Yuan Yi bowed and said, "Since I have come to seek medical help, I will certainly follow Your Highness's wishes in everything. As for whether I can be cured or not... that is Doudou's fate, and also my fate. To Your Highness, no matter the outcome, my daughter and I can only be grateful."
Her words were both moving and reasonable, which made Tang Zhuyun look at her with even greater admiration.
Because she had seen too many patients and their families who had lost their minds due to misfortune.
It's not that I'm blaming anyone, but I just feel that Yuan Yi's actions are truly commendable.
Unexpectedly, there were some things she didn't want to investigate, such as Doudou's background, but Yuan Yi took the initiative to tell her.
"... There are some things that Your Majesty may not need to say, but I'll make them clear now, lest Your Majesty later feel that the person you're helping is a liar and not worth helping..."
Yuan Yi invited Tang Zhuyun and Ren Yingying to talk next door.
She sat in the official's hat chair by the window, sunlight streaming in through the window, the fragmented light and shadow swaying on her pale face, revealing the deep hatred and melancholy in her eyes.
"Your Majesty may have heard that I had a crush on the Prince when I was young..."
Prince of Jin was indeed the man of her dreams during her youth.
"You might not believe it, but back then, the prince wasn't in a good position with the Xiao Family. But I was captivated by his looks and demeanor..."
Tang Zhuyun chuckled.
Who would have thought that even the Prince of Jin would rely on his looks to make a living?
This Yuan Yi is truly a remarkable person.
She already knew about this past, and if Yuan Yi were to be evasive or vague, she would definitely feel uncomfortable.
But since Yuan Yi spoke frankly and openly, it wasn't a big deal.
In this way, Tang Zhuyun can treat Doudou's illness without any reservations.
Whether it was due to her keen insight or her concern for her daughter, Yuan Yi was an exceptionally intelligent person.
Tang Zhuyun felt very comfortable.
It wasn't just because Yuan Yi was sensible, but also because Yuan Yi made her feel a sense of mutual appreciation.
--As a woman, love passionately when you love, and let go with peace when you let go.
In this world, no man is worth sacrificing one's dignity and principles for.
The Prince of Jin was already married with children, and she faced his wife calmly and composedly when talking about the past.
That's how women should be!
Men and love aren't everything; if they don't belong to you, then so be it.
But what followed was a sad story.
Yuan Yi said, "I have indeed been fond of Your Highness for a long time, but it would be far from enough to say that I would not marry for Your Highness's sake. The situation in the Prince Who Guards the South's Residence is complicated and cannot be explained to outsiders. Those who want to marry me are all scoundrels, so I withstood the pressure, opposing what I could, and secretly doing things that I couldn't oppose..."
Where is there so much deep love?
When simply living a good life becomes a luxury, love becomes an unimaginable extravagance.
I didn't even have time to think about it.
Especially Prince of Jin didn't even glance at her once; how long can a young girl's budding love last?
"My father's most trusted and relied-upon advisor is named Fan Chun. My father relies on him so much," Yuan Yi said with a mocking expression, "That he even listens to him when it comes to choosing which concubine to favor... They even..."
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
Ren Yingying: Holy crap! So all that "propriety, righteousness, integrity, and a sense of shame" that the ancients talked about all the time was really just a lie?
"Fan Chun took a liking to me and drugged me..."
There isn't that much luck in the world, nor that many heroes who step forward.
Tang Zhuyun was extremely angry upon hearing this. "You are a princess! And haven't you always been favored by the Prince Who Guards the South?"
"Even princesses in the cold palace have to curry favor with the eunuchs, don't they?"
To be forgotten is the greatest sin.
"I bit my tongue, until my mouth was full of blood, but I couldn't die, I couldn't even tell my father, because if I did, he might just force me to marry that old widower."
"Moreover, my falling out of favor is a fatal blow to my elder brother's position as heir apparent."
"I can't even tell my older brother and younger brother, because they would lose their minds over me."
"What's even scarier is that I discovered my period was long overdue... I'm pregnant."
"I wanted to abort the child, but Fan Chun found out and forced me to give birth to it."
"... Moreover, I needed this child at the time to get rid of Fan Chun's covetousness, otherwise he would keep harassing me."
So I told everyone I wanted to get married.
"In our area, a woman must go to her boudoir for a year before she gets married. There are servants to attend to her every need, but she cannot come downstairs again."
"I took this opportunity to give birth to the child."
"Last year, I finally killed that old beast. I personally sliced him to pieces, one cut at a time! My hand didn't even tremble..."
This story left Tang Zhuyun and Ren Yingying speechless for a long time.
"Doudou is that old beast's daughter, but she's also my daughter."
"I know how difficult it is for a woman to be unloved by her parents, and I was determined not to let her repeat my mistakes. Even if she was born with a disability, I would support her... but I never imagined that fate would be so cruel to her..."
Yuan Yi wept uncontrollably.
Why would she be interested in the Prince of Jin?
She was heartbroken over this daughter.
Romantic pleasures and beautiful scenery were long gone for her.
After crying for a while, she finally calmed down and said, "I can bear this humiliation alone. That's why my eldest brother and third brother both thought Doudou was my maid's daughter..."
Seeing that her handkerchief was completely soaked from crying, Ren Yingying handed her her own handkerchief and gently patted her shoulder, offering silent comfort.
Never before had she been so moved.
These women, regardless of their social status, lived such repressed and unhappy lives.
This unfortunate era!
"Tangbao," Ren Yingying looked at Tang Zhuyun with an unprecedented seriousness, "If one day we can speak up for them, fight for them, even if it only changes the fate of a small number of people, I think I can brag about it for the rest of my life."
An individual is truly insignificant, but in this life, one must always struggle and leave something behind.
In this era of absolute oppression of women, they should speak out and help women who are being criticized, abused, and trapped in suffering.
If Tang Zhuyun could become empress, she would be the best promoter of women's rights.
Tangbao, go do it!
I'm in!
Women in this world are not limited to vying for favor, nor are they limited to being good wives and mothers and relying on a man's conscience.
They have been hurt, and they should be able to stand up and bravely identify the perpetrators. Someone should help them punish the evildoers, instead of letting it become a shadow and original sin that they can never shake off for the rest of their lives.
There were those who spoke out and fought for their status; now it's their turn to work for others.
Tang Zhuyun remained silent for a long time.
After a while, she asked Yuan Yi, "How old is Fan Chun? Is he older than your father?"