Tan Jieyu panicked inside. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. The Emperor was only supposed to arrive after she was pushed into the water by Duan Mingxi.
Why had he arrived already?
And just now, what did Duan Mingxi say? That she didn’t want to bear the Emperor’s child and admired the Crown Prince…
Complete nonsense—this was trying to push her to death!
Tan Jieyu pinched herself hard, tears streaming down like rain. She looked at the Emperor and cried, “Your Majesty, please uphold justice for your concubine. I don’t know how I offended Duan Wangfei, but she tried to push me into the water, wanting to kill me and the child in my belly.”
The crowd erupted in whispers, their eyes shifting between Tan Jieyu and Duan Mingxi.
Jin Wang wanted to speak, but Duan Huirou pulled him back, her eyes glistening with tears, gently shaking her head.
Jin Wang hesitated for a moment. Just then, Qi Wang suddenly said loudly, “Royal Father, Fourth Sister-in-law just said that Tan Jieyu admired the Crown Prince and didn’t want to give birth to the child. This… this is ridiculous! Tan Jieyu is your concubine—how could she be involved with the deposed Crown Prince?”
“Silence!”
The Emperor was furious. Qi Wang turned pale, then flushed. He had merely spoken the truth—why was he being scolded?
Qi Wang was indignant. He looked at Duan Wang angrily and said, “Fourth Brother, you heard it too, didn’t you? You and Fourth Sister-in-law are deeply in love—are you really going to just watch someone try to kill her?”
The Emperor was so enraged his breathing grew heavy. He suddenly kicked out.
Caught off guard, Qi Wang clutched his chest and collapsed in pain. Consort De rushed over in panic but dared not cry out. She clutched her son’s hand tightly and stared daggers at Tan Jieyu, wishing she could flay her inch by inch.
“Duan Mingxi, what do you say?”
Mingxi noticed that the Emperor, who had just been calling her “Old Four’s wife,” now addressed her by name. At this moment of life and death, a trace of hesitation appeared on her face. She glanced at the Emperor and said softly, “Royal Father, perhaps it would be better to discuss this in private?”
Tan Jieyu, however, shrieked, “Your Majesty, Duan Wangfei is guilty and now tries to hide it! She failed in harming me—I’m innocent! I have nothing to do with the deposed Crown Prince. I admire Your Majesty. Why would I not want to bear this hard-won child? This child is my life!”
The Emperor’s expression shifted slightly. He looked again at Duan Mingxi. “Speak here and now. Duan Mingxi—what exactly happened?”
The Emperor had not yet directly pronounced judgment. Mingxi understood—her past dedication to the court had earned her a trust deeper than Tan Jieyu imagined.
She sighed softly and looked helplessly at Tan Jieyu, then back to the Emperor and said, “Royal Father, your daughter-in-law… your daughter-in-law requests that the imperial physician check Tan Jieyu’s pulse.”
“Check her pulse?” The Emperor’s eyes turned to Tan Jieyu.
Tan Jieyu’s face went pale. She grabbed the Emperor’s dragon robe and cried, “Your Majesty, what does Duan Wangfei mean by this? I’m safe and sound—won’t she give up?”
Mingxi said nothing, but her eyes settled on Tan Jieyu’s belly, brows slightly furrowed, as if she was holding back something she wanted to say.
The Emperor gave Duan Mingxi a long look, then turned to Ding Zhao and said, “Summon the imperial physicians!”
Tan Jieyu gripped the dragon robe more tightly, but she wasn’t too afraid. The physician who had always examined her would vouch for her. She raised her head and glared fiercely at Duan Mingxi.
But Duan Mingxi didn’t even glance at her. She called to Ding Zhao, “Chief Steward Ding, since Tan Jieyu values this pregnancy so much, and there’s now been an incident, it would be best to invite several physicians for a group consultation.”
Ding Zhao didn’t answer immediately, but looked to the Emperor.
The Emperor’s face was already extremely grim. He gave a nearly imperceptible nod.
Ding Zhao quickly left. Tan Jieyu’s complexion, already poor, now turned deathly pale tinged with green. Her body trembled.
Consort Shu, who had always trusted Mingxi, sensed something as well. She walked slowly to the Emperor, gently holding his arm, and said to the palace attendants, “Why are you all standing around? Bring over a chair.”
“Yes.”
Soon, someone brought a chair. Consort Shu softly said to the Emperor, “Your Majesty, you’ve been busy all day. Please sit and rest a moment. Your health must come first.”
The Emperor sat down, gripping Consort Shu’s hand tightly. She felt a sharp pain in her wrist but showed no expression, still standing at his side. She added gently, “Tan Jieyu is pregnant. Bring her a stool as well.” Then she turned to the Emperor. “Your Majesty, the truth is not yet clear, but the child in Tan Jieyu’s womb must not be harmed. The ground is cold—let her sit.”
The Emperor looked at Consort Shu. “Tan Jieyu and Duan Wangfei are making such a scene, and yet you still care for her.”
Consort Shu heard the mockery in his voice but pretended not to notice. She replied softly, “Your Consort trusts that Your Majesty will see clearly. If Duan Wangfei is in the wrong, I will not plead for her. Your Majesty may punish her as you see fit.”
Consort Zhang’s eyes darted about but she held back, deciding not to get involved.
Consort Xian’s brows furrowed deeply—she couldn’t make sense of what was going on.
The physicians arrived quickly. Almost all the imperial physicians on duty at the court came and knelt in a flurry.
The Emperor looked to the physician who had always treated Tan Jieyu. “Tan Jieyu was frightened. Carefully check her pulse—see if the imperial heir is still well.”
A court physician with a long face stepped forward. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
He glanced at the many assembled officials and consorts, then at Tan Jieyu’s rather pale face. Stepping forward, he knelt beside her, placed a handkerchief over her wrist, and then pressed his fingers to her pulse.
Mingxi had been watching that physician closely and immediately noticed the subtle tension in his eyes. He avoided eye contact—clear signs of a guilty conscience.
Just now it had only been suspicion, but now she was almost certain.
She turned her gaze back to Tan Jieyu’s faintly trembling body, eyes cold.
The physician withdrew his hand, stood up, and bowed to report: “Your Majesty, Tan Jieyu is severely startled. Her pulse shows signs of fear and restlessness, and her mind is unsettled. She requires rest and recuperation.”
Mingxi immediately asked, “Physician, you haven’t said how the child in Tan Jieyu’s womb is. Is the baby safe?”
The physician’s brow twitched slightly. Bowing his head, he replied, “Her pulse is unsettled and the fetal signs unstable. She needs proper care and rest.”
Mingxi turned to the head of the Imperial Medical Bureau. “Lord Director, your medical skills are unparalleled. Since Tan Jieyu’s fetal signs are unstable, why don’t you examine her yourself and prescribe a proper calming remedy?”
As soon as she said this, the diagnosing physician’s face changed subtly. He spoke in a low voice, “Duan Wangfei, are you saying you doubt my medical expertise?”
Mingxi replied coolly, “This child in Tan Jieyu’s womb is of utmost importance to the Emperor. There must be no margin for error. Are you saying your skills surpass even the Director’s? If so, then there’s no need for him to check her.”
The Imperial Medical Bureau was no haven from court strife either. It too had its share of political struggles.
To become the Bureau Director, one’s medical skill may not be the best, but their insight into human nature was always the sharpest.
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