Just as Meng Zhelan was about to refuse, the Empress Dowager snatched the jade pendant and placed it directly in her hand, saying in a light tone, "Take it, this is a good thing."

She glanced sideways and saw the jade pendant in her hand, crystal clear, as if it contained boundless power.

This is a talisman bestowed by the emperor, symbolizing royal protection and respect.

However, in her heart, this jade pendant was more like a hot potato, making her feel extremely heavy.

The Empress Dowager's voice was as gentle as a spring breeze, yet it carried an undeniable authority: "Emperor, how can a female doctor protect herself when she's out and about? What use is this jade pendant you gave her?"

Emperor Wenyuan frowned slightly, then nodded helplessly: "Mother, rest assured, I will draft an edict tomorrow."

Although Meng Zhelan was a female doctor, she did not want to be confined to the palace, nor did she want to be treated as a mere decorative object.

What she wanted was freedom, the opportunity to showcase her talents in a vast world.

She bowed deeply and said, "Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty."

Then, she turned and followed the Empress Dowager out of the Imperial Study.

The fragrant flowers of the Imperial Garden filled the air, but could not ease the tension and unease in her heart. She knew she had no way out; she could only forge ahead.

The moment Meng Zhelan stepped out of the Imperial Garden, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.

She glanced back, a sense of感慨 (gǎnkǎi, a feeling of mixed emotions, often including regret or nostalgia) welling up inside her.

The Empress Dowager couldn't help but chuckle: "You silly child, are you so nervous when you see the Emperor? Don't worry, although my son is not one to smile easily, he is upright and kind."

Meng Zhelan smoothed her hair sheepishly and smiled, "Your Majesty is the ruler of this world, so naturally you don't show your emotions. How could Zhelan not be afraid?"

The Empress Dowager gently patted Meng Zhelan's hand and said with a smile, "My child, there's no need to be so nervous. Although the Emperor holds a high position, he is also a person with flesh and blood and feelings. Although he doesn't smile much, as long as you observe carefully, you will be able to discover his kindness and integrity. I believe you will be able to get along well with him."

Meng Zhelan glanced gratefully at the Empress Dowager, her heart filled with warmth and emotion. She took a deep breath, then bowed to the Empress Dowager and said, "Thank you for your guidance and trust, Your Majesty. Zhelan will do her utmost to live up to Your Majesty's expectations."

The Empress Dowager nodded, then took Meng Zhelan's hand and said with a smile, "Alright, let's not stand here any longer. Let's go, I'll go back to Tingfeng Courtyard with you. It's been quite a while since I've had Ling'er's cooking."

"Alright, let's go. I wonder if Xi'er is home?" Meng Zhelan asked, full of anticipation as she met them.

The Empress Dowager said with some helplessness, "It's really unfortunate, Xi'er had to go out yesterday."

Although she knew that Xi'er would be going out at any time, she couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.

"It's alright, I thought of that too, I just didn't expect it to happen so quickly," Meng Zhelan said regretfully.

For some reason, she felt uneasy. Ever since that nightmare, she had been wondering if she had forgotten something important.

The resolute Xi'er in the dream, the despair in her eyes, tugged at Meng Zhelan's heartstrings. Now, her heart felt like it was about to leap out of her chest, and she couldn't calm it down.

"What's wrong?" The Empress Dowager asked with concern, looking at Meng Zhelan's face.

"It's nothing." Meng Zhelan forced a smile, suppressing her unease.

The Empress Dowager glanced at her with a puzzled look, but didn't ask any further questions.

The creaking of the carriage on the road echoed in Meng Zhelan's heart.

She closed her eyes, trying hard not to think about that terrible dream. But a voice kept echoing in her mind, whispering Xi'er's words: It's all my fault, it's all my fault...

Xi'er, what's it to blame you for? Xi'er... Meng Zhelan could no longer hold on and fainted, frightening the Empress Dowager beside her.

"Lan'er, Lan'er. Oh no, she must be exhausted from traveling day and night." The Empress Dowager held Meng Zhelan in her arms, looking at her with affection, and urged the coachman to hurry back to Tingfeng Courtyard. At this time, Meng Zhelan was already at home.

Sun Tiantian had been waiting at the door for Meng Zhelan to return. Hearing the urgent shouts, she couldn't help but feel nervous.

Hearing the Empress Dowager's call, she came to her senses, jumped into the carriage, and carried Meng Zhelan into the room.

Meng Zhong, who was having dinner, heard that his daughter had fainted and had even lost a shoe. He had finally returned to the capital, only to be summoned by the Emperor again. Had he said something that offended the Emperor?

When he arrived, he saw Meng Zhelan groaning in pain, repeatedly saying "save her".

Meng Zhong couldn't help but shed tears. Was this child thinking of her mother again? In the end, she had suffered so much all these years.

"Lan'er, Lan'er." He tried to wake his daughter, but she seemed to be lost in her own world and couldn't hear anything from the outside world.

Ling'er arrived at this moment and asked worriedly, "Godfather, what's wrong with Lan'er? Please take a look."

Meng Zhong panicked and forgot about this matter.

It took him a while to relax. Lan'er was fine; she was probably just having nightmares from exhaustion.

Having figured it out, he went out to get the medicine.

The Empress Dowager was also helped to Meng Zhelan's room.

She panicked when she saw Lan'er suddenly faint, and it took her a while to come to her senses.

Looking at Ling'er with concern, he asked, "Lan'er, what happened? What did Physician Meng say?"

Ling'er was surprised to see the Empress Dowager, so she quickly stepped forward to help her and replied, "Lan'er must be tired. Her godfather has gone to prepare the medicine."

After a while, Ling'er fed Meng Zhelan the medicine and then changed her into clean nightgown.

After a while, her furrowed brows gradually relaxed. She stopped talking nonsense and seemed to have fallen asleep peacefully.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, and Tian Tian stayed to keep her company. The rest of the people dispersed.

Although Sun Tiantian is usually quiet and reserved, she already considers them her closest family members.

These days, seeing Meng Zhelan busy with all sorts of things, she could only try her best to make Miss Lan's life as comfortable as possible.

Before long, Tian Tian fell asleep on the other side of the wooden bed.

The cold night wind made Meng Zhelan unconsciously hug the quilt tighter, as if trying to find a sense of security in it.

"Lan'er, Lan'er. I'm so sorry, I've harmed the people of Jingyuan. I'm a sinner. Since all of this originated from me, then I will change it. If there is an afterlife, you must stop me from committing this heinous crime!"

In her dream, a voice kept speaking of her grief and her pain.

Meng Zhelan unconsciously shed tears. She wanted to reach out and touch Xi'er's face, but the sound grew fainter and fainter until there was no sound at all.

The cold wind rattled the windows in the middle of the night, and Meng Zhelan woke up at that moment.

She carefully rolled out of bed, afraid of waking up Tian Tian, ​​who was exhausted from following her around these past few days.

She took a big gulp of cold tea and went to her desk to flip through her collection of strange tales and miscellaneous notes.

At this moment, Li Xi was nestled in the mountain forest, enjoying the cold wind, and she used her internal energy to ward off the cold.

Standing to the side, Chen Quan crossed his arms and trembled as he said, "Young Master, how long are we supposed to wait?"