As soon as the news reached the tent, Lu Yuan was startled and stood up abruptly. He rushed out while saying, "Where is the princess? Lead the way quickly!"
Even the messenger seemed quite excited, excitedly saying as he walked, "There was a hunter nearby who went hunting in the mountains yesterday and was accidentally bitten by a poisonous snake. He was trapped in the mountains and thought he was going to die. But last night, a woman came down into the mountains and rescued him. According to the hunter's description, the person who saved him was the woman in the portrait. The hunter said that the woman accidentally slipped and fell off a cliff and was injured. He originally wanted to take her back after she was better, but the woman said that her home was not far away and that someone in her family was sick. She asked him to take some herbs back to save her life, and then she left the hunter's home alone that night."
As he spoke, the guard handed a silk handkerchief to Lu Yuan, adding, "By the way, this is the silk handkerchief that the woman used to bandage the hunter last night. Please take a look, young master!"
Upon seeing the familiar character "cloud" embroidered on a corner of the silk handkerchief, Lu Yuan was so moved that he almost burst into tears.
He took it with trembling hands, murmuring softly.
It's her!
"It really is her!"
Where is she?
"Take me to see her immediately!"
Just then, Cheng Liang and one of his subordinates rushed over upon hearing the news and asked, "I just heard that the whereabouts of the Princess Consort have been discovered, is that right? Where is she now?"
Lu Yuan was no longer able to speak.
The guard replied, "A hunter whom the princess rescued in the mountains last night has come to report that the princess is at a farmer's house nearby. We are on our way to confirm."
Upon hearing this, Cheng Liang was overjoyed: "Is this true? If so, we will travel with you."
The guard looked at Lu Yuan, who nodded. The four of them then mounted their horses and rode away hastily.
Early in the morning, Yan'er, disregarding her red and swollen eyes from crying, went to the pharmacy to get medicine for Yi Shangyun.
It wasn't until she fainted that Yan'er checked and discovered that the leg injury on Yi Shangyun's body was not a minor abrasion caused by a fall, as she had claimed.
Those were clearly injuries sustained when he accidentally fell off a cliff while gathering herbs on the mountain at night.
Thinking about everything she had experienced last night, Yan'er wiped away her tears as soon as she stepped out of the pharmacy and said with great concern, "Miss, you mustn't get hurt!"
Because she was worried about Yi Shangyun, Yan'er seemed completely unaware that a group of people were gathering on the street looking at the missing person notice.
Little did she know, Cheng Liang, who had just passed by, reined in his horse and stared at her: "That back view seems familiar!"
Lu Yuan noticed his pause and stopped as well, asking, "And who is this person?"
Suddenly, Cheng Liang's subordinate realized: "She...she's the princess's maid, isn't she? What's her name, Yan'er?"
Cheng Liang then came to his senses and exclaimed, "Yes, it's Yan'er! Didn't Yi Shangkun resign from her official post and retire to the countryside? How could she be here! In that case, Her Majesty must also be nearby!"
He then ordered, "Hurry up and follow her! She must be with the Empress!"
The subordinate acknowledged the order: "Yes!"
Lu Yuan waved his hand and followed along with the guards.
"what do I do?"
"how so?"
"Heavens above, please let my poor young lady wake up! I'm willing to give up ten years of my life for this!"
Wiping away tears the whole way, Yan'er finally returned home and closed the door that could be temporarily called a door made of just a few wooden planks.
Because of too many injuries, Yi Shangyun was no longer able to get out of bed.
Yan'er had no means to call a doctor for a house call, so she could only buy some medicine.
Soon, the medicine was ready. Standing at the door, she took a deep breath before mustering a little courage to go inside.
"Miss, take these medicines quickly, you'll be better soon!"
And so, in a daze, without even opening her eyes, Yi Shangyun was helped up by Yan'er.
Just as Yan'er fed him two spoonfuls of medicine, she heard someone burst through the door.
Before Yan'er could speak, Lu Yuan pushed the door open and entered, exclaiming in surprise, "Your Highness, is it really you?!"
Startled, Yan'er quickly dropped the medicine bowl in her hand and hurriedly stood in front of Yi Shangyun, spreading her arms to stop Lu Yuan.
Who are you?
How did you get in?
"What princess?"
"She's not your princess?"
"How dare you trespass on private property! Do you know what you're doing...?"
Seeing that the cloud on his clothes seemed to have only a very faint breath, Lu Yuan stepped forward to check and instantly revealed a waist token.
Upon seeing this, Yan'er stopped speaking and asked, "You...you're from the government?"
Soon, it was discovered that Yi Shangyun was not only covered in external injuries, but also poisoned.
Such a critical condition has been dragging on since last night until now.
Lu Yuan was filled with anger and heartache at the thought: "How could this happen? Damn it!"
Upon hearing this, Yan'er explained, "Miss went up the mountain to gather herbs last night. When she returned, she only said she had tripped and fallen, but later we discovered..."
Before Yan'er could finish speaking, Lu Yuan scooped Yi Shangyun up from the bed and hurriedly left.
Yan'er was at a loss. She simply ripped off the red cloak and followed, quickly catching up and demanding, "Who are you? Where are you taking my young lady?"
Lu Yuan quickened his pace, his face contorted with rage as he demanded, "You're supposed to be serving in the Pharmacist's Mansion, yet you didn't even know she was poisoned! How did the princess manage to hold on until now? If you don't want her to die, shut your mouth!"
"What?"
"Poisoning?"
"How did Miss get poisoned?"
"She didn't say anything last night either!"
By this point, Yan'er was truly terrified.
Clouds roll and unroll.
As the night grew deep and quiet, Yi Shangyun finally began to wake up.
Lu Yuan stayed by the bedside without leaving for a moment. When he saw Yi Shangyun open her eyes, the heart that had been hanging in suspense finally settled down.
A cry of "Princess!"
It was filled with his longing and worry for her over the many days and nights he had spent with her.
After a moment of recollection, Yi Shangyun struggled to his feet and said, "You are... the young city lord of Dragon Tiger City... Lu Yuan!"
As Lu Yuan reached out to her, he said, "It's me! I've finally found the princess! The princess is still as compassionate as ever, willing to risk her own life to save patients!"
Yi Shangyun said, "In a time of crisis, there's no time to worry about such things!"
Lu Yuan got up and went over to pour a cup of hot water. He came back and wanted to continue feeding Yi Shangyun.
But Yi Shangyun quickly reached out and took it from him: "I'm fine now, I can do it myself!"
Lu Yuan had no choice but to let her have her way, so he sat down and said, "Does the princess know that the Regent has already ordered me to lead 200,000 elite troops to wage war against Western Qin?"
It turns out that the commander-in-chief in charge of Dongning's troops this time was Lu Yuan. No wonder the two countries had not gone to war for a long time even though everything was ready. Fortunately, it was him!
Yi Shangyun instantly understood, and tentatively asked him, "Then why doesn't the young city lord obey?"
Upon hearing this, Lu Yuan paused for a moment: "Could it be that the princess shares the same idea as the Regent?"
Seeing Lu Yuan hesitate, Yi Shangyun said, "I think the young city lord also doesn't want to see innocent people from both countries suffer from this war, right?"
Although he knew these words would make him uncomfortable, Lu Yuan still said them: "I think that, in any case, the princess and that King of Western Qin are..."
Upon hearing this, Yi Shangyun hurriedly stopped him, saying, "I have no relationship with the King of Qin anymore!"
Hearing this, Lu Yuan was secretly delighted and replied, "In that case, if this is the princess's order, then as the rightful and sole heir and future ruler of Dongning Kingdom, I will obey the princess's every wish, no matter what or what decision she makes, without hesitation!"
Upon hearing this, Yi Shangyun hesitated: "I..."
He paused, then continued, "Of course I don't want to."
Lu Yuan had already anticipated this. It wasn't because of any special relationship between her and the Western Qin Kingdom, but simply because he knew that such a kind woman would not incite bloodshed so easily.
So he suggested, "If you are unwilling, then the princess should accept the will left by the late king and inherit the throne! At that time, the princess can be the head of my Dongning Kingdom, and whatever the princess says will be the law!"
Yi Shangyun was truly troubled: "Lu Yuan, there are many things you don't know. Actually, I'm not..."
The words were on the tip of her tongue, but she didn't know how to continue. To resolve the fundamental issues between the two countries, she needed to come up with a foolproof plan.
He paused for a moment, then simply said, "Let me think about it some more."
Seeing her hesitation, Lu Yuan reminded her again: "I just received another urging from the Regent. At most, war must begin in ten days. There is not much time left for the princess."
Just as Yi Shangyun was at her wit's end, Cheng Liang returned to the military camp dejectedly and received news that Lu Yuan had found the princess, so he rushed over.
When Cheng Liang and one of his men saw Yi Shangyun again, he cried like a child: "Your Highness, you're really still here!"
Upon seeing Cheng Liang dressed in the battle robes of a Dongning soldier, Yi Shangyun asked in astonishment, "General Cheng, you... how did you get here?"
Cheng Liang explained, "We almost exposed our identities on the street. It was Young Master Lu who told us to hide here!"
Yi Shangyun said to Lu Yuan with great gratitude, "Thank you!"
Lu Yuan smiled slightly at him and then strolled away from the tent.
Next.
After hearing Cheng Liang's words, Yi Shangyun was furious: "Why did he still come when he clearly knew it was a trap?"
Cheng Liang explained, "His Highness said that someone had to do this. His Highness believed that Her Majesty had returned to the era you mentioned, and from then on, he was all alone with no more worries, so..."
Cheng Liang thought that as long as he found Yi Shangyun, he would be able to find Xuan Yuanhan: "By the way, Your Highness, where is His Highness now?"
Just then, Yan'er entered, and her men were stunned when they saw the red cloak in her hand.
Yan'er explained, "I'm sorry, that day I was wearing Miss's cloak when I passed by, and His Highness Prince Qin followed me out! His Highness was being chased and fell into the sea..."
Cheng Liang was stunned: "What did you say?"
Yi Shangyun took out a secret token and said, "General Cheng, take a look at this! This is what Yan'er picked up the other day."
Upon seeing this, Cheng Liang immediately understood: "It really is Emperor Jing's conspiracy."
Yi Shangyun clenched his fist: "Such despicable means."
Cheng Liang was heartbroken and at a loss again: "But His Highness..."
Seeing how distressed he was, Yi Shangyun suddenly perked up and said confidently, "Don't worry, I will definitely find him. He won't die, he won't!"
But seven days have passed in the blink of an eye.
With Lu Yuan's help, along with Yi Shangyun herself, they still couldn't find any clues about Xuan Yuanhan.
"No, I don't believe it, how could you just leave like this..."
Just when she was about to give up, Yan'er suddenly thought of a place and said to Yi Shangyun, "Miss, I heard that there is a very efficacious temple on a mountain in Longhu City. Why don't we go and ask the gods for some guidance?"
Although Yi Shangyun didn't believe it, she had no other choice but to decide to go up the mountain with Yan'er the next morning...
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com