After being forced to leave the marriage, I became the wife of a top scholar.

Chapter 134 Drug Manufacturing
Grandmaster Luo snorted, "Yes! Besides you and your mother, who would bother researching poisons for no reason!"

"This was written by your mother when she was studying medicine with me, and I'm giving it to you now."

Bai Wanqing carefully put the book away and thanked Master Luo repeatedly.

Master Luo sighed after a long pause, "I trust you to act with discretion, but remember, you can only have a future if you protect yourself. Once you die, you lose everything!"

Bai Wanqing didn't know why her grandmaster suddenly said that. She explained to her grandmaster for a while that the matter was not dangerous before Grandmaster Luo let her leave.

Because Bai Wanqing needed to quickly research several poisons for self-defense, she asked Master Luo for leave from the medical clinic.

She locked herself in her room and spent two days studying her mother's recipe for making poison, but ultimately couldn't find any connection between her mother's recipe and poison.

Seeing that Bai Wanqing had locked herself in her room for two whole days, Ruixin asked Fengniang to cook some soup and bring it to her.

"Madam, you've been studying this for two days now, why don't you take a rest?"

"This is a white fungus and lotus seed soup that Fengniang cooked. Would you like some?"

Bai Wanqing raised her head, her eyes blurry. She felt that she had been deceived by Master Luo. However, she had carefully studied these prescriptions and they were by no means ordinary prescriptions. Oh well, she could just find all the ingredients and try it.

"Okay! I'll try it!" Bai Wanqing twisted her neck, picked up the soup Ruixin brought over, and took a small sip. "Hmm! It tastes good."

Hearing Bai Wanqing's praise, Ruixin smiled, then turned and waved to Fengniang outside the door.

Bai Wanqing then noticed that Fengniang was standing awkwardly at the door, as if she had something to say.

"Fengniang, come in and tell me what's wrong!" Bai Wanqing glared at Ruixin secretly, and Ruixin quickly stuck out her tongue and lowered her head.

Feng Niang hesitated before entering. Seeing Bai Wanqing spread out a table full of books, she spoke up, "Madam, I heard that what you're about to do is dangerous?"

Bai Wanqing was taken aback. She had never revealed this to Fengniang, but when she turned to look at Ruixin, she knew that Ruixin was probably the one who said it.

"It's nothing serious, not dangerous at all."

She didn't think the Fang family would really want her dead; at most, they would just take her medicinal herbs, cause her some losses, and then make her back down.

But Fengniang said, "Madam, why don't you take me with you? I learned some martial arts from my elder brother and the others when I was young. I can protect you and help you escape when it matters."

Bai Wanqing was taken aback again, "What does your older brother do? I've never heard of him knowing martial arts before."

Feng Niang lowered her head slightly. "Reporting to Madam, my elder brother used to be a bodyguard in a security escort agency. At that time, I thought bodyguards were very capable, so I followed my elder brother to learn from him."

"I didn't say it before, it's because I was afraid the yamen would sell me to the escort agency."

"I still need to find my son. How can I easily risk my life for someone else? What will happen to my son if I die?" Feng Niang said with a straight face.

Bai Wanqing found it somewhat amusing. "Then why are you willing to take the risk with me now? Aren't you afraid of risking your life and not finding your son?"

Fengniang grinned, "Don't worry! Madam, I know you've already given my son's portrait to the master. If the master helps me find it, we'll definitely find it."

“But before I find her, I must ensure the safety of the lady so that the master can be at ease.”

Feng Niang's words were so airtight that Bai Wanqing knew that Lin Yunche had probably arranged this on his own because he didn't trust her. But why did he know so early on that Feng Niang knew martial arts, yet he didn't say anything?

"Do you know we might encounter bandits? Aren't you afraid?" Bai Wanqing asked.

"Don't be afraid! I, Fengniang, am not that cowardly!" Fengniang said, patting her chest, and then looked in the direction of Ruixin.

Ruixin reacted and spoke up for her, "Yes! Madam, didn't you see? Fengniang is really amazing! When she was begging me just now, she performed a set of punches. Her punches were powerful and fierce. With her around, she can definitely protect Madam's safety."

It's clear that Ruixin is filled with envy.

“If that’s the case, then you can come with me. Take some time to prepare these days. Ruixin will tell you the specific departure time.” Bai Wanqing agreed.

After Fengniang left, Bai Wanqing looked at Ruixin beside her.

Ruixin knew that her mistress was probably angry, so she quickly explained, "Madam, I was just worried about you, and this is what Master asked me to do."

Bai Wanqing sighed and didn't blame her anymore, but only instructed, "No matter who it is, you still have to ask me first before you can do anything."

Ruixin lowered her head and replied, "Miss, I understand! I have always belonged to you, Miss, and not to anyone else."

"Then this time, you'll be punished by not being allowed to come with me to collect medicinal herbs!"

"Oh? Miss, you can't leave me behind!" Ruixin immediately became anxious.

Having grown up with her mistress in everything, how could she not go with her when her mistress was going to take a dangerous trip?

"This is your punishment," Bai Wanqing said sternly.

Ruixin dared not argue further and could only lower her head in frustration. It was all the fault of the master and Fengniang. If it weren't for helping them, she wouldn't have been punished by the young lady.

Seeing Ruixin's annoyed expression, Bai Wanqing smiled gently, "Now I'm going to the street to look for raw materials for making drugs. Do you want to come with me?"

Upon hearing this, Ruixin immediately forgot her earlier sadness and nodded, "Go! Miss, I want to go."

So, Bai Wanqing took Ruixin to the street to buy the raw materials. "Madam, are we going to the clinic to get them?" Ruixin asked curiously.

Bai Wanqing shook her head. "No, let's go to the market first."

As they spoke, the two arrived at the largest market in Huaizhou City. This market was very long, stretching from the north of Huaizhou all the way to the south. There weren't many shops here; most of the vendors were small merchants who carried bamboo baskets and set up stalls. If the goods on the main street were of better quality, then the goods here were of good quality and inexpensive, making them more suitable for ordinary people.

Since arriving in Huaizhou City, the two of them, mistress and servant, had never actually visited this market.

Bai Wanqing led Ruixin to start exploring from the north. The north side was mostly filled with grain vendors, mostly local farmers who brought their surplus grain to exchange for money.

Bai Wanqing glanced at it briefly and then walked around. As they wandered around, Ruixin noticed that the market was full of people selling grains and vegetables. What could their young lady possibly buy here?
Just then, Bai Wanqing stopped in front of a stall, picked up a mushroom with a bluish stem, and asked, "Auntie, how much is this?"

When the old woman saw her holding the mushroom, she immediately told her to put it down. "Madam, these mushrooms are not edible. My daughter-in-law accidentally picked them. We were planning to take them back and destroy them in a little while. We're not selling them!"

Bai Wanqing smiled and said, "I need mushrooms like these. Why don't you sell them to me?"

The old woman's gaze towards Bai Wanqing immediately changed. "Madam, these mushrooms are poisonous! Eating them will kill you!"

The old woman is now filled with regret for bringing these mushrooms to the market.

Bai Wanqing replied, "I won't eat it. I'm just curious and want to see it. I promise I won't put it in my mouth."

As Bai Wanqing spoke, she took out three taels of silver from her bosom and handed it to the old woman, asking, "Is this enough?"

The old woman was initially annoyed that this one mushroom had ruined her whole basket of mushrooms, but when she saw that the lady in front of her was willing to spend three taels of silver to buy it, she hesitated again.

"Are you really not going to eat it? I won't be responsible if you get sick from it!" the old woman said, her eyes fixed on the silver in Bai Wanqing's hand.

Bai Wanqing smiled and nodded, "Don't worry, I won't cause you any trouble."

The old woman thought for a moment, then pulled out a piece of cloth from the bottom of the basket, wrapped the mushrooms in the cloth, gave it to Bai Wanqing, and happily accepted the money.

After buying the mushrooms, Bai Wanqing took Ruixin to the blacksmith's shop and bought a small iron stove with a lid. Before going home, they went to the pharmacy and picked up some poisonous herbs such as centipedes and spiders before returning home.

As soon as Bai Wanqing got home, she locked herself in her room again. This time, however, she didn't stay in the study. Instead, she asked Ruixin to prepare a secluded room for her to make medicine.

Ruixin wanted to help out, but Bai Wanqing made her leave.

After all, if the poison is not made properly, it will permeate the air. If the whole family gets poisoned, that would be her fault.

Bai Wanqing was just taking precautions, but she never expected her words to come true.

Following her mother's recipe, she added the collected poisons one by one to the iron furnace, then placed it over the fire, adding some herbal juice as needed, and waited for the poison pills to be refined.

But before I knew it, an hour had passed, then two hours.

The iron furnace in front of Bai Wanqing remained unchanged until Lin Yunche returned from his official duties and came here to find her.

He saw Bai Wanqing lying motionless on the table, and he walked over with some concern, gently nudging her shoulder.

Bai Wanqing raised her head, looked at Lin Yunche, and smiled slightly, "Aren't you that beautiful courtesan?"

"What are you doing here? Are you trying to outshine me in beauty?"

Bai Wanqing stood up unsteadily and walked towards Lin Yunche.

Lin Yunche frowned. Before he could react, Bai Wanqing pulled him back.

Bai Wanqing looked Lin Yunche up and down, then shook her head and said, "How can you compete with me in this outfit? You need to change your clothes."

Lin Yunche was about to refuse when he felt his vision blurring.

Just moments ago, Bai Wanqing was acting coquettishly, trying to outdo him in beauty, but now she's transformed into Bai Wanqing, hands on her hips, glaring angrily at him.

"Madam, please don't be angry. We'll do whatever you say!"

So, the two of them, supporting each other, returned to their bedroom, chatting and laughing.

When Ruixin went to look for Bai Wanqing, she found that Bai Wanqing was not there. She was about to go into the bedroom to look for her when Fengniang grabbed her arm.

"what are you doing?"

"I'm looking for Madam! She's not in the alchemy room. I'll go check inside."

"You can't go!"

"Why!"

Ruixin was an inexperienced young girl, and Fengniang was so anxious that she didn't know how to explain.

"Anyway, you just can't go. Come here and help me cook!"

And so, Ruixin was successfully dragged into the kitchen.

(End of this chapter)