C79 Part3

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Leaving the place, Murong Ci followed to the Dali Temple, wanting to see further autopsy results.

However, Shen Zhiyan did not go to the autopsy, but head to the Imperial Hospital at the Palace instead.

She followed him to the Imperial Hospital, looking for books in the vast collection of books.

He said that he had seen a record of poisonous flowers in a medical book before, but he couldn't remember which medical book it was.

Qin Ruo also helped to find it, and the three of them quickly searched the huge bookshelf, too busy to rest or eat.

"I never knew that there were so many books in the Imperial Hospital."

Qin Ruo said,

"With so many books will we be able to find it?"

"Let's look for it, and we'll surely find it eventually."

Murong Ci replied without looking back.

"I'm sorry for having Your Highness help doing such a thing."

Although he said so, Shen Zhiyan wasn't apologetic at all in his tone.

"Master Shen, once the murder case of Lord Zhuang is over, you'll have to treat Your Royal Highness to a good meal."

Qin Ruo smiled.

"Sure, sure, I will treat Your Highness and you a sumptuous meal."

Shen Zhiyan smiled.

At this time, the Envoy of the Imperial Hospital, Envoy Shen came in and asked with a smile:

"Your Royal Highness, Master Shen, what book are you looking for?"

Shen Zhiyan raised his head and said:

"Envoy Shen, I am looking for a medical book.

The book records a kind of flower.

The whole plant of the flower is poisonous.

By extracting the juice inside the fruit, one can produce a kind of addictive and poisonous drug."

Envoy Shen walked to a row of bookshelves and scanned them with her eyes,

"Yes, I remember seeing the kind of flowers you mentioned in a book a year ago."

Murong Ci was pleasantly surprised:

"Envoy Shen, do you remember which book it was?"

He didn't answer and kept searching for a while, then pulled out a book from the shelf, opened it, and said with joy,

"This is it."

The three of them immediately moved and gathered around him.

He pointed to a page of the book,

"Afyūm ( 阿芙蓉 ), more commonly known as Opium Poppy.

Isn't this the kind of flower you were referring to?"

"Yes, right! That's it!"

Shen Zhiyan smiled happily,

"Envoy Shen, thank you so much."

Murong Ci took the book and frowned,

"Are Opium Poppy and Hibiscus flowers in the same family?"

He smiled and said:

"They're not in the same family or the same flower."

Envoy Shen said:

"Opium Poppy is also a kind of medicinal material, often used to relieve diarrhea and antitussive.

However we have never found Opium Poppy in the Northern Yan Kingdom."

Qin Ruo asked:

"Where is Opium Poppy found?"

"It is recorded in this book that Eastern Chu Kingdom once discovered wild Opium Poppy."

Envoy Shen said with a smile,

"Your Royal Highness, Master Shen, what happened with Opium Poppy?"

"Envoy Shen, I would like to ask you, if the juice of the fruit of Opium Poppy is extracted to make Opium ointment, what will happen to people who take Opium ointment?"

Shen Zhiyan asked solemnly.

"This can't be done, and you can't smoke it."

Envoy Shen was shocked.

"Opium ointment is a banned item by the Court.

Once you smoke it, you will be convicted and even sentenced to death."

"This Prince knows it, but I just want to know what happens after people take Opium ointment."

Murong Ci asked.

Envoy Shen sighed and said gravely:

"Decades ago, there were a few years in which Opium ointment was popular in the southern border of the Northern Yan Kingdom.

Opium ointment is extremely addictive.

Once someone takes it, it is difficult to quit the addiction.

After a long period of time of exposure to it, the symptoms will be the following:

A yellowish skin, thin and pale face, nausea and vomiting symptoms, weakness of limbs, unresponsiveness, insomnia all day, drowsiness, lack of energy, fast pulse, rickety and weakness, becoming more and more sickly.

If someone takes an overdose, they'll lose breath and die from the poison."

Murong Ci and Shen Zhiyan looked at each other.

'Isn't that exactly what happened to Zhuang Qin?'

Shen Zhiyan bowed his head and thanked:

"I understand. Thank you Envoy Shen."

Murong Ci's heart was very heavy, and she asked,

"Where exactly is Opium Poppy found in the wild?"

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END of CHAPTER 79 PART 3

.....................to be continued