Chapter 4
“Your Highness...”
The eunuch’s face turned deathly pale. He had only become the supervising eunuch thanks to the Prince Regent.
What if the Prince Regent...
“Hmph.” Qi Mohan snorted, lifted his robe, and sat down.
He wanted to see whether that woman was really pregnant or faking it.
Sheng Yanhuan closed her eyes when she heard this.
No matter how many imperial physicians came, it was useless. She wasn’t afraid of an examination.
Once, the dog Emperor really had taken an interest in her. She’d only managed to fool him by using the hallucinogenic pill her Second Brother had given her.
The dog Emperor thought he’d truly possessed her. Afterward, he’d foolishly sent her all sorts of gold, silver, and jewels to make her happy.
Soon, a crowd of imperial physicians poured in—nearly twenty in all.
Old and young alike, from the white-haired Chief Physician to a medical apprentice barely waist-high, they examined Sheng Yanhuan’s pulse one by one.
Afterward, the imperial physicians exchanged glances. Kneeling on the floor, none of them dared speak.
Imperial Physician Li was not very senior, and cold sweat poured down his back.
He’d heard the young maid rush in to say that the Empress felt unwell and had symptoms of pregnancy. Since he was free, he’d come to take a look.
Who’d have thought she really was pregnant!
And now there was such a huge fuss!
He began to regret getting involved.
“Well?” Qi Mohan leaned against the screen and glanced at them all.
“This...”
The imperial physicians exchanged glances. In the end, Chief Physician Liu stepped forward to speak.
“Your Highness...”
Suddenly, a golden figure flashed into view, adorned with gold beads and radiating regal splendor.
“Chief Physician Liu, is the Empress pregnant?”
They had never seen the Empress Dowager run before. This was the first time, which showed just how anxious she was.
Chief Physician Liu breathed a sigh of relief. Now that the Empress Dowager was here, things would be much easier.
“Your Highness, the Empress is indeed pregnant. She is already three months along.”
The Empress Dowager froze in place. Suddenly, her whole body began to tremble. Alarmed, Chief Physician Liu hurried over to take her pulse, his old bones creaking.
“Your Highness, take a deep breath.”
The Empress Dowager closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Only then did her trembling gradually stop.
“Hahahahaha! Reward them all! Reward them all! I have a great-grandchild!”
Everyone exchanged glances.
The Empress Dowager’s voice rang out, and her delight was plain to see.
She felt as if even an illness would be cured without treatment.
“Empress, how are you feeling? If anything is wrong, have the imperial physicians examine you. You can’t stay in this bedchamber—the air is so bad...”
Sheng Yanhuan’s eyes were as red as a rabbit’s. “Mother, I’m fine living here. If I move out, I’m afraid it might affect His Majesty...”
The reason she’d been banished to the Cold Palace was simple.
They said she was ill-fated and had cursed the Emperor into unconsciousness on their wedding night.
“Affect him how? Your health comes first.” The Empress Dowager took her hand, smiling until her wrinkles bunched up.
She’d thought she’d never have a grandchild in this lifetime...
Fortunately, Heaven still favored her.
Qi Mohan took in the expressions of both women, a mocking smile curling at his lips.
“Empress Dowager, how can you be sure the child she’s carrying belongs to my imperial brother?”
“Of course I know.” The Empress Dowager turned to look at him, her expression once again cool.
It was precisely because the Emperor had doted so much on the daughter of the Sheng family that she was certain the child was his.
A year ago, the daughter of the Sheng family had entered the palace to learn its rules. Because she was so beautiful, the Emperor had confined her in Fu Ning Hall and forbidden her to leave. Even the guards and martial experts stationed outside the hall were eunuchs.
No one but the Emperor could enter or leave Fu Ning Hall.
What’s more, there were eunuch shadow guards in Fu Ning Hall, and everyone who came and went was recorded.
Besides, the Emperor had told her about that incident himself.
At the time, she’d even mocked the Sheng girl for being shameless, climbing into the imperial bed before they were married...
Now, she wished she could slap herself twice.
Qi Mohan’s lips lifted slightly. His gaze paused on Sheng Yanhuan’s belly for a moment, then moved away.
“Since that’s the case, I shall go attend to state affairs. I won’t keep you company.”
“Go on, go on.”
The Empress Dowager had eyes only for the Empress’s belly. How could she spare a thought for the Prince Regent?
Before long, Sheng Yanhuan got her wish and left the Cold Palace, moving into Fengning Palace—the Empress’s residence, where she had never spent a single night.
As the Empress’s residence, Fengning Palace was naturally luxurious.
It was magnificent and splendid, with gold-threaded and silver curtains, plush pillows, and soft couches. Every detail was exquisite.
As soon as she sat down, Chief Physician Liu carefully examined her pulse. He said the child was fine, but the Empress was too weak and needed many precious tonics.
At once, the Empress Dowager ordered the precious medicinal herbs stored in Ci’an Palace for decades brought out for Sheng Yanhuan.
“Empress, you must take care of yourself. The Emperor...” The Empress Dowager wiped the corner of her eye and sighed.
It was uncertain whether the Emperor would ever wake up.
Sheng Yanhuan lowered her eyes, concealing her emotions.
“Mother, I know...”
The Empress Dowager beamed. How had she never noticed how well-behaved the Sheng girl was before?
They really did need to spend more time together.
“Get some rest. If you need anything, tell me. Oh, Wang Fu, come in.”
“Your Highnesses.”
Sheng Yanhuan’s pupils contracted slightly, and she immediately looked up.
A familiar figure entered, bent at the waist.
“Empress, if you need anything, you can have Wang Fu come tell me. Understood?”
“Thank you, Mother... Ugh—”