The Poison Hidden Within the Medicine
As he walked out of the room, the members of the Ashbourne Household were already waiting anxiously outside.
The corridor had fallen into complete silence.
Every pair of eyes immediately turned toward Julian the moment the bedroom door opened.
Some were hopeful.
Some were nervous.
Others simply waited for his verdict.
Among them, Zyan Ashbourne was the first to step forward.
Wearing an expression of concern that looked flawless on the surface, he hurried over and asked,
"Young Master Julian, you’re out already. How is my father’s condition?"
His voice sounded sincere enough to fool almost anyone.
His brows were knitted together in worry, and his hands were clasped tightly before him like a devoted son praying for his father’s recovery.
Julian looked at him calmly before smiling.
"I’ve already had the ointment applied."
"The remaining toxin only needs to be flushed out."
"He’ll drink a detoxifying potion later, and everything will be fine."
As he spoke, Julian reached into his coat and produced a neatly folded prescription.
The handwriting was clean and elegant, every medicinal herb listed in precise order.
He handed it directly to Zyan.
"Here’s the prescription."
"Please have someone prepare the detoxifying potion exactly according to these instructions, Young Master Zyan."
Zyan respectfully accepted the prescription with both hands.
"Alright."
"Thank you, Young Master Julian."
"Our Ashbourne Household will remember this kindness forever."
After speaking, he even lowered his head in a grateful bow.
Anyone witnessing the scene would praise him as the very image of a filial son.
Only...
Behind that respectful smile...
His heart was already laughing wildly.
Everything...
Everything was unfolding exactly as Steffan had predicted.
Julian had fallen right into the trap.
Next...
All he needed to do was tamper with the detoxifying potion.
The special medicine powder Steffan had secretly handed him would do the rest.
Once his father drank the potion...
The poison would erupt.
By then, no matter how skilled Julian claimed to be, he would become the prime suspect.
After all...
The prescription belonged to Julian.
The medicine had been prescribed by Julian.
Even the treatment had been performed by Julian.
If anything happened...
Everyone would naturally blame him.
His sister Felberta, who had invited Julian here, would be implicated as well.
A faint smile almost escaped Zyan’s lips.
By that time...
The position of Household Patriarch would naturally fall into his hands.
And Julian...
That arrogant bastard who dared compete with him for a woman...
Would lose everything.
His reputation.
His future.
Perhaps even his life.
Serves you right, Zyan sneered inwardly.
Anyone who dares stand in my way deserves to disappear.
Maintaining his grateful expression, he carefully folded the prescription before turning toward the servants.
"Quickly."
"Prepare every herb listed here."
"No mistakes."
"Yes, Young Master."
Several servants immediately bowed before hurrying toward the household’s medicinal kitchen.
Soon...
The scent of simmering herbs slowly drifted through the estate.
Inside the kitchen, bronze medicine pots rested above charcoal fires.
The liquid gradually darkened as dozens of precious herbs dissolved together.
Steam curled lazily into the air, carrying a rich medicinal fragrance throughout the room.
Zyan stood nearby the entire time.
His eyes never left the pot.
He personally watched every ingredient being weighed.
Every herb being added.
Every step being completed.
He trusted no one.
If this plan was going to succeed...
He couldn’t allow even the slightest mistake.
Time slowly passed.
Nearly an hour later...
The detoxifying potion was finally complete.
The servants carefully poured the steaming medicine into an elegant porcelain bowl.
One servant respectfully carried it toward Zyan.
"Young Master."
"The medicine is ready."
Zyan nodded.
"I’ll personally deliver it to Father."
"You’ve all worked hard."
"You may go and rest."
The servants exchanged glances before respectfully bowing.
"As you wish."
Soon...
The kitchen became completely empty.
Only Zyan remained.
He quietly walked toward the entrance and looked both left and right.
The hallway was deserted.
Satisfied that no one was watching...
He slowly reached into his sleeve.
From within, he removed a tiny packet no larger than his thumb.
The thin paper packet contained an almost invisible pale-gray medicinal powder.
It looked ordinary.
Yet...
This harmless-looking powder was capable of changing the fate of an entire household.
Zyan stared at it for several seconds.
His breathing unconsciously became heavier.
His fingers trembled ever so slightly.
Even now...
The weight of what he was about to do pressed heavily upon his chest.
This wasn’t stealing.
Nor was it deceiving someone.
He was about to poison...
His own father.
For a brief instant...
His conscience struggled.
But the image of the Patriarch’s seat quickly erased every trace of hesitation.
Power.
Authority.
Status.
Everything he desired lay just one step away.
Taking a deep breath...
He slowly tore open the packet.
The pale medicinal powder silently scattered into the steaming detoxifying potion.
Without wasting another second, he picked up a pair of chopsticks resting nearby and stirred the liquid several times until every trace of powder completely disappeared.
Nothing looked unusual anymore.
The medicine appeared exactly as before.
Satisfied...
He immediately threw the chopsticks into the trash basket.
No evidence.
No witnesses.
Nothing remained.
Even so...
His heartbeat pounded violently against his chest.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
It felt so loud that he almost believed someone outside could hear it.
His palms had become damp with cold sweat.
He swallowed hard.
The tension reminded him of the overwhelming excitement and panic he had experienced as a naive child sneaking a forbidden movie for the very first time.
Fear.
Curiosity.
Excitement.
All tangled together.
Closing his eyes briefly, Zyan forced himself to take several deep breaths.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Again.
Only after calming himself did the frantic pounding inside his chest finally settle.
His expression gradually returned to that of the caring eldest son.
He carefully lifted the bowl with both hands.
The fragrant steam slowly rose into the air.
No one looking at it would suspect that the seemingly life-saving medicine now carried a hidden death sentence.
Steadying his breathing one last time...
Zyan walked toward his father’s bedroom.
Stopping outside the door, he gently knocked before speaking in a warm voice.
"Dad..."
"Your medicine is ready."