"My son, your mother has long advised your father. Hao'er is still young and it is not advisable for him to travel and gain experience outside. Although he is the future of our Western Qin Kingdom and the only candidate to inherit the throne, he is still only 10 years old and just a child. But your father just wouldn't listen and gave a whole bunch of reasons. Now, is he satisfied?" The Empress tearfully complained to Xuan Yuan Yue, expressing her deep resentment and indignation.
Hearing this, Xuan Yuan Yue's eyes instantly welled up with tears as she said, "Mother, Father Emperor never expected such a thing to happen. Tell me, what parent in the world would be willing to put their child's life or death at risk? It's just that there is such a devilish plague in this world that devours people's lives." Xuan Yuan Yue frowned and said angrily through gritted teeth.
After a moment, as if remembering something, she suddenly said to the Empress with a look of relief, "But Mother, don't worry, with Yun'er by my side in Donghua Palace, my younger brother will definitely be taken better and more meticulously than any of us."
"That girl? Could it be that I truly misunderstood her? Now that I think about it carefully, she really is a fearless and extraordinary woman. In such a dangerous moment, everyone was only concerned with their own safety, and in the entire Western Qin Palace, only she stood up, unafraid of being infected by smallpox, willing to risk her life to take care of the Crown Prince. But your father had said beforehand that if anything happened to the Crown Prince, that girl's entire family would be executed?"
As the Empress spoke, her words no longer held the hostility she once had for Yi Shangyun; instead, they seemed to reveal a hint of admiration. At the same time, she appeared particularly worried for him, since the Crown Prince had contracted smallpox, a disease that terrified everyone.
Xuan Yuan Yue, however, had complete confidence in Yi Shang Yun, because she knew that Yi Shang Yun possessed knowledge of many things in this world that even she herself did not know. She was unaware that Yi Shang Yun's current soul came from the future, a top medical student in the high-tech era of the 21st century, and the chief CEO of a renowned pharmaceutical company.
She was secretly grateful that she had met, known, and accompanied Yi Shangyun in this life, even though the days they spent together were numbered. She was still thankful that fate had arranged things this way.
"Yue'er, let's make a bet with Mother?" Xuan Yuan Yue suddenly said excitedly.
"A bet? I wonder what kind of bet my son wants to make with his mother?" The Empress looked at Xuan Yuan Yue with a puzzled expression.
"Yue'er made a bet with Mother that with Yun'er attending to the sick, the Emperor will definitely be safe and sound this time, and smallpox will definitely not leave any trace on the Emperor." The more Xuan Yuan Yue thought about it, the more confident she became in Yi Shangyun, as if she regarded her as a fairy who knew immortal magic.
"My son has actually made his mother happy. He has truly grown up and is very filial. I am very happy. But what he said is simply a fantasy. Since ancient times, everyone knows that those who contract smallpox are almost always doomed. Even if they are lucky enough to survive, their appearance will be ruined... Now, I have no other wish but that Hao'er can keep his life. For this, I am extremely grateful for the protection of my ancestors. How could I dare to have any other wishful thinking!" The Empress seemed to be deeply moved by Xuan Yuan Yue's words and said with relief.
However, Xuan Yuan Yue persisted, saying, "Mother, please believe in Yue'er this time. Yue'er is serious. If Yue'er loses this bet, Yue'er will be willing to obey any arrangement made by Mother and Father from now on without any complaints. But if Yue'er wins, Mother must grant Yue'er one request."
The Empress looked at her, who seemed to be talking nonsense, yet also very sincere, and asked with a helpless expression, "I wonder what my son wants his mother to grant you?"
Xuan Yuan Yue's mischievous eyes darted around, and she knelt heavily beside the Empress, speaking with utmost sincerity, "Mother, if my brother is truly as I say, and has recovered safely thanks to Yun'er's care, then I ask that you promise that, regardless of whether I am married or where I am, on the day of Yun'er's wedding, you, as the incomparably noble Empress of the Western Qin Kingdom of the Ling Kong Continent, will bestow upon Yun'er a ten-mile-long red dowry, allowing her to marry in grand style. Would you grant my request, Mother?"
The Empress was quite surprised to hear this, and only then did she realize that the feelings between Xuanyuan Yue and Yi Shangyun were much deeper than she had imagined. No wonder Yi Shangyun was also fearless in front of Emperor Jing in advising Xuanyuan Yue on the matter of marriage.
Therefore, she readily accepted Xuanyuan Yue's request, saying, "Your mother will grant your request. How can a mere ten-mile-long wedding procession possibly protect Hao'er's safety?"
Seeing the Empress's agreement, Xuan Yuan Yue was overjoyed. For a moment, she was so excited that she burst into tears as she looked at the Empress. The Empress also looked at her and asked in a panic, "My son, what's wrong?"
On the day of the King of Qin's wedding, Xuan Yuan Yue made a promise at the gate of the King of Qin's mansion that when Yi Shang Yun got married, she would also arrange for her to have a grand and glorious wedding.
Now, with Emperor Jing forcing her into marriage, it's destined that she will have to leave her homeland of Western Qin; it's only a matter of time. And Yi Shangyun will henceforth be bestowed upon Princess Mei Xiyuan of Qin, who will serve her with utmost subservience.
The future is full of endless variables. But her mother is different; she is the Empress, the mother of the nation, and second only to the emperor.
No matter how the world changes, as long as the Empress agrees, Yi Shangyun will never be poor when she gets married. Only with a good dowry can a woman avoid being discriminated against in her husband's family.
And at this moment, Xuan Yuan Yue has truly fulfilled her promise to Yi Shang Yun. It can be considered the only major thing she did for Yi Shang Yun before leaving the Western Qin Kingdom.
Xuanyuan Yue murmured softly, "Yun'er, I've already done it. You must also try your best and do it too."
At this moment, how could she not be overjoyed and weep? She then bowed deeply to the Empress and said, word by word, "Yue'er thanks Mother for granting my wish." The Empress looked at her with a look of surprise.
People often say that the hardest relationship to maintain in the world is the friendship between women. Women's world will eventually lose its development opportunities due to family and children, and they will gradually become estranged due to their different circumstances, causing them to make unconscious decisions to abandon friendship in the struggle for survival.
However, Xuan Yuan Yue could never have imagined that she and Yi Shang Yun were destined to be entangled for life, and that their fates would be so poignant and moving.
Inside Donghua Palace—the palace of Crown Prince Xuanyuan Hao—everyone inside and outside was busy with their faces veiled.
Yi Shangyun was seen warmly reminding the passing palace maids and eunuchs, "Please don't panic. Smallpox is mainly transmitted through inhalation of droplets or direct contact. If anyone suddenly experiences headaches, back pain, chills, high fever accompanied by nausea, vomiting, constipation, insomnia, or other symptoms, please see the imperial physician immediately. All items intended for His Highness the Crown Prince can be placed on the table at the entrance of the main hall or given to me; there's no need to bring them in personally and increase your chances of infection."
"Woman Yi, you've really worked so hard. You're so kind. You've kept us all away from the smallpox virus and shielded us from all the disasters yourself," said Zi Yan, a maid in the Crown Prince's palace, sincerely.
"Women who provide medicine and clothing are truly wonderful."
"Thank you, Medicine Girl."
"Thank you, woman who provides medicine."
"Woman in medicine, you're so kind."
"The woman who wore medicine is so kind."
......
The palace maids and eunuchs standing nearby all smiled and thanked Yi Shangyun sincerely, just like Ziyan.
"Hmph..." Zhang Zhiyuan walked over with a bowl of freshly brewed medicine in one hand and a bottle of newly mixed topical ointment in the other. He slammed the bowl down on the table at the entrance of the bedroom, glared at Yi Shangyun, snorted coldly, and then turned and left.
Seeing this, Zi Yan said, "Yi Yao Nu, don't pay him any attention. He brought this on himself. Now the whole palace knows about his misdiagnosis; it's all over the place. The concubines and noble ladies all despise and curse him, and they won't ask him to help them with diagnosis anymore. He's furious right now."
Upon hearing this, Yi Shangyun glanced at Zhang Zhiyuan's back again, gently smiled at Ziyan, and then took the medicine into the bedroom.
"Your Highness, it's time to take your medicine." Upon hearing the only familiar voice he could hear during this time, Xuan Yuanhao slowly got up from his sickbed.
"Your Highness's condition is under excellent control, and I believe he will recover soon," Yi Shangyun said to Xuan Yuanhao as she walked towards him with the medicine.
Xuanyuan Hao is really strong. Even when he was sick, he insisted on taking his medicine by himself and didn't want anyone to feed him.
Now, he always says to Yi Shangyun, "Am I, the Crown Prince, not even as good as that pockmarked and disabled emperor in your story?"
At this moment, he was slowly taking the medicine. With the combined efforts and meticulous care of Yi Shangyun, the imperial physician, and all the palace maids and eunuchs of Donghua Palace, Xuanyuan Hao's smallpox was completely under control.
Although they were isolated, this very isolation brought everyone together more closely. No one was as afraid or terrified as they were at the beginning. Now, they lived together happily like a real family, overcoming difficulties together.
After Xuanyuan Hao finished taking the medicine, Yi Shangyun stepped forward and sat down by the couch, taking the ointment and gently applying it to Xuanyuan Hao's smallpox rashes.
As she applied the ointment, she asked Xuanyuan Hao, "Your Highness, there is something I don't understand and would like to ask you?"
Xuanyuan Hao: "What do you want to ask me, the Crown Prince?"
The inscription on the garment reads: "Your Highness, the Crown Prince, is of noble status, and has been cared for meticulously by Grand Tutor Wen for many years. This servant would like to know if Your Highness knows how you contracted the smallpox virus?"
Upon hearing this, Xuanyuan Hao frowned instantly, a look of doubt on his face. After a moment of recollection, he spoke, "Actually, I'm not sure if it was that time. About half a month ago, a masked man lured me into a deep alley. He took out an exquisite, seven-colored glass bottle. I noticed his strange behavior and asked him what was in the bottle. He didn't answer, but slowly walked towards me, opened the bottle cap, flashed it in front of me, and then hurriedly disappeared. I was very puzzled at the time, but now, thinking about it carefully, perhaps it was then that this person sprinkled smallpox on me."
"Isn't this person very dangerous? He has such profound poison skills. Does the Crown Prince still remember his appearance?" Yi Shangyun said nervously.
Xuanyuan Hao shook his head slightly, seemingly helpless, and then said, "He was masked at the time, and I, the Crown Prince, hadn't even seen his face before he slipped away. It was my carelessness."
"The masked man seems to have gone there specifically to lure the Crown Prince, so he must know the Crown Prince's identity. To attack the Crown Prince of Western Qin means he must be someone with treacherous intentions towards Western Qin. In other words, this person must have a major conspiracy against Western Qin," Yi Shangyun said, seemingly harboring some doubts.
"Where did that happen?" After thinking for a moment, Yi Shangyun asked urgently.
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