nucmednet Chapter 344 The Cause of the Disease
Chapter 344 The Cause of the Disease
The next morning, warm sunlight gently streamed through the windows, illuminating the spacious courtyard of the Yelü family home. The servants were already busy at work, and enticing aromas wafted from the kitchen. When Gu Mochen, Ye Qingchen, and the others finally awoke and entered the main hall, a sumptuous breakfast was laid out before them. Exquisite pastries, tender roasted meat, shumai, steaming rice porridge, and a variety of fresh fruits, some purchased from the Great Xia Dynasty, were laid out in abundance, making one's mouth water.
Everyone sat together, the table laden with various exquisite dishes and fine wines. They enjoyed the food and chatted amiably, creating a very harmonious atmosphere.
Yelü Fengqi sat in the main seat, a warm smile on his face. His gaze fell on Gu Mochen, and he said with a smile, "Brother Gu, we have an interesting custom here. Every five days, around the fifth or tenth of the month, there's a market. Today happens to be one of those days, and the market is bustling with activity, offering all sorts of delicious food and unique items. It's sure to broaden your horizons. Would you be interested in taking a look?"
Upon hearing this, Gu Mochen's eyes flashed with curiosity. He was filled with a desire to explore this unfamiliar place. He looked at Ye Qingchen, who glanced back and said, "That's wonderful. We've long wanted to experience the local customs and culture. Otherwise, we wouldn't have come here to play." He then smiled.
Gu Mochen smiled slightly, looked at Yelü Fengqi, and replied, "Then we'll have to trouble you. We're naturally willing to go." His voice was gentle and deep, revealing a hint of anticipation.
Seeing this, Yelü Fengqi clapped his hands happily: "Good! Let's ride horses and carriages together. My sister-in-law and I will ride in the same carriage. It will be both comfortable and safe. What do you think?" Gu Mochen thought this arrangement was very appropriate and readily agreed.
Soon, everyone was ready. The Yelü family's grooms led out the sturdy horses and parked the beautifully decorated carriage in the courtyard. The First Madam, supported by her maids, slowly boarded the carriage. Ye Qingchen and Gu Mochen's wives also boarded one after another, sitting with the First Madam in the spacious carriage. Gu Mochen, Yelü Fengqi, and the others mounted their horses, and the group set off in a grand procession towards the market.
The carriage moved slowly forward, its wheels creaking and groaning on the dirt road. Inside, Ye Qingchen and the First Madam chatted casually, their laughter filling the air. Occasionally, Ye Qingchen's gaze fell upon the First Madam's wrist, where she wore a uniquely designed gilded bracelet, quite beautiful in the sunlight.
Ye Qingchen's heart stirred, and a clever idea struck her. She used the pretext of looking at the bracelet to strike up a conversation with the First Madam. Leaning slightly forward, a hint of envy in her eyes, she said to the First Madam, "Sister-in-law, this bracelet of yours is quite lovely, exquisitely crafted and uniquely styled. May I take a look?" The First Madam, with her forthright and easygoing nature, readily offered her wrist to Ye Qingchen, smiling as she said, "If you like it, take it and look at it. It's no trouble at all." With that, she reached out to remove the bracelet.
Ye Qingchen quickly waved her hand and said, "No need to take it off, I'll just look at it." As she spoke, she gently extended her hands and carefully took the First Madam's wrists. On the surface, she seemed to be carefully examining the bracelet, her gaze casually sweeping over it, but in her heart, she was silently pondering. In reality, her fingers had already quietly placed on the First Madam's pulse, and she began to take her pulse without making a sound.
Ye Qingchen possessed superb medical skills and an extraordinary ability to discern various pulse patterns. When her fingers gently touched the First Madam's wrist, a weak and erratic pulse instantly reached her fingertips. Her brow furrowed slightly, and a fleeting, almost imperceptible seriousness flashed across her previously calm face. This fleeting seriousness was observed by Bai Zhi and Fu Ling beside her.
Ye Qingchen pondered to himself that the First Madam's pulse was indeed quite strange. Not only did she exhibit obvious symptoms of uterine cold, but beneath these symptoms, it seemed that an even more insidious toxin was lurking.
She couldn't help but recall some cases she had heard about uterine coldness and toxins, symptoms often closely related to fertility issues. Could it be that the First Madam's inability to conceive wasn't solely due to uterine coldness, but also related to these hidden toxins?
Thinking of this, Ye Qingchen's heart grew heavier. Who could be so ruthless as to not only render the First Madam infertile but also poison her with such a vicious drug?
The First Madam already suffered from uterine coldness, which was why she had been unable to conceive for so long. Now, with no one to treat her uterine coldness, she had been secretly poisoned with an extremely well-hidden poison that would be impossible for an ordinary doctor to detect.
What angered Ye Qingchen even more was the sheer malice of the poisoner. He poisoned a woman, seemingly targeting only the First Madam, but in reality, the poison was meant to harm Yelü Fengqi.
Because the First Madam was unable to conceive, this not only affected her status within the family but could also trigger a series of family disputes and conflicts. This made her even more eager for a child, which ultimately led to the death of Yelü Fengqi. The culprit behind all of this was the person who secretly poisoned her.
The more Ye Qingchen thought about it, the more she felt that such behavior was extremely immoral. She decided that she must find out the mastermind behind it and give the First Madam justice.
Ye Qingchen suppressed her anger, maintaining a calm facade. She continued chatting with the First Madam, while secretly exerting force in her hands, trying to further confirm the type and source of the poison. The carriage moved slowly forward, the scenery outside the window constantly changing, but Ye Qingchen had no mind to appreciate it. Her thoughts were entirely focused on the First Madam's illness, pondering how to uncover the conspiracy behind it, and how to help the First Madam detoxify.
Meanwhile, outside the carriage, Gu Mochen and Yelü Fengqi rode side by side, enjoying the scenery and chatting happily. Yelü Fengqi occasionally described the surrounding mountains, rivers, and local customs to Gu Mochen, who listened with great interest and asked questions from time to time. The two had a very pleasant conversation, and the atmosphere was harmonious.
Inside the carriage, Ye Qingchen had basically confirmed the First Madam's condition. She understood that this matter was of great importance and could not be easily publicized. She decided to remain silent for now, and once they reached the market, find an opportunity to discuss it privately with Gu Mochen before making any further plans. Therefore, she composed herself and continued chatting and laughing with the First Madam, as if nothing had happened.
The carriage traveled along the winding road for a long time until finally, a commotion arose in the distance. Yelü Fengqi excitedly pointed ahead and said, "Brother Gu, the market is just ahead! Let's speed up!" Gu Mochen nodded slightly, and the group quickened their pace. Soon, a bustling market appeared before them. The streets were teeming with people, the sounds of vendors hawking their wares and laughter mingling together, and various stalls displayed a dazzling array of goods.
After everyone disembarked from the carriage, Yelü Fengqi led them towards the center of the market. Ye Qingchen, however, had no interest in appreciating the bustling market; her mind was preoccupied with the First Madam's illness. While everyone was captivated by the novelties at the market, she subtly gave Gu Mochen a wink. The two understood each other perfectly, made an excuse, and temporarily left the group.
In a relatively quiet corner, Ye Qingchen recounted everything she had discovered to Gu Mochen. Gu Mochen's expression turned grave upon hearing this; he hadn't expected such a sinister conspiracy to be hidden within the seemingly peaceful Yelü family. The two discussed the matter and decided to investigate secretly, both to find the poisoner and to devise a way to cure the First Madam.