The prince longs for me every night after mastering thought-reading
Chapter 177 - 176: She is Actually the Chosen One of the Crown Prince

Chapter 177: Chapter 176: She is Actually the Chosen One of the Crown Prince

Witchcraft cannot be detected by imperial physicians.

Its symptoms only manifest on the person who has been subjected to the witchcraft.

Shen Chuwei is suffering from extreme lethargy and shows signs of a false pregnancy, yet no cause can be diagnosed, leading one to suspect witchcraft.

Xiao Jinyan pondered for a moment before instructing, "Summon Lu Zhaoyan to come here."

"Yes, at once." Liu Xi quickly left to find Master Lu.

Xiao Jinyan watched Shen Chuwei, who had fallen asleep again, and he let out a sigh of relief; he had said that someone like Shen Chuwei, how could she possibly do such a thing?

Lu Zhaoyan arrived quickly, almost running over, urged on by Liu Xi all the way.

Lu Zhaoyan, panting, asked, "Your Highness, what do you summon me for?"

Xiao Jinyan did not beat around the bush, "This palace has heard that you have studied witchcraft, is that true?"

Lu Zhaoyan was taken aback, "Your Highness, I wouldn’t dare research that, it’s a matter of losing one’s head."

Xiao Jinyan didn’t care about Lu Zhaoyan’s words, dragging him to the bedside, and pointing to Shen Chuwei, who was deep in slumber, said, "Come look at Lady Shen, she has been severely lethargic lately; right now, she is in a deep sleep that she can’t be roused from—do you know if it’s due to witchcraft?"

Lu Zhaoyan glanced at Shen Chuwei on the bed, noting that she seemed to have gotten prettier since the last time he saw her.

He asked Xiao Jinyan, "Your Highness, has the Imperial Doctor seen her?"

Xiao Jinyan: "He has, but couldn’t reach a diagnosis."

Lu Zhaoyan then lowered his gaze to read Shen Chuwei’s face and calculated with his fingers, "Lady Shen has recently encountered misfortunes and met with unscrupulous people."

Xiao Jinyan pressed for an answer, "Is there a solution?"

Lu Zhaoyan reassured, "Rest assured, Your Highness, Lady Shen is destined for great fortune and wealth, she will turn peril into safety."

Xiao Jinyan wasn’t reassured by this, "So what you mean is, her current state is due to someone cursing her from behind?"

"I cannot rule out this possibility." After saying this, Lu Zhaoyan observed Shen Chuwei’s face for a while longer, and curiously picked up her hand, intending to read her palm.

Xiao Jinyan, seeing Lu Zhaoyan picking up Shen Chuwei’s hand, stepped forward with a stern face, taking her hand and placing it back under the blanket, "Men and women must not touch hands when they give or receive things."

Lu Zhaoyan jumped in surprise; he was just trying to read her palm.

He had not been mistaken in his earlier observation—Shen Chuwei was born under the king of birds auspice.

So, was Shen Chuwei Xiao Jinyan’s destined one?

Lu Zhaoyan felt as if he had stumbled upon a secret.

"Your Highness, if Lady Shen is your destined one, what do you think of that?"

Xiao Jinyan gave Lu Zhaoyan a suspicious look, "What are you trying to say?"

Lu Zhaoyan, who had only taken a quick preliminary look and was not certain, replied, "I am merely speculating."

Xiao Jinyan said coldly, "Instead of indulging in such gossip, you’d better find out who the culprit behind this is. This palace really wants to see who dares to make a move on her."

"I shall follow your command," Lu Zhaoyan said, and then he excused himself.

It was the first time he had seen Xiao Jinyan so concerned about a woman—it seemed that it was only a matter of time before he was promoted to fatherhood.

Only Xiao Jinyan and Shen Chuwei were left in the room. He gazed down at the person slumbering on the bed. The idea of a destined one—once he decided on someone, she was his destined one.

It also proved that his choice was excellent; Shen Chuwei had never let him down.

When Shen Chuwei woke up again, it was time for lunch the following day. She was so hungry she could hardly stand it. The first words out of her mouth were, "Chun Xi, your mistress is starving to death."

Chun Xi rushed in like the wind, lifting the curtains, "Mistress, you must not speak of death; it’s inauspicious."

As she said so, she flipped back the corner of the blanket, "This servant will help you freshen up right away."

Shen Chuwei, lacking in spirit and hungry, looked every bit the part of a weak patient.

After the morning meal, Shen Chuwei’s strength and spirits had somewhat returned, but she still appeared listless.

At this time, rumors began to spread throughout the East Palace: Lady Shen had been pregnant for over a month.

This news quickly reached the ears of the Empress.

"Are you serious, Lady Shen is pregnant?" the Empress was overjoyed, "I’ve said it, living so close, there must be some benefits. I’m going to be a grandmother."

Qing Ying was frantic, whispering a reminder, "Empress, Lady Shen has been pregnant for over a month, but His Highness the Crown Prince had not returned to the palace at that time. It’s only been twenty-seven days since His Highness returned to the palace."

The words startled the Empress for a moment, "Are you suggesting that the child in Lady Shen’s womb is not the Crown Prince’s?"

Qing Ying nodded, "That should be the case."

"How is that possible?" The smile on the Empress’s lips faded, replaced by disappointment, "Is Lady Shen blind? How could she cuckold the Crown Prince?"

Qing Ying said, "Your Highness, this sudden news from the East Palace might not be reliable."

The Empress could not sit still any longer. She stood up in a huff, her brows and eyes filled with anger, "Go to Hehuan Hall, bring the Imperial Doctor, I want to see for myself if this is mere slander or the truth."

The Empress and her entourage proceeded toward Hehuan Hall of the East Palace.

Suddenly, a woman came running out halfway.

This woman was none other than Fen Yueyue, who was severely punished by the Crown Prince for her reckless statements and disrespect toward Shen Chuwei.

"This concubine pays respect to the Empress, may the Empress live a thousand years of golden peace."

The Empress snapped, "Who are you?"

Fen Zhaoshun kept her head lowered, replying respectfully, "Your Highness, this concubine is Fen Zhaoshun, with something important to report to you."

The Empress had a poor memory and, after thinking for a long time, couldn’t remember who Fen Zhaoshun was.

Qing Ying stepped forward to remind, "Your Highness, Fen Zhaoshun is the legitimate daughter of Prefect Fen, formerly a lady, but has been demoted to a concubine."

Only then did the Empress remember, giving Fen Yueyue a couple of glances, "Speak."

Fen Zhaoshun said, "Your Highness, a month ago I inadvertently witnessed Lady Shen mixing with a guard."

Upon hearing this, the Empress’s blood pressure soared. The Crown Prince’s consort mixing with a guard—who could stay calm and not get angry?

"Then why did you not speak of this sooner?"

"Your Highness, Lady Shen has the Crown Prince’s protection, and I, having no evidence, did not dare to accuse her. I have witnessed it twice, and seeing the Crown Prince’s extra affection for Lady Shen, I couldn’t bear to let him be deceived and thus dared to speak out," Fen Zhaoshun explained.

Not having heard before was one thing, but hearing now made the Empress even angrier, "With such a serious matter, why didn’t you tell the Crown Prince earlier? Why keep it hidden until now?"

"Your Highness, the Crown Prince doesn’t believe me. The more I say, the more it seems like unwelcome advice. Therefore, today I have come to inform Your Highness of this incident," Fen Zhaoshun said urgently.

The Empress said, "Well then, I am now heading to Hehuan Hall to see for myself, and you shall come with me as a witness."

Fen Zhaoshun replied, "I obey."

The group made their grand way to Hehuan Hall.

Today, Chun Xi went outside and heard some disturbing rumors. On her way back, she saw from afar that the Empress was coming, and hurried back.

When she entered Hehuan Hall, she was so out of breath she couldn’t even catch her breath, "Mistress, this is bad, the Empress is coming."

Shen Chuwei was almost asleep but was jolted awake by Chun Xi’s exclamation, "If she’s coming, then let her come. What are you making such a fuss for?"