Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
If one clearly knows something is wrong yet continues to make the same mistake, can what was once wrong become right?
If one clearly knows they should not fall in love with you but still does, is that an endless sin?
In this world, there are no opportunities for "what if."
Everyone in the palace wore masks of various designs and colors. These masks were specifically designed for the current plague, and out of concern for infection, I made sure to thicken the masks. I personally conducted tests to ensure they were easy to breathe through while providing multiple layers of protection against contagion. Due to our differing statuses, I instructed Little Seven to craft the masks according to the quality of the fabric. For instance, the eunuchs and palace maids wore plain white masks, while the noble ladies would rather risk infection than wear ordinary white masks unless I specifically instructed them to do so. Their masks were made from high-quality colored silk on the outside, with cotton on the inside; they were merely different in appearance from those worn by commoners, but this made wearing a mask fashionable among the ladies of the palace. Masks also began to gain popularity throughout Jin State, effectively curbing some of the epidemic's spread. For children, I specially designed masks featuring various cartoon characters.
The mask Shaoshao wore was one I personally crafted for him.
He had only recently recovered from his illness and still required careful attention and rest. I found it strange that my blood could save him. I recalled what Flower Breaking Child had said: Feng Fei would enhance my body, perfecting every part of me. Surely this blood carried a restorative function; otherwise, how could my skin and appearance grow younger and more beautiful?
However, this matter remained a secret; no one knew. Outsiders believed we had simply administered the correct medicine to save Shaoshao. This was necessary because if anyone learned that my blood could save lives, everyone would come seeking my help for their sick loved ones. I would end up bleeding myself dry for others until I became nothing more than a husk. I did not consider myself capable of such self-sacrifice.
Yet Shaoshao was special. I never expected my blood could save him; that day, I merely saw him growing weaker and did not want to witness his death. So I gave him a transfusion, not knowing my blood would flow into Shaoshao's body like it had a life of its own, rapidly transforming and repairing him. Feng Fei saved Shaoshao. Though it seemed unbelievable, the most important thing was that Shaoshao was safe.
I believed Shaoshao would be fine. Sima Shao was destined to become Jin Mingdi in the future. How could he die? If he did, history would have to be rewritten! This belief sustained me as I tirelessly cared for him day and night for an entire month.
I knew this was because Shaoshao meant too much to me; he was my child.
"Your Majesty, please allow this servant to accompany you." My tone was firm, my gaze unwavering, and my expression left no room for doubt.
Sima Rui looked intently at me kneeling on the ground: "Do you understand that my purpose in leaving the palace is not for leisure but—"
"I know," I interrupted loudly before he could finish. "Your Majesty is leaving the palace to empathize with the people's suffering and investigate the situation regarding this epidemic."
I raised my head; my gaze showed no signs of retreat or fear as I looked at him brightly and said, "This servant will ensure that Your Majesty faces no inconvenience and will do everything possible to alleviate your burdens."
Sima Rui instinctively wanted to refuse but then recalled that ambitious woman who had cared for the crown prince and miraculously helped him recover; curiosity sparked within him about how she operated among the common people and how she could save his subjects. Since witnessing her extraordinary care for his son, he could no longer regard her with his previous gaze. She was not an ordinary woman.
Instead of responding directly to me, Sima Rui suddenly asked, "Xie Weiying, who exactly are you?"
I was momentarily taken aback; what did he mean? I felt confused and stammered, "Your—Your Majesty."
He suddenly chuckled lightly, "Do you know? I've put a bounty on Swaying in Green Robes. Have you heard of it?" He turned to look at me teasingly. "Five million taels of gold. If someone catches her, wouldn't they be set for life?"
I feigned extreme panic and confusion, respectfully saying, "This servant does not understand what Your Majesty means." But inside, I was calculating whether I should let Azure Thorn and Little Seven sell me out for that five million taels of gold. That would ensure I wouldn't have to worry in my next life, with such a hefty bounty.
"Don't worry, she hasn't been found yet," Sima Rui said mysteriously.
My mind was unfortunately tangled. What was this all about? Wasn't he talking about leaving the palace? How did it turn into this unrelated topic? It seemed that the person left in the dark did not grasp the deeper implications of the conversation.
He suddenly stared blankly into the distance and said softly, "Do you think I know nothing? If you don't speak, I won't ask. I just don't want to believe it." Not 'I' but 'me.' This title represented everything. If you truly are him, then why deceive me? Sima Rui smiled bitterly. He then turned his head away lightly, unwilling to think further.
Such a hypothesis was something he dared not consider or wish to ponder.
Before I could gather my thoughts, he spoke in a deep voice, "Your petition has been approved by me. Prepare yourself. We will set off tomorrow morning."
I stood there in a daze. What did those nonsensical words mean?
But he had already walked far away. For some reason, I felt that at this moment, his back seemed somewhat lonely, filled with helplessness.
He recalled the words written in her notebook: "In this life, my greatest wish is no longer to yearn for wealth and power, to dominate the world from the highest place and look down upon everyone, but rather to wander freely with a man—my one and only man in this life—traveling through the world together, helping those in need, living as a simple couple with responsibilities... He is my only one, and I am his only one. There is no other like us in this world."
What he could not give her, why should he force himself to know everything? It would be better to let it all sink into Dream, allowing them to become a beautiful dream of yellow millet and settle deep within their hearts.
Consort Huan said that people are too obsessed with knowing everything; in the end, they often find themselves trapped within their own circumstances and cannot see clearly anything at all. Blinding their own eyes prevents them from perceiving anyone or anything.
In the following days, temporary medical facilities began to be set up across the country. Doctors from all over were forcibly brought there, with the cost of herbs covered by the court, tirelessly treating citizens infected with Plague. Unexpectedly, as soon as the temporary medical facility was established, countless citizens surged in. There were so many patients that the tents erected just days ago quickly filled up. The manpower also began to dwindle. In the crowded tents where people came and went, an ordinary apprentice doctor hurried back and forth among several patient areas. Occasionally mixed with shouts for help, this apprentice always responded loudly and then appeared before the doctors as quickly as possible. Despite being run ragged, the young man showed no signs of dissatisfaction or complaint. The physicians all wore masks to avoid infection.
Sima Rui still resided in a nearby villa. The safety of the emperor was tied to the safety of the realm; although he personally investigated the epidemic this time, due to his status difference, he had to act as a decision-maker rather than risk himself. He summoned all officials to discuss the current situation and spent several consecutive days immersed in countless decisions. When he finally had time to breathe, he suddenly realized that the person who had been silently lingering in the back courtyard had vanished without him noticing when it happened. He couldn't find her anywhere. When he asked the servants at the villa, no one knew where Consort Lian had gone. Sima Rui discovered that even her little eunuch and maid who always followed her were missing too. Only once at night did he catch a glimpse of her returning home looking travel-worn—dressed in plain gray linen clothes with a white mask covering her face except for her bright eyes.
Before he could ask anything, she quickly paid her respects and hurried back to the courtyard, shutting herself inside.
This situation continued for quite some time.
Eventually unable to contain himself any longer, Sima Rui changed his clothes and prepared to follow her discreetly on an unannounced visit to see if any official dared disregard his orders or fail to implement them properly.
However, upon seeing such a scene,
the large Red List was already filled with a long line of young peasant women and maidservants. The crowd continued to surge forward, eager to join the queue.
Sima Rui was somewhat surprised. Mixing in with the crowd, she approached and saw a woman sitting upright at a wooden table, her head bent over as she wrote something on a piece of paper. Each woman who approached her was quietly asked a question, followed by the woman jotting down notes, and then handing the selected women a complete set of white clothing and a mask.
Looking up, Sima Rui noticed that the large red paper prominently displayed: Physician Woman Recruitment. Those interested could receive ten taels of silver or free treatment for infected patients at home. Interested individuals could contribute to helping their patients. It was concise and powerful; no wonder so many people were applying. In just a few sentences, it encompassed everything.
Curiosity piqued, Sima Rui wondered what would happen next.
After the recruitment for Physician Woman concluded, I instructed the women to come to work on time the next day before sending Yun Ying and Xiao Quanzi back. I then headed to the nearby clinic run by Jun Jin to find Azure Thorn. I wanted to know if he had developed any prescriptions. The number of infected individuals was rising rapidly; recruiting new Physician Women meant training them to care for patients while also teaching them how to avoid infection themselves. This was as crucial as the presence of doctors in modern nursing. Additionally, many of their family members might also be infected. With limited resources in the greenhouse and medicinal herbs, many were unable to receive treatment, providing these women an opportunity to learn about epidemic prevention or earn some money.
In the darkness, I swiftly navigated my way using lightness techniques. Jun Jin's clinic had a great reputation here; he had successfully treated many patients. Thus, many people rushed to seek treatment there. However, space was still limited.
Now that the court had also begun participating in rescue efforts, finding a treatment method was paramount, and for that, we could only rely on Azure Thorn. I had always believed he would find it; all we needed was time.
When I burst into the clinic, Azure Thorn, who had been busy, appeared somewhat surprised by my arrival. Before I could even ask my question, he smiled at me confidently and calmly said, "I found it."
Comment 0 Comment Count