amaotonovel Chapter 398
Chapter 398
Dusk enveloped the capital, and the last rays of sunlight bathed the courtyard of the Marquis's residence. Dongfang Wan'er paced anxiously along the corridor, glancing occasionally towards the gate. Suddenly, a familiar figure came into view. She stared intently, her eyes widening in surprise, and cried out in delight, "Brother, you're back!" Her voice was filled with long-suppressed excitement and joy.
The newcomer was none other than Ye Jingchu. Having returned after many hardships, his figure remained as upright as a pine tree. He nodded slightly, a fleeting hint of warmth flashing in his deep eyes, yet his cold and stern face remained as frosty as ever, as if the trials of the past years had hardened his heart to an unbreakable fortress. Looking at every familiar yet unfamiliar blade of grass and tree in the Marquis's mansion, Ye Jingchu silently vowed in his heart: "I will reclaim everything that belongs to me. I will avenge every humiliation and betrayal inflicted upon me."
Upon returning to the capital, Ye Jingchu, fully aware of the complex situation, dared not slacken his efforts. He began secretly investigating the court's political landscape, traversing the city's streets and alleys daily, discreetly gathering intelligence from all sides. Leveraging his medical skills honed during his years of travel and learning in the palace, he quickly rose to prominence among the capital's high-ranking officials. Many nobles suffering from intractable illnesses gradually recovered under his miraculous healing touch. In the process of treating and saving lives, Ye Jingchu subtly established connections with these powerful figures, quietly cultivating his own power base.
Meanwhile, he never forgot the mysterious woman who had saved his life at a crucial moment. He secretly dispatched his capable subordinates to search for her identity, hoping to gain more assistance from her and further his path of revenge.
Meanwhile, Dongfang Wan'er, a woman utterly loyal to Ye Jingchu, was also working tirelessly to bring him back to power. Ignoring rumors and the cold stares and ridicule of others, she told the powerful and former officials in the capital that Ye Jingchu was still alive, praising his talent and character to the best of her ability, trying to convince everyone that Ye Jingchu was the most capable person to regain the position of Crown Prince.
However, their actions quickly aroused the vigilance of the current crown prince. From a young age, the crown prince had harbored a strong desire for power, and he would stop at nothing to maintain his position. Upon learning of Ye Jingchu's return and his secret accumulation of power, he felt a surge of unease and fear. Therefore, he summoned his trusted advisors and meticulously devised a conspiracy to completely overthrow Ye Jingchu.
They spread rumors everywhere, slandering Ye Jingchu for using sorcery to cure diseases and bewitch people. In no time, rumors swirled throughout the capital, and the people were filled with fear, developing great doubt about Ye Jingchu's medical skills. Even those high-ranking officials who had once received his favors, under pressure from public opinion, severed ties with him.
Just as Ye Jingchu was in dire straits and unable to defend himself, the mysterious woman reappeared. Dressed in a simple, elegant robe, she walked into the crowd with grace and composure. It turned out she was a descendant of the reclusive medical sage. She publicly exposed the current crown prince's conspiracy, presenting irrefutable evidence proving that Ye Jingchu's medical skills were orthodox and legitimate, a truly righteous art of saving lives.
Upon learning the truth, the emperor was furious and immediately ordered a thorough investigation. Ultimately, the current crown prince's conspiracy was exposed, and he received his due punishment. Meanwhile, amidst the gasps and cheers of the crowd, Ye Jingchu was reinstated as crown prince.
With Ye Jingchu's return, the capital city once again bustled with activity. Streets and alleys were adorned with lanterns and decorations, and people flocked to the streets to celebrate this grand occasion. The wedding of Ye Jingchu and Dongfang Wan'er was also resuming amidst everyone's anticipation. On the wedding day, the entire capital city was immersed in a festive atmosphere, as if foreshadowing the arrival of a new and prosperous era.
Red candles flickered, the bridal veil gently fell, and Ye Jingchu and Dongfang Wan'er's wedding concluded in a joyous and peaceful atmosphere, the capital city immersed in this grand celebration. However, after the wedding, Ye Jingchu did not indulge in the pleasures of marriage; his gaze remained fixed on the distance, his heart devoted to the nation.
He knew all too well that the nation, after its previous turmoil, was like a giant ship tossed about in a raging storm, riddled with holes and in dire need of repair. The suffering of the people in every street and alley, the backlog of official duties in every court, weighed heavily on his heart. After careful consideration, Ye Jingchu, relying on his superb medical skills, opened a clinic in the busiest district of the capital. This clinic was different from others; a prominent sign hung at the entrance that read, "Free treatment exclusively for the poor."
Dongfang Wan'er watched her husband's busy figure, her eyes filled with love and support. She spent every day by Ye Jingchu's side, learning medicine from him, from the most basic identification of medicinal herbs to diagnosing patients and dispensing medicine; she studied diligently and assiduously. She moved among the patients in the clinic, patiently comforting those agitated by illness and helping to care for each patient who came for treatment.
Days passed by in a flurry of activity, and the people of the capital praised the Crown Prince and Crown Princess's good deeds. However, this peaceful life did not last long. One day, an urgent military report arrived like a bolt from the blue: a severe epidemic had broken out in the border region, and countless people were struggling with illness, their lives hanging by a thread.
Upon hearing this news, Ye Jingchu's expression instantly turned solemn. He knew all too well the horror of the epidemic and understood the dire straits the people on the border were currently in. Without the slightest hesitation, he decided to personally go to the border to investigate. Although Dongfang Wan'er was filled with worry, seeing her husband's resolute eyes, she simply nodded silently and began helping him pack his bags and prepare his travel items.
The next morning, before dawn, Ye Jingchu led a team of skilled imperial physicians and experienced soldiers on their journey to the border. They traveled day and night, their horses' hooves leaving long tracks in the dust. Along the way, they paid no heed to rest, their minds focused on only one thought: to reach the border as quickly as possible and rescue the suffering people.
Finally, after several days and nights of arduous travel, they arrived at the border. The scene before them moved everyone deeply: groaning people were everywhere, dilapidated houses were crammed with the sick, and the air was thick with the pungent smell of medicine and the stench of death. Many local doctors were helpless in the face of such a severe epidemic, and could only shake their heads and sigh in despair.
Undeterred by the predicament, Ye Jingchu quickly threw himself into his work. Disregarding his own safety, he ventured into every village, carefully examining the symptoms of each patient. Relying on his superb medical skills and rich experience, he meticulously analyzed the causes of the illness. After several days of continuous effort, he finally identified the root cause of the epidemic and formulated a detailed treatment plan.
While treating the people, Ye Jingchu also discovered weaknesses in the border defenses. The enemy could easily exploit these vulnerabilities, posing a significant threat. While directing the rescue efforts, he also took time to write back to the palace, detailing the border defense issues and recommending strengthening border defenses, increasing troop deployment, and reinforcing the city walls.