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"My lady, there’s a rumor spreading in the East Palace that you’ve been pregnant for over a month now, which blatantly suggests you’ve cuckolded His Highness. The Empress must have come here because of this matter," Chun Xi said, gasping for breath.

"That’s right, my lady, the Empress has also brought the Imperial Doctor with her. It seems she wants to get to the bottom of the truth. Once the Imperial Doctor takes your pulse, he will know if you have a pregnancy pulse, and then you’ll be at a loss for words."

After thinking about it, Chun Xi said, "This servant should still send Little Rabbit to notify His Highness to come and save the situation. If we wait too long, it’ll be too late."

Chun Xi, talking non-stop like a rapid-fire cannon, was about to rush out when she was stopped by Shen Chuwei, "His Highness is so busy with official duties every day, let’s not bother him."

"But with the Empress here, and the Imperial Doctor taking the pulse, even if we had a hundred mouths we couldn’t explain ourselves," Chun Xi said anxiously, pacing back and forth like an ant on a hot pan.

Shen Chuwei yawned, "Don’t worry, I’m here."

"My lady, don’t try to be strong," Chun Xi said, looking worriedly at Shen Chuwei, who had not been well these past few days.

From outside, the sharp voice of Eunuch Ren carried in, "The Empress has arrived."

No matter how anxious Chun Xi was, it was useless. She could only stand up to greet the Empress.

Shen Chuwei used her thoughts to retrieve a silver needle from her Space, knowing that while there were medicines that could simulate the pulse of a false pregnancy, there were also methods to conceal a joyful pulse.

Her silver needle hand not been used in a long time, but her skill with it was not rusty at all.

The grand entourage of the Empress had arrived, an imposing group of people that included no less than six Palace Maids.

Shen Chuwei got out of bed with Chun Xi’s help and saluted to greet them.

"This concubine pays her respects to the Empress, wishing Her Majesty boundless peace and safety."

The Empress sat down upon the bed and said, "Rise."

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Shen Chuwei replied as she stood up with Chun Xi’s assistance.

The Empress also noticed the pallor of Shen Chuwei’s face, which was indeed poor. Such was the appearance of a woman in the early stages of pregnancy, which made her further believe the rumors to be true.

"Lady Shen, your complexion does not look good. Are you ill?"

"Replying to Her Majesty, I have indeed felt unwell recently, and have been quite drowsy," Shen Chuwei replied honestly.

Fen Yueyue, upon hearing this, curled her lips into a smirk, taking delight in Shen Chuwei’s misfortune, thinking that this time, not even jumping into the Yellow River could cleanse her.

Hearing about the drowsiness, the Empress almost convinced herself that Shen Chuwei was indeed pregnant, and it was very likely not with the Crown Prince’s child. This thought made her even more depressed and angry.

"I heard some unfavorable rumors about Lady Shen today, mentioning you have been pregnant for over a month. Is there any truth to this?"

Shen Chuwei shook her head, "Your Majesty, I am not pregnant. Where did you hear such rumors?"

The tone of the Empress cooled a few degrees, "Lady Shen, not only did I hear about your alleged pregnancy of over a month, but Fen Zhaoshun has also accused you of fraternizing with a Guard. Do you admit to this crime?"

"Fen Zhaoshun has accused me?" Shen Chuwei curiously looked at Fen Yueyue. Although she had the temperament of a salted fish, her memory was not bad. Fen Yueyue was originally a Lady and was later demoted by Xiao Jinyan for her insolence and sent to the Xiaoxiang Pavilion.

"I haven’t seen Fen Zhaoshun for a long time; when did she see me fraternizing with a Guard? And who might this Guard be, and when and where did this happen?"

"A month ago, I personally witnessed you and a guard in the dead of night, behaving intimately and indecently. It was too dark to see the guard’s face clearly," Fen Yueyue said.

After finishing her words, Fen Yueyue again turned to the Empress, her manner earnest: "Your Majesty, I swear that every word I speak is the truth."

Shen Chuwei said, "The truth relies on evidence. To catch a thief, you must catch them with the stolen goods, and to accuse someone of infidelity, you must catch them in the act. Baseless accusations are useless. If I said you were consorting with an Eunuch, would that also be acceptable?"

Fen Yueyue became indignant, "Don’t talk nonsense. How could I possibly consort with an Eunuch? Eunuchs are so disgusting. Don’t falsely accuse me!"

The present Eunuchs listened to this, their expressions turning unsightly.

While it was well-known that Eunuchs lacked certain parts, to speak of it publicly was a grave insult to their dignity.

Shen Chuwei smiled, "Then why would I consort with a Guard? Is the Crown Prince not handsome enough? Not well-built enough? Or is it that the Crown Prince never comes at all in a year?"

Having finished speaking, she couldn’t help but yawn, her voice soft and tender.

Fen Yueyue was stunned for a moment.

Although the Empress questioned Shen Chuwei’s conduct, this statement was sensible, as the Crown Prince was the best among the princes in both appearance and ability.

The Crown Prince frequented the Xiyun Pavilion every two to three days, so Shen Chuwei wouldn’t be so lonely as to seek out a lower-ranked guard.

Unless Shen Chuwei was blind!

"Fen Zhaoshun, Lady Shen’s words are not without reason. Do you know who that guard is?"

Fen Yueyue spoke with conviction, "Even if this concubine does not know who the guard is, Empress, I can still prove that Lady Shen has had illicit relations with a guard."

This time, she didn’t mention frivolous conduct, but went straight to private intimacy.

Private intimacy is a serious crime of chaos in the palace, being beaten to death with sticks is even considered light treatment.

The Empress asked, "What method?"

Fen Yueyue spoke righteously, "Just let the Imperial Doctor check Lady Shen’s pulse, and we will know."

The Empress also had this intention and thus nodded in agreement, "Imperial Doctor, check Lady Shen’s pulse."

The Imperial Doctor stepped forward from the side, bowed respectfully, and said, "As you command."

The Imperial Doctor turned to Shen Chuwei, "Lady Shen, please have a seat, and let me check your pulse."

Shen Chuwei, with the help of Chun Xi, sat down on a chair, her hand resting on the table.

The Imperial Doctor moved forward two steps, placed down the medicine box, took out the pulse-checking cushion, and laid a handkerchief on Shen Chuwei’s wrist before starting to check her pulse.

Fen Yueyue looked at Shen Chuwei with a smug tilt of her chin, thinking you are definitely doomed this time.

If it hadn’t been for you back then, I wouldn’t have been demoted and sent to such a remote place, unable to see His Highness for months.

Now it’s your turn.

The Imperial Doctor finished checking the pulse and drew back his hand.

Without waiting for the Imperial Doctor’s report, the Empress eagerly asked, "Imperial Doctor, what is it?"

"Empress, Lady Shen is not pregnant," the Imperial Doctor stated.

"Impossible, the Imperial Doctor must have diagnosed incorrectly."

Fen Yueyue subconsciously thought the Imperial Doctor had been bribed by Shen Chuwei. She turned to the Empress and said, "Empress, there must be something wrong with this Imperial Doctor. Please allow another Imperial Doctor to come and check the pulse."

The Imperial Doctor bowed respectfully, "This humble doctor is anxious but did not diagnose incorrectly. Lady Shen is indeed not pregnant."

"I saw with my own eyes Lady Shen having private intimacy with a guard and heard her say she was pregnant. You must have diagnosed incorrectly," Fen Yueyue insisted stubbornly that Shen Chuwei was pregnant.

The Empress pondered for a moment before instructing, "Then have another renowned Imperial Doctor come and check Lady Shen’s pulse."

"As you command," replied Qing Ying, and she left to find another Imperial Doctor.

Shen Chuwei yawned again, unable to resist the drowsiness; at this point, she wished she could just lay her head on the table and fall asleep.

Seeing her yawn incessantly, Fen Yueyue scoffed, "Lady Shen, those who are pregnant tend to be very sleepy. You are so drowsy and still claim you are not pregnant?"

Shen Chuwei lethargically responded, "More words are of no use now. Let’s wait for the Imperial Doctor to check the pulse again. One result is more useful than anything I say."

Two Imperial Doctors were subsequently brought in by Qing Ying, who ordered them, "Check Lady Shen’s pulse. You must do it thoroughly and leave no room for error."