CHAPTER 12 Experiment

It took a few days for them to collect the purple fungi from Burial Mountain. Since Zhang Liang came over, Tianqi didn't have to work so hard. They wrapped the purple fungi with the white clothes brought by Zhang Liang and kept them away from sunlight. This is because the fungi will wither if it is exposed to sunlight. The long journey makes them exhausted and Tianqi requested a short break. Although it was tiring Zhang Liang is satisfied. Sooner, he can do as has been planned.

"Your Highness. Once we arrive at Changan, what should I do next?"

"Take the purple fungi, steam and extract it. You will be my medical assistant after this."

Zhang Liang pat Tianqi's shoulder.

* * * * *

"Your Highness, it's time to take your medicine."

Yuyu comes with a bowl of tonic for Xiaolian. Xiaolian ignored her and continued to feed the goldfish in the pond. The lotus flowers were still blooming. There were white, yellow, purple, and red petals of lotuses floating on the water's surface.

"Your Highness, come take your medicine."

Xiaolian finally turned around and left the pond.

"Humph! Can you add some candies inside the tonic next time? It's too bitter for me!" She complained while frowning her face.

"I'm sorry Your Highness, I can't do that. His Highness told me that Your Highness takes too much sugar. Thus, His Highness doesn't allow me to add sugar to the tonic."

"Yeah, yeah. Fine! Anyway, Yuyu, can you help me after this?" She asked.

Yuyu smiled.

"Anything Your Highness needs, I will be here to help!"

Xiaolian was very happy. She quickly drank the tonic.

"Great! Could you help me to collect the white lotus seeds? I want to make a White Lotus Moon Cake."

* * * * *

The process of making the poison was not as easy as Tianqi thought. Who knows he needs to stay one night to make sure the fungus was completely extracted. It was so tiring.

"Tianqi, don't you dare to fall asleep. I'm here, watching you do your work." Warned Zhang Liang.

"Ah yes, Your Highness. But I'm super sleepy and I want to sleep. I think I can fall asleep anytime."

Zhang Liang left for a while. A moment later, he came with a bowl of plain water. He put his fingers inside the bowl and sprinkled the water on Tianqi's face. It was cold and it forced Tianqi to open his eyes.

"No, you can't. As long as I'm awake, you can't sleep."

"Ah! It's cold!" Tianqi grumbled.

Tianqi wiped his face with his sleeve. Zhang Liang meanwhile back to his seat and continued his work. The veins on his forehead clearly showed that something was bothering him.

Zhang Liang drifted inside his world, thinking about how to make the Emperor of the Su Empire fall until he forgot to keep an eye on Tianqi. The poor Tianqi fell asleep while stirring the purple fungi extracts. Noticing that his medical assistant already fell asleep, he took the turn to continue stirring. About half an hour later, the extraction process was done. Zhang Liang took a glance at Tianqi.

"Mm...no I...I didn't fall asleep. Mm..." Tianqi mumbled alone.

Zhang Liang smiled, amused by Tianqi.

"You must be tired. You may have a good rest now."

Zhang Liang spoke to the sleeping Tianqi in a low voice. He took a blanket and covered Tianqi's body so he wouldn't catch a cold. After putting the blanket on Tianqi, he took the purple fungus extract and moved on to the next step of making a solid purple fungus extract.

"This might take time but it doesn't matter. I want to see if this can make you fall from the throne or not." He Mumbled alone.

The next morning, Tianqi woke up with a clear table before him. The purple mushroom extract is no more! He panicked momentarily before seeing Zhang Liang asleep on his desk.

"Did I fall asleep last night?! Did His Highness do the stirring work alone?! Oh no!"

He mumbled alone. He tried to get up from the seat and the blanket that covered his body fell on the floor. Tianqi was stunned for a while.

"Don't tell me...di...did His Highness cover me with his blanket last night?!" Tianqi stifled his laugh.

"I never knew that my master is cold outside but warm inside."

It was still early but Tianqi already feeling hungry. He went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast for them. Zhang Liang doesn't have a female maid. All his people are males. Maybe he and Zhang Ruyi shared some personality traits, which they don't like females.

Zhang Liang woke up after Tianqi left. The last step of the poison-making was still not finished yet. He still needs a few days for the precipitation to be completely done. After that, he can try the poison on the Emperor. How he tested the poison was not a problem for now. The most important thing for him to do now was to prepare the Soul Devourer Poison as soon as possible. As long as he had the poison, everything will be fine. He only needs some strategies to achieve his goal.

The breakfast was ready and Tianqi brought it to Zhang Liang's room, for them to eat. When he served it on the table, his master was already awake.

"Your Highness, you're awake. Good morning."

Zhang Liang yawned and looked at Tianqi.

"You sleep well last night?" He asked.

Tianqi gave him a stuttered laugh.

"A-haha. Yes, and...thank you for the blanket."

After Tianqi put the breakfast on the table, he grabbed the blanket and gave it to Zhang Liang. Zhang Liang stared at him.

"It has your smell now. Go wash it first before you return it to me."

Tianqi was stunned for a while.

"W-what...? Your Highness, what do you mean? I took a shower as soon as I got back from Jinan!" He stood up for himself. But still, Zhang Liang doesn't care.

"Nah,...my blanket is stinky now. I'll take it back once you wash it. And..." Zhang Liang ate the breakfast prepared by Tianqi with a smile on his face.

"...Thank you for this breakfast!"