jdhmnovel Chapter 444
Chapter 444
Chapter 444
Inside the opulent palace, the atmosphere was oppressively tense. The flickering candlelight illuminated Dongfang Wan'er's focused yet slightly weary face. Holding a silver needle, her forehead beaded with sweat, every nerve taut, she stared intently at the Consort's bloodless complexion. Finally, the last needle fell steadily, and Dongfang Wan'er let out a long sigh, as if she had exhausted all her strength. Her hand trembled slightly, a testament to the fatigue of prolonged tension and the anxiety of the outcome.
However, the Imperial Concubine remained lying quietly on the couch with her eyes tightly closed, showing no signs of improvement. The luxurious brocade quilt covering her body could not conceal her weak breath. Seeing this, the ministers who harbored resentment towards Dongfang Wan'er, like sharks smelling blood, immediately began to jeer. They whispered amongst themselves, their voices growing louder, and harsh words echoed through the hall: "This Dongfang Wan'er is clearly a charlatan; she can't cure the Imperial Concubine at all! She should be punished!" "That's right, daring to show off her skills before the Empress Dowager is utterly unforgivable!" Their faces wore expressions of schadenfreude, as if they had seized upon Dongfang Wan'er's weakness and could completely crush her underfoot.
The Emperor sat upright on his dragon throne, his brow furrowing slightly as he listened to the ministers' commotion, a look of hesitation on his face. His gaze darted back and forth between the Imperial Concubine and Dongfang Wan'er, his heart filled with conflict. On one hand, the Imperial Concubine was his beloved consort, and her illness concerned the peace of the harem; on the other hand, Dongfang Wan'er was renowned for her exceptional medical skills, and he couldn't bear to easily condemn her. Caught in this dilemma, the Emperor remained silent, and the atmosphere in the hall grew increasingly tense.
At this critical moment, a miracle occurred. The Imperial Concubine's fingers twitched slightly, as if signaling the awakening of someone who had been asleep for a long time. Then, she slowly opened her eyes, and a glimmer of light gradually returned to her previously dull gaze. "The Imperial Concubine has awakened!" A cry of surprise broke the commotion in the hall. Everyone was astonished, and the once noisy hall fell silent instantly. No one could believe their eyes; it was as if time had frozen.
Dongfang Wan'er's heart finally settled, her tense body relaxed, and a relieved smile appeared on her face. This smile contained joy at the Consort's recovery, and also a sense of relief after overcoming numerous obstacles. Seeing this, the Emperor was overjoyed; the gloom on his face vanished, and his eyes filled with surprise and excitement. He immediately stood up and strode to the Consort's bedside, inquiring about her condition with concern. Then, he turned to Dongfang Wan'er, his eyes full of admiration: "Dongfang Wan'er, your medical skills are truly extraordinary; I will certainly reward you handsomely!"
The ministers who had slandered him turned deathly pale upon hearing the emperor's words. Their smug expressions vanished, replaced by embarrassment and regret. They slunk down, heads bowed, no longer daring to meet the emperor's gaze, inwardly berating themselves for their rashness and foolishness. At this moment, Ye Jiuchen stood to the side, quietly watching Dongfang Wan'er, his eyes filled with satisfaction and pride. He knew all too well the hardships Dongfang Wan'er had endured; she had used her wisdom and courage to defuse crises time and again, and now she had won everyone's approval with her superb medical skills.
Afterwards, Dongfang Wan'er's reputation spread even more throughout the palace. Her story was passed down by word of mouth, becoming a celebrated tale in the court. However, Dongfang Wan'er did not become arrogant or complacent. She knew that the power struggles and intrigues within the palace were endless, and that her medical skills were the foundation for her survival in this complex environment. Therefore, she continued to dedicate herself to improving the level of medical care in the palace, collecting precious medical books from all over the place, and researching various difficult and complicated diseases. She often sat for a whole night under the dim candlelight, just to find better treatment methods.
Those ministers who had once envied her, after witnessing Dongfang Wan'er's strength, dared not act rashly again. They knew that Dongfang Wan'er was no longer the weak woman who could be bullied at will. She used her medical skills and wisdom to gain a foothold in this court filled with intrigue and strife, writing her own legend. Every challenge became a stepping stone to her growth; every difficulty made her stronger. In this deep palace, Dongfang Wan'er was like a blooming peony, radiating her own unique light, attracting the attention of everyone.
Within the deep walls of the palace, Dongfang Wan'er, dressed in a simple medical robe, shuttled daily between the pharmacy and various palaces. As time quietly passed, she became increasingly adept at her position as the imperial physician. Driven by a passion for medicine and a responsibility for the health of everyone in the palace, Dongfang Wan'er initiated a series of sweeping medical reforms.
She first streamlined the palace's medicinal herb management process, establishing strict procurement standards to ensure that every herb used in medicine was of superior quality. Regarding the division of labor within the medical clinic, she meticulously defined responsibilities based on the expertise of each imperial physician and female physician, making the entire medical team operate more efficiently and systematically. Simultaneously, Dongfang Wan'er actively organized medical exchange activities, inviting renowned doctors from the common people to lecture in the palace, injecting new vitality into the palace's medical system. Through her tireless efforts, the palace medical system became more comprehensive than ever before, and the health of everyone in the palace was greatly improved. Whether royalty or ordinary palace maids and eunuchs, everyone could receive timely and effective treatment when ill.
However, this peaceful and tranquil period did not last long. One day, the atmosphere in the palace suddenly became tense and oppressive. An urgent report arrived from the border: the enemy, having long planned this, had launched a massive invasion with the full force of the nation. In an instant, the border was engulfed in flames and smoke, the battle reached a stalemate, and the situation became extremely critical. Countless brave soldiers rushed to the battlefield, fighting fiercely against the enemy amidst a hail of bullets, but as a result, many soldiers were severely wounded. Medical conditions at the front were already rudimentary, and now, with the number of wounded soaring, medical resources were extremely scarce. The wounded soldiers lay in makeshift tents, groaning and crying in pain, but because they could not receive timely and effective treatment, their wounds became infected and worsened, their lives hanging by a thread, and their conditions were extremely critical.
This news was like a bombshell, causing a huge uproar in the imperial court. The emperor sat on his dragon throne, his brow furrowed, his face filled with worry, his heart heavy with concern for the war at the front and the safety of his soldiers. Below the court, ministers stood in two rows, offering their advice and suggestions. Some advocated sending reinforcements, others proposed peace talks with the enemy, but opinions were divided, and no consensus could be reached, nor could a satisfactory solution to the current crisis be found.