The Sickly Regent Prince Who Was Abandoned as a Substitute Bride

Chapter 478

Everyone in the Prince's mansion waited anxiously, each minute feeling incredibly long. They yearned for the divine physician to arrive quickly and save the child's life. However, fate seemed to have played another cruel trick on them. Just as everyone was filled with anticipation, the person sent to fetch the divine physician returned, but the news he brought was like a bolt from the blue, plunging everyone into despair—the divine physician had gone on a journey, his return date unknown. Dongfang Mingzhu's vision blurred, and she nearly fainted. Jing Chu also felt a profound despair, as if the entire world had collapsed at that moment.

However, there's always a way out. Just when everyone felt hopeless and helpless, an old, unremarkable servant who usually swept the floors suddenly stepped forward. His body was hunched, his face etched with the marks of time, but his eyes held a resolute determination. The old servant slowly said, "This old servant has some medical knowledge and is willing to try for the young master." Everyone was skeptical, as the old servant usually only did menial tasks like sweeping and chores, and they had never heard of him knowing anything about medicine. But they had no other choice. Jing Chu and Dongfang Mingzhu exchanged a glance, and reluctantly agreed to let the old servant try.

The old servant, unhurried, took out a small, antique-looking medicine bottle from his robes, skillfully poured out a few pills, and then had someone bring warm water before carefully feeding them to the child. Strangely enough, before long, the child's initially burning fever gradually subsided, and his rapid breathing gradually calmed. Jing Chu and Dongfang Mingzhu were both surprised and delighted, and hurriedly asked the old servant who he was. The old servant then slowly revealed the truth: he had once been a royal physician in the Imperial Medical Academy, possessing superb medical skills, but had offended a powerful figure and been framed, forced to flee to this place, hiding his identity and working as a sweeping servant.

Jingchu and Dongfang Mingzhu were extremely grateful and immediately thanked the old servant profusely. Under the old servant's meticulous care, the child gradually recovered, and the Prince's mansion regained its former vitality and laughter. However, this peace did not last long.

Shortly after the child's recovery, the Prince's Palace received urgent news: an epidemic had broken out on the border, with many soldiers and civilians falling ill, and the situation was extremely critical. The epidemic spread rapidly like a raging tide, bringing panic wherever it went. Upon learning of this, Jing Chu was deeply worried. He knew that if the epidemic was not effectively controlled and continued to spread, it would bring unimaginable consequences to the country.

Seeing Jing Chu's worry, Dongfang Mingzhu suddenly remembered the old servant's superb medical skills and suggested that he go to the frontier to treat the sick. Jing Chu thought this was a feasible plan and immediately discussed it with the old servant. Although the old servant had lived in seclusion for many years and was used to a peaceful life, he was compassionate and, upon hearing of the suffering of the people on the frontier, resolutely agreed to go. He carried with him the supplies and medicines carefully prepared by the royal palace and embarked on the arduous journey to the frontier.

Upon arriving at the frontier, the old servant, disregarding his travel fatigue, immediately threw himself into the rescue efforts. With his superb medical skills and rich experience, he quickly formulated a treatment plan and methodically directed the local medical officers to carry out the treatment. Thanks to his efforts, the spread of the epidemic was finally brought under initial control. He also tirelessly shared his treatment methods without reservation with the local medical officers, patiently explaining every detail, thus improving the overall treatment capabilities. After a period of unremitting efforts, the epidemic was finally completely controlled. The people of the frontier were deeply grateful to the old servant, kneeling and kowtowing in thanks. Jing Chu and Dongfang Mingzhu were also commended by the imperial court for the old servant's good deeds.

Just when everyone thought everything had settled down and life would return to normal, the royal palace received another shocking piece of news. It turned out that the border epidemic was not a natural disaster, but a long-planned conspiracy by an enemy nation. They had spent enormous resources developing a new virus and secretly released it into the borderlands, attempting to weaken their own country. Upon learning of this, the old servant was filled with righteous indignation and decided to investigate the source of the virus. With his keen insight and rich experience, he suspected that the enemy nation might be hiding even more terrifying tricks up their sleeve.

Jing Chu and Dongfang Mingzhu fully supported the old servant's actions, providing him with various conveniences and resources. With unwavering conviction, the old servant embarked on his investigation. He followed clues relentlessly, overcoming countless difficulties and dangers, and finally located the enemy country's secret laboratory on the border. There, he discovered samples of an even more lethal virus that the enemy was developing. Knowing the dangers of these virus samples, the old servant carefully evaded the enemy's notice, cleverly sabotaged the laboratory, and successfully brought the virus samples back to his country.

Upon returning home, the old servant immediately set about researching a solution. He locked himself in his room, working day and night, neglecting sleep and meals. After several days of effort, he finally succeeded in developing an antidote to the virus. However, before everyone could breathe a sigh of relief, the enemy nation seemed to have realized that the laboratory had been compromised and sent top assassins to steal the antidote.

Under the cover of night, the assassins stealthily infiltrated the palace, making their way to the old servant's room. The old servant, however, was prepared; his years of medical experience had given him a keen sense of awareness. Hearing the slightest movement outside the window, he immediately rose and grabbed his defensive weapon. The moment the assassins burst through the door, the old servant reacted swiftly, engaging them in a fierce battle. In the darkness, the flashing of blades and the sounds of fists clashing filled the air. After a fierce exchange, the old servant, though slightly wounded, managed to repel the assassins thanks to his unwavering will and extensive combat experience.

Upon learning of this, Jing Chu and Dongfang Mingzhu were greatly shocked and immediately strengthened the defenses of the Prince's Palace. At the same time, they reported the matter to the imperial court, suggesting that it strengthen border defenses to prevent further retaliation from the enemy. The court adopted their suggestion and dispatched a large number of troops to the border. The old servant, disregarding his injuries, continued his research, aiming to find a way to enhance the nation's resistance to the virus and protect more people from its harm. He shared his research findings without reservation with medical officials throughout the country, enabling more people to learn methods to combat the virus. Seeing their plot exposed and unable to retrieve the antidote, the enemy had no choice but to temporarily abandon further actions.

However, the enemy nation was unwilling to accept defeat. Undeterred, they secretly colluded with treacherous officials within their own borders, attempting to launch another attack. These officials constantly slandered Jing Chu and Dongfang Mingzhu in court, accusing them of colluding with the enemy and claiming they were developing the virus for personal gain. The court, initially deceived by the officials' sweet talk, ordered an investigation into Jing Chu's family. Jing Chu and Dongfang Mingzhu were unable to defend themselves, and the royal family was once again plunged into crisis.

Upon learning of this, the old servant, despite his still-recovering health, resolutely went to the imperial court to defend them. He walked with faltering steps into the court, and relying on the prestige and achievements he had accumulated during the epidemic, he delivered a passionate speech, exposing the enemy's conspiracy and the ugly faces of the treacherous officials. He also presented evidence he had brought back from the enemy's laboratory—irrefutable proof that left the treacherous officials speechless. Faced with the facts, the court finally recognized the truth and severely punished the treacherous officials.

After this ordeal, Jingchu and Dongfang Mingzhu became even more determined to protect the country and its people, vowing to work tirelessly for the peace of the nation and the happiness of its people. The old servant also continued his medical studies, opening a clinic, taking on apprentices, and teaching to train more outstanding medical officers for the country, hoping to contribute his own strength to the nation's medical cause.

However, peaceful days are always short-lived. Soon after, a bizarre illness suddenly broke out in the capital. Patients were covered in black spots, suffering terribly, and the disease spread rapidly, like a plague. The capital's physicians were helpless; faced with this unprecedented disease, they racked their brains but remained clueless. The court was once again plunged into panic, the people were filled with fear, and the entire capital was shrouded in gloom.

Jing Chu and Dongfang Mingzhu immediately thought of the old servant and hurriedly sent someone to bring him back to the capital. Upon his return, the old servant immediately devoted himself to diagnostic work. After careful examination, he discovered that the illness was similar to the virus previously developed by the enemy country, but more complex, seemingly containing some mysterious elements. He suspected this was yet another conspiracy by the enemy country, this time in alliance with some mysterious and evil sects, attempting to bring even greater disaster to the nation.

The old servant decided to retreat into seclusion to research an antidote. He locked himself in a secret room, spending his days and nights with various medicinal herbs and medical books, constantly experimenting with different formulas. Jing Chu and Dongfang Mingzhu, on the other hand, secretly investigated the whereabouts of the evil sorcery sect. They dispatched numerous informants to infiltrate every corner of the capital, searching for clues. In the process, they discovered a secret organization hidden in the shadows of the capital. This organization acted mysteriously and seemed to have intricate connections to the outbreak of the disease.

Jing Chu decisively led the royal guards to encircle and annihilate the organization. In the fierce battle, both sides fought to the death. Under Jing Chu's leadership, the royal guards were brave and fearless. After a hard-fought battle, they finally grasped the key clues and unveiled the mystery of this secret organization. At the same time, the old servant also successfully developed the antidote. He took the antidote out of the secret room and immediately devoted himself to the treatment, controlling the spread of the disease in time. The conspiracy of the enemy country and the evil sect was once again thwarted, the capital returned to its former peace, and smiles returned to the faces of the people.