Peerless Physician: The Path of a Foolish Eldest Daughter's Rise to Power

Chapter 386 The Dawn of Jiayang

Jia Yang stared wide-eyed in disbelief at the rapidly disappearing afterimage before him, along with Pan Yue and his concubine who vanished along with it.

She rubbed her eyes hard, wondering if she was seeing things or hallucinating.

However, just as she was filled with doubt, she saw Gu Xinyue leading a group of palace maids gracefully into the room.

"Gu... Xin... Empress Dowager!" Jia Yang stammered, his voice filled with astonishment and fear.

She couldn't believe what she was seeing, so she pinched her wrist hard. A sharp pain made her realize that this was not a dream.

At this moment, Gu Xinyue turned her gaze to Jia Yang, whose face was haggard. She saw that the once arrogant and domineering woman had completely lost her former charm.

At this moment, Jia Yang looked like a frightened little rabbit, appearing timid and endearing.

"Jiayang, please sit down first, let me take your pulse." Gu Xinyue said softly, and gently pulled Jiayang to sit on a chair next to her.

Jia Yang, like a puppet, silently followed Gu Xinyue's instructions, his eyes fixed on her the whole time.

After Jia Yang was settled, Gu Xinyue placed her fingers on her pulse and carefully felt the pulse.

After a moment, Gu Xinyue frowned slightly and said earnestly, "You have been overworked for a long time and lacked nutrition, which has depleted your body and made you weak. In addition, the unresolved depression in your heart has made you look like this."

Jiayang, how have you spent these past few years? How could you have tormented yourself to this state? &34;

After saying that, he gave Jiayang a pill to take.

After taking it, Jia Yang felt a faint fragrance in his mouth, and a warm current flowed through his limbs, making him feel comfortable.

Jia Yang felt a pang of sadness, and tears instantly welled up in her eyes.

Over the years, she has endured all kinds of suffering and pressure alone, and no one has ever really cared about her.

At this moment, when she heard Gu Xinyue's caring words, the emotions that had been suppressed deep in her heart could no longer be contained. She first sobbed softly, and then she simply let out a loud cry.

After a long while, Princess Jiayang finally stopped crying. She gently wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes with a silk handkerchief and then raised her head.

She looked at the person in front of her with gratitude and said, "Sister-in-law, thank you so much! Before this, I always felt that my life had fallen into an abyss and I could never get out of it."

After saying this, Princess Jiayang took a deep breath, seemingly trying to calm her turbulent emotions.

Then, Princess Jiayang slowly began to recount her eventful and tumultuous experiences.

She said that ever since Empress Meng passed away and the Meng family was executed, she has lived in fear every day, and the helplessness and loneliness almost consumed her.

At this very moment, Pan Yue extended a helping hand to her, offering comfort and encouragement through a series of heartfelt letters, allowing her to see a glimmer of hope in the darkness.

However, fate always likes to play tricks on people.

With the wedding date fast approaching, which should have been a joyous occasion, Emperor Yongfeng resolutely opposed the marriage.

Princess Jiayang was determined to marry Pan Yue.

Ultimately, because of this marriage, Emperor Yongfeng was so angry that he no longer allowed her to set foot in the palace.

When she first entered the princess's residence, the prince consort would often stay by her side, patiently listening to her feelings and offering her warm comfort.

But as time went on, the prince consort's concern for her gradually decreased, and he even became somewhat indifferent and uncaring.

What pained Princess Jiayang even more was that her mother-in-law suggested that she return to live in the Pan residence.

After all, as the eldest daughter-in-law of the Pan family, she needed to shoulder more responsibilities and obligations.

Left with no other choice, Princess Jiayang had to move back to the Pan residence.

Here, she not only had to learn to do all sorts of household chores such as washing clothes and cooking, but also had to get up early and go to bed late every day to take care of her mother-in-law.

Every morning, when the first rays of sunlight streamed into the courtyard, Princess Jiayang would get up and head to the kitchen to prepare breakfast for her husband.

In the morning, one should serve the mother-in-law a carefully prepared cup of tea.

In the afternoon, I had to rush around cleaning the courtyard and tidying up the rooms.

And at night, one cannot slack off in the slightest; one must be ready to obey one's mother-in-law's orders at any time.

In addition to these arduous tasks, Princess Jiayang also had to face the difficulties and criticisms from her mother-in-law.

Sometimes, even the smallest mistake can draw a severe scolding from one's mother-in-law.

Moreover, her mother-in-law seemed never to be satisfied with anything Princess Jiayang did, and was always making higher demands and setting higher standards.

Not only that, but two of Princess Jiayang's maids also expressed their dissatisfaction with their mother-in-law's behavior and one of them met with misfortune: one fell into the water and the other hanged herself.

Even one of her personal maids was unfortunately expelled from the house by her mother-in-law on trumped-up charges.

At this point, Princess Jiayang was left with only three maids, all of whom became the concubines of the prince consort.

The prince consort now treats her even worse, showing her no pity and even ordering her to serve the concubines of low status.

The princess's residence was quite lively, housing several of her illegitimate children and their respective birth mothers.

The poor woman had already suffered two heartbreaking miscarriages, and her unborn children were lost to her; she couldn't save any of them.

Nowadays, the prince consort is extremely cold towards her, and apart from endless humiliation, he refuses to show her any intimacy.

"I wonder what plans you have in mind, sister? Why don't you tell me?" Princess Jiayang asked with concern.

Gu Xinyue, her eyes brimming with tears, sobbed uncontrollably, "Sister-in-law, please help me! I've had enough of this life. Please help me get a divorce."

I only want to return to the palace; everything here disgusts me.

Upon hearing this, Princess Jiayang immediately slammed her hand on the table and stood up: "Good sister, don't cry, your sister-in-law will definitely stand up for you! However, you must also cheer up and regain the dignity and prestige that a princess should have."

Although Father may be displeased, your title of princess remains unchallenged.

Gu Xinyue nodded heavily, tears of gratitude streaming down her face, and said, "Thank you so much, sister-in-law. If it weren't for your support, I really wouldn't know what to do."

Princess Jiayang gently put her arm around Gu Xinyue's shoulder and comforted her, "Today we shouldn't get a divorce, but rather we should divorce that heartless man! Come, let's go together with your sister-in-law."

So the two walked side by side, heading straight for the courtyard. By this time, the entire Pan family, young and old, had already gathered together, and the large courtyard was bustling with activity.

"Greetings to Your Majesty the Empress Dowager! May Your Majesty live a thousand years!" Gu Xinyue sat high on the grand chair, her beautiful and dignified face now as cold as ice, her gaze sweeping over the kneeling people before her like torches.

A moment later, she said sternly, "Do you have any respect for the dignity of the royal family? Why do you enter the princess's courtyard without paying your respects?"

Lord Pan, as the Minister of Rites, you bear the great responsibility of teaching etiquette to the people. How could you neglect even the discipline of your own household, causing such propriety, righteousness, integrity, and shame to vanish?

I hope you can give me a reasonable explanation! As a princess, you are of noble birth and should be living in the princess's palace and enjoying wealth and honor. Now you are condescending to serve you all. I ask you, what virtue or ability do you have to deserve this honor?

Furthermore, how could the illegitimate sons and daughters of this household be born before the legitimate son? What is the cause of such disorder?

And that prince consort, how dare he take so many concubines? Does he not care about the princess at all?

Hmph! The laws of our Great Yue Dynasty clearly stipulate that a prince consort is not allowed to take concubines. Does he think he can be above the law?

"Madam Pan, as the wife of the Minister of Personnel, you should know the principle of respecting the ruler before the subject. Yet, your actions today suggest you have forgotten this distinction."