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Inside the Prime Minister’s residence in the capital, an atmosphere of chaos and despair enveloped the halls.
Prime Minister Wang Tiancheng’s son, Wang Hao, tossed and turned on his bed, clutching his stomach tightly with both hands. His complexion was as pale as paper, devoid of blood, and beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, soaking the bedding as his pained groans filled the air.
Wang Tiancheng and his wife, Li Linger, stood anxiously at his bedside, their faces streaked with tears, their eyes full of worry and helplessness, engulfed in despair.
At the Imperial Medical Academy, Chief Doctor Chen and a group of doctors had just completed their examination, each of them wearing frowns and serious expressions. After a lengthy discussion in hushed tones within the room, they finally shook their heads helplessly and filed out one by one.
Seeing this, Prime Minister Wang Tiancheng felt a surge of panic and hurriedly grabbed the sleeve of Chief Doctor Chen, his voice trembling as he asked, “Chief Doctor, what is wrong with my son? Is there truly no way to save him?”
Chief Doctor Chen slowly raised his head, his eyes filled with helplessness and regret. He clasped his hands and said, “Prime Minister Wang Tiancheng, this ailment is extremely rare. We truly have no power to help, and I beg for your forgiveness.”
Upon hearing this, Prime Minister Wang Tiancheng nearly staggered, almost losing his balance, while his wife crumpled to the floor, sobbing uncontrollably.
At that moment, a usually unassuming Chief Doctor Chen hesitantly stepped forward, cautiously glancing around before gathering his courage to speak. “Prime Minister Wang Tiancheng, I have heard that there is a Miraculous Doctor on Qingyan Mountain in Taohua Town, reputed for her exceptional medical skills and rumored to possess the ability to bring the dead back to life. Perhaps we could send someone to invite her to treat your son.”
The Prime Minister’s eyes brightened with a glimmer of hope, as if he had grasped the last straw for survival. He decisively declared, “No matter the cost, no matter the means, we must invite that Miraculous Doctor here!”
He immediately ordered his most capable, agile, and reliable guards to ride swiftly to Qingyan Mountain.
The guards accepted their orders without delay, mounting their horses and galloping toward Qingyan Mountain, determined to bring back Miraculous Doctor and save the young master’s life.
As the horses thundered along, kicking up clouds of dust, the guards’ minds were focused solely on one thought: they must bring back the Miraculous Doctor to save the young master.
Finally, upon reaching Qingyan Mountain, the guards were stopped outside Bai Linglong’s residence by two stern-looking guards wielding long spears.
Anxiously, one of the guards nearly shouted in a pleading tone, “I am a guard from the Prime Minister Wang Tiancheng’s residence! Our young master is in grave danger, and I have come to ask the Miraculous Doctor to come down the mountain to save him! Prime Minister Wang Tiancheng has promised a generous reward!”
At that moment, Bai Linglong was enjoying the sunshine in the courtyard, holding a medical book in her hands, with a cup of steaming fragrant tea placed on the stone table beside her.
Upon hearing the guards’ request, Bai Linglong’s lips curled into a faint smile, as if amused by the situation. She turned to Xiaocui, who was trimming the flower branches nearby, and said, “Look, trouble has come knocking at our door.” With that, she leisurely stood up, calmly adjusted her clothes, and gently placed the medical book on the stone table before making her way to the front hall.
Bai Linglong looked at the guards with a cold expression, her voice icy. “What does the matter of the Prime Minister Wang Tiancheng’s residence have to do with me? There are many seeking medical help in this world; why should I go at someone’s request?”
The guard knelt down with a thud, speaking earnestly and with tears in his eyes. “Miraculous Doctor, I beg for your mercy. Our young master is writhing in pain on the ground, nearly collapsing. Prime Minister Wang Tiancheng has promised that as long as you can save the life of the young master, he will offer mountains of gold and silver, and he will never go back on his word!”
Bai Linglong pondered silently. The Prime Minister Wang Tiancheng residence was in the capital, and she was planning to return there to settle accounts with Bai Xinyao and Li Yiniang. This was a perfect opportunity.
With this thought, a cold smirk crept onto her lips as she silently vowed: Concubine Li, Bai Xinyao, I am back, and this time I will deliver a “great gift” to you.
Feigning contemplation for a moment, she slowly spoke, “In light of the Prime Minister Wang Tiancheng’s sincerity, I will make this trip. However, I must make it clear: if anyone disrespects me at the Prime Minister Wang Tiancheng residence, I will not treat the young master.”
The guard nodded vigorously, assuring her, “Rest assured, Miraculous Doctor! Prime Minister Wang Tiancheng has instructed us to treat you with the utmost respect, and if there is any oversight, you can hold me accountable!”
Bai Linglong nodded in satisfaction and returned to her room to gather her medical supplies. She first placed her four children into the spatial space, then took out an ancient jade bottle and poured out a few Heartfelt Pills that emitted a faint glow.
She summoned the six maids—Jing Zhu, Min Xiu, Ling Yue, Hui Qiao, An Lan, and Wan Qing—who had transitioned from Hidden Guards to visible maids.
“This is a Heartfelt Pill,” she explained. “Taking it isn’t because I distrust you; rather, it’s to prevent any ill-intentioned individuals from discovering the secret of the spatial dimension and using you against me. Given your loyalty to me, taking it will do no harm.”
The maids showed no hesitation. Jing Zhu stepped forward first, respectfully accepting the Heartfelt Pill. With a steadfast gaze, she declared, “Master, our lives were given by you. We would go through fire and water for you; we trust this Heartfelt Pill!”
The other maids nodded in agreement, taking their pills one by one without a moment’s doubt. After they had ingested the pills, Bai Linglong summoned them all into the spatial space with a thought. What… where is this?
As soon as they entered the space, the maids were awestruck by the breathtaking scenery before them, their mouths agape in astonishment. Endless fertile land stretched out, with lush green rice fields rippling in the breeze like waves in a green ocean.
Beside the fields, vibrant wildflowers bloomed in abundance, competing for beauty and releasing waves of sweet fragrance. Not far away, a grove of fruit trees was lush with foliage, their branches heavy with ripe fruits—red as fire and yellow as gold—filling the air with their delightful aroma.
In the center, a crystal-clear spiritual spring flowed gently, with ethereal mist rising from the springhead, refracting sunlight into beautiful rainbows. A modern villa stood nearby, its white walls and large floor-to-ceiling windows creating a striking contrast with the surrounding pastoral scenery.
“Master, is this not a fairyland?” Min Xiu exclaimed, her eyes wide with disbelief.
Bai Linglong smiled and explained, “This is my secret space. In this place, time flows differently than in the outside world, and the crops grow rapidly, producing fruits imbued with spiritual energy that greatly benefit the body. The water from this spring has healing properties and can prolong life.”
Bai Linglong led the maids toward the villa. Upon stepping inside, the modern decor left the maids utterly speechless. In the spacious and bright living room were soft fabric sofas and elegant glass coffee tables, and the wall-mounted LCD television baffled them.
“Master, what is this?” Ling Yue asked, pointing at the television with a puzzled expression.
Bai Linglong approached and patiently explained, “This is called an LCD television. It can display various images, like putting the performances of a theater troupe into this box. When I have time later, I’ll show you.”
Next, Bai Linglong took them to the children’s room. The room was decorated with playful themes, filled with plush toys and educational games scattered about. Warm sunlight streamed through the curtains, gently illuminating the soft children’s beds.
Bai Linglong carefully checked every corner of the room, ensuring that it was safe and comfortable for the children to wait. She turned to the maids and instructed, “You will take good care of the children here while I’m away.”
The maids nodded vigorously, responding in unison, “Master, don’t worry! We will do our utmost!”
Afterward, Bai Linglong led the maids to a corner of the villa where a display area was filled with various modern household items.
“These things, once I finish my business and return, I will explain how to use them in detail. Over there is the kitchen, where the appliances can prepare all sorts of delicious meals and there’s the bathroom, which is very convenient to use,” Bai Linglong explained.
The maids curiously examined these novel objects, with Hui Qiao unable to resist reaching out to touch the refrigerator, marveling, “This thing can actually keep things cold—how amazing!”
An Lan was fascinated by the microwave, inspecting it from every angle and gently turning the knobs on top.
Wan Qing walked over to the window, gazing at the pastoral scenery outside, then looking back at the modern amenities inside, she couldn’t help but exclaim, “It’s like being in two different worlds.”
Seeing the curious expressions on the maids’ faces, Bai Linglong felt a sense of satisfaction. She then led the maids to the storage room of the villa, which housed some spare supplies and tools.
“These items can be useful in times of need, so remember their locations,” Bai Linglong explained carefully.
Next, Bai Linglong took the maids to the backyard. In the backyard, rare herbs and flowers were cultivated, all carefully nurtured by Bai Linglong, possessing special medicinal herbs.
“You all need to help take care of these herbs. They can not only cure illnesses but can also be used to refine elixirs,” she said, crouching down to gently stroke the leaves of one particular herb, imparting her knowledge about them.
The maids gathered around Bai Linglong, listening earnestly and occasionally asking questions.
Min Xiu pointed to one herb and asked, “Master, what is the name of this herb?”
Bai Linglong patiently answered, even demonstrating how to harvest and process the herbs on the spot.
Through Bai Linglong’s explanations, the maids grew increasingly familiar with this mysterious space, their curiosity slowly transforming into anticipation for their future life.
They understood that they were tasked with caring for the children and guarding this secret space, each silently determined to not let down Bai Linglong’s trust.
Bai Linglong glanced at the sky and felt that it was nearly time. She once again reminded the maids to take good care of the children and ensure the security of the space.
“While I’m at the Prime Minister’s residence, don’t leave the space without any reason. If anything happens, wait for my return to discuss it,” she instructed. The maids nodded in unison, promising to heed their Master’s advice.
Finally, with a thought, Bai Linglong exited the space, following the Prime Minister Wang Tiancheng’s guard down the mountain. She knew that this trip to the Prime Minister Wang Tiancheng’s residence was not just a mission to heal but also the beginning of her return to the capital to seek revenge on Bai Xinyao and Concubine Li.
As they rode along, the sound of galloping hooves echoed, but Bai Linglong’s thoughts had already drifted back to the capital, her eyes revealing determination and resolve. It was as if she were telling everyone that she had returned, and those who had once harmed her would pay for their actions and pay the price for their actions.