Chapter 125: It Was All the Fault of the Luminous Pearl

"Delightful!" Li Cui laughed heartily as he leaned over the table. "Master Zhen, your creative ideas are truly remarkable. This variation of chess is quite intriguing; once it spreads, it is bound to become the rage throughout the Great Tang!"

Fujiwara no Maruo was actually quite skilled at chess, but the change in rules left him unable to adapt, and he was forced to retreat in defeat.

Li Cui did not care much for Fujiwara, yet he maintained a polite facade and invited him to a banquet. This time, Li Cui did not come looking for a free meal; he requested a bounty of ingredients from the county office and utilized Zhen Qian’s kitchen to prepare a sumptuous feast, allowing both Zhen Qian and Fujiwara to sample the craftsmanship of the Prince’s imperial chefs.

Zhen Qian now had a brand-new concept of the extravagant lifestyle of the Li Tang royal family. Even for a mere routine trip to the capital to pay respects to the Emperor, Li Cui brought over a hundred attendants and servants, not counting the guards responsible for his protection. With over two hundred people in his retinue, it was no wonder Feng Wannian was less than thrilled about hosting Li Cui.

Just as Zhen Qian was about to admire the chefs' handiwork, a maid rushed in, panicked. "Your Highness, this is terrible... the Princess is vomiting blood!"

"What?"

Zhen Qian was startled, his mind reeling as darkness nearly clouded his vision. How could he not be afraid? The Princess’s illness had been "treated" by him; if there was a relapse, it meant his medical methods were flawed. If the Princess died in his home, he would be going to hell right along with her.

*Wait! Why would she vomit blood? That’s not a symptom of typhoid... I must stay calm!*

Zhen Qian quickly steadied his nerves and scanned Li Cui’s face. *Strange!* There was no anger on Li Cui’s face, only a mix of anxiety and worry, which left Zhen Qian puzzled.

"I understand! You may go."

"Your Highness... what is this?"

Li Cui sighed, his eyes filled with paternal love. "My daughter began vomiting blood suddenly last year for no apparent reason. I have sought out famous physicians everywhere, and they all claim it is an 'evil spirit' possessing her and that it is incurable. It is simply her ill-fated destiny!" His eyes suddenly brightened as if he had grasped a life-saving straw. "Master Zhen, your family is renowned for its medical heritage; surely you have a way to save her? If you can heal my daughter, I will reward you handsomely!"

*Damn! Do you think I'm some kind of immortal deity?* The Tang Dynasty didn't even have blood-testing technology. His own "medical skills" were merely a collection of life experiences from his past. If he were ever really put to the test, his fraud would eventually be exposed.

Li Cui didn't care what Zhen Qian was thinking; he dragged him toward the Princess’s quarters. Since his own bedroom had been occupied and redecorated by the Princess without his consent, where could Zhen Qian even go to complain?

This was the second time Zhen Qian had entered the Princess's chambers. It no longer resembled his original room; beyond the sheer luxury and extravagance, he couldn't help but wonder—did they not find it exhausting to carry so many ornaments while traveling?

The last time he saw the Princess, she had been veiled. This time, he finally saw her true face. She lay propped up on the bed against silk cushions, her complexion deathly pale, a trace of blood staining the corner of her lips.

They say a person's appearance is tied to genetics. With generations of peerless beauties sent into the palace to serve the Li Tang royal family, the optimization of their lineage meant the princes and princesses were all remarkably handsome.

The Princess was beautiful. Sans makeup, she had an oval face, slender eyebrows, bright eyes, a delicate nose, and thin lips that held a touch of melancholy. She lacked vitality, replaced by a sickly fragility that stirred one's pity.

"Master Zhen! What do you make of the Princess's condition?" Li Cui asked, noticing Zhen Qian staring at her face, assuming he was diagnosing her.

Zhen Qian turned back awkwardly, wanting to tell Li Cui he didn't know how to treat patients. But the words died in his throat—if he admitted that, Li Cui would likely chop him up and feed him to the dogs. This was the crime of deceiving the Emperor, and he lacked the courage to pull the tiger's whiskers.

*What should I say?* Zhen Qian’s mind raced. *I've got it!*

Since the famous doctors of the Great Tang couldn't cure her, why should he be able to? He would just have to keep fooling Li Cui. Zhen Qian felt he had fallen; a promising youth corrupted by the tumors of feudal society, drifting further and further from his dreams.

Opportunity favors the prepared. This held true for Zhen Qian. The concept of an "evil spirit" was mysterious and intangible—if he said it existed, who could prove otherwise?

As Zhen Qian prepared to speak, he saw a beautiful maid approach the bed with a bowl of medicine. *Wait...*

The maid walked with a fluid grace, as if floating. He noticed her complexion was also poor—haggard and sickly, much like a frail Lin Daiyu. He looked back at the Princess, and a suspicion took root in his heart.

"Your Highness, might you call in the Princess's personal maids...?"

Li Cui was confused. Why call the maids for a medical diagnosis? Did Zhen Qian have his eye on them? Li Cui thought, *If he can cure my daughter, what’s a few maids?*

"Bring all the Princess's maids here!"

Soon, eight maids stood before Zhen Qian, looking at him nervously with a hint of a blush.

"Cough... which of you spends the most time serving the Princess? Step forward."

Two maids stepped forward timidly, including the one who had just fed the Princess medicine. Ignoring Li Cui’s confused expression, Zhen Qian asked, "Do you two stay with the Princess every day, especially over the last two years, never leaving her side?"

They nodded.

"Have you both felt weak lately, or suffered from nausea, headaches, or dizziness?"

They nodded again.

Zhen Qian looked up at the night-shining pearl hanging from the ceiling beam. He recoiled as if stung by a needle, his face turning ghastly. "Your Highness, I dare to ask—was this night-shining pearl acquired within the last few years?"

Li Cui understood immediately. Never underestimate the wisdom of the ancients; it would be a grave mistake. "Are you saying this pearl has an 'evil spirit'?"

Zhen Qian didn't know if it had an "evil spirit," but it certainly had radiation. He didn't want to explain the physics of it to Li Cui. Some night-shining pearls contained radioactive elements that glowed without needing external light, effectively exposing anyone nearby to constant X-rays.

Li Cui was horrified. "Quick, take this pearl away! Throw it as far as possible!"

No matter how valuable the pearl was, it wasn't worth his daughter's life. He showed no hesitation.

"Wait... Your Highness! Could you gift this pearl to me?"

"You want it...?" This was an ominous object. Li Cui was stunned. Wasn't he afraid of the evil spirit? "This thing is cursed. If you can save my daughter, I would give you mountains of gold and silver!"

Zhen Qian didn't want gold and silver; the pearl was a weapon of mass destruction. A silent killer. He already had the perfect target in mind.

"I only wish to study it. It is a rare opportunity; I hope Your Highness will grant me this favor."

Li Cui stared at him, trying to find the real motive, but was disappointed. He sighed, "Keep the cursed thing then. Since we know it is the source of the evil, do you have a way to undo the damage?"

Zhen Qian asked about the Princess's daily routine and diet. He had figured it out. Using a radioactive substance as a nightlight for over a year—it was a miracle they weren't all dead already.

The cause was clear, but the cure was another matter. Zhen Qian wasn't confident. The source of the radiation was gone, but the damage was done. If the exposure was light, she might recover with rest, but if it was a high dose, even the gods couldn't save her.

Modern medicine for radiation was over a thousand years away. However, there were other ways to support the body.

"Your Highness, the Princess's condition requires slow recuperation. It may not be cured overnight..."

Li Cui didn't care about the method, only the result. "Speak! Even if you want my own heart, it is yours!"

Zhen Qian knew he had no retreat. If he angered Li Cui, today next year would be his memorial day.

"Feeding the Princess almonds, green tea, carrots, and purple amaranth daily may alleviate her condition. Beyond that, there is no other way. Whether she recovers depends on her own fortune!"