She Came to Heal, Stayed to Conquer

Wei Chengchao’s face grew increasingly grim. He was well aware that his physical condition was far from being as "unharmed" as the doctors claimed.

A faint sense of foreboding lingered in his mind, refusing to dissipate.

After a while, the doctors finally finished their discussion and turned to approach him.

Wei Chengchao exchanged a glance with the two attendants, their hearts pounding as if awaiting a death sentence.

"Mr. Wei," the eldest doctor said, furrowing his brow, "we have all carefully examined you, and we have compared the results. We are sure that you, Mr. Wei, and your attendants are in good health and show no signs of poisoning."

"Yes, we found no signs of poisoning," another doctor confirmed with certainty.

The other doctors nodded in agreement one after another.

"No poisoning? How can that be?"

Wei Chengchao was completely incredulous. That day, he had indeed experienced diarrhea, just as Han Lei had stated. After taking Han Lei’s antidote, he recovered on the same day and had no further issues.

Although the two attendants did not have diarrhea that day, they also felt discomfort with stomach rumblings.

Wei Chengchao turned to look at the two attendants.

Sure enough, neither of them appeared relieved or elated upon hearing they were healthy. Instead, they wore pained expressions, clearly not believing the doctors’ diagnosis.

Could it be, as Han Lei said, that her poison was undetectable by even the Capital City’s doctors?

Seeing their disbelief, the elderly doctor could only bow and say, "Mr. Wei, please forgive our lack of skill. Indeed, we cannot find any anomaly in Mr. Wei’s health."

Another doctor shook his head, "Mr. Wei, please forgive our incompetence. We must take our leave."

Wei Chengchao was fairly generous. Although the doctors found nothing wrong, he still paid the consultation fee and let them go.

Once the doctors had left, Wei Chengchao went to the door and asked the maid keeping watch outside.

"Where is my father?"

The maid replied, "Sir, after dinner, the master went to Wanhua Building with some people."

Wanhua Building was a famous brothel in the Capital City, a place where the city’s dignitaries liked to linger.

Even Wei, the Prime Minister, despite his high rank, was not immune to common vices and frequently stayed overnight at Wanhua Building at the age of over fifty.

Wei’s absence was just what Wei Chengchao had hoped for. He decided to seize this opportunity to invite another doctor to confirm the diagnosis.

Turning back into the room, Wei Chengchao instructed the two attendants to go to the Imperial Palace and invite the Imperial Physician who specialized in treating the royal family.

"Go, in my father’s name, summon Mr. Cui from the Imperial Hospital!"

Wei Chengchao’s tone brooked no dissent.

That wretched woman, Han Lei, had said her poison was undetectable by other doctors, but Mr. Cui was the Chief Imperial Physician, with unparalleled medical skills.

He refused to believe that Han Lei’s poison was beyond Mr. Cui’s ability to diagnose.

The notion of alarming the Chief Imperial Physician caused the attendants to pause, but they steeled themselves and left to carry out the order.

After all, this poison was no trivial matter, as it concerned both their master’s life and their own.

The night descended, and the Prime Minister’s residence was brightly lit.

With respect to the Prime Minister Wei, the venerable Mr. Cui, accompanied by two young apprentices, slowly made his way into the hall.

Mr. Cui, with a bent posture, carried a dignified and composed expression on his face.

Seeing his arrival, Wei Chengchao quickly rose to greet him, a mix of anticipation and anxiety stirring within.

After the servants offered tea, Wei Chengchao dismissed all the servants, leaving only the two attendants.

"Mr. Cui, it seems the three of us have been poisoned. Please, do examine us thoroughly," Wei Chengchao pleaded.

Mr. Cui gave a slight nod and gestured for them to sit.

Pulsing, questioning, observing... Mr. Cui’s actions were meticulous, his demeanor focused.

Wei Chengchao waited tensely, barely daring to breathe.

Finally, Mr. Cui slowly retracted his hand, his gaze deeply fixed on Wei Chengchao.

"Mr. Wei, are you toying with an old man?" Mr. Cui’s tone was displeased.

"Uh... Mr. Cui, what do you mean by this?" Wei Chengchao was puzzled.

Mr. Cui confidently stated his diagnosis, "None of you have been poisoned."

"This—this is impossible! That wretched woman clearly said we were poisoned."

Wei Chengchao appeared incredulous.

"Yes, that wretched woman also claimed that her poison couldn’t be detected by other doctors."

"Yes, indeed, that’s what she said."

The two attendants nodded repeatedly.

They had no words to describe the unease within their bodies, a nameless fear and sense of powerlessness, as if they might be consumed at any moment.

Suddenly, Wei Chengchao seemed to remember something and hurriedly retrieved a small porcelain bottle from his bosom containing the antidote.

With trembling hands, he uncorked the bottle, poured a few Gastric Health and Digestion Pills into his palm, and extended his hand to Mr. Cui.

"Mr. Cui. Look, this is the antidote she gave us. One pill daily, cessation spells certain death."

Mr. Cui glanced at him sideways, picked up a pill, and examined it closely.

Was this their so-called antidote?

The pill had an unusual shape, unlike any he had seen before.

Mr. Cui suspiciously sniffed the tiny pill, noting a faint medicinal scent.

Then, he bit off a small piece and chewed it, carefully discerning its flavor.

At last, he reached a conclusion that left Wei Chengchao and his attendants stunned—

"Hmm... It contains aged tangerine peel, yam, pseudostellaria root, roasted barley malt, and hawthorn. This is no antidote; it’s merely a formula to strengthen the spleen and lungs, aiding digestion."

"A digestive formula? How...how is this possible?" Wei Chengchao felt as if struck by lightning.

Mr. Cui was such a distinguished physician, typically treating the Emperor and Empress. Only because of the Prime Minister’s invitation did he come to diagnose them.

Seeing Wei Chengchao doubting his judgment, Mr. Cui’s expression sternly turned, and he slammed the table as he stood.

"Hmph! Insolent child, are you questioning my medical skills?"

Mr. Cui said this and turned, unsteadily making his way out. Upon reaching the doorway, he stopped, turning back to look at Wei Chengchao as if he were a fool.

Mr. Cui left them with a parting remark: "I tell you, any advanced poisoning skill will leave traces whenever poison is administered. Perhaps you have been deceived."

Having said this, Mr. Cui, with his two apprentices shaking their heads, angrily departed.

Mr. Cui’s words felt like a bucket of icy water poured over Wei Chengchao’s heart.

Watching Mr. Cui leave in anger, Wei Chengchao and his two attendants stood frozen like statues.

After a long while, Wei Chengchao finally came to his senses.

Being fooled by that girl Han Lei made him feel ashamed, and with his temper rising, he started smashing tables and breaking dishes in rage.

Bam! Crash!

Wei Chengchao overturned a table, shattering the exquisitely crafted teapot, teacups, and other porcelain on the floor, then stomped on them fiercely.

"That damned wretch! How dare she fool me. Who would have thought I, Wei Chengchao, would fall at the hands of a mere girl!"