0p0 Chapter 560
Chapter 560
The Regent noticed her subtle movement. He smiled slightly and gently brushed the fallen petals from her hair. As his fingertips brushed against her ear, a slight warmth spread through her, causing Dongfang Wan'er's heart to beat faster involuntarily.
"From now on, I will protect you." The Regent's voice was deep and gentle, as if it possessed an irresistible magic. His words drifted in the evening breeze, intertwining with the faint fragrance of flowers, like a melodious tune, stirring ripples in Dongfang Wan'er's heart.
In the distance, the sound of the night watchman's clapper broke the silence of the world. However, the sound of the clapper could not disturb the two hearts that were gradually drawing closer. In the imperial garden where twilight was deepening, Dongfang Wan'er and the Regent's eyes met, and an indescribable emotion was revealed in each other's eyes.
As dusk settled over the golden dragon pillars of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, the Regent straightened up, his black python robe sweeping across the golden bricks, the subtle patterns gleaming coldly in the candlelight. He looked down at Dongfang Wan'er below, noticing the indigo powder still stained her white dress from the morning's preparation, her eyes reddening yet maintaining the composure of a healer, and a dull ache rose in his heart.
"Your Majesty's wisdom and insight are so great that you can see through the treacherous schemes of the villains." Dongfang Wan'er finished her grand salute, the pearl tassels of her jade hairpin swaying gently. "When the people on the frontier hear of this, they will surely feel Your Majesty's benevolence and wisdom." She deliberately steered the conversation toward the people's livelihood, and out of the corner of her eye, she saw the Regent nod slightly, and her tense shoulders relaxed a little.
The emperor, clutching the hem of his bright yellow robe, descended the steps, the nine-dragon jade pendant at his waist jingling. "If it weren't for the two of you," he said, "I would have almost wrongly executed a loyal minister." He gestured for an eunuch to present a vermilion tray, where a gilded medicine cauldron and a jade medical book shimmered in the candlelight. "This nine-turn purple-gold cauldron and the *Annotations to the Thousand Golden Prescriptions* are a gift for you to use in the Imperial Medical Academy."
Three days later, at dawn, the water clock in the Imperial Pharmacy had just finished dripping its third quarter of an hour. Dongfang Wan'er spread the newly picked purple-backed amaranth on a bamboo sieve when she suddenly noticed a corner of dark red silk peeking out from the gap in the sandalwood medicine box. She carefully pulled out the silk pouch, and a pungent, sweet-smelling stench wafted out—dark brown powder mixed with a few strands of gold thread, strikingly similar to the poison that had poisoned Eunuch Li half a year ago!
Clang! The jade pestle used for pounding medicine fell onto the blue bricks, startling the sparrows on the beams. Before Dongfang Wan'er could think further, the sound of clashing armor came from outside the door, and seven or eight guards rushed in with spears. The commander, a thousand-man, sneered, "By order of His Majesty, we are apprehending the assassins who intend to harm His Majesty!"
The ambergris incense in the Hall of Mental Cultivation was so strong it tasted bitter. Dongfang Wan'er knelt on the cold gold bricks, staring at the silk bundle spread out on the table. The emperor's fingertips tapped on the rosewood tabletop, each tap like a blow to her heart: "The calming soup you personally brewed the other day contains the same ingredients as the poison I ingested today, and this silk was found in your medicine chest..."
"Your Majesty, wait!" The Regent kicked open the carved wooden door and rushed into the hall, his black cloak fluttering behind him. "Wan'er is well-versed in pharmacology. If she really wanted to poison someone, how could she be so clumsy? Someone must have framed her!" He turned around and grasped Dongfang Wan'er's cold hand, feeling the marks left on her wrist from the struggle. Dark fire rose in his eyes.
Just as the stalemate was at hand, a dull thud came from outside the window. A sharp-eyed guard lifted the beaded curtain and saw a gray-clad eunuch lying in a pool of blood, clutching half a note tightly in his hand. The moment the Regent picked up the note, Dongfang Wan'er saw his knuckles turn white—written in vermilion on the plain silk were the words: "Cut the weeds and eliminate the roots, to prevent future troubles." The signature was exactly the same as the secret letter from the neighboring country's spy three years ago.
Deep within the palace, gilded candlesticks cast flickering shadows throughout the hall. The Regent's dignified face paled abruptly in the shifting light, his black robes, embroidered with python patterns, billowing slightly as he bent down. His voice carried an undeniable authority: "Your Majesty, this is clearly a treacherous scheme devised by spies from a neighboring country! They are intimately familiar with the situation in our court, attempting to use us to eliminate loyal officials and disrupt the stable government—their ambitions are truly treacherous!"
The emperor leaned back on his dragon throne, the gilded dragon pattern gleaming coldly against his bright yellow robe. Upon hearing this, his long, slender fingers tapped lightly on the armrest, his brows furrowing deeply. A hush fell over the hall, broken only by the rising smoke from the bronze crane incense burner on the table, intensifying the somber atmosphere. After a long silence, the emperor's deep voice broke the stillness: "This matter is indeed fraught with doubt. From the timing of the gray-robed eunuch's appearance to the evidence he carried, everything seemed too deliberate."
No sooner had the words been spoken than a series of hurried footsteps sounded outside the hall. A guard entered with a solemn expression, knelt on one knee, and presented a dark token with both hands: "Your Majesty, this item was found on that gray-robed eunuch!" The Regent's eyes were sharp, and upon closer inspection, his pupils contracted slightly—the token was clearly engraved with the emblem of a certain minister's residence.
The Regent reacted instantly, looking firmly at the Emperor: "Your Majesty! This is a golden opportunity! We must immediately send people to that minister's residence to investigate thoroughly, lest we alert the enemy! If we let this go unchecked, the consequences will be unimaginable!" His words were earnest and resounding, radiating an aura of conviction.
The emperor pondered for a moment, then nodded heavily: "Granted! The search must be thorough, leaving no stone unturned!" With that order, a well-trained squad of guards set off immediately, the sound of hooves fading into the night.
Standing in the corner, Dongfang Wan'er slowly loosened her tightly clenched hands. Gazing at the Regent's composed back, her beautiful eyes were filled with gratitude. Since being dragged into this fabricated conspiracy, she had endured daily torment in fear and despair, but now she finally saw a glimmer of hope.
Half an hour later, the rapid sound of horses' hooves broke the silence of the night once more. The searching guards rushed into the palace, their faces filled with panic, carrying a stack of letters and a delicate small porcelain bottle: "Your Majesty! In that minister's residence, we found a large number of secret letters indicating collusion with neighboring countries, as well as this bottle of deadly poison!"
The emperor abruptly stood up, his dragon robe billowing as the memorials on his desk scattered across the floor. His eyes widened in fury, his voice trembling slightly with rage: "Good! What a high-ranking official! I trusted him so much, yet he colluded with foreign enemies, plotting to kill me! He deserves to die!"
"Guards!" The emperor waved his hand, "Immediately arrest that traitor and all his cronies, and bring them to justice. Do not let a single one escape!" With each order issued, the palace was thrown into chaos, and the search party quickly headed towards the minister's residence.
Dongfang Wan'er could no longer hold back her tears. At this moment, the grievances and fears that had been building up in her heart for many days were finally released. She knew that if it weren't for the Regent's protection and wisdom, she would probably have died unjustly in prison long ago.
This incident further strengthened the Emperor's trust in the Regent and Dongfang Wan'er. After returning to the Imperial Medical Academy, Dongfang Wan'er diligently studied medicine, not only wholeheartedly treating the royal family but also frequently venturing into the countryside to relieve the suffering of the common people. Meanwhile, the Regent continued to wholeheartedly assist the Emperor. Together, they implemented new policies and rectified official corruption in the court; on the battlefield, they strategized and led their soldiers to repeatedly repel foreign invasions, jointly protecting the vast empire.
Under their rule, the country prospered and the people lived in peace and contentment. That thrilling past event gradually became a celebrated tale in the palace, a testament to the unwavering loyalty of the ministers and the trust and understanding between the ruler and his subjects.