Back at the Chen family compound, Ni Rong recalled: "I was in a hurry that day, so I chewed a handful of grass and pressed it on the wound. There was indeed some dirt on it."
Zi'an said: "It may not be the herbs that are poisonous, but the soil."
She poured out a handful of soil from the bottle. There were small white stones mixed in it, which broke into pieces with a light squeeze. "Look, do you know what this is?"
The two of them leaned over to take a look, but they didn't know what it was.
"What is this? Are these powders poisonous?" Su Qing asked.
Zi'an explained: "This is realgar stone, which is the raw stone we commonly call arsenic. It is highly poisonous."
"Arsenic?" Ni Rong was stunned for a moment. "You mean I took arsenic that day, so I'm fine."
"In addition to being a poison, arsenic can actually be used as medicine. It has the effects of eliminating phlegm and stopping malaria, killing insects, and corroding flesh." Zi'an said.
Su Qing said: "Although I have heard that arsenic can be used as medicine, doctors in this dynasty rarely use it because if the dosage is not controlled properly, it can cause death."
Zi'an knew that in the history she was familiar with, arsenic was used as medicine in many dynasties, but it was indeed a drug with purchase restrictions, and arsenic in pharmacies had to be reported to the government.
"Starting today, I will add a little arsenic to Wang Yu and the others' medicine," she turned back to look at Su Qing, "You stay here and watch. If there is any reaction, go to the epidemic area and tell me immediately."
"Okay." Su Qing said.
Zi'an began to study the dosage. Because there were other medicines involved, the dosage had to be controlled very accurately.
The initial duration is three days, and the results will be seen after three days.
After dividing the medicines, Zi'an repeatedly reminded Su Qing to strictly follow her dosage and not to give more or less.
Su Qing has been stationed here for the past few days. He asked someone to find Xiao Tuo and ask him to accompany Zi'an back to the epidemic area.
Although they may not play any tricks over there, it is better to be safe than sorry.
After Xiao Tuo came over, he didn't say hello to Su Qing, but took Zi'an and left.
"How is the prince?" Zi'an asked Xiao Tuo in the carriage.
"The prince is in the military camp, and something happened in the camp." Xiao Tuo said.
"What happened?" Zi'an asked hurriedly.
Xiao Tuo said: "It's nothing, don't worry."
When Zi'an saw that Xiao Tuo didn't say anything, he knew that the matter must be serious.
"Has anyone been sent to investigate the missing persons?" Zi'an asked again.
"I have asked the Ministry of Justice to do it. There should be results in the next two days."
After a moment of silence, Xiao Tuo actually started talking again, "There was a fight in the military camp."
"Fighting?" This surprised Zi'an. Military law is strict. If the fight is serious, it is a death penalty and must be dealt with by military law.
Xiao Tuo said lightly: "Someone instigated and divided the army. Now there are two gangs in the army. This is unprecedented."
"These garrisoned troops are all under the command of the prince. How could they be divided? And gangs have appeared?"
Xiao Tuo's eyes were clouded. "Preliminary estimates show that two generals have defected to Master Liang and deliberately used the zombie disease to stir up disputes. There are hundreds of people involved in the fight this time."
Zian was shocked. "According to military law, what should be done?"
"According to military law, all these hundreds of people must be beaten with fifty sticks."
"Not only that, if a fight breaks out in the army, this group of soldiers will have to stop and reorganize. They cannot be transferred until the Ministry of War lifts the seal." Xiao Tuo added.
Zi'an understood that the soldiers under the Regent's command could not move at will because they had to rectify the investigation, which to some extent restricted Murong Jie's authority.
Moreover, even if it really comes to the last moment, this will not be an elite force because of the traitor.
With numerous calculations looming, Zian could sense the ambitions behind them.
Xiao Tuo said: "So, this time in the epidemic area, the prince will not be able to take care of you much, you have to rely on yourself."
"I know. You don't have to accompany me. Just go and help him more." Zi'an said.
"I can make the arrangements. Fortunately, my eldest brother has returned to Beijing and brought back some soldiers."
——I am a rough dividing line——
After Xia Zian entered the epidemic area, she has been the focus of attention. Her story has spread among the people, and her mother Yuan Cuiyu has also been discussed.
Yuan Cuiyu has a very good reputation, which can somewhat cover up the scandal of Zi'an's regretful engagement.
Sometimes things in the world are so strange. In the past, Xia Zian was a vicious woman, and no one in the capital wanted to have anything to do with her. Now, as the daughter of the prime minister, she entered the epidemic area to treat the disease and suddenly became a hero. Everyone is proud to have met her.
Three days later, Zi'an left the epidemic area and returned to the Chen family courtyard.
Wang Yu's condition has not improved, but it is stable, which may be the effect of flying needles.
Mrs. Wang and the guards were feeling better, their wounds had not rotted, and the redness in their eyes had faded a little, but they were still not fully healed.
This made Zi'an very disappointed, because Ni Rong only used a very small amount at that time and there was no attack, and the fact that there was no attack after being bitten the second time proved that he had antibodies.
"After taking the medicine, did you record the situation in the past three days?" Zi'an asked.
"I've recorded it, take a look." Su Qing took out a notebook and handed it to Zi'an.
Zian flipped through it and found nothing special.
She checked Wang Yu again and found that although Wang Yu's condition was stable, the arsenic had basically no effect on him.
Did he not control the dosage well? Zi'an thought for a moment, added a little more, and told Su Qing, "Give me more medicine tonight, and I'll come out tomorrow."
"good!"
This experiment was repeated two or three times, but nothing was found. It was obvious that arsenic, like acupuncture, could only temporarily stabilize their condition.
Could it be that it is not arsenic? Or is it the herbal medicine from before
It’s just that those herbs have been checked and none of them are toxic even when mixed together.
She once again reviewed how Ni Rong handled the situation when he was bitten.
Poisoning, pouring water to induce vomiting, and washing the wound extensively are all normal methods of treating external injuries and poisoning. There is nothing special about it.
Zi'an looked very dejected. The glimmer of hope he had just seen was extinguished in an instant.
Murong Jie also came in the afternoon. He came after learning that Zi'an had left the epidemic area.
He looked a little tired, and in just a few days, he seemed to have lost a lot of weight.
Xiao Tuo said before that he couldn't sleep well, probably because his headache came back again.
"How's the situation?" he asked as he came in.
Zi'an informed him of the current situation. After listening, Murong Jie frowned slightly and said, "So, you can say that there is no progress at all?"
"We've regressed." Zi'an said dejectedly.
Seeing her depressed look, Murong Jie comforted her, "Don't worry, think about it slowly, study it slowly, there will always be a way."
"Okay, got it." Zi'an went in with him, "How's your side going? Have you dealt with it?"
Murong Jie turned around and glanced at Xiao Tuo, "Did he tell you?"
"Forgive his big mouth, he can't keep it to himself."
(End of this chapter)