Poison Genius Consort

Like this, the truth became apparent to everyone without explanation.

“Sixty Rooms!1 This is Sixty Rooms, ah!” the fourth elder was the first to slam his desk and stand up, infuriated.
“Xie Deyi, what have you to say for yourself? You’re the leader of the Council of Elders, but you’ve embezzled that trust!”

The so-called ‘Sixty Rooms’ was a long-lost mystical prescription that included 60 different types of medicinal ingredients.
Any 10 from the 60 could be combined in certain proportions to create the exact same pill.
Every medical family without exception knew of the existence of ‘Sixty Rooms,’ but the missing formula meant that none of them knew which 60 ingredients were needed for the magic combo.
Today, Han Yunxi had demonstrated the truth to them all.

Head Elder Xie had given an ingredient list consisting of nothing but the full prescription for ‘Sixty Rooms.’ In other words, no matter which ingredients were selected and how many people went through them, as long as Xie Peng got ten from the original formula, he would be able to make a Sixty Rooms pill.

There were no end of scandals at this time’s Grand Medicine Testing Convention with surprises coming one after the other at the audience.
Still, this had to be the most shocking revelation of all.
The Xie Clan actually had the Sixty Rooms prescription on their hands and used to it to cheat! The same Xie Clan that had always depended on the Mu Clan certainly held hidden depths of their own!

“Here’s the conclusive evidence, Head Elder Xie.
What else do you have to say?” Wang Gong demanded.

Right now, it didn’t even matter who won the competition anymore.
For Head Elder Xie to resort to such low methods meant that Xie Peng would be expelled from the Grand Medicine Testing Convention and that he deserved to be dismissed by the Council of Elders.
Originally, the Wang Clan assumed that they’d have to give their all to oppose the Xie Clan since their pre-laid plans were changed.
But who knew that Qin Wangfei had the skills to uncover Sixty Rooms? Now the Wang Clan had reaped the biggest benefits from it all!

As the commotion grew offstage, various distinguished guests in the first ring exchanged glances.
They never imagined that something like this could happen at the convention.
The scenes of the Mu Clan’s fall seem to re-enact themselves once again.
None of the Xie Clan members dared to speak, much less raise their heads.
But Head Elder Xie was still standing tall and straight, completely unaffected.
He looked coldly at the fourth elder, then at Wang Gong, and snorted.
“You call this conclusive evidence? Have either of you ever seen this old man purposely pick these 60 ingredients?”

This…

For a second, everyone scrambled to understand what Xie Deyi was saying.
Han Yunxi immediately understood and laughed coldly.
“What, Head Elder Xie means to say that you accidentally choose those 60 ingredients instead? And that you had no idea they made up the Sixty Rooms prescription?”

“Exactly!” Xie Deyi replied without the least hesitation, his voice firm and strong.
“This is my Xie Clan’s good luck, not cheating!”

The Wang Clan and their supporters exploded at that statement.

“Xie Deyi, do you have any face left?!”

“Old man, thick skin! I’ve really seen it all today! Admirable, truly ‘admirable!’”

“Break up the Council of Elders! Otherwise, Medicine City will be in trouble!”

The protests grew and rose in volume.
It wasn’t clear who threw the first rock onstage, but many more followed in its wake.
The Xie Clan immediately retaliated with their supporters in tow.
Before the people onstage had finished fighting, the crowd offstage was already starting a brawl.
Chaos took over the scene as the situation grew out of control.
Although people with the Council of Elders’ insignia and various directors tried to stem the crowds, it was all in vain.
Meanwhile, the Wang and Xie Clans onstage started arguing back and forth.

Utter pandemonium!

Han Yunxi never thought Xie Deyi would be such a shameless old coot.
She was shielded by Long Feiye and brought to a corner to watch the mess unfold with dumbfounded eyes.
She couldn’t help but recall the news reports she used to see before her transmigration.
A certain country had tried to gain power within its own legislative assembly and broken out into fights as a result.
Wasn’t the very same thing happening before her eyes in Medicine City?

“Your Highness, what do we do now?” Han Yunxi murmured.

Long Feiye didn’t expect things to devolve into this extent, either.
But he wasn’t worried and teased, “You made this mess, so you clean it up.”

Seeing that he was in a mood to joke, Han Yunxi knew she didn’t need to worry.
As it turned out, the hubbub instantly died down moments later, because the free and easy melody of a flute had drifted out from the Medicine Forest!

His Excellency Pill King, Sun Zhong,2 had arrived!

This was a high-level recluse who lived in the Medicine Forest and the true owner of those woods.
His medical skills were unparalleled and he was respected by all clans in Medicine City.
No one dared to defy him, but all hoped to inherit his legacy one day.
He had the skills to lead Medicine City, but never involved himself in mundane affairs.
It had been years since he last left the forest and shown his face.
Even when the Poison Pond disappeared, he only sent someone to ask the Council of Elders for details without appearing himself in person.

But today, he had come.

As the sounds of the flute grew closer, everyone turned to see an old, white-haired man emerge from the trees on a wheelchair.
Four youths on flutes followed by his side.
The crowd made way for him, while the Xie and Wang Clans fell silent onstage.
But instead of paying attention to them, the Pill King examined Han Yunxi, who was standing on one side, and asked, “Qin Wangfei, how did you identify ‘Sixty Rooms?’”

Sixty Rooms (六十斋) – liushi zhai, liushi means “sixty,” zhai is a word that can mean anything from “fast, keep a fast” to “house, home.’  Sun Zhong (孙钟) – Sun is a surname, Zhong means “concentrate.”