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Imperial Doctor Wen’s tone was clearly skeptical.

"Do I look like I’m joking?" Qin Xiao said, placing two items in front of Imperial Doctor Wen.

Imperial Doctor Wen examined the two items before him and looked at Qin Xiao with confusion, "What are these?"

"Prescriptions. Brew medicine with this water, and it can cure the plague," Qin Xiao stated.

Imperial Doctor Wen picked up the prescription and glanced at it. There were only three types of medicinal materials listed, all precious, but available in the Imperial Medical Bureau.

Could this prescription cure the plague?

He glanced again at the water on the table, expressing doubt, "You didn’t get some folk remedy somewhere, did you?"

Qin Xiao replied, "Whether it’s a folk remedy or not, I can’t be sure, as I don’t understand herbs. It was given to me by Lady Shen, and she said it could cure the plague."

Upon hearing this, Imperial Doctor Wen was somewhat surprised. If it had been anyone else, he would certainly have thought it was a folk remedy, but Lady Shen’s medical skills were above his. She likely wouldn’t resort to folk remedies.

Qin Xiao added, "Lady Shen also said, after the medicine is ready, give it to Concubine Xu first. If Lady Tao has caught it, give it to Lady Tao first."

Imperial Doctor Wen was aware of the friendship between Lady Shen and Concubine Xu and Lady Tao.

If Lady Shen said so, it must be correct.

Imperial Doctor Wen took the prescription to prepare the medicine, and then personally used the water brought by Qin Xiao to brew it.

It took about the time of one incense stick to brew the medicine, which was divided into two bowls, to be given to Concubine Xu and Lady Tao.

Imperial Doctor Wen personally delivered the medicine.

At this moment, Concubine Xu’s face was pale, devoid of color. She was too weak to even speak, lying listlessly on the bed, her eyes dull as she stared at the ceiling.

Xia He, believing that Concubine Xu was beyond hope, didn’t even enter the room, standing at the doorway cursing under her breath.

"This is such bad luck. Working in the Laundry Bureau is hard enough without having to attend to someone dying."

"She’s bound to die sooner or later, so why not just die earlier?"

The more Xia He thought about it, the angrier she became, kicking at a pink flower in front of her with her foot.

Every word Xia He said was heard clearly by Concubine Xu, who stared at the ceiling and cursed inwardly, you’re the one who’s going to die, your whole family is going to die.

She wasn’t dead yet!

Wailing...

Xia He, who continued to grumble, suddenly felt her mouth struck by something, blood gushing out immediately. Her mouth opened, and two teeth mixed with blood tumbled out.

Xia He shrieked in terror, "Ah!!!"

The mysterious figure in black tossed the small stone left in their hand and turned to enter the room.

Upon entering, they saw Concubine Xu crying a river of tears, yet unable to make a sound.

The figure in black also knew that if a remedy for the plague wasn’t found soon, Concubine Xu might not survive the next couple of days.

When Concubine Xu saw the figure in black, she opened her mouth, "Am I about to die?"

The figure in black stood erect at the bedside, their voice faint, but to someone skilled in kung fu like them, it was clear as a bell.

"No, you won’t."

"Don’t lie to me anymore," Concubine Xu said slowly, staring for a while at the black cloth covering the face of the person opposite her. From inside the room, she said, "Can you take off your face cloth so I can see? I’m about to die anyway, you’re not afraid I’ll go and snitch on you."

The figure in black paused for a moment, "If you think you’re going to die, why do you want to see?"

"Just take it as my last wish..." Concubine Xu coughed twice and weakly said, "Thank you for taking care of me these past few days,"

The figure in black was silent for a long time, so long that Concubine Xu had already given up and closed her eyes, exhausted.

A male voice, extremely pleasant to hear, came from above,

"If you don’t die, I will let you see."

Huh! Concubine Xu slowly opened her eyes, not seeing the figure in black, and just as she was puzzled, the door opened.

Imperial Doctor Wen, with a face cloth on his cheek and a bowl of medicine in his hand, slowly walked in.

"Concubine Xu, this is the medicine for treating the plague, drink this and you will get better."

With the help of Imperial Doctor Wen, Concubine Xu drank her medicine in a drowsy state and then fell asleep.

When she woke up again, it was already broad daylight.

Imperial Doctor Wen sat by the bedside, having just finished checking Concubine Xu’s pulse. According to the pulse, she had indeed recovered significantly, with the remainder needing recuperation.

"How do you feel, Concubine Xu?"

Concubine Xu was stunned for a long while before she slowly became aware of her body condition and was pleasantly surprised to find that her limbs were strong, and she no longer felt dizzy or oppressive in her chest.

"I am much better. Imperial Doctor Wen’s medical skills are truly impressive."

Imperial Doctor Wen smiled and said, "It was Lady Shen who asked this humble official to administer the medicine to Concubine Xu first."

However, the credit for developing the prescription to treat the plague indeed fell on Imperial Doctor Wen.

Concubine Xu asked, "Is Lady Shen alright?"

Imperial Doctor Wen, "Lady Shen is very well, with no issues."

Xiaoxiang Pavilion

Shen Chuwei felt that after becoming pregnant, she was particularly lazy, either sprawled or lying down, and almost all her waking hours were spent eating.

Chun Xi came in happily, "Young Mistress, Imperial Doctor Wen is here."

At this time, only the Imperial Doctor could freely enter.

No sooner had the words fallen than Imperial Doctor Wen walked in with his medicine box, stepping forward and bowing, "Lady Shen."

All the sleepiness in Shen Chuwei vanished, "How are Concubine Xu and Lady Tao now?"

Imperial Doctor Wen said, "Lady Shen can rest assured, Concubine Xu and Lady Tao are safe."

"That’s good to hear." Shen Chuwei reached into the plate, picked up a piece of mung bean cake, and took a bite, finding it deliciously sweet.

"We still need to thank Lady Shen for the prescription, which has cured the plague and brought this humble official first class merit," Imperial Doctor Wen humbly said.

Shen Chuwei nonchalantly said, "It’s nothing, we are all family here."

Imperial Doctor Wen understood what Lady Shen meant, that such fortune would not have come his way if he were not a man of the Crown Prince.

"This humble official was ordered by the Empress to visit Lady Shen, and seeing you well, I will return to report my findings," he said.

Imperial Doctor Wen had developed the prescription that cured the plague, stopping its spread and saving many lives.

The Emperor not only rewarded him with gold and silver but also named him as an Imperial Doctor, a future candidate for one of the head positions at the Imperial Medical Bureau, equivalent to the bureau chief.

Within three days, the plague was nearly eradicated, and the East Palace regained its former vitality.

Shen Chuwei continued to eat and drink at ease.

At four months, her belly gradually began to show, clearly becoming more pronounced.

Shen Chuwei’s appetite seemed somewhat larger than before, but Chun Xi was always monitoring her portion sizes, fearing overeating might lead to a difficult birth.

For lunch, Chun Xi stewed chicken soup, and also made braised spareribs.

Shen Chuwei ate her fill, and her already round belly swelled even more.

She wiped her mouth with a handkerchief, lay down on the couch in the shape of the character 大, finding it extremely comfortable to sleep in that position.

Xiao Jinyu stealthily came in, wanting to see if Shen Chuwei was as well as his mother had described.

With the Crown Prince brother being away, it was only right for him to take extra care of his sister-in-law.

He leaned over the windowsill, first noticing the way Shen Chuwei slept and wondered if all women slept like that?

Eventually, his gaze was drawn to her protruding belly.

Xiao Jinyu curiously observed her rounded belly, why was Shen Chuwei’s belly so distended?

Could it be an illness?

At that moment, Chun Xi walked in with clothing in her arms.

Xiao Jinyu retracted his neck and slipped away quietly.

He went straight to Fengyi Palace to find his mother.