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Chapter 230 Reaching a Consensus

"Imperial Physician Su, Sister Shen has been gone for many years. I thought there would never be anyone in this palace to avenge her," Wen Mingqian said with emotion. "That day I found poison on the green tangerine, and I knew someone wanted to harm the Empress, but I couldn't be sure why. Until I traced it back to you..."

"The plague in the palace back then was caused by Lady Dong. She wanted to get rid of the second prince born to Consort Shu, so she secretly ordered people to get the personal clothing of people who died from the plague from outside the palace."

Soon the second prince died of the plague, but then the plague spread throughout the palace, infecting many people. At this time, Lady Dong was so frightened that she fled the palace and went to the eastern capital for refuge. Su Qingzhu couldn't help but sneer as she said this, "At that time, His Majesty was away on a southern expedition and was not in the capital. With Lady Dong gone, the people in the palace were even more in turmoil, and everyone was afraid of danger."

Many people went insane from fear even before they were infected with the plague, and some even suggested burning all those infected with the plague to prevent its spread.

It was around that time that Consort Shen stepped forward. At that time, she was only a Noble Lady. She came to the Imperial Hospital and said she was fifty percent confident she could stop the plague. Everyone in the Imperial Hospital was also in a state of panic, and the doctors refused to pay attention to her. I had only recently entered the Imperial Hospital and was not yet allowed to treat the ladies-in-waiting; I could only take the pulses and prescribe medicine for the palace maids and eunuchs.

I brewed the medicine using the prescription she gave me and gave it to the palace maids and eunuchs who had contracted the plague. After a few days, it proved effective. My master and I then added or adjusted the ingredients and dosages, making the medicine even more effective, and the prescription was finally finalized.

As Su Qingzhu spoke, scenes from that year flashed before her eyes.

He would always remember Shen Fu standing in the Imperial Hospital gate in a lotus-colored dress, the diamond-shaped hairpin on her head trembling slightly.

When the palace maids who had been saved knelt down before Shen Furong, Su Qingzhu was certain that she had seen the true form of the Bodhisattva in the human world.

"After a month, the plague in the palace was finally brought under control. Lady Dong returned and reaped the benefits, telling the Emperor it was all her doing." Su Qingzhu sneered, "She's the most shameless person I've ever met!"

There was nothing that could be done about it; after all, the Empress was Dong Yannian's daughter!

He was known as Huo Guang of the Great Xia Dynasty, who deposed and installed emperors twice, and all the officials followed his lead.

The current emperor's birth mother was of very low status, and his father died early, making them arguably the most declining branch of the royal family at that time.

It was Grand Tutor Dong who put him on the throne, and the emperor had no choice but to treat him with great respect.

His eldest daughter, Dong Xiangning, wanted to become empress, and even forced the emperor's first wife, Lady Liu, to commit suicide.

After she entered the palace, the son born to Lady Liu died under mysterious circumstances.

In truth, His Majesty has quite a few children, yet not a single prince has come of age. While natural disasters certainly played a part, a significant portion of this is due to the machinations of the Dong family.

In order to secure her son's position, she repeatedly targeted the imperial heirs.

But unexpectedly, her son also died young.

Now that things have come to this, they have no choice but to adopt the children of other princes.

"Doctor Su, your courage is admirable. I imagine you've tried to harm her more than once over the years, haven't you?" Wen Mingqian asked.

“Indeed! It’s a pity that things never go as planned.” Su Qingzhu gritted her teeth. “You’ve been in the palace for a while now, look at the state she’s ruined the harem! Wrongfully convicted concubines, murdered princes, princesses driven mad by fear… I wish I could tear her to pieces!” “Imperial Physician Su, I still maintain that killing only Dong Xiangning is not enough. The Dong family is deeply entrenched, controlling both the court and the harem. Not only are people in the harem living in fear, but the court has never been any better. Even the common people of the world have been poisoned by them.” Wen Mingqian’s voice was low, but every word was clear, striking Su Qingyun’s heart. “If we compare the Dong family’s power to a snake pit, then the Empress is merely one of the venomous snakes. Killing this one may relieve our anger temporarily, but it will make more snakes wary and will also implicate many innocent people.”

"Then what do you suggest we do?" Su Qingyun asked her. "With just the two of us, how can we eliminate them openly and honestly, except by using some clandestine methods?"

“Lord Su, it’s all up to us,” Wen Mingqian said firmly. “Sister Shen shouldn’t bear this stigma. I swore to her memorial tablet long ago that I would clear her name.”

The imperial harem has suffered under the Dong family for too long, and the world has suffered under their influence for too long. We are not fighting alone. I firmly believe that no matter how powerful a regime is, it cannot slaughter all loyal and righteous people.

If we can light one lamp in the darkness, countless others will respond in kind.

"Lady Wen, what are your plans? And what can I do?" Su Qingyun's eyes brightened noticeably, as if a long-dormant lamp had been lit.

“I have gained the trust of the Dong family, but it’s not enough. They are far from being completely obedient to me,” Wen Mingqian said. “So we can’t be impatient for now. But don’t forget the saying that a thousand-mile dike can be destroyed by an ant hole. Now that I’ve made a breakthrough, I’m not worried about the Dong family falling apart.”

First, we need to alienate the board members from Zhao Wang and others, gradually depriving the Dong family of their allies. A tree that can be embraced cannot be destroyed overnight; we might as well divide and conquer it.

Of course, many things are beyond our control, but as long as we act according to circumstances and persevere, success is always possible.

“Lady Wen, you are a woman, yet you have such a broad mind and vision, which makes me, a man, seem short-sighted and lacking in wisdom.” Su Qingyun sighed in admiration. “No wonder you and Consort Shen are like sisters. In the end, you are the same kind of people.”

“There are several important places in this palace where we must have our own people,” Wen Mingqian said. “And since you are in the Imperial Hospital, you can do many things for me. I will definitely need your help in the future.”

"Don't mention the word 'trouble.' I am only grateful to you for using me," Su Qingyun said. "My greatest wish in this life is to avenge Consort Shen."

Wen Mingqian knew that Su Qingyun was almost thirty years old, but she was still unmarried.

Everyone thought he was obsessed with medical research, but little did they know he had another secret.

Perhaps he didn't want to have too many worries, or perhaps he didn't want to implicate too many innocent people. Or maybe his heart was already full and there was no room for anyone else.

Wen Mingqian did not point this out.

Just as Su Qingzhu said, his greatest wish in life was to avenge Shen Fu.

This is his inner knot; if this knot is not untied, he will never be able to live a normal life.

Wen Mingqian only hoped that Shen Fu's spirit in heaven would bless them so that they could succeed soon.

In fact, the fates of many people were changed because of Shen Fu's death, and they were not the only ones.
"Doctor Su, there's no need for further words between us." Wen Mingqian heard footsteps approaching from afar and knew that Xiaoyue had returned. "I will come to you if I need anything in the future."

Happy New Year to everyone! May the Year of the Snake bring you great fortune and all your wishes come true!