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The Emperor also felt that Lady Liang made sense, was it not a matter of simple investigation to confirm?

He commanded with a cold voice, "Eunuch Li, summon the Imperial Doctor."

"Yes." Eunuch Li obeyed the order to call for the Imperial Doctor.

In the Hall, it was so quiet that even a needle dropping could be heard clearly.

Shen Chuwei had been kneeling on the ground all this time, she had never knelt for such a long time since her arrival, but she couldn’t rise up before the Emperor permitted her.

After a while, Eunuch Li returned with the Imperial Doctor.

The Imperial Doctor stepped forward with a bow, "This humble official pays respects to Your Majesty, may the Emperor be blessed with peace and prosperity."

The Emperor instructed coldly, "Examine Lady Shen’s pulse and tell me how many months pregnant she is."

"As Your Majesty commands." The Imperial Doctor moved a few steps forward to Shen Chuwei’s side, placed his medicine box down, laid a cloth over her wrist, and then took her pulse.

Shen Chuwei cooperated unconditionally throughout the process.

The Emperor looked at Lady Shen in the center of the Hall, still holding onto some hope that the child was the Crown Prince’s. After all, the Crown Prince had no children of his own, so this development was not necessarily a bad thing.

Once the Imperial Doctor had finished taking the pulse, the Emperor asked eagerly, "Well, what is the result?"

The Imperial Doctor lowered his head in respect, "Reporting to Your Majesty, Lady Shen is just over four months pregnant."

The Emperor, who had just dealt with the issue of a beauty and a guard involved in an illicit affair resulting in pregnancy, was furious upon hearing the Imperial Doctor’s words.

He could not tolerate an unchaste woman.

"Lady Shen, the Empress has treated you with great care and affection. You have not only deceived the Empress but also betrayed her trust! Who is the man with whom you have had an affair? Confess the truth immediately!"

Chun Xi, full of indignation and wishing to curse out loud, had to restrain herself in front of the Emperor, "Your Majesty, my mistress has been pregnant for over five months. She conceived not long after His Highness left."

Shen Chuwei glanced at the Imperial Doctor, his hair already white with age, yet he spoke such deceitful words, "Your Majesty, this consort has been pregnant for over five months, the Imperial Doctor must have made a mistake."

The Emperor scoffed coldly, "Lady Shen, he is the most skilled Imperial Doctor from the Imperial Medical Bureau. Do you dare question him?"

Shen Chuwei said, "This consort is merely telling the truth, Your Majesty. If you do not believe me, you can summon another Imperial Doctor to take my pulse."

The Emperor looked coldly at Lady Shen, who stood straight and tall without a hint of guilt.

He pondered for a moment then commanded, "Eunuch Li, find another Imperial Doctor to come here."

"Yes."

Eunuch Li once again left to summon another Imperial Doctor.

This time, Eunuch Li brought two Imperial Doctors, one named Doctor Wen and the other Doctor Feng.

Both Imperial Doctors stepped forward to bow in front of the Emperor.

"This humble official pays respects to Your Majesty."

The Emperor commanded in a chilled voice, "Examine Lady Shen’s pulse and tell me how many months pregnant she is."

The two doctors chorused, "As Your Majesty’s humble officials, we obey."

Doctor Feng, who examined the pulse first, soon arrived at a conclusion.

"Your Majesty, Lady Shen is just over four months pregnant," he reported.

Chun Xi was stunned; that was impossible.

Not only Chun Xi was taken aback, but even Shen Chuwei was shocked. One Imperial Doctor might speak falsely, but two Imperial Doctors... she might as well have jumped into the Yellow River, for her innocence could never be washed clean now.

The Emperor suddenly gripped the armrests of his throne tightly and looked at Lady Shen with eyes cold as frost, "Lady Shen, do you have anything else to say?"

Shen Chuwei declared, "Your Majesty, this consort is indeed over five months pregnant."

The Emperor said with severity, "If one Imperial Doctor is mistaken, can two Imperial Doctors both be wrong? I do not wish to hear your excuses."

He then turned to Lady Liang and asked in a cold voice, "Lady Liang, do you know who the man involved with Lady Shen is?"

Lady Liang, with a smile not quite a smile, looked at Lady Shen, who was unable to refute the charges, feeling a release from the long-suppressed discomfort. This time, Lady Shen, you have no chance of turning the situation around.

"Your Majesty, it is Prince’s personal guard, Qin Xiao. After the Prince left, Qin Xiao frequently visited Xiaoxiang Pavilion and he would buy a lot of things every time he went."

Doctor Wen stepped forward with a bow, "Your Majesty, this humble official has something to say."

Lady Liang looked at him with a mocking smile, "Doctor Wen, I have heard that you are quite close to Lady Shen. Could it be that she has bribed you?"

"This humble official has not been bribed by Lady Shen, Your Highness the Empress..."

Doctor Wen tried to explain, but the Emperor interrupted him sharply, "You shut your mouth!"

Doctor Wen immediately knelt down and boldly spoke, "Your Majesty, Lady Shen is indeed over five months pregnant."

The Emperor was in no mood to listen to Doctor Wen’s words and ordered, "Guards, seize Doctor Wen."

Doctor Wen wanted to say more, but he was swiftly dragged away by two Imperial Guards.

The Emperor then commanded, "Guards, seize Lady Shen..."

"Father Emperor."

Xiao Jinyu walked in briskly, with an urgent look on his face.

Seeing Xiao Jinyu, the Emperor was somewhat puzzled, "Jinyu, what brings you here?"

Xiao Jinyu stepped forward to greet him, "If I had not come, would Father Emperor have taken action against Lady Shen? That child belongs to the Crown Prince, my older brother, and is also Father Emperor’s grandchild. How could Father Emperor treat his own grandchild with such contempt?"

Shen Chuwei looked up at Xiao Jinyu, who appeared just in time, true to being Xiao Jinyan’s brother.

"Jinyu, you are young and do not understand," the Emperor glanced at Shen Chuwei.

"..." Shen Chuwei conveyed her total innocence.

The Emperor continued, "The Crown Prince has been away from the capital for nearly five months, and Lady Shen is over four months pregnant. How can the child be the Crown Prince’s?"

"Lady Shen is obviously more than five months pregnant." Xiao Jinyu said and then approached Shen Chuwei, whispering so only the two of them could hear, "Sister-in-law, let me help you up."

Shen Chuwei, though she wished to rise, was conscious of the Emperor’s icy, steely gaze upon her, and she whispered back, "Aren’t you afraid of the Emperor’s blame?"

Xiao Jinyu chuckled, "No, I am not afraid. Father Emperor and Mother Empress favor me the most. They would not bear to punish me severely."

Hearing this, Shen Chuwei realized that those who were favored could indeed act with impunity.

Only then did she allow Xiao Jinyu to help her stand.

Xiao Jinyu also gave the present Imperial Doctors a sweeping glance, pointing at their noses as if he was on the verge of physically striking them.

"Which quack said that? Stand before me, have you grown senile, or are your eyes only open for money?"

ps: One more update