Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Palace

Chapter 150: Tricky Flower

Yui Mei then explained about this matter.

Its similar, but maybe its better to say that the process that leads to addiction is almost the same. But then, the alcoholic beverage that ordinary people buy cant cause those addiction symptoms. It has to be a liquor with a very high concentration of alcohol, and it must be drunk in huge quantities for it to produce the same addiction. In contrast, you only need a teensy bit of poppy juice and thats enough.

Indeed, the techniques used to produce the alcoholic beverages that were sold in this country werent really sophisticated. Thats why most of the liquor available here was cheap liquor with low alcohol content.

Well, even if the alcohol content was low, it was enough for people to get drunk with these cheap liquor. However, the gap was huge compared to the ones being sold in her previous life.

Yui Mei already knew what the liquors of her previous life were like, so when she first tasted the wine here, she thought it was almost water.

Strong alcohol that could make people drunk would naturally fetch a high sum.

A person who could drink so much of that must be very wealthy, indeed.

On the other hand, just a tiny amount of poppy juice was needed for someone to become addicted to it.

When poppy juice is ingested as oral medicine, the intestines absorb it, and after disintegration, most of them are expelled from the body so it doesnt really harm it if properly used. But, if people smoked it, the ingredients would directly damage the brain. Thats the reason why theres a mountain of difference between the effects.

The crown prince listened to Yui Meis explanation, before posing another query.

Can you elaborate and give me a more concrete example of that so-called damage to the place called brain?

Simply put, the inhaled components of poppy juice would damage the brain, and it would alter the mechanism responsible for thinking, making the person crave that poppy juice.

The three people who heard Yui Meis answer knitted their brows.

Thats not a story that can be taken lightly.

Damage? Even though the person didnt hit their head hard enough?

The crown prince was still frowning, while Xiuling seemed to find the effect of poppy juice baffling.

Yui Mei continued on with her explanation.

The brain is a delicate thing, so it can be broken easily with abnormal stimuli.

The euphoria would also vanish once the person stopped smoking, of course.

If the person kept on inhaling it just to experience that euphoria once again, he would reach the point where he wouldnt be able to stop himself from using that poppy juice.

If this happens, the person inhale it again and again as if being controlled by that poppy juice. If that continues on, the person will go into a debilitating condition of mental derangement, finally ending in death.

Please bear in mind that once youve tasted it, you will never be able to get rid of it. Thats what inhaling poppy juice is all about.

Thats scary

Xiuling was pale as she muttered, apparently imagining the terminal symptoms the person would have.

Is there a cure?

Libin asked, and Yui Mei replied.

Unfortunately, theres no way to restore a brain that had been damaged and changed. If the person who reached that state wanted to live a decent life, he must constantly fight against his cravings for poppy juice for his entire life. He had to act and live so that he would appear decent.

Just imagine how difficult it is to live ones life pretending to be something that the person wasnt..

Thats why those addicted people would get frustrated in the middle of rehab, immediately returning to their habits and relying on euphoria to regain their confidence.

In short, that poppy juice tobacco isnt a decent thing, huh.

Indeed.

Yui Mei energetically nodded when Libin expressed his observation.

She explained the details step by step until they finally understood, and that was the most important matter.

The more I listen to you, the more I see how dreadful this is.

The crown prince appeared to have understand their conversation,  and he heaved a deep sigh.

I am shocked that a thing like a poppy flower have the power to produce such a lethal thing. Do they bloom in this palaces garden?

The crown prince seemed uneasy, so Yui Mei continued on.

Actually, not all poppy flowers can produce poppy juice. There are also perfectly harmless poppies among them.

Oh my, is that so?

Xiuling seemed relieved when she heard that. She must be fond of poppies, perhaps.

There are varieties of poppies with huge, beautiful flowers, after all.

These types of plants looked quite flamboyant, and they were perfect for adorning the flower beds.

In that case, is there a technique to check if the poppy is harmful or not? For example, color of flowers, shape, size and so on.

Libin then asked, but Yui Mei could only look at him with discomfort.

No, I heard that theres no such easy way to tell them apart. Besides, poppy seeds are harmless, and they are usually sold as food, after all.

In short, handling poppies was quite tricky.

Besides, poppies blooming in the flower beds are harmless, and even if you process the flowers, they wont be enough to make poppy juice. You need massive amounts of flowers, so you have to grow them in wide fields.

Then, there shouldnt be any problems even if we admire the flowers in the garden, right?

Xiuling looked relieved when she heard what Yui Mei said.