Bai Ruozhu took a deep breath and, gathering her courage, said, "If you feel guilty, you should make efforts to make ands, rather than wallowing in guilt and sadness, letting your health deteriorate. Maybe you’re punishing yourself, but how can you lead the ministers to restore the court with a failing body?"
"The eldest son of the ng Family was finally recognized by his family after many years, only to be tricked by the rebellious Left ssenger of the Tongzheng Departnt, Wu Yunfeng, and lose both arms. The most beloved legitimate daughter of the ng Family ca to the Capital City for a marriage proposal, but was taken by King Rui to be a consort. Your Majesty, you should know why, shouldn’t you?"
Bai Ruozhu’s eyes reddened as she spoke; she sniffed and continued, "Do you know what the old lady of the ng Family told ?"
Tang Yin did not expect Bai Ruozhu to be so bold, but he couldn’t help being drawn in by her words.
"What did she say?"
"She said that Jinse would not bring sha to the ng Family; do you understand? The ng Family would rather have their most beloved daughter die than let her marry King Rui. Even ng Jinse herself, no matter how delicate, would not allow King Rui to use her to control the ng Family."
Bai Ruozhu’s voice choked, "There aren’t many descendants in the ng Family; one son beca disabled, one daughter seems unlikely to escape misfortunes. But, do you see the ng City Lord and the old madam fall down? If they were drowning in remorse, who would help Your Majesty regain what rightfully belongs to you?"
"King Rui is deeply scheming, cold-blooded, and murderous. How can such a person, as an emperor, care for the people and be a wise ruler? Besides, I contributed all my family wealth, not to watch you sink into despair!"
"How audacious!" The Emperor’s voice suddenly rose, startling Wang Shun beside him, who quickly gave Bai Ruozhu a signal with his eyes, silently urging her to calm down and not anger the Emperor.
Yet, Bai Ruozhu stood straight, speaking neither arrogantly nor submissively, "Good dicine tastes bitter to the patient, but helpful; honest advice is unpleasant to the listener, but beneficial."
Tang Yin’s furious expression quickly lted, and the tight muscles in his face softened.
He sighed, looking up towards the window with a voice that sounded deep and weary.
"You’re right; soone should have scolded awake."
Bai Ruozhu observed that the mont had co and added, "Your Majesty is a filial son and a benevolent ruler, thus you’re so remorseful. But we, your ministers, cannot bear to see your health deteriorate. Your illness is an internal injury plus cold, not hard to cure. It worsened only because your heart is troubled."
From the mont she saw Tang Yin, Bai Ruozhu noticed and realized her disciple, Jiu Sheng’s dical skills; how could it worsen to the point of spitting blood when it should have been quickly cured? Observing Tang Yin’s low spirits, she could guess the reason.
At this ti, all ministers were aligning with him, fearing that they might discourage him with their words. But Bai Ruozhu didn’t want to care that much. Many of her relatives and friends were in the Capital City, and she donated her wealth—could she just watch the Emperor collapse in despair, and see the hope of regaining power fade away?
Tang Yin coughed awkwardly and said, "You’re right, Bai Family; I will regain my spirits, but you still must return to your hotown and safeguard the pregnancy. I have promised Jiang Yichun." As he spoke, he gestured to Wang Shun, "Give Jiang Yichun’s letter to her."
Bai Ruozhu’s heart was filled with joy, realizing that Achun had written her a letter, but he had even asked the Emperor to help deliver it—wasn’t that too much face?
She wanted eagerly to open and read it imdiately, but held it back due to being in the Emperor’s presence, storing it in her sleeve before bowing to take her leave.
Once Bai Ruozhu exited the Main Hall of the Guest Palace, Wang Shun tentatively said, "Your Majesty, Bai the Chief Doctor is genuinely loyal; please do not take it to heart."
Tang Yin glanced sidelong at Wang Shun, "Do I appear to be a muddle-headed ruler?"
This statent carried both the majesty of yesterday and so spirit, notably different from his previously dispirited deanor. Wang Shun felt secretly delighted, knowing that the Emperor had taken his words to heart, but for the sake of the Emperor’s dignity, he could only pretend to have noticed nothing.
As Bai Ruozhu erged from the Main Hall of the Guest Palace, she saw Diao Yao and Chu Hai waiting for her not far away. She quickly approached, complaining, "You’re still injured; shouldn’t you be resting well? Did you think I wouldn’t visit you?"
"We’re not seriously injured; it’s just so surface wounds, but the Emperor..." Chu Hai said, awkwardly turning his head away. Even he was surprised by how much concern his tone revealed.
Diao Yao, being younger, was straightforward, saying, "We were worried about Royal Brother’s health. Although sotis he can be quite annoying, he truly is a wise ruler and our brother. Sister Ruozhu, please think of a way to cure his illness!"
Bai Ruozhu patted Diao Yao’s hair. The child’s once shiny black long hair was now dry and yellow from injury and toil. Her forrly slightly plump face had slimd down to a sharp oval.
"Don’t worry; his health will be restored soon. It’s just that he has a heart ailnt, but he will soon snap out of it and regain his strength." Bai Ruozhu didn’t want to bring up that she had scolded the Emperor—that’s sothing the fewer people knowing, the better, as she didn’t want Tang Yin to resent her.
Chu Hai raised an eyebrow, "What did you say to him?"
Bai Ruozhu smiled, "Nothing. Once he settles down here, he’ll start thinking about how to regain the royal power."
Chu Hai nodded without speaking, then paused before adding, "Actually, I am quite grateful that he initially didn’t allow to go to the Western Regions; otherwise, I wouldn’t have been in the palace banquet to protect Diao Yao, and Yingtong left the Capital City early, dodging the disaster."
Diao Yao, on the side, pouted and murmured, "When did I need your protection? Clearly, my Martial Arts are better than yours now."
Bai Ruozhu couldn’t help laughing, saying, "Diao Yao has great potential in Martial Arts. When you beco a heroine, you must protect us!"
Diao Yao, being young and carefree, bead brightly, "Of course, you don’t know that when we were ambushed on this journey, I helped a lot. And when we go to war with King Rui, I want to be a female General leading the troops!"
Bai Ruozhu felt much better being amused by her, and said with a smile, "A female General not only needs to have high Martial Arts skills but also be well-read in Military Tactics. Diao Yao, you need to work even harder."
Diao Yao’s face fell upon hearing this, "Forget it, Military Tactics are too hard to understand. I’ll just be a vanguard in battle and leave the role of General to soone else."
Bai Ruozhu’s mind suddenly flashed to Tu Ying, the spirited woman clad in red, who also said she wanted to be a female General. She wondered how she was doing now.
Bai Ruozhu continued chatting with the Chu Hai siblings about the journey’s events, learning from them that amidst the later arrivals, was the Pri Minister and his family. Her future sister-in-law, Si Yihuan, also arrived safely. Additionally, there was the Gu Family father and daughter, along with the Empress Dowager’s natal Ding Family; Ding Guangji was safe, although Lin Xufei did not co but returned to Jiangnan to gather troops with his father.
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