jdhmnovel Chapter 398 (128 words added)
Chapter 398 (128 words added)
The emperor, observing the chaotic situation, was deeply troubled. He knew the importance of maintaining balance in the court; mishandling the situation now would inevitably lead to greater turmoil. Therefore, the emperor decided to personally intervene in the case, thoroughly investigate the truth, and quell the storm with a fair judgment. A trial concerning the fate of the court was about to begin. The evidence was irrefutable. The situation in the court instantly reversed; the censors who had initially attacked the Left Chancellor turned their attention to the Right Chancellor.
The emperor was furious and imprisoned both Jiang Nan and the Right Chancellor. This embezzlement case, seemingly a court struggle, actually concealed a deeper conspiracy. Who was manipulating this conspiracy, and what kind of upheaval it would bring to the court, remained unknown. Murong Xun investigated, desperate as a cornered dog; even the academy had his influence. Xue Ruanruan felt a chill; no one in the court spoke up for the people. Back in Medicine King Valley, she had honed her lightness skill to perfection. Xue Ruanruan gathered her energy, used her lightness skill, and in a few leaps, vaulted over the wall, landing steadily on the ground. "Miss!" Jiang Wu's voice came, tinged with anxiety. "I'm fine." Xue Ruanruan smiled at her. "Awu, go quickly and see how Second Sister-in-law is." Jiang Wu responded and hurried towards the carriage. Xue Ruanruan glanced back at Murong Xun; he stood not far away, holding Xue Li, his expression cold and stern. "Thank you for today, Your Highness," Xue Ruanruan said again. Murong Xun nodded slightly. "No need to be so polite." He glanced down at the little one in his arms, Xue Li blinking at him, his eyes full of curiosity. Murong Xun's heart stirred, and he couldn't help but reach out and stroke his hair. "Li'er, come home with your sister," Xue Ruanruan said softly. Xue Li nodded, broke free from Murong Xun's embrace, ran to Xue Ruanruan's side, and took her hand. "Goodbye, Your Highness." Xue Ruanruan led Xue Li towards the carriage. Murong Xun watched their figures gradually disappear into the night. The news that the Regent had saved the General's young master and had an affair with Miss Xue had spread, and it seemed someone had deliberately orchestrated it. Seeing this, Xue Ruanruan couldn't say anything more, and could only thank him before getting into the carriage. They traveled in silence, and soon arrived at the gate of the General's Mansion. Murong Xun handed Xue Li over to Xue Ruanruan and then drove away. Xue Ruanruan watched his departing figure, a sense of emotion welling up inside her. The three quickly returned to the General's Mansion. Murong Xun handed Xue Li over to the waiting steward, then turned to Xue Ruanruan. "Thank you for today's matter." His tone remained cold, but a subtle tenderness flickered in his eyes. With Murong Xun's help, Xue Ruanruan found those who had bullied Xue Li. She faced them fearlessly, securing a proper apology and compensation for her brother. From then on, those people never dared to bully Xue Li again. This incident brought Xue Ruanruan and Murong Xun even closer. Murong Xun also realized that although he was of noble status, he should also care about those around him. He began to pay more attention to Xue Ruanruan and Xue Li, becoming their good friend. They worked day and night, tirelessly traveling between affected areas to gain a deep understanding of the epidemic's development, meticulously studying each case, and leaving no stone unturned in their search for clues and possible solutions. They faced immense pressure and risk, racing against time and battling the disease. Countless days and nights passed; though physically exhausted, their hearts were filled with hope and unwavering faith. It was this dedication and courage that enabled them to overcome numerous difficulties, find the key to curbing the spread of the disease, and successfully implement a series of effective prevention and control measures.
The old man, moved by her sincere desire to save lives, gifted her a medical book he had treasured for many years, saying, "This book may be of some help to you." Xue Ruanruan was overjoyed and quickly accepted it, thanking him respectfully. After returning to the general's mansion, she studied the medical book day and night, combining it with her previous experience in fighting the epidemic to continuously improve the prevention and control methods.
Meanwhile, the power struggles within the palace and the court continued unabated. The Empress and the Imperial Concubine, upon learning of Xue Ruanruan's contributions to the fight against the epidemic, both sought to win her over. The Empress sent numerous gifts, subtly hinting that Xue Ruanruan should join her side; the Imperial Concubine, meanwhile, used the palace's medical resources as bait, hoping to recruit Xue Ruanruan for her own purposes. Xue Ruanruan, well aware of the stakes, was caught in a dilemma. At the same time, the Emperor, having heard of Xue Ruanruan's deeds, greatly admired her and intended to have her enter the palace to explain epidemic prevention methods to the palace women. Xue Ruanruan, unsure whether this was a blessing or a curse, could only proceed cautiously. Amidst the complex palace intrigues and court conflicts, she strived to protect herself and her family, continuing her fight against the epidemic. The future was fraught with unknowns and challenges. She then produced an ancient medical book, which surprisingly contained a method for treating a type of Gu poison. Following the instructions in the book, Xue Ruanruan prepared the medicine and, after several days of effort, finally resolved the Gu poison crisis. The villagers, deeply grateful, offered her a large reward, but she refused. After leaving the mountain village, Xue Ruanruan continued her journey. She knew that many illnesses in the world awaited her conquest, and no matter how difficult the road ahead, she would uphold her original aspiration and use her medical skills to save more lives. Her figure gradually faded into the distance, leaving behind only a legend of saving lives. The Regent narrowed his eyes slightly, pondering to himself: What is so special about this woman? Why does she arouse such strong interest in me? He slowly approached her, each step carrying an invisible pressure. As the distance closed, he could clearly feel her breathing become rapid, and a ripple appeared in her originally calm eyes. Xue Ruanruan continued her travels and arrived at a small town. A wealthy merchant in the town had fallen seriously ill and sought medical help everywhere without success. Hearing of Xue Ruanruan's reputation, the merchant begged her to treat him. After examining her, Xue Ruanruan discovered that the illness was complex and would require a long time to cure. During the treatment, she discovered that medicinal herbs were scarce and expensive in the area, as a local tyrant had monopolized the medicinal herb business. Determined to resolve this issue, Xue Ruanruan leveraged her reputation to gather righteous individuals and expose the tyrant's evil deeds. With government intervention, the medicinal herbs were able to be sold normally. After recovering from his illness, the wealthy merchant gifted Xue Ruanruan a large sum of money, which she used to purchase medicinal herb seeds and teach the local people how to cultivate them. The people were deeply grateful and revered her as a divine healer. News reached the ears of the Regent and the General, who admired Xue Ruanruan even more. The Regent sent a letter expressing his unwavering support for her charitable deeds; the General stated that his mansion was ready to provide her with military protection at any time. Xue Ruanruan was deeply moved upon receiving their messages. However, great success breeds envy, and her good deeds attracted the jealousy of some with malicious intent. One day, Xue Ruanruan was suddenly falsely accused of causing the death of a patient, and the local officials imprisoned her without investigating the matter. The wealthy merchant's family and the local people protested her injustice, but to no avail. The news reached the Regent and the General. The Regent immediately ordered a thorough investigation, while the General personally led a team to the town. After investigation, it was finally discovered that the tyrant's remaining followers had framed Xue Ruanruan in retaliation. With the truth revealed, Xue Ruanruan was released without charge. This ordeal made Xue Ruanruan understand even more clearly that practicing medicine in this world requires not only superb medical skills but also the ability to deal with various conspiracies and schemes. She decided to continue improving herself and strengthen ties with the Regent and the General's Mansion to jointly fight against those evil forces and bring health and hope to more people. After reading the letter, Xue Ruanruan smiled knowingly, then shouldered her medicine chest and embarked on her journey again, heading towards the distance to find more patients awaiting help. Meanwhile, within the General's Mansion, silence and solemnity prevailed. The servants and maids who had once known Xue Ruanruan remained silent, knowing full well the importance of this secret and that it must not be easily revealed. Perhaps only that dignified and wise general could discern the truth... But regardless, Xue Ruanruan's departure became a legendary tale, forever etched in people's memories. Suddenly, a torrent of heat seemed to surge forth from the depths of his heart, rushing upwards. This power was so immense that he couldn't suppress its impact. It was captivating. His voice seemed to come from ancient times, filled with the sedimentation of time and the radiance of wisdom. Every word was as smooth as a pearl, every note as melodious as celestial music, irresistible. When he spoke, the whole world seemed to stand still, only his beautiful voice echoing in the air. His tone was firm and powerful, conveying his inner strength and confidence. His voice contained an indescribable charm, drawing people in irresistibly, making them want to approach him and listen to every word he spoke. Unexpectedly, just after leaving the capital, she encountered Regent Murong Xun again, and her carriage even collided with his. Xue Ruanruan looked at the carriage in front of her and thought to herself that something was wrong.
Arriving at a side hall, she happened to encounter the arrogant and domineering Consort Li. Consort Li sized her up, her eyes full of disdain: "With your looks, you dare to compete for favor in this harem?" Xue Ruanruan curtsied gracefully and said softly, "Your Majesty flatters me. I only wish to live peacefully in this palace." Consort Li snorted coldly and turned away.
After Consort Li had gone far away, Xue Ruanruan straightened up, a resolute glint in her eyes. She understood that her journey in the harem had only just begun, and she would have to be extremely careful in the days to come to survive in this treacherous palace. Then, with light steps, she headed towards her quarters, her demeanor both dignified and solemn. She took a deep breath, tightly gripping the handkerchief in her hand, and slowly followed the other young ladies-in-waiting. The palace was filled with ornate carvings and painted beams. Just as she arrived at her quarters, before she could even rest properly, a woman claiming to be a maidservant from the Empress's side came to deliver an imperial decree, summoning her to Kunning Palace immediately. Xue Ruanruan's heart tightened; she didn't know whether this sudden summons was a blessing or a curse. She hurriedly tidied her clothes and followed the maidservant.