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Anyone who heard these symptoms might suspect they had the joys of pregnancy, especially the women in the palace, each vying for favor and yearning to elevate their position through their children.

Imperial Doctor Zhao was no stranger to such claims, but he knew that most likely it was due to the effects of medication.

"Miss Cai Xia, wait for me, I’ll just pack up and come over."

"Then make it quick, I’ll go back and report," Cai Xia said happily as she walked out of the Imperial Medical Bureau.

Imperial Doctor Zhao packed his medicine box, pondered for a moment, and then hurriedly followed her.

"Young Master, Imperial Doctor Zhao has arrived."

The two who were chatting while drinking tea immediately halted their conversation when they heard that Imperial Doctor Zhao had come.

Shen Chuwei pulled out a small handkerchief, covering her mouth as she pretended to retch a few times. She thought her acting was certainly better than that of an extra.

Concubine Xu, anxious to the extreme, said, "Lady Shen, are you feeling nauseous again?"

Aside from her sharp tongue, Concubine Xu also had a knack for acting.

When Imperial Doctor Zhao arrived, this was the scene he witnessed.

Concubine Xu pretended as if she had just noticed Imperial Doctor Zhao and urgently waved him over, "Imperial Doctor Zhao, come quickly and diagnose Lady Shen’s pulse."

Imperial Doctor Zhao stepped forward with a bow, "This humble official will immediately examine Lady Shen’s pulse."

As he spoke, he put down his medicine box, opened it, and took out a diagnosis pad to place on the round table.

"Lady Shen, extend your hand."

Shen Chuwei nodded and placed her hand on the diagnostic pad, rolling up a section of her delicate wrist.

Imperial Doctor Zhao took out a silk handkerchief, placed it on her wrist, and then began to take her pulse.

He proceeded with utmost caution.

Shen Chuwei turned to Chun Xi and said, "Prepare some sour mandarins for me, I would like to eat them."

Concubine Xu said with a playful smile, "Lady Shen, if you are indeed pregnant, they say sour cravings mean a boy, spicy cravings mean a girl. This may well be a male heir for His Highness, his firstborn son."

Concubine Xu was famously blunt. Imperial Doctor Zhao had heard of it and wasn’t surprised by her brazen words.

Shen Chuwei covered her smile with the handkerchief, chiding, "Stop spouting nonsense. Let’s hear what the Imperial Doctor has to say first."

Imperial Doctor Zhao, observing Shen Chuwei’s sneaky smiles, attributed it to happiness, for anyone would feel vainly pleased at the thought of being pregnant.

Seeing Imperial Doctor Zhao withdraw his hand, Concubine Xu eagerly inquired, "Imperial Doctor Zhao, how is it? Is she pregnant?"

Shen Chuwei also looked at Imperial Doctor Zhao with anticipation.

Imperial Doctor Zhao put away the handkerchief, looked up at Lady Shen and Concubine Xu with their hopeful expressions, and replied respectfully, "Indeed, Lady Shen is pregnant."

"Really?" Concubine Xu slapped her thigh in delight.

Shen Chuwei, witnessing Concubine Xu’s thigh-slapping gesture, wondered where she had learned such a thing.

"I told you the fertility prescription would work. See, after so many servings to His Highness without success, this time it worked."

Having said this, Concubine Xu turned toward Imperial Doctor Zhao with a face full of joy, "Your fertility prescription, Imperial Doctor Zhao, truly works wonders."

Shen Chuwei declared, "A reward."

Chun Xi produced a weight in gold from her bosom to give to Imperial Doctor Zhao.

Imperial Doctor Zhao, taken aback, thought Lady Shen and Concubine Xu must truly be naive. He reached for the gold and bowed in gratitude.

Shen Chuwei looked at the gold, feeling a twinge of regret, but then consoled herself with the thought that it would soon be returned.

"With Imperial Doctor Zhao’s excellent medical skills, let him be in charge of the prenatal care going forward."

Imperial Doctor Zhao agreed, packed up his medicine box, and was about to leave.

Shen Chuwei called after him, "Imperial Doctor Zhao, I’ve been feeling nauseous and want to vomit. Is there anything you can prescribe to ease this discomfort? It’s unbearable."

Imperial Doctor Zhao paused in his steps and said, "There is a prescription that might help."

As she spoke, she took out paper and ink to write a prescription and handed it to Chun Xi.

After Zhao, the Imperial Doctor, left, Shen Chuwei compared the prescription for a child with the one just issued, and the handwriting matched.

Upon examining the prescription, it was actually one to induce menstruation.

Xu, the Concubine, leaned over, unable to understand the prescription, and asked Shen Chuwei, "Lady Shen, what is this prescription for?"

Shen Chuwei replied, "It’s a prescription to induce menstruation."

"I understand now. You know that you’re pregnant and will definitely notify His Highness at once. Now they’ve prescribed you this to induce menstruation, so they can expose you later," Xu, the Concubine, said with a chill running down her spine.

Shen Chuwei lifted her head and ordered, "Chun Xi, go tell His Highness that Zhao, the Imperial Doctor, took my pulse and said I’m with joy."

"This servant will go at once." After receiving the order, Chun Xi dashed out of Hehuan Hall like the wind and into the adjoining sleeping chamber.

After Zhao, the Imperial Doctor, came out, he didn’t go far but hid around the corner, seeing Chun Xi hurrying into the Crown Prince’s sleeping chamber, so eager to tell His Highness the joyful news, clearly too vain.

Zhao, the Imperial Doctor, turned and left the East Palace. Passing by Xinlan Hall, he seized the opportunity to go inside when no one was around.

Lady Chang was trying on the Crown Princess’s dress, in bright red, a color reserved solely for the principal wife.

The dress was luxurious, such that concubines could not wear on ordinary days.

Thinking that she could wear this dress tomorrow and become the Crown Prince’s principal wife, the future Empress, an unconcealed smile of triumph formed on her lips.

Huai Xiang entered to report, "Young lady, Zhao, the Imperial Doctor, is here."

Upon hearing of Zhao, the Imperial Doctor, Lady Chang’s lips curled again, "Let him in."

"Yes." Huai Xiang turned and left.

Zhao, the Imperial Doctor, came in and bowed, "Lady Chang."

Lady Chang, stroking the dress, lifted her gaze to Zhao, "Is there news?"

Zhao, the Imperial Doctor, replied, "Lady Chang, Concubine Xu was inquiring about the fertility prescription not for herself, but for Lady Shen."

"Lady Shen?" Lady Chang snorted coldly, "I did not realize that Concubine Xu is so fiercely loyal to Lady Shen. And the result?"

"After taking the prescription, Lady Shen showed signs of joy. This humble servant has just taken her pulse and informed her that she is with joy," Zhao, the Imperial Doctor, reported truthfully.

Lady Chang initially intended to use the fertility prescription to bring down Concubine Xu, but fate intervened, applying it to Lady Shen instead, which suited her perfectly.

"His Highness dotes on Lady Shen. Despite her long service in his bedchamber without news, he must be very anxious. Now that you’ve declared her joy, he surely won’t have doubts."

Lady Chang said somberly, "If this matter is handled well, you will have your glory and wealth."

"Thank you, Lady Chang," Zhao, the Imperial Doctor, corrected himself, "thank you for the promotion, Crown Princess."

Lady Chang, hearing the words Crown Princess, had a look of pride in her eyes and instructed, "Be careful, lest others discover."

Zhao, the Imperial Doctor, acknowledged and returned to the Imperial Medical Bureau.

Lady Chang looked down at the dress, eager to put it on.

The establishment of the Crown Princess was a done deal, and now she eagerly anticipated the wretched scene that would unfold once Lady Shen’s false pregnancy and her fight for favor were exposed.

No matter how skilled you are at seducing Xiao Jinyan and currying favor with the Empress, you will be despised in the end.

Lady Chang sipped her tea, contemplating that His Highness must be happily heading to Hehuan Hall to see Shen Chuwei right now.

"Huai Xiang, make preparations; I want to visit Hehuan Hall."

*

After Chun Xi reported, Xiao Jinyan hurried to Hehuan Hall.

Having just left the sleeping chamber, he encountered Lady Chang, who had just arrived.

Lady Chang stepped forward with a bow, her eyes brimming with a gentle smile, "Your Highness, where are you hastening off to with such urgency?"

Seeing Lady Chang, Xiao Jinyan responded with a tone neither cold nor warm, "I am going to Hehuan Hall."