Qin Zhao turned around and saw a beautiful girl of about eighteen or nineteen years old, wearing a light green ruqun, walking towards her.
"Your belt is not tied properly."
Qin Zhao: "..."
She walked over and very naturally retied Qin Zhao's belt for her.
Qin Zhao was somewhat disappointed, things were not developing as she had imagined.
But as soon as she got close, Qin Zhao smelled the faint scent of medicinal herbs coming from her.
As the girl was about to leave, Qin Zhao asked, "Excuse me, are you a doctor at No Illness Hall?"
She nodded, "Yes, but I'm off duty today. We need to replenish medicinal ingredients today.
If you want to see a doctor, you'll have to wait until tomorrow."
"May I ask the young lady's name?"
"Yu Qingzhu."
"Very well, I'm Qin Zhao."
Hearing Qin Zhao's name, Yu Qingzhu was stunned for a moment.
Because Qin was an imperial clan surname.
It wasn't that she was surprised to meet a member of the imperial family. As a doctor at No Illness Hall, she had also treated many nobles and royals.
But she had never seen anyone like Qin Zhao, who was so amiable and approachable, without the arrogance of someone from an imperial clan.
So she took a liking to Qin Zhao.
Qin Zhao bid Yu Qingzhu farewell, "Then I'll be going now. I'll come to find you tomorrow."
She had only taken a few steps when her wrist was grabbed. "Hey, you're going the wrong way. That leads to a dead end..."
Yu Qingzhu stopped mid-sentence, as if burned, and let go of Qin Zhao's wrist!
Qin Zhao noticed Yu Qingzhu's abnormality, turned to look at her, and saw that her face had become extremely pale!
Qin Zhao asked, "What's wrong with you?"
Yu Qingzhu took two steps back and said slowly, "Why is there a death omen in your pulse?"
Death omen?!
Qin Zhao was also somewhat surprised. She suddenly recalled that in the original book, it was described that when Princess Zhaoyang was beheaded, she did not shed a single drop of blood!
The author explained that after her death, she was unwilling to bleed, just as she was unwilling to shed tears when she was alive. It was an expression of not submitting to fate.
But the actual situation in the small world was probably that she was already dead and her blood had stopped circulating!
Yet due to the author's need for the character Princess Zhaoyang, Heavenly Dao somehow enabled her to continue existing in the state of a living dead person until the male lead let her log off!
The cause of death was nothing more than being used by the Emperor to test medicine, which led to her untimely death.
And the fire poison made her body have a temperature, so no one discovered that she was not alive.
Qin Zhao asked 502, "Don't you have an explanation for this?"
502 said, "The small world has its own laws of operation. There are some things I cannot explain either. I just scanned the host's body.
If an ordinary person was in this condition, they would have died long ago. But the host's powerful soul has brought a glimmer of life to this body.
As long as we follow the original plan and obtain the Enigmatic Pond Snow Lotus, she can recover normally."
Qin Zhao felt a little better, but the original host's tragic fate had truly refreshed her awareness.
How much malice did the original book's author have towards Princess Zhaoyang?
If she didn't stomp the dog author's beloved male lead into the mud, she wouldn't be able to swallow this insult!
Coming back to her senses, Qin Zhao smiled at Yu Qingzhu and said lightly, "It's true that I don't have long to live, so isn't that why I've come to see a doctor?"
Yu Qingzhu looked at Qin Zhao with complicated eyes. She grabbed her hand and walked forward.
Qin Zhao asked, "Young Miss Yu, where are you taking me?"
Yu Qingzhu didn't look back, "Where else could we go? I'm taking you to get treated.
My master has superb medical skills. Perhaps she can prolong your life.
If even she can't save you, then you should start preparing for the afterlife."
Yu Qingzhu brought Qin Zhao to a low wall. She bent down and said, "Miss Qin, step on my back to climb over."
Qin Zhao: "..."
She waved her hand, "No need."
Under Yu Qingzhu's puzzled gaze, Qin Zhao took a 10-meter running start, supported herself with one hand on the wall, and somersaulted over it!
Yu Qingzhu sighed in admiration, "You really don't seem like someone about to die."
Then she nimbly flipped over the wall as well.
The two passed through the front hall of No Illness Hall and came to the yard.
They saw a woman wearing a white plain robe, brewing medicine.
Although her temples were streaked with white, her face was almost wrinkle-free, and her features were exquisite and could be described as a beauty.
Qin Zhao suspected that No Illness Hall recruited based on looks, how could they all be so good-looking!
Yu Qingzhu whispered, "That's my master, Feng Tinghe."
Yu Qingzhu pulled Qin Zhao over to the woman and said, "Master, I'm back. I also brought you an interesting patient that I'm sure you'll be interested in!"
She looked up, first at Yu Qingzhu, then moved her gaze to Qin Zhao's face. Her eyes, like an ancient well, betrayed no emotion.
She had the temperament of someone above worldly affairs.
Qin Zhao smiled and greeted, "Greetings Dr. Feng. We're meeting for the first time, please give me your guidance."
She nodded slightly and held out her hand, "Put your wrist here."
Qin Zhao placed her right wrist in Feng Tinghe's palm.
She gently grasped it with her fingers resting right on Qin Zhao's pulse.
After a few breaths, Feng Tinghe's emotionless voice came, "Beyond saving. Go home and bid farewell to your family."
Qin Zhao's smile gradually disappeared. She couldn't help but doubt the authenticity of Yu Qingzhu's claim that "My master's medical skills are extremely high."
Feng Tinghe didn't say she was dead like Yu Qingzhu did. Her skills were a little higher than Yu Qingzhu's, but not by much.
But the slap in the face came swiftly.
Qin Zhao said, "Dr. Feng, don't jump to conclusions yet. I know of a medicine that can cure my illness.
That medicine is extremely valuable. I wonder if Dr. Feng would be willing to part with it?"
Feng Tinghe retracted her hand and continued fanning the medicine stove, "You must be referring to the Enigmatic Pond Snow Lotus.
It's just a medicinal ingredient, there's no question of how valuable it is.
If it can save a person, I have nothing I'm unwilling to part with.
But what I can provide, you cannot afford.
If you want to use the Enigmatic Pond Snow Lotus to overcome the fire poison in your body, you should give up that idea as soon as possible."
Qin Zhao was puzzled and asked, "Why?"
Feng Tinghe: "The Enigmatic Pond Snow Lotus is extremely cold while the fire poison is extremely hot. If both exist in the body at the same time, it will place an enormous burden on the internal organs.
The torment of ice and fire would be hundreds or thousands of times more painful than you can imagine.
Can you endure it?"
Qin Zhao said without hesitation, "I can endure it."
Feng Tinghe continued unhurriedly, "I once knew someone who was the toughest person I've ever met.
Climbing mountains of knives and descending into seas of fire could not crush her will.
Yet after taking the Enigmatic Pond Snow Lotus, unable to bear the pain it brought, she took her own life.
She was afflicted with the same fire poison as you.
But the poison she had was far less severe than yours, so the pain you will suffer will be even greater than hers.
I don't think you can endure it."
Just hearing Feng Tinghe's description made Qin Zhao nervous to the point of feeling chilled all over.
It's said that the limit of pain humans can endure is that of a woman giving birth.
But compared to the agony Feng Tinghe described, that didn't seem to count for anything.
Qin Zhao suppressed her fear and knelt before Feng Tinghe, "I can do it. Dr. Feng, please believe me. Give me a chance to live!"
Feng Tinghe looked at Qin Zhao for a long time, then sighed and said, "Then try it if you insist.
But I'm warning you, if you don't take the Enigmatic Pond Snow Lotus, you can still live for a month. But if you do take it, you may only have three days left.
Because the extreme pain will last three days and three nights continuously."
Qin Zhao wiped the cold sweat that had seeped out on her forehead, and solemnly nodded, "I will take responsibility for my choice!"
Feng Tinghe asked, "What is your name?"
"Qin Zhao."
Feng Tinghe said to Yu Qingzhu, "Take Qin Zhao to get ready."
Yu Qingzhu replied, "Yes."
Yu Qingzhu took Qin Zhao to a well-lit room. Outside the window was a bamboo forest, and the breeze carried the fragrance of plants.
It was a nice room, but the bed was not as beautiful as the scenery.
Iron chains were attached to the four corners of the bed, clearly prepared for patients.
"Qin Zhao, sit on the stool and wait."
Qin Zhao sat down. Yu Qingzhu went to a pipa and stroked the strings, "What would you like to hear?"
Qin Zhao said, "Whatever you're good at, I'll listen to that."
"Don't be afraid. I'll stay with you these three days."
Yu Qingzhu's tone was full of compassion, which for some reason gave Qin Zhao the urge to cry.
Could the Enigmatic Pond Snow Lotus really be so terrifying that they all thought she would die?
Then she was determined to live to show them!
Qin Zhao closed her eyes, suppressed the fear in her heart.
When she opened her eyes again, only determination remained.
Just then, Feng Tinghe walked in, holding a box in her hand.
She came to Qin Zhao and opened the box.
The box was lined with straw, and on the straw lay the Enigmatic Pond Snow Lotus, already dried but still lifelike, emitting traces of cold air from its pure white petals.
Feng Tinghe said, "Eat it."
Qin Zhao asked: "Is this all we're having?"
Feng Tinghe replied: "If you'd like some white sugar with it, that's also an option."
Qin Zhao responded bashfully: "No need."
Qin Zhao put the flower petals in his mouth one by one, chewing slowly. The taste was slightly sweet and rather pleasant.
However, the roots were bitter.
After swallowing the last bite of Enigmatic Pond Snow Lotus, Qin Zhao inquired: "What's next?"
Feng Tinghe pointed to the bed, saying: "Lie down there."
Qin Zhao did as instructed.
Feng Tinghe then shackled Qin Zhao's limbs with iron chains, locking them in place.
"The medicinal effect of the Enigmatic Pond Snow Lotus will take hold after half a stick of incense. You should rest first, although you'll surely be awakened by the pain. But enduring a little less suffering is still worthwhile."
Qin Zhao acquiesced with a murmur, closing his eyes.
Feng Tinghe gazed at Qin Zhao's sleeping face for a moment before exiting the room.
At the same time, the melody of the pipa piece "High Mountains and Flowing Water" sounded in the room.
