The breathtaking palace coup had finally come to an end. On the surface, the imperial palace of the Tang Dynasty had regained its former tranquility. However, Lin Yue's heart was like a stormy sea, unable to calm down for a long time. Whenever night fell and all was quiet, the bloodshed and chaos of the coup night would surge back like a tide, vividly before her eyes. The sounds of fighting and shouting seemed to echo in her ears. These bloody scenes kept her tossing and turning, unable to sleep. She was keenly aware that palace intrigue was like a hidden vortex in the darkness, full of twists and turns. Although they had successfully foiled the plot of Zhao Chong and Concubine Shu this time, potential crises might be lurking like beasts in the dark, eyeing them, ready to strike again with a fatal blow at any moment.
One early morning, the soft sunlight filtered through the carved window lattice and spilled into Lin Yue's boudoir. As usual, with the assistance of her maids, she got up, washed up briefly, and then headed to the Imperial Medical Office. She had always been concerned about the prescriptions used to treat the wounded during the war. She planned to organize and improve them, hoping to further enhance the efficacy of the medicines. That way, they could handle similar crises more calmly in the future.
When she stepped into the Imperial Medical Office, the familiar aroma of medicine wafted towards her. However, her sharp intuition sensed an unusual atmosphere. On ordinary days, the imperial doctors were always busy shuttling between various pharmacies and consultation rooms in an orderly manner. But at this moment, they were huddled together in small groups, whispering to each other. When they saw her enter, their voices stopped abruptly. Panic flashed across each of their faces, and they seemed to have something to say but hesitated.
A sense of doubt welled up in Lin Yue's heart. She walked straight towards Imperial Doctor Zhang, with whom she had a good relationship. Imperial Doctor Zhang was over fifty years old. He had excellent medical skills, an honest character, and was highly respected in the Imperial Medical Office. Lin Yue walked up to him and asked softly, "Imperial Doctor Zhang, what's going on? Why does everyone seem so worried?" Imperial Doctor Zhang heaved a slight sigh, and a hint of worry showed in his eyes. He looked around to make sure no one was nearby, then lowered his voice and said, "Miss Su, you're not aware. Recently, some rumors about you have been spreading among the people."
Lin Yue's delicate eyebrows knitted slightly upon hearing this, and a look of surprise flashed in her eyes. "Rumors about me? What on earth is going on?" Imperial Doctor Zhang looked troubled. He hesitated for a moment, as if trying to figure out how to phrase it. After a long while, he said slowly, "The rumors claim that you're a reincarnation of an evil spirit, and your arrival triggered this palace upheaval. They say that your presence has disrupted the feng shui of the Tang Dynasty, causing turmoil in the imperial court, and the common people are about to face disasters."
Lin Yue was filled with indignation after hearing this. She never expected that after selflessly devoting herself to the Tang Dynasty and its people, she would be slandered and maligned in such a malicious way. She bit her lower lip tightly, and her hands unconsciously clenched into fists. However, her past experiences quickly helped her calm down. She realized that this might be another carefully planned conspiracy, and there must be a hidden hand manipulating it. Suppressing her anger, she thanked Imperial Doctor Zhang and then left the Imperial Medical Office, determined to tell Li Yi about this immediately.
Meanwhile, in the Imperial Study, Li Yi was overwhelmed with the numerous matters after the war. Although the border war had temporarily subsided, the wounds inflicted by the war were like a deep, unhealable scar, requiring a long time to mend. He sat at the large desk, with piles of
memorials on reconstructing the border defenses and soothing the people in front of him. His brows were furrowed, and his expression was solemn. He carefully reviewed each memorial word by word, trying to find the best solutions from the complex affairs.
At this moment, Lin Yue rushed in. Her steps were a bit hurried, and her eyes were slightly red. Clearly, she was trying her best to hold back her grievances and anger. When she saw Li Yi, she could no longer contain herself and told him everything about the rumors spreading among the people.
Li Yi flew into a rage after hearing this. He slammed his hand on the desk, and the memorials on the desk were shaken and scattered all over the place. "This is utterly absurd!" His voice was filled with anger and dignity. "These rumors must have been deliberately spread by those with ulterior motives. They're trying to disrupt the peace of the Tang Dynasty again and undermine the relationship between me and Yao'er. Yao'er, don't worry. I will thoroughly investigate this matter and clear your name."
Lin Yue looked into Li Yi's angry yet determined eyes. A warm current surged in her heart. She felt Li Yi's unwavering trust and support, which gradually calmed her flustered heart. She said softly, "Your Majesty, I know you believe me. However, I'm worried that the forces behind this are intricate and deeply rooted. We need to act cautiously and avoid tipping our hand." Li Yi nodded, stood up, walked up to Lin Yue, and gently held her hand. "I understand. This time, I won't let you get hurt again. No matter what difficulties we face, I will face them with you."
To quell the rumors as soon as possible, Li Yi immediately issued an order, assigning the chief judge of the Supreme Court to thoroughly investigate the matter. After receiving the order, the chief judge didn't dare to slack off. He quickly mobilized his men and launched a comprehensive and in - depth investigation into the source of the rumors. The investigators disguised themselves, mingled with the people in the streets and alleys of the capital, and delved into various teahouses, restaurants, and marketplaces. They chatted with the common people, extracted information, and didn't miss any possible clues.
After several days of painstaking investigation, it was finally discovered that these rumors had originated from a teahouse named "Yuelai Teahouse" in the capital. This teahouse was bustling with people on a daily basis and was a gathering place for all kinds of information. Further investigation revealed that in the early days of the rumor - spreading, several suspicious - looking people frequently visited the teahouse and had close relationships with the teahouse owner. Although there was no conclusive evidence yet, all signs pointed to the former followers of Zhao Chong.
After learning this, Lin Yue fell into deep thought. She knew that merely catching a few small - time rumor - spreaders wouldn't solve the problem at its root. The rumors had spread rapidly because of the people's fear and superstition about the unknown. To completely eliminate the influence of these rumors on the people, she had to find a foolproof solution to change their mindset at its source. She thought of the knowledge of communication studies she had learned in modern times and decided to start by changing the direction of public opinion.
Lin Yue put forward a bold idea to Li Yi: organize a large - scale free medical consultation campaign. She would personally lead the imperial doctors from the Imperial Medical Office to go deep into the people and provide free medical treatment. At the same time, during the consultation, they would promote medical knowledge to the people, making them understand that diseases were caused by natural factors and living habits rather than evil spirits. By doing so, they could not only dispel the people's misunderstandings about her but also raise their health awareness, killing two birds with one stone.
Li Yi highly praised Lin Yue's idea after hearing it. He was deeply moved by her wisdom and kindness and wholeheartedly supported her plan without hesitation. He immediately issued an order, asking local governments to cooperate and provide the necessary materials and venue support for the free medical consultation campaign to ensure its smooth implementation.
Soon, the free medical consultation campaign was carried out in full swing in the capital and its surrounding areas. Lin Yue led the imperial doctors, traveling tirelessly to various villages and towns. Everywhere they went, they quickly set up medical tents and arranged all kinds of medical equipment and medicines. Lin Yue personally sat in the consultation room, carefully diagnosing and treating various diseases for the people. Her medical skills were excellent, her diagnoses accurate, and her prescriptions appropriate. Whether it was a common cold or a difficult and complicated illness, she could come up with effective treatment plans.
During the diagnosis and treatment process, Lin Yue didn't forget to explain to the people how to prevent diseases and maintain a healthy lifestyle. She used plain and understandable language to explain medical principles to them, telling them to pay attention to food hygiene, maintain good work - rest habits, and exercise appropriately. Her explanations were vivid, interesting, and easy to understand. The people listened intently and nodded in agreement.
One day, in a remote village, an old woman had been suffering from a long - term illness and was extremely weak. Her face was pale, her body emaciated, and she had been bedridden all day. Her family believed that she was haunted by evil spirits and had been praying to gods and buddhas everywhere, but her condition never improved. After learning about this, Lin Yue personally went to the old woman's home to treat her. After a careful examination, she found that the old woman was just weak due to malnutrition and overwork.
Lin Yue personally formulated a nourishing prescription for the old woman and patiently explained her condition to her and her family. She told the old woman's family to give her more nutritious food, such as eggs, fish, and vegetables, and to let her rest more to avoid overwork. The old woman's family was skeptical of Lin Yue's words. After all, they had long lived in an environment of feudal superstition and found it hard to accept such a scientific explanation.
Seeing this, Lin Yue demonstrated some simple first - aid methods and health - keeping exercises on the spot. She explained the key points of the movements and their benefits to physical health while demonstrating. For example, she taught them how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation and how to relieve physical fatigue by massaging acupoints. The old woman's family watched carefully and asked some questions from time to time. Lin Yue patiently answered all of them until they fully understood.
Under Lin Yue's meticulous care and patient explanation, the old woman's condition gradually improved. Her face turned rosy, and she gradually regained her strength. The villagers witnessed all this and were filled with admiration for Lin Yue's medical skills and character. They began to realize that diseases were not caused by evil spirits but could be treated and prevented through scientific methods. The rumors about Lin Yue gradually dissipated among the villagers, replaced by gratitude and praise for her.
As the free medical consultation campaign continued, more and more people learned about real medical knowledge, and their views on Lin Yue underwent a fundamental change. They no longer believed the malicious rumors but regarded Lin Yue as a savior, an angel sent by heaven to rescue them. At the same time, the chief judge of the Supreme Court continued to dig deeper into the forces behind the rumors. After arduous investigations, he finally obtained enough evidence and rounded up some remaining followers of Zhao Chong.
In this battle against the rumors, Lin Yue not only successfully cleared her name but also enabled
the people to have a deeper understanding of medicine. Her kindness, wisdom, and courage became a well - known story among the people. Li Yi's support and trust for Lin Yue also made their relationship even stronger through this storm. Their love story, like a bright star, shone in the sky of the Tang Dynasty.
However, Lin Yue was well aware that palace intrigue was endless. More challenges might await her and Li Yi in the future. But she was no longer afraid. She knew that as long as they walked hand in hand and supported each other, no difficulties could stop them. She was determined to contribute all her strength to the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty and the well - being of the people together with Li Yi.
As time passed, under Li Yi's wise governance, the Tang Dynasty gradually regained its former prosperity. The country was rich and strong, the people lived and worked in peace and contentment, and society was harmonious and stable. Lin Yue also found her place in the palace. She was not only the woman Li Yi loved deeply but also a highly respected doctor. She combined modern medicine with ancient medical skills, constantly promoting the development of medicine in the Tang Dynasty. She opened medical clinics, trained medical talents, and made remarkable contributions to the medical cause of the Tang Dynasty.
Their love story spread throughout the palace and among the people, becoming a much - told tale. People praised their love and extolled their courage and wisdom. Their story inspired countless people to bravely pursue true love and unremittingly strive for justice and ideals. In the long history of the Tang Dynasty, their names would always shine brightly, becoming a legend admired by future generations.