The Imperial Physician’s Schemes

She was a gifted military doctor whose fame had spread across Asia, until an attempted murder left her car wrecked and her dead... She was supposed to be the most honored legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister’s household, but her family despised her for being born deaf and mute. Her vicious stepmother stole her mother’s position as the principal wife, schemed to claim the generous dowry her mother had left her, and drove her to die in despair. One scheme, one imperial decree of marriage. Her younger sister entered the palace as empress, while she was sent to a desolate, freezing wasteland. She became the wife of a paralyzed, ailing prince. When she opened her eyes again, she had become that woman, her beauty and brilliance sweeping across the land. “He is my husband. If anyone tries to scheme against him or harm him, I will kill them all.” “She is the only woman I will ever take as my wife. If even a single hair on her head falls, I will trample the realm to dust and flay the world alive.” One devoted couple for life, a one-on-one romance. A strong heroine and an even stronger hero, joining forces! [Excerpt One] “Get out!” he roared. A porcelain vase came flying at her. “Your Highness, it’s time for your acupuncture.” The woman’s calm, unflinching voice rang out. Ignoring the man’s contorted expression, she walked straight to the bed. The half-paralyzed man’s phoenix eyes flashed with shock. The woman chuckled. “Your Highness is surprised that I can speak, aren’t you?” Her jade-like hand presented a book of secret knowledge. The Book of the Yuan Kingdom: knowledge of the heavens and the earth, the future and past lives. A combination of Chinese and Western medicine... an unparalleled acupuncture technique... “This is how.” A slender silver needle appeared between her gleaming fingertips. “You’re the ailing prince, and I’m the mute woman. We’ve already become a laughingstock to the world. If you ever stand again, shall we make a pact to cut off the noses, gouge out the eyes, and rip out the hearts and lungs of everyone who harmed either of us?” The man narrowed his dark eyes, a smile playing on his lips as an unusual light gleamed in his gaze. [Excerpt Two] Xiangbei, a desolate land. Snow fell thickly, and the cold was bitter. The guards brought in three hundred pots of begonias in full, fiery bloom. Her eyes lit up with delight. He drew her into his arms. His tender whisper brushed her ear: “Dingchu, from now on, you should know that even our frozen northern lands can have spring.” She had once said that dead trees could never bloom in the North. How had three hundred pots of flowers been cultivated in temperatures below freezing? The effort and hardships it must have taken were unimaginable! [Excerpt Three] That night... “Husband, someone insulted me yesterday.” “Who? What did they say? They must have a death wish.” The man in the imperial yellow robes spoke in a thunderous voice, murderous fury flashing in his eyes. “E-Emperor... I... I accidentally saw Her Majesty bathing yesterday...” Thump! A skinny eunuch fell to his knees, trembling in terror. “Gouge out his eyes, cut off all four limbs, and throw him into the mountains to feed the wolves. Let it be a warning to the rest.” “Husband, someone said I’m ugly.” “Who? Step forward!” “E-Emperor... A few days ago, this servant said Her Majesty was... not as beautiful as the previous empress.” A palace maid, her face deathly pale, knelt beside the eunuch. She stammered, trembling all over. “How dare you! Guards, rip out her tongue!” After his words, the palace fell utterly silent. Not a soul dared even breathe too loudly. From then on, everyone knew that the woman surnamed Yun was the emperor’s most precious treasure. No one dared insult her, touch her, or bully her...