep her visits from you."
"And Li Yanchen—has he behaved unusually?"
"The Eldest Young Master appears to have quarreled with Concubine Zhou on more than one occasion. The servants have overheard them arguing several times."
"Is that so..." Wei Shiwan narrowed her eyes slightly and instructed unhurriedly, "Xiao Tao, have the kitchen prepare some pastries. Later, I will go visit Li Yanchen."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Xiao Tao bowed and hurried off to carry out the order.
Watching Xiao Tao's retreating figure, Wei Shiwan smiled. "Zhou Xiaoru, oh Zhou Xiaoru, let me see what storms you can stir up once your son is no longer yours to command."
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