A Shocking Dream

Atop Cangshan Mountain, a chilling wind howled, and snowflakes fluttered down, like a dreamlike scroll unfolding between heaven and earth. The dancing Cangshan snow was pure and flawless, each flake a work of art meticulously crafted by nature, carefreely weaving through the mountains and forests, blanketing the hills, trees, and earth, purifying the world's clamor.

Wu Nian stood atop Cangshan Mountain, gazing into the distance. He saw a vast expanse of mountains, half-disappearing beneath a blanket of snow, like a sinuous dragon slumbering above the earth. The snowflakes drifted down, blurring the line between heaven and earth, immersing him in an ethereal and tranquil world.

She slowly stretched out her hand, and a snowflake drifted down, landing squarely on her palm. The icy touch instantly overwhelmed her, causing her to shudder slightly. "How cold," Wu Nian thought to herself.

The tranquility was shattered by Kanan's cry. "Master-uncle, there's a message from the capital, a carrier pigeon." Kanan, clutching a carrier pigeon, trotted over to Wunian. Her hair was a little disheveled, her face a mixture of curiosity and eagerness, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. The pigeon fluttered in her hands, seemingly conveying an important message.

Wu Nian frowned slightly, a wave of emotion welling up in her heart. The capital? Were they taking action? Her heartbeat quickened involuntarily, a complex mix of emotions welling up within her. She carefully untied the note tied to the pigeon's leg and slowly unfolded it for a closer look. The handwriting on the note was clearly visible: "Yun Shuang's identity has been handled as planned." Seeing these words, Wu Nian's eyes flashed with surprise and relief.

"Kan-Kan, quickly prepare some paper and pen and leave them inside the cave. My journey to becoming my own master is about to begin." Wu Nian's voice was filled with excitement and determination. Kan-Kan was a little confused, not understanding why her great-grandmaster was so excited, but she obediently went to get the paper and pen.

Once Yunshuang's identity was gone, she could be herself again. She was no longer General Lin Bingshuang of the Snow Nation, burdened with a heavy mission and responsibility; nor was she Yunshuang, the Saintess of the Cloud Nation, the one held in high regard. Instead, she was herself, the miraculous doctor Lin Wunian. She longed for this new identity, longing to break free from the constraints of the past and begin a brand new life.

Wu Nian's thoughts drifted back to the past, those days of struggle and pain still vividly resonating. She had fought bloody battles on the battlefield, paying a heavy price for her country and its honor. Later, she was forced to become the Holy Maiden of the Cloud Nation, enduring all kinds of pressure and expectations. Now, finally, she had the chance to break free from it all and be her true self again.

As the cold wind whistled in her ears, Wu Nian seemed to see hope and freedom in the future. She looked forward to a brand new world that belonged to her, awaiting the turning point of fate. She knew this would be a new beginning, a journey filled with challenges and opportunities. But she was not afraid, because she was ready, ready to embrace the life that belonged to her.

Emperor Ansheng paced back and forth in his study, his brow furrowed in worry. "What could have caused this sudden onset of illness? Is it related to the last assassination attempt, or..." He kept running through various possibilities in his mind.

Emperor Ansheng felt a headache when he recalled the assassination of the Saint. He had suppressed the news at the time, thinking that the matter would be settled. However, he did not expect that the Saint would be seriously ill now, which made him wonder if there was a connection between the two.

If the Saint's illness is indeed related to the assassination, then things become even more complicated. Emperor Ansheng is well aware of the importance the Yun Kingdom places on the Saint. Once they learn that the Saint is seriously ill after the assassination, it will inevitably cause an uproar. Daqi will also face tremendous pressure from the Yun Kingdom.

"Come here, pass on the imperial physician's order." Emperor Ansheng finally stopped and gave the order.

A moment later, the Imperial Physician hurried over. "Your Majesty," he saluted.

"What is the Saint's condition like? Will she not survive more than three days?" Emperor An Sheng asked anxiously.

The Imperial Physician lowered his head slightly and said with a worried look, "Your Majesty, the Saint's pulse is extremely weak. We have tried our best, but... the situation is indeed not optimistic. I'm afraid... she won't survive more than three days."

Emperor Ansheng's expression darkened. He was silent for a moment and then asked, "Is the Saint's illness related to the previous assassination attempt in the palace?"

"Your Majesty, this is not related to this matter. After extensive investigation, we have found that the Saint suffers from a rare disease called cancer. This disease is congenital and gradually erodes the body with age. The Saint's condition has reached the advanced stage and there is no hope of recovery."

This news was like a bolt from the blue, plunging the entire palace into deep despair. Emperor Ansheng's face turned pale, as he knew a huge crisis was about to strike.

"No matter what, you must try every possible way to see if you can prolong the life of the Saint. At the same time, strengthen the protection of the Saint and there must not be any more mistakes." Emperor An Sheng gave the order decisively.

The Imperial Physician quickly responded, "We will do our best."

Emperor Ansheng waved his hand, dismissing the imperial physician. Silence returned to the imperial study. He sat back down at his desk, looking at the mountain of memorials, but he had no desire to process them. The Saint's illness weighed on his heart like a huge rock, weighing heavily on him.

In this tense moment, An Shengdi knew he had to make a decision to address the potential crisis. He began to consider various strategies, trying to find a way to resolve the crisis. However, in this complex situation, every decision could have unexpected consequences, leaving him deeply troubled.

"What? She can't last more than three days?" The news quickly reached Kou Jing's ears. She stood up abruptly, a complex expression on her face. On the one hand, she was secretly glad that the Saint's serious illness might stop Qin Rongchen from thinking about her, but on the other hand, she was worried about the consequences of this incident.

Kou Jing paced back and forth in the palace, her mind a jumble of emotions. She thought of Qin Rongchen's stubborn nature; if he knew the Saint's life was imminent, who knew what madness he would do? Meanwhile, the relationship between the two nations had become strained by the Saint's illness, and a single misstep could ignite war.

She frowned, pondering a response. "Come here, keep a close eye on the Saint's movements. Report any abnormalities immediately," Kou Jing ordered. She had to be fully prepared for this crisis to ensure the stability of the royal family and the peace of the country.

"Your Highness the Queen Mother, the Emperor has sent a message saying that at the beginning of the afternoon, the Queen Mother and the Emperor would like to go to the Jinyu Courtyard." The voice of the palace servant rang out in the palace, breaking Kou Jing's contemplation.

Kou Jing frowned slightly, her mind grappling with her. She knew that this trip to the Jinyu Courtyard would inevitably involve facing the thorny situation of the Saint's serious illness. She had to be cautious in her words and actions, maintaining both the dignity of the imperial family and the stability of the nation.

"Go down, I understand." Kou Jing waved her hand, her expression solemn. She began to think about the various situations that might arise in Jinyuyuan and how she should respond. Everything had been communicated with the Queen in advance, so there would be no unnecessary trouble.

In this tense atmosphere, Kou Jing awaits Shen Shichu's arrival, her heart filled with anxiety and worry. Meanwhile, the Saintess of the Jinyu Courtyard is gradually fading away, and a storm concerning the fate of the nation is about to strike.

Su Yijing stood outside the Saint's Gate, his expression solemn, pacing anxiously. His heart was filled with worry and doubt. Qin Rongchen didn't know about this yet. If he knew, he would be furious. Su Yijing couldn't understand why someone who was perfectly fine suddenly became so ill that he couldn't survive more than three days.

He stared at the closed door, as if he could see the frail figure of the Saint through it. Su Yijing was well aware of the Saint's importance in the relationship between the two countries; her illness had touched the nerves of countless people. Qin Rongchen's deep affection for the Saint had made the crisis even more complex and thorny.

Su Yijing paused, raised his head slightly, and sighed deeply. He didn't know how to deal with what might happen next, but he only hoped to find a proper solution that would both stabilize Qin Rongchen and alleviate the crisis. In this tense moment, every decision could affect the direction of the entire situation.