Shen Qiyin had no idea why His Majesty had suddenly summoned her.
Therefore, she kept imagining what might happen along the way.
The carriage stopped at the palace gate, and Shen Qiyin got out and followed the eunuch who was delivering the imperial decree into the inner palace.
Last time, she only caught a glimpse of it from afar outside the palace gates.
I didn't expect to set foot here so soon.
The emperor's residence was magnificent and splendid, with exquisite and beautiful buildings.
A glass screen wall, a golden auspicious beast...
The emperor's majesty awes the world.
Shen Qiyin was taken directly to the inner court, to a palace called "Qixiang Palace".
From afar, she spotted the grand imperial procession.
As Shen Qiyin entered the palace, she saw palace maids filing in one after another. They walked in without making a sound, and the entire palace was extremely quiet, making people unconsciously hold their breath.
Upon reaching the center of the hall, the young eunuch leading the way announced, "Your Majesty, the Imperial Noble Consort and Lady Yun'an have arrived."
Upon hearing this, Shen Qiyin's eyes suddenly flashed.
The Imperial Noble Consort was also there...
She composed herself, bowed, and said, "Yun'an greets Your Majesty and the Imperial Noble Consort."
As soon as he finished speaking, a deep, mellow voice slowly rang out: "Get up."
"Thank you, Your Majesty. Thank you, Imperial Noble Consort."
Shen Qiyin slightly lifted her skirt and slowly stood up, but kept her eyes lowered, not daring to offend the emperor.
Emperor Xuanwu, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, sat upright at the head of the table. He was tall and handsome, and although he was nearly fifty years old, he had an extraordinary temperament that inspired awe in those who looked at him.
"You need not be afraid. I have summoned you to the palace so that you can treat someone's illness."
"……yes."
Diagnosing a patient?
Why would he choose me to treat patients when there are so many imperial physicians in the palace?
Suspicion arose in her heart, but she showed no sign of it on her face.
She followed a palace maid toward the sleeping quarters, and when she caught a glimpse of the Imperial Noble Consort sitting next to Emperor Xuanwu, she was startled!
How could this Imperial Noble Consort look so much like Xiao Yan?!
Still filled with doubt and surprise, she unknowingly entered the inner palace.
She sat down on the embroidered stool by the bed, and placed her hand on the woman's slender, fair wrist through the fragrant gauze curtain.
A short while later—
Shen Qiyin's brows furrowed sharply!
This pulse doesn't feel right.
When the Lesser Yin is strong, the flow is smooth and fluid, and the fingers move smoothly like pearls rolling on a plate.
At first glance, it looks like a pregnancy pulse.
However, since using purple scaly grass in medicine can also create the illusion of pregnancy, the three brothers became especially careful when examining the pulse of pregnant women after discovering this.
To avoid any mistakes, they even compared the pulses of prostitutes and ordinary pregnant women, and only after many attempts did they gradually figure out the pattern.
The differences are very subtle, and doctors who are unaware of the details will find it very difficult to distinguish them based on pulse diagnosis.
She had seen it many times before she finally realized it.
Speaking of which, not long ago there was Consort Li who faked a pregnancy to win favor. How long has it been? Why is there another one now?
The saying "fortune favors the bold" doesn't apply to seeking wealth and status in this way.
With a heavy heart, Shen Qiyin withdrew her hand, got up, and walked out of the inner hall.
She was lost in thought and couldn't help but drift off until she heard a voice say, "This way, please, Lady Xiang."
Her steps abruptly stopped!
Chen Xiyin stood frozen in place, subconsciously looking towards the person who had spoken.
The man was dressed in a sunflower-patterned shirt with a round collar, a black gauze hat, and a rhinoceros horn belt. His temples were gray, and his face was full of wrinkles.
Who else could it be but Qin Li!
Shen Qiyin's hand unconsciously reached for the ghost needle ball she wore at her waist. Thinking of all the evil things he did to Sanwa in that dream, she wished she could shoot him to death with a single needle!
"Lord of the Township?" Qin Li called out with a smile.
Behind his probing gaze, a fleeting look of understanding flashed quickly.
No wonder the chubby boy from the Guo family couldn't forget her; she was such an unparalleled beauty.
“…My legs just went numb.” Shen Qiyin lowered her eyes, her hands, hidden under her sleeves, unconsciously clenched so tightly that her nails dug into her flesh. Yet she chuckled softly as if nothing had happened, “I’m sorry to have made you laugh, Father-in-law.”
"I see." Qin Li had no doubts and called to the palace maids beside him, "You two, hurry up and help the Lady of the Township."
"No need."
Shen Qiyin declined in a low voice: "Thank you for your kindness, Father-in-law, but I am already feeling a little better."
Back in the main hall, before Shen Qiyin could speak, Qin Li preemptively said, "Your Majesty, Imperial Noble Consort, Lady Yun'an truly lives up to her reputation as a divine physician; she understood so quickly."
Upon hearing this, Shen Qiyin's dark gaze fell on his back.
If, upon learning of the Imperial Noble Consort's presence, she merely wondered if he had passed this hot potato to her, then hearing his words now, she was certain.
She knew it! Why would His Majesty suddenly want to see her for a medical consultation? It must have been him who instigated it!
"I didn't expect you to actually have some skill." The Imperial Noble Consort spoke slowly, her voice sweet and seductive, enough to make one's bones melt and one's mind sway: "Yun An was recommended by you. If your medical skills are truly superb, then you have done a great service."
"Oh, this old servant thanks Your Majesty and the Imperial Noble Consort."
Emperor Xuanwu waved his hand, signaling him to step aside, and then said to Shen Qiyin, "Tell me, what are the results of your pulse diagnosis?"
"……yes."
It wasn't difficult for her to report the truth; the difficulty lay in not figuring out Qin Li's next move.
Was he certain that he couldn't detect the pregnancy pulse as a false alarm, and then planned to later accuse himself of deceiving the emperor?
Or does he feel that even if he has diagnosed it, he has no way to prove it right now?
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