Chapter 81: Testing

Chapter 81: Testing

Standing quietly beside her, Xia Chan added, "With the previous incident involving the eldest imperial son, if Your Majesty specifically requests He Yuanpan or Qiu Taiyi to examine the Noble Consort, it might raise the Emperor’s suspicions about your intentions towards her."

"Indeed, I can't directly ask other imperial physicians to examine her without arousing suspicion," the Empress sighed softly.

After a long silence, the Empress resolutely said, "If she is indeed faking it, she will inevitably target me. I must intervene to stop her."

Spring Swallow whispered, "Your Majesty, isn’t this also an opportunity for us? If the Noble Consort’s fake pregnancy is exposed, she surely won't be able to maintain her position, let alone covet your throne."

The Empress's heart stirred.

Xia Chan, however, furrowed her brow and asked, "Mistress, if the consort is indeed pregnant, wouldn’t we fall into her trap by acting against her?"

The Empress paused her movement of twirling her jade bracelet and said softly, "That’s why I still need to test the waters."

On a day of light rain and chilly spring breeze, Chunyan, wearing a thick coat and holding a bamboo umbrella painted with red plum blossoms, hurried to the Imperial Medical Bureau.

The gatekeepers, recognizing the chief palace maid from Fengyi Palace, hurried to assist Chunyan with her umbrella, flattering, "Sister Chunyan, what brings you here? Come in and have some hot tea!"

Chunyan, looking anxious, quickly said, "Is Physician Qiu here? The Empress started coughing this morning; I fear she might have caught a cold."

Hearing that the Empress was unwell, the eunuchs didn’t dare to delay, hurrying under the umbrella with Chunyan towards the inner hall, saying, "Physician Qiu is off today, but both Cen Yuanzhang and He Yuanpan are here."

Chunyan nodded and swiftly entered the inner hall, giving a slight bow to He Yuanpan, who was reading a medical scroll, "Could the honorable physician accompany me to Fengyi Palace? The Empress is feeling unwell this morning."

Hearing this, He Yuanpan did not hesitate, setting down his bamboo scroll and signaling a young eunuch grinding medicine to prepare the medicine box, and followed Chunyan under an umbrella to Fengyi Palace.

In Fengyi Palace, the Empress lay reclined on a couch in the warm chamber, her cheeks unusually flushed.

He Yuanpan took her pulse, and his heart sank within moments. He then looked at the Empress’s face and realized the extra layer of rouge.

Bowing his head, he carefully said, "Your Highness, you seem to have caught a chill due to the sudden weather change. I will prescribe some Artemisia annua soup; it should take three to five days to fully recover."

Internally he thought, "Had I known, I would have found an excuse not to come... I wonder if three to five days will be enough?"

The Empress withdrew her hand and sat up on the bed, saying to He Yuanpan with his goat beard, "Your medical skills are excellent, please write the prescription."

Relieved, He Yuanpan quickly moved to the table to write the prescription, but halfway through, he heard the Empress say indifferently, "He Yuanpan, did you visit Yaohua Palace to check pulses a few days ago?"

He Yuanpan's pen paused, accidentally leaving an ink blot, as he hurriedly responded, "Yes."

The Empress directly asked, "Do you know how the consort's pulse was? Was it really a slippery pulse?"

He Yuanpan's mind raced, knowing that the Empress could have directly reviewed the pulse records herself. He truthfully answered, "Empress Dowager Zhao indeed shows signs of pregnancy, but the slippery pulse was not distinct, and I was unable to detect it."

"Oh?" The Empress got off the couch and took a sip of tea handed to her by Xia Chan, then suddenly said, "He Yuanpan, approaching the age of seventy, I suppose you are preparing for retirement?"

He Yuanpan put down the pen, sweat beading on his forehead, and turned respectfully, "Yes, Your Highness. I am planning to retire and return to my hometown in June."

The Empress smiled, "He Yuanpan has spent most of his life in the palace. It’s fortunate to leave peacefully in June. I will certainly bestow generous gifts upon your departure."

Terrified by her words, He Yuanpan knelt down, the thin old man trembling as he asked, "May I know if Your Highness has any instructions?"

The Empress looked at him but said nothing.

Chunyan helped He Yuanpan to a chair and gently asked on behalf of her mistress, "Could you tell us, sir, what exactly is Empress Dowager Zhao's pulse condition? Is she truly pregnant?"

He Yuanpan wiped the sweat from his forehead and answered with his head lowered, "Empress Dowager Zhao’s pulse is somewhat peculiar. It seems like a slippery pulse, but not quite. However, all other symptoms are consistent with early pregnancy. It's highly likely she is just barely pregnant, though the pulse is unclear."

After a pause, seeing no reaction from the Empress, he continued, "In my opinion, it appears as if she intentionally consumed something that caused the pulse disorder."

"Intentionally?" the Empress repeated, then asked firmly, "In your opinion, is Empress Dowager Zhao’s pregnancy real or fake?"

He Yuanpan remained stiff, hesitating before finally saying, "If I were to judge, it's... most likely real."

"Most likely?" Chunyan pressed, "So you’re not certain?"

He Yuanpan lowered his head again and shook it, "I cannot be sure about Empress Dowager Zhao’s pulse condition."

Chunyan was about to ask more, but the Empress interrupted, "Enough, Chunyan. Escort He Yuanpan back and stop by the Pharmacy Bureau to fetch the medicine."

"Yes," Chunyan closed her mouth, helped He Yuanpan up, and led him out of Fengyi Palace.

Xia Chan refilled the Empress's tea, asking softly, "Mistress, what do you think...?"

The Empress pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "He Yuanpan is about to retire and certainly doesn't want to get involved in any trouble. Therefore, during the examination of the consort, he naturally wouldn't mention any peculiarities in her pulse. He would rather say pleasing things, following the Emperor's wishes, as Physician Liu will be responsible for her later."

"So, what he said today..." Xia Chan hesitated, "How credible is it?"

"Eight parts credible," the Empress affirmed. "He is timid and afraid of getting into trouble. He wouldn't dare to hide anything from me, but his final assertion that the consort is truly pregnant is likely false."

"Why?" Xia Chan was surprised.

The Empress, rotating the bracelet on her wrist, said quietly, "Having already declared a joyful pulse to the Emperor, he would naturally keep his story consistent in front of me. Otherwise, if the truth comes out later, his inconsistency would be his downfall."

"Moreover," the Empress recalled He Yuanpan's words, speaking softly, "Didn't he say it? The consort might have consumed something that disturbed her pulse. If she were truly pregnant, would she dare to do that?"

"I understand," Xia Chan replied respectfully.

"However," the Empress suddenly added, "relying solely on He Yuanpan's word is not enough. We need another plan."