~ Scratch the Beauty’s Face ~
Seeing Mu Yunyao’s distant yet proud expression, Imperial Consort Li could not help recalling the banquet. Back then, she had accused Mu Yunyao of secretly harming the Emperor. And now she had to come begging at Mu Yunyao’s doorstep. The humiliation burned so fiercely she nearly choked on it.
She lifted her eyes toward Eldest Princess Yide and pressed her lips together. Earlier, Eldest Princess Yide had told her to rise. To show “sincerity,” she had stubbornly refused. Now she wanted to stand, yet her legs had gone numb and weak. She could only remain kneeling as she spoke to Mu Yunyao, wishing she could crawl into a crack in the floor. The shame twisted into hatred, and the hatred only thickened.
Mu Yunyao saw through her thoughts at a glance, but she had no intention of indulging her. She lowered her eyes slightly, expression calm, and waited for Imperial Consort Li to speak.
Only after a long while did Imperial Consort Li force the words out.
“Yunyao, some time ago, I mistakenly ate something and broke out in red rashes all over my face. The imperial physicians have treated me for a long time, yet it never improved. Instead, the rashes only grew worse. I heard your medical skill is even better than the imperial physicians’, so I came to Yuhua Palace to seek an audience with Eldest Princess Yide, hoping you will take pity and treat me.”
Mu Yunyao studied her carefully.
Imperial Consort Li wore a face veil, revealing only her forehead and eyes. Even so, the skin around her forehead and eyes was mottled red. At first glance, it looked like simple irritation. But once you looked closely, you would see densely packed, tiny bumps. One look was enough to send chills crawling down a person’s spine.
“My medical skill is shallow,” Mu Yunyao said lightly. “I’m afraid I cannot help Your Ladyship.”
Imperial Consort Li immediately panicked.
“Yunyao, I know I offended you before. I even questioned your medical skills in front of everyone. But at the time, I was only worried about His Majesty’s health, not deliberately targeting you. Later, after hearing from the imperial physicians how astonishing your skill is, I truly admired you. That’s why I came to Yuhua Palace. Please, for the sake of my being your elder, help me treat this.”
She was afraid Mu Yunyao would refuse, so she had no choice but to drag out seniority.
Eldest Princess Yide’s brows tightened at once.
“Li. I only knew you used to act arrogantly and domineeringly. I did not realize you also enjoy using power to pressure others.”
“You call yourself Yunyao’s elder, so you think you can ignore her wishes and force her to treat you. Then I am also your elder. Does that mean I can ignore your wishes and force you to do things as well?”
Imperial Consort Li’s face drained white. She shook her head frantically, kneeling to beg.
“This consort spoke without thinking. Please forgive me, Your Royal Highness. These past days, I have been tormented beyond endurance. I was anxious, and my words were not given proper consideration. Please forgive me, Your Royal Highness.”
Even after hearing her, Eldest Princess Yide did not relax her frown. Her expression remained stern and displeased.
Imperial Consort Li remembered what Eldest Princess Yide had said earlier. Gritting her teeth, she turned toward Mu Yunyao and bowed deeply from her kneeling position.
“Yunyao. What I said just now was wrong…”
Mu Yunyao immediately stepped aside, refusing to accept that bow. Yet she answered with startling ease.
“Your Ladyship needn’t do this. I’ll treat you.”
“My skill is shallow, so I cannot promise I can cure you. However, I have a friend named Poisonous Lady. She is the one who previously offered the prescription for treating the epidemic. Your Ladyship should have heard of her. Her knowledge of medicine and poisons is extremely profound. If you trust me, I can ask her to help.”
Imperial Consort Li’s eyes lit up with joy.
“That would be wonderful. Yunyao, thank you.”
No matter how furious she was inside, Mu Yunyao agreeing to treat her meant her humiliation today was not in vain.
Mu Yunyao smiled and nodded. “Then please go to the side hall first, Your Ladyship. Wash your face thoroughly with clean water. It looks like you’ve applied for medicine. If we want a clearer diagnosis, it’s better to clean it off.”
Imperial Consort Li nodded again and again. “Alright. I’ll go now.”
After Imperial Consort Li withdrew, Mu Yunyao turned back to Eldest Princess Yide.
“Thank you for keeping her here today, Grandmother.”
“It’s only because you told me before that you wanted to investigate why Imperial Consort Li can bear children.” Eldest Princess Yide’s tone was cool. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t have let her step through Yuhua Palace’s gates.”
Mu Yunyao’s eyes curved with a smile. “Then I’ll go to the side hall now.”
“Go.”
Mu Yunyao had someone summon Poisonous Lady. The two of them entered the side hall together to examine Imperial Consort Li. They took turns checking her pulse. When they finished, they exchanged a look, and both shook their heads slightly.
Neither of them found anything abnormal in Imperial Consort Li’s pulse. It seemed they would have to look for the cause among Li Qingzhou’s other sons.
Seeing Mu Yunyao remain silent for a long time after taking her pulse, Imperial Consort Li’s heart tightened.
“Yunyao, what exactly is wrong with the rash on my face?”
“If I’m not mistaken, Your Ladyship truly did eat something you shouldn’t have.” Mu Yunyao finally spoke. “The poison you’re suffering from is called Scratch the Beauty’s Face. This poison comes from Beijiang. It is refined from a rare flower and grass, extremely scarce and very difficult to obtain. In the Da Li Dynasty, it’s exceptionally uncommon.”
“Does Your Ladyship remember what you ate before your face became like this?”
As she spoke, Mu Yunyao watched Imperial Consort Li’s expression closely. Yet after hearing “Beijiang,” Imperial Consort Li’s face did not change in any meaningful way. She only looked more frantic about her own face.
“Yunyao, then how do I cure it? Do you have confidence?”
Mu Yunyao’s thoughts turned. Does Imperial Consort Li truly not know about the Li family’s entanglement with Beijiang, or is she simply too good at hiding it for anyone to detect?
“Your Ladyship, this poison can be said to be extremely easy to cure, and it can also be said to be incurable.”
Imperial Consort Li stared. “How can it be both? ‘Easy to cure’ and ‘incurable’ aren’t those contradictions?”
“It sounds contradictory, but it isn’t,” Mu Yunyao explained. “It’s easy to cure because the plant used to refine Scratch the Beauty’s Face is unusual. The flower is poison, but the branches and leaves are the antidote.”
“However, it must be the branches and leaves of the very same plant that was used to refine the poison. Using other plants will not work.”
“Normally, when refining poison, the maker will keep some leftover branches and leaves in case of need, and destroy the rest. But some people keep no antidote at all. In that case, the victim can only suffer until death, because there’s nothing that can cure this poison. That is what makes it ‘incurable.’”
Imperial Consort Li’s face turned ashen.
“Y-you’re telling the truth?”
“This poison is extremely obscure. The imperial physicians likely didn’t think of it. Still, Your Ladyship can simply ask them directly. Once asked, they will certainly recall it.”
Imperial Consort Li looked at Mu Yunyao with suspicion.
So many imperial physicians could not see it, yet Mu Yunyao recognized it at once. Could Mu Yunyao have placed this poison herself?
Sensing her doubt, Mu Yunyao’s smile did not change in the slightest.
“Your Ladyship, if you want to detoxify, the best path is to find the one who poisoned you. Only then is there a chance you can obtain the antidote.”
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