Maomao could hear the clattering sounds of rocking. When she slowly opened her eyes, she saw silken locks of black silk.
While her vision was blurry, she touched her mouth. Something sticky around her lips. There was a bitter taste in her mouth, but her nose had a sour taste.
(I must have vomited.)
No doubt she was made to drink an emetic or water to vomit out the poison first things first. It seems she was treated properly. Her throat wasnt blocked, and she wasnt suffocating.
She was blanketed by furs. She had pushed it aside. Her whole body was still itchy. It was also hard to breathe.
She also felt like wanting to slump down on her side, but there was a reason she couldnt do that.
The locks of black silk were hanging right over Maomaos face. When she followed its origin, a beautiful face to the point of disagreeableness was staring at Maomao fixedly, lashes lowered.
You awake?
Jinshis pale expression lifted with a smidge of relief.
(Jinshi-sama.)
No sound came out when she tried to speak. She could only open and close her mouth repeatedly like a fish.
Even though her body was rocking with the clatter, her head didnt hurt. She felt something kind of hard on the back of her head.
Considering the position of Jinshis face and his posture, as well as the place where Maomao was lying down, it seems that she was now in an immensely uncomfortable position.
Should she call it a lap pillow? Originally, it wasnt something a noble should give.
She tried to move her heavy body, but she couldnt move while she was numb. Jinshi held down Maomaos squirming body.
Be obedient. Im taking you the person you call your adoptive fathers place.
The clattering was because they were in a horse carriage. The place where the banquet was held was in the imperial court, near the ritual grounds but was considerably closer to the edge of it. If they were to head to the inner palace from there, if they dont even use the horse carriage, it will be difficult to carry one collapsed person. It should be more than two ri (~1 km or ~0.6 mi.) in a straight line.
Though she tried to look out the window, Jinshi was in the way so she couldnt. Jinshi, being Jinshi, was staring at Maomao.
Did poison get served?
Jinshi asked.
Maomao could only shake her head slowly.
Gaoshun must have told you, about what was going to happen.
He said to verify. Maomao could only nod.
It was as Jinshi said. This wasnt to serve poison to the imperial brother. It was something that Maomao had devised with Gaoshun beforehand.
The rashes that broke out on her entire body wasnt poison. It was a reaction that occurs when she eats a certain food.
It didnt seem like there was anything that was like poison.
It shouldnt be poison for Jinshi. After all, Maomao was more resilient against poison than people. This Maomao had a weakness too.
It was just buckwheat, that she cannot eat.
If there was buckwheat in the food, Jinshi would also notice it. He should know that Maomao cannot eat that.
Things like what the food taster cannot eat at least are investigated before the food tasting. Buckwheat wasnt eaten much in the capital, and it wasnt something that the emperor or Consort Gyokuyou liked to that extent, so it was something that hardly came out in meals. Nonetheless, there was one time where helou[note]. A type of noodle said to have originated from Northern China from ancient times. Made from buckwheat and wheat flour.[/note] was served, but she explained it to Honnyan on that occasion and another person was substituted to food taste for her.
And so, Jinshi must think that buckwheat wasnt used in the cooking.
Maomao also anticipated that. Thats why she took upon herself to have the shaojiu diluted with fruit juice as the aperitif. Distilled liquor used grains as the ingredient. There were those among them that used buckwheat. Although it became alcohol, it was very often that the buckwheat base got mixed into it during the process. And this time, there were more than expected in it.
(That was bad.)
Since it was not good if the effect was slow, she had drunk it all down. She regretted that she should have just gone through with it with a sip.
There was also the other way of mixing a different poison and acting. However, someone would then have to become the villain. If that was exposed, it would be herself, if that wasnt exposed, someone would be made out to be the criminal. They cannot get away with plotting to poison the Imperial Brother.
If it was the wine used as the aperitif, she heard that they wouldnt specifically go as far as to look into the ingredients. They wont consider that deeply on the food tasters constitution. A strange reaction towards a specific food wasnt that diffused in this society.
Even if they followed up on the incident where Maomao had collapsed this time, Gaoshun, who knew the circumstances, would skilfully explain it away for her. Maomao wished that this incident, even if it becomes an issue from now on, wouldnt grow to the point of a question of who was responsible.
Speaking of disadvantage, it might be that weirdo tactician who might have stirred some commotion, but that person shouldnt mind it.
Maomao just needed to collapse before that man, that nasty b*stard with the monocle. Before that b*stard who controls the imperial court as the man who doesnt want to be surrounded by enemies.
Surely, when that man sees Maomao who collapsed in that place, the idea that will come to his head foremost will no doubt be the imperial brothers assassination. And then, he would evaluate the plotting men would no doubt be creating a diversion. Oddly, though Maomao hated him that much, she had the strange self-confidence that weirdo tactician will finish up anything for her sake. What that meant was, Maomao thought that she was a sly creature herself.
If its that man who possessed the eyes and sensitivity different to normal people, from now on, he will catch the officials who are plotting something good-for-nothing, and besides, he will evaluate the ones who must be spectating that. Surely, even if the country was going to fall like it was going to topple, that man would have to be indifferent to it. At best, he will think about a world that became difficult to play Shogi.
He was just the right person to use to bring it to light. And, the sole people who could use him would be about Maomao, and at best, her dad, Ruomen.
Fabrication isnt effective for that man. Supposedly, if Jinshi knew about this, there was the possibility where he would sense that. Thats why, she took it upon herself to cover it up from Jinshi and do it.
(Besides, he might object.)
Jinshi strangely charged at Maomao with such a behaviour. If he has a noble social standing, he should treat the likes of a mere maidservant more rudely. This way feels easier for herself as well.
(Even though it feels easier.)
She could see something giving off a dull gleam in Jinshis jet black hair. It was an exquisitely crafted silver kanzashi. Even though the lustre was removed, she understood by seeing that it had a high-class feeling from the exquisite craftsmanship. It seems there was some animal carved on it.
(Horse? Deer?[note]Ba? Ka? baka lol[/note])
Even though the flaming mane was a carving, it was lively. That adorned Jinshis hair.
Maomao understood something from that animal. And then, she gazed at it intently with vacant eyes.
The animal that looked like a horse and a deer. Maomao wont go as far as to joke around by calling it a fool. The fictional creature. Those who can wear this design on their body are limited.
She slowly extended her hands. Her hands that had erupted with red rashes was ugly. She should not show it to the nobleman before her eyes. Despite knowing that.
There was a reason for his beauty that was unimaginable for a human. There was a reason he could go in and out of the inner palace while remaining as a man. This man who assumed the name Jinshi possessed that qualification.
Jinshi must be an alias. This mans original name should have the character Ka in it. Like how Ruomen and Rakan had the character Ra that was conferred to their family. The flower of the country, the character of the emperor that reigns above the three blades[note]As a reminder:(flower, can also mean brilliance, best) is the surname of the imperial family. The country is .[/note].
(Imperial brother.)
Speaking of it sounding fitting, it sounded fitting. The misfortunate crown prince who continues to hide his face. The current emperors idiotic younger brother, who hardly performs his work that seems like work, and just continues to shut himself inside his room.
Rather, it must be stranger that Maomao hadnt noticed it. When she tried to think really hard about it, it wasnt that she didnt notice that he seemed to have said, and didnt say, on something like this either. However, people are beings that when not clearly told to understand, they still dont understand.
She didnt know if she should say something. It wasnt just because she couldnt move her mouth properly that she just slipped her extended hand back to its original position.
Jinshi placed his palm on Maomaos rash covered forehead and closed her eyes.
Be obedient and go sleep.
Jinshi spoke in a brusque manner unlike his appearance.
Maomao couldnt withstand the sluggishness of her body, so she decided to go along with those words.
T/N: It took 85 chapters in total, but theyre finally, finally, on the same page. \\o/
Good job to everyone who guessed what was up last chapter ;D though no one seemed to have guessed where the allergens came from.