Xie Mingyue pressed down on his arm, "Don't worry, we'll have the imperial physician examine you through the screen later, so don't panic."

"How can I not panic! That's an imperial physician! The Emperor will know if there's anything wrong! What if he finds out I'm not Xie Liwei!" Peng Si was so anxious he almost jumped up.

Xie Mingyue pursed her lips helplessly, "You, can't you learn from your brother? You're so timid, no wonder your grandfather doesn't let you lead the caravan."

This provocation tactic worked; Peng Si immediately flew into a rage after hearing it.

"Bullshit! I'm actually quite bold! The main problem is that the imperial physician is an official, and people like us are naturally afraid of officials; it's ingrained in our bones. Just like a mouse is afraid of a cat!"

"Stop talking nonsense and get in there!"

Peng Si had no idea what Xie Mingyue and the others were planning, so he could only lie down.

Before long, Song Yaozhu brought the imperial physician into the house.

Seeing Xie Mingyue there, Song Yaozhu looked at him with a puzzled expression.

"Cousin, where is Father?"

"They're fishing in the yard."

Granny Qin raised her hand to wipe the sweat from her forehead. "Your Highness, our Prince is ill! Why do you ask about your father-in-law before asking about the Prince when you return?"

"How is Your Highness? I was praying at the Jokhang Temple today when I met the Emperor visiting the Dowager Consort. I learned that Your Highness is ill. The Emperor has asked me to bring the imperial physician back to examine Your Highness."

She explained what had happened in a few words, and Xie Mingyue got a general idea of ​​what had happened.

"The prince is inside. He hasn't gotten out of bed for the past few days, saying he's terribly cold. Even after we added more charcoal to the brazier in the room, he said it was too stuffy to breathe. Despite the cold, he insists on having the windows opened for ventilation. The physician examined him and said he was deficient in both qi and blood, and advised him to rest and recuperate."

Upon hearing this, the imperial physician stroked his beard and said, "Allow this old man to take your pulse."

"Hey, hey, hey! No!" Xie Mingyue stopped the imperial physician who was about to enter the inner room. "He has another problem: he can't stand seeing men. He complains of eye pain whenever he sees a man, and these past few days he's been served by pretty maids. If you want to take his pulse, why don't you try the 'suspended thread pulse' method?"

When the old physician heard Xie Mingyue's request, his beard stood on end in anger.

"What's wrong?" Xie Mingyue stared at the imperial physician with wide eyes. "Don't you know how?"

As the saying goes, "Every profession is like a mountain to climb," how could he possibly understand how difficult it is to learn pulse diagnosis by threading a needle! This mere child actually dared to humiliate him!

"Why don't you just blindfold him?" the imperial physician said angrily.

Xie Mingyue: "......"

Oh no, I forgot about this flaw.

A short while later, Song Yaozhu and the imperial physician entered the inner room together. They saw that the man sitting on the bed had his entire head covered with a black cloth, making it impossible to see his face.

The imperial physician was also startled by this exaggerated scene. A maid supported Xie Liwei's arm and said apologetically, "Imperial physician, please don't be offended. His Highness's strange illness really prevents him from seeing any men."

The imperial physician waved his hand, opened his medical kit, took out a hand pillow, and had someone hand over his wrist.

Seeing Peng Si's hands trembling like a sieve, Song Yaozhu's eyelids twitched.

Could Xie Liwei find a reliable person to impersonate him?

"Does Your Highness have trembling hands?"

The maidservant said with utmost composure, "The prince is trembling with rage at the thought of his precious body being touched by a man in a moment."

Imperial Physician: "..."

The maid held down Xie Liwei's arm so that the imperial physician could take his pulse.

The imperial physician felt the pulse, his brows furrowing. Unbeknownst to him, the maidservant's hand pressed on Peng Si's arm, altering the pulse.

After a long while, the imperial physician finally stopped and pulled Song Yaozhu out of the inner room. He said earnestly, "Your Highness, judging from the Prince's pulse, it's a sign of weakness due to excessive indulgence. And it's not just a little bit; he needs proper nourishment. He must abstain from sexual activity for at least a year and a half, or he might shorten his lifespan!"

Song Yaozhu: "......"

She's the one who ruined his reputation! It has nothing to do with her!

Xie Liwei, far away in the examination hall, sneezed violently, unaware that his reputation had been so ruined.

The imperial physician returned to report to the Emperor. After hearing about Xie Liwei's illness, Yuwen Wuji was secretly overjoyed. He hadn't expected Xie Liwei to be so ill!

Wouldn't that mean Song Yaozhu would be living a life of widowhood?

What a pity!

Just then, the Imperial Concubine led Song Si into the tent.

"Your Majesty, I've come to see you." She and Song Wenyue bowed together.

Yuwen Wuji's gaze fell on Song Wenyue, who was standing next to her. She and Xie Wanqing were similar, yet not quite. At most, they were somewhat similar in their dress, and in terms of appearance, only from a few specific angles could one see Xie Wanqing's shadow.

Thinking back, if it weren't for Song Si's ungrateful refusal to marry, allowing Song San to marry Xie Liwei...

Ugh, annoying.

The Imperial Concubine brought Song Si here today specifically to curry favor with the Emperor, thinking that it would be easier to handle things if she could please him first and then discuss her family matters.

Yuwen Wuji is a man who cares a lot about his reputation. If something happens to his family, he will lose face, so he will probably help her clean up the mess.

Moreover, isn't his decision to send the third prince to the court for studies a clear indication of his favor towards the third prince? He has no other adult princes, and the third prince can become his right-hand man!

When Song Wenyue, who was standing to the side, came into the Emperor's view, her body trembled uncontrollably. But inside, she was overjoyed.

The fact that the Imperial Concubine brought her to see the Emperor, instead of Liu Manli, shows that the Imperial Concubine favors her more. However, that woman Liu Manli seduced Prince Yong, causing discord between him and the Imperial Concubine and her son.

If she can win the Emperor's favor, perhaps he will issue an imperial decree to grant her marriage!

Therefore, she put on a sweet smile and spoke as if she were trying to please Grand Tutor Song.

Yuwen Wuji was in a good mood today and was amused by Song Wenyue, so he immediately rewarded her with some things.

As Song Wenyue emerged from the main tent, she bumped into Liu Manli. She swaggered over, stood in front of Liu Manli, and said, "See this? This is what the Emperor just bestowed upon me."

Liu Manli looked at her, bewildered, her big eyes filled with confusion.

Liu Manli's friend put her arm around her shoulder and said disdainfully, "If you want to reward someone, just do it. There's no need to come here to show off and flaunt your achievements!"

Song Wenyue's eyes nearly shot up in anger, and she sneered, "Then I was favored by the Imperial Concubine, unlike some people who rose to power by seducing the Prince."

She sneered, feeling smug as she watched Liu Manli's face turn pale.

"What nonsense are you spouting!" Her friend raised her hand to hit her, but Liu Manli stopped her.

"This is incomprehensible. Let's go!" Liu Manli pulled her friend away, her heart pounding. Could Song Wenyue know about her affair with Prince Yong?

Although Prince Yong promised her he would marry her, the Imperial Concubine had yet to issue the decree. If word got out, it would be clear they had illicit relations without a matchmaker!

Liu Manli couldn't suppress her panic.

Should she tell Prince Yong?