Yi Shangyun believed that since the jade bracelet could cure the smallpox on Xuan Yuanhao's face, it proved that it had regained its powerful function. Therefore, it should also be able to cure the tumor on her face, and perhaps even cure her leg ailment.
She could no longer contain her excitement and eagerly awaited this exhilarating moment.
She immediately held her breath and focused all her attention on the seven-colored gold and jade bracelet on her wrist.
Time passed slowly, and soon fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead and temples. This kind of thing naturally took a lot of her energy and effort.
Finally, she slowly opened her eyes and then reached out to gently touch the familiar spot on her face where the tumor had grown.
However, what my fingers touched was still that familiar sensation of the slight bulge on my face.
Indeed, the powerful function of this seven-colored gold-threaded jade bracelet has not yet been restored, and the tumor on her face is still there.
In an instant, her eyes trembled, and her delicate eyebrows furrowed tightly. Her previous high hopes were cruelly and mercilessly thrown into a deep abyss of despair, from which she could not extricate herself for a long time.
"Why...why can it treat smallpox but not this common hemangioma? Where did I go wrong?" After a long silence, she sat alone in the carriage and murmured to herself.
Soon, the carriage passed through a familiar street and arrived at the original owner's home, which was also her place of residence—the Yi Mansion in the west of the city.
"Girl, get down quickly, we're home," Yi Junhao said to Yi Shangyun, who was still sitting inside looking helpless, as he got out of the carriage first.
At this moment, when she heard the word "home", she came to her senses, lifted the car curtain, and slowly got out of the car with Yi Junhao's help.
Looking up, I saw the two imposing plaques bearing the words "Yi Fu" (衣府, meaning "Clothing Mansion") on the lintel, which were both familiar and unfamiliar to me. They were quite eye-catching under the light of the two large red lanterns.
She murmured, "I'm back here again, the place where I first arrived."
"Girl, what are you saying?" Yi Junhao seemed to have heard her murmur and asked.
"Oh...it's nothing, I'm finally home, I'm a little...excited...yes...a little excited," Yi Shangyun stammered, trying to make amends.
Night had fallen, and the gates of the Yi residence were tightly shut. Yi Shangyun suddenly turned to Yi Junhao with a smile and said, "It's getting late, Third Young Master, why don't you come in and sit down for a while and rest before you leave?"
"It's alright. Girl, go inside quickly. You've had a bumpy journey, so get some rest these next couple of days. Remember our promise. Your third brother will send someone to pick you up when the time comes, so don't stand me up." With that, Yi Junhao smiled and leaped onto the carriage, then rode away.
Seeing that Yi Junhao had already left, Yi Shangyun turned around and looked at the mansion in front of her again.
She thought to herself that since entering the palace and returning here, this courtyard, this so-called home, has never received a single word of care or concern from anyone.
Now that she's back, it's clear that nobody knows, and nobody cares.
Why was the original owner so disliked in this family?
With a sense of doubt, she stepped onto the stone steps and gently knocked on the gate of the mansion.
"Bang bang bang"
"Who is it? What are you knocking for so late?" A yawning maid, looking sleepy, muttered as she opened the door, clearly annoyed at being disturbed.
Upon seeing the familiar face veiled by a veil, the maid instantly snapped back to reality, her eyes widening in surprise as she exclaimed, "Young Miss, why are you back?"
Yi Shangyun smiled and said to him, "What's wrong? I'm back. Judging from your expression and tone, you seem very unhappy?"
"No, no, no, that's not what I meant. It's just that you've only been serving in the palace for about half a year, so why are you back home now?"
"Then, Miss, may I go in first and report to you later?" Yi Shangyun deliberately raised the bundle in her hand, teasing the servant.
"Oh, my apologies, my apologies, Miss, please come in quickly." The maid then realized that she had been so focused on her surprise and talking that she had left the young lady blocking the doorway.
As soon as Yi Shangyun entered, he asked, "Have all the people in the manor gone to bed yet?"
The maid tightened the door latch again and checked that it was secure before turning and leading Yi Shangyun towards the hall. As they walked, she said to her, "We haven't rested yet, but I have to get up early for my shift tomorrow, so I'm resting a little early. The night watchman just went to the outhouse; could you please keep an eye on things for him?"
Yi Shangyun nodded and listened. Soon they arrived at the front hall of the Yi family mansion. It turned out that Yi Shangkun had also returned home today. Through the window, Yi Shangyun saw that the whole family was sitting in the hall, chatting and laughing, enjoying themselves. Only he was missing.
"Master only returned to the manor today; it's almost the New Year," the maid said to Yi Shangyun, noticing her forlorn expression.
She stood quietly to the side watching, and when she heard the maid's words, she was overwhelmed with sorrow and had nowhere to express it.
At this moment, she thought to herself, "So this so-called father is the original owner's father. He also returned to the manor today."
Having served together in the Imperial Pharmacy for so long, and witnessing so many events, he had never once glanced at her or asked her a single question. It was all because of him that she was implicated and punished, forced into the palace as a subservient medicine girl. Although she had been released from the palace, after the New Year…
She almost dared not and did not want to think about it anymore, because the future was full of too many variables and too unpredictable.
Finally, she sighed deeply, braced herself, and pretended not to see or think anything. She walked in gracefully and calmly, and the maid quickly helped her lift the thick curtain.
"Yun'er..."
Everyone present was surprised to see her enter. Before she could even greet them, they all became anxious.
"Why are you back?" Aunt Lan's smile froze instantly, and then she raised her head slightly, frowned, and said to her with disdain.
Her two proud and beloved children, Yi Shangjun and Yi Shangxue, instantly raised their eyebrows, stared blankly, and were speechless.
"Yun'er" was overjoyed, with only her mother, Madam Nian, hurriedly standing up.
Yi Shangkun merely sat there, his eyes momentarily glazed over, the expression vanishing in an instant. He seemed somewhat surprised, assuming that due to her leg ailment, she wouldn't be able to arrive at the manor until at least tomorrow, but it turned out she wasn't much later than him.
He knew everything that had happened to Yi Shangyun in the palace, and he also knew that he was not the only one returning to the Yi residence today, but also his "daughter" whom he couldn't resist.
Yi Shangyun witnessed the reactions of every "family member" present to her return to this so-called home, and felt deeply disheartened, but she still suppressed her grievances.
Half a day later, she slowly stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Yun'er greets Father, Mother, and Aunt Lan. Yun'er's brief return home is only because the Emperor bestowed Yun'er upon the Prince of Qin's residence to be a physician. Furthermore, Princess Yue took pity on Yun'er and, seeing that Yun'er suffered from a leg ailment, pleaded with Her Majesty the Empress to allow Yun'er to leave the palace early to return home for the New Year. After this Lantern Festival, Yun'er will go to work at the Prince of Qin's residence in the east of the city."
Upon hearing that Yi Shangyun had a leg ailment, Lady Nian rushed over to her, took her hands in hers, and looked her over anxiously, asking, "What happened to your leg? You came to the palace perfectly healthy, how did your leg get sick? What happened? Who's making things difficult for you? Why didn't you tell your father? He's the chief pharmacist of the Imperial Pharmacy, after all."
At this moment, Yi Shangkun, who had been sitting silently, suddenly spoke up, "It's the Emperor."
Immediately, Aunt Lan and her two children all turned their gazes toward the thin and frail Yi Shangyun. They were amazed that such a thin and unremarkable body could have incurred the emperor's wrath. Fortunately, the Yi family was spared further harm.
Upon hearing this, Lady Nian became even more anxious. "What? The Emperor? Yun'er, how could you have offended the Emperor? How could you be so insensible? Why don't you know how to restrain your sharp edges in the palace? What if..."
Before she could finish speaking, Madam Nian turned away and secretly wiped away her tears, unable to bear thinking about it anymore, much less speaking of it. Seeing this, Yi Shangyun quickly took out a silk handkerchief to wipe her tears while comforting her, "Mother, don't worry, it was just being punished by kneeling. It's much better now. Look, isn't Yun'er standing here perfectly fine?"
As she spoke, Yi Shangyun stretched out her arms and spun around. Seeing that her legs seemed to have no visible signs of injury, Madam Nian believed her and simply said, "From now on, when you're out and about, you must know how to protect yourself and keep your temper in check. This once-respectable young lady of the Yi family, now..."
Nian covered her nose and wept again. Yi Shangyun said to her in a coquettish voice, "Oh, alright, Mother. I know, I promise I will remove every single one of these stubborn scales and become the most lovable little rabbit in the world, okay?"
As she spoke, she shook Lady Nian's arm. Lady Nian, relieved by her words, smiled through her tears and said, "You...you're becoming more and more unfathomable to your mother...I really don't know when you changed so much. Before, you were always so cautious, not even daring to raise your voice. Now, you even dare to offend the Emperor. Sigh...please don't do anything outrageous again, your mother can't bear to be frightened like this."
Aunt Lan listened and watched from the side, her eyelids half-closed, she gave an arrogant sneer and then looked away. Her two beloved children were also glaring at the mother and son in Yi Shangyun.
Just then, Yan'er flew in like a cheerful little bird. As soon as she entered, she hurriedly bowed to the masters of the house.
Then, she ran over to Yi Shangyun and hugged her tightly around the waist, excitedly exclaiming, "Miss, you're finally back! The gatekeeper said he saw you return, and I thought he was just making things up again, but it's true! Miss, Yan'er missed you so much! Miss, is this really you? Am I dreaming?" As she spoke, she quickly stood up and pinched her rosy cheeks, which were red from the cold.
Yi Shangyun was instantly amused by her. Looking at the innocent and kind Yan'er before her, she felt as if she had truly returned home, experiencing a sense of warmth and familiarity. So she said to her, "Yan'er, it's me who's back. It's been so long, how come you're still so clumsy? You haven't changed at all!"
Yan'er paused for a moment, pouted slightly, and then said earnestly, "Miss, Yan'er will never change, nor does she want to. No matter where you go, or how long you stay, Yan'er believes that one day, you will definitely come back. Yan'er will be here forever waiting for you to return."
Upon hearing Yan'er's words, Yi Shangyun's eyes instantly filled with tears. She rushed forward and embraced Yan'er tightly, saying, "Yan'er, my dear Yan'er, thank you. It's so good to have you."
"Miss..."
The master and servant, who hadn't seen each other for a long time, embraced tightly, and even Madam Nian, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but shed tears of joy.
"Original owner, it's been a long time. I'm finally back, back to where this dream began..." Yi Shangyun murmured.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com