Then came a voice filled with utter contempt and disdain: "What a barbaric land! Such ignorant and arrogant slaves of a conquered nation, yet they still cling to life. What? Even if they hide and run all day, living such a wretched life, could it be... that even now, they are still incorrigible, resentful, and harboring those inappropriate thoughts?"
Upon hearing the soft, delicate voice that reached his ears, Tuoba Hong knew, without even seeing the man's face, that he was a eunuch just by his aura.
He immediately realized that the person who was angrily pointing his sword at him and giving him a sarcastic remark was someone from the Western Qin imperial palace.
But he just didn't know that this eunuch didn't seem to be an ordinary person. Whose servant was he, and what kind of conspiracy was he plotting?
Faced with his insults, he clenched his fists tightly, suppressing his anger, and anxiously questioned him: "Whose man are you in the Western Qin Imperial Palace? Whose orders are you on? What have you done to Yun'er? Where is Yun'er now?"
The eunuch feigned ignorance and repeated, "Yun'er? Who is Yun'er?"
Tuoba Hong's gaze swept rapidly across every corner of the hall, down to the places he could see.
He murmured softly, "Yun'er...where are you? Where are you?"
As he spoke, in his haste, he raised one arm and unintentionally struck the eunuch's wrist with a palm strike.
With a loud clang, the sword in the eunuch's hand fell to the ground.
Just as he broke free of his restraints and was about to take a step and rush inside.
Inside the vast hall, a deep voice suddenly rang out from another dark corner: "You mere slave of a conquered nation, how dare you be so arrogant! You don't even ask where you are before you start causing trouble here! Guards!"
In an instant, dozens of guards dressed in black, who appeared to be well-trained, entered from outside the door and surrounded Tuoba Hong from all sides with their swords drawn.
Tuoba Hong seemed to suddenly realize that he had been ambushed. He glanced around and saw that there was no chance of escape this time.
He then composed himself, looked at the mysterious face behind the beaded curtain in the hall, and asked, "You plotted against me, who exactly are you?"
A voice came from behind the beaded curtain: "Don't worry, I'll let you know who I am."
While Tuoba Hong was still pondering, the eunuch beside him walked over again and ordered the guards, "Take him away!"
Thus, Tuoba Hong surrendered and was escorted away.
The Prince of Qin's Mansion.
At midday, in Mingyue Pavilion.
For countless days, Consort Chun had been personally guarding Xuan Yuanhan's bedside without ever leaving his side.
At this moment, she was wiping away tears as she fed Xuan Yuanhan, who was still unconscious, medicinal soup.
Seeing Xuan Yuanhan's current state, she was filled with remorse, muttering to herself, "I knew how dangerous the trip to Lu County would be, but I never imagined that the price of quelling this hurricane and sandstorm would be the life of the princess. If I had known the outcome would be like this, I would never have let her go in the first place."
Seeing that almost all of the spoonful of medicine he had fed Xuan Yuanhan had flowed out each time, with very little actually entering Xuan Yuanhan's mouth, he realized that he had clearly fed him a spoonful each time.
Consort Chun sighed and said, "I've always believed in my heart that she's a descendant of the Guardians, even though she's never been willing to admit it. She possesses the legendary mysterious power. I witnessed that power with my own eyes back in Peach Blossom Village. Coupled with the protection of her ancestors, she always managed to escape danger. But I never imagined..."
The more she spoke, the more regretful she became. While gently stroking Xuan Yuanhan's face, Consort Chun couldn't help but apologize to him again with tears welling up in her eyes.
"My son, your mother regrets it, your mother really regrets it. Your mother is sorry for you, sorry for your princess."
Recalling her past with Yi Shangyun, she sighed deeply, "Yun'er, she truly is a kind and good child. Even though fate brought her to become a princess of an enemy country, she chose to abandon her own motherland and noble status, which makes her even more precious to you. Your mother should have realized long ago that as long as the two of you can be happy together, that's more important than anything else... But now, it's too late to regret..."
At this point, she was already sobbing uncontrollably.
Just then, Granny Zhang hurriedly walked in.
He seemed somewhat nervous as he approached Consort Chun and reported, "Your Majesty, Zhang Zhiyuan requests an audience!"
"Him? What is he doing at the Prince of Qin's residence at this time?"
Upon hearing that Zhang Zhiyuan was Emperor Jing's man, Consort Chun felt that Zhang Zhiyuan's visit at this time must be for ill intentions.
After a moment's thought, he instructed Zhang Mama: "Have him wait in Chenghua Palace."
Zhang Mama said, "I'm afraid it's too late... He's already heading towards the Mingyue Pavilion's sleeping quarters."
Upon hearing this, Consort Chun exclaimed in astonishment, "Why didn't you stop him...?"
Before he could finish speaking, a voice came from outside the hall: "Your humble servant Zhang Zhiyuan requests an audience with the Empress Dowager."
Upon hearing this, Consort Chun rose and stood at the entrance of Mingyue Pavilion, rebuking him: "How dare you, Zhang Zhiyuan! Do you really think that my Prince Qin's residence is a place where a mere imperial physician like you can just barge in at will? Or... is someone authorized for you to act with impunity and disregard everyone else, freely entering and leaving any part of Prince Qin's residence?"
Zhang Zhiyuan bowed respectfully and explained, "Your Highness, please calm your anger. I did not come to the Prince of Qin's residence today on anyone's orders. I have come here abruptly because I heard that His Highness the Prince of Qin was seriously injured while quelling a sandstorm and is still unconscious. Therefore, I have come to visit him. Please allow me to take His Highness's pulse, Your Highness, so that I may express my sincere concern."
Consort Chun immediately refused him, saying, "No need. The Prince of Qin's residence has Physician Yue, which is sufficient. There's no need for an outsider like you to interfere. The Prince of Qin is already much better and will recover soon. You don't need to worry about him!"
Zhang Zhiyuan knew that he rarely visited the Qin Prince's mansion, and this time he couldn't easily explain it.
But after much deliberation, if he doesn't do this today, he might be aiding and abetting evil and causing a grave mistake.
Suddenly, with a "thump," Zhang Zhiyuan knelt heavily before Consort Chun.
"What are you doing?" Consort Chun was genuinely surprised upon seeing this.
Zhang Zhiyuan bent down, seemingly extremely devout, and said, "A life is at stake. I beg Your Highness to allow me to take His Highness's pulse. Your Highness, if His Highness continues to be unconscious like this, he may never wake up again!"
After thinking carefully for a while, Consort Chun finally relented: "Alright, but I must observe the entire process from my side. Otherwise, Imperial Physician Zhang, please leave!"
"Your Majesty, please watch over me. I assure you that I will only take His Highness's pulse and will do nothing else!" Zhang Zhiyuan said confidently.
Consort Chun slowly stepped aside, and Zhang Zhiyuan walked straight forward, entering the room and arriving at Xuan Yuanhan's bedside.
After sitting down, he placed his fingers on Xuan Yuanhan's pulse and slowly closed his eyes.
After a moment, he thought to himself, "His pulse is normal, just like a normal person's, but he just won't wake up. I hope I'm right."
On the way to the Prince of Qin's residence, he had been speculating: "I heard that Your Highness and the Princess are deeply in love. Could it be... that the Prince of Qin thought the Princess had died in the sandstorm, so he lost the will to live?"
With this thought in mind, Zhang Zhiyuan seemed to have silently made a decision in his heart.
He finally opened his eyes slowly, and after gazing at Xuan Yuanhan's face for a long while, he suddenly leaned down, close to Xuan Yuanhan's ear, as if to say something.
Upon seeing this, Consort Chun asked with a puzzled expression, "Zhang Zhiyuan, what do you mean by this?"
Zhang Zhiyuan stood up, smiled at him, and said only, "His Highness Prince Qin is blessed with good fortune and will surely wake up soon."
"What you said... is it all true? Will the King of Qin really wake up soon?"
Even the things that have been causing Imperial Physician Le a lot of trouble lately, Zhang Zhiyuan is now so calm and collected, and can even talk about them so easily with a smile.
Consort Chun was extremely puzzled by his words.
"Alright, this humble subject will take his leave now. Your Highness, take care!"
With that, Zhang Zhiyuan turned to leave.
Consort Chun suddenly came to her senses and said, "Judge Zhang, thank you!"
Zhang Zhiyuan bowed respectfully to him but said nothing more.
From that moment on, he turned and left Mingyue Pavilion without ever looking back.
After he left, the skeptical Consort Chun never understood what Zhang Zhiyuan meant by all that he had done here.
Out of caution, she remained close by, keeping a close eye on Xuan Yuanhan's face, fearing that something might happen to him.
As time passed second by second, the clouds drifted by.
Night finally fell.
But Consort Chun was already too tired, so she unconsciously lay down and dozed off by her bedside.
At that moment, Xuanyuan Han actually slowly opened his eyes.
"Mother... Mother..."
He slowly sat up, reached out and gently stroked Consort Chun's back, calling her name.
"My son, you're awake! You're really awake!"
Consort Chun suddenly came to her senses. Upon seeing that her son had awakened, she hugged him tightly and burst into tears.
After a long while, he slowly let go of her hand.
As Xuanyuan Han wiped away her tears, he recalled his hazy memories and asked, "Mother, did anyone come to Mingyue Pavilion today?"
"Who has visited Mingyue Pavilion today?" Faced with Xuan Yuanhan's sudden awakening, Consort Chun was indeed too excited to understand his meaning for a moment.
When he suddenly remembered, he told him, "Zhang Zhiyuan came by this afternoon."
"Zhang Zhiyuan...it's him!"
Xuanyuan Han seemed somewhat surprised upon hearing this, and was deep in thought.
Upon seeing this, Consort Chun quickly explained, "My son, don't worry, your mother knows that apart from Physician Yue, I won't let anyone else treat you. Zhang Zhiyuan only took your pulse; he didn't do anything else!"
"No, he's already done it!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com