Then he added something that made everyone’s hearts sink.
"To be honest, if this old physician had encountered this case twenty years ago, I might have missed it as well."
Xi Ronghua’s eyes widened.
Even Lin Meiyun looked surprised.
Physician Zhao had spent decades practicing medicine.
His reputation was known throughout the capital.
Yet even he was saying such a thing.
The physician slowly stroked his beard.
"This poison does not attack aggressively. Instead, it blends with the body and weakens it gradually. Unless someone specifically suspects poisoning and examines the pulse very carefully, the signs are extremely difficult to detect."
Gu Yue’s face turned pale.
"Then if nobody discovered it..."
Physician Zhao looked toward Lin Meiyun.
The answer was obvious.
"Within several years, the Duchess’s health would continue declining."
"No one would suspect murder."
"No one would investigate."
"And eventually..."
He did not finish the sentence.
He didn’t need to.
Everyone already understood.
Xi Ronghua suddenly slammed her hand against the table.
The loud sound startled everyone.
"Good!"
Her voice trembled with anger.
"Very good!"
"Someone actually dared to poison the Duchess of the Xi family inside our own manor!"
The fury in her eyes was terrifying.
Gu Yue had rarely seen her mother this angry.
Meanwhile, Lin Meiyun sat quietly in her seat.
Compared to Xi Ronghua’s rage, she seemed almost calm.
But only on the surface.
Because beneath the table, her hand was trembling slightly.
A long silence followed.
Then Lin Meiyun finally spoke.
"If I stop taking the tonic now, can the poison be removed?"
Physician Zhao nodded.
"Fortunately, the dosage accumulated inside your body is not yet fatal."
Everyone released a breath they hadn’t realized they were holding.
The physician continued.
"I will prepare a prescription to cleanse your body over the coming months."
"With proper treatment, Duchess Lin should recover."
Only then did some of the tension leave the pavilion.
But it was quickly replaced by something else.
Anger.
Because someone had done this intentionally.
Someone had been poisoning Lin Meiyun for years.
Someone inside the Xi Manor.
Xi Ronghua’s eyes turned icy.
"Find out who prepared that tonic."
Gu Yue nodded immediately.
"And who delivered it."