Chapter 226 Taking the Pulse: Is Shen Chu a Man or a Woman?

With so many guests in front of her, Shen Chu felt a chill run down her spine.

Did she reveal something that made the Crown Prince suspicious of her identity?

A jumble of thoughts flashed through her mind, but she had no time to think about them right now.

The Crown Prince clearly came prepared, and even requested an imperial edict.

If the imperial physician were to examine her pulse, her true identity as a woman disguised as a man would inevitably be exposed.

If one refuses to let the imperial physician examine one's pulse, it would be considered disobeying the imperial decree and would also be punished.

Shen Chu rubbed his fingers together and said with a smile, "Your Majesty's concern for my health is deeply appreciated."

Although I encountered a dangerous situation in Changsha Prefecture, I was very fortunate and was not injured.

Therefore, I dare not trouble the imperial physicians to examine my pulse, much less trouble His Highness the Crown Prince and His Majesty with such concern.

The Crown Prince frowned. "Whether there's a problem with your health or not can only be determined by the imperial physician. You're not an imperial physician, so how would you know there's nothing wrong with your health?"

"I can run and jump, and I can eat and drink well, so Your Highness need not trouble yourself."

The Crown Prince's expression darkened slightly as he squinted and looked Shen Chu up and down.

Seeing that Shen Chu was tall and slender with fair skin, his features were handsome but also had a touch of gentleness.

Her eyebrows were naturally green without makeup, and her lips were naturally red without lipstick.

Her almond-shaped eyes, in particular, were bright, clear, and sparkling.

With that face alone, it's not impossible that she could be a woman.

The prince was momentarily lost in thought when he recalled recent events.

After Shen Chu left the East Palace that day, Xiang Yu said that Shen Chu was very likely a woman, and she was at least 70% sure.

At the time, the Crown Prince did not take it seriously, thinking that Xiangyu was deliberately shirking responsibility because she was afraid of being punished by him.

Later, his uncle, Chief Minister Feng, secretly pressured Marquis Changning to find a way to destroy the physical evidence in Shen Chu's hands.

After waiting for two days, instead of receiving good news from Marquis Changning, they heard that Marquis Changning had sent people to Huzhou to investigate Shen Chu.

Could it be that Shen Chu has some secret?

Chief Minister Feng keenly sensed something was amiss, so he discussed the matter with the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince laughed and said, "What secrets could a son raised in a Taoist temple have?"

Could it really be a woman?

Prime Minister Feng frowned. "What woman?"

The Crown Prince then relayed Xiangyu's words to Chief Minister Feng.

Prime Minister Feng frowned and pondered for a long time.

"Xiangyu and Wanqiu have both been carefully trained since childhood and have an excellent understanding of the physical structure of men and women. What they say may not be without reason."

The crown prince found it unbelievable.

"A woman dressed up as a man? And she took the imperial examination and became the top scholar? That's simply a fantasy."

You can fake your voice, and you can imitate a man's speech and actions, but how do you fake an Adam's apple?

Women don't have Adam's apples, you know.

Prime Minister Feng frowned. "Have you noticed whether Shen Chu has an Adam's apple or not?"

The crown prince's eyes widened. "I have no interest in him, why would I look at his Adam's apple?"

Chief Minister Feng choked for a moment, then ordered someone to call Xiangyu and Wanqiu in and question them carefully about what happened that night.

Xiangyu used the same excuse, saying that Shen Chu's bone structure was not that of a man at all.

Wanqiu thought about it carefully and said, "Generally speaking, men's shinbones are thicker and longer. Lord Shen's shinbones do feel somewhat different."

The Crown Prince and Chief Minister Feng exchanged a glance, and then the Crown Prince suddenly slammed his hand on the table.

"Whether Shen Chu is a woman or not, we can find out by testing her."

Chief Minister Feng strongly agreed.

"If he were a woman, and dared to disguise himself as a man to serve as an official in the court, that would be a capital offense. In that case, we don't need to worry about him causing any trouble."

That's why I came here today under the pretext of announcing an imperial decree to examine Shen Chu's pulse.

Seeing Shen Chu's current evasiveness, the Crown Prince became even more convinced of Xiang Yu's words.

Today, the imperial physician must be summoned to determine whether Shen Chu is a boy or a girl.

The Crown Prince looked at Shen Chu with a smile.

"It's just a matter of having the imperial physician examine your pulse, but Lord Shen is making all sorts of excuses. Is there some hidden illness that you can't let outsiders know about?"

Or perhaps Lord Shen has some secret that makes him afraid to have the imperial physician examine his pulse, so afraid that he's willing to defy the imperial decree?

One sentence caused everyone to look at Chen Chu with a strange expression.

Yes, it was just the imperial physician checking Ping An's pulse, especially since it was His Majesty's decree.

This is an unparalleled blessing.

Why is Lord Shen making such a fuss?

Under the curious, prying, and malicious gazes of the crowd, Shen Chu felt cold sweat pouring down her back.

-------

Flying Eagle Guard.

Sun Yan strode in from outside, "Your Highness, something terrible has happened! The Crown Prince has led his men to the Marquis of Changning's residence."

Pei Yuan was playing with the wolf-head hairpin that Shen Chu had given him when he heard this, and he frowned.

"What did the Crown Prince go to do?"

Sun Yan said, "They said that His Majesty promoted Lord Shen to the fifth rank, but the Crown Prince also brought an imperial physician with him when he went."

Our men just reported that the Crown Prince ordered the imperial physician to examine Lord Shen's pulse, but Lord Shen refused.

The two sides are currently at a stalemate. I don't understand, it's just a pulse diagnosis, why is Lord Shen so..."

Before he could finish speaking, Pei Yuan's voice was no longer in Sun Yan's sight.

A horse neighed outside.

Sun Yan chased after him out the door, only to see his prince's bright red flying fish robe disappear around the corner.

Meanwhile, Rongbaozhai.

Luo Heng was so startled that he spilled the tea all over himself.

"Young master, are you alright?"

Luo Heng waved his hand, ignoring the tea on his clothes, and stared intently at the person opposite him.

"What did you just say? Shen Chu might be a woman?"

The woman sitting opposite was alluring. When she lifted her veil, she was none other than Wanqiu, the "thin horse" of the Eastern Palace.

In stark contrast to her captivating charm in the Eastern Palace, Wanqiu appeared meek and submissive.

"It was Xiangyu who said it. She said she was at least 70% sure. Xiangyu is more familiar with the male and female anatomy than I am."

Since she dared to say she was 70% sure, I think she must be at least 90%.

Luo Heng was stunned for a moment, slowly processing the news.

His sworn brother, Shen Chu, the newly appointed top scholar, the clever and resourceful Shen Chu, the knowledgeable Shen Chu, the eloquent Shen Chu, the lively and cheerful Shen Chu, was actually a woman?

This is unbelievable.

"Young master, I've learned that the Crown Prince brought the imperial physician to the Marquis of Changning's residence today. I heard that the physician will examine Shen Chu's pulse on the spot."

Presumably, after today, it will be clear whether Shen Chu is a boy or a girl.

Luo Heng frowned, then suddenly stood up and walked out.

Wanqiu was startled. "Where did you go, young master?"

"Changning Marquis's residence, you should go back now. I'll talk to you about the rest another day."

As soon as Luo Heng stepped out, a bright red figure sped past him.

He recognized the figure as that of the Sixth Prince, Pei Yuan.

Luo Heng immediately mounted his horse and galloped towards the Marquis of Changning's residence.

Inside the Marquis of Changning's residence, the Crown Prince coldly gave his orders:

"Young Master Shen's complexion is not good. Imperial Physician, please take Young Master Shen's pulse immediately."

A young imperial physician stepped forward, bowing. "Yes."

The young imperial physician put down his medicine chest and pointed to the seat next to him, saying, "Young Master Shen, please."

Shen Chu glanced at the imperial physician, bit her lip, and handed her hand to him.

When Pei Yuan and Luo Heng stepped into the Changning Marquis's residence, they happened to see the imperial physician's hand on Shen Chu's wrist.

The imperial physician lowered his fingers, and the moment he touched Chen Chu's pulse, his expression changed drastically.

"Oh, this..."