Su Majestad

Capítulo 93

Fortunately, the Emperor's pulse remained normal this time. When asked, Yang Luoxue repeated her previous statement: "As long as this winter passes, there will be no problem."

These words would have different meanings depending on who heard them, wouldn't they? The Ninth Prince was naturally pleased; the renowned physician he had summoned had stabilized the Emperor's condition. Before this, the Second Prince was the Emperor's preferred candidate for Crown Prince.

Through the gap in the beaded curtain, Dolan saw the Second Prince standing at the head of the group outside. His face was expressionless as he bowed to the princes. As he withdrew, he glanced back into the room.

Dolan casually asked the Queen for a favor, then put on her cloak and headed towards Jixue Pavilion.

The Second Prince was indeed there. Upon seeing her, he beckoned and handed her a small, flat, round, gilded box, no bigger than the palm of her hand, complete with a lock and key. The key was extremely small. "This came from Yuezhi. I brought it to you if you like."

"Thank you, brother-in-law." Dolan accepted it. "How is my sister? It's getting cold."

"fine."

“Brother-in-law…” She touched the box, hesitating, unsure how to begin, “The medicine you gave me has fallen into Yang Luoxue’s hands.”

"What?!" the Second Prince exclaimed in shock. "I thought you hadn't made your move yet—"

Dolan gave a wry smile.

Chapter 183

"What is he planning? Does Feng Yantang—does Feng Yantang know?"

"They probably don't know." If the Ninth Prince knew, this morning would certainly not have been so peaceful.

“Indeed…” The Second Prince calmed down a bit. The reason he asked Duolan for help was twofold: firstly, Duolan had been in the palace for many years and was therefore more capable; secondly, Duolan was intelligent and unlikely to make mistakes. He went over the matter in his mind again and said, “Duolan, go find Yang Luoxue.”

Dolan was stunned.

“The fact that he didn’t hand you over to Feng Yantang means he’s not entirely on Feng Yantang’s side.” The Second Prince’s eyes gleamed with eagerness. “Bring him to our side!”

“His—” That clear, cold gaze appeared before her once again, and Dolan shook her head. “I’m afraid it’s impossible.”

"Dolan," the Second Prince said, holding her shoulder, "this isn't for me, it's for your sister. If Feng Yantang becomes the new king, you should know what will happen to me. What will happen to your sister then? Can her body withstand any hardship?"

elder sister……

Dolan's chest felt like an empty valley, with those two words echoing endlessly within it.

She went to Yun'an Palace that afternoon. The palace was quiet; she wondered why the master and disciple didn't like servants around. She found Yang Luoxue in the courtyard. He was enjoying the rare winter sunshine. His head was leaning back in his chair, his long hair swept back and hanging straight down like a snow-white ribbon. A thin blanket covered him, his eyes closed, his long eyelashes forming slightly upturned dark lines.

This was the first time Dolan had seen him so closely and carefully. She was looking at this man, hailed as the greatest doctor in the world. He was still so young; she didn't know why he had such a reputation. She had seen him many times, but always behind a beaded curtain. Yesterday, under the lamplight, she had only noticed his eyes.

Blooming in an instant, withering in an instant. She still couldn't think of a way to describe that look in her eyes.

Dolan's maid whispered, "He's really handsome."

Yang Luoxue was not asleep. The sun shone down, casting a faint red glow on his eyelids. He opened his eyes, and a brighter light rushed in, like a ball of flame.

He saw that intense, fiery red again. It spread in the sunlight, as if it were burning him.

“Princess Duolan.” Zhan Yuan’s voice rang out from behind, breaking the brief daze. Yang Luoxue closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, Duolan could no longer find that dazzling light in his eyes. His eyes became lonely again, like the snow on the treetops.

He stretched out his right hand, and Zhan Yuan handed him the medicine bowl. He held the bowl and drank the medicine sip by sip, just like drinking tea. Zhan Yuan then brought him some water.

"Is the miracle doctor unwell?"

"Hmm." Zhan Yuan answered, returning the water cup and medicine bowl to the tray. He looked directly at Duo Lan, "Is there something you need, Princess?" He served Yang Luoxue her medicine with gentle, humble movements, but when his gaze fell on Yang Lan, he seemed like a different person. An indescribable firmness and strength emanated from him, making her feel as unshakeable as a mountain. His eyes held wariness and indifference. He didn't believe this princess who had sneaked into the medicine pavilion with poison.

"The divine physician showed great mercy last night, and Dolan has come to express her gratitude." The maid presented the long box in her hand. "This is the ginseng that King Sangdu gave to my father before the New Year. Please accept it, divine physician."

Chapter 184

Zhan Yuan looked at Yang Luoxue, whose eyes were still closed. She hummed in response. Zhan Yuan took the long box and bowed slightly as a courtesy.

Dolan smiled slightly, "I want to speak with Physician Yang alone. You may all leave." The maids obeyed and left, but Zhan Yuan remained standing. Yang Luoxue slowly opened her eyes, waved her hand, and Zhan Yuan hesitated for a moment before finally leaving.

The courtyard fell silent, as if only the sound of sunlight filtering through the trees could be heard. "Speak," Yang Luoxue said.

“The divine physician should know that I am the Second Prince’s person, right?” Dolan sat down in the chair next to him, feeling a vague sense of emptiness and confusion. Perhaps this was actually the state of mind of the person beside her? Otherwise, she wouldn’t have this feeling from afar, would she? Her mind was still churning with the thought of “how to persuade him,” but her thoughts were already wandering, unable to be contained. She paused for a long time before continuing, “My sister is the Second Prince’s principal wife.”

Yang Luoxue didn't respond, and Duolan was also surprised that she had brought up these topics. An emotion she herself didn't understand enveloped her. "My sister has been in poor health since childhood, and in recent years she has become increasingly weak. But my brother-in-law takes good care of her. There are many concubines in the Second Prince's mansion, but none of them have dared to say a word against my sister, because my brother-in-law values her highly." She touched her forehead, her voice inexplicably weak, "...I am very grateful to him."

He asked casually, "So you helped him poison him?"

"It's to frame the Ninth Prince. Don't worry, even if I had ten times the courage, I wouldn't dare to commit regicide. If things went smoothly last night, you would have been stopped early this morning, and the imperial physician would have found the poison in the medicine. That way, the Ninth Prince wouldn't be able to escape responsibility."

"Without me, the patient will die very soon."

He spoke casually yet confidently, his body slumped in the chair, seemingly frail, yet exuding an undeniable arrogance. Dolan smiled. "To be frank, in the entire court, perhaps only the Empress and the Ninth Prince wish the Emperor were still alive."

Yang Luoxue smiled. Her thin lips curved upwards like a crescent moon. Was it a smile of approval, or a faint mockery? "Truly rebellious."

“If the Emperor were to pass away now, the throne would pass to my brother-in-law, and then my sister would be the Empress.” She paused, leaning closer to him. “Divine Physician, with the Ninth Prince’s achievements, if the Emperor wanted to make him the heir, he would have done so long ago. There are naturally reasons why he hasn’t yet made him the heir. Bringing in the Divine Physician is certainly a great achievement, but compared to the Ninth Prince’s past political achievements, this achievement is actually nothing.”

Yang Luoxue hummed in agreement, her tone slightly rising—was it a question or a mockery? Duolan didn't know. She took a small breath. "—So, Physician Yang, you should leave. Don't stay here. I know Doctor Zhan's martial arts are not weak, but in this deep palace, it's far too easy to scheme against both of you. If there's one, there are countless others." Yes, leave. Having said so much, her thoughts cleared at this moment. She finally understood why he had let her go last night—because he had no intention of getting involved in these power struggles. He wasn't on the Ninth Prince's side, nor could he ever be on her brother-in-law's side.

“You don’t belong here.” She gave a wry smile. “Why would someone like you come here?”

Chapter 185

Once you enter this place, you'll be entangled in countless threads, with no clear distinction between you and your surroundings.

"A friend asked me to come," Yang Luoxue answered quietly.

Friends? Dolan suddenly felt a little surprised. Someone like him has friends? Oh no, she shouldn't think like that. She didn't understand him at all. Although he was so aloof and distant in front of her, like a celestial being, there are always some people in this world who can bring a gentle smile to his face.

"They must have been very good friends," she said with a touch of melancholy, her voice carrying an indescribable sense of desolation. Her voice faded into the cold air, like a dragonfly skimming the surface of water, rippling in his memory before gradually surging back up.