Rebirth: Phoenix Riding the Ninth Heaven

Everyone's heart finally settled, and they happily continued their search for herbs in the valley. In a dimly lit, damp corner, Li Ruoyue made a new discovery: a second herb. This one resembled ginseng and exuded a faint, delicate fragrance. She carefully dug it out and placed it in her medicine basket.

Over the next few days, they found several herbs one after another. But finding the last one proved incredibly difficult! Medical books said it grew on the top of a mountain covered in snow year-round, a harsh environment.

When they finally reached the foot of the mountain, a fierce, cold wind whipped through them like a wild horse, threatening to knock them to the ground. The gust was so fierce that they could barely keep their footing. The mountain was covered in a thick blanket of snow, a pristine white, like a fairytale world shrouded in silver. However, this beautiful snowy landscape also made their journey extremely difficult, requiring immense effort to take every step.

Luzhu's petite and lovely face was reddened by the cold wind, like a ripe apple. Her lips had lost their color, and her teeth chattered constantly from the cold, making a slight "clucking" sound. Li Ruoyue saw this and felt distressed. She quickly took off her cloak and gently draped it over Luzhu's shoulders, saying gently, "Hold on a little longer, we will definitely find the herbs."

In this icy and snowy landscape, they struggled to climb the mountain, using both their hands and feet. Every step was challenging, and a single mistake could have meant a slip. However, they remained undeterred by the difficulties, believing only in their one goal: to find the precious herb.

Just as they struggled forward, they heard a sudden cry of surprise. It turned out that their uncle had accidentally slipped and was sliding down the hillside like a kite with a broken string. This sudden change caused everyone to panic, but Xiao Yi showed amazing reaction speed in an instant. He rushed forward like an arrow from a bow, and at the critical moment, he tightly grasped his uncle's hand.

Li Ruoyue and Luzhu also rushed to help. Working together, the three of them used all their strength and finally pulled their uncle back from the brink of death. His face was as pale as paper, clearly terrified. After everyone took a breath, they continued their journey to find the herbal remedy.

Finally, they reached the top of the mountain. In a sheltered crevice on the summit, Li Ruoyue discovered the final herb. She excitedly exclaimed, "We've found it! We've finally found it!" Everyone gathered around, their eyes filled with joy and relief after exhaustion, gazing at the precious herb.

After gathering all the herbs, they immediately set out to return to Xiao Yi's hometown. Along the way, everyone was eager to return home, hoping to brew the antidote as soon as possible to save the sick people.

After many hardships, Li Ruoyue and her group finally arrived at Xiao Yi's hometown. The village was now shrouded in a heavy haze. Sick people lay in bed, groaning in pain, their loved ones weeping in worry. The entire village was filled with an atmosphere of despair.

Li Ruoyue and the others, unfazed by the fatigue of the journey, immediately set about preparing the antidote. They set up several large pots in the village grounds and, following the instructions in the medical texts, carefully placed seven herbs into the pots, slowly simmering them over a controlled heat. The villagers gathered around, their eyes filled with both anticipation and worry.

After several hours of simmering, the antidote was finally brewed. Li Ruoyue and her uncle personally distributed the antidote to the sick villagers and watched them drink it. Time passed slowly in the tense waiting, and everyone's heart was in their throat.

As time passed, miracles began to unfold. After drinking the antidote, the villagers' feverish bodies began to cool, the red spots on their bodies gradually faded, and the itching symptoms were significantly reduced. The villagers' spirits gradually improved, and a new lease of life appeared on their faces. Seeing this, the entire village erupted in cheers and cries of gratitude.

An old man, tears in his eyes, walked up to Li Ruoyue and the others and said tremblingly, "You are our village's great benefactors. If it weren't for you, our entire village would be destroyed." As he spoke, he was about to kneel and kowtow. Li Ruoyue quickly supported the old man and said, "Old man, this is what we should do. As long as everyone can get better, it's fine."

Over the next few days, Li Ruoyue and others remained in the village, observing the villagers' recovery and providing guidance on how to recuperate and prevent a recurrence of the disease. Under their meticulous care, the sick villagers gradually recovered, and the village regained its former vitality.

However, all good things must come to an end. Li Ruoyue and her companions' journey back to the capital was delayed for a long time, and they had to say goodbye to the villagers. Upon hearing the news, the villagers came to see them off, bringing their own local specialties and expressing their gratitude.

Xiao Yi looked at Li Ruoyue, his eyes filled with reluctance. "If it weren't for your generous help this time, I really don't know what I would have done. I cannot express my gratitude enough. If you need me in the future, I will definitely go through fire and water for you." Li Ruoyue smiled and said, "You are too polite, Young Master Xiao. Healing and saving lives is our original intention. I hope your village will be safe and sound from now on."

With the villagers' farewell, Li Ruoyue, Luzhu and their uncle set off on the road back to Beijing. Along the way, they recalled their experience in Xiao Yi's hometown with a lot of emotion in their hearts.

After a long journey, Li Ruoyue and her companions finally returned to the capital. This ancient and prosperous city was still as bustling as usual, with traffic, people coming and going, and a constant clamor.

Li Ruoyue stood on the street, looking at the familiar streets and the bustling crowds, and a strong sense of familiarity surged in her heart. Every alley and every bridge here carried her childhood memories and the footprints of her growth.

They had just stepped into the house and had not had time to rest properly when they heard a commotion outside. Lu Zhu hurried to open the door and saw a group of people surrounding an elegant young man walking in.

Li Ruoyue looked closely and saw that the person who came was actually her good friend Bailixi! Bailixi was tall and handsome, and his white clothes made him look even more elegant. When he saw Li Ruoyue, he immediately smiled with surprise and walked up to her quickly: "Ruoyue, as soon as I heard you were back, I rushed here without stopping. You must have worked so hard on this journey!"

Li Ruoyue smiled and replied, "Not bad. Although I encountered a lot of things along the way, I also gained a lot." Then, she began to enthusiastically recount every detail of the journey, whether it was the interesting stories in the process of practicing medicine, the hardships when treating the villagers, or the wonderful adventures when searching for herbs, she told them one by one without reservation.

Baili Xi listened intently, as if he had experienced it all himself. Sometimes his palms sweated with nervousness over Li Ruoyue and the others' dangerous encounter, and sometimes he felt sincerely happy for their successful rescue of the villagers.

However, this joy did not last long. As Li Ruoyue's story went deeper, Baili Xi's expression gradually became solemn. Finally, he could not help but interrupt Li Ruoyue and said, "Ruoyue, the capital city seems calm on the surface, but in fact, there are undercurrents. After I returned to the capital with Sihuangzi, I went to the south again because the ministers were suspicious of each other and the power in the court was also very unstable. Moreover, recently there was news in the palace that Queen Kun was unwell. The doctors of the Imperial Hospital tried all kinds of methods, but they could not make Queen Kun's condition better. Emperor Qian was worried about this and has issued an edict to recruit famous doctors from all over the world to come to the palace to treat Queen Kun."

After hearing this, Li Ruoyue couldn't help but feel an urge. She thought to herself, "If that's the case, perhaps I can really go to the palace and give it a try. Although my medical skills are not yet profound, I am willing to do my best to try to treat the Queen's illness."

However, Baili Xi looked at her with some concern and said softly, "The palace is not like the outside world. There are many rules there, and you may get into big trouble if you are not careful. Are you really sure you want to go?" His eyes revealed concern and worry for Li Ruoyue.

Li Ruoyue sensed Baili Xi's concern, but her resolve remained unwavering. She nodded without hesitation, her tone firm, "A doctor's heart is like a parent's. Since I have this opportunity to treat the Queen, how could I back down? No matter how many difficulties and challenges I encounter, I will give it my all."

At this time, the uncle standing aside also said: "Ruoyue, uncle supports your decision. You have followed me to learn medicine since you were young, and now you have made considerable accomplishments, and you also have rich medical experience. Maybe you can really cure the queen's illness. However, you must be careful and cautious in the palace, and never act rashly." The uncle's words showed both trust in Li Ruoyue and advice to her.

Li Ruoyue then began to meticulously prepare the various instruments and herbs needed for her practice. These instruments and herbs were carefully selected and collected by her daily, and each one embodied her passion and dedication to medicine.

With Bailixi's recommendation, Li Ruoyue finally had the opportunity to enter the magnificent and mysterious palace and treat the queen. The moment she stepped into the palace, she was overwhelmed by a solemn and awe-inspiring atmosphere.

The buildings within the palace were magnificent and splendid, each one showcasing the royal dignity and prestige. Li Ruoyue walked cautiously, fearing that a single careless mistake would disrupt the tranquility and solemnity of the place.

She knew that this entrance into the palace was of extraordinary significance. It wasn't just a chance to showcase her medical skills, but also a crucial step in her future plans. Yet, she felt a sense of unease, wondering if this entrance into the palace would bring her closer to her distant dream, or further away.