roccoschili Chapter 408 (138 words added)
Chapter 408 (138 words added)
The Empress wasn't idle either. She suspected Consort Xian's actions were a ploy to win people over, so she sought an opportunity to suppress her. She secretly instructed palace maids to stage a chance encounter between Consort Xian and Consort Hua in the Imperial Garden, hoping to incite conflict between them. However, when Consort Xian and Consort Hua met, Consort Xian gracefully bowed, speaking humbly and showing great respect to Consort Hua. Consort Hua, wanting to cause trouble, couldn't find an excuse and could only leave dejectedly. This covert contest over herbs, thanks to Consort Xian's clever handling, temporarily reached a stalemate, while the undercurrents of power in the harem continued to subtly shift. The Empress, seeing one plan fail, devised another. She ordered someone to slip a slow-acting drug into Consort Xian's tea, hoping to embarrass her in front of the Emperor. A few days later, at a banquet hosted by the Emperor, Consort Xian drank the tea and gradually felt dizzy. Just as she was about to lose her composure, a moth suddenly flew into her teacup. Consort Xian, quick-witted, pretended to be startled by the moth and knocked over the teacup. The Emperor inquired about the cause, and Consort Xian feigned grievance, saying, "Your Majesty, this moth came from somewhere and fell into the tea; the tea must be dirty now." The Emperor didn't think much of it. Meanwhile, Consort Hua, noticing the Empress's subtle actions and thinking of reaping the benefits, fanned the flames, hoping to incite the Emperor to be angry with Consort Xian. Consort Xian calmly requested the Emperor to thoroughly investigate the matter. The Emperor agreed, and after an investigation, the Empress's scheme was exposed. Although the Emperor did not severely punish the Empress, he was still displeased with her. Consort Xian, with her wisdom, once again defused the crisis, and the covert battle in the harem over herbs became even more unpredictable due to this turn of events. Meanwhile, even the powerful army began to have problems. Some soldiers started complaining, and a few even secretly deserted. This ominous premonition, like a shadow, quietly enveloped his heart. He recalled the recent unusual events at court, the open and covert struggles among ministers, and the gradual decline of imperial power—every detail filled him with unease. He knew a great storm was brewing, and he might be just a speck of dust in its eye. The Left Prime Minister's eyes revealed unwavering resolve; he decided to stand firm in this turbulent situation and do his part for the country and its people. He believed that as long as he upheld justice and forged ahead, he could resolve this crisis. However, a lingering sense of foreboding remained, adding a layer of vigilance to his unwavering conviction. In the gloomy palace, the Regent's figure was shrouded in shadow, his eyes filled with treachery and cunning. The Emperor was young and inexperienced, and the Regent held immense power. The Regent secretly colluded with the Empress, hoping to weaken the Emperor's inner circle through palace intrigue. He advised the Empress to unite with Consort Hua against Consort Xian. After hearing this, the Empress thought the plan was feasible, so she approached Consort Hua again and explained the advantages and disadvantages. For her own benefit, Consort Hua decided to temporarily ally with the Empress.
Meanwhile, Consort Xian also sensed the change in the situation, knowing that she was now facing an even greater crisis. Therefore, Consort Xian began to secretly contact some neutral concubines, expressing to them that she had no intention of fighting and only wanted to live a peaceful life in the harem, hoping to gain their support.
Soon after, a grand banquet was held in the palace, where the Empress and Consort Hua planned to deliver a fatal blow to Consort Xian. Just when they thought their scheme was about to succeed, Consort Xian, prepared in advance, presented the Emperor with evidence of the Empress's collusion with the Regent. Upon learning this, the Emperor was furious and severely punished the Empress. Seeing the situation was dire, Consort Hua immediately distanced herself from the Empress. The palace intrigue surrounding herbs took a new turn, and Consort Xian gradually gained a foothold in this storm. However, a greater conspiracy might be yet to come. The Regent, plotting to usurp the throne, was constantly eliminating his rivals and installing his own cronies in court. Loyal ministers were filled with anxiety, yet dared not speak out. As the Emperor's confidant, I knew the Regent's ambitions, but lacked evidence. Every night, I secretly observed from a corner of the palace, searching for any clues about the Regent. However, the Regent had many followers, and my actions had to be extremely cautious; the slightest mistake could lead to my death. In this perilous situation, I resolved to protect the Emperor and engage in a life-or-death struggle with the Regent. The Left Chancellor was filled with unease, a sense of foreboding gripping him. The Regent's unusual behavior today filled him with deep fear. The Regent, usually dignified and reserved, exuded an invisible pressure today. His eyes were cold and sharp, seemingly able to pierce the soul. Every movement was resolute and decisive, and his words conveyed an unquestionable authority. The Left Chancellor observed silently. The Regent's change reminded him of past events, of people and things distorted by power. He began to worry about his own position and fate, whether he would be swallowed up in this vortex of power. As time passed, this premonition grew stronger, and the Left Chancellor felt like he was sitting on pins and needles. He secretly pondered countermeasures, yet felt powerless to contend with the Regent. At this moment, he understood how cruel the game of power was, and that he was merely a pawn in it.
Xue Ruanruan's heart skipped a beat, as if struck by an electric current. Excitement shone in her bright eyes, for she harbored an unspeakable love and fascination for medicine deep within her heart. From childhood, whenever she saw doctors in white coats, stethoscopes in hand, working busily and attentively, Xue Ruanruan would involuntarily stop and observe their every move with rapt attention. The miraculous herbs, the complex pulse diagnosis, and the exquisite acupuncture techniques were like alluring mysteries, deeply drawing her to explore their secrets. Her robes fluttered, like a lotus blooming beyond the mortal world. The fine brocade was of excellent quality, soft and smooth to the touch, embroidered with delicate, subtle patterns, appearing and disappearing like twinkling stars in the night sky. A band of snow-white mink fur trim around the collar not only added warmth to the cold winter day but also highlighted the old lady's noble and elegant demeanor. A silver-woven belt adorned her waist, studded with delicate jade pendants and pearl tassels that swayed gently with her steps, producing a clear and melodious sound. As Xue Ruanruan read on, her excitement grew stronger. This medical book seemed to possess some powerful force, capable of curing many difficult and complicated illnesses. The Dowager Lady of the Duke of Zhenguo, usually in good health, had recently fallen suddenly ill. The doctors in the manor were all worried, prescribing numerous remedies and administering a great deal of medicine, but the Dowager Lady's condition showed no improvement. At this time, the steward heard that a miraculous doctor had arrived in the city, said to be able to cure even the most difficult and complicated illnesses. He hurriedly sent someone to invite the doctor to the manor. The doctor was a young woman. She calmly entered the Dowager Lady's room, and after examining her through observation, listening, questioning, and palpation, she frowned slightly. Everyone assumed the Dowager Lady might have a terminal illness and felt a sense of unease. The divine physician suddenly laughed and said, "Madam's illness is caused by excessive worry, not a serious one." It turned out that the old lady was both surprised and delighted to hear the divine physician's words, as she missed her grandson, the Duke of Zhenguo, who was fighting on the frontier. The steward quickly asked, "Then, divine physician, do you have a way to cure the old lady?" Xue Ruanruan (the divine physician) smiled slightly and said, "Just let the old lady relax, and with a few doses of calming and nourishing medicine that I have prescribed, she will recover soon." With that, she picked up a brush and wrote down the prescription.
Just then, a commotion suddenly broke out outside the mansion. A soldier rushed in and shouted, "Lord Zhenguo, news has come from the front lines that the young master has made great contributions on the battlefield and will soon be able to return to the capital!" The old lady's originally dim eyes instantly lit up, and she struggled to sit up, her face full of excitement.
Watching this scene, Xue Ruanruan felt a surge of relief. She knew that a heart ailment requires a heart remedy, and now that the old lady's worries had been resolved, her condition would naturally improve more quickly. She handed the prescription to the steward, gave him instructions on how to use the medicine, and then prepared to take her leave. The Zhenguo Duke's family was extremely grateful and offered her a generous reward, which Xue Ruanruan politely declined before leaving the Zhenguo Duke's mansion. Back at her clinic, she threw herself back into her busy work, continuing her efforts to save lives. The old lady had fallen ill due to constant worry. The divine physician prescribed a formula to soothe her liver and relieve her depression, and advised the family to tell the old lady about the young master's good deeds to ease her mind. A few days later, the old lady's complexion improved significantly, and a smile returned to her face. The Zhenguo Duke's family was deeply grateful to the divine physician and wanted to reward him handsomely, but the physician only took a small fee and left.
She decided to study the medical book carefully, hoping to gain more inspiration and insights. So, Xue Ruanruan carefully put the book away, preparing to slowly explore its mysteries in her future medical career. However, just as Xue Ruanruan was preparing to delve deeper into the book, an even more bizarre epidemic suddenly broke out in the capital. Patients were covered in black spots, had persistent high fevers, and suffered from severe coughs; many died within a few days. The clinic was crowded with people seeking treatment, and Xue Ruanruan was extremely anxious. She took out the medical book and searched carefully, but found no record of any related symptoms.
Meanwhile, the imperial court began to pay attention to the epidemic, and the Regent ordered the Imperial Medical Academy to find a treatment as soon as possible. However, the physicians of the Imperial Medical Academy were helpless, and some even suspected that someone had deliberately poisoned the disease. Xue Ruanruan decided to personally investigate the severely affected areas, searching for clues. During her investigation, she discovered that the patients all had one thing in common: they had drunk water from an ancient well outside the city. Could the problem lie in this ancient well? Xue Ruanruan decided to investigate further, and a new battle against the epidemic was about to begin.