Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Palace

Chapter 149: The True Form of the Smell

Its the first time that Ive become aware that such a stinky smell exists.

The crown prince seriously stated while drinking tea.

In her previous life, this ammonia smell was described as medicinal scent, but in this world, such a description was used for the smell of herbs, so it was an eccentric smell that was unfamiliar to most people.

This kind of smell that lingers forever inside the nose isnt that common, after all.

The crown prince posed a query to Yui Mei when he saw that everyone was comfortable after having tea.

So, Yui Mei, what is that thing?

Yui Mei was eating one of the pastries that had been served with the tea, so she hurriedly gulped it down before she replied.

I think thats juice extracted from poppy. I discovered it buried in the ground at the Jiaofang while I was cleaning, but theres no doubt about that distinctive smell.

Jiaofang?

It was Libin who reacted to what Yui Mei said.

Yui Mei, did you perhaps go to see Xu?

Libin said, and the crown princes eyes widened when he heard that.

I already heard about Xu Zi from Libin. So, do you have any progress with her?

Yui Mei wasnt surprised that what she and Libin discussed reached the crown prince. She only thought that it was natural.

Theres no luck with Xu, but this is a different matter altogether.

Yui Mei made an intro first before discussing the particulars about her discovery.

Actually, Aunty Yang told me that nobody wanted to go to the Jiaofang to clean that place, so she requested me to find the reason. But I suddenly ran into that reason.

So youre saying that the reason is that stench? But you said its poppy juice.

The crown prince asked while glancing outside the window.

Yes. That poppy juice, the source of that stench, is extracted from the flowers of poppy and processed. Its used as an oral painkiller medicine. I heard from Physician Chen that poppy juice is an imported product from a foreign country.

Poppy flowers?

Xiuling tilted her head in confusion when she heard Yui Meis explanation.

Poppy, those flowers that bloom in the backyard?

As expected of Xiuling, elite maids even know the name of the flowers.

Oral medicine? But that looked like tobacco ash, though?

The crown prince looked perplexed, so Yui Mei continued.

Indeed, in medicinal arts, you dont inhale poppy juice like a tobacco. If one inhaled the smoke like you do with tobacco, then its for a separate purpose or theres another intention.

The crown prince and the rest glanced at each other.

I cant imagine any other use other than as a medicine.

There are medicines that can be used as an ingredient to make the food delicious. Is it something like that?

No, Mother, its tobacco so it is not for food.

Unfortunately, its not for something as peaceful as that.

The crown prince and the others tried to come up with the answer, so Yui Mei answered them.

If you inhale the poppy juices smoke like you do with tobacco, youre going to experience extreme euphoria.

Euphoria?

Its a bit hard to give an example, but let me try. Its like the person will feel that he became omnipotent, and he will experience a pleasant feeling for an extended period of time. In short, its like being in a state of having thoughts such as I feel so great, this is super awesome, Im the best in the world!.

I see. And then?

The crown prince looked as if hes teetering between comprehension and bafflement, but he urged her to continue anyway.

The reason why people suck on it like tobacco instead of taking it as pills is that smoking brings a stronger effect on the brain er, the organ inside your head that controls your thoughts compared to ingesting it as pills. As you see, the stronger the usage, the crazier the effect, resulting in euphoria.

Yui Mei pointed to her head as she explained. Libin had a complicated expression when he heard this, so he posed another query.

So youre saying that its a similar feeling to what the drunkards say when they cant stop drinking after having too much booze. Like, I feel pleasant when Im drinking. But then, whats the difference with this one?

Ahh, yeah, just like how Lord Ming was before.

Yui Mei immediately understood who Libin was tacitly referring to.