Volume One, Chapter Fourteen: Bone-Eroding Fragrance

"Since childhood, I have harbored a keen interest in medicine, and have sought out renowned physicians from all around, gaining a modest measure of knowledge." She chose her words with care, unwilling to reveal too much.

"A modest measure?" Murong Yunyi repeated her words, a trace of mockery in his tone. "And yet, with this 'modest measure,' Her Highness can discern what has left the imperial physicians utterly helpless?"

Lin Wantai lowered her gaze, hiding the turmoil in her eyes. "Your Highness's illness is indeed complicated. I have only glimpsed a small part of it, and will need further observation to be certain."

Murong Yunyi regarded her with a look as deep and unreadable as the sea. He knew she was concealing something, but her purpose evaded him. Was she after something else? Or... He dared not continue down that train of thought.

"If you require time, I shall grant you time," he said more gently, though a note of caution lingered in his voice. "But I hope you will not disappoint me."

Lin Wantai bowed slightly. "I will do all that is within my power."

Murong Yunyi rose and walked to the window, gazing out at the sullen sky, his mind a tangled web of thoughts. This woman was shrouded in riddles he could not unravel. Her arrival—was it a blessing, or a curse?

Watching his retreating figure, Lin Wantai felt a surge of apprehension. She knew she had already set foot upon a dangerous path—one misstep, and she would be lost beyond redemption. Yet she had no choice; she must get to the bottom of Murong Yunyi's illness and expose the hand that moved behind the scenes.

In the days that followed, Lin Wantai used the excuse of further treatment to frequently enter and leave Murong Yunyi's quarters. She closely observed his symptoms, gathered information, and quietly searched for the medicinal ingredients she required.

The servants of the prince's residence whispered ceaselessly about the new consort's actions—some said she was putting on airs, others insisted she truly sought to heal the prince. Regardless, Lin Wantai's conduct soon drew the attention of every faction within the household.

No one paid her more heed, however, than Murong Yunyi's personal guard, Shadow. Tasked with watching Lin Wantai's every move, he reported all he saw back to Murong Yunyi.

Listening to Shadow's reports, Murong Yunyi's brow furrowed ever deeper. This woman grew ever more inscrutable—her medical skills, her intellect, her boldness—all surprised him, and made him uneasy.

"Your Highness, today the princess went to an apothecary outside the city. She seemed to be searching for some rare medicinal herb." Shadow's voice broke the silence of the room.

Murong Yunyi's head snapped up, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

"Send someone to follow her. Find out what she is doing—whether her intent is truly to cure me."

"Yes." Shadow accepted the order and departed.

As night fell, Lin Wantai returned to her chambers, her thoughts in chaos. She had found several key ingredients, but still lacked the most vital one—snow lotus. This herb was exceedingly rare, growing only in bitterly cold places and nearly impossible to obtain.

She walked to the window, bathed in moonlight, silently praying she might find the snow lotus soon—so she could unravel the secrets entwining Murong Yunyi, and those haunting her own heart.

Suddenly, the faintest footsteps sounded behind her. Lin Wantai spun around, startled, to find a shadowy figure standing at the door, holding a single snow lotus.

"Princess, the item you requested."

Lin Wantai's heart leapt, but she swiftly masked her surprise, keeping her expression composed. "Who are you? And why do you have the snow lotus?"

The figure knelt on one knee, voice low and respectful: "I am Shadow, sent by His Highness to deliver this to you."

Taking the snow lotus, Lin Wantai felt its chill seep into her palm, its subtle fragrance lingering in the air. Her doubts deepened—how had Murong Yunyi known what she needed? Had he been secretly watching her all along?

But then, she thought, it was only to be expected. Murong Yunyi was nothing if not suspicious.

"Does His Highness have any other instructions?" she probed.

"His Highness only said that, should you require this, I was to seek it out and bring it to you." Shadow’s head remained bowed, his tone deferential.

Lin Wantai nodded, dismissing him. Like mist before the dawn, Shadow vanished into the night, as if he had never been there at all.

Closing the door behind her, Lin Wantai went to the table and carefully examined the snow lotus in her hand. With this final ingredient, she could now prepare the suppressive medicine and test the theory she harbored in her heart.

Murong Yunyi’s illness was not an ordinary malady but a slow-acting poison. The type was extremely rare—and even more difficult to cure.

Drawing on her knowledge of modern medicine and her recent observations, Lin Wantai was nearly certain that the poison was called "Bone-Eroding Fragrance." Colorless, tasteless, and with a long incubation period, its early symptoms mimicked ordinary cold toxins, making misdiagnosis easy. Over time, it would gradually corrode the bone marrow, ultimately resulting in paralysis or even death. Already, Murong Yunyi had begun to suffer pain in all his bones and joints; there was no time to lose.

Lin Wantai took a deep breath and placed the snow lotus and other herbs into the mortar, grinding them with meticulous care. Murong Yunyi’s affliction was not nature’s doing—it was a man-made calamity. Who would dare poison a prince?

Once she finished preparing the antidote, she poured it into an exquisite porcelain vial and stored it away with the greatest caution. Until she had irrefutable evidence and a perfect antidote, she resolved to keep this secret to herself.

She did not know how many powers were entangled behind this secret, nor whether she could escape unscathed. She was a soul from another world, every step fraught with peril.

Outside, the night deepened. Lin Wantai stood by the window, gazing at the black sky, her heart awash with uncertainty. She felt as though she were caught in a vast spider’s web—herself the butterfly trembling on its threads.

In the days that followed, Lin Wantai began to subtly inquire into the workings of the prince’s residence. She pored over medical texts, searching for records of "Bone-Eroding Fragrance," but found nothing. She knew that unraveling this mystery would require more clues.

Thus, she started to explore the prince’s estate, noting every suspicious person and event. Her actions gradually drew the notice of others—among them, Su Wan’er, Murong Yunyi’s favored concubine.

One day, as Lin Wantai strolled through the garden, she happened upon a whispered conversation behind the rockery.

"Why does His Highness trust that new consort so much? She’s only a concubine-born daughter..."

"Who knows? Maybe he’s been bewitched by her beauty..."

Lin Wantai’s heart skipped a beat. She lightened her steps, drawing closer.

"I’ve heard the princess has been sneaking about the residence lately. Who knows what she’s up to..."

"Maybe she’s—"

A sudden cough behind the rocks cut the words short. Lin Wantai’s nerves tightened. She turned and left at once, pretending to have heard nothing.

She hurried back to her own courtyard, her heart in turmoil. Those voices had belonged to none other than Su Wan’er’s personal maids. Their words planted a seed of suspicion in her mind.

Could it be that Su Wan’er was the one who had poisoned him?