Volume One, Chapter 5: Shocking! Could the Crown Princess Have Been Poisoned?

"What is it? Please, go on!" Zhu Biao was instantly stirred by Jiang Lin's words.

Jiang Lin spoke slowly. "Your Highness, I suspect someone intends harm to the Crown Princess."

"What?"

At Jiang Lin's words, Zhu Biao's expression at once turned grave.

He glanced at Zhu Xiongying. "Xiongying, go play over there for a while. Father needs to discuss something important."

Just then, a futuristic-looking panel appeared before Jiang Lin.

He opened the system space, where most of the parcels he had received over the past three years were stored. They came in every variety imaginable, from every category, so many that they were almost dazzling.

Naturally, there were also toys for children.

Soon Jiang Lin spotted a transforming toy that many boys in later generations were especially fond of, and took it out.

After taking it out, he demonstrated how it transformed, then handed it to Zhu Xiongying.

"It changes into a human form like this, and into a tiger form like this!"

"Little Xiongying, have you learned it?"

"Mm-hm~"

Zhu Xiongying nodded in understanding, took the transforming toy, and ran off.

At this, Zhu Biao looked solemnly at Jiang Lin. "Young Master Jiang, please continue."

"Your Highness, the reason the princess has been unwell is that the instruments detected chronic manganese poisoning."

"This is generally caused by long-term inhalation of manganese dust. In later times, only workers who mine manganese ore or manufacture manganese-containing compounds would suffer from it."

"But the princess should not have had any opportunity to come into contact with such things."

"I suspect that, more likely than not, someone deliberately caused the princess to inhale large amounts of manganese powder."

After hearing Jiang Lin's words, Zhu Biao gave a slight nod.

In truth, this was also the very suspicion that had risen in his own heart.

Although he did not understand what this manganese Jiang Lin spoke of was, he understood the meaning of poisoning.

Someone must be trying to harm Consort Chang, deliberately giving her this slow-acting poison known in later times as manganese.

"Your Highness, I know I have no proof to offer."

Jiang Lin soon took another instrument from the system space and handed it to Zhu Biao.

"Your Highness, this device can detect all kinds of heavy metals."

"I suspect the culprit mixed manganese powder into the air so the princess would inhale it over a long period."

"All you need to do is place this in the princess's room and press this button to activate it. It will detect everything automatically. If the alarm sounds, that proves the air contains manganese."

After hearing Jiang Lin's explanation, Zhu Biao nodded in understanding.

At present, he only half believed Jiang Lin's words.

His expression grew heavy, and he gripped the instrument tightly in his hand.

When he found the person who had plotted against Consort Chang, he would make that person pay a dreadful price.

Just then, Consort Chang came out from the restroom and noticed that the atmosphere had turned a little strange.

"Your Highness, Young Master Jiang, what's... what's happened?"

"Nothing. Young Master Jiang and I were just chatting!" Zhu Biao hurriedly waved his hand.

Before anything was fully settled, he certainly would not let Consort Chang know.

Zhu Biao then changed the subject. "How is it? Do you feel much better now?"

"Yes, I feel much lighter all over!" Consort Chang nodded repeatedly, then leaned close to Zhu Biao's ear with great curiosity.

"Your Highness, do you know? The toilet in Young Master Jiang's home is especially amazing."

"When I stood up to straighten my clothes, the basin actually flushed by itself and washed away the filth I had left behind."

"Then it even sprayed out water. It startled me terribly at the time; I thought it had broken, but instead it washed me completely clean."

"And the toilet in Young Master Jiang's home is filled with a fresh, pleasant fragrance."

After hearing Consort Chang's description, Zhu Biao also felt somewhat incredulous.

Ah!

Was the thing she had just described really a toilet?

No.

He would have to find an excuse to go and see this restroom for himself later.

It was not until Zhu Biao arrived at the restroom and saw the toilet that he was utterly stunned.

His curiosity about Jiang Lin, this man who claimed to be a traveler from the future, grew stronger and stronger.

He began to sense that this person would bring many surprises to the Great Ming Dynasty.

...