Page 302

Lin Yi didn’t care about her muttered complaints. He had been at the Lin family’s home for two days, and although the meals Lin Yuan prepared were nothing special—just simple noodles and steamed buns—they tasted like delicacies from heaven to him.

In the military camp, Lin Yi used to eat the communal meals from the kitchen, which were barely passable as long as they were cooked. When they were out on missions, the conditions were even harsher, either chewing on cold rations or hunting for game.

Speaking of hunting for game, it made Lin Yi nauseous. Chickens plucked and gutted, not necessarily thoroughly washed, were all too common. They couldn’t hope for the luxury of roasting with oil and spices or stewing; even a bit of salt was considered good.

He had eaten meat that was bland from grilling, or half-raw, or burnt to a crisp, and that feeling—tch, it was unforgettable for a lifetime.

How could that compare to now, where he could enjoy home-cooked meals and avoid sleeping in the harsh outdoors, sampling novel delicacies from time to time?

No wonder the second young master preferred to be chased by the Prince with a sword rather than return to the capital city.

If it were him, he wouldn’t want to go back either.

Lin Yuan didn’t know what Lin Yi was thinking at the moment, but she did know one thing—the spicy strips were very popular. In just a short while, they were all gone.

Lin Wei only managed to eat one spicy strip with her parents in the house; by the time she came out intending to have a second one, there were none left.

Staring in bewilderment at a content Lin Yi leaving, sucking on his fingertips, Lin Wei pouted, feeling very aggrieved, "Big sister, I wanted to eat more."

Lin Yuan burst into laughter and patted her head, "Next time, big sister will make some more for you."

Xiao Linshuang hadn’t returned from Aunt Guizhi’s house yet, and thinking about the booklet Lao Fan had given her before he left stirred Lin Yuan’s curiosity. After confirming the little one was still out, she quickly slipped into the west room and dug out the booklet from under her pillow.

Holding the thin booklet in her hand, Lin Yuan sneered quietly, "This young girl always hides things under her pillow; she never thinks to change the spot."

While muttering to herself, she flipped open the unmarked cover.

Inside, there were dense lines of writing and some drawings. Lin Yuan looked carefully and soon felt a chill down her spine—how could everything in here be poisonous?

Indeed, many of the plants she had never seen before, such as hook vines and veratrum, but some she had heard of, like monkshood and datura.

To make sure she hadn’t misunderstood, Lin Yuan carefully read the descriptions, which only intensified her alarm.

The booklet not only detailed the symptoms of poisoning but also described how these herbs, when combined with others, could enhance their toxic effects to the extreme. Of course, antidotes were also covered.

Closing the booklet, Lin Yuan’s heart still hadn’t settled. Had Lao Fan given this to Xiao Linshuang because he intended for her to study poison techniques?

When Xiao Linshuang was taken by Lin Dashuan the last time, Lao Fan had indeed mentioned, in passing, something about her learning poison techniques, but Lin Yuan thought he was just talking off the cuff and didn’t take it to heart. She hadn’t expected he was serious!

No, having her younger sister study medicine to heal and save others was one thing, but teaching her to master poisons was going too far.

"Big sister, big sister, the spicy strips are really tasty—Xiao Shitou’s mouth is swollen from the spice, and he’s still fighting with me for them!"

Outside the door came Xiao Linshuang’s laughter. Lin Yuan glanced at the booklet in her hand and then settled herself steadily on the kang bed without returning the booklet to its place under the pillow.

"Big sister? Big sister?"

Xiao Linshuang entered the house but didn’t find Lin Yuan. Only her parents and Lin Wei, who was embroidering with her head down, were in the eastern room. The young girl naturally made her way into the western room.