novelden Chapter 127 Dragon Travels the World 14
Chapter 127 Dragon Travels the World 14
(Warning: The female doctor's character in this book is different from that in the drama. There are changes. If you are not comfortable with this, please refrain from reading this book!!!)
The woman on the other side had a slight twitch in her eyes, seemingly a little nervous, and even paused for a moment. However, her hand still steadily supported the old lady, while her other hand, which was holding up the market sign, unconsciously tightened its grip.
He Yaozu was very perceptive. Although there was still some distance between them, he could still sense the tension in the other party. His gaze swept over the man and woman next to the old lady, taking in every subtle movement of the woman's hands, before finally returning to the old lady.
He Yaozu has an exceptionally keen sense of perception; even when the two are some distance apart, he can still keenly detect the other's subtle tension.
His probing gaze swept between the man and woman beside the old lady, quickly and precisely scanning every detail of them.
The woman's subtle hand movements were magnified in his eyes like a close-up shot, capturing every minute turn and change.
Finally, his gaze returned to the old lady.
The old lady's aged face gradually merged with the image of the dignified and elegant Empress Dowager in her memory.
It's the Empress Dowager!
He Yaozu's eyes instantly brightened like stars, and the excitement in his heart exploded like fireworks.
The old woman before him was none other than the Empress Dowager, whom he had sought after leaving the city.
He had seen the portrait of the Empress Dowager in Chu Tianyou's hands before, and he used that portrait as a model to search for the Empress Dowager. However, he forgot that fifteen years of wandering among the common people was enough to transform the Empress Dowager from the once beautiful and charming young queen into the weathered old woman in the countryside she is today.
She no longer wore her former gorgeous robes, but instead wore simple and rough cloth clothes, which were even patched.
Her once beautiful face is now marked by the passage of time; her skin is loose, her wrinkles are deep, and her once bright eyes have become dull and lifeless.
If He Yaozu hadn't possessed extraordinary keen observation skills, it would have been difficult to connect this seemingly ordinary old lady with the once stunningly beautiful Queen Xia.
He Yaozu quickly spurred his horse forward. The man, seeing him suddenly turn back, didn't understand his intention. He quickly stepped forward, shielding the old woman behind him. Just as he was about to ask a question, he saw He Yaozu dismount and bow: "He Yaozu, son of Prefect He Zhengjie, pays respects to the Empress Dowager!"
The Empress Dowager frowned slightly and stepped out from behind the man, her eyes revealing confusion and bewilderment. She clearly didn't understand why this young man addressed her as 'Empress Dowager,' and her tone was filled with doubt.
"Young master, are you sure you haven't mistaken me for someone else? I am not the 'Empress Dowager' you speak of!"
Not the Empress Dowager?
Did he mistake someone for someone else?
He Yaozu frowned, a hint of doubt rising in his heart. He couldn't help but look up and observe the old woman in front of him carefully. After careful observation, he confirmed that he had not mistaken her for someone else.
However, since the person before him was the Empress Dowager, why would she refuse to acknowledge it? He Yaozu was filled with confusion.
He composed himself and replied respectfully, “Your Majesty, please forgive my intrusion. Since learning that you are still alive, the King has been extremely worried. In order to find your whereabouts, he first posted notices throughout the country, and then personally went on incognito visits to search everywhere. I was fortunate enough to meet the King and saw your portrait from back then. I remember your features by heart and would never mistake you!”
The Empress Dowager's words revealed a hint of confusion. She raised her hand to lightly touch her forehead, as if certain fragments flashed through her mind, only to vanish as quickly as shooting stars:
“I suffered a severe head injury, and my past memories have become blurred. I don’t even remember my former identity. But if I really were the Empress Dowager, how could I have ended up among the common people?”
He Yaozu suddenly realized that the Empress Dowager had lost her memory. No wonder the court had posted imperial edicts everywhere to search for her, but she still hadn't appeared.
"Fifteen years ago, the treacherous minister Ye Hong and his son colluded with foreign powers to plot a coup. During that rebellion, you unfortunately fell off a cliff and disappeared without a trace until fifteen years later, when the Crown Prince Yulong, who is now the ruler of the country, quelled the rebellion, executed the treacherous minister, restored order, and restored the country. Only then did we hear of you again."
The man, who called himself Xu Zhisheng, laughed after hearing what He Yaozu said: "People in the world may look alike. It is not surprising that my mother may resemble the Empress Dowager. There was once a girl who could not speak and wrote on the ground that my mother was the Empress Dowager with her feet. However, that was just a misunderstanding."
He Yaozu carefully examined Xu Zhisheng and found that he did not resemble the Empress Dowager in appearance. He then asked, "Excuse my impertinence, are you and the old lady blood-related mother and son?"
Xu Zhisheng paused for a moment, his expression slightly taken aback, before explaining, "That's not the case. My parents died when I was young, and I wandered the streets until my mother took me in and raised me, so..."
As he spoke, his voice unconsciously lowered, as if at that moment, certain thoughts were quietly taking shape in his mind.
indeed!
He and his mother were not biologically related, and his mother had lost her memories. Many people mistook her for the Empress Dowager, and the Empress Dowager was indeed living among commoners. Could it be that his mother really was the Empress Dowager?
This sudden conjecture struck him like a thunderbolt, leaving him both shocked and incredulous.
Seeing Xu Zhisheng remain silent and the Empress Dowager seem hesitant as well, He Yaozu simply suggested, "Since the Empress Dowager has lost her memory and cannot confirm her identity, why don't you go to the nearby government office to verify it first? This place is only ten miles away from Jinling County. I humbly request that the Empress Dowager travel to Jinling!"
"This……"
The mother and son exchanged a glance, both seeing the deeper meaning in each other's eyes.
The young man in front of them was well-dressed and had an outstanding demeanor; he didn't seem like a bad person at all. Besides, the mother and son were penniless and there was nothing to be fooled about. Moreover, the suggestion was to go to the county government office, not some desolate wilderness. What was there to worry about?
After a brief hesitation, the two nodded slightly to indicate their tacit agreement.
Empress Dowager Xia had been living in a daze for several years since losing her memory, and was naturally very curious about her past. Now that there was proof of her origins, she was naturally unwilling to miss it.
Seeing that the two had agreed, He Yaozu gave his horse to the Empress Dowager and carefully helped her onto the horse.
Xu Zhisheng was still somewhat wary. After seeing He Yaozu help his mother onto the horse, he immediately took the reins, intending to lead the horse himself.
The three of them made preparations and decided to return to Jinling County.
The woman, who hadn't spoken until now, suddenly said, "Zhisheng, didn't you say you'd take my aunt and me to find a master to cure her headache? Now you're suddenly turning back. I don't know how long that will take, and I'm afraid it will delay my aunt's treatment!"