"Your Highness Shurong, the imperial physician has arrived," Ming'er announced as she entered.
"Imperial Physician, you must examine me carefully!" Li Qingzhou lay on the soft couch, waiting for the imperial physician to take her pulse.
In this harem, she is now the most favored, but Yelü Yanyun, who entered at the same time, is already five months pregnant, while she still has no signs of pregnancy and doesn't know what's going on.
I haven't had my period for two months now, and I'm wondering if I might be pregnant. I would appreciate it if a doctor could give me a proper diagnosis.
Physician Zhang shakily placed his hand on it, but after a long time, he couldn't figure anything out.
"Imperial Physician? What's wrong with my lady? You've been trying to figure this out for ages." Ming'er was getting anxious watching from the side.
Physician Zhang took out his handkerchief and began to wipe away sweat. It was early spring, and for some reason, he could feel sweating when taking the pulse.
"Your Majesty, please switch to the other hand. Let this old minister take another look."
Li Qingzhou was puzzled. Why did he switch to another hand?
But since the imperial physician made the request, it's not impossible for me to change it myself.
"Doctor Zhang, you must examine me carefully." Li Qingzhou felt certain that she was pregnant; otherwise, why would Doctor Zhang repeatedly take her pulse to confirm it?
Doctor Zhang still couldn't figure out what was wrong, so he switched to the other hand.
After a long while, he knelt down with a thud.
Upon seeing this, Ming'er immediately offered her congratulations, saying, "Congratulations, Consort Shurong! This servant will go and inform the Emperor right away."
Li Qingzhou nodded.
Unexpectedly, Physician Zhang reached out and grabbed Ming'er, saying, "Please wait a moment, Your Majesty. This old minister has some things he would like to ask you."
"What's wrong?" Li Qingzhou slowly sat up from the soft couch, seemingly afraid of hurting his child.
"Has Your Majesty experienced irregular periods over the past six months, with some periods coming early and others late?"
Li Qingzhou shook his head. It had been quite accurate before, but it had suddenly stopped coming recently.
"What's wrong, Physician Zhang? Am I not pregnant?"
Upon hearing this, Physician Zhang frowned, shook his head, and said, "Your Majesty, not only are you not pregnant, but your body has also deteriorated. I'm afraid you will never be able to conceive again in this lifetime, and you may never have your period again."
Li Qingzhou's eyes widened. "How is that possible? When I entered the palace, the head of the family specifically chose me, and a traditional Chinese medicine doctor examined me at the time. There was absolutely no problem!"
Imperial Physician Zhang knelt on the ground and shook his head. "Your Majesty, you should still be careful. Although it is too late now, you must take precautions. The other day, when I examined Consort Li's pulse, it seemed that you all had the same problem. It must be that you accidentally ingested the root of the contraceptive herb. That thing damages the body's foundation. You only need to take a little bit... Your Majesty, I am powerless to save you!"
"What?" Upon hearing this, Ming'er's expression immediately changed from great joy to shock. "Your Majesty, how... how are we going to explain this to Father and the others?"
Li Qingzhou forced himself to remain calm as he saw Physician Zhang off, instructing Ming'er to make arrangements to ensure the news was kept absolutely secret.
"I believe that I have not offended anyone since I entered the palace. Tomorrow, who do you think would do such a thing to me?" Li Qingzhou didn't have time to grieve, but instead began to analyze who would do such a thing.
"Your Majesty, I don't know about tomorrow, but regarding this matter of offspring..."
"Offspring are easy to say, aren't we still you? You and I are sisters, aren't your children the same? Our Li family can prosper just the same, it's just that if the person behind it isn't found out, some uncontrollable situations are bound to occur."
Li Qingzhou stood up and paced back and forth in the room, thinking about how to lure the person out.
"Your Majesty, why not fake a pregnancy? Who would be the most anxious? You know what I mean."
Li Qingzhou looked at Ming'er and thought the suggestion was quite good, so he nodded.
"Ming'er, I'm afraid you'll have to suffer. Come here. If the Emperor comes to my palace, we'll do this..." Ming'er whispered in Li Qingzhou's ear. The two of them were the last pawns of the fallen Li family. Although Li Qingzhou was carefully selected, there was no other way for them now.
After a while, Li Qingzhou signaled that Ming'er could go out and start spreading the word with the palace maids.
In the afternoon, Ming'er began spreading the news of Consort Shurong's pregnancy throughout the palaces. No one was surprised, after all, she was the most favored concubine in the harem at the moment.
"Your Highness Consort Mu, I received news from outside that Consort Shurong is pregnant," Ziling said loudly as she knelt before Ruan Yumu upon entering.
Seeing this, several palace maids tactfully left.
"Oh? Get up, pregnant, hahaha." Ruan Yu Mu had already fed all the candidates contraceptive soup during the selection process, and it was the most potent formula from the brothel. She wasn't flustered at all and continued studying her military strategy book.
"Ziling, just do what you're supposed to do. Let us wait and see how Lady Shurong gives birth to a child."
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Zi Ling smiled sinisterly. Fortunately, Your Majesty was ruthless in her actions; otherwise, the infighting in the harem would never end.
"Oh, and one more thing, since she dares to fake a pregnancy, you'd better keep an eye on her maids. What if she brings in some illegitimate child and ruins the Qi family's bloodline?" Ruan Yu Mu knew that the Qi family had few children, but she had these two. Besides, Yelü Yan Yun was due to give birth in a few months.
There can only be one Empress. If I don't make long-term plans, won't I look bad when Qi Jingxuan dies?
“You are so thoughtful, young lady! That’s right. Then I’ll go and ask for two more palace maids.”
Ruan and Mu nodded in tacit agreement.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty! Oh dear, are you still busy? This servant brings you some good news. It is said that Consort Li Qingzhou in the harem is pregnant! Your Majesty is overjoyed!"
Qi Jingxuan sat at the table, constantly looking at the memorials, all of which were lists of donations from wealthy merchants that the prefectures and counties were unable to collect.
Already overwhelmed with worries, he was overjoyed upon hearing the news and immediately stood up. "Xiao Shunzi, I have to go to Yonghua Palace. Consort Shurong is pregnant, and she must have thought of me first. Quickly go to the storeroom and get some precious things. I want to reward her, a great reward!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Xiao Shunzi immediately instructed the eunuch beside him to do it quickly.
"His Majesty has prepared his carriage for Yonghua Palace!"
Throughout the journey, Qi Jingxuan was all smiles, which Ruan Yumu noticed. Back when she was pregnant twice, Qi Jingxuan was never this happy. Even after she had two sons, he didn't receive any special favor and was still just barely surviving in the harem.
Although she is currently the highest-ranking concubine in the harem, no one treats her as Consort Mu. They probably just regard her as a fourth-rank concubine. In addition, she rarely socializes, which further confirms the rumors that she is not favored.
Which favored concubine would stay indoors all day? She would definitely be eager to show off everywhere!
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