Back In Time (The Reincarnation of the Cruel Concubine)

Oddities

Wu Li Mei immediately headed for the kitchen in the princess pavilion, where the maids used to prepare medicine for Zhou Xie Ling. The woman stepped quickly with the herbal cup in her hand. He felt there was something unusual about the herb, whether the smell was wrong or the drug was contaminated.

"Darling Hong!" call him, Dayang Hong is approaching soon.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Prepare the usual herbal medicines given to Xiao Ling." he said.

"Good." Dayang Hong nodded, with a feeling of nervousness and fear, the middle-aged woman began to prepare herbal medicines stored in a special storage area. The other dayang did not stay silent, they also prepared medicine.

The maids began to concoct medicine, using the way Wu Li Mei had taught them. It was not out of the sight of the concubine for a second.

"Where is Yang Li?" whispered Dayang Hong to one of the young ladies.

The dayang shook his head in fear, he was even about to cry out in fear. She and a ladyboy named Yang Li, were in charge of preparing the herbs. "I don't know, Dayang Hong."

"The Li disappeared since yesterday, Dayang Hong. The room was empty and all her belongings were gone." said one of the ladies, whispering to Dayang Hong.

Dayang Hong's face instantly changed pias, there must be something wrong with all of this.

"Find Yang Li now!" set Dayang Hong on another day. "Where, find him!"

"Well, Hong."

The few young ladies started to separate themselves, slowly so that Wu Li Mei did not feel strange.

Dayang Hong and one young lady-in-waiting named Lien resumed their work. They added many herbal remedies according to the dose that Wu Li Mei gave, mixed them slowly, and stirred them until they were perfectly mixed with water.

Wu Li Mei frowned, again there was something unusual about the potion. The small bubble that resembled a blob of oil appeared again, this time silver in color.

"Isn't there something strange?"

Dayang Hong stopped his hand from stirring the medicine, his breath choking while looking at the grand concubine. "Ma... I'm sorry, Your Majesty?"

"The bubble." show Wu Li Mei. "Has there been a bubble before?"

"Sa. I'm not sure, Your Majesty."

Wu Li Mei shook off the steaming steam from the herbs, "Didn't this feel any more stinging?"

"I smell like another scent."

Wu Li Mei thought hard, recalling that foreign-feeling scent. "Mercury?"

"Darling Yi!"

"Yes, Your Majesty?"

"Call Physician Zhong, now!"

"Okay, Your Majesty."

Dayang Hong and Lien looked at each other, they knew very well what would happen after this. Must be something bad. How not, they are the first people to be sought in case something bad happens to the princess.

Coupled with Yang Li's disappearance, it might have something to do with the contaminated herbal medicine.

They did not know about medicine, they only did what Wu Li Mei ordered. But, obviously there will be no defense for it, because they will be punished if the herbal medicine is proven toxic.

"This must be something wrong." said Wu Li Mei, the look on the concubine's face turned cold and gripping. "Who's in charge of preparing the medicine?"

"The Li?"

"Yes, Your Majesty." replied Dayang Hong.

"Where is Yang Li?"

Dayang Hong glanced at Lien who was always looking down, the lady-in-waiting quivered in fear and her tongue suddenly twisted. "Where is Yang Li?" Wu Li Mei repeated her question.

"The Li disappeared, Your Majesty."

Wu Li Mei rounded her eyes, "Ap---"

"Your Majesty!" a young lady ran in haste. "Daughter."

"Princess vomits blood."

...****************...

Physician Zhong examined Princess Xie Ling's pulse, the princess' weak body lying down again after she coughed violently and spewed blood. Luckily, the moment it happened, the healer had reached the princess pavilion.

"How is Physician Zhong?" emperor Zhou asked, the emperor hurried away after Eunuch Hao informed Zhou Xie Ling of the situation.

Physician Zhong shook his head, "I'm not sure, Your Majesty."

"It seems the princess is sick again."

"But, didn't he improve a few months ago?"

The healer nodded confidently, he could confirm if Zhou Xie Ling's health improved after Wu Li Mei gave her a new herbal potion. Physician Zhong himself who helped make the concoction and observed the development of the herbal medicine. "I also guarantee that the princess is in good condition in recent months, Your Majesty. But I don't know, maybe something has caused his health to decline again."

Wu Li Mei came with Dayang Hong, her countenance panicked and worried. The concubine bowed respectfully as she arrived before the emperor. "Greetings, Your Majesty."

"Rise!"

"Greetings, Your Majesty Consort." greet Physician Zhong.

"How is Xiao Ling?" the woman asked, her hands outstretched wiping away the sweat that flooded the little princess' forehead. The concubine sat on the edge of the bed, wiping the splashes of blood that were stuck on Zhou Xie Ling's hanfu arm. "I found an oddity in the medicine commonly given to Xiao Ling?" he added.

Physician Zhong frowned, "What do you mean, Your Majesty?"

"I smell mercury in that herbal medicine."

"How can you?" Physician Zhong rounded his eyes, he was certainly no stranger to a dangerous metal called mercury. The strange thing is that mercury was very difficult to obtain in the Ming Dynasty, because the dangerous metal was difficult to find here. "I just gave you a new herbal remedy this week."

"You must prove it yourself, Physician Zhong. My smell couldn't have been wrong, even if it wasn't mercury, there would have been other ingredients mixed in it." Wu Li Mei insisted.

"Mercury?" ask Emperor Zhou. "There's no mercury in this country, I've banned the trade."

The mercury trade was included in the illicit trade that had to be eradicated by the government, and it was already done to its full potential in the Ming Dynasty. In fact, the emperor's visit to the Su Dynasty was none other than to stop the mercury trade that was still very much in the Su Country.

Developed countries in the southern valley are large producers of mercury, and spread to various countries in the form of illicit trade. Therefore, the Emperor of the Su Dynasty proposed an agreement on the circulation of mercury that is harmful to health. Mercury is often misused for toxins and dangerous beauty tools.

"I have to make sure of it myself, Your Majesty." said Physician Zhong, the man lowered his head in respect and left.

Wu Li Mei clasped, she clasped the princess's small hand to channel the warmth. He continued to pray to the gods to protect his daughter again. The concubine turned her head as a hand perched on her shoulder, "Calm Mei-er, everything will be fine."