Quick Transmigration: What to Do When the Male Supporting Character You Saved Becomes Obsessed with

Chapter 133 The Ruthless and Disabled Crown Prince (37)

As someone who has a basic understanding of modern chemistry, Lu Liruan frowned deeply as she looked at the bright red meatballs.

This thing probably contains far too much heavy metals, right?

Seeing the strange look on Lu Liruan's face, the old doctor didn't ask where she got the things. Instead, he asked seriously, "You didn't eat these things, did you?"

"No, it was obtained by chance," Lu Liruan shook her head.

The old doctor breathed a sigh of relief: "If a woman takes this, the effects will be even greater, damaging the foundation of her body. It will cause an imbalance of yin and yang, and may even be detrimental to her ability to have children in the future."

Lu Liruan blinked. How did this have to do with offspring?

The old doctor knew that Lu Liruan was now the Crown Princess. For a woman in the palace, the inability to bear children was a very serious matter.

The old doctor said solemnly, "Let me examine your pulse."

He placed his fingers on Lu Liruan's pulse, and after a long while, his tightly furrowed brows relaxed slightly.

"Your health has been quite good lately. I'll adjust your prescription in a bit. You can get the medicine here or have the imperial physicians diagnose you again. Take good care of yourself while you're young, otherwise it will be too late to make up for it when you get older and your body is depleted."

Lu Liruan wasn't interested in her tonics and pressed on, "What kind of person would choose to take pills? Is it because they have a pre-existing illness, or..."

"Many elixirs are touted by some half-baked Taoist priests as having the effect of granting immortality." The old doctor looked disdainful, but Lu Liruan felt that the old doctor seemed to be very knowledgeable.

"If it were truly possible to live forever..." The old doctor didn't finish his sentence, letting out a disdainful snort.

"This stuff will give you the illusion of being in great health. But that's not the case at all. This stuff will already be turning your body upside down. The more energetic you appear on the surface, the closer you are to being completely exhausted." The old doctor wrapped up the remaining pills.

Lu Liruan was shocked. Even after taking this stuff, Ji Shumin's body still seemed weak and sickly. Did that mean that even pills couldn't temporarily reverse his decline?

This conclusion left Lu Liruan's mind in a mess. Could it be that the reason Ji Shumin died so soon after ascending the throne was because he took elixirs and believed in Taoism?

Lu Liruan stuffed the remaining pills into her pocket, her heart heavy with worry.

Noticing Lu Liruan's unusual expression, the old doctor hesitated for a moment: "Did someone you know take this?"

"He is... a very important person, Elder Lü. Is this thing really beyond saving?" Lu Liruan asked solemnly, "Is there any possibility of saving the injured body? If it is properly cared for, will it affect lifespan?"

Lu Liruan felt a tightness in her chest. Suddenly, she recalled the night of their wedding, when Ji Shumin insisted on lighting the two large dragon and phoenix candles that he was not allowed to extinguish.

In the dim, flickering firelight, his face didn't look so utterly wretched. With his eyes lowered, Ji Shumin's expression seemed to carry a hint of earnest expectation: "If the fire burns for a longer time, perhaps the Crown Princess and I can truly live longer, year after year, in peace and tranquility."

Lu Liruan had dismissed it as mere superstition at the time, but now a bitter feeling welled up in her chest. Was Ji Shumin truly hoping to live a little longer?

Is he living in constant fear of death? Physically disabled, pale and frail, barely surviving on elixirs…

What is he really thinking?

Lu Liruan could sense that Ji Shumin had a kind of stubbornness and a kind of obsessive persistence that was both restrained and frantic.

From the time she first met him until now, Lu Liruan didn't understand the source of his personality, but now she suddenly understands it.

What sustains him despite his frail health, forcing him to continue on a path of constant struggle?

"How far have you taken it?" the old doctor asked.

Lu Liruan shook her head, indicating that she did not know.

"If the dosage is still mild, after quitting and taking good care of yourself for a period of time, there may be a chance of recovery. But if you take it for a long time..." The old doctor stroked his beard.

"If it has already penetrated to the bone and blood," the old doctor sighed, "then there is no need to stop the pills. If you stop abruptly, the body will only disintegrate more quickly, and you will only be able to die from taking them."

Lu Liruan was terrified.

Taking a deep breath, Lu Liruan thought of her "medical skills" cheat code and wondered if the harmful effects of the pills were within the scope of her medical skills.

Even if it were possible... I couldn't use it rashly, because the scope of the "medical skill" cheat is that it doesn't affect the predetermined outcome that hasn't been changed.

Lu Liruan is still unsure whether taking the elixir was the reason why Ji Shumin died so young.

If that's the case, then the Golden Finger wouldn't be able to save Ji Shumin's life.

If it weren't for this, it shouldn't be used casually. The "golden finger" of "medical skills" achieves results very quickly, without needing a transitional process.

Ji Shumin is a very vigilant and highly self-controlled person, and it is easy for him to notice anything unusual, which is a major taboo in completing a mission.

Lu Liruan didn't want to see the plot spiral out of control and lead to completely unpredictable consequences.

Feeling conflicted, Lu Liruan bid farewell to the old doctor with a heavy heart.

Before leaving, he reiterated that he should not tell anyone about what he had said to him that day.

Zhuang Yuxun looked at Lu Liruan who had come out, her face a little pale: "What's wrong? Is something wrong?"

Lu Liruan shook her head: "These are all old habits of women."

Zhuang Yuxun blinked: "I've been physically strong since I was a child, probably because I practice martial arts? Why don't you try exercising more often, Your Highness? Maybe it will help."

Lu Liruan changed the subject: "Miss Zhuang, what's the frontier like? Did you live there for a long time?"

"As far back as I can remember, I learned horse racing with my father on the frontier, only occasionally returning to the capital during festivals." Zhuang Yuxun's face lit up with a smile when he mentioned the frontier.

"People in the capital city know very little about that place. Although it was ravaged by war, the scenery is magnificent, the people are simple and honest, and they are united in protecting their homeland. Compared to the capital city, that place is more like my home."

Lu Liruan felt that Zhuang Yuxun's eyes were shining. When she mentioned the place she guarded with her father and brothers, she was filled with fervent emotion.

"That's wonderful! I'd love to go see it sometime." Lu Liruan sighed sincerely.

Because Ji Shumin is the mission objective, Lu Liruan felt that she would most likely have to stay in the capital, in the treacherous and power-hungry court.

Lu Liruan felt a little regretful that she didn't have the opportunity to travel around the rivers and mountains and the scenery of the border regions.

"You might have a chance to travel with His Highness the Crown Prince," Zhuang Yuxun said, blinking.

Lu Liruan didn't know if she was hinting at something.

Lu Liruan wanted to ask how she and He Pingyan had met the Crown Prince. Given their status, how could they possibly be allowed into the army…?

Suppressing their curiosity, Lu Liruan and Zhuang Yuxun bought some things on the street and headed back.