The palace appeared to have everything, but in fact, according to modern life standards, everything was severely lacking.
Take these flowers as an example: their sights were limited to the flowers in the palace and hence, it would gradually become a common sight. If there was a variety that they hadn’t seen before, it would be regarded as an exotic flower before being introduced to the palace. These flowers were to be admired by Emperor Lin and his other concubines.
The Imperial Household Department had introduced four kinds of rare flowers this time, all of which they had never seen before. Although Lin Feilu didn’t have much knowledge about flowers, she still portrayed an expression of disbelief when she saw the large, white flowers with huge leaves and thick rhizomes in the floral shed.
Wait, aren’t these giant hogweeds?
When her grandmother was still alive, she would go back to the countryside to accompany her every summer vacation. These kinds of large and white flowers could be seen everywhere in that small village. Her grandmother said that they were called ‘large hogweeds’ and that she shouldn’t touch them, otherwise her skin would come off.
She didn’t believe in heresy, so she picked one and the liquid from the flower flowed all over her hand. In the afternoon of the next day, the palm of her hand had started to hurt excruciatingly, gradually becoming red and swollen with blisters. Although it was cured later, she still had scars on the back of her hand because she scratched her skin at the time, and it was only cleared when she grew up using beautifying medicines.
She researched about it on the Internet and found that the botanical name was ‘Giant Hogweed’. It was a highly poisonous plant with juices that contained furanocoumarin. Once it came in contact with the skin, it would cause sun-induced Dermatitis, which would combine the toxicity with the sunlight in two days to produce a burning sensation and blisters.
Of course, it depends on each person’s physique. Some people would have painless red bumps after contact. But after that, the bumps may turn into purple or brown scars that would last for several years and become sensitive to sunlight.
If that liquid entered the eyes, it might have even caused blindness.
As a summary, it was highly toxic! Extremely so!
But the reproduction ability of that particular plant was especially strong. It also has a strong vitality as it could be seen blooming everywhere on the country’s roadside.
It will not perish even by burning, and when the spring breeze comes, it will just reproduce once more.
The Imperial Household Department is really talented indeed. They actually introduced this highly poisonous plant into the palace as an exotic flower and planned to plant it? Do they want the palace to be conquered by this aggressive plant, perhaps?
But it’s not surprising to think about it. These giant hogweeds were a sight to behold and were quite fascinating with white flowers growing in clusters. It was historically introduced as an ornamental plant in Europe, Britain and other places.
Seeing that she had been staring at those big white flowers, Lin Jingyuan couldn’t help but ask, “Little Lu, do you like this flower?” Before she could answer, Lin Jingyuan ordered the palace servant next to him, “Send a few of these plants to the Mingyue Palace!”
Lin Feilu was planning to refuse— who would want to keep this poisonous thing! But suddenly there was a flash of inspiration in her mind. Thinking of something, she swallowed her words as she smiled and watched the palace servant place the large, white flowers into the pots, moving them to the Mingyue Palace.
The giant hogweeds were still very beautiful. Once they were moved to the Mingyue Palace, it attracted everyone’s attention as they looked around with their interests piqued.
Lin Feilu instructed Qingyan, “Take care of these flowers in the future, and don’t touch them— their juices are very precious.”