"I never expected that Lady Xu would become more and more competent. I wonder what she can't do," an elderly official with white hair and beard exclaimed, his eyes full of admiration.
“Yes, Lady Xu has helped the court solve a lot of problems during this period. She seems to be even more capable than us old officials.” Another middle-aged official chimed in, a look of self-deprecation on his face.
Xu Yuehuai walked behind them, not stopping, but her ears keenly caught their conversation. A warmth filled her heart, and a smile unconsciously crept onto her lips.
She has indeed put in a lot of effort over this period of time, and she is very gratified to have gained the recognition of these officials.
However, she knew that as a lady-in-waiting, she needed to work even harder to gain the trust and affection of more people. So, she quickened her pace and headed towards the inner palace.
Just then, a cold gaze fell upon her.
Bai Yu, the king who wielded immense power in the court, stood not far away, staring coldly at her. His gaze was deep and complex, as if he wanted to see through Xu Yuehuai from head to toe, inside and out.
The guard stood beside Bai Yu, sensing the king's coldness, and his heart tightened. He cautiously asked, "Your Majesty, shall we deal with her?"
Bai Yu didn't answer immediately, but continued to stare at Xu Yuehuai's back. After a long while, he slowly spoke: "Now is not the time."
His voice, though deep, was filled with authority. The guards dared not utter a word and could only stand silently to the side.
Xu Yuehuai was unaware of Bai Yu and the guards' presence; she was only focused on returning to her residence to prepare for some matters. However, she was oblivious to the fact that a much larger storm was quietly brewing.
Deep within the imperial court, Xu Yuehuai gained the approval of many, but she also inadvertently offended the interests of some.
Bai Yu, as the highest ruler in the court, was even more unfathomable. He had realized that Xu Yuehuai was not to be underestimated and began to treat this female official with even greater caution. His attitude towards Xu Yuehuai contained both appreciation and recognition, as well as deep apprehension and suspicion.
All of this will be revealed in the days to come. Xu Yuehuai's fate will also rise and fall in this vortex of power.
However, she has already proven her value and ability through her actions, becoming an indispensable member of this game.
...
Sunlight slanted across the palace's bluestone slabs, and palace maids hurried through the winding corridors, each busy performing their duties.
Deep within this solemn and dignified palace, Xu Yuehuai was walking slowly along a path, her gait composed and her demeanor exuding a unique charm.
"Bang—!"
Suddenly, a palace maid hurriedly turned the corner and accidentally bumped into Xu Yuehuai.
The palace maid was so startled that she quickly stepped back, put her hands together, and apologized repeatedly: "I'm sorry, Lady Xu, I didn't mean to."
Xu Yuehuai frowned slightly, but quickly relaxed. She glanced at the palace maid and said indifferently, "It's nothing, you may go."
Hearing this, the palace maid breathed a sigh of relief and said gratefully, "Thank you for your generosity, Lady Xu. I'll go attend to my other matters now." With that, she turned and quickly left.
Xu Yuehuai watched the palace maid's retreating figure, shook her head thoughtfully, and then continued walking forward.
However, after walking a few steps, she suddenly stopped and turned back to the spot where she had been bumped. She looked down and examined it closely, finding a faint stain of medicine on the ground.
Xu Yuehuai frowned, squatted down, lightly dipped her finger in the medicine stain, and sniffed it. Her brows furrowed more and more, as if she sensed something amiss from the smell of the medicine.
She looked around to make sure no one was watching, then took out a clean handkerchief from her sleeve and carefully wiped the medicine stains off the ground. She then folded the handkerchief and put it back in her sleeve.
When she rose, Xu Yuehuai's expression had returned to normal. She walked calmly back to her palace without stopping along the way.
Upon returning to the palace, Xu Yuehuai immediately closed the doors and windows to ensure no one would disturb her. She walked to the table, sat down, and took out a handkerchief from her sleeve, spreading it out on the table. The faint medicine stains on the handkerchief stood out conspicuously.
Xu Yuehuai stared at the medicine stain, her brows furrowed. She pondered what secret was hidden within it, and why it made her feel so uneasy.
Just then, a soft footstep sound came from behind. Xu Yuehuai immediately put away her handkerchief and hid it in her sleeve. She looked up and saw a palace maid carrying a tea tray coming in.
"Lady Xu, please have some tea," the palace maid said respectfully as she placed the tea tray on the table.
Xu Yuehua nodded, signaling the palace maid to leave. After the maid left, she took out her handkerchief again and carefully examined the medicine stain.
She decided to investigate the matter secretly and find out the truth behind the medicine stain.
The night was deep, the moonlight like water, and the palace walls appeared even more mysterious and solemn under the moonlight. Xu Yuehuai walked lightly under the palace walls, her figure appearing and disappearing in the night, as silent as a ghost.
Her eyes gleamed with determination and resolve, as if she had made up her mind to find the answer no matter what. Her steps were light and quick, and she glanced back every now and then, afraid of being discovered by the patrolling guards.
Finally, she arrived at a secluded corner of the palace wall, where there was a half-open door leading to the outside world. She gently pushed the door open, and a gust of cold wind rushed in, carrying with it the fragrance of flowers and plants from outside.
She carefully passed through the small door and came to a narrow alley outside. The alley was dark and quiet, with only the occasional barking of a dog breaking the stillness of the night.
Xu Yuehuai walked briskly along the alley, her heart filled with anticipation and nervousness.
Finally, she arrived at the Ghost Doctor's residence. It was a dilapidated hut, with moss growing on the eaves and the doors and windows appearing somewhat broken. But Xu Yuehuai knew that this outward simplicity could not conceal the Ghost Doctor's superb medical skills.
She knocked gently on the door, and after a while, the door creaked open.
A thin figure appeared in the doorway; it was the Ghost Doctor. His face held a hint of languor and mystery, and his sharp eyes scrutinized Xu Yuehuai.
"Miss Xu, what brings you here so late at night?" The Ghost Doctor's voice was deep and hoarse, as if carrying a hint of vicissitude and mystery.
Xu Yuehuai took a deep breath and voiced her doubts and speculations. She described the scene when the palace maid bumped into her, as well as the strange taste of the medicinal food. She hoped the Ghost Doctor could help her identify the unknown ingredients in the medicinal food.
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