The morning light was pale, and the air after the rain carried the fresh scent of earth.
Lin Qianqian stood before the cabinet of medicinal ingredients in the small kitchen, her expression calm and still, yet inside, every nerve was taut as a drawn string.
Today she was preparing a Stewed Pigeon with Astragalus and Goji Berries, meant to boost qi, strengthen the surface, and nourish the kidneys and liver.
Master Zhang stood a short distance away, arms crossed, seemingly directing his apprentices with other ingredients—but the corner of his eye subtly lingered on her.
Following her list, Lin Qianqian carefully retrieved astragalus, goji berries, and red dates. Her movements were neither hurried nor sluggish. When her fingers brushed against a packet of Poria (Fu Ling), she allowed a faint, cold smile to cross her mind—so it had come.
This packet looked normal, pure white in color, evenly shaped—but her sensitive touch detected subtle differences in a few pieces. They were slightly powdery, and when she brought them closer to her nose, a faint, almost imperceptible sour odor, inconsistent with high-quality Poria, reached her senses.
It was Earth Poria. It resembled regular Poria in appearance but differed significantly in properties. Regular Poria promotes urination, drains dampness, strengthens the spleen, and calms the heart; Earth Poria is more detoxifying, eliminates dampness, and promotes bowel movement. Used alone or in excessive quantities, it can deplete body fluids and qi.
For someone like Xiao Yu, whose stomach qi was already weak and fluids possibly insufficient, adding Earth Poria might show little effect initially—but over time, it could quietly sap his foundation, aggravating his condition and complicating symptoms, making diagnosis more difficult.
A sly and insidious tactic! Had she not been alert, it would have gone completely unnoticed.
Anger surged within her, yet her face remained expressionless. She did not separate the Earth Poria from the batch; instead, she casually mixed them with the regular Poria, rinsing them lightly with water as if nothing were amiss.
Master Zhang noticed her calm use of the herbs. A faint, almost imperceptible smile of triumph played at his lips before he turned away, paying no further attention.
Lin Qianqian snorted silently.
She was turning his scheme against him—but not by leaving it unchecked. When handling the pigeon, she deliberately added a few slices of mature ginger and several warming tsaoko fruits.
Both ginger and tsaoko warm the middle, dispel cold, and aid digestion; their warming properties could partially counteract the “qi-depleting” effect of the Earth Poria, minimizing its impact.
This broth required more care than usual. She had to ensure it still eased Xiao Yu’s discomfort, encouraging his continued reliance, while simultaneously neutralizing any potential harm. The precise balance demanded deep understanding of both herbs and ingredients.
When finished, the soup was fragrant and rich.
When Leng Feng came to collect the meal, Lin Qianqian casually mentioned, in a soft voice:“Today’s Astragalus and Goji Pigeon Soup contains two extra slices of ginger and one tsaoko fruit. With the chill of autumn rains, this is most suitable to dispel cold and warm the stomach.”
She wanted those close to Xiao Yu, particularly someone knowledgeable about herbs like Leng Feng, to know she had adjusted the recipe. Should anything happen in the future, it would serve as evidence that she had not misused the ingredients.
Leng Feng’s gaze lingered on her calm face for a moment.
He nodded slightly, said nothing further, and carried the box away.
Throughout the day, Lin Qianqian maintained her usual diligence, working quietly and efficiently. Yet she could feel that hidden eyes were watching more intently than ever.
In the evening, citing the need for a special herb for the soup, she requested an audience with Fu Bo.
In the side hall where Fu Bo handled affairs, Lin Qianqian performed her bow respectfully. She did not directly mention the substituted herb but approached it differently:
“Fu Bo, recently I have been preparing medicinal soups for His Highness and have been consulting some folk remedies. I found that some herbs look similar but have vastly different properties. If misused, the results may be ineffective—or even harmful,” she said, her tone carefully balanced with fear and caution. “For example, Poria has a variant, Earth Poria, that is easily confused unless one is knowledgeable. Given His Highness’ precious constitution, any soup used must be handled with utmost care. Might I request that you instruct the warehouse keepers to require suppliers to provide detailed sources and verification for all herbs sent to the small kitchen? This would allow me to prepare the soups with greater confidence for His Highness’ wellbeing.”
Her words were flawless. She highlighted the potential danger, demonstrating caution and loyalty, while subtly shifting responsibility to the supply chain, avoiding directly accusing anyone and preventing early suspicion.
Fu Bo, a shrewd man, momentarily showed a sharp gleam in his usually smiling eyes. He regarded Lin Qianqian carefully, stroked his beard in thought, then slowly said:“Lin Qianqian, you have considered this well. His Highness’ safety is indeed paramount. Rest assured, I will personally oversee this matter.”
“Thank you, Fu Bo,” Lin Qianqian felt slightly reassured. Fu Bo’s personal involvement would at least deter the warehouse from meddling again in the short term, buying her more time.
By the time she left Fu Bo’s office, it was nearly dusk. Walking along the corridor, she gazed at the fallen leaves scattered by the autumn rain in the courtyard, feeling no sense of relief.
She knew this was only a temporary measure. Her adversaries lurked in the shadows, while she worked in the open. One attempt might fail—but there would inevitably be another. Master Zhang and Consort Liu would not give up so easily.
She had to find the key to turning the situation around—and that key might lie in Xiao Yu’s very illness.