On the other side, Hu Shanwei, dispatched by Ding Yun to seek help, sighed and accepted the task:
"I originally thought she would be safe with the Empress Dowager's protection.
I didn't expect someone would still interfere. But then again, the Empress Dowager no longer holds the Imperial Seal. Even if she could offer some protection, it wouldn't be entirely foolproof.
It was my oversight.
You may return. Tell Shanxiang that everything will be fine. I will conduct a brief investigation and then rearrange the palace maids and court ladies in Changan Palace. As for Princess Yongqing's illness, I will ask a familiar face in the Imperial Academy for assistance."
To put it bluntly, sometimes it's more effective to ask for help from high-ranking eunuchs or court ladies than from imperial consorts.
This is because there are certain hidden matters and rules that the noble ladies sitting high above may not be aware of. It's like asking "Why not eat meat porridge?" – people from different strata find it difficult to understand each other thoroughly. Those who serve often know more than those being served.
They are also capable of doing more.
"Yes, this servant will now withdraw!"
Xu Furong acknowledged and quickly bowed to take her leave.
As soon as she left, Hu Shanwei immediately instructed her trusted subordinates to investigate. At the same time, she penned a personal letter and sent it to the Imperial Academy for the familiar imperial physician, asking for their help.
As a veteran of five reigns, if she had no connections within the palace and no trustworthy subordinates, how could she have survived this long? If she truly had none, she wouldn't be here.
This matter was not difficult for her.
Before long, arrangements were made.
Meanwhile, at Ding Yun's location, less than half an hour after Xu Furong's return, a new imperial physician arrived from the Imperial Academy. After re-examining Princess Yongqing, a new prescription suitable for her condition was finally written.
The physician also mentioned that if Ding Yun was concerned about the potency of the medication, he could prescribe a medicinal diet, which would be slower but gentler on the body.
Ding Yun examined the prescription and, after some deliberation, said,
"Let's start with the medicinal diet. Yongqing hasn't eaten for over two days and is a bit weak. Let's give her two days of the appropriate medicinal diet to let her body recover before she takes the medicine."
Even a healthy person would feel weak after starving for two days, let alone someone already ill. Ding Yun dared not give her daughter strong medication immediately; she needed to take it slow.
"Very well, I shall then write a medicinal diet prescription!"
The imperial physician nodded at Ding Yun's words and immediately took up his brush to write a prescription for the medicinal diet.
If there was a safer method, of course, he was willing to use it.
Afterward, the imperial physician took his leave. Ding Yun dispatched palace maids to the Imperial Academy to collect the medicinal ingredients and also instructed the small kitchen to prepare the necessary ingredients for the medicinal diet.
This included the congee and soup for dinner.
Her daughter needed to eat and receive medicinal treatment, and she also needed to consume something nourishing, as she was also weak.
Although she had been deposed, with the Empress Dowager's help, her treatment was still considerable, comparable to that of a noble consort. Therefore, her requests were not difficult to fulfill.
The palace maids encountered no issues with the diet supervisor withholding ingredients or demanding silver.
In short, everything went quite smoothly.
It was not as difficult as the fate of a deposed empress typically would be.
Lacking medicine or doctors, or being short of food and medicine.
It was possible that the original owner was truly naive, or perhaps she believed the previous imperial physician had done his best and didn't seek further help, leading to her previous difficult circumstances.
Once her daughter died, seeking help would be too late.
Perhaps, for the sake of her other daughter's future, she wouldn't dare to investigate further and could only endure, compromising.
Ding Yun would not do that. As the saying goes, "Power unused, expires." She wasn't engaging in corruption or anything similar; requesting items, tonics, medicinal ingredients, and having imperial physicians attend to illnesses were entirely reasonable demands.
Allowing her daughter to die from illness due to her own weakness would be a lifelong regret.
What followed was entirely logical. Ding Yun ate more for dinner herself and fed her daughter plenty of medicinal diet and ginger soup.
Then she went to check on her elder daughter, Shunde.
She comforted her elder daughter for a while.
Before returning to sleep with her younger daughter.
The next morning, after Ding Yun had breakfast with her two daughters, the court lady in charge of assigning palace maids and court ladies arrived. Following Ding Yun's requests and Minister Hu's instructions, she began a complete overhaul of the staff in Changan Palace.
Soon, the personnel in Changan Palace were completely new.
Although the faces seemed unfamiliar, Ding Yun believed that her original self's elder sister would not harm her. These individuals, sent by her sister, were undoubtedly trustworthy.
Therefore, she accepted them readily.
She then continued to chat and tell stories to her two daughters. The lives of these two daughters in the palace were extremely monotonous and boring. What they learned daily was primarily palace rules and etiquette; they had virtually no childhood. While the children were not dull-witted due to their upbringing, they certainly lacked the vivacity of children and were somewhat timid.
In essence, although they were princesses, they were incomparable to the free-spirited and imperious princesses of the Tang Dynasty. They couldn't even compare to the daughters of ordinary families who were doted on by their parents. This was the fault of the educated court ladies and also the fault of the original owner. However, the children themselves could not be blamed, as children are like blank canvases – how could they be blamed for what was painted on them?
Ding Yun also noticed this. Therefore, she immediately requested leave for her elder daughter, sent the governess back, and began to cultivate mother-daughter affection by telling stories to the two daughters. This would not only make the two daughters happy and broaden their horizons but also, through subtle influence, foster affection and change their personalities.
In short, she would take it slow.
Their current temperaments were not formed in a day.
And naturally, they could not be changed in a day.
After an hour or so, the two daughters finally showed a hint of a smile. This was a breakthrough.
After listening to stories, it was time for lunch and medicine.
And then the two children were arranged for a short nap.
Ding Yun, on the other hand, hurried back to her small study and, punctually, activated the "Real Person Simulated Cultivation Device" that she had bound yesterday, wanting to see what use it had.
【Host's full body data scan successful】
【Planetary environment scan successful】
【Simulated cultivation plan has been adapted】
【Detected: Host has no spiritual roots, no special physique, no ancient deity or demon bloodline, and is physically weak, short of breath, and in extremely poor health！】
【Detected: This planet is an ordinary life-bearing planet, devoid of any spiritual energy, lacking the foundation for common cultivation modes. The environment contains no readily absorbable energy substances, lacking the foundation for special cultivation modes related to energy absorption or transformation. The cultivation environment is extremely harsh. Initiating special mode targeted analysis.】
【Simulated cultivation plan adaptation in progress. Adaptation result: Mortal Realm's Dharma-ending Cultivation Mode for Ordinary People. This cultivation mode has two paths: one is the righteous path, and the other is the demonic path. Please consult the details and choose independently, Host.】