Dongfang Yi had been locked in the dungeon for a whole day. Just when she thought she was doomed, several imperial guards came. They unlocked the cell door and said with a hint of respect, "Your Majesty the Queen, you may leave!"
Surprised, she stared at them in disbelief and asked, "What?"
The leader of the imperial guards then said, "Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has ordered us to escort Your Majesty the Queen back to your palace."
Only then did Dongfang Yi fully believe their words. She realized that her father must have heard that she had been thrown into the dungeon and pressured the Empress Dowager, or she would never have been released so soon.
At this thought, her heart warmed. She deeply felt the importance of family.
When she walked out of the dungeon, the bright sunlight almost hurt her eyes. It was because the dungeon was so dark. She looked down at her clothes and found them dirty in many places. Her fingernails were filled with dirt.
Seeing this, she couldn't help sneering. She never thought that in just one day, she would become so embarrassed.
Shu Pin had been waiting outside the dungeon early. As soon as she saw Dongfang Yi, her eyes turned red. She rushed over and said with a sob, "Your Majesty, you've suffered!"
"How did you know I would be released today?" Dongfang Yi asked.
"Prime Minister Dongfang pleaded with the Empress Dowager, and she ordered your release. This news has spread throughout the harem," Shu Pin replied.
With a worried frown, she continued, "Your Majesty, although you've been temporarily banished to the Cold Palace this time, it's still better than being in the dungeon. Don't worry, Your Majesty. His Majesty will never abandon you!"
After saying that, she looked at the woman in front of her firmly.
What? Banished to the Cold Palace? Dongfang Yi was shocked. As she had expected, the Empress Dowager would never let her go so easily.
But being banished to the Cold Palace was nothing. Once Helian Qi woke up, everything would be clarified.
Just thinking of Helian Qi, her frown deepened. She thought that he still hadn't been detoxified during the day she was away.
On the other side outside the palace.
After hearing from the Chang family in Nanwu that Bai Juechen might go to Dongguan, Ru Yi led his men there.
At that time, Donghua mobilized her old subordinates in Dongguan to search for Bai Juechen. Three days passed, and they only got some scattered clues.
It turned out that Bai Juechen had also practiced medicine in Dongguan before. There was a wealthy Zhang family in Dongguan. The daughter of the family fell into the lake. After being fished out, she was physically fine but couldn't wake up.
Later, a doctor said that Miss Zhang had swallowed some poisonous waterweeds in the lake and was poisoned. For a moment, the whole Zhang family was in panic because Miss Zhang was engaged to a local official. If the bride died, the whole family might be in great trouble.
At that time, they posted notices in the city to seek a doctor. After several days with no result, one afternoon, the notice was torn down, and the person who tore it down was Bai Juechen.
After he went to the Zhang family, he quickly forced out the poisonous waterweeds in Miss Zhang's body. After a few days of acupuncture, the girl woke up and fully recovered.
Donghua heard this from a waiter in a teahouse. Everyone who had seen Mr. Bai Juechen said that he was a genius with superb medical skills.
After hearing this, she couldn't help doubting why she hadn't heard much about such a famous person before. And how could someone disappear completely? Unless he was deliberately hiding from the searchers.
Thinking of this, her frown deepened. She thought that the poison masters and doctors of the Bai family she had met before were not good people. Was Bai Juechen the same?
The more she thought about it, the more strange it seemed. According to Bai Juechen's attitude of practicing medicine and saving people everywhere, he shouldn't have refused to detoxify the emperor. Did he have other concerns?
While she was thinking, a subordinate rushed in and reported in a hurry, "Guard Ru Yi is here!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a man in green clothes strode in. There was a sword on his waist, and he looked extremely handsome.
When Donghua saw him, her face lit up. Then she frowned and asked, "Why are you here? Didn't Her Majesty the Queen send you to Nanwu to find someone?"
Ru Yi shook his sleeves and sat on the stool. He picked up a cup of cold tea and drank it. After taking a breath, he replied, "I met a Chang family in Nanwu. They said Bai Juechen was coming to Dongguan. I've been investigating in Dongguan for four days, but I haven't found any news about him. So I came here."
Hearing this, Donghua's expression relaxed a little. Then she asked, "Is the Chang family reliable?"
"Don't worry. They are well - known kind people in the local area. They won't lie," Ru Yi replied.
Hearing this, Donghua frowned and lowered her eyes. As if talking to herself, she said, "Could it be that Mr. Bai Juechen is really in Dongguan City?"
On the other side in Xiguan, at Lian Cheng's place.
Lian Cheng had investigated for a long time but found no clues. Later, he received a letter from his father in the capital. The letter said that he should return to the capital immediately. Her Majesty the Queen had been thrown into the dungeon by the angry Empress Dowager, and His Majesty had not been in court for several days. There might be changes in the palace.
Lian Cheng's father, General Lian, still knew nothing about the emperor's poisoning. Lian Cheng felt sad for his father's worried look. Then he thought that his father was loyal to the emperor. Since there were no clues in Xiguan, he decided to return to the capital to report the situation here to the queen and comfort his father.
With this in mind, he ordered the guards to go with him and set off on the way back to the capital.
At this time, in the capital, a group of people were secretly carrying out the queen's order. They were from the Rong family and the Su family.
Rong Yi heard from an informant that the queen was in trouble. He was worried but didn't want to tell Su Luo, who was worried about finding Bai Juechen. So he secretly hid the matter.
"Rong Yi, why do you look so pale?" Su Luo asked with concern.
"Er, it's okay. I'm just a little tired," he replied pretending to be okay.
Hearing this, Su Luo was even more worried. She couldn't help reaching out to touch his forehead, which made the man in front of her dodge.
"Don't move. I know medicine!"