MFURCC -Chapter 72 The Bracelet Is Poisoned

Just moments ago, the Young Mistress was still chatting and laughing with Madam Yuan—how did it suddenly turn into…

Nanny Jiang couldn’t help asking, “Young Mistress, what’s happened?”

Liuzheng said, “Nanny, where did you put the bracelet that Sister Yuan gave me?”

“The maid noticed you liked it, so I put it in the pearwood box you usually use.”

“Good, I’ll go get it. You go fetch Doctor Chen.” She paused, fearing the nanny might worry, and added, “It’s not for me—it concerns Sister Yuan.”

Nanny Jiang finally relaxed a little and hurried off to find Doctor Chen.

Doctor Chen usually had a leisurely schedule. Madam didn’t trust him, so he was rarely called upon.

The Third Household couple didn’t like troubling others, so Doctor Chen spent his days studying medical texts and improving his acupuncture skills—his medical ability had become even better than before.

Hearing that Liuzheng wanted him, he immediately put down his book and came without hesitation.

Soon, Doctor Chen arrived before Liuzheng.

“Young Mistress, what’s happened?”

Liuzheng dismissed everyone else, leaving only Nanny Jiang. She handed the bracelet to Doctor Chen.

“Doctor Chen, please check this bracelet. Is there something wrong with it?”

Earlier at Wanghu Pavilion, when Madam Yuan poured her wine, her wrist with the bracelet brushed past Liuzheng’s nose, and she caught a familiar fragrance.

But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t recall where she had smelled it before—so she called Doctor Chen to ask.

Doctor Chen, besides knowing medicine well, had some understanding of fragrances.

“Let me see…”

He took the bracelet, carefully holding it in one hand and waving the other gently through the air.

The fragrance floated into his nose with the motion of his hand.

In the next moment, Doctor Chen stepped back sharply, holding up the bracelet as he asked Liuzheng, “Young Mistress, how long have you worn this bracelet?”

“This was given to me by the wife of the Minister of Justice. I only touched it briefly, then gave it to Nanny Jiang. When I asked her to hold it, she wrapped it in a cloth.”

Nanny Jiang nodded. “I didn’t touch it with my hands—it was wrapped in a cloth the whole time.”

Doctor Chen glanced at her and said, “The substance on this bracelet has no effect on you. It only affects the Young Mistress. But since it was only briefly in contact, it shouldn’t cause much harm; prolonged exposure is required.”

Liuzheng’s face showed confusion.

“Doctor Chen, stop beating around the bush. Is this bracelet poisoned? Why does it only affect me?”

Doctor Chen explained, “If I’m not mistaken, a Dried Blood Pearl has been placed inside this bracelet.”

“What’s a Dried Blood Pearl?” she asked; she had never heard of it.

Doctor Chen elaborated:

“A Dried Blood Pearl is a chronic poison. It won’t kill, but it gradually weakens a woman’s vital essence, making her infertile.”

“A woman’s body is like a river.”

“The Dried Blood Pearl dries up that river, making it impossible to bear children.”

“Externally, a woman who wears a Dried Blood Pearl will see her menstrual cycle slowly diminish—the intervals grow longer each time, until it eventually stops entirely.”

“And the Dried Blood Pearl does not show in the pulse. Even the most skilled physician, without seeing the bracelet, cannot detect its poison through pulse-taking.”

Without her menstrual cycle, how could a woman conceive?

Hearing this, Nanny Jiang suddenly understood and slapped her thigh.

“No wonder you said it wouldn’t affect me…”

She was older, and her cycles had already stopped years ago.

Then she turned sharply to Liuzheng. “So Madam Yuan hasn’t been able to conceive because of this bracelet?”

Liuzheng nodded.

Nanny Jiang was struck with realization again.

“No wonder you acted differently than usual, even asking for the bracelet yourself.”

She thought to herself that her Young Mistress was never rude.

At that moment, Liuzheng recalled why the fragrance on the bracelet felt familiar.

“Doctor Chen, in the military camp, did the women there also take something like this Dried Blood Pearl?”

The army did have camp prostitutes, mostly women who had committed serious crimes.

They were brought to the camps to satisfy the soldiers’ needs.

Liuzheng’s attendants in the camp, however, were not prostitutes.

She used the women sent from the court as maids for cleaning and cooking.

Once, when visiting another general’s camp, she happened to see a camp prostitute taking medicine.

The scent of that medicine was remarkably similar to what she smelled on the bracelet today.

But after two lifetimes, she couldn’t recall the source immediately—now it finally came back.

Doctor Chen shook his head, however. “They didn’t take Dried Blood Pearls—they took contraceptive decoctions. The Dried Blood Pearl won’t kill, but it causes women to age quickly.”

“Then why does it smell so similar?”

“Many of the ingredients are the same.”

“I see,” Liuzheng nodded. A worried look crossed her face as she asked, “Can this poison be cured?”

Doctor Chen sighed.

“It’s difficult.”

“Difficult… meaning there’s still a slight chance, right?”

“It can be attempted, but I honestly can’t say if it will work.”

Liuzheng said solemnly, “Please try. Even if it doesn’t work, at least we’ve tried.”

“Very well… I’ll go back and review my medical texts immediately.”

“Thank you for your trouble.”

“You’re too polite, Young Mistress.”

Doctor Chen bowed and left.

Liuzheng picked up the bracelet to examine it closely, but Nanny Jiang quickly took it from her.

“Young Mistress, you haven’t married yet. Don’t touch this.”

Liuzheng smiled wryly. “I’m just looking to see where the Dried Blood Pearl is. Doctor Chen said brief contact is harmless.”

“You still have to be careful.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll find the pearl quickly.”

Nanny Jiang still refused, so Liuzheng let her handle it.

With less strength than Liuzheng, Nanny Jiang struggled for a while before finally opening the bracelet.

It was hollow, and inside fell a round bead, like a ruby.

“Keep the pearl. Perhaps it will be useful someday.”

“I’ll fetch a sealed box.”

“Mm.”

After Nanny Jiang left, Liuzheng quickly restored the bracelet and instructed Yuliu to return it to Madam Yuan and invite her for tea the next day.

Yuliu returned shortly.

“After much persuasion, Madam Yuan finally accepted the bracelet.”

Liuzheng nodded.

Yuliu added, “On the way, I passed Haoyue Courtyard and heard the Young Master screaming in agony…”

Ruan Changzheng lived at Haoyue Courtyard, not far from Liuzheng’s residence.

Liuzheng raised an eyebrow. “Today is the day he digs out the rotten flesh again.”

Although Ruan Changzheng’s bones were slowly healing, his flesh remained rotten.

At least three rounds of removing the decayed flesh were needed before new, healthy flesh would grow.

“No wonder…” Yuliu hesitated.

“No wonder what?”

“Nothing… nothing…”

“Speak.”

Yuliu said reluctantly, “No wonder there was not only screaming but also shouting…”

Her words were subtle, but Liuzheng guessed immediately.

“They’re scolding me, right?”

Yuliu knelt.

“Please forgive me, Young Mistress. I didn’t mean to trouble you…”

Liuzheng helped her up.

“I’m not angry. Their scolding won’t trouble me. In fact, the harsher they scold, the happier I am—it shows their situation is difficult, and they’re suffering, hence the anger.”

The harsher they scold, the happier she became.

“Do you want to go see them?”

Liuzheng shook her head. “I don’t care about their scolding, but why go seek it out?”

“You’re right… I spoke out of turn.”

“All right, I don’t blame you. I’ll rest a bit. You may leave.”

“Yes.”

Nanny Jiang quickly came in, removed her headpiece, and helped her lie down.

“Serve dinner an hour late, and wake me then.”

“Yes.”

Nanny Jiang left, and the room fell silent.

Liuzheng watched the window curtains sway lightly in the breeze, faintly hearing a scream.

She didn’t like seeing others suffer, so she avoided looking at Ruan Changzheng in pain.

If not for blood feuds, who would willingly be a villain?

She was this way, and Madam was too. In her previous life, Madam had hidden her true nature well; even Liuzheng thought her a kind mother—until the truth was revealed.

This life, having “taken” Ruan Changzheng’s military achievements and driven away Ruan Yunzheng, Madam finally revealed her true face.

…

At Haoyue Courtyard, Ruan Changzheng had fainted three times.

When he awoke the fourth time, all the rotten flesh had finally been removed.

Madam Song was in tears, clutching his hand tightly.

“Mother will avenge you!”

Ruan Changzheng opened his mouth to speak, but was too weak and soon fell asleep again.

Madam Song wiped her tears, then thanked the physician from last time.

“No need, Madam,” the physician replied.

Madam Song nodded and asked, “Doctor, how many more times must this be done?”

“Depending on the condition, at least two more times…”

Her heart trembled.

“Two more times? His body can’t endure this. Does this miraculous medicine even work? From the looks of it, the injuries are worsening.”

She doubted again the miraculous medicine Liuzheng had brought from the Princess’s residence.

The physician said, “Madam, please be patient. Although it looks severe externally, the bones are slowly healing. Without this medicine, the bones wouldn’t recover so quickly. It’s truly very effective.”

Madam Song’s doubts eased slightly.

She handed the consultation fee to Grandma Qi, sent the physician off, and personally, with the maids, changed Ruan Changzheng’s sweat-soaked undergarments.

Just as the clothing was replaced, the Old Madam arrived.

Madam Song was impatient but had to tolerate her and let her see Ruan Changzheng.

The Old Madam came daily to check on Ruan Changzheng, always leaving in tears.

He was not only Madam’s son but also her eldest grandson.

Though she blamed him for letting Liuzheng go to the army in his place, seeing her grandson like this made her deeply sorrowful.

“What did the doctor say?”

“The bones have improved, but the rotten flesh still needs two more removals.”

Seeing Ruan Changzheng weak and asleep, the Old Madam sighed. Then she said, “Tomorrow I’ll go to the temple to pray. There’s been much happening at home lately. I’ll ask Buddha for protection. Will you come with me?”

Upon hearing this, Madam Song’s mind stirred.