Beside the main road of the capital city, a bright yellow imperial list was posted high on the vermilite wall, emitting a unique luster under the sunlight. On the banner, in a vigorous and powerful font, it was prominently written that Empress Dowager Lin Yue was seriously injured and in a coma. She had searched all over the country for good doctors to treat her and was richly rewarded.
For several consecutive days, upon hearing the news, medical practitioners from all over the country came from all directions, filled with the enthusiasm to save lives and help the world. Some of them carried old medicine boxes on their backs, which contained precious medicinal materials accumulated over many years of practicing medicine. Some carried stacks of handwritten medical books, hoping to find effective remedies from them.
When they passed through the palace gate and stepped into the imperial palace, facing this solemn and dignified palace, everyone felt both nervous and expectant in their hearts, imagining that they might become the great heroes who saved the Empress Dowager.
However, when they stepped into Lin Yue's bedroom and saw the Empress Dowager's pale face as paper, felt her faint breath, and after a careful observation, auscultation and olfaction, inquiry and palpation, these usually confident doctors all showed helpless expressions without exception.
An old doctor with grizzled temples and a grizzled beard let out a soft sigh and slowly shook his head, saying, "The Empress Dowager's injury is too serious. Her qi and blood are severely deficient, and it has affected the fundamental organs. I have been practicing medicine for decades, but I am still powerless. I am truly ashamed." Other doctors also chimed in one after another, their faces full of regret, admitting that their medical skills were difficult to reverse this critical situation. When Emperor Li Yi and Emperor Li Muyang learned of the doctors' responses, their anger and anxiety reached their peak.
Li Yi pacing back and forth in the bedroom, his hands clenched into fists, his knuckles turning white from the force he exerted, and his eyes bloodshot. He roared angrily, "So many so-called famous doctors, yet not a single one can save her!" What use do I need you for!
Li Muyang was also filled with rage. He punched the table hard, causing the porcelain to jingle. He felt both heartbroken for his mother to suffer such a great disaster and extremely disappointed with the incompetence of these doctors.
In their hearts, although Lin Yue is thin and weak, her character is resolute and courageous, just like a strong bamboo breaking through the soil in spring. No matter what difficulties she encounters, she can deal with them calmly.
On ordinary days, she handled the affairs of the inner palace with great vigor and determination, never procrastinating. Every matter was arranged in an orderly manner. Not only that, she was also full of compassion and often personally treated the sick palace maids, patiently inquiring about their conditions and carefully prescribing and dispensing medicine. She was highly respected and loved by everyone in the palace.
From then on, Li Yi sat quietly by Lin Yue's bedside every day, just like a statue. He held Lin Yue's hand tightly, as if it were the only connection between them, the bond that passed on hope and strength. His gaze never left Lin Yue's face for a moment, his eyes filled with tenderness, guilt and self-reproach.
"Yue 'er, I once swore before the gods of heaven and earth that I would protect you for a lifetime. But now I have put you in such a dangerous situation. It's all my fault. I'm sorry to you..." His voice was hoarse and deep, with a hint of imperceptible sobs, as if overwhelmed by a torrent of sadness.
Then, he spoke softly about those plans that had been hidden in his heart for a long time but never spoken out: "When you wake up, we'll set aside the complicated affairs in the palace and take a walk outside to see the picturesque water towns of Jiangnan." We can take a stroll by the ten-mile Lotus Pond and watch the tender pink lotus flowers sway gracefully in the gentle breeze. One can also board a small boat in the evening, listen to the fishing boats singing at dusk, and feel the tranquility and beauty of time...
In addition to pouring out his heart, Li Yi also personally massaged Lin Yue. His movements were as gentle as the warmest breeze in spring, for fear that even the slightest force would hurt the one he loved.
He began with Lin Yue's slender fingers, gently kneading them. His technique was like carving a rare treasure, and every movement was brimming with love. Then, he slowly rose upwards, massaging her arms bit by bit, then to her shoulders. Every inch of her skin was carefully cared for by him.
From time to time, he would carefully turn Lin Yue over. He gently lifted her body and adjusted her sleeping position, all for her to lie more comfortably. Throughout this process, his eyes remained focused and gentle, as if everything in the world had vanished, and only Lin Yue before him was his entirety.
Meanwhile, every corner of the palace was filled with concern and prayer for Lin Yue. The palace maids quietly lit a stick of incense in their small and dim quarters. Wisps of smoke rose up, as if carrying their wishes towards the sky.
They clasped their hands together, their eyes tightly closed, and murmured to themselves, "God bless you. Please let the Empress Dowager wake up soon. The palace can't do without her. She is our pillar."
The eunuchs were extremely cautious in their daily tasks of sweeping and delivering imperial edicts. They walked quietly and even spoke in a deliberately low voice, fearing that the slightest noise might disturb the empress dowager. Even those nobles who were usually high and powerful and lived a life of luxury and comfort were privately praying for Lin Yue.
They either recite sutras and chant the Buddha's name devoutly in their own Buddhist halls. Or in the garden, silently making a wish to the sky, hoping that this kind and capable empress dowager would recover soon and once again take charge of the overall situation of the palace, restoring its former peace and tranquility.
During this long and torturous waiting period, the atmosphere in the palace was so oppressive that it was hard to breathe, as if there was an invisible huge rock weighing heavily on everyone's heart.
However, everyone held a firm belief in their hearts, firmly convinced that as long as they didn't give up, Lin Yue would surely wake up.
And Li Yi was by my side day and night, never leaving nor giving up on me. From time to time, he would tell Lin Yue the funny stories of how they sneaked out to play in the imperial garden when they were young. When he got happy, a glimp of light would flash in his eyes, as if he had returned to those carefree days: "Yue 'er, do you still remember that time when we sneaked out of the palace and went to the market to eat the wontons?" That smell, I still remember it to this day.
From time to time, she would hum her favorite Jiangnan folk tune softly. The familiar melody flowed slowly in the silent bedroom, as if it were a glimmer of dawn in the darkness: "Little boy, carrying that schoolbag into the school..."
As time passed day by day, Lin Yue's condition was like a still lake, showing no sign of improvement at all. But Li Yi was not defeated by this heavy blow. His eyes became even more determined, and there was only one thought in his heart: he must stay with Lin Yue until she woke up.
He began to flip through the mountain of medical books, studying each one carefully and not missing any potentially useful clue. Some of the papers of those medical books have turned yellow and give off an old smell. Some are unique copies just collected from the folk, which record all kinds of miraculous prescriptions and medicines.
He often sat by the candlelight all night long, his eyes fixed tightly on the pages. Sometimes he frowned in thought, and sometimes he nodded thoughtfully. Even if it was just a vague inspiration, he regarded it as a treasure and pondered over it repeatedly, as if it were the key to unlocking the door of hope.
One day, a doctor in a long robe who was traveling around heard about Lin Yue's illness and came to the palace on his own initiative. He claimed to have a basic understanding of medicine and perhaps be able to treat the Empress Dowager. When Li Yi and Li Muyang heard this, it was as if they had seen a glimmer of hope in the darkness, and a fire of hope kindled in their hearts.
Li Yi stood up excitedly, walked quickly to the doctor, held his hand tightly and said, "Doctor, if I can save the Empress Dowager, I will agree to any request!"
They immediately ordered the doctor to be invited into Lin Yue's bedroom. The doctor's expression was solemn. He slowly walked to Lin Yue's bedside, stretched out his finger to take her pulse. His finger gently rested on Lin Yue's wrist, and his brows slightly furrowed, as if feeling a faint and mysterious force. Then, he carefully examined her complexion and observed her tongue coating, and then fell into deep thought for a long time. After a long while, he spoke slowly, "The illness of the Empress Dowager is indeed very difficult to deal with. It affects the heart meridian and qi and blood, but it is not without vitality." When I was traveling around, I once got a folk remedy. Maybe I can give it a try.
When Li Yi and Li Muyang heard this, a flash of surprise and anticipation instantly appeared in their eyes. Li Yi tightly grasped the doctor's sleeve and said urgently, "Doctor, please speak quickly. As long as I can save the Empress Dowager, I will surely offer a generous reward!"
They immediately ordered people to get the medicine according to the doctor's prescription. During the process of decocting the medicinal herbs, the entire palace was enveloped in a tense atmosphere.
In the imperial kitchen, the fire in the stove was burning fiercely. The palace maids stood by, their eyes fixed intently on the medicine jars, fearing to miss the slightest bit of heat. Their faces were filled with worry and anticipation, and in their hearts, they silently prayed that this decoction would bring about a miracle.
When the decoction was ready, Li Yi personally carried it to Lin Yue's bedside. He gently helped Lin Yue up, his movements as gentle as holding a newborn baby, and fed the decoction into her mouth bit by bit.
With each feed, he silently prayed in his heart, "Yue 'er, get well soon. I'm still waiting for you to go and see the lotus flowers in Jiangnan with me." After giving the medicine, he quietly stayed by Lin Yue's side again, his eyes not daring to leave her for a moment, as if as soon as he turned his head, hope would slip away. His eyes were filled with anticipation and worry, constantly searching for a hint of awakening on Lin Yue's face.
However, a day passed, and Lin Yue still kept her eyes tightly closed, showing no sign of waking up. Li Yi felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over his heart, and he felt a bit down, but he soon pulled himself together.
He looked at Lin Yue's face and said softly, "Yue 'er, I'll always wait for you. You'll surely wake up." He continued to stay by Lin Yue's side, tirelessly repeating the things he had done countless times: speaking, massaging, turning over... His figure seemed somewhat lonely in the bedroom, but his eyes were extremely determined, as if declaring to fate that he would never give up.
During this long wait, everyone in the palace was also silently cheering Lin Yue on. Although they couldn't directly help Lin Yue, their prayers and blessings seemed to transform into an invisible yet powerful force, supporting Li Yi and Li Muyang, enabling them to never give up hope during this difficult time.
Day after day passed as usual, but Lin Yue's condition still didn't improve. But Li Yi and everyone in the palace were like soldiers holding their ground, not retreating in the slightest. They were still waiting, waiting for that miracle to happen, waiting for Lin Yue to open her eyes again and shine with her former brilliance...