At first, it was a very difficult thing to do for all of them. Perhaps this was because of Deng Linping's critical nature. It was difficult for him to accept something that was not equivalent to his logic. Every time they told him to do something, he would always ask lots of questions, and moreover, all of his questions were ridiculous and made them tensed up.
"A student must comply and obey his teacher."
"But if the teacher does wrong, will we still have to keep following him? Then the students will also do wrong, right?" Deng Linping's critical nature appeared again.
Guo Songmi said in annoyance. "Hasn't it become your consequence since you want to follow the Teacher. Because you adore his intelligence. So the teacher can't be wrong."
"It must be, right? Humans are not perfect. My mother often makes mistakes."
"Hey, following Teacher isn't the same as following your mother!"
That was how the long debates always occurred every time they guided Deng Linping. Deng Linping's way of thinking was like a child, he liked to ask questions that sounded critical, but still, it was annoying, especially in feudal society. According to them, Deng Linping was insolent. That was why some frictions often occurred, it even almost led to quarreling. Like now.
Right when Guo Songmi was about to reply with a harsh exclamation, Zhu Su entered the room. Everyone immediately fell silent and saluted him respectfully.
Zhu Su figured out that Guo Songmi was arguing with Deng Linping. "Are you discussing something?"
"Ah... we are carrying out our duty to guide Linping as his seniors."
Zhu Su had known that there was friction between Deng Linping and the other members of the Team of Wellbeing. He hoped that the friction would soon end because it would influence the work. "I am happy to see the solidarity of all of you. As seniors, you certainly have to guide the juniors. I hope that solidarity among the team members can be built well, so that our project can achieve the expected result."
They soon replied reverently. "As your command, Your Highness!"
"Alright. Today I want to research how to process plants, especially the poisonous ones, in order to make them more harmless and can be consumed safely. Let's research the plants, then give me the report."
The argument between Guo Songmi and Deng Linping stopped because they soon got busy with the new assignment Zhu Su gave.
Zhu Su himself, now took Shanglu leaves. He continued to observe the poisonous plant, his mind was deep in thought. "This plant is very poisonous. However, this plant can grow everywhere so everyone can get it easily, and if it's edible then they'll suffer from starving. Actually, I want to mention that this plant is poisonous and should not be consumed, but maybe there is a better way? If we can detoxify the poison, and the plant can be turned into food, would it be wonderful, right?"
He kept thinking, and thinking. Now his team members were also focused on a plant. The medical center suddenly felt very stuffy for him. He thus decided to look for ideas in an open area.
I'll do it in the botanical garden. There the air is fresh because the garden is located in the open area, many plants grow there. It may be a good area for providing inspiration.
For Zhu Su, inspiration could be found anywhere. But most of the inspirations he got was when he was outside the room. For example, in this botanical garden. Being in the outdoor among the plants makes his brain be able to think clearly. Sitting on a chair close to the flowers, he thought seriously, searching for any idea useful to detoxify Shanglu.
Instead of getting ideas, the flowers in this botanical garden reminded him of Hu Nayin's admonition previously. "If you keep insisting on following Shen Nong's way of life, you will die like Shen Nong!..."
"Ah, sometimes Nayin is overreacting. Shen Nong's era and this era are thousands of years apart! Shen Nong had to do the experiment by tasting the plants by himself, he might even taste 70 poisonous plants a day so he was at risk of dying from poisoning. But now it is different, I have gained lost of knowledge from Shen Nong about what plants are inedible, and some plants such as soybeans can neutralize poison... what?!..."
Zhu Su himself was startled by his muttering. It was beyond his expectation that he could mutter such words. It was just as though the words did not come out of his confused mind. This was the inspiration he had been looking for! He immediately got to his feet, walked briskly to the Medical Center.
He took a large basin and filled it with water. Busy in their works, everyone now looked at him with great interest, thus approached him.
"Your Highness, let us help you," Rui, Han Zhong, and Du Qinfeng immediately helped him to get water.
"Thank you," replied Zhu Su. "I remember that Shennong Bencao Jing states that Shanglu can be neutralized with soybean."
"Ah, but, it's just a theory, nothing can prove it," Li Heng said.
"So now I want to prove it."
Everyone held their breath as Zhu Su put Shanglu into the basin which was full of water. After that, he grabbed some soybeans to start the experiment. However, when he was about to dip the soybeans, he suddenly remembered something.
After all, Shanglu was a poisonous plant. This experiment had to use people to become the test subjects. If that person died because of this experiment, then it would become a terrible sin. No, he should not play with human lives carelessly. He had to be very... very careful...
Zhu Su bit his lip. He took the whole part of the soybeans, including the leaves. He could not straightly believe the theory even though Shen Nong was highly respected by all Chinese people, moreover, this fact had never been tested. He must research it and confirmed it with his own eyes. And also, he did not want to play with human life carelessly. He was sure that his men would be willing to become the test subjects and sacrificed their lives for him, but he did not want it to happen. He was by no means the type of leader who took the lives of his people for granted, or demanded the loyalty and sacrifice of his people by offering their lives for him - he had no heart to do so. And he was firmly determined not to do such brutal things. By minimizing any kind of bad things that might exist.
Now Zhu Su boiled Shanglu with those leafy soybeans. Everyone watched curiously. Zhu Su was conducting an experiment that had only become theory for thousands of years but had no proof. Shao Rong and Deng Linping said enthusiastically. "We will be part of history," whispered Shao Rong.