Duoduo looked at Master Zhang's skeptical eyes and spoke again.
"If I can save that grass, I can give you its seeds then."
Master Zhang hesitated.
This plant was practically exchanged for his life.
He was unwilling to just hand it over to someone else.
However, he had cared for this grass with all his heart for a long time, and it was visibly dying.
Yesterday, the plant's very last leaf had fallen off.
If he kept it, the plant's only fate would be death.
Master Zhang looked at the determined face of Duoduo in front of him and decided to take a gamble.
"If you can cultivate more plants, just remember to share one with me when the time comes."
Duoduo's eyes curved into a smile.
"It's a deal!"
Master Zhang habitually reached up to stroke his beard.
"Huh? Master, your hand can move!"
Duoduo stared at Master Zhang's hand in surprise.
Reminded by Duoduo, Master Zhang finally noticed it himself.
"Yes, my left hand is fine now. My right hand is still a bit numb, but it should recover soon too."
"By the way, how much time has passed?"
Duoduo glanced at the water clock nearby, a look of disappointment appearing on her face.
"Not even the time it takes an incense stick to burn. How could it be so short?"
"Last night, when I touched its thorns, the numbness lasted for a whole incense stick's time."
Master Zhang nodded.
"That's right. The fact that this sap could paralyze my hands for this long is already quite impressive."
Duoduo tilted her head.
"Master, do you mean that for an ordinary person, the effect would last longer?"
Master Zhang nodded.
"If you don't believe me, you can let her try."
Master Zhang pointed at Lüdou, who was waiting outside the door.
Duoduo thought for a moment and called out.
"Lüdou, come in."
"Yes, Princess." Lüdou walked in with quick, small steps.
"I want to test something on you. Are you afraid?"
Lüdou shook her head. "I am not afraid! Princess, just prick me."
Duoduo nodded. "Master said this thing isn't poisonous. Don't worry, it won't harm you."
"Yes, I will do as the Princess says." Lüdou held out her hand to Duoduo.
Duoduo picked up a silver needle dipped in the medicinal sap, found the right acupoint, and pricked her.
Very quickly, Lüdou felt her hand lose all sensation.
Duoduo felt Lüdou's pulse and felt a bit puzzled.
"Master, you said it wasn't poisonous, so why does Lüdou's pulse show signs of poisoning?"
Master Zhang reached out and also checked Lüdou's pulse.
"This pulse, to be precise, is not poisoning."
"It has a slight toxicity, much like the residual toxins left behind from drinking medicine year-round. It is very mild and something the body can tolerate."
"Oh, I see." Duoduo nodded.
"Yesterday, Lüdou wiped the pricked area with a wet handkerchief, and the toxicity was quickly neutralized."
"Then for the place pricked by this silver needle, can we only wait for the toxicity to pass?"
Duoduo asked, not ashamed to seek guidance.
Master Zhang stroked his beard.
"Since wiping it with water can neutralize it, being pricked by a silver needle should also be curable; it's just a matter of how fast."
"Master, what if we use an antidote pill, can it neutralize it?" Duoduo asked again.
Master Zhang stroked his beard. "We will only know if we try."
Master Zhang took a pill from his robes and handed it to Lüdou.
"Swallow this."
Lüdou took it and swallowed it in one gulp.
Master Zhang and Duoduo both stared intently at Lüdou.
Lüdou felt a bit uncomfortable. She lowered her eyes and looked at her hand.
After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Master Zhang spoke.
"Can your hand move?"
Lüdou tried to move her fingers and shook her head.
"There's still no feeling."
Master Zhang frowned and reached out to check Lüdou's pulse.
The pulse showed no change whatsoever.
"Truly none? Or is there just a little bit of feeling?"
Lüdou tried to move her fingers again. "No feeling at all."
Master Zhang withdrew his hand, his gaze falling once more upon the plant on the ground.
"Princess, where did you get this?"
Lüdou looked nervously at Duoduo.
"It was originally in the garden, but because it was poisonous, it was thrown away."
"My maid accidentally bumped into one, and that's how I discovered it."
Master Zhang's eyes lit up. "Where was it thrown? Is it still alive?"
Duoduo looked at Lüdou, and Lüdou hurriedly shook her head.
"The Ni family had people throw them outside the city. When I went there, the ones thrown first were all dead."
"Only a few of the ones thrown later were still alive, and I brought them all back."
"Princess, could you spare one for me?" Master Zhang suddenly became very interested.
Duoduo looked at the plant Lüdou had just brought over; they had only used a third of it so far.
This single plant should be enough for her to experiment with.
She could keep two more for use and cultivate the rest.
"Alright," Duoduo nodded.
"Thank you, Princess! This is wonderful!" Master Zhang was so happy he was practically dancing with joy.
"Come, let me show you the things I've been raising."
In his excitement, Master Zhang grabbed Duoduo and started to lead her away.
"Keep an eye on the time yourself. Note exactly when you can move again!"
Before leaving, Master Zhang didn't forget to instruct Lüdou.
Duoduo was also full of curiosity about the things Master Zhang raised.
During his lessons, Master Zhang would occasionally mention that he was growing some rare snow lotus or something similar.
Duoduo didn't believe it.
A snow lotus, just by its name, meant a lotus in the snow. It was already late spring; where would there be snow?
She wanted to go see for herself if it was actually true.
Master Zhang led Duoduo into the courtyard where he lived.
He pushed open the door to a room and waved mysteriously to Duoduo.
"Come here, this is the place. Be careful, everything in here is my treasure!"
Master Zhang walked in cautiously, and seeing this, Duoduo also lightened her footsteps.
"Wow!" Duoduo couldn't help but exclaim in surprise when she saw what was inside.
The inside looked very much like a greenhouse.
Various kinds of flowers and plants were grown inside, arranged on shelves.
On the other side, various animals were kept.
Seeing that there were actually snakes and scorpions inside, Duoduo shrank back behind Master Zhang.
"Master, why do you raise these?"
Master Zhang stroked his beard and smiled proudly.
"Have you forgotten? I am a master of poisons. These are all precious treasures!"
Duoduo saw a plant about half the height of a person, blooming with gorgeous flowers. Duoduo thought it was very beautiful.
Just as she was about to walk over for a closer look, Master Zhang grabbed her.
"This flower is poisonous."
Worried that Duoduo wouldn't believe him, Master Zhang grabbed a mouse from a cage and threw it in front of the flower.
The mouse, gaining its freedom, darted forward and bumped into the plant. The flower rapidly sprayed out a sap.
The moment the mouse touched the sap, it squeaked a few times and fell dead on the ground.
Duoduo was dumbfounded. "It's that poisonous?"
Master Zhang nodded.
"Of course. If the toxicity wasn't strong, I wouldn't even have the interest to spare it a glance."
"Right, didn't you want to cultivate that plant? This is it."
Master Zhang brought over a flowerpot from the side. In the pot, there was only a bare, leafless branch.
Duoduo's eyes widened into circles.
"Master, are you joking with me?"
