I was sold when I opened my eyes! My sick and disabled husband comforts me every night after he wake

She looked up at him and smiled without any hesitation.

"Yes, I suspect you. I suspect you're hiding something from me, but if you don't want to talk about it, I won't force you."

"Lan Zhi, I didn't want to hide it from you, but there are some things you'd be better off knowing."

Since he had brought this up, Lan Zhi decided not to hold back any longer.

She looked him straight in the eye and questioned him, enunciating each word clearly.

“You, Mo Ning, have lived in Kangzhuang Village for five years, your legs and feet were slashed, and you lived under the same roof with me for half a year. That’s all I know. Do you think that’s fair to me? If you feel that you’re healthy now and no longer need me by your side, I can leave without worry…”

"Lan Zhi..."

He suddenly took two steps forward, hugged her tightly from behind, and shook his head vigorously.

"That's not it. I didn't mean to hide it from you. There are some things I don't know how to tell you, and I don't know if I should tell you. I'm sorry..."

He buried his head in her shoulder, his voice slightly choked, and Lan Zhi's heart softened in an instant.

She turned around and looked at him with burning eyes.

"Mo Ning, I'm going to the palace tomorrow to treat the Empress Dowager. I'll probably be back in three or four days. Wait for me here. In the meantime, think carefully about our relationship. If we want to move forward, tell me everything. If you still don't say anything, I'll know what to do."

After saying that, she raised her hand and gently stroked his face—that handsome face, that face that made her feel reluctant to part with him.

"Since we've met, even if we can't be completely open with each other, let's not hide things from each other. I believe that everything about you is not as simple as what I see with my eyes."

After saying those words, she tiptoed, raised her chin, and left a kiss on his lips. Then she broke free from his embrace, turned around, and left.

She didn't necessarily need to know everything about him; she just felt that two people in a relationship should support each other, not hide things from each other.

Even after her figure had completely disappeared from the doorway, Mo Ning's gaze remained fixed on her.

"Come in!"

He gave a cold, soft call, and Yuan Tianxiong flew in through the window, stepped forward, clasped his hands in greeting, and said:

“My lord, my investigation has confirmed that in recent years, Wei Jian’an has gained the Emperor’s deep trust. Three years ago, he replaced the former general and concurrently served as the Grand General in the army. Because he holds the Tiger Tally, he has won over most of the important officials in the court. He is now a tiger that has eaten its fill and is ready to devour people at any time…”

A gloomy look appeared between Mo Ning's brows, followed by a soft snort.

"Then I'll pull out that tiger's teeth..."

As he spoke, a fierce glint appeared in his eyes.

The next morning, before dawn, Lan Zhi got up to prepare.

Today is the day she enters the palace. According to palace rules, she must wait in the palace before the Empress Dowager gets up.

Mao Mao followed behind her, looking aggrieved, and told her that he wanted to accompany her into the palace, but she refused.

"Mao Mao, the palace isn't as fun as you imagine. And your sister isn't going there to play. Even if you come with your sister into the palace, you can't wander around. If you say something that angers the masters in the palace, you could get your head chopped off. So, you and your sister Xiang Xiu have to wait here with your brother Mo Ning. When your sister comes back, she'll tell you all the interesting things that happen in the palace, okay?"

Although Mao Mao felt a little disappointed, she could only nod in agreement.

At this moment, Yuan Tianxiong arrived in a hurry.

"Doctor Lan, the young master requests your presence."

Mourning?

She glanced at herself in the bronze mirror, then tidied her stray hairs and instructed Xiangxiu:

"Help me pack up the medicine box, I'm going to check on Mo Ning."

This time, she planned to go to the palace alone because the people around her were all ordinary people who had only ever met the highest-ranking official, a county magistrate. They were completely unfamiliar with the rules of the palace. If they went to the palace with her and said something wrong, they might be punished, which would be a great loss.

When she arrived at Mo Ning's room, she saw him sitting in a wheelchair, frowning as he looked out the window.

"Mo Ning..."

She called out, and he turned around. When he saw her, he stood up from his chair, walked slowly to her side, reached out to straighten her collar, and then gently tidied the stray hairs from her forehead, softly reminding her:

"After entering the palace, do not look around or talk too much. The Empress Dowager is kind-hearted and will not make things difficult for you. However, the Empress is amiable on the surface but narrow-minded. She may not want you to cure the Empress Dowager's illness. Therefore, you must act according to circumstances and be careful in everything you do."

She looked at him with a puzzled expression.

"Why do you know so much about the palace?"

Mo Ning replied with a dark expression:

"I will tell you everything when you come back, Lan Zhi. You must take good care of yourself and make sure you return safely."

Since he said he would tell her everything, it means he still wants to continue his relationship with her.

She nestled into his arms and nodded gently.

"Don't worry, I'll take good care of myself. You need to stay here obediently these next few days. Even if you want to do something, wait for me to come back. I can help you, but don't act rashly."

He lifted her head, looked into her sincere eyes, and nodded heavily.

"I'll wait for you to come back."

At this moment, Nie Yuan called out from outside.

"Lan Zhi, it's time to go."

Hearing Nie Yuan's shout, she quickly said goodbye to Mo Ning.

"Wait here for me, I'll be back soon."

Mo Ning anxiously escorted her to the door, repeatedly giving her instructions:

"Remember what I just told you."

"remember."

She smiled at him and then closed the door.

Inside and outside the door, his heart was in his throat.

He saw through the intrigue and backstabbing in the palace better than anyone else.

If the Emperor were not in good health, who would be willing to search for renowned doctors for such a useless old woman as the Empress Dowager?

Before boarding the carriage, Nie Yuan cautiously reminded him:

"Yesterday, fifteen visiting cards from officials across the country were sent to the Ministry of Revenue. This means that at least fifteen physicians will be entering the palace today. I've heard that several physicians who have entered the palace in recent days have been punished by the Empress for violating palace rules, and their bodies have never even been recovered. Once you enter the palace, do not wander around or speak carelessly. We will treat you if we can, and if we cannot, we will return. I will be waiting for you at the palace gate."

Nie Yuan looked a little nervous as he said these words.

"If I had known this would happen, I shouldn't have let you come."

Seeing Nie Yuan's worried expression, Lan Zhi smiled with a relaxed expression.

"It's alright, I'll come back alive. You don't need to wait for me. I'll be gone for at least three or four days. You can't wait for me at the palace gate for three or four days!"

Why did it take so long?

"Have you ever heard of a doctor who can truly cure diseases instantly? Can you tell if the Empress Dowager has been cured in less than three or four days?"

"But……"

"Okay, I'm fine."

She glanced back at Xiangxiu and Mao Mao, who were standing at the entrance of the inn watching her, and waved to them, "You can both wait for my good news at the inn."

Although Nie Yuan was still worried about her, and Xiangxiu and Mao Mao also missed her, the die was cast and they had no room for regret.

Once Lan Zhi boarded the carriage, Nie Yuan also mounted his horse, instructing the coachman to urge the horse forward, heading straight for the palace.

When they arrived at the palace gate, people were already entering the palace one after another. Judging from their clothes, they should all be itinerant doctors.

Nie Yuan handed her the palace entry token and reminded her again:

"Once you enter the palace, it's like entering a deep sea; don't say too much, and take good care of yourself."

Lan Zhi took the token and smiled, feigning ease.

"Go back and take care of Mo Ning for me."

Along the way, after spending this time together, Nie Yuan realized that, just as Lan Zhi had said before, as long as Mo Ning was around, he would never be able to be with Lan Zhi. But he didn't hate Mo Ning; he only hoped that Lan Zhi would be happy, and that was enough.