Chapter 197: Chapter 197: Medical Case Record

Hearing this name, Xiao Fengxing’s expression finally changed. He turned his head in disbelief.

He saw a middle-aged man with a much rounder face than the people of the Central Plains, a flat nose with a large nose tip, slightly upturned eyes, and a large beard being brought forward.

Zhang Shengquan knelt in front of Xiao Fengxing, not even glancing at him.

It was all the trouble Xiao Fengxing caused him, otherwise, he wouldn’t have been brought to the yamen.

“Who is below?” Lord Tao routinely asked.

“I am the owner of Perfect Pharmacy, Zhang Shengquan,” Zhang Shengquan said.

“By your appearance, you are not from the Central Plains,” Lord Tao asked, “Where is your ancestral home?”

“Replying to your lordship, I am indeed not from the Central Plains. My hometown is in the Northern Desert, originally named Chaolu Erden. I was originally from the Seleng Tribe. In the Northern Desert, I was in the herbal medicine business. After the Northern Desert pledged allegiance to Great Xi, my family expanded the business to the Central Plains, buying herbs from there to sell in the Northern Desert, and vice versa,” Zhang Shengquan said.

“To facilitate living in the Central Plains, I specially adopted a name from there,” Zhang Shengquan explained.

“Do you know Xiao Fengxing?” Lord Tao asked again.

“I do know Young Master Xiao,” Zhang Shengquan replied, “Young Master Xiao often came to me to buy herbs from the Northern Desert and the Western Regions. Most of the time he sent Chang Tai to buy them, but sometimes he would come himself.”

“If there were herbs I didn’t have, Young Master Xiao would also request their effects, encouraging me to find them,” Zhang Shengquan continued.

“Take a look; did he buy these herbs from you?” Lord Tao asked.

The scribe handed a list to Zhang Shengquan.

Having been in Great Xi for many years, Zhang Shengquan, who had already learned Chinese characters, looked over it and nodded, “Indeed.”

“Look carefully, don’t falsely accuse Xiao Fengxing,” Lord Tao reminded.

Zhang Shengquan said, “Your Lordship, I remember very clearly, especially since some of the herbs were extremely hard to find.”

“When Xiao Fengxing spoke to me, we had to search long in the Northern Desert, so I remember distinctly. I even recall the timing clearly,” Zhang Shengquan explained.

“Are the markings on the timing correct?” Lord Tao asked.

Zhang Shengquan nodded, “They are correct.”

“Do you know what he was using these herbs for?” Lord Tao asked again.

“Xiao Fengxing never told me, though I had my suspicions. But as an ordinary civilian, I did not dare pry into the affairs of a marquis’s manor. Since they were mere speculations without evidence, it wasn’t right to speak carelessly,” Zhang Shengquan said.

“What are the effects of these herbs?” Lord Tao asked again.

“This Wind Purple Grass is unique to the Northern Desert, growing in the desert and loving sunlight,” Zhang Shengquan explained, “But it only absorbs moisture underground; even a single leaf can’t touch water, and too much rain would kill it.”

“Wherever it grows, no other plants can survive. It absorbs the nutrients of surrounding plants, allowing only itself to thrive while all other plants around wither and die,” Zhang Shengquan continued.

“When Wind Purple Grass is ground into powder, it is colorless and tasteless. If ingested, it absorbs the body’s moisture significantly, causing extreme dehydration and gradual emaciation. However, a typical doctor wouldn’t be able to discern the cause and would treat it as a regular illness,” Zhang Shengquan said.

Xiao Chengyu recalled that when he was fifteen, he indeed once became inexplicably emaciated.

He became thinner by the day. The change was drastic, with his skin drying up almost to the point of looking skeletal.

The Emperor sent all the Imperial Physicians from the Imperial Hospital to treat him, even inviting Master Purin, who finally managed to save Xiao Chengyu’s life.

Today, the old Lady Xiao was still present, but she was listening from behind a screen.

Hearing Zhang Shengquan’s words, the old Lady Xiao almost rushed out from behind the screen in anger, holding the armrest of her chair tightly to restrain herself.

But her eyes were already blood-red with fury.

Zhang Shengquan then described the properties of other herbs on the list, all matching Xiao Chengyu’s previous symptoms.

“My lord, I wonder what the implications of describing these symptoms are?” Xiao Fengxing asked, “How does purchasing these herbs relate to the current case?”

“Furthermore, how does the testimony of just Zhang Shengquan prove that I indeed bought these herbs?”

“Please call Doctor Xu,” Lord Tao said.

Doctor Xu was one of the Imperial Physicians frequently attending to Xiao Chengyu’s ailments.

Upon seeing this, Xiao Fengxing understood that today’s matter might not be solely related to the Fu family.

“Doctor Xu, do these herbs match the symptoms previously exhibited by Marquis Changping?” Lord Tao asked.

Doctor Xu received the booklet handed by the scribe, looking through it page by page.

“My lord, they are indeed identical,” Doctor Xu said, taking a booklet from his bosom, “This is the Marquis’s medical record. Every pulse check we conducted at the Imperial Hospital is documented to continuously adjust prescriptions for the Marquis’s well-being.”

“This is also to prevent the Marquis from experiencing past ailments,” Doctor Xu explained, “The Emperor continually concerns himself with the Marquis’s health and often reviews this medical record, ensuring it is thoroughly detailed.”

Lord Tao saw that it was indeed very detailed, documenting every symptom experienced whenever and wherever, the medications used, and their effects.

The medical record documented Xiao Chengyu’s symptoms, aligning perfectly with those caused by the herbs Zhang Shengquan mentioned.

The timing of Xiao Fengxing’s purchase of the herbs also matched.

Zhang Shengquan hastily said, “My lord, I truly do not know why Xiao Fengxing bought these.”

“Every medicine has two sides; when used correctly, it can cure, but when misused, it can harm,” Zhang Shengquan explained, “Xiao Fengxing always said he needed them for himself; as the second son of the marquis’s manor, I dared not inquire further.”

“When customers came to buy herbs, as long as they weren’t exclusively deadly and incapable of healing, of course, I would sell. Some medicinal recipes needed just one specific herb, perhaps urgently for saving lives. I dared not deny without just cause. Especially when only I had them, fearing it was critical for saving someone,” Zhang Shengquan explained anxiously, “Please, my lord, understand, I would never dare harm lives!”

“My lord!” Xiao Fengxing hurriedly said, “My elder brother has been frail since childhood, and the symptoms of frail individuals are often similar, unrelated to these herbs!”

“These herbs…” Xiao Fengxing said, “These herbs were bought for my own use.”

“Oh?” Lord Tao raised an eyebrow.

Xiao Fengxing then said, “Since childhood, my brother has been frail, and people often say he would not live long and that I would inherit the marquis’ title.”

“But my brother is still alive, and I live under the main house’s mistress. Such rumors outside put me on the spot, don’t they? How could the mistress and my brother tolerate me?” Xiao Fengxing said plaintively, “I had no choice but to make myself appear as frail too, so they wouldn’t worry about me.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep