Page 231

Liu Xi knew that Your Highness trusted Imperial Doctor Wen the most, so he specifically instructed to request Imperial Doctor Wen to come and take the pulse.

However, Imperial Doctor Wen was not in the Imperial Medical Bureau.

Just as Liu Xi was agonizing over whether to ask for another Imperial Doctor, Imperial Doctor Wen walked in from outside, carrying his medicine box.

Liu Xi was almost moved to tears, "Imperial Doctor Wen, I’m so relieved you are back; I was just looking for you."

Imperial Doctor Wen was startled by Liu Xi’s nearly tearful demeanor, "Eunuch Liu, what do you need me for?"

Liu Xi said urgently, "Let’s walk and talk."

Seeing Liu Xi so anxious, Imperial Doctor Wen did not delay, picked up his medicine box again, and followed Liu Xi out of the Imperial Medical Bureau.

As they walked, Liu Xi briefly explained the situation.

Imperial Doctor Wen understood as well and didn’t expect that the fertility prescription would be used on Lady Shen.

At this time in Hehuan Hall

Imperial Doctor Zhao stood to the side, uneasy, his palms sweaty with nervousness.

Xiao Jinyan waited for a while, and seeing that Liu Xi was taking a long time to return, frowned and said, "Someone, go check at the Imperial Medical Bureau."

Chun Xi responded and trotted out.

Having just run out of Hehuan Hall, she saw from a distance Liu Xi and Imperial Doctor Wen approaching, and she hurried towards them, her short legs sprinting like a rabbit’s.

"Why have you only just arrived? His Highness is anxious."

Liu Xi and Imperial Doctor Wen exchanged a glance, then hastened their pace into the Hall.

Chun Xi ran ahead, her voice preceding her into the room, "Imperial Doctor Wen has arrived."

As soon as Imperial Doctor Zhao heard that Imperial Doctor Wen had arrived, his legs went weak; he nearly collapsed to the ground.

Why was Imperial Doctor Wen in the Imperial Medical Bureau, wasn’t he out of the palace?

Liu Xi bowed and stepped forward, "Your Highness, when I went to the Imperial Medical Bureau, by sheer coincidence, Imperial Doctor Wen had just returned to the palace."

Imperial Doctor Wen stepped forward to salute, "Wishing Your Highness peace and prosperity."

Xiao Jinyan said, "Take Lady Shen’s pulse to ensure her well-being, and see if there are any issues."

"This humble servant obeys," Imperial Doctor Wen stepped forward a few paces, opened his medicine box, took out a diagnostic cushion and placed it on the bed, and Shen Chuwei consciously extended her hand, her sleeve not rolled down yet, waiting for this moment.

Imperial Doctor Wen took out a clean handkerchief, placed it on Shen Chuwei’s wrist, and extended two fingers to begin a serious examination of her pulse.

Imperial Doctor Zhao, guilt-ridden to the extreme, had cold sweats on his forehead that continued nonstop since Imperial Doctor Wen’s arrival, like a downpour.

Shen Chuwei, having had her pulse examined countless times today, was starting to feel numb to it all.

After Imperial Doctor Wen withdrew his hand, Xiao Jinyan finally asked, "Well?"

Imperial Doctor Wen said, "Your Highness, Lady Shen is healthy and without any significant issues."

Xiao Jinyan asked further, "And the child?"

Imperial Doctor Wen looked surprised, "Your Highness, Lady Shen does not have a pregnancy pulse, how could there be a child?"

Xiao Jinyan coldly glanced at Imperial Doctor Zhao, who by now was beside himself with guilt, barely maintaining his composure without collapsing.

"Imperial Doctor Zhao claimed that Lady Shen already had a pregnancy pulse."

Upon hearing this, Imperial Doctor Wen looked at Imperial Doctor Zhao with a puzzled expression, "Imperial Doctor Zhao, Lady Shen clearly does not have a pregnancy pulse, where is this coming from?"

Xiao Jinyan, with a look of disappointment, turned to Imperial Doctor Zhao and sharply rebuked, "Imperial Doctor Zhao, what is the meaning of this?"

Imperial Doctor Zhao’s legs buckled, and he could no longer bear it; he fell to his knees with a thump, his voice trembling, "Your Highness, indeed, Lady Shen does not have a pregnancy pulse."

Shen Chuwei thought that if one is to play a role, it must be played thoroughly; it was time for her to give her supporting performance her all.

It seemed she had only just reacted, her accusation filled with grievance, "Imperial Doctor Zhao, you clearly said I was with joy. How could it be gone? Isn’t this just giving me false hope?"

After speaking, she looked towards Xiao Jinyan, grabbing his sleeve with such a pitiable expression, "Your Highness, your concubine thought she truly was with joy and happily told Your Highness.

Who knew that Imperial Doctor Zhao would deceive your concubine?

Those who are unaware might think your concubine is deceiving Your Highness. "

Xiao Jinyan looked down at the hand that was clutching his sleeve and reached out to hold her hand, "Rest assured, I will uphold justice for you."

Chun Xi: "..." Although it’s fake, this servant girl’s heart aches! Whimper, whimper!

Liu Xi: "..." This servant almost believed it.

Imperial Doctor Wen: "..." I hadn’t seen Your Highness’s talent for acting before.

Xiao Jinyan turned his head to face Imperial Doctor Zhao and asked coldly, "Then why did you say Lady Shen had a joyful pulse? And why would she have symptoms of joy?"

Imperial Doctor Zhao lay prostrate on the ground, shivering without uttering a single word.

Seeing that Imperial Doctor Zhao did not speak, Shen Chuwei had to continue the act, "Your Highness, your concubine had symptoms of joy because I used a fertility prescription given by Imperial Doctor Zhao, which was requested from him by Concubine Xu."

As she spoke, she took out two prescriptions to give to Xiao Jinyan.

Xiao Jinyan had already seen them and directly passed them to Imperial Doctor Wen, "Take a look, see if there’s any issue."

Imperial Doctor Wen took the prescriptions and examined each one carefully.

And he explained, "Your Highness, these are not fertility prescriptions; one can create false pregnancy symptoms, and the other is meant to induce menstrual bleeding."

Xiao Jinyan instructed, "Go and summon Concubine Xu here."

"This servant obeys the order." Chun Xi quickly ran out on command and, in one breath, arrived at Yixiang Hall to have Concubine Xu testify against Imperial Doctor Zhao.

Once Concubine Xu heard the words testify against Imperial Doctor Zhao, her spirit immediately lifted, for she had been waiting for this moment. She rushed to Hehuan Hall, fluttering her handkerchief in her haste.

Chun Xi, observing the frequency with which Concubine Xu fluttered her handkerchief, realized that this time it was not because she was upset but because she was overly excited.

Concubine Xu strode in with an aura rivaling that of a battlefield.

She entered with her handkerchief, first curtseying, "Your Highness, I wish you peace and safety."

Xiao Jinyan said, "Rise."

"Thank you, Your Highness." Concubine Xu straightened her body.

Liu Xi briefly recounted what had happened.

Concubine Xu shouted: "Your Highness, I have been wronged; I knew nothing about this." After speaking, she turned her head and demanded, "Imperial Doctor Zhao, you clearly said it was a fertility prescription, and you even diagnosed Lady Shen with joy. What are your intentions behind doing this?"

Xiao Jinyan’s voice was cold as ice, "Imperial Doctor Zhao, now that both human and material evidence are assembled, do you have anything else to say?"

In the face of the evidence, Imperial Doctor Zhao could not utter a word in his defense, trembling as he lay prostrate on the ground, "Your servant, it was my doing."

Xiao Jinyan spoke coldly, "I do not believe you acted alone; you have neither grudges nor grievances against Concubine Xu and Lady Shen, so how could you come up with such a malicious scheme to harm others? Who is the mastermind behind this?"

After hesitating for a good while, Imperial Doctor Zhao decided to take all the blame, "It was all my doing, unrelated to anyone else."

A flicker of mockery crossed Xiao Jinyan’s eyes, "Do you think that by not speaking, I won’t be able to find out?"

Imperial Doctor Zhao shuddered in fear; he could not speak out, what if it implicated his family?

Seeing that Imperial Doctor Zhao remained silent, Xiao Jinyan gave a cold command, "Liu Xi, investigate Imperial Doctor Zhao."

"At once," Liu Xi responded and quickly left.

Xiao Jinyan glanced at Imperial Doctor Zhao lying on the ground, "Take Imperial Doctor Zhao into custody and guard him closely."

Weichi strode in, took the already collapsed Imperial Doctor Zhao away, and kept watch over him at all times.

With the matter nearly settled, Concubine Xu and Imperial Doctor Wen also took their leave.

Xiao Jinyan sat on the bed, showing no intention of leaving, even though the grand day for the ennoblement of the Crown Princess was on the morrow.