Chapter 32: Sudden morning sickness reveals clues
The autumn morning light had just crept over the palace's vermilion walls, and the main hall was already set up with tables and chairs for greetings. Yun Zhi, holding Qing Zhu's hand, stepped inside, her skirt brushing against the bluestone floor with a gentle scraping sound. Ever since Xiao Jin's rough treatment last night, the pain in her abdomen hadn't stopped. This morning, even drinking water felt nauseous. If it weren't for the rules, she wouldn't have wanted to come to this place.
"Young lady, please slow down," Qingzhu lowered her voice, her tone full of worry, "The princess definitely has bad intentions. Please talk less and eat more light food. Don't let her get hold of anything."
Yun Zhi nodded, her fingertips unconsciously clenching the corner of her sleeve. She could feel the eyes of those in the main hall on her—Lin Wanru's scrutiny, Su Yurou's probing gaze, the whispers of the other concubines, each one like a needle, pricking her whole body and making her feel uncomfortable.
"Oh, Sister Yun is here?" Lin Wanru sat in the main seat, holding an embroidered handkerchief in her hand, a hypocritical smile on her lips. "Hurry up and sit down. I just asked the kitchen to make some sweet-scented osmanthus cake and fried cheese. They're both hot. You're weak, so eat more to replenish your body."
As soon as she finished speaking, a maid came over with a tray and placed a plate of golden fried cheese and a plate of shiny osmanthus cake in front of Yunzhi.
The rich aroma of oil, mixed with the sweet scent of osmanthus, instantly penetrated Yunzhi's nostrils. Her stomach suddenly churned, her face turned pale, and she subconsciously covered her mouth and shrank back.
"What's wrong, Sister Yun?" Lin Wanru feigned surprise, but a calculating look flashed in her eyes. "This yogurt is from the imperial kitchen's recipe. I specially had someone save it for you. Isn't it to your liking?"
Su Yurou also came over, picked up the plate of fried cheese, and handed it to Yun Zhi, with a tone of hypocritical concern: "Yes, sister Yun, look how delicious this cheese is. Come and try it, it's good for your health."
The hot steam from the cheesy cheese rushed into Yun Zhi's nose. She couldn't bear it any longer. She turned her head suddenly and started to retch into the spittoon beside her!
"vomit--"
She coughed so hard that her tears came out, and her stomach was churning, but she couldn't vomit anything out. Only sour bile rushed up her throat, burning it.
Qingzhu quickly handed her a handkerchief and patted her back, her eyes red with anxiety: "Miss, are you okay? Did you not sleep well last night and your spleen and stomach are upset?"
The main hall suddenly became quiet, and everyone's eyes were focused on Yun Zhi. There was surprise, confusion, and a flash of viciousness in Lin Wanru and Su Yurou's eyes.
"Are you feeling unwell?" Lin Wanru put down her handkerchief, her tone slightly tentative. "It doesn't look like that to me. It looks more like... you're pregnant."
The words "pregnant" resonated like thunder in everyone's ears. The other concubines immediately began to whisper, their eyes fixed on Yun Zhi's belly.
Yun Zhi's face paled even more. She suppressed the discomfort in her stomach and waved her hands. Her voice was hoarse, "Princess, you're joking. I just... I just have a cold and my spleen and stomach are out of balance. It's nothing..."
Before she could finish her words, she heard heavy footsteps coming from the door - it was Xiao Jin!
Everyone immediately fell silent and stood up to salute: "Your Highness, may you be well and safe."
Xiao Jin hummed, his gaze sweeping across the main hall before landing on Yun Zhi. Her face was pale, tears still stained the corners of her mouth, her hand tightly covering her mouth. The yogurt and osmanthus cake in front of her remained untouched, and the spittoon on the floor still bore traces of her retching.
"What's going on?" Xiao Jin's voice was as cold as ice, his eyes fixed on Lin Wanru. "You guys bullied her even though I wasn't here?"
Lin Wanru quickly stood up and said aggrievedly, "Your Highness, you misunderstood. I only wanted Sister Yun to have some snacks to nourish her body, but she retched as soon as she smelled the cheese. I only casually said she looked like she was pregnant. I had no intention of bullying her."
Xiao Jin's gaze returned to Yun Zhi, his brow furrowed. He recalled the pregnancy-preserving pills he had seized a few days ago, Yun Zhi's dodging behavior, and the way she had desperately protected her belly last night—could it be...she was truly pregnant?
As soon as this thought came to mind, his heart inexplicably tightened, and a flicker of nervousness flashed across his eyes, a tension he hadn't even noticed. He took two steps forward and stopped in front of Yun Zhi, looking down at her. His voice was filled with a subtle hint of probing: "What's wrong with you? Is your spleen and stomach really out of balance, or... is there something else wrong?"
Yun Zhi's heart instantly rose to her throat. She didn't dare to look up at him. She could only lower her head and said in a trembling voice, "Your Highness, it's... it's my spleen and stomach that are out of balance. I caught a cold last night, so this morning..."
"Caught a cold?" Xiao Jin interrupted her, his eyes fixed on her lower abdomen, his fingers unconsciously tightening. "I saw you were in good spirits last night, how did you suddenly catch a cold? Or are you hiding something from me?"
His words were like hammers, hammering down on Yun Zhi's heart. She could feel Xiao Jin's gaze, like a searchlight, resting on her belly, as if trying to penetrate the hem of her skirt and see the secret within.
"Your Highness, I can testify!" Su Yurou suddenly spoke, her tone hinting at provocation. "Last night, I passed by Sister Yun's courtyard and saw Imperial Physician Xie's men wandering outside. Perhaps... Sister Yun's 'spleen and stomach imbalance' is related to Imperial Physician Xie?"
The words "Doctor Xie" were like a fuse, instantly igniting Xiao Jin's rage. He whipped his head around, staring menacingly at Yun Zhi, his tone filled with icy questioning: "Did Xie Heng's men go to your yard last night? And you still dare to say you had nothing to do with him? Are you retching because you're pregnant with his bastard and you're pretending to be afraid I'll find out?"
"No! Your Highness, you're mistaken!" Yun Zhi was so anxious that tears fell from her eyes. She quickly looked up at him, her eyes full of pleading, "There was no one to thank the imperial physician last night. It was Concubine Su who made a mistake! This child..."
She almost said, "This child is yours," but she swallowed the words back. She was afraid that if Xiao Jin knew about it, he would hurt her and the child again like he did last night.
"What child is this?" Xiao Jin demanded, his eyes blazing with anger. "Tell me, whose child is this? Is it Xie Heng's, or did you make it up to trick me?!"
Yun Zhi opened her mouth, but no words came out. Seeing the disgust and anger in Xiao Jin's eyes, she felt a growing despair. No matter how she explained, he wouldn't believe her. He would simply conclude that she and Xie Heng were having an affair, and that the child was a bastard.
"Your Highness, please don't be angry," Lin Wanru stepped forward, her tone filled with false persuasion, "Perhaps Sister Yun really does have a spleen and stomach disorder, but we're just overthinking it. Why don't we ask the imperial physician to take a look? That would put everyone at ease and prevent word from getting out that our palace can't accommodate her."
Her words seemed to be persuasion, but in fact she was forcing Yun Zhi to ask the imperial physician for help - as long as the imperial physician took Yun Zhi's pulse, her pregnancy would be exposed, and then Xiao Jin would never forgive her.
Xiao Jin's gaze fell on Yun Zhi, his expression complicated. He wanted to ask the imperial physician to confirm, but he was also afraid that if the confirmation turned out to be Xie Heng's bastard, he didn't know what he would do then.
Yun Zhi also knew what Lin Wanru was thinking. She was so anxious that she was shaking all over. She said quickly, "No need, Your Highness! I really just have a spleen and stomach disorder. I will be fine after taking some medicine. There is no need to call a doctor!"
"No need to call the imperial physician?" Xiao Jin sneered, his suspicion deepening. "You're so afraid of calling the imperial physician, are you really hiding something from me? Or are you afraid the imperial physician will find out you're pregnant with Xie Heng's bastard and lose face?!"
His words were like knives, slicing through Yun Zhi's heart. She stared at this unreasonable man, the grievance and anger in her heart finally erupting. "Xiao Jin! I've already said that Doctor Xie and I are innocent! Why don't you believe me?! I'm not pregnant with a bastard, I'm pregnant with..."
"What is it?" Xiao Jin asked, his heart beating inexplicably faster, and there was a hint of expectation in his eyes that he himself didn't even notice.
But Yun Zhi didn't say it. She looked at the rage in Xiao Jin's eyes, remembered his brutality last night, and the bowl of sterilization soup, and all her courage instantly vanished. She lowered her head, tears falling to the ground, and her voice was filled with despair: "It's nothing... I was just talking nonsense. I just have a spleen and stomach disorder..."
Xiao Jin looked at her distraught state, and his anger inexplicably subsided, but he felt even more annoyed. He knew Yun Zhi must be hiding something, but since she refused to speak, he had no reason to force the imperial physician to come.
"Forget it," Xiao Jin turned around, his tone as cold as ice, "Since you said it was just a spleen and stomach disorder, then let Doctor Li prescribe some medicine for you. If I find out that you are lying or have any involvement with Xie Heng, you know the consequences!"
After saying this, he no longer looked at anyone and walked straight out of the main hall.
The atmosphere in the main hall relaxed instantly, but Yun Zhi's heart sank to the bottom. She knew that after what happened today, Lin Wanru and Su Yurou would definitely be even more suspicious. They would never give up and would definitely find a way to confirm whether she was pregnant.
"Sister Yun," Lin Wanru walked up to her, her tone threatening, "You must take good care of yourself and don't let us worry. If anything happens, be sure to tell me, and I will help you."
Su Yurou also echoed: "Yes, Sister Yun, we are all family. Don't hide anything, otherwise the misunderstanding will become deeper."
Yun Zhi didn't say anything, but just held Qing Zhu's hand, slowly stood up, and staggered out. She could feel Lin Wanru and Su Yurou's gazes on her back, like venomous snakes, making her cold all over.
After returning to the side yard, Yun Zhi could no longer hold on. She slid down to the ground, holding onto the door frame, and tears kept falling.
"Miss, don't be sad," Qingzhu squatted down and patted her back gently, "At least the prince didn't force the imperial physician to come. We still have time to find a solution."
"What good can we do if we have time?" Yun Zhi choked up, her hands tightly protecting her lower abdomen. "The princess and the concubine are already suspicious. They will definitely find a way to investigate. We can't hide at all... My child, how can I protect you..."
The heavy pain in her abdomen returned, more pronounced than in the morning. Yun Zhi was so frightened that she quickly touched her belly, pleading, "My child, please be alright. I beg you, please stay safe..."
At this moment, the voice of the secret guard came from outside the courtyard: "Madam Yun, the prince asked his subordinates to bring some tonics, saying that they are for your spleen and stomach."
Yun Zhi was stunned for a moment, then quickly wiped away her tears and asked Qing Zhu to get the medicine. The medicine in the bowl was steaming and exuding a faint medicinal fragrance, which was somewhat similar to the abortion medicine she had taken before.
"Your Highness... what's he doing..." Yun Zhi stared at the medicine bowl, a trace of doubt in her heart. He clearly doubted her, so why did he send her the tonic? Was he truly concerned about her, or was he trying to test her with the medicine?
She hesitated for a moment, then picked up the medicine bowl and drank it in one gulp. No matter what Xiao Jin's purpose was, this medicine would at least make her spleen and stomach feel better and keep the child safer.
The medicine entered her throat, bringing a hint of warmth that slowly spread throughout her limbs. Yun Zhi put down the medicine bowl, supported Qing Zhu's hand, and stood up. She walked to the window and looked towards the main hall, her eyes filled with determination.
She could no longer retreat. For the sake of her child, she had to become stronger, she had to find a way to deal with the plots of Lin Wanru and Su Yurou, and she had to make Xiao Jin believe that the child was his.
At that moment, in the study, Xiao Jin stood by the window, gazing towards the side courtyard, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the hem of his sleeve. The secret guard had just reported that Yun Zhi had already consumed the tonic he had sent her—a medicine that contained mild ingredients to soothe the fetus, both to soothe her spleen and stomach and to protect her unborn child.
He didn't know why he did this. He clearly suspected that the child was Xie Heng's, and he should have hated her betrayal. But when he thought of her pale face when she was retching this morning, and how she tried desperately to protect her lower abdomen last night, he couldn't help but want to protect her, to protect the unborn child.
"Investigate," Xiao Jin ordered the secret guards, his tone a little colder. "Find out for me whether Yun Zhi has had any contact with Xie Heng recently. Find out whether the time of her pregnancy coincides with the time of her contact with Xie Heng! Also, keep an eye on the princess and concubines, and don't let them attack Yun Zhi!"
"Yes!" The secret guard responded and turned to leave.
Xiao Jin looked at the sunlight outside the window, and the contradiction in his heart became deeper and deeper. He didn't know what to believe, how to face Yun Zhi, and even more so, what should he do if the child was really his.
But he knew that he couldn't let anything happen to Yun Zhi, and he couldn't let anything happen to that child - even if it was just to find out the truth, even if it was just because that might be his bloodline.
Yun Zhi, who was in the side courtyard, was still unaware of Xiao Jin's complex thoughts. She sat by the bed, gently caressing her belly and whispering, "Child, wait a little longer. Mother will find a way to convince the prince that you are his child and will ensure your safe birth."
Little did she know, a bigger crisis was brewing. Lin Wanru and Su Yurou would never give up. They had already begun planning to personally confirm whether she was pregnant and to make her and her child disappear from the palace completely.
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