Chapter 230: Chapter 229 ZuoyuThis corpse was rare.


    At first, fearing contagion, the bodies were burnt nearby.


    He had managed to obtain a corpse and observed it for a few days, only to find that eventually, the body turned into a pool of blood.


    "Reporting to the Emperor and the Empress, the poison corrodes the bones. Those poisoned are corroded alive, from the inside out!"


    This was also why the patients all had high fevers and vomited blood!


    The internal organs were rotting, surely causing inflammation, high fever, and vomiting of blood!


    "After death, there’s no need for fire, the body will turn into a puddle of blood. Despicable! Truly despicable!"


    He Hongzhao was so malevolent that she wouldn’t even leave the corpses.


    These were all people of Da He!


    Sang Yan, upon hearing this, turned pale and trembled.


    It was indeed as she had suspected.


    It was He Hongzhao who had administered the poison!


    No wonder the sick citizens, fearless of imperial power, sought medicine and revolted!


    How could they bear such agony after falling ill?


    The people were suffering greatly!


    He Ying was so filled with hatred upon hearing of this situation, he felt a murderous urge: He Hongzhao had harmed the people to such an extent, if he did not kill her, he would be unworthy of being a king!


    However, the most urgent task was still to address the epidemic in Quanzhou.


    "Imperial Doctor Liu, how long will it take to develop an antidote?"


    He Ying and Sang Yan asked simultaneously.


    Imperial Doctor Liu took a deep breath to calm himself and replied, "Such a vile poison that strips humanity, even if I have to work tirelessly through the night, I will absolutely develop an antidote!"


    Then, he hurried to the back room without even remembering to bow.


    He was truly furious!


    Having been a physician for most of his life, it was the first time he had seen someone misuse medical skill to such a harmful extent.


    He was determined to see whether He Hongzhao’s poison was more formidable or his own medical skill!


    Liang Xin, seeing Imperial Doctor Liu leave without bowing, was startled again. Seeing that He Ying was not in the mood to pursue the matter, he hurriedly left, following Imperial Doctor Liu to the back room.


    Sang Yan, seeing the two busy in the back room, thought for a moment and tugged He Ying’s hand, saying, "I want to go too."


    "Go where?" S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He Ying instinctively feared Sang Yan intended to go somewhere troublesome and immediately furrowed his brows.


    Seeing his expression, Sang Yan still said, "Just to the back there. Imperial Doctor Liu is elderly, I want to help. Have you forgotten? I also learned some medical skills from He Hongzhao, and I recognize some herbs."


    After all, she could be of some help.


    He Ying was aware of this, looked at the night outside, and advised, "It’s already late, and you had a tough day today. Better rest early."


    He couldn’t bear to see her struggle.


    He was the Emperor, and she was his Empress. Naturally, they were supposed to lead a good life together; how could she labor like a servant?


    Unaware of his thoughts, Sang Yan said, "I’m not tired. In such critical times, whatever can be done should be done. I am the Empress, and I should set an example."


    She was very enthusiastic.


    He Ying, unable to dissuade her, then said, "Just busy yourself in the pharmacy, right?"


    Sang Yan nodded, "Yes. Where else could I possibly help?"


    He Ying coldly huffed as a reminder, "Who ran to the docks today?"


    Sang Yan, immediately feeling guilty, grinned appeasingly, "Haha, that was a special circumstance."


    He Ying sternly said, "I don’t care whether it was a special circumstance or not, you absolutely cannot run around anymore!"


    Sang Yan quickly nodded in agreement, "Yes, yes. No running around. Absolutely no running around."


    The next moment, she lifted her skirt and ran to the pharmacy.


    He Ying, watching her enthusiastic involvement, felt both love and pity in his heart.


    And of course, hatred.


    Hatred towards He Hongzhao!


    With a grim face, he headed to his study.


    There he drew a portrait of He Hongzhao and shouted to the outside, "Pei Muyang, get in here!"


    Pei Muyang immediately ran in.


    He clearly saw that He Ying’s handsome face emanated boundless coldness, and his eyes looked ominously terrifying, although Pei Muyang had followed him for a long time, he couldn’t help but shudder: it had been a long time since the Emperor was this angry.


    He Ying handed over the portrait in his hand.


    Pei Muyang looked at the face of He Hongzhao in the portrait, almost imagining the miserable state when she fell into He Ying’s hands.


    He Ying gripped the paintbrush tightly, his gaze grim, gritting his teeth, "He Hongzhao has not shown herself in Quanzhou for so long, now that Quanzhou has been sealed off and every household has been searched, I guess she has already escaped to Beiqi. Send someone to deliver the portrait to Rong Ye, have him look for He Hongzhao in Beiqi—"


    At this point, the paintbrush in his hand snapped.


    Snap.


    He said, "Kill her!"


    Pei Muyang rolled up the painting and bowed to accept the order, "Yes!"


    He admired deeply in his heart, feeling that the Emperor had thought everything through very thoroughly: in Quanzhou, He Hongzhao was like a rat hiding, but once in Beiqi, Wuya’s territory, she would feel safe and would naturally reveal herself.


    Once she appeared, the enemy would be visible, making it much easier to kill her!


    *


    For two consecutive days, Sang Yan soaked herself in the pharmacy.


    Inside the pharmacy,


    the strong bitter scent was almost suffocating.


    Sang Yan crouched in front of a small stove, fanning the flames to boil the medicine.


    "Empress, let me do that."


    The Medical Woman, her face panicked, tried to take over her job but got rejected.


    "No need, no need."


    Sang Yan wiped the sweat from her forehead and smiled, "See what Imperial Doctor Liu needs and go help him. I’m not as skilled as you all, I can only do these things, you all go and busy yourselves."


    She was unaware of a bit of ash on her nose, which, after a brush of her sleeve, smeared and made her look both comical and adorable.


    It nearly made the Medical Woman burst into laughter.


    She had also heard that the Empress was an ominous person.


    But how could someone so approachable and who stood up for the people be considered ominous?


    "Then let me get you a stool, my Lady."


    Seeing Sang Yan insist, the Medical Woman reluctantly brought over a stool so she wouldn’t have to crouch and tire herself out.


    Sang Yan sat down, her legs trembling.


    Truly exhausted.


    But there were others who were more exhausted than her.


    She glanced at a short distance away, where Imperial Doctor Liu and Liang Xin were still pondering over the medical prescriptions, both had been working continuously for two days, and she really feared they might work themselves to death.


    Especially Imperial Doctor Liu, given his age.


    With the disease condition now, almost completely dependent on him, she really feared something might happen to him.


    Thinking this, she put down the fan in her hand and walked over, "Imperial Doctor Liu, if you’re tired, please rest for a bit, and definitely don’t overexert yourself, it’s bad for your health."


    Imperial Doctor Liu was discussing the prescription with Liang Xin.


    They were still worrying about the poison affecting He Hongzhao.


    "I tried mixing arsenic and gelsemium, but the effect I could achieve was never as malicious as the poison He Hongzhao used..."


    Imperial Doctor Liu was completely immersed in his own world, not hearing Sang Yan’s concerned voice at all.


    To find an antidote, one must first understand the components of the poison.


    Imperial Doctor Liu held a medical book in his hands, his eyes nearly blurring.


    "We’re still missing one ingredient, still missing one..."


    He stroked his beard, muttering, "What could it be, what could it be?"


    Those who study medicine, like those who read books, once they enter their own world, it’s hard to pull them back to reality.


    Sang Yan didn’t want to disturb and was about to leave, her gaze suddenly fell on a medical book laid open carelessly.


    That medical book...


    She seemed to have seen it before when she visited He Hongzhao’s courtyard?


    A thought struck her.


    She walked over, picked up the book, and started flipping through it.


    After looking for an hour, she finally saw a familiar name—Zuoyu!


    The name itself, just saying it, carried a noble air.


    But when Sang Yan saw the description of this herb below, goosebumps instantly sprung up: [Zuoyu, cold in nature, the juice extremely poisonous, rots the skin and decays the bone, those who touch it, their bones would be carved like jade, until they corrode completely away.]


    "Imperial Doctor Liu!"


    Startled, Sang Yan quickly passed the medical book to him, "Please look at this, could this be the herb?"