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He spoke in a low, comforting voice, "Lian Hua, be good, you only need to drink it once a day. How about I keep you company for an afternoon nap after you finish?"

Lian Hua grimaced pitifully, nodded, and seemed to wilt.

The Emperor sighed in relief; his Little Concubine was very obedient and had agreed without much persuasion.

He took her hand and led her out of the inner chamber, calling to the door, "Come in."

Xiao Qing carried a tray with the fetus-preserving medicine, bowed in respect, and after the Emperor instructed her to place it on the table, he had her dismissed.

The Emperor sighed. His Little Concubine was so averse to bitterness, and he could hardly bear to make her drink such bitter medicine, but he couldn’t be at ease without it.

Lian Hua’s face twisted into a grimace, and seeing His Majesty worriedly sighing for her, she felt heartache. His Majesty had so much to deal with every day, why should he worry for her as well?

With this thought, she bravely picked up the medicine bowl, and in a manner like facing her execution, she downed it in one gulp.

The Emperor hadn’t expected her to be so quick; he watched her drink the whole bowl in shock and before he could react, she had finished. He quickly offered her a cup of water and helped her drink to wash it down.

Lian Hua took several fierce swigs; the bitterness was so intense that it was like bile in her mouth, too bitter to bear.

Having drunk too hurriedly, she choked on the water, which set off a coughing fit, until tears streamed down her face.

The Emperor’s heart ached tremendously as he enfolded her in his arms, gently patting her back to help her breathe, "Take it slow, darling, don’t rush. If you don’t want to drink it, then..." don’t drink it anymore.

The Emperor really wanted to say those last few words, but...

Lian Hua caught her breath, her eyes moist as she looked up at His Majesty, noticing his furrowed brow of worry, she hastened to smooth it with her hand.

Then she hugged him back and gently patted His Majesty’s back, consoling, "My lord, I’m fine, it’s not bitter at all, not in the slightest. Please don’t worry." She also felt heartache for him.

Hearing her reassure him, the Emperor felt a pang in his heart. His Little Concubine was so understanding, and yet he was unable to share her burdens. What should he do as her condition became more demanding with time?

Thinking this, the Emperor couldn’t help but call out, "Summon the Imperial Physician."

Lian Hua, who was busy comforting His Majesty, stiffened for a moment, utterly baffled, with question marks whirling in her head — why was His Majesty summoning the Imperial Physician out of the blue? It wasn’t for her, was it?

The Emperor, sensing the unrest in his arms, quickly explained, "Lian Hua, dear, I summoned the Imperial Physician to inquire whether there are other methods, besides drinking medicine, to ensure that you can preserve the fetus properly."

Upon hearing this, Lian Hua let out a great sigh of relief, "My lord, you’re so naughty, scaring me like that~"

Seeing that he had frightened her to the point of tears, the Emperor hastily kissed her forehead and held her close, soothing her until she fell asleep in his arms.

The Emperor tenderly regarded his Little Concubine, kissing her cheek, then lifted her and carried her back to the inner chamber and laid her on the bed. He removed her shoes and outer garments and let down her hair.

He watched her for a while at the bedside; every time he saw her sleeping face, so peaceful and obedient, a surge of indescribable emotion washed over him.

In his more than two decades of life, he had always had to fight for what he wanted; if he didn’t strive, he would die.

Never before had someone been able to approach his heart and fill his chest to the brim.

Never before had he felt such gratitude to heaven for bringing her to his side; the hardships of his youth seemed but a black spot in his memory, his heart now brimming with her presence, never again to be alone.

The Emperor touched her tender face, leaned in close to her forehead and gently pressed a kiss, then tucked her in and drew the curtains on both sides of the bed.

Only then did he step out of the inner chamber and walked toward the door.

The Imperial Physician had already been summoned and was waiting outside, but this time it wasn’t the dark-skinned Huang Zude who came, but a middle-aged Imperial Physician in his forties or fifties.

The Emperor slightly furrowed his brows, a flicker of confusion in his eyes.

The Imperial Physician, upon seeing His Majesty, knelt down in fear and respect to pay his homage.

The Emperor asked, "Rise. Where is Doctor Huang?" Doctor Huang’s eyes betrayed his peculiarities, but he seemed to be a simple man of earnest nature.

The trembling Imperial Physician stood up and, bending his waist, replied, "Your Majesty, Doctor Huang has only been at the Imperial Medical Bureau for a few days, ignorant of the proper protocols.

Although talented, he is still too young, and I felt uneasy about him.

Being somewhat familiar with gynecological conditions myself, I took the liberty to come. "

Beauty Lian’s ascendancy by three ranks had already spread throughout the palace; she’d become the most coveted figure in the Harem in recent years. How could such an auspicious task fall to a fledgling physician like him?

Zhang Qing had been arranging other matters at a distance.

The Main Hall of Canglan Court required renovation, and he had to organize labor to create a new entrance on another side of Canglan Court, isolating the Main Hall and Side Hall with partitions so the renovators could come and go without disturbing Master Lian.

However, before he could complete the arrangements, he saw His Majesty coming out and hurried over. At this moment, hearing the exchange between the two, he grew anxious.

The Young Eunuch he had sent to invite someone had just reported back, choosing not to summon Doctor Huang for fear of his youth.

Hearing that it was to treat Beauty Lian, every physician in the Imperial Medical Bureau clamored for the opportunity, so they selected the renowned gynecological expert, Imperial Doctor Wang.

Zhang Qing was initially displeased, but hearing of Imperial Doctor Wang’s expertise in gynecological matters, he acquiesced.

To his surprise, His Majesty was not satisfied. Tentatively, he ventured, "Your Majesty, shall we summon Doctor Huang again?"

After giving Imperial Doctor Wang a penetrating look, the Emperor replied, "There’s no need," and turned to enter the Side Hall.

Imperial Doctor Wang felt the pressure bear down on him, breaking out in a cold sweat in mere moments.

Zhang Qing, seeing him motionless, gestured for him to enter with a beckoning hand, indicating his own follow.

Hastily, Imperial Doctor Wang grabbed his medicine box and followed quickly, making a bit too much noise and attracting a warning glance from His Majesty, almost causing him to stumble to his knees again.

With the Imperial Medical Bureau present, His Majesty rarely needed to consult with him, as his usual patients were the Harem Consorts, and His Majesty seldom involved himself with the Harem. As such, he had barely seen His Majesty, and certainly hadn’t expected to encounter him that day.

He had thought he was only there to treat Beauty Lian, and while waiting outside, the sudden appearance of a figure clad in imperial yellow startled him completely unprepared, leaving him still trembling with fright.

As the Emperor entered the inner chamber and lifted the corner of the canopy, Zhang Qing, knowing it was time for Master Lian’s pulse to be checked, quickly stepped forward to obstruct Imperial Doctor Wang’s view, signaling him to lower his gaze and look away.

Imperial Doctor Wang had never seen His Majesty interact with any of the Palace Concubines and had caught a glimpse by accident just moments ago, marveling inwardly at the sight.

Rumor had it that His Majesty seldom visited the Harem, never showing favoritism to any consort, yet now His Majesty’s attentiveness to Beauty Lian revealed those rumors to be untrue.

The Emperor gently took Lian Hua’s hand out from under the covers and placed it on the edge of the bed, laying a handkerchief over it as a sign that the physician could proceed with the diagnosis.