Chapter 11 A Pregnant Woman: She can't be called father-in-law, she has to be called dad.

After calling him "Father-in-law," Shen Mingshan almost sprained his ankle again because of the phrase "marrying into the family."

The imperial guards around Qi Jingxuan were also taken aback. They looked at Shen Mingshan and then at him, their faces full of unspeakable emotions.

Although Shen Mingshan knew that Prince Jin was unreliable, Qi Jingxuan was known for skipping classes and had never appeared in his class, so the two had little contact and he didn't know much about him. He had only heard his name in rumors. He never expected that their first encounter would be like this.

Shen Mingshan was in a hurry to fetch a doctor and had no time to talk to him. He left with the words, "Your Highness, please don't talk nonsense," and prepared to leave.

Qi Jingxuan blocked his way, saying, "Lord Shen, I'm serious, I really can marry into your family! As long as you agree, I'll move in today!"

Moved to my house

Shen Mingshan was already anxious, and now he was even more anxious and angry.

After what happened between you and my daughter, you still want to move in with me? Are you crazy, or am I?

His anger was about to erupt, but he held it back because he was worried about Su's health. He said, "I have important business to attend to. Please do not block my way, Your Highness!"

After saying that, she was about to walk around him.

Unfortunately, the alley was not wide enough, and Shen Mingshan blocked the way again with a single step.

“Is Father-in-law going to the palace to see my father? Then you don’t need to go. I have already said everything I needed to say, and he already knows that I was wrong. If Father-in-law still has any complaints about me, he can write a memorial to scold me tomorrow. There is really no need to make this extra trip. Let’s talk about the matter of marrying into the family first.”

This constant use of the term "father-in-law" enraged Shen Mingshan, who retorted sharply, "I have no connection with Your Highness whatsoever, so how could I speak of you as my father-in-law? Your Highness, please be careful with your words!"

"We had no connection before, but now we can! As long as I marry into the family, Lord Shen will be my father-in-law!"

Qi Jingxuan said in a serious tone, feeling that he was absolutely right.

Whether Shen Mingshan acknowledges him as his son-in-law or not is none of his concern; he has already decided that Shen Mingshan is his father-in-law!

Neighbors had already peeked out from behind the walls of the courtyards, hearing the commotion. Hearing his words, one couldn't help but laugh and blurt out, "When a man marries into his wife's family, he can't call her 'father-in-law,' he has to call her 'dad'!"

These words drew laughter from the onlookers, but Qi Jingxuan was not offended. Instead, he looked as if he had just realized something, bowed deeply, and was about to call out "Father."

As soon as Shen Mingshan saw him open his mouth, he sensed something was wrong and instinctively said, "Shut up!"

Qi Jingxuan paused slightly, but quickly continued to bow smoothly and replied, "Yes, Father."

The phrase "Father" caused another burst of laughter in the alley. The imperial guards following Qi Jingxuan looked up at the sky, sighing at how this shameful task had fallen to them.

Shen Mingshan was so angry that his face trembled: "You...you are simply..."

Before he could finish speaking, footsteps came from the alley entrance again; it was the imperial physician and palace maids arranged by the palace.

As soon as Physician Zhou entered the alley, he saw Prince Jin and his entourage ahead. He first stepped forward to greet Qi Jingxuan, and then said to Shen Mingshan, "Lord Shen, I have been ordered to come and take care of your daughter. Since we have just met, I would like to trouble you to show me the way."

"By order"

Shen Mingshan looked at him suspiciously, then at Qi Jingxuan.

Physician Zhou hurriedly cupped his hands in the direction of the palace and said, "It is by order of His Majesty."

Hearing that it was the emperor's will, Shen Mingshan's expression softened slightly, but he still did not agree. He said, "My wife is not feeling well. I was just about to go and fetch a doctor. When he arrives, I will ask the doctor to take a look at my daughter. There is no need to trouble Physician Zhou."

He didn't want to accept the emperor's favor at this time, lest he have trouble explaining himself when it came time to settle accounts later.

Physician Zhou was taken aback and was about to say something when Qi Jingxuan spoke first: "Lord Shen, why do you do this? No matter how good the doctors outside are, they can't compare to the imperial physicians in the palace. Even if you don't like me, you shouldn't joke about your wife and daughter's health."

"Besides, it was my fault today. As the son, I made a mistake. Shouldn't my father, the emperor, send someone to check on the victim and their family? Why do you refuse?"

Although these words were only spoken to persuade Shen Mingshan to agree to let Physician Zhou go to the Shen family, they made a lot of sense. Some of the onlookers laughed and cheered, "Yes, that's right!"

Qi Jingxuan immediately beamed with joy and bowed to the person who had spoken, saying, "Thank you, thank you."

This posture didn't look like that of a prince; it was more like a storyteller in a tavern thanking his guests for their support, which drew another burst of laughter from the crowd.

Seeing that Shen Mingshan's forehead veins were throbbing, Physician Zhou hurriedly stepped forward and said in a low voice, "Lord Shen, your words may be rough, but they are true. In the time that we have been wasting here, I would have already gone with you to your home to examine your wife."

"Since His Majesty has already issued the decree, you should at least give me some face. Otherwise, if I go back like this, I won't be able to explain it to His Majesty."

Qi Jingxuan couldn't hear what the two were saying, but he still raised his voice to persuade them: "Lord Shen, when I was at the Marquis of Cheng'an's residence, I saw that Madam Shen's complexion was not good and she seemed to be unwell. You should quickly send Physician Zhou to take a look, otherwise it will be bad if it is delayed."

While others might not know, he did: Madam Su was pregnant, and the stress of today's events had upset her and affected the fetus; it was time for her to see a doctor.

Thinking of his wife's unwell appearance when he left, Shen Mingshan clenched his fist, and without further hesitation, finally agreed, leading Physician Zhou towards his home.

The group walked along the alley, and when they reached about the middle of the alley, Chen Mingshan stopped in front of a courtyard.

The courtyard gate was still bolted from the inside, and this time it was Shen Yan who opened it.

As soon as the door opened, Shen Yan was surprised to see a man in official robes accompanying Shen Mingshan, followed by several young women who looked like maids.

What surprised her even more was that behind them was Prince Jin, who was grinning and waving at her, showing off his big white teeth.

Wasn't he taken into the palace? How come he's out again so soon?

Shen Mingshan did not want his daughter to have contact with Prince Jin, and said, "Aci, this is Physician Zhou, sent by His Majesty to treat you and your mother. You take your people in first."

Shen Yan agreed and led Physician Zhou and the others through the door.

Qi Jingxuan thought he could sneak in this time, but Shen Mingshan was a few steps behind and waiting by the door. After Zhou Taiyi and the others went in, he quickly closed the door again.

Qi Jingxuan nearly bumped his nose. He took a step back, steadied himself, and banged on the door: "Father, Lord Shen! Why are you closing the door again? Can you allow me to come in and say a few words?"

Physician Zhou, who had already entered the room, stumbled, looked back at the door and then at Chenming Mountain.

It was already shocking enough that His Highness Prince Jin addressed Lord Shen as "father-in-law" before, but how come he's now calling him "father"? Does Prince Jin intend to marry into the family?

Shen Mingshan remained silent, offering no explanation, but instead extending his hand in a gesture of invitation: "Thank you for your trouble, Lord Zhou."

Physician Zhou snapped out of his daze and, without asking any further questions, followed Shen Mingshan's directions into the house to examine Madam Su's pulse.

Shen Yan knew that her mother was pregnant. She was not surprised when Doctor Zhou told her the result, but was happy for her parents.

Shen Mingshan and Madam Su exchanged bewildered glances, then exclaimed in unison, "Sir, you haven't made a mistake, have you? It truly is a pregnancy pulse."

Physician Zhou chuckled and said, "I've been in the Imperial Hospital for over twenty years, how could I not be certain? It is undoubtedly a pregnancy! Congratulations, Lord Shen, and congratulations, Madam Shen!"

The palace maids who accompanied them also offered their congratulations, but Chen Mingshan and Madam Su were quite bewildered amidst the congratulations.

After giving birth to Shen Yan, the doctor said that Madam Su would have difficulty conceiving again, and indeed she hadn't gotten pregnant for over ten years. How come she's suddenly pregnant now?

Both of them felt a surge of joy, but this joy was quickly followed by worry, leaving them unsure whether they should be happy.

Their daughter suffered such an injustice today, yet they're celebrating this unborn child—what kind of behavior is this?

Thinking this, the two looked at Shen Yan with some concern.

Shen Yan had no worries at all; she was genuinely happy for her parents.

After all these years, my parents finally have another child.

If something were to happen to her someday, with this child by her side, her parents wouldn't be without hope for the rest of their lives.

Seeing her parents looking at her, Shen Yan gave them a reassuring smile, then turned to Physician Zhou and asked, "Physician Zhou, is there anything I should be careful about during my pregnancy?"

Physician Zhou was writing a prescription when he heard this. He picked up his brush, dipped it in ink, and said with a smile, "I was just about to say that. Madam Shen was extremely angry and sad today, and her pregnancy is somewhat unstable. She needs to rest and recuperate properly."

"But there's no need to worry too much. As long as you take good care of yourself, there shouldn't be any major problems."

Shen Yan nodded, and after he finished writing the prescription, she reached out to take it: "Thank you, Lord Zhou, I will go and get the medicine right away."

Physician Zhou did not give him the prescription, but handed it to the palace maid who came with him, saying, "These people were specially assigned by His Majesty to serve Miss Shen and Madam Shen. Just give them whatever you need to do."

Shen Yan was startled and turned to look at Shen Mingshan.

Shen Mingshan was also taken aback for a moment, and said, "Weren't they here with you, Lord Zhou, for your medical consultation?"

He thought that because his wife and daughter were both women, it would be inconvenient for Physician Zhou to conduct his consultations, so the palace specially sent several palace maids over.

From what Physician Zhou is saying, these palace maids were specifically sent to serve them.

Physician Zhou waved his hand: "Not at all, His Majesty knows that Madam Shen and Miss Shen are not feeling well, and you, sir, are on duty at the Hanlin Academy and are afraid that you will not have time to take care of them, so he sent a few people over to help."

He couldn't very well tell Shen Mingshan directly that he and these palace maids were specifically sent to prevent his daughter from committing suicide, could he?

But judging from Miss Shen's expression and her calm demeanor, she doesn't seem like she's trying to commit suicide at all.

Physician Zhou was somewhat bewildered, but since the emperor had given the order, he, as a subject, had no choice but to comply.

So Physician Zhou beckoned Shen Yan to sit down and said, "Come, let me take your pulse too."

Shen Mingshan originally wanted to refuse the palace maids sent by the palace, but when he saw Physician Zhou taking his daughter's pulse, he swallowed the words that were about to come out and decided to talk about it later.

Physician Zhou placed his fingers on Shen Yan's pulse, carefully felt it for a moment, then withdrew them and said with a smile, "Miss Shen..."

Before she could even open her mouth, Qi Jingxuan's hoarse voice rang out from the courtyard wall: "It's a pregnancy pulse, isn't it? I heard it all!"

Shen Mingshan's eye twitched, and unable to hold back any longer, he grabbed a scroll from the side and threw it towards the courtyard wall, shouting, "Get out!"

A note from the author:

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