Chapter 29: The Prince Became Suspicious and Forced the Imperial Physician to Come
The scent of ink in the study was mixed with a chill. Xiao Jin's knuckles turned white as he gripped the pen, and he couldn't read a single word of the file in front of him - his mind was filled with Yun Zhi's evasive behavior over the past few days.
When I looked for her a few days ago, she said she had not recovered from the cold; when I ran into her in the corridor yesterday, she retreated into her room without even raising her head; this morning I asked Qingzhu to tell her that he would send her some tonic soup, but Qingzhu stammered and said she was "soundly asleep."
"Asleep?" Xiao Jin slammed his pen down on the table, ink splattering all over the paper. "How can someone with a cold sleep for three days and three nights? I'm afraid she's using her illness as an excuse to have an affair with Xie Heng!"
The thought that Yun Zhi might have been in contact with Xie Heng behind his back made him furious. That woman, had she forgotten his warning? Had she forgotten that she belonged to him?
"Someone come!" Xiao Jin shouted towards the door, his voice as cold as ice.
The guard came in immediately and bowed, "What are your orders, my Lord?"
"Go and fetch Imperial Physician Li for me," Xiao Jin stood up, his dark robe sweeping across the corner of the table. "Have him go to Yunzhi's hospital immediately to take my pulse. If he dares to be perfunctory, or is bribed by her to conceal the truth, I will tear down his Imperial Hospital!"
"Yes!" The guard did not dare to delay and ran out quickly to call the imperial physician.
Xiao Jin stood by the window, looking towards the side courtyard, his eyes growing increasingly sinister. He wanted to see what Yun Zhi was feigning illness for, and whether it had anything to do with Xie Heng!
…
Over in the side courtyard, Qingzhu tumbled into the room, her face pale. "Miss! It's bad! The prince has sent guards to get Imperial Physician Li! He wants Imperial Physician Li to come and take your pulse personally, and he also said that if Imperial Physician Li dares to conceal the truth, he will tear down the Imperial Hospital!"
"What?!" The bottle of pregnancy-preserving medicine in Yun Zhi's hand fell to the table with a clang, and her fingertips instantly became cold.
Doctor Li was an old man in the palace and Xiao Jin's confidant. The sterilizing soup she drank on her wedding night was personally brewed by Doctor Li. He was a stubborn man who only obeyed Xiao Jin's orders. Bribing him was incredibly difficult!
"Miss, what should I do?" Qingzhu was so anxious that tears were about to fall. "If Imperial Doctor Li comes and takes your pulse, he will know that you are pregnant. Then the prince will definitely not forgive you!"
Yun Zhi held onto the edge of the table, forcing herself to calm down. She couldn't panic. If she did, everything would be ruined, and she wouldn't be able to save the child. She closed her eyes, suddenly remembering something her mother had said before she died—that when Imperial Doctor Li was young, he was nearly dismissed for a misdiagnosis, and it was her father's efforts that saved his position. Her mother had also saved his wife's life.
"Qingzhu, hurry!" Yun Zhi suddenly opened her eyes, her voice trembling but firm. "Go to the bottom of my dressing box and get the small rosewood box! There's a mutton-fat jade hairpin inside, a gift from Doctor Li's wife to my mother. Take this hairpin and wait for Doctor Li at the door. Be sure to stop him before he enters the courtyard, give him the hairpin, and tell him, 'I'm an old friend's daughter, please show some mercy!'"
"Yes!" Qingzhu immediately ran to get the box, hurriedly found the jade hairpin, put it in his arms and ran to the door.
Yun Zhi quickly walked to the bed, lay down, and pulled the quilt over herself. Her hands tightly gripped the sheets, her nails almost digging into her palms. She could hear her own heartbeat, "boom, boom," as if it was about to jump out of her throat.
Not long after, footsteps were heard outside the courtyard - Doctor Li had arrived!
Yun Zhi's heart instantly rose to her throat, and her ear was pressed against the door, listening to the noise outside.
"Doctor Li! Wait a minute!" It was Qingzhu's voice, speaking anxiously, "I have something to show you. My daughter gave it to you!"
"What is that?" Doctor Li's voice was filled with doubt. "I have to go check Madam Yun's pulse. I have delayed the prince's business. Can you bear the consequences?"
"You'll know when you see it!" Qingzhu's voice lowered. "This is a mutton-fat jade hairpin, the one your wife gave to the Grand Tutor's wife back then. My daughter said... she said, 'This is the daughter of an old friend, please show some mercy!'"
There was silence outside for a moment, and then the voice of Doctor Li was heard, with a hint of subtle emotion: "Madam Taifu... does she still remember?"
"Yes! The girl said that she only asks you to help her today, and she will reward you handsomely in the future!"
After a moment of silence, Doctor Li finally sighed, "Never mind. The Grand Tutor and his wife were kind to me back then, so I'll help them this time. Go tell Aunt Yun not to panic when I take her pulse. I'll take care of everything."
"Thank you, Doctor Li! Thank you!" Qingzhu's voice was filled with gratitude.
Yun Zhi's heart finally settled down, but she still didn't dare to relax - although Doctor Li had agreed, Xiao Jin was still watching her, and if she revealed any flaws, something bad would happen.
Soon, the door was pushed open, and Doctor Li walked in carrying a medicine box, followed by two guards - sent by Xiao Jin to monitor.
"Aunt Yun, the prince has instructed me to take your pulse. Please extend your hand." Doctor Li walked to the bedside. His tone was calm, but his eyes secretly gave Yun Zhi a comforting gesture.
Yun Zhi took a deep breath, slowly stretched out her hand, and placed it on the pulse pillow. Her hand was still trembling slightly, and when Doctor Li's fingers touched it, she felt her heart almost stop.
Doctor Li rested his fingers on her wrist for a moment, his brow furrowed slightly, then relaxed. He raised his gaze to the guard beside him and spoke calmly, "Madam Yun's pulse is weak and frail. This is a sign of excessive worry and a deficiency of both Qi and blood. Furthermore, she caught a cold after falling into the water, and the chill has entered her system, causing her to remain bedridden."
"Is it just a deficiency of Qi and blood?" the guard asked doubtfully. "The prince said that Concubine Yun might have another illness. Doctor Li, could you please examine her carefully?"
Doctor Li's face darkened, his tone tinged with displeasure. "I've been practicing medicine for decades, and I can't even diagnose a deficiency of Qi and blood? Are you questioning my medical skills? Or do you think I'd dare to disregard the prince's orders?"
The guard was startled by his aura and quickly lowered his head. "I dare not, but the prince ordered me to keep an eye on him and make sure that Doctor Li reports truthfully."
Doctor Li ignored him and continued to check Yun Zhi's pulse. After a moment, he withdrew his hand, took out a pen and paper, and wrote a prescription. As he wrote, he said, "Madam Yun's illness requires rest and recuperation. She should think less and worry less, and drink more soups and soups that replenish qi and blood. I will prescribe another prescription for you. Take it daily, and you will feel better in half a month."
He finished writing the prescription and handed it to Qingzhu: "Prepare the medicine according to the prescription and make sure it is boiled thoroughly. Don't be careless."
"Yes, thank you, Doctor Li." Qingzhu quickly took the prescription.
Doctor Li packed up his medicine box and said to the guards, "This is the result of my pulse diagnosis. You can go back and report to the prince. If the prince doesn't believe it, you can ask another doctor to diagnose my pulse. I have a clear conscience."
The guard didn't dare to say anything more and could only nod: "I will go back and report to the prince."
Doctor Li looked at Yun Zhi again, with a hint of worry in his eyes, but he said nothing more and turned and left.
The guards also left, and finally only Yun Zhi and Qing Zhu were left in the room.
Yun Zhi sat up suddenly, gasping for breath, her back soaked with sweat. She looked at Qing Zhu, her voice still trembling: "Qing Zhu...we...we passed?"
"We passed! Miss, we passed!" Qingzhu rushed over, hugged Yunzhi, and tears fell. "Doctor Li helped us! Our child is saved!"
Yun Zhi couldn't help shedding tears, not because of fear, but because of relief - she finally saved the child, at least for now.
But she didn't know that Xiao Jin in the study didn't completely believe the guard's report after hearing it.
"Qi and blood deficiency?" Xiao Jin sat behind his desk, tapping his fingers lightly on the surface, his eyes filled with doubt. "She only fell into the water a few days ago, how could she be so Qi and blood deficient that she's bedridden? And she's been so evasive these past few days, it doesn't seem like she's just sick."
"Your Highness, Imperial Physician Li said that if you don't believe it, you can ask another imperial physician to take your pulse," said the guard.
Xiao Jin was silent for a moment, then shook his head. "That's unnecessary. Doctor Li is my confidant and a veteran with decades of medical experience. If he were truly bribed, he would definitely reveal his flaws. But just now you said that he was firm when he took my pulse, and he didn't seem like he was lying."
Having said that, his doubts remained in his heart - he always felt that Yun Zhi was hiding something from him, but he had not found any evidence yet.
"Go tell Yun Zhi," Xiao Jin stood up, his tone a little colder, "Tell her to recover from her illness. If she dares to pretend to be sick and hide from me again, or if she has any involvement with Xie Heng, I will not forgive her!"
"Yes!" the guard responded and turned to pass on the message.
Xiao Jin walked to the window and looked towards the side courtyard, frowning. He didn't know why he cared so much about Yun Zhi's every move, and why he always felt that she was hiding something.
He only knew that he couldn't let her escape from his control, let alone let her have anything to do with Xie Heng - she was his, and only his.
Yun Zhi, in the side courtyard, felt her heart tighten again after hearing the guard's words. She knew Xiao Jin didn't completely believe her, but simply had no evidence. She had to be more careful and cautious to protect herself and her child.
She walked to the bedside, reached out and gently stroked her belly, and whispered, "My child, look, we've made it through another level. You must be well. After this period, I will take you away from here and find you a safe place to live a good life."
The sunlight from outside the window shone through the window lattice and fell on her hands, bringing a hint of warmth. But she knew that this warmth was only temporary, and a bigger storm was waiting for her.
Although Doctor Li helped her, Xiao Jin's doubts remained. Lin Wanru and Su Yurou were also watching her secretly. If she was not careful, she would be doomed.
She must be stronger and more patient in order to protect her only hope in this cold palace.
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