Today we often use the term "melon-eating crowd" to describe the people watching the excitement.

But in fact, in ancient times, there was never a shortage of "melon-eating nobles".

The 47 people buried together in the Eastern Zhou Dynasty Tomb in Jing'an, Jiangxi Province died during the melon season.

Madam Xin Zhui of the Western Han Dynasty unearthed from Mawangdui in Changsha died during the melon season.

In the Western Han Dynasty, Liu He, the Marquis of Haihun, who only served as emperor for 27 days, passed away during the melon season.

Archaeological experts have found melon seeds among their remains.

Why do these ancient nobles have a special liking for cantaloupe?

It's not because they love cantaloupe, but because they have no choice.

At that time, if the "melon-eating aristocrats" wanted to eat melon, there was only one kind of melon to choose from, and that was the melon.

The watermelon, which later became the leader in the melon world, is recognized by academic circles as appearing only in the Five Dynasties.

"New History of the Five Dynasties" records a historical record from the 7th year of the Khitan period (AD 947-954): "Then they entered Pingchuan, where there were many plants and trees, and they began to eat watermelons. It was said that the Khitan conquered Huihe and obtained this kind of watermelon. They planted it in sheds covered with cow dung.

Like Chinese winter melon and sweet in taste.”

Compared with watermelon, which spreads more slowly, muskmelon has spread all over the world because of its "easy-going" character.

From Egypt in North Africa, extending eastward to West Asia, Central Asia, and even northern India, muskmelons can be seen.

At the Qianshanyang site in Huzhou, Zhejiang, two melon seed shells dating back at least 3,900 years were unearthed, proving that melons came to East Asia very early.

Cantaloupe is the common name for thin-skinned melon.

Although its plants and fruits are small, its skin is thin and brittle, and it is not resistant to storage. Muskmelons also have obvious advantages. They can adapt to warm and humid environments, have strong disease resistance, and can be managed extensively.

Ever since, the history of melon-eating in China has just begun.

"The Book of Songs·Binfeng·July" says: "In the seventh month, I eat melons, in the eighth month, I break the pot, in the ninth month, I gather tea and firewood, and I feed my farmers."

This shows that at least in the Zhou Dynasty when the Book of Songs was born, Chinese people often ate melons in July.

The melon seeds found in the bellies of the 47 people buried together in the Eastern Zhou Tomb in Jing'an can also provide evidence.

However, cantaloupe is not necessarily good.

Is cantaloupe poisonous, or did ancient people like to poison melons?

In academic circles, there has always been controversy.

As for the reason for the controversy, of course it is because too many ancient people have been unearthed who died just after eating cantaloupe.

Especially when the Eastern Zhou Dynasty Tomb and Mawangdui Tomb in Jing'an were unearthed one after another.

Because in the Dongzhou Tomb in Jing'an, the individuals that could be detected among the 11 human remains in single coffins were all female, all young girls, aged between 15-25 years old.

And melon seeds were found in their bellies.

There was a widespread rumor that these girls ate poisonous melons and died at the same time.

When Mrs. Xin Zhui was unearthed in Mawangdui, she also had melon seeds in her belly, which only strengthened this speculation.

Although, in the end, academic circles have proved this speculation. These people did not die from eating poisonous melons.

For those women who were buried as victims, the cantaloupe had little to do with the cause of their deaths.

The death of Mrs. Xin Zhui had something to do with the cantaloupe, but it was not caused by poisoning.

Based on the study of Mrs. Xin Zhui's body, it can be determined that the cause of her death was an acute illness.

But it has something to do with cantaloupe.

Melon itself is sweet in taste and cold in nature. It has the effects of clearing away heat and relieving summer heat, relieving irritability and thirst, and being a diuretic.

However, eating too much may lead to bloating or diarrhea, especially for people who are weak or have a weak spleen and stomach.

Mrs. Xin Zhui was frail and sickly and suffered from many chronic diseases.

The time of Mrs. Xin Zhui's death should have been in the summer. It was most likely that she had biliary colic caused by eating raw and cold melon, which induced coronary artery spasm, leading to severe heart rhythm disorder and sudden death.

Xin Zhui's death was most likely caused by an acute illness caused by eating a large amount of melon, which then led to death.

It can be said to be closely related to cantaloupe.

So does Haihunhou's death have anything to do with Xianggua?

Obviously, the political environment of Haihun Hou Liu He was much more complicated than that of Xin Zhui, so the possibility of someone tampering with his food cannot be ruled out.

Chen Han immediately thought whether these melons had been poisoned.

However, Kong Jianwen later raised objections.

"If poison is put into the cantaloupe, after Liu He dies on the spot, the cantaloupe seeds will only stay in the stomach at most, and will not spread throughout the digestive tract and below."

Kong Jianwen and Chen Han discussed and said: "If the interval between eating cantaloupe and cantaloupe is too long, the cantaloupe seeds will also be excreted by Liu He, and it is unlikely that there will be any more in the body."

"So, Liu He most likely died seven or eight hours after eating cantaloupe."

"Seven or eight hours. If it is really poisoned, it will not take effect so slowly."

In the Western Han Dynasty, there were not many things that could be used for poisoning.

Most of them are naturally extracted toxins, such as snake venom, poisonous mushrooms and the like.

And if you want to poison someone, it will definitely take effect very quickly.

Usually, a person dies within ten minutes to half an hour, or at most an hour.

Just look at the situation of some modern people who have been bitten by highly venomous snakes or eaten highly poisonous mushrooms.

He would die before he could even be sent to the hospital for gastric lavage.

The artificial poisons produced in the Western Han Dynasty were things like arsenic.

But the same is true for this type of poison. If the dose is not enough, the person will not die, but if the dose is enough, the person will die quickly.

It took seven or eight hours for someone to die like this, so it usually wasn't caused by poisoning.

At least during the Western Han Dynasty, it was unlikely.

"Then Liu He, like Mrs. Xin Zhui of Mawangdui, died suddenly due to some acute disease caused by cantaloupe?" Chen Han asked again.

If poisoning is ruled out, then we have to consider whether it may cause acute illness.

Because it is certain that Marquis Haihun died seven or eight hours after eating the cantaloupe, which is the same as the situation of Mrs. Xin Zhui.

But Mrs. Xin Zhui is old and frail after all. Will the young Liu He be so weak?

Kong Jianwen is not sure either.

He pondered for a long time and said: "From the literature records, when Liu He was twenty-six or seven years old, his face was very dark, his eyes were small, he was tall, and he had trouble walking. Liu He's health at this time was indeed not in good shape."

"The dark complexion most likely indicates Liu He has a liver problem. In addition, one of his legs is unsteady when walking, indicating that he also has cardiovascular and cerebrovascular blockage problems."

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"In addition, the previous experts in physical anthropology also said that Liu He may have some gastrointestinal or dysentery problems."

"Although he is well-fed and well-fed, he is malnourished."

"Liu He's stomach is indeed not in good condition."

"Theoretically, Liu He's cause of death does have a lot to do with his own physical condition."

"Cantaloupe matures in spring and summer, and the combination of humidity and heat breeds harmful bacteria. It is very likely that Liu He developed acute gastroenteritis after eating cantaloupe, which in turn led to an outbreak of cerebrovascular disease. He died six to seven hours later.

"

"Of course, this is just a guess."

"First send these melon seeds for testing to see if there are any residual toxins, and we can discuss it later."

"Liu He's identity is so complicated that we may not 100% rule out the possibility that he was poisoned."
Chapter completed!