"Your Majesty, the imperial physician is here," Feng Yu whispered into Xue Zining's ear.
Xue Zining nodded slightly, stood up, and looked at the arriving imperial physician. "Imperial Physician Shen."
Imperial Physician Shen, still harboring resentment from being dragged out of bed, understood everything upon seeing the Empress.
He quickly stepped forward and bowed, "Your servant greets Your Majesty."
"Imperial Physician Shen, please rise quickly, no need for such formality." Xue Zining stepped forward and offered a slight support.
Imperial Physician Shen dared not let the Empress truly help him and immediately stood up.
"Imperial Physician Shen, the Prime Minister vomited blood and has been unconscious since. I am worried, which is why I had Feng Yin fetch you overnight. If there was any offense, please forgive me!"
Xue Zining spoke sincerely, and even Imperial Physician Shen, whose sleep had been disturbed, calmed down.
"Your Majesty, you are too kind. If such a thing happens again in the future, it would be enough for this old minister to walk himself."
He did not want to be carried through the air like a chick being held by the scruff of its neck again.
Xue Zining glanced at Imperial Physician Shen's unsteady gait, her brows involuntarily twitching. "Imperial Physician Shen, please examine the Prime Minister first!"
Imperial Physician Shen stepped forward and began to take Hua Yunjin's pulse. Half an hour passed.
Xue Zining heard Imperial Physician Shen sigh repeatedly and couldn't help but ask, "Imperial Physician Shen, is the Prime Minister's condition very serious?"
Imperial Physician Shen nodded, then shook his head.
Seeing this, Xue Zining became anxious. "Imperial Physician Shen, what exactly is the Prime Minister's condition?"
Imperial Physician Shen withdrew his hand from Hua Yunjin's wrist, stood up, and bowed. "Replying to Your Majesty, the Prime Minister's condition is congenital, from birth, and I'm afraid..."
Imperial Physician Shen did not finish. Xue Zining's gaze paused. "There is no way?"
Imperial Physician Shen thought for a moment. "There is a way, but it is very difficult."
"What way?" Xue Zining stood up from her chair. Even with a sliver of a chance, she would not give up.
"It requires someone with a similar bloodline to perform a blood transfusion."
Xue Zining trembled all over. "Blood transfusion?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. This method is very difficult to implement, and moreover, the Prime Minister likely has no one with a similar bloodline."
Xue Zining's eyes dimmed. Hua Yunjin indeed had no siblings.
"Your Majesty..."
"You may withdraw!" Xue Zining waved her hand.
Imperial Physician Shen withdrew.
Xue Zining walked forward and looked at Hua Yunjin, pale and weak on the bed, her heart filled with mixed emotions.
Hua Yunjin had a dream. In the dream, he saw the Empress looking at him without reservation, and he could return her gaze without concealment.
But he always knew it was a dream, a secret hidden in the depths of his heart.
He slowly opened his eyes and saw a familiar scene. This was his room. Lowering his gaze, he saw a face that appeared in his dreams.
He trembled all over. Why was the Empress here?
He wasn't mistaken; this was a face he knew too well.
Suddenly, those long eyelashes quivered slightly, and when his eyes opened, they were as brilliant as flowing flowers.
He felt his heart beating faster.
"Yunjin, you're awake?" A look of pleasant surprise appeared on the maiden's face.
Hua Yunjin frantically lowered his eyes and struggled to get up. "Your Majesty..."
A pair of jade hands pressed on his shoulders, and a clear voice came, "Don't move, just lie down and rest."
Hua Yunjin stopped moving. "Your Majesty, why... why are you here?"
The maiden seemed a little annoyed. "If I hadn't come, how would I know you had vomited blood so early? Hua Yunjin, why didn't you tell me?"
Hua Yunjin was slightly stunned. This was the first time the Empress had called him by his full name, and she was clearly angry. He said, "Your Majesty, this is something I've had since birth..."
He paused, then continued softly, "...it cannot be cured..."
The maiden froze, looking at Hua Yunjin. Hua Yunjin felt the air gradually growing colder. He looked up and saw her face, now as cold and frosty as ice. For a moment, he was at a loss. "Your... Your Majesty..."
The maiden's gaze was chilling, and her tone was equally cold. "Because it cannot be cured, you would rather not seek treatment?"
Hua Yunjin was startled and lowered his gaze.
"Hua Yunjin, I told you I wanted you to accompany me to see the vast landscapes of this desolate land. If, at that time, only I were left? What meaning would it have?"
If the person she wanted to protect was gone, what use would the vast landscapes be to her?
Hua Yunjin's heart trembled. He had never considered this. He looked up, seeing a hint of confusion in the maiden's eyes.
"Your Majesty, I will accompany you, always and always."
Hua Yunjin said each word solemnly.
Even though he was at the end of his strength, he would use his last ounce of energy to accompany her through this desolate land.
If he couldn't, he... he would find someone to replace him.
"Hua Yunjin, I will not allow you to die. Without my command, you are not permitted to die." The maiden's misty eyes suddenly regained a clear and unwavering light.
Hua Yunjin smiled. "Yes." My Empress.
"Rest well in your manor for the next few days. I will be present at the trial of the three judicial departments in three days."
On the maiden's clear face, her expression was one of unprecedented determination, her gaze clear and fearless.
Hua Yunjin nodded. The Empress, who had once been somewhat timid, had grown up and no longer needed his support.
He knew that his Empress would continue to walk forward, even if the road ahead was thorny or arduous, she would still press on...
Even without him, his Empress would steadfastly continue her journey.
Leaving Hua Manor, Xue Zining leaned on Feng Yu's back and asked slowly, "Feng Yu, how much time does he have left?"
Feng Yu, who was traversing the night, was slightly startled but still answered truthfully, "Perhaps less than two months."
Two months? She noted it silently in her heart. It was enough.
Regent's Manor
Zhu Keyu was kneeling on the ground, sweat drenching his clothes.
He dared not look up at the Regent seated above, fearing that his expression might betray him.
His heart was pounding rapidly, filled with unease. He knew it wouldn't be good news.
His experience in the palace had been a near-death ordeal. Upon returning to his manor, before he could even settle in, he was summoned by the Regent.
"Lord Zhu, when you apprehended the Hua family patriarch, you didn't tell me that the Hua family patriarch was fake." Xue Wenjie's voice was cold, laced with a hint of chill.
Zhu Keyu felt not only cold in his body but even colder in his heart. What did he mean by 'fake'?
"Your... Your Highness... the Hua family patriarch is fake?"
Xue Wenjie let out a cold laugh. "Didn't you tell me before that the Hua family patriarch was fake? And now you're asking me? Lord Zhu, are you playing with me?"
The teacup in Xue Wenjie's hand was crushed.
Zhu Keyu trembled all over. "When... When did your subordinate ever say that?"
He... he didn't know.