"Quickly, spur the horses on and escort the King back to the palace!" Xu Yuehuai's voice sounded especially urgent in the morning breeze.
She carefully picked up Bai Yu; beneath his heavy armor lay his frail body. She gently placed him on the soft cushions of the carriage, as if cradling a fragile treasure.
The carriage sped along the winding palace road, but Xu Yuehuai's heart felt as if it were being crushed by a boulder, heavy and oppressive.
She recalled the harrowing battle; the man in black appeared like a ghost, and Bai Yu was severely injured while saving her. Her heart was filled with guilt and self-reproach. If she had been more alert, perhaps Bai Yu wouldn't have been hurt.
Upon returning to the palace, Xu Yuehuai immediately ordered Bai Yu to be taken to his bedchamber and summoned all the royal physicians to treat him.
The imperial physicians bustled about in the palace, taking out various rare medicinal herbs and brewing them into medicinal soups.
Xu Yuehuai anxiously stayed by the bedside, her gaze never leaving Bai Yu's pale yet peaceful face.
As night fell, the palace was brightly lit.
After a night of arduous work, the imperial physicians finally stabilized Bai Yu's condition. However, he still did not wake up, as if he had fallen into a deep sleep.
Xu Yuehuai's heart was filled with worry and anxiety. She was afraid that Bai Yu would never wake up again, and she would never be able to repay his life-saving grace!
When the palace was deep and quiet, moonlight shone through the window and onto the bed, illuminating Bai Yu's pale face.
Xu Yuehuai stood alone by the bed, holding a silver needle tightly in her hand, her eyes shining with determination.
She recalled the first-aid methods the Ghost Doctor had taught her, silently reciting each step. She took a deep breath and gently inserted the silver needles into Bai Yu's acupoints. Each needle insertion was done with extreme care, for fear of making the slightest mistake.
As time passed, beads of sweat gradually appeared on Xu Yuehuai's forehead.
She bit her lower lip tightly, intently observing Bai Yu's reaction.
Gradually, she noticed that Bai Yu's complexion seemed to have regained some color, and her breathing became more even.
"It seems to be working!"
Xu Yuehuai felt a surge of joy; she knew her efforts hadn't been in vain. She believed that as long as she persisted, Bai Yu would wake up soon!
Every night, when everyone in the palace was asleep, Xu Yuehuai would quietly come to Bai Yu's bedside to perform acupuncture treatment on him. She carefully avoided the eyes and ears of the imperial physicians, afraid of being discovered by them.
Imperial Physician Li was one of the most skilled physicians in the palace, and he would check on Bai Yu's condition every day. Each time he saw that Bai Yu's condition had improved, a relieved smile would appear on his face.
However, he was filled with doubt. He simply couldn't understand why Bai Yu's condition had suddenly improved. He asked Xu Yuehuai many times, but Xu Yuehuai always pretended to know nothing, leaving him with no way to investigate.
Physician Li couldn't help but glance at Xu Yuehuai a few more times. He felt that Xu Yuehuai seemed somewhat unusual. Her eyes revealed a hint of determination and persistence, as if she were holding some kind of secret.
However, Xu Yuehuai remained calm and composed throughout. She was acutely aware of her identity and situation, and dared not be careless in the slightest. She carefully concealed her actions, fearing being discovered.
A few days later, one morning, sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains and fell on Bai Yu's face. His eyelashes fluttered slightly, as if he were feeling the warmth of the sunlight.
Xu Yuehuai had been staying by his bedside, her eyes red and swollen, clearly having not slept for days and nights. When she saw Bai Yu slowly open his eyes, the excitement and joy in her heart were almost beyond words.
"Your Majesty..." Xu Yuehuai called softly, her voice trembling with joy.
Bai Yu looked at her, a hint of confusion flashing in his eyes, but it quickly cleared. He smiled slightly, his face still pale, but his eyes were full of life.
"Have you been here all this time?" Bai Yu's voice was weak, but it was full of tenderness and gratitude.
Xu Yuehuai nodded, "You saved my life, so naturally I will stay by your side."
In the days that followed, Xu Yuehuai took care of Bai Yu as if he were her own child.
"Your Majesty, how are you feeling today?" Xu Yuehuai asked.
Bai Yu twitched his fingers slightly, but did not open his eyes.
Seeing this, Xu Yuehuai sighed softly, got up, and walked towards the small kitchen next to her. There, she had already prepared various rare medicinal herbs to brew a medicinal meal for Bai Yu.
Xu Yuehuai skillfully placed the medicinal herbs one by one into the clay pot and simmered them slowly over a low flame. The herbs tumbled in the pot, releasing a rich aroma that filled the entire room.
The fragrance seemed to possess a magical power, refreshing the mind and spirit, as if it could dispel all pain and fatigue.
"Your Majesty, this medicinal meal was personally prepared for you. Please drink it well and recover your health soon," Xu Yuehuai said softly as she carried the steaming medicinal meal to the bedside.
Bai Yu slowly opened his eyes and saw Xu Yuehuai's concerned expression and the medicinal food in her hands, a warm feeling welled up in his heart. He struggled to sit up, took the bowl of medicine from Xu Yuehuai, and drank it sip by sip.
"Thank you for taking care of me all this time," Bai Yu said softly after finishing the medicinal meal.
“Your Majesty, it is my duty to take care of you,” Xu Yuehuai said with a smile. “Moreover, many things have happened in the world outside the palace. I wanted to tell you, perhaps it will alleviate your boredom and loneliness during your recovery.”
Then, Xu Yuehuai began to recount the everyday affairs outside the palace. She told stories of ordinary people's lives, amusing anecdotes from the marketplace, and even some major national events. Her voice was gentle and captivating, making Bai Yu feel as if he were in a world outside the palace.
Bai Yu listened quietly, nodding occasionally and smiling sometimes. His eyes sparkled, as if filled with curiosity and longing for the world.
And so, Xu Yuehuai often stayed by Bai Yu's side, preparing medicinal meals for him and telling him stories from outside the palace.
Bai Yu's injuries also improved somewhat under Xu Yuehuai's care.
One day, Xu Yuehuai was preparing medicinal cuisine for Bai Yu as usual. She chatted with Bai Yu while she was preparing the medicine.
"Your Majesty, did you know? Recently, a flower called 'Purple Cloud' has been blooming exceptionally beautifully at the flower market outside the palace," Xu Yuehuai said, her face beaming with excitement.
"Purple cloud flower? That sounds beautiful," Bai Yu asked curiously.
"Yes, its petals are deep purple, like the brightest star in the night sky, and its fragrance is intoxicating." Xu Yuehuai described the beauty of the purple cloud flower, her eyes sparkling with longing.
"Once I recover, you must take me to see the Purple Cloud Flower," Bai Yu said with a smile, her eyes filled with anticipation.
Xu Yuehuai suddenly fell silent, her mind wandering to the figure of another person...
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