On her wedding night, she went into exile with her pharmacy arsenal

Chapter 2192 Making a prompt decision

The patient remained silent and pondered for a long time.

The patient slowly said, "I have indeed tried the medicinal cuisine from Yishengtang, but... I was perfectly fine before."

"It was last night. We had some drinks together. After drinking, I felt a little dizzy. I thought it was because I drank too much."

"Unexpectedly, he then fainted and lost consciousness."

"Have you been drinking?"

Before Madam Cao fell ill, she had been drinking at a banquet at the Prince's mansion. The student from the academy had also been drinking the night before. Both of them had taken medicinal food from Yishengtang before suddenly falling ill.

Could this alcohol be the key to triggering the illness in my body?

But then I thought about it again. The First Madam had also had a few drinks with me last night and had also eaten medicinal food. Yet she was perfectly fine now, and although she looked tired, she didn't seem to be in any discomfort.

In this way, the alcohol doesn't seem to be the root of the problem.

Yan Ruyu frowned slightly, her gaze growing increasingly serious.

The connection between them is too strange. Medicinal cuisine is the common point, wine is the suspected trigger, but the exception of the First Madam makes the clues even more blurred.

"What are you thinking about?" Huo Changhe's voice came from behind, his steady tone carrying a hint of concern.

Yan Ruyu turned around, met his gaze, and slowly said, "He just said he drank alcohol last night."

"Drinking?" Huo Changhe frowned slightly and stopped in his tracks. "Madam Cao also drank at the banquet."

“Exactly.” Yan Ruyu nodded, her tone tinged with confusion. “I thought the alcohol might be the key to triggering the illness, but my mother also drank alcohol and ate medicinal food, yet she showed no abnormalities. This just doesn’t make sense.”

Huo Changhe walked to her side and said in a deep voice, "Perhaps it's a difference in constitution? Or perhaps it's due to the amount of alcohol consumed?"

“It’s possible, but we can’t jump to conclusions.” Yan Ruyu shook her head gently. “The medicinal food is the only thing the two of them clearly came into contact with. Alcohol can only be considered a suspected trigger, and further investigation is needed.”

Yan Ruyu stood up: "Let's go out and talk to them again."

Upon entering the courtyard, Yan Ruyu's gaze swept over several students.

"Don't worry too much. As long as he receives proper treatment, he will gradually get better."

Several students nodded repeatedly, and one of the thin students bowed and said, "Thank you, Your Highness, for saving our lives. If it weren't for Your Highness's help, we really wouldn't know what to do."

"No need for formalities. Treating the sick and saving lives is our duty." Yan Ruyu waved her hand and changed the subject. "I have a few questions for you. Please answer them truthfully, as they are crucial to finding the cause of the illness and treating your classmate."

Upon hearing this, the students straightened up and nodded solemnly: "Your Highness, please ask. We will answer to the best of our knowledge."

"Did your classmate experience drowsiness and poor mental state before the onset of the illness?" Yan Ruyu asked.

The thin elementary school student who had spoken earlier immediately responded: "Yes, Your Highness, he's been saying lately that he's been lacking energy and often falls asleep in class. We even joked that he might be secretly studying too late at night. He himself said he didn't know what was wrong, he just couldn't muster the energy."

Another tall student added, "It's not just him. It seems like several people in the academy have been like this lately, always saying they feel sleepy and lack energy. But most of them don't take it seriously, thinking it's because of the heavy workload."

Yan Ruyu's heart stirred, and she asked, "Among you, is there anyone who, like him, has experienced drowsiness and poor mental state, and has also taken Yishengtang's medicinal diet?"

After he finished speaking, the courtyard fell into a brief silence.

The students looked at each other, their faces showing thoughtful expressions.

After a moment, a student wearing a square scarf shook his head: "I was also feeling sleepy a while ago, and I thought it was because of the weather, but I have never eaten any of Yishengtang's medicinal cuisine, and I rarely even touch medicine."

"Me too, I'm not feeling well, but I've never tried any medicinal cuisine."

"I don't have drowsiness, nor have I ever been exposed to any medicinal cuisine."

Several students spoke up one after another, all saying that they either had poor mental health or neither, and none of them met both conditions at the same time.

Yan Ruyu frowned slightly. Could it be that she was mistaken?

Or is it that the qualified people are not among these few?

Just then, the tall student seemed to suddenly remember something, raised his hand and patted his forehead: "Oh right, Your Highness, I remembered someone!"

My classmate Liu Zian from our academy has been complaining of feeling sleepy lately, and he keeps dozing off in class. I even asked him if he wasn't feeling well.

Once, I went to his place to visit him and saw him drinking a bowl of herbal soup. When I asked him what it was, he said it was a medicinal diet from Yishengtang, which he said could regulate the body and improve his drowsiness.

"Liu Zi'an?" Yan Ruyu's eyes lit up, and she quickly asked, "He didn't come today?"

The tall student shook his head: "He's not really close to us, and we're not in the same class, so..."

Yan Ruyu made a quick decision and turned to Huo Changxu: "Changxu, go to the academy yourself, find this Liu Zian, and ask him about his use of medicinal cuisine and his current physical condition."

Regardless of whether he shows any signs of illness, bring him back to the Prince's residence to be settled, in case he suddenly falls ill and there is no one to take care of him.

"Okay! I'll go right away!" Huo Changxu replied immediately. "Don't worry, sister-in-law, I will definitely bring the person back safely."

As he spoke, he turned to leave, but Yan Ruyu quickly instructed him, "Be careful on the road. If he already shows symptoms such as dizziness or chest tightness, do not let him overexert himself. Try to find a carriage to pick him up and drop him off, and don't disturb too many people."

"I've got it!" Huo Changxu turned around and replied, then hurriedly walked towards the courtyard gate.

Yan Ruyu turned her gaze to Governor Cao, who was standing to the side.

Governor Cao was concerned about Lady Cao, and the worry in his eyes was hard to hide.

But he knew the situation was urgent, so he didn't get distracted and listened attentively to everyone's conversation.

"Lord Cao," Yan Ruyu called out.

Governor Cao immediately came to his senses and cupped his hands, saying, "What are your orders, Your Highness?"

"Now it seems that there may be quite a few people in Youcheng who, like Madam Cao and these two students, first experienced symptoms of drowsiness and poor mental state, and then took the medicinal diet from Yishengtang."

Yan Ruyu slowly said, "I would like to ask you, sir, to send out constables to secretly investigate such people. Once found, they should be properly settled to prevent them from suffering from sudden illnesses without anyone to treat them."

But remember, you must act with extreme caution, avoiding anything that might alert the enemy or cause public panic.

Upon hearing this, Governor Cao's eyes flashed with determination.

He knew that his wife's illness still needed time to be treated, and that worrying here at this moment would not help. He might as well do something practical, which would not only help to find out the truth, but also distract him from his worries.

"Your Highness, rest assured, leave this matter to me." Governor Cao said in a deep voice, "I will return to the yamen immediately and arrange for people to investigate secretly."

"Thank you for your trouble, sir." Yan Ruyu nodded slightly. "Please take care of yourself, sir. I will take care of Madam. I will send someone to inform you as soon as I have any news."

Governor Cao bowed in thanks, said no more, and turned to walk out of the courtyard gate.