Just as Wenren Sheng's family found themselves at a loss, Lu Zhi provided the answer.
Before giving it, she went into a secret chamber. No one knew what she did inside.
All they saw was her carrying Furball out, transformed into a porcupine...
Covered in needle pricks and barely clinging to life.
"Tell them that beyond the sea, beyond the mountains, there is a Fountain of Youth and a Life-and-Death Reincarnation Drug."
She then said to Furball, "Make them all believe it."
As she spoke, she stuck him with another needle.
"Why did you switch needles?" Furball did not respond to her words, instead asking an unrelated question.
"Stabbing people with a knife is a little tiring. People are lazy, and I'm no exception," Lu Zhi said matter-of-factly.
Furball fell silent.
Soon afterward, the entire court and public were abuzz.
"Have you heard? There's Fountain of Youth Water in the west!"
"Fake, right? The pre-Qin dynasty once organized voyages overseas in search of an immortality drug. It drained the people's strength and achieved nothing. They never found the drug, and it became one of the many causes of Qin's downfall."
"Not necessarily. This came from the palace. They say the Empress Dowager herself has put up three hundred thousand taels in cosmetics money to build ships for an overseas expedition, while also sending out land-based merchant caravans. They're pursuing both routes at once and are currently raising capital. They say anyone who invests has a chance to obtain Fountain of Youth Water."
"Even someone as exalted as the Empress Dowager believes it. What reason do you have not to?"
The scholarly circles buzzed with discussion.
Those with money and nowhere to spend it began to feel tempted.
Still, most thought it was far too vague and illusory.
Only a very