This sudden and rare downpour showed no signs of stopping until the evening of the following day.
The entire Western Qin imperial city seemed to have suddenly transformed into another world overnight.
Rainwater poured into the fields and outskirts of the city in large quantities and soon could not be drained.
With the help of the rain, the river level continued to rise rapidly and began to overflow into the city streets, where severe flooding was visible everywhere.
Even so, the gale still roared with torrential rain, frequently breaking and damaging roadside tree branches, leaving a scene of devastation everywhere.
In the past, the streets were bustling with people and decorated with lanterns, but now all the shops are closed and the streets and alleys are deserted, showing a desolate and bleak scene everywhere.
If this rain doesn't stop tonight, the entire capital of Western Qin will probably be flooded.
In fact, rumors have begun to circulate among the people that this rainstorm was a sign of divine wrath and popular resentment, and that someone must have done something evil to anger the heavens.
Now that they can no longer receive the protection of their guardians, it is feared that Heaven will unleash a great punishment upon the entire Western Qin Kingdom.
In an instant, panic gripped the city and its outskirts.
Meanwhile, at the Qin Prince's Mansion in the east of the city.
Xuanyuan Han began convening various departments early last night, and just after arranging and deploying all matters related to emergency relief and disaster relief, he personally inspected the implementation of each task.
At this moment, exhausted, he finally stepped into the gate of the Qin King's Mansion.
As his deputy Cheng Liang followed him across the threshold, he said with great concern for his master, "Your Highness didn't sleep a wink last night, and you've been busy all day without closing your eyes. You should go back to your bedchamber and get some rest!"
It seems that everything that has happened has been one wave after another.
Xuan Yuanhan's deep eyes revealed a heavy heart. He stepped into Chenghua Palace and sat down, while looking out at the heavy rain.
He was still extremely worried: "If this rain doesn't stop tonight, something terrible might happen."
Upon hearing this, Cheng Liang looked out as well, his heart clenching tightly.
After a while, he came to his senses and continued to persuade, "Your Highness, why don't you go and get some rest? If the rain really doesn't stop tonight, there's bound to be a tough battle ahead!"
Suddenly, he remembered that Cheng Liang had been following him closely the whole time he was going in and out, without giving him a moment's rest.
Xuanyuan Han then said to him, "Hmm, I understand. I want to stay here alone for a while, and then I will return to my palace. You should also go and rest for a while!"
How could Cheng Liang leave Xuan Yuanhan alone here? This sudden downpour forced Xuan Yuanhan to mobilize all his troops and temporarily put aside the search for Yi Shangyun's whereabouts in order to focus on disaster relief.
If the weather were normal, things would be fine, but with this torrential rain, Xuan Yuanhan must be even more worried about Yi Shangyun's safety.
Now that he has some free time, his heart must be aching terribly...
Upon realizing this, Cheng Liang quickly replied, "This subordinate is not tired. This subordinate will stay here with Your Highness!"
Unexpectedly, Xuanyuan Han firmly refused him: "No need, go down!"
Seeing that he had no choice but to leave, Cheng Liang slowly turned around and went out the door.
At this moment, Xuanyuan Han suddenly stood up and walked out the door.
Yet, just like every other day, I instinctively followed the corridor and arrived at the Cloud and Water Pavilion.
In the vast palace, it seemed that only here could he find a moment of inner peace.
Upon arriving here, it seems that even the air is filled with familiar scents.
He then stretched out his hands and pushed the door open.
"The peach tree is young and tender, its blossoms are bright and beautiful."
This time, a woman in a fresh and elegant pink peach blossom gauze dress appeared before him. The clouds on her dress, as light and graceful as a peach blossom fairy, were bending over the table, carefully pounding medicine and preparing prescriptions.
Under the gentle candlelight, this scene was once so familiar to him and felt so warm.
Xuanyuan Han couldn't help but excitedly start talking to himself.
"Yun'er, is it really you?"
"You're back! You've returned to my side! You're finally back!"
“I knew you were still alive. You would never be so cruel as to leave me like that.”
"Yun'er, do you know how much I've missed you these past few days?"
At that moment, he was overjoyed.
On that delicate face, illuminated by the candlelight, tears were clearly visible sliding down her cheeks.
As soon as he finished speaking, he strode forward and sat down next to Yi Shangyun.
He reached out and gently pulled her up, holding her fair and slender hand tightly.
Then, he raised another hand and gently stroked Yun Chao's smiling face on his clothes.
He then gently pulled her into his arms, and said with heartache and deep regret, "Yun'er, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I know I've done wrong. If I hadn't done so many wrong things, I wouldn't have lost you time and time again!"
His voice was visibly choked with emotion. After a pause, Xuan Yuanhan continued with unwavering conviction, "I swear, as long as you return to my side, I will listen to you in everything, I will listen to you in everything..."
Yi Shangyun, however, only smiled faintly, nestled tenderly in his arms, and gently called out to his heart, "Your Highness..."
This sound, soft and gentle, was the sound he had longed for most day and night.
Xuanyuan Han felt as if his heart was about to break, so he couldn't help but tighten his grip on her, holding her even closer.
However, Yi Shangyun finally struggled to sit up in his arms, wiping away his tears as she said, "Your Highness, don't be sad. This is not Your Highness's fault. It's all just a mirage. Yun'er never belonged here, and it's time for her to leave. Yun'er thanks Your Highness for your sincerity all this time."
Xuanyuan Han was somewhat confused: "What are you talking about? What do you mean by 'illusory beauty'? What do you mean by 'not belonging here'... what do you mean by 'it's time to leave'..."
But at that moment, Yi Shangyun suddenly broke free from his embrace, stood up, and then slowly backed away.
Although she was still smiling, her heart was breaking as she said, "Your Highness must take good care of yourself without Yun'er. One day, Your Highness will understand everything."
"No……"
"don't want……"
"Don't go..."
"Do not leave me."
Suddenly realizing that she wanted to leave him again, Xuan Yuanhan hurriedly got up and called out to her as he chased after her, opening his arms to hug her tightly.
Just then, Cheng Liang, who hadn't actually left, followed after him, still worried.
Seeing this scene, with Xuan Yuanhan seemingly possessed, embracing the empty air around him, looking heartbreakingly lost, I was stunned and stood there dumbfounded.
So he stood at the door and called out, "Your Highness..."
Unexpectedly, Xuanyuan Han seemed to be still immersed in his own fantasy and did not respond to him at all.
So Cheng Liang quickly stepped over the threshold, reached out and shook his arm forcefully, asking, "What is Your Highness doing?"
Xuanyuan Han said excitedly, "Cheng Liang, look! Yun'er is back! She's back by my side!"
Upon hearing this, Cheng Liang finally understood and comforted him, "Your Highness, you must be hallucinating because you've been working too hard lately and missing the Princess Consort too much!"
"Hallucination..."
"No……"
"This is not an illusion..."
"She really came back..."
"You won't believe me, just look..."
As he spoke, he looked at the air in his hand and realized that there was no one else in the huge hall except for him and his servant.
In an instant, Xuan Yuanhan fully regained his senses, his face filled with disappointment and sadness.
Upon seeing this, Cheng Liang felt so sorry for him that he didn't know what to say to comfort him: "Your Highness..."
Lost and then regained, regained and then lost again.
Who in this world could accept such a fact? At this moment, Xuan Yuanhan felt his whole body was very heavy, as if his legs were starting to go weak and he was about to be unable to stand up.
Upon realizing this, Cheng Liang quickly reached out to help.
Xuanyuan Han reached out a hand to stop him, and as he sat down, he lowered his head and said quietly, "I'm fine!"
Cheng Liang, however, was even more worried and advised, "Your Highness, why don't you go and get some sleep!"
Xuanyuan Han then fell silent.
The room was silent.
After an unknown amount of time, a gust of wind blew by.
With one arm propped up on the table, head bowed and brows furrowed as if deep in thought or perhaps resting with eyes closed, Xuan Yuanhan suddenly caught a familiar scent.
Unconsciously, he suddenly recalled what had happened in the palace the night before.
Soon, as if sensing something, he opened his eyes and said, "No, that smell..."
After vaguely hearing this, Cheng Liang asked, "What is Your Highness saying? Is something wrong?"
Xuanyuan Han suddenly raised his head and said, "Yun'er likes to study these herbs all day in the palace, so she naturally carries a faint herbal fragrance! The little herbalist in the palace last night also had the same herbal scent..."
Cheng Liang then realized: "Your Highness, do you suspect that the young medicine girl from last night was the Princess Consort?"
The words had barely left his mouth when he immediately retorted, "That's impossible! Everyone in the Imperial Pharmacy is surrounded by herbs every day, and they all smell like herbs."
Without a second thought, Xuanyuan Han said firmly, "No, of course I know there are countless doctors in the world, but only I can recognize the scent on Yun'er's body."
Having said that, Cheng Liang was clearly speechless, yet he remained convinced of his judgment: "Impossible, it can't be such a coincidence! How could the Princess Consort be in the palace..."
Xuanyuan Han, however, had already made up his mind, muttering to himself, "The Imperial Pharmacy..."
As he spoke, he stood up.
Seeing Xuan Yuanhan about to step out the door, Cheng Liang exclaimed in surprise, "Your Highness, are you going to the palace now?"
Just as Xuanyuan Han ignored Cheng Liang's objections and insisted on going out,
A guard rushed over to report: "Your Highness, someone from the Yi family has arrived..."
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