Chapter 521: What's more, she is the murderer of your royal brother! I forbid you to love her!
The candlelight in the hall was bright, illuminating the exquisite dishes, but it could not dispel the invisible stagnation.
The old nanny standing by carefully picked up a piece of white fish meat and respectfully placed it in the empress dowager's bowl.
The empress dowager picked up the silver chopsticks, but her eyes involuntarily fell on Lan Xiyue opposite her. She was picking up a piece of fish and tasting it carefully with a normal expression, without any taboo or discomfort that pregnant women usually have about the smell of fish.
The Queen Mother's hand holding the chopsticks stopped in mid-air, her brows suddenly furrowed, her eyes as sharp as a knife, piercing straight at Lan Xiyue.
Her face, which had been relaxed just now, was instantly covered with a layer of frost. She placed her silver chopsticks heavily on the edge of the bowl, making a crisp clinking sound, and said in a deep voice, "Go, call Doctor Li."
The old nanny who had served for many years was startled by the sudden order. She raised her eyes and saw the empress dowager's tense profile. Her heart trembled and she bowed quickly and replied, "Yes, I'll go right away." Before she finished speaking, she had already retreated quickly and disappeared outside the palace gate in a hurry.
Mo Liyuan keenly caught this subtle change and put down the jade chopsticks in his hand.
His deep eyes swept across the Queen Mother, then fell on the calm Lan Xiyue. His brows knitted tightly together as he spoke in a deep voice, "Is your mother's body unwell? If anything is amiss, I will immediately order Yao Lao to come and examine her."
The Queen Mother sat still, not looking at him. She simply waved her hand coldly, "There's no need to mobilize a large force. Imperial Physician Li is a disciple of Su Gu, the head physician of the Imperial Hospital. His medical skills are superb and he's not far behind."
Lan Xiyue also silently put down her chopsticks. She raised her eyes and looked at the empress dowager carefully. Her well-maintained face was rosy and there was no sign of illness. It seemed that tonight's dinner would not be peaceful.
Soon, hurried and respectful footsteps were heard outside the hall.
Doctor Li, carrying his medicine box on his back, walked in, panting slightly. He bowed deeply in the center of the hall and said, "Your humble servant greets the Empress Dowager, His Royal Highness the Regent, and the Princess Regent."
The Dowager lifted the teacup and caressed the warm wall with her fingertips. Without raising her eyelids, her voice was calm but carried an undeniable authority: "Doctor Li, please take the Regent Princess's pulse carefully."
"Your Majesty, I obey your command." Imperial Physician Li bowed his head in agreement. He then carefully walked to Lan Xiyue's table, carrying his medicine box. He bowed slightly and held out three fingers. "Please, Princess, extend your wrist."
Lan Xiyue's heart leaped, and in a flash, she completely understood the Queen Mother's intentions. So, she suspected her pregnancy was fake? It was the Queen Mother's own preconceived notion during the day, and now she suspected she was faking it? She subconsciously glanced at Mo Liyuan beside her, their eyes meeting, a silent anxiety emanating from them: Oh no, this is going to be exposed!
Mo Liyuan's eyes suddenly turned dark, as cold as a frozen pond.
He waved his hand, and an invisible pressure instantly enveloped Doctor Li. He said in a firm tone: "Doctor Li! The princess is in good health, and there is no need to take her pulse. Withdraw!"
Doctor Li froze in place, sweat beading on his forehead. He looked at the stern-faced Regent, then stole a glance at the Queen Mother sitting at the head of the table. He felt caught in a dilemma and extremely embarrassed. What were these two nobles up to?
"Bang!" The Queen Mother slammed her palm on the solid rosewood table, causing the dishes to tremble slightly.
She stood up suddenly, pointing a well-maintained finger at Mo Liyuan. Her voice rose in anger, trailing off sharply: "Mo Liyuan! I just asked the imperial physician to check Lan Xiyue's pulse, and you are trying to stop me. What is your intention? Could it be... could it be that Lan Xiyue's so-called 'pregnancy' is completely false, and a conspiracy between you two to deceive me?!"
The air in the hall seemed to freeze.
Lan Xiyue took a deep breath, met the Queen Mother's sharp gaze, and spoke frankly, her voice clear and calm: "Your Majesty, I am indeed not pregnant."
"Good! Good! Good!" The Queen Mother said "good" three times in a row, then laughed in anger, her fingers trembling slightly with excitement. "Lan Xiyue, you are so audacious! How dare you deceive me with a fake pregnancy? You are so cunning and treacherous!"
Lan Xiyue felt powerless and helplessly defended herself, "Queen Dowager, I never actively deceived you. It was you who believed I was pregnant. When did I ever personally admit it? I wanted to explain, but did you and the prince ever give me a chance to speak?"
Mo Liyuan stretched out his long arms and held Lan Xiyue tightly in his arms, his strong arms giving her silent support.
He raised his head, his gaze piercing the Queen Mother like an icicle, "Mother, Yue'er is still young, and having children is only a matter of time."
"Sooner or later?" The Queen Mother looked as if she had heard a huge joke, her eyes filled with disappointment and resentment. "Yes, you are young! But I am old! All I want is to see you give birth to legitimate sons and daughters, and expand the royal family! But what about you? You are completely bewitched by this Lan Xiyue! She is a source of trouble! A... a source of trouble whose hands are stained with the blood of your royal brother! You must immediately accept new people into the palace to continue the bloodline! I will never allow you to favor her alone again!"
"The root of evil?" Mo Liyuan's eyes suddenly turned dark and terrifying, and a chilling chill emanated from his body, causing the temperature in the palace to plummet. "Mother, I have already made it clear that Yue'er is the only one I will ever have in my life. I will never take a concubine!"
"Never take a concubine?!" The Queen Mother's voice suddenly became shrill, as if someone had stepped on her sore foot. "You are the regent of the dignified Dongyao Kingdom! Second to none! How could you possibly only stay with Lan Xiyue, a woman? What's more... what's more, she is the murderer who killed your royal brother! I don't allow you to love her! I want you to depose her from the position of princess immediately!" The last sentence was almost shouted out with deep resentment.
Mo Liyuan's thin lips were pressed into a cold line. He slowly stood up, his tall figure casting a heavy shadow in the candlelight. His voice was so low that it seemed to come from the underworld. "Mother, when my brother was plotting to kill me, did you ever say anything against him? You resent Yue'er simply because you believe she killed my brother.
But have you ever considered that without your son's consent, even if she possessed omnipotent powers, how could she possibly harm my brother under my watch? Instead of pouring all your resentment on Yue'er, mother, you might as well...hate me." He spoke the last three words very slowly and clearly, like a hammer hitting the hearts of everyone in the hall.
"You...you..." The Queen Mother was choked by these words, her chest heaving violently. Her face turned pale, and her finger pointing at Mo Liyuan trembled violently. "You...you actually contradicted me like this for this woman?!"
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