Female-dominated society: Striving for the position of powerful minister, doting on Xiao Yunqing

After the doctor finished speaking, he picked up his medical kit and was about to leave. He had originally come for the high medical fees, but after sitting for half a day, he couldn't diagnose anything.

"You can't leave. You haven't told me what's wrong with him yet." Su Qin clung tightly to the doctor's medical kit.

"Hey, what are you doing?" the doctor said helplessly.

"Please, please look at him again, take a closer look at what's wrong with him, please," Su Qin said, kneeling before the doctor.

The doctor hurriedly helped him up, saying, "Why are you doing this? I really did my best. I checked everything and there was nothing wrong. I don't know... why this young master Mu is unconscious."

"You'd better find someone else!" the doctor said, removing the blanket from the bed and stepping outside.

Suqin watched the doctor's departing figure, filled with despair.

Even the most famous doctor in town couldn't diagnose it; he was truly at his wit's end.

At this moment, the maid who had been silent by his side whispered, "Young master, I heard that there is a divine doctor in the suburbs who specializes in treating all kinds of difficult and complicated diseases, but he has a strange temper and rarely comes out of the mountains."

Suqin asked, "Is this true?"

"Young master, I've only heard..."

Su Qin retorted angrily, "You dare to bring hearsay to my face? Do you have a death wish?"

"I dare not..." The maid was so frightened that she immediately knelt down.

"Never mind," Suqin said, "It's better to believe it's true than not to believe it. Go and prepare the carriages and horses."

"Yes."

_

Royal Palace

The night was cool and still. Pei Xuan sat on the stone steps outside Xinghe Hall, gazing at the bright moon in the sky.

Xiao Ran is really kind-hearted; she believed him so easily.

The thought of killing her soon made Pei Xuan feel a little reluctant.

After her death, there will probably never be another person in this world who cares about him as much as she did.

But so what?

What Pei Xuan wanted was never someone who would constantly pity or care for him.

Only the weak need to be pitied.

Seeing that the time was almost up, Pei Xuan got up and walked into the hall.

Pei Xuan entered the hall silently. Inside Xinghe Hall, the candlelight flickered, and the light and shadow danced eerily on the walls.

Xiao Ran lay quietly on the couch, the brocade quilt rising and falling slightly with her breath, the surroundings so quiet that only her soft breathing could be heard.

Just as Pei Xuan raised his sword, about to stab Xiao Ran, Chao Yue's urgent voice came from the darkness: "Stop!"

Pei Xuan was startled and turned to look at Chao Yue, whispering a reprimand: "Don't meddle in other people's business!"

Chaoyue strode up to Pei Xuan and said angrily, "How can you be so ungrateful? Her Highness has treated you so well, yet you still try to harm her."

Pei Xuan sneered, "Ungrateful? What gratitude? What loyalty? If you don't want to die, get lost!"

Chaoyue trembled with rage: "Her Highness is truly devoted to you. If you kill her, you will surely be punished by Heaven!"

"I have suffered so much, what more could I ask for than this divine punishment?"

"Was it His Highness who made you suffer?" Chaoyue reminded her, "Don't forget, it was His Highness who saved you that night! Without His Highness, you would have died long ago!"

Pei Xuan was speechless for a moment, looking at Xiao Ran who was still unconscious on the bed, his heart in turmoil.

Xiao Ran was awakened by the argument between Chao Yue and Pei Xuan. In her groggy state, she saw Pei Xuan holding a sword in front of her and instantly became alert.

"You actually..." Xiao Ran's throat seemed to be choked, and then she suddenly pounced on Pei Xuan, grabbing his neck with both hands, her nails digging deep into his flesh.

"You approached me just to kill me?" Her body trembled with agitation, and tears welled up in her eyes.

Pei Xuan was choked so hard he could hardly breathe, and the sword in his hand clattered to the ground.

Xiao Ran tightened her grip, silently venting her emotions.

Pei Xuan felt he was having trouble breathing, and gritted his teeth, saying, "Why do you have to do this? Kill me or torture me as you please. I, Pei Xuan, have long since disregarded life and death."

Seeing this, Chaoyue hurriedly stepped forward and pulled Xiao Ran away: "Your Highness, don't dirty your hands. Such a petty person is not worth it."

Xiao Ran slowly let go of her hand, slumped to the ground, her eyes glazed over. Chao Yue rushed over to help her up.

The feelings were fake.

What they said was false.

The pity is fake.

The only thing I truly want is for her to die.

If one attempt fails, they will try again, even at the cost of their own lives.

How much he hated her.

But she had clearly never seen him, nor had she ever hurt him.

Perhaps... he has some hidden difficulties. Thinking of this, a glimmer of hope flashed in Xiao Ran's eyes.

She looked up at him, as if trying to see into the depths of his heart.

But Pei Xuan's eyes clearly showed no warmth whatsoever.

"Xiao Yu'an sent you to kill me, didn't he?" Xiao Ran said slowly.

Pei Xuan said in a muffled voice, "No, I'm going to kill you."

"I'll give you one more chance. You just need to answer yes or no," Xiao Ran said again.

She desperately wanted Pei Xuan to say yes.

Pei Xuan remained silent, looking down at the sword that stood between the two of them.

"If you don't talk, I can send you to meet the King of Hell right now," Xiao Ran threatened.

Pei Xuan hardened his heart and said coldly, "Then make your move."

Since he was going to die anyway, it would be better for Xiao Ran to give him a quick death than to be tortured to death by Xiao Yu'an.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ran slowly closed her eyes, unable to utter a single word.

It was as if a long thorn was lodged in her throat, something she couldn't swallow or spit out.

Just like her feelings for Pei Xuan.

She couldn't bear to let him go, yet she couldn't rekindle the fleeting affection she once had.

She should have thought of it earlier.

Blame her for being stupid, foolish, and ignorant of human nature.

In just a few days, how can there be any talk of love? It's all self-deception, and you've handcuffed yourself into someone else's trap.

Pei Xuan's face was gloomy. Looking at Xiao Ran, who was in a daze, he felt a little guilty.

It's crazy.

What right does a dying person have to talk about guilt?

"You can leave now," Xiao Ran said calmly, her expression natural and her tone already composed.

He looked at her in disbelief.

This time, Xiao Ran did not respond to him.

Pei Xuan hesitated for a long time before saying, "You're the one who let me go, so don't regret it later." With that, he climbed out the window and left.

A cold wind howled, ruffling Xiao Ran's long, casually draped hair.

She stared blankly in the direction Pei Xuan had left, her face ashen and devoid of any emotion.

Fearing she would catch a cold, Chaoyue got up and draped a coat over her shoulders.

“Your Highness…” she called softly.

But she remained motionless, as if she hadn't heard anything.

"Your Highness, please rest. I beg you."

Xiao Ran remembered that Pei Xuan also liked to ask her for favors in this way.

Suddenly, her nose stung, and tears she had been holding back for so long streamed down her face. She covered her face, her body trembling uncontrollably.

Chaoyue sat beside her, gently patting her back to soothe her emotions.

The two sat facing the window all night. Xiao Ran would cry from time to time, and Chao Yue would stay by her side without saying a word.

_

next day

After a bumpy journey, Suqin finally found the thatched hut where the divine doctor lived.

Su Qin rushed into the room and saw an old man with white hair pounding medicine.

Su Qin knelt down with a thud and recounted Mu Yunqing's illness.

The old man listened to Su Qin's story without stopping his work, only slightly frowning.

After Su Qin finished speaking, the old man slowly said, "Life and death are predestined, and I can only try my best."

Su Qin was overjoyed and kowtowed repeatedly to express his gratitude.

"Bring him here."

"Yes," Su Qin replied, hurriedly bringing Mu Yunqing over.

The old man raised his hand and touched Mu Yunqing's wrist, carefully examining him.

Su Qin waited quietly to the side, not daring to say a word even though he was anxious, for fear that the old man would suddenly change his mind and not help him treat Mu Yunqing.

a long time.

The old man stroked his beard and slowly said, "His pulse is steady, so he is not ill. It seems more like he has been under a spell. But there is nothing wrong with his body. I don't know why."

"Even you can't help me, what should I do?"

"Who said I have no way out?" the old man replied defiantly.

"Then you mean..."

"Wait a moment while I give him a few acupuncture needles and see if I can wake him up."

As the old man spoke, he took out silver needles from the drawer and began to administer acupuncture to Mu Yunqing.

"Alright, help him to bed to rest! Call me if he needs anything." The old man said, then left with his hands behind his back.

Su Qin helped Mu Yunqing to bed, tucked him in, and stayed by his side for a long time.

He stared intently at Mu Yunqing on the bed, not daring to blink, for fear of missing any sign that Mu Yunqing had woken up.

The sky, which is usually sunny, was drizzling today.

Raindrops slid down the eaves of the thatched cottage, pattering onto the puddles on the ground and splashing up tiny ripples.

Su Qin turned to look out the window. The distant mountains were faintly visible in the rain and mist, and the bamboo forest swayed in the wind and rain, making a rustling sound, as if it were whispering endless sorrow.

The sound of rain kept entering my ears, much like the chaotic thoughts in my mind at this moment.

His mind was filled with thoughts of Mu Yunqing, who was still asleep in bed. The rain was like the gloom in his heart, which he couldn't shake off.

Su Qin couldn't help but reach out and catch a raindrop that had seeped in through the crack in the broken window. It was icy cold, just like his mood at that moment.

He gazed at Mu Yunqing's peaceful face, secretly praying that the old man's acupuncture would be effective and that Mu Yunqing would wake up soon and break free from this prison-like slumber.

As long as he can wake up, he would not hesitate to ask the old man for ten thousand taels of gold.

As he pondered, he caught a glimpse of Mu Yunqing's finger twitching, and Su Qin's heart leaped into his throat.

After a while, Mu Yunqing slowly opened her eyes, and what came into view was Su Qin, whose face was full of anxiety but also filled with tears of joy.

"Brother, you're finally awake!" Su Qin's voice was choked with emotion.

Mu Yunqing gave a weak smile, his throat dry and painful, his voice rough like sandpaper: "Suqin...where is this?"

"You were unconscious for so long while we were with the divine healer, it scared me to death!" Su Qin cried. "You have no idea how many doctors I consulted, and they all said you were beyond saving!"

Mu Yunqing raised his hand to wipe away Su Qin's tears. "Don't cry, I'm awake now."

Su Qin paid no attention to any of this and bent over to hug Mu Yunqing tightly.

The more his brother talked about these things, the sadder he became.

From childhood to adulthood, the only person he cared about was Mu Yunqing. If anything happened to him, he really didn't want to live anymore.

"Alright, stop crying. You're a grown man now." Mu Yunqing pulled him away and gently patted his head.

"You have no idea how worried I was about you... Waaah." Su Qin said, and then started crying again.

"I know."

Su Qin looked up at him and asked, "Then why aren't you crying? Aren't you happy to see me?"

Mu Yunqing smiled helplessly. Su Qin was still the same as before, just as childish.

"How long have I been asleep?"

"one day one Night."

Mu Yunqing breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, it was only a day and a night, and he didn't have to wait too long.

"Did the doctor say what's wrong with me?" Mu Yunqing asked him again.

"The doctor said it might be witchcraft, but since you don't have any unusual symptoms, he's not sure."

Mu Yunqing gave a cold laugh.

really.

If you don't train it yourself, it just doesn't feel right to use.

Before it could even be used, it had already learned to bite back.

Seeing that Mu Yunqing did not reply, Su Qin asked with a worried look, "Brother, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

"No. I'm fine right now, I'm just a little hungry. Could you find me something to eat?"

"Okay, I'll go get it right now!" Su Qin said, running outside.

Prime Minister's Mansion

Mu Yan made two trips to Cuizhu Garden, but Mu Yunqing was nowhere to be seen.

Where did this go?

He didn't even accept the vegetables; given his personality, he shouldn't be doing this.

Never mind, I'll come looking for him later.

城郊

Mu Yunqing and Su Qin ate with the old man and are now sitting in the courtyard chatting.

The afterglow of the setting sun spilled into the courtyard, bathing everything in a soft golden glow.

Looking at the clouds on the horizon, Mu Yunqing slowly asked, "Do you have any insights into witchcraft?"

"I've only heard a little about it, I haven't looked into it in detail. However, this matter of witchcraft is probably something someone is deliberately doing, and the person behind it will definitely not let it go. You have to be careful," the old man said earnestly.

Mu Yunqing nodded slightly, "What you say is absolutely right. This has always been the case in the palace, with undercurrents surging beneath the surface."

"Oh? You also know about things in the palace?"

"Like you, I've only heard a little about it."

The old man tapped Mu Yunqing on the head. "You certainly know how to respond."

Mu Yunqing chuckled softly and poured a cup of tea.

The old man stroked his beard and looked at Mu Yunqing with approval, "You are a very perceptive child, and I admire you greatly."

Mu Yunqing bowed and said, "Thank you for your praise, senior. I have only experienced a few things in this palace."

The old man waved his hand, "Don't be modest. Seeing that you are in a dangerous situation now, why don't you stay in my thatched hut and avoid trouble?"

Mu Yunqing said, "I appreciate your kindness, senior. However, I still have many matters to attend to and cannot hide here."

Su Qin carried a plate of fruit into the courtyard and, upon hearing this, quickly said, "Brother, this old man is right. You should stay here for safety."

Mu Yunqing took the fruit from Su Qin, took a small bite, and said, "Su Qin, if I back down now, it will only embolden those who are secretly plotting against us. We need to go back and discuss this further."

The old man stood up, walked over to Mu Yunqing, and carefully examined him. "Since you are so determined, I will not force you. But if you encounter any difficulties in the future, you can come to me at any time."

Mu Yunqing clasped his hands and bowed, "Thank you for your kindness, senior. I will remember it. Once I have resolved these troubles, I will definitely come to visit you again."

After saying this, he took his blankets and bid farewell to the old man, heading towards the city.