novelaction Chapter 360 (95 words added)
Chapter 360 (95 words added)
But she also knew that the road ahead would not be smooth; a more intense struggle had only just begun. With that, she rose and left. Xue Ruanruan, through Murong Xun's arrangements, had already learned of this matter and felt even more grateful to him. She understood that this was a rare turning point in her palace intrigues; from now on, she had the powerful backing of the Regent. She was determined to plan carefully and carve out her own niche in this powerful mansion.
In the middle of the road ahead stood a ragged old man, his face haggard, his eyes revealing despair and pain. Murong Xun lifted the curtain and examined the old man. He keenly sensed that the old man's health was exceptionally poor. The moment he stepped through the gates of the mansion, a long-lost sense of warmth washed over him. The flowers, plants, and trees in the courtyard were still lush and verdant, exuding a refreshing fragrance; the koi in the pond swam happily, as if welcoming their master's return. Xue Ruanruan strolled through the courtyard, feeling the warmth and tranquility of home, her unease gradually dissipating. At this moment, Xue Ruanruan knew that no matter how unpredictable the outside world might be, this would always be her most secure harbor, the refuge of her soul. The carriage Murong Xun rode in was entirely crafted from precious ebony, its body carved with exquisite cloud patterns, showcasing its owner's noble and extraordinary status. The shafts and wheels were meticulously polished, smooth as a mirror, as if reflecting everything around them.
Xue Ruanruan was once again in danger, but fortunately, the Xue family army arrived in time and escorted her to the Emperor's side. After taking the medicine prepared by Xue Ruanruan, the Emperor's condition gradually improved. Upon regaining consciousness, the Emperor was furious at the actions of the treacherous officials and, with the testimony of Murong Xun and Xue Ruanruan, brought them all to justice. Xue Ruanruan, relying on her wisdom and courage, as well as the miraculous effects of the Holy Spirit Grass, successfully resolved the crisis in the palace and restored order to the court. Her relationship with Murong Xun also deepened during this turmoil. However, upon hearing that Murong Xun had entered the palace to impeach them, the Emperor, in desperation, spread rumors in the palace that Xue Ruanruan had brought back an evil object that would bring disaster to the palace. Panic gripped the palace. Ignoring the doubts of the crowd, Xue Ruanruan insisted on using the Holy Spirit Grass to cure the Emperor. Just as the medicine was ready to be given to the Emperor, treacherous officials bribed a palace maid to poison it. Fortunately, Xue Ruanruan was observant and discovered the plot in time. She and Murong Xun joined forces to expose the officials' evil deeds. After taking the medicine made with the Holy Spirit Grass, the Emperor's condition gradually improved. Xue Ruanruan, through her wisdom and courage, triumphed in this palace intrigue, making the miraculous effects of the Holy Spirit Grass a legendary tale in the palace. Deep within him lay a strong ambition and desire, yearning for greater power and status. In his eyes, only power was eternal; everything else was fleeting. Despite this, Murong Xun outwardly maintained a gentle, refined, and polite image. He was adept at interpersonal relationships, knowing how to use his charm and wisdom to win the trust and support of others. In court, he always skillfully handled various complex situations, further solidifying his position.
She explored this unfamiliar environment with curiosity, her heart filled with awe and anticipation. Suddenly, a gentle breeze swept by, bringing a refreshing scent. Xue Ruanruan followed the wind and saw an ancient and solemn palace in the distance. The palace exuded a mysterious aura, its walls covered with strange symbols and patterns, as if concealing endless secrets. Xue Ruanruan cautiously entered the palace, where a tranquil atmosphere permeated the air. In the center of the palace was a huge stone platform, upon which rested a book radiating a mysterious light. She approached the platform and gently touched the book. Suddenly, the words in the book seemed to come alive, fluttering in the air and swirling around her. Just as Xue Ruanruan was at a loss, a soft voice rang in her ears: "You've finally come." Xue Ruanruan looked around in astonishment, trying to find the source of the voice. "I am the guardian of this medical book," the voice came again. Xue Ruanruan looked closely and realized that the voice came from the floating words before her; she was speechless with surprise. "Your ability to find this place proves you have a special connection with medicine. Now, I will pass on this medical book to you, hoping you can use it to benefit the world." The words gradually coalesced into a vortex, delivering the medical book to Xue Ruanruan's hands. Xue Ruanruan excitedly accepted the book, feeling a powerful surge of energy within her. She opened the pages; inside were recorded unparalleled medical techniques, each page radiating a strange light. Just then, space began to distort, and Xue Ruanruan knew it was time to leave. When she opened her eyes again, she found herself back in the real world. Xue Ruanruan gratefully closed the medical book, determined to use her newly acquired medical skills to heal and save lives. She opened a clinic, and with her superb medical skills and kind heart, her reputation quickly spread. One day, a patient suffering from a rare disease came seeking treatment. After careful diagnosis, Xue Ruanruan discovered that the disease was extremely rare. Recalling the records in the medical book, she decided to try a unique treatment method. After meticulous treatment, the patient's condition showed significant improvement. This success greatly boosted Xue Ruanruan's confidence. She delved even deeper into the mysteries of the medical book, constantly tackling various difficult and complex illnesses. In a flash, at that critical moment, her eyes flashed like lightning, swiftly seizing the fleeting opportunity. Without hesitation, she used all her strength to violently throw the priceless medical book she was clutching out the window. At the same time, she screamed at the top of her lungs, a cry that shook the heavens and earth: "Help! Help! There's a thief here!" Her voice, like a booming bell, was deafening, seemingly able to pierce through thick walls and echo throughout the streets and alleys. Hearing the shouts, nearby residents rushed over, and the thieves, seeing this, had no choice but to flee. Xue Ruanruan breathed a sigh of relief, looking at everyone gratefully. After this ordeal, Xue Ruanruan understood that the power of a medical book lies not only in the medical knowledge it contains, but also in people's adherence to justice and kindness. She decided to make the medical book public so that more people could benefit. "No need to look anymore, I am the master of this space."
The man was moved to tears and insisted on giving Xue Ruanruan some expensive gifts, but she politely declined. "Just then, the old man, weathered and wrinkled yet with bright, piercing eyes, slowly entered the room. His steps were unsteady, but each one was firm and powerful. When he reached Xue Ruanruan, his calloused hands trembled slightly as he reached out and tightly grasped her soft, slender hand. His eyes were filled with boundless gratitude and respect, as if those hands held the most precious treasure in the world. His lips trembled slightly, as if he wanted to say something to express the intense emotions deep within his heart, but all his words ultimately turned into a deep sigh and a simple, sincere 'thank you.' In that instant, Xue Ruanruan seemed to transcend the boundaries of time and space, stepping into a mysterious and wondrous realm—space itself."
As they drew closer, Xue Ruanruan finally made out the banner symbolizing supreme authority on the carriage, and the figure faintly visible behind the curtain. Even though it was just a fleeting glimpse, Xue Ruanruan's heart tightened; she realized this was Murong Xun's carriage. Just then, the curtain was slowly lifted, revealing Murong Xun's handsome and extraordinary face. A faint smile played on his lips as he looked tenderly at Xue Ruanruan. "Ruanruan, how have you been?" Xue Ruanruan's cheeks flushed slightly as she softly replied, "Regent, how have you been?" Murong Xun alighted from the carriage and walked to Xue Ruanruan's side. "I heard you published your medical book to the world, benefiting the people. It's truly a virtuous act." Xue Ruanruan smiled shyly. "It's all thanks to the power of the medical book itself. I merely did what I should do." At that moment, a light rain began to fall. Murong Xun considerately draped his cloak over Xue Ruanruan. "The rain is chilly; don't catch a cold." A warmth welled up in Xue Ruanruan's heart. The two strolled side by side in the rain, everything around them seemingly quieting down, leaving only the sound of their heartbeats and the patter of the raindrops. In the distance, a pair of jealous eyes were fixed on them, a new conspiracy perhaps brewing quietly... But she still felt an invisible pressure bearing down on her, causing her to involuntarily hold her breath. Just then, a gentle breeze stirred, lifting a corner of the carriage curtain to reveal the Regent's cold and imposing face… Murong Xun wore a magnificent brocade robe as black as ink, its hem fluttering in the wind like a star twinkling in the night sky. He wore an exquisite jade crown, the translucent jade emitting a faint glow, complementing his cold and profound eyes. After the man recovered somewhat, the two left the cave together. Upon parting, the man took out a jade pendant from his robes, insisting on giving it to Xue Ruanruan as a token of gratitude. Xue Ruanruan couldn't refuse and had to accept it. Back home, Xue Ruanruan casually placed the jade pendant on the table. Unexpectedly, this jade pendant caused trouble. It turned out that the jade pendant was the Regent's personal possession, and the man was one of the Regent's confidants. Upon learning of this, the Regent suspected that Xue Ruanruan had deliberately approached his confidant to obtain the jade pendant, intending to commit adultery. So he sent someone to bring Xue Ruanruan to the Prince's residence, intending to get to the bottom of things...
Xue Ruanruan was startled when she saw the Regent's carriage. She knew the Regent had misunderstood her, and a sense of panic welled up inside her. However, she quickly composed herself and decided to explain. The carriage stopped, and Murong Xun's cold gaze fell on Xue Ruanruan. "Speak," he said, "why did you demand the jade pendant of my trusted confidant?" Xue Ruanruan hurriedly bowed and said sincerely, "Your Highness, I didn't know the jade pendant belonged to you. I only accepted it because I couldn't refuse. I saved that man out of a physician's compassion; I had absolutely no ill intentions." Murong Xun stared at her, trying to discern the truth from her expression. At this moment, the trusted confidant rushed over and truthfully recounted the whole story. Upon hearing this, Murong Xun's expression softened somewhat. He waved for his confidants to leave, then looked at Xue Ruanruan, his tone no longer icy, "Since that's the case, I misunderstood you." Xue Ruanruan raised her head slightly, her eyes showing a hint of stubbornness yet remaining polite, "Your Highness is wise; I have never had any intention of currying favor." Murong Xun's lips curled up slightly, revealing a barely perceptible smile, "You are quite an interesting woman, with excellent medical skills and a kind heart." Xue Ruanruan was delighted; it seemed the misunderstanding had been cleared up. Murong Xun continued, "There are still undercurrents in the palace. With your medical skills, you should serve His Majesty more in the future." Xue Ruanruan quickly agreed, "I will obey Your Highness's orders and will do my utmost." Murong Xun nodded, "You may leave." Xue Ruanruan bowed and turned to leave. She knew that although the misunderstanding had been cleared up, the road ahead would still be full of challenges in the complex palace intrigues and court politics. However, with the Regent's approval, she felt more confident and determined to rely on her wisdom and medical skills to gain a foothold in this ever-changing world. "I see, it was I who misunderstood you." Xue Ruanruan breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile, "Your Highness is wise." After this incident, the misunderstanding between the two was cleared up, and their relationship became more subtle. Xue Ruanruan's path in the deep palace was also quietly changing. Her legs trembled slightly involuntarily, but she forced herself to remain calm and slowly curtsied, saying, "This commoner greets the Regent." The Regent's gaze was sharp as he scrutinized Xue Ruanruan from head to toe, coldly asking, "Do you know what the crime is of accepting the jade pendant of my confidant without permission?" Xue Ruanruan's heart tightened, cold sweat beading on her forehead, but she still kept her back straight. "Your Highness, this commoner truly knew nothing of it. If I have offended Your Highness because of this, I am willing to accept punishment." Murong Xun's lips curled up slightly, revealing a barely perceptible smile. "Very well, I am not an unreasonable person. Since you saved my confidant, you have done me a favor." Xue Ruanruan secretly breathed a sigh of relief and was about to express her gratitude when Murong Xun added, "However, I have heard that your medical skills are superb. Recently, someone in the manor has fallen ill. You should go and take a look." Xue Ruanruan obeyed and followed the servants of the manor to the patient's side. With her superb medical skills, she quickly cured the patient. Murong Xun greatly admired her medical skills, and from then on, Xue Ruanruan's connection with the Prince's mansion grew increasingly close. In this deep palace, with the Regent Prince as her protector, her path in the palace intrigues seemed smoother, but new challenges were perhaps quietly approaching. The Regent Prince coldly spoke: "Bold woman, why do you demand the jade pendant of my confidant?" Xue Ruanruan hurriedly explained: "Your Highness, please understand, I saved that man, and he insisted on giving it to me as a token of gratitude. I couldn't refuse, so I accepted it." The Regent Prince's eyes were full of suspicion: "Hmph, who can prove your words? Could it be that you're trying to get close to me through your confidant, with some ulterior motive?" Xue Ruanruan's eyes reddened with anxiety: "Your Highness, I'm just a physician, only knowing how to heal and save lives, I have no other intentions." Just as the atmosphere became tense, the confidant rushed over and truthfully recounted the whole story. After hearing this, the Regent Prince's expression softened somewhat, but his doubts remained. He stared at Xue Ruanruan and said in a deep voice, "I'll believe you for now, but if I find out you've told even the slightest lie, I won't let you off easily." Xue Ruanruan nodded hurriedly, secretly lamenting that she didn't know when this unnecessary trouble would end.