Chapter 62 Auspicious Occurrence
The two words "slippery pulse" were like a bolt of lightning from the heavens, instantly shattering the atmosphere in the Cining Palace.
The foreign envoys, the courtiers and noble ladies with ulterior motives who were originally waiting to watch the show, and the empress dowager who was preparing to force a concubine on the pretext of "having children," all seemed to have been put on pause. Their mouths were agape, their expressions frozen, making them look ridiculously funny.
[Holy crap?!]
Jiang Mianmian leaned against Shen Jin's chest, completely stunned by this thunderbolt.
[Slippery pulse? What is a slippery pulse?]
"Brother, are you a quack? I ate braised pork hock! Osmanthus cake! Milk tea! They weren't even digested in my stomach, how could they turn into a child?"
If this pulse is slippery, it's because it's so oily and moist!
She subconsciously glanced down at her slightly protruding belly, then looked up in horror at the judge who was still kneeling and kowtowing, his face full of conviction.
"Are you... are you sure you're right?"
Jiang Mianmian asked in a trembling voice, "Could it be... um... qi stagnation and blood stasis? Or... indigestion?"
[Please! Change your tune! This joke has gone too far! This is a crime of deceiving the emperor!]
However, before the judge could speak, Shen Jin, who was holding her, made a move first.
"nonsense!"
With a low shout, Shen Jin showed no panic whatsoever, but instead revealed a look of "ecstatic" yet "cautious".
His hands, which usually held swords and killed people, were now resting on Jiang Mianmian's lower abdomen with extreme gentleness, even a slight tremor, as if some rare treasure was truly being nurtured there.
"I've noticed for a while that you've been acting strangely these past few days. You're sleepy, have a big appetite, and are prone to nausea."
Shen Jin looked at her with eyes so tender they could drown a person, “So… you’re pregnant.”
"Your Highness, we are going to have a child."
Jiang Mianmian: [...]
Dude, your acting skills are amazing! You deserve an Oscar!
[I'm sleepy because I'm lazy! I'm gluttonous because I'm a complete glutton! I feel disgusted because Yunzhu smells so strong!]
Are you really going to take this "calling a deer a horse" tactic to the extreme?
Although she was internally ranting, Jiang Mianmian instantly understood when she saw Shen Jin's eyes, which were filled with "go along with me".
This is to ward off unwanted romantic advances!
In order to prevent that Yunzhu from entering the house, this "child" must be real!
So, Jiang Mianmian took a deep breath and instantly transformed into a drama queen.
Her initial look of fear instantly transformed into shyness and delight, tinged with a hint of the anxiety of becoming a new mother. She grasped Chen Jin's hand in return, buried her face in his palm, and said sweetly:
"Really? Your Highness... I really... am carrying our child?"
"Really." Shen Jin said firmly.
This back-and-forth confirmed the matter.
The Empress Dowager sat on her high throne, her face a truly fascinating sight. It turned pale, then white, then red, and finally a deep liver color.
She originally intended to annoy Shen Jin, but instead, she brought him wonderful news instead of causing him trouble.
The fact that the regent had an heir was a major event for the royal family, but a devastating blow to her!
But under the watchful eyes of everyone, what could she say? Could she say, "I don't believe you, cut open your belly and show me"? Would she still be fit to be the Empress Dowager?
The Empress Dowager took a deep breath and forced out a smile that was more like a grimace:
"Great...great! This is truly a wonderful event!"
"I never expected that my birthday banquet would bring such double joy! The Regent's Consort is indeed a blessed person!"
She spoke through gritted teeth, each word seemingly forced out from between her teeth.
The courtiers below then realized what was happening and knelt down, shouting:
"Congratulations, Your Highness! Congratulations, Your Highness! Congratulations, Empress Dowager!"
"Great efforts will bring prosperity to the nation!"
The cheers were deafening.
Yunzhu, who was originally slated to become a concubine and was standing in the middle, now found herself in the most awkward position.
She was stuck, unable to move forward or backward; standing there, she looked like a superfluous joke.
"Empress Dowager," Shen Jin said, in high spirits, turning to look at the Empress Dowager, but his eyes turned cold, "Since the Princess Consort is pregnant and cannot withstand any stimulation or smells of such foul odors, then this Miss Yunzhu..."
The Empress Dowager's heart was bleeding, but she could only wave her hand:
"Since the Princess is pregnant, then naturally everything should be done with the Princess's health in mind. Yunzhu... you may leave now."
"yes……"
With red eyes, Yunzhu curtsied in humiliation and slunk away amidst the mocking and pitying gazes of the crowd.
A crisis of forced marriage targeting the Regent's Palace was thus resolved by a "false positive pregnancy test".
But the matter is clearly not over yet.
"Your Highness," Jiang Mianmian nestled in Shen Jin's arms, beginning to push her luck, "I suddenly feel a sore waist, weak legs, and a dizzy head..."
[Play the part! If not now, when?]
The Empress Dowager wants to send someone to cause me trouble; shouldn't I make her bleed a little?
Shen Jin immediately understood and looked anxious: "What's wrong? Were you frightened just now?"
He looked up at the Empress Dowager, his tone hardening:
"Your Majesty, the Princess Consort is of noble birth and is currently pregnant. It seems she cannot stay at today's birthday banquet for long. Moreover, this pregnancy is hard-won and she needs a lot of tonics to ensure a healthy pregnancy."
"I have heard that the Empress Dowager has a thousand-year-old blood ginseng in her treasury, as well as a pair of warm jade pillows from the East Sea, which are excellent for calming the mind and nourishing the fetus..."
Empress Dowager: !!!
[Shen Jin, you robber! That blood ginseng was something I kept to save my life! I couldn't even bear to use that warm jade pillow myself!]
But seeing Shen Jin's shameless attitude of "I won't leave if you don't give it to me, and it's your fault if I miscarry," the Empress Dowager could only swallow her anger and resentment.
"Here you go! I'll have someone fetch it right away!"
The Empress Dowager's hands trembled, her heart bleeding. "As long as the Princess Consort can safely give birth to the Crown Prince, what do these little things matter?"
"Thank you for the reward, Your Majesty!"
Jiang Mianmian was secretly overjoyed.
[Hahaha! We're rich! Blood ginseng! Warm jade pillow! This child's trip was totally worth it!]
Baby, Mommy loves you! You are the most precious meal Mommy ever had!
Soon, the Empress Dowager reluctantly agreed to part with the item and had it sent up.
Shen Jin took the gift box without even glancing at it, handed it directly to Ying Yi behind him, and then picked up Jiang Mianmian in one swift motion.
"Since the Empress Dowager is so considerate, then I will take the Princess back to her residence to rest and prepare for childbirth."
After saying that, he picked up Jiang Mianmian and strode out of Cining Palace under the watchful eyes of everyone.
Behind him was the Empress Dowager's face contorted with rage, and the envious, jealous, and hateful eyes of the entire court.
...
On the carriage.
As soon as she stepped out of the palace gate, Jiang Mianmian collapsed.
"Phew... I'm exhausted."
She touched her round belly and said, "Playing a pregnant woman is really physically demanding. My back almost broke just now because I was trying to stick my belly out."
Shen Jin leaned back on the cushion, looking at her carefree appearance, a deep meaning flashing in his eyes.
"play?"
He raised an eyebrow. "Does Your Highness think this is all an act?"
"Otherwise what?"
Jiang Mianmian rolled her eyes. "Do you think I can reproduce asexually? Even though we sleep in the same bed, we're only good as hand warmers, right? If we actually got pregnant, that would be a miracle!"
[We kissed... but that's all! Kissing won't get you pregnant! I know that basic common sense!]
Shen Jin looked at her, then suddenly leaned closer and placed his hand on her lower abdomen.
My palms are warm.
"princess."
His voice was low and husky, carrying a dangerous allure, "Although it's currently filled with braised pork..."
"But since the imperial physician has said it is a sign of pregnancy, deceiving the emperor is a capital offense."
"To avoid the princess losing her head, and to avoid arousing the Empress Dowager's suspicion..."
His steady fingertips gently caressed her waist, his eyes turning as deep and wolfish as ever.
"Shouldn't we... try to turn this 'fake' into 'real'?"
Jiang Mianmian: ? ? ?
What does that mean?
[Is this fake relationship becoming real?]
You mean...creating humans?!
boom--!
Jiang Mianmian's face instantly turned as red as a boiled shrimp.
[Help! This car is going too fast! Are the doors welded shut? I need to get out!]
Seeing her flustered and shy appearance, Shen Jin chuckled softly, pulled her into his arms, and kissed her lips.
"Don't be afraid."
"I will...work very hard."
The carriage sped through the night, heading towards the Regent's Palace.
Inside that swaying carriage, a profound discussion about "how to turn braised pork into a prince" had just begun.
As for that unfortunate judge...
He was kneeling in the Imperial Hospital, staring at medical books and questioning the meaning of life.
"Strange... It's clearly a slippery pulse... Could it be that I'm blind? Or is His Highness exceptionally gifted?"
What he didn't know was that his "misdiagnosis" directly led to the Regent's Palace's greatest joy and planted a real... seed for the future of Daqian.
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