"Hou Xiangxiang, you broke your promise."
Inside the Imperial Study, Huo Xiaolong, dressed in a dragon robe with his hands on his hips, stood behind the dragon desk, pointed at Hou Xiangxiang, and said with an unhappy expression.
The little girl, dressed in official robes, said nonchalantly:
"How could I have gone back on my word?"
"You said you wouldn't leave me just a few days ago, but you're going to Dongyu today. You're not keeping your word."
"No, Your Majesty, I am an imperial physician. There is a slight outbreak of the Da'an epidemic in Dongyu, and I am going there to treat patients!"
Hou Xiangxiang felt that sometimes she couldn't understand Huo Xiaolong when he talked to her; he had his own ideas, and what others said didn't work.
How could you not say he was born to be an emperor? He's got his own ideas, a real stubborn bastard.
Since Long'er ascended the throne, the court sessions have been changed to once every three days. If there are urgent matters, people can simply submit memorials to the palace instead of attending court every day.
Meetings, meetings, what kind of meetings are these? This is already a lot. There's a small meeting every three days and a big meeting every two weeks.
Yesterday happened to be the Grand Court Assembly. The Prefect of Dongyu County sent an urgent letter from 800 li away, saying that a plague had broken out in Da'an and several people in Dongyu had already been infected. He was afraid that the situation would get out of control, so he sent several imperial physicians from the capital to the area.
Hou Xiangxiang volunteered in the court, and as soon as she came out, her fellow disciples from the Imperial Medical Academy, including Gu Shilin, also came out.
This is a life-or-death situation, but there's absolutely no reason for me to let my junior sister go alone. Master is still in good health; he can easily beat the rest of us while we're on the bench.
So even though they were afraid of dying, they still came out and talked about going together.
Huo Xiaolong, sitting on the dragon throne, looked displeased the moment he saw Hou Xiangxiang emerge.
The Imperial Medical Academy made the young girl's senior brothers a little scared.
What's wrong?
Is it because they think we came out too late?
Others might not know, but Hou Xiangxiang did. Huo Xiaolong was just being petty; she didn't want her to leave.
“I can’t go with you this time. It’s a near-death experience. What if something happens to you… what if something bad happens to you? What will happen to Aunt Hou? What will happen to your elders? What will happen to me and Dani’er?”
"Anyway, you can't go."
Hou Xiangxiang understands the道理 (principles/reasoning), but she won't listen.
From childhood to adulthood, Huo Xiaolong has never left her side when she was treating her own illness; she is a doctor.
Well, it's time to realize some of my own life's value.
She can't rely on Huo Xiaolong as her backer forever. She has to be truly amazing; she wants to become famous throughout the world.
The little girl thought that she wanted people to speak highly of Hou Xiangxiang, praising her for her superb medical skills and compassionate heart.
She is said to be the emperor's confidante, bringing honor to Long'er.
"Long'er, let's have a proper chat, okay?"
"No! What if something happens to you? I can't go to Dongyu, no way!"
Grandpa Wang is now the chief steward of the palace, but he doesn't care about anything else. His main job is to take care of his granddaughter, but she doesn't need him.
Every day, he would set up a small chair and sit outside the Emperor's study, mainly to be obedient.
Hearing the commotion in the Imperial Study, the old man sighed. What emperor would argue with someone? These two children have never quarreled since he met them. Let's hope they don't fight again today.
“Look, I’ve never left you since I was a child, when I was treating patients. Shouldn’t I stand up for myself a bit? Then, the whole world will know that Hou Xiangxiang, the famous doctor of Great Yan, is the emperor’s confidante. The people of Great Yan will also know that they won’t have to be afraid of any epidemics. As long as I’m here, no disease will be a problem.”
Hou Xiangxiang is very patient. She patiently and gently explained things to her girlfriends, breaking it down into simple words.
Long'er remained expressionless, but by the end, even the little girl was getting impatient.
"I don't care! I have to go! I absolutely have to go!"
"I am the Emperor! You must listen to me!"
"I'm going back to pack my bags right now!"
Hou Xiangxiang turned to leave, but Huo Xiaolong reached out and grabbed her, though without using much force.
Although the little girl hadn't practiced martial arts, she was still quite strong, and she turned around and struggled with Long'er.
It didn't tear, it just struggled a bit.
But the two of them were making too much noise, which prompted Grandpa Wang to peek through a crack in the door.
"Oh my two little devils, why are they fighting?"
The eunuch standing nearby stared in disbelief, too stunned to utter a sound. In all these years, he had never heard of anyone daring to strike the emperor.
"What are you looking at? Go and invite the Empress Dowager over!"
"Please...please which one?"
"Both, please!"
Grandpa Wang rushed into the Imperial Study and saw his granddaughter with her legs wrapped around Miss Hou's waist, clinging to her like a bear.
The elderly person didn't know how to persuade them.
"Your Majesty, listen to me, come and release Physician Hou."
"No! If you release her, we'll go to Dongyu!"
What can she do? She can't possibly imprison the child; she has to change her mind today!
"I am an imperial physician! This is my duty!"
When Cen Ang and He Yi heard that the two children had gotten into a fight, they hurried to the Imperial Study.
From childhood to adulthood, Xiangxiang and Long'er have never had a fight. The two children are considerate of each other. Although they sometimes bicker, it has never come to the point of physical violence.
"What's wrong?"
"Long'er, let Xiangxiang go."
The little girl's imperial physician hat had fallen to the ground, her hair was a mess, and she was pouting, looking very unhappy.
"Mom, Mother."
Long'er greeted them, but didn't let them go.
"Let go, be good."
“She’s going to Dongyu to see the epidemic patients. I can’t go with her. What if something happens to her? What will happen to me and Dani’er?”
You two are such chatterboxes, it's like you're the widows of the little girl.
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