Chapter Forty-Four
Huo Pingyuan also received news that Gu Leyao had led the medical department's doctors to eradicate smallpox.
He was on patrol with his soldiers when he heard the news.
In the northern border region, even the morning wind is cold in spring.
Huo Pingyuan, clad in black iron armor, was leading a troop of cavalry on a patrol around the border.
In the distance, a lithe eagle soars in the vast sky, and green grass stretches as far as the eye can see.
The universe is vast and boundless; I have no idea what day it is.
Huo Pingyuan grew up in the capital and had never seen such a vast grassland.
The soldiers under his command patrolled while talking loudly.
"Did you know? Smallpox! Smallpox! Someone has found a way to cure smallpox!"
"What? That's smallpox! Who has the ability to cure smallpox?"
"She is the Princess Consort of Dingbei, and her maiden name seems to be Gu Leyao. She is no ordinary woman. By all accounts, she should be the daughter of a marquis! Unfortunately, she was deliberately switched at birth when she was a child, and later suffered in the countryside for more than ten years. After returning to the capital, she married the prince, established a medical clinic, and treated many people!"
"She's actually the prince's wife! No wonder she's so powerful!"
"That's because she's incredibly capable! There's more than just Princess Gu in the capital; none of them can compare to her!"
"Haha, that's true, the Princess Consort of Dingbei is indeed an extraordinary woman!"
...
As Huo Pingyuan listened to their loud laughter, some near and some far, his mind wandered off somewhere else entirely.
He thought of Gu Leyao, the girl who was initially shy and timid, but later became sharp-tongued.
Did she actually lead people to eradicate smallpox?
She has changed a lot.
She became better, to the point that Huo Pingyuan recognized her less and less.
Ironically, after Huo Pingyuan arrived in the northern frontier, he dreamed about Gu Leyao many times.
He dreamt that Gu Leyao did not marry the Prince of Dingbei. She had always secretly loved him, and after the Marquis of Pingxi lost power, she took the initiative to marry him.
In his dream, Gu Leyao went to the northern border with him and adapted to the harsh conditions there.
Although Huo Pingyuan in the dream also suffered a lot, he was never alone.
...
Every time Huo Pingyuan woke up from his dream, he would despise himself. How could he have such an absurd dream?
Gu Leyao is now married and living a happy life. After suffering for more than ten years, she has finally found happiness.
He knew he should wish her well.
But he always had those dreams. In his dreams, Gu Leyao was always quiet and shy, didn't like to talk, and was petite, but she was also very powerful.
Huo Pingyuan encountered countless dangers as he climbed upwards, and many times it was the seemingly thin and small Gu Leyao who pulled him back from the brink of death.
Huo Pingyuan knew he shouldn't be thinking about Gu Leyao, but he couldn't control himself.
He always dreamed of Gu Leyao. In his dreams, she was always shy and quiet, always silently following behind him like a clingy puppy.
In his dream, Huo Pingyuan was used to her presence.
With her there, home is home.
If Huo Pingyuan in the capital was a dashing and unruly young master, then Huo Pingyuan in the northern frontier was a calm and reserved young man.
The decline of his family and the coldness of human relationships spurred him to mature rapidly, transforming him into a shrewd and ruthless adult without him even realizing it.
In his dream, Huo Pingyuan was taciturn and rarely smiled, but Gu Leyao in his dream never left him and never abandoned him.
Her eyes were always fixed on him, ever since she was sixteen...
Many times, when Huo Pingyuan woke up from his dream, he would touch the empty side of his pillow, which was cold to the touch. He always felt that someone should be lying there.
She didn't have to do anything; all she needed to do was give him a warm look when he came home, and Huo Pingyuan would be content.
But Huo Pingyuan was all alone.
*
After the smallpox epidemic came to an end, the Medical Bureau recruited many more people, all of whom were elite doctors from various places. Hearing that doctors in the capital had developed a way to cure smallpox, many of them took the initiative to come to the Medical Bureau to learn.
Among them was a female doctor named Hu Zhenning, who came from Sichuan. She is now 45 years old and has extensive medical experience. Her family has been practicing medicine for generations, and her family has a deep-rooted medical tradition.
When Gu Leyao recruited her, she discovered that Hu Zhenning was skilled in orthopedics, especially in treating sprains and bruises.
Gu Leyao didn't show anything unusual at the time, but after Hu Zhenning joined the medical department, she discovered that Hu Zhenning had indeed cured many people with chronic orthopedic diseases.
Gu Leyao thought of Aheng. Li Heng's leg was much stronger than before, at least the number of times he experienced severe pain had decreased significantly.
However, Gu Leyao wanted Li Heng to stand up. She had never seen the Li Heng who was riding a horse with a sword drawn and full of vigor, but she could piece together the image of the young general who fought on the battlefield from other people's words.
Gu Leyao secretly told Hu Zhenning about Li Heng's leg ailment. After thinking it over, Hu Zhenning gave Gu Leyao a relatively conservative prescription for a plaster.
"Your Highness, this prescription requires Sichuan lovage rhizome, Sichuan achyranthes root, angelica root, corydalis rhizome, safflower, cinnamon, clove, menthol, and borneol. Apply one patch a day for half a month and observe the effect." [1]
Gu Leyao accepted the prescription and planned to apply it to Li Heng when she got back, as Hu Zhenning's medical skills were quite good.
Gu Leyao showed the family physician Hu Zhenning's prescription. The old physician stroked his beard, shook his head as he looked at the prescription, and said, "Who wrote this? This ointment prescription is quite ingenious!"
Gu Leyao smiled and said, "It was written by a female doctor, who is also a senior doctor with thirty years of experience!"
The old physician clicked his tongue and said, "Such a good prescription, and it was actually written by a woman. I'm afraid it wasn't given to her by her father or brothers."
"Old Yang, why don't you go out and take a look? The medical department now has many female doctors, and they are no less capable than male doctors!" Gu Leyao waved the prescription paper in her hand.
The old physician snorted, "Why don't women stay at home and take good care of their husbands and children? What are they doing out here practicing medicine? They're really restless!"
Gu Leyao knew that the old man's mind was hard to change, so she just smiled and shook her head. "Please hurry up and make the ointment. I came to you to make the ointment because I trust your medical skills!"
"Go, go!" The old physician held the prescription, looking at it over and over again.
He couldn't understand how women these days could be so amazing! They could actually come up with such incredible remedies!
*
Gu Leyao wanted to go back to her room to rest for a while, but the gatekeeper came to report that the wife of the Earl of Zhongqin had arrived.
Gu Leyao instinctively said, "Just say I'm not home."
The gatekeeper said with a bitter face, "Your Highness, you instructed us early this morning not to see anyone from the Marquis of Zhongqin's residence. I remember that. But this time, the Marquis's wife seems to have come prepared. She said she saw you enter the residence with her own eyes and insists on seeing you today, otherwise she will do something disgraceful."
Gu Leyao felt nauseous. Why was Madam Bo so difficult to deal with?
"Then let her in. Oh, and remember to bring a few more guards to my room to watch over her."
Gu Leyao never hesitated to speculate with the utmost malice about the people of Zhongqin Earl.
The Lady was brought in by a servant from the Prince's mansion. Behind her was a tall man, whom Gu Leyao recognized as Gu Ronghua.
Gu Ronghua followed behind Madam Bo with a dejected look on his face, moving reluctantly.
Gu Leyao rarely saw Gu Ronghua looking so embarrassed, and her initial disinterest suddenly turned into interest.
When the lady of the house was led into the reception room by the servant, she saw Gu Leyao sitting steadily in the main seat, without moving an inch.
The smile on Madam Bo's lips froze, and Gu Ronghua looked angry, but then he seemed to remember something, glanced at the standing guards, and his arrogance vanished.
"Leyao, your mother has come to see you." The Lady of the Prince's Mansion smiled again. "After you got married, you rarely came home. Your mother missed you, so I came to the Prince's Mansion to see you."
Gu Leyao didn't believe her nonsense at all. If Madam Bo missed her, pigs would fly!
The lady of the house must have come here with a request, but what is it?
Gu Leyao could only patiently wait for her to make her request.
Sure enough, after saying a few dry words to herself, she realized that Gu Leyao was completely ignoring her. She felt both ashamed and angry, her face turning red and white in turns.
After a while, she said ingratiatingly, "Le Yao, you and Rong Hua are siblings from the same mother. Only when he is well can you be well. I heard from your father that you have found a cure for smallpox and made a great contribution. The Emperor will surely reward you, right?"
Gu Leyao followed up on what the Lady said, "The Emperor did indeed say he wanted to reward me. He said I had made a great contribution and he would give me whatever I wanted!"
A look of joy crept onto Madam Bo's face. Her eyes gleamed like a hunter spotting his prey. "That's perfect, Le Yao. Your brother is the fourth generation in our family. According to the customs of the dynasty, he can't inherit the title. But... but... Le Yao, you have to understand that a woman needs her family's support after marriage. Your brother's well-being is essential for your own. Don't be fooled by how well the prince treats you now; there's still a long road ahead! If he treats you badly in the future, won't your brother still be the one to stand up for you?"
At this point, Gu Ronghua, whose head had been half-lowered, raised it slightly, as if he were very proud, like a rooster, with an air of magnanimity.
Gu Leyao burst out laughing, "I want Gu Ronghua to stand up for me? Hahahaha..."
Gu Leyao pointed her clean fingernails at Gu Ronghua, "When I was in the Earl's mansion, he never gave me a kind look. How could I expect him to stand up for me?"
Madam Bo's face showed a hint of embarrassment. "Back then, Ronghua was still young and didn't understand things. Now he understands the importance of sibling affection. After all, we are family. We share the same fate, and we share the same fate. Ronghua will definitely stand up for you, Leyao, in the future, right, Ronghua?"
"Gu Leyao, you country bumpkin! You..." Gu Ronghua was pushed by his aunt, stopping him from speaking.
Upon hearing the word "bitch," Gu Leyao's face turned completely cold. "Guards, open your mouths, you arrogant scoundrel with no official rank or title!"
Two guards stepped forward and grabbed Gu Ronghua, preventing him from moving. Another guard stepped out from behind him and stood in front of Gu Ronghua.
The crisp sound of the slap was extremely pleasant, echoing in the living room for a long time.
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