A peasant girl travels through time with a hospital, rising to become an empress.

Jiang Muxin returned to her room, and as she recalled everything that had happened that day, a surge of frustration welled up inside her.

She was usually very proper in her words and deeds and rarely lost her composure, but at this moment, holding a teacup, she couldn't help but slam it hard on the table. The porcelain cup shattered with a crack, and tea splashed all over the table.

When the maid Huan'er saw her like this, she knew that her mistress was extremely angry, so she immediately knelt down on the ground and didn't dare to breathe.

Jiang Muxin thought to herself: This Doctor Qian looks calm and collected, but I didn't expect him to be so eloquent. He must have said something to my mother in the room to make her take such a risk!

If the surgery is successful, everyone will be happy, but what if it fails?

During the three-year mourning period, all the reputation she had cultivated over the years as a talented woman in the capital would be wasted!

But now there's nothing she can do.

This place is far from the capital, and all we can do is wait helplessly for the outcome. She dislikes this feeling of passively waiting and being powerless, and has always been accustomed to taking the initiative and planning ahead.

Seeing that her mistress remained silent for a long time, Huan'er dared not raise her head.

After a long pause, Jiang Muxin's voice finally came softly: "Huan'er, be more careful next time."

Huan'er immediately understood and hurriedly replied, "It's all Huan'er's fault for being careless and disturbing Miss. I'll clean this up right away." After saying that, she quickly got up, deftly picked up the broken porcelain pieces and tea on the table, bowed, and withdrew.

Inside Wei Susu's room, Jiang Lingyang held his wife's hand tightly and asked gently, "Susu, did Doctor Qian say something to you that made you make this decision?"

He knew Wei Susu too well, knowing that she had previously lost all hope for life, so why would she suddenly choose such a risky surgery?

Wei Susu's eyes held a firm expression: "It's related to Doctor Qian, and it's also unrelated."

"He woke me up. Even if the future is uncertain and hope is slim, if it is something you are truly determined to do, you can choose to grit your teeth and keep going even if it is difficult."

Jiang Lingyang then realized that Doctor Qian's medical skills were superb, not only in treating illnesses but also in healing the mind.

He nodded slowly. "I had already asked the Emperor for permission to resign before the New Year, intending to retire and return to my hometown. Although the Emperor did not grant my request immediately, he only allowed me to return to the provincial capital to visit my relatives first. But once this matter is settled, I will go to the capital to ask for permission to resign, and I think I will be able to get it."

Wei Susu quickly grabbed his hand, her tone urgent and tender: "Lingyang, why do you have to do this! You have unparalleled talent and a strong ambition to serve your country and save the world. These are dreams you have cherished since you were a child. How can you give them up so easily and resign from your post to live in seclusion?"

Jiang Lingyang appears gentle and mild-mannered, but deep down he harbors an unyielding stubbornness.

If it weren't for this stubbornness and tenacity, he wouldn't have been able to overcome countless obstacles from poor families and become the top scholar in the Great Yu Dynasty, revered by everyone.

In the past, no matter what difficulties and obstacles he faced, he could grit his teeth and persevere, only wanting to break through the obstacles in front of him and see the light at the end of the tunnel.

But at this moment, he simply shook his head slightly. "The court is no longer the court it once was, and the emperor is no longer the emperor he once was. Over the years, I have never betrayed my ideals. I have always wanted to protect the people, uphold justice, and establish a clean and upright atmosphere, but in the end, it has all been in vain. Not only have I failed to change anything, but I have also been pushed further and further away. Now, no matter how hard I try, it is difficult to reverse this downward trend."

Knowing her husband's predicament, Wei Susu asked softly, "Does His Majesty distrust you so much?"

“I was once the Crown Prince’s tutor. You know how much the Emperor fears the Crown Prince. Even though the Crown Prince has passed away, he still does everything in his power to suppress those who were once associated with him.”

Wei Susu scoffed lightly, "So wary of even a deceased person..."

Wei Susu knew that her husband was not one to give up easily. If perseverance could bring results, he would dedicate his life to fighting for it. But now, with the Emperor in such a state, he was truly powerless.

Unless... the Crown Prince can be brought back to life and return to the court, only then can this chaotic government be fundamentally restored, and my husband be given a place to realize his ambitions.

But Wei Susu suppressed the thought as soon as it arose.

How can the dead be brought back to life? It's nothing but wishful thinking.

Meanwhile, Director Zhang and Nie Qianqian were arranged to stay in the finest guest rooms in the mansion. Unable to leave the mansion immediately, the two sent a message to Gu Xiao, Jiang Botao, and Jiang Wenxuan, informing them that everything was fine, but because the patient's condition was complicated, they needed to stay at the mansion to focus on treatment for several days, and that they should not worry.

Director Zhang was filled with anxiety. Remembering Nie Qianqian's earlier statement of a 60% chance of success, he couldn't help but ask:

"Qianqian, are you really only 60% confident? That's the wife of a high-ranking official. Just as Qin Jichuan said, if we make a mistake, we'll be finished here as soon as we get back to the provincial capital!"

Seeing his worried expression, Nie Qianqian couldn't bear to let him keep worrying, so she comforted him, "Actually, I'm about 80 or 90% sure. Don't worry, I'll definitely be able to cure her illness."

Director Zhang finally breathed a long sigh of relief, patted his chest and said, "You should have said so earlier! I was worried sick for so long, all anxious and on edge. My old bones and heart can't take this kind of stress from you young people!"

Nie Qianqian smiled, picked up her pen and wrote down a prescription, handing it to Director Zhang: "It's more convenient for you to handle this. Have the household prepare the medicine according to this prescription. Wei Susu's physical condition is too poor; she needs at least three or four days of recuperation before she can have surgery."

At the inn outside the mansion, Gu Xiao received a letter and was relieved to know that she was safe.

He then opened his book and continued studying—the prefectural examination was in a little over a month, which was a piece of cake for him, but books are always new and interesting, and he could gain different insights every time he read them.

Without Nie Qianqian by his side, he lost all interest in going out and only wanted to settle down and prepare for the exam. But Jiang Wenxuan couldn't contain his restlessness and couldn't sit still.

The provincial capital's nights are far more lively than those in Fulin County. The night market is bustling with activity, with acrobats performing on stage and countless shops and restaurants lit up, creating a vibrant and lively atmosphere.

Although he had been to the provincial capital once before, he still found the bustling scene novel and naturally couldn't resist going out to explore and see what it was like.

Knowing that Gu Xiao couldn't pull him away, he planned to sneak out on his own. But as soon as he reached the inn's entrance, he saw his mother, Madam Jiang, leaning against the doorpost, her eyes fixed on him, giving him no chance to escape.

"Where are you going, Jiang Wenxuan?" Madam Sun's voice was somewhat stern.

Jiang Wenxuan was taken aback, and quickly covered it up: "I'm a little sleepy from reading, so I'm going out for a walk to get some fresh air."

Without saying a word, Sun pulled out an arm-length rattan cane from her sleeve and slammed it against the inn door with a "smack." The crisp sound startled Jiang Wenxuan.

"No wonder Gu Xiao was able to become the top scholar in the county! You always say that he is exceptionally talented and can't compare to him, but look at how hard he works! Ever since Qianqian left, he has been reading in his room without stopping."

"And you? You've only read a few pages and you want to go out for a stroll! You're not as talented as others, and you're not as hardworking either, yet you still want to get a ranking in the prefectural examination and visit the provincial capital for the third time? Get back to your books right now!"

And so, Jiang Wenxuan was sent back to his room by his mother and was specially arranged to stay in Gu Xiao's room.

With a smile, Madam Sun added two more candles, reminding the two to protect their eyes while reading at night. She also brought them plenty of fruits and tea for them to eat during their reading breaks, taking meticulous care of their daily needs.

Jiang Wenxuan hung his head, looking aggrieved.