Time Travel: Pampered by the Aloof Prince
Chapter 284: Is the Empress Really Pregnant?

Chapter 284: Chapter 284: Is the Empress Really Pregnant?

If it were the matter of stealing medicines, Mo Qingshan would naturally refuse, his life might not be precious, but he could not die at the hands of the Empress.

Otherwise, if word got out, it would also be too humiliating.

But if it was to investigate the Empress’s peculiar condition and incidentally indulge in some gossips, he was quite willing to do so.

Seeing the gleam in his eyes, Qi Yu knew that this plan was very likely to succeed.

Indeed, the next second, she heard Mo Qingshan pretend to be serious, "This matter, should be investigated."

Qi Yu did not expose him.

The next day, she and Mo Qingshan entered the palace together.

She went to visit Noble Consort De, while Mo Qingshan, as per the plan discussed the day before, falsely claimed that he had a method for preserving the fetus and wished to offer it to the Empress.

In Zhaoyang Palace, Noble Consort De saw Qi Yu’s distracted appearance and couldn’t help but become curious, "Is there something wrong at the Prince Residence?"

Qi Yu snapped back to her senses, hastily placing down the teacup in her hand, and smiled, "Nothing, just..."

At this point, she deliberately paused for a while, looking somewhat hesitant.

Noble Consort De understood and waved her hand to dismiss the maids.

After only the two of them were left in the hall, Qi Yu slowly began, "Mother Consort, when did the Empress conceive?"

Upon hearing this, Noble Consort De was stunned for a moment before hesitantly saying, "The Empress was found to be pregnant after you went to Gusu, it has been about five months now."

Qi Yu smiled faintly, "Does Mother think the Empress is truly pregnant?"

This question struck like a thunderbolt, Noble Consort De did not speak for a long while.

After a long time, she said, "The Empress’s pregnancy was diagnosed by the Imperial Physician, it should be true."

Qi Yu then asked, "Which Imperial Physician?"

This time, Noble Consort De was silent for even longer.

"It was Physician Chen."

Qi Yu lowered her eyes slightly but asked an even more pointed question, "And which divine doctor diagnosed Noble Consort Wan’s pregnancy?"

"It was Divine Doctor Lou Qingming." Noble Consort De had understood her implication, closed her eyes, and looked somewhat exhausted.

The physicians in the palace naturally all possessed genuine skills and their medicine was impeccable. Among them, the world-renowned Divine Doctor Lou Qingming was the most prominent.

Typically, anyone in the palace who needed a pulse diagnosis would specifically request Divine Doctor Lou Qingming.

Moreover, for something as significant as pregnancy, it would be unsettling not to have Divine Doctor Lou examine the condition.

Thinking of this, the Empress’s actions seemed rather suspicious.

She not only used a young Imperial Physician who had just joined the Imperial Hospital but also let him diagnose her daily pulse and prescribed her calming and fetus-preserving prescriptions.

Therefore, as far as the Empress’s condition was concerned, only that Physician Chen would know.

At this thought, Noble Consort De’s eyelids twitched involuntarily, feeling somewhat alarmed.

If it were...

She quickly interrupted her own thoughts and said to Qi Yu, "Children are of great importance, the Empress wouldn’t dare fake such a thing."

Qi Yu slightly curled her lips, speaking indifferently, "Indeed."

Meanwhile, after entering the palace, Mo Qingshan first went to Yangxin Hall to diagnose Li Tianze’s pulse, then he brought up his method of preserving the fetus.

To his surprise, upon hearing this, Li Tianze immediately said, "If so, Master should quickly write down the prescription, and I will send someone to the Imperial Hospital to brew the medicine and deliver it to Xuanruo Pavilion."

Mo Qingshan looked bewildered for a moment, apparently not expecting Li Tianze to respond this way.

He thought Li Tianze would suggest trying out the prescription for the Empress after hearing it.

It turned out he was thinking too simply.

Mo Qingshan chuckled lightly, keeping his composure as he continued to fabricate, "Your Majesty, unbeknownst to you, this prescription is only effective for women who have been pregnant for more than three months. Noble Consort Wan has been pregnant for just over a month, so it’s not suitable for her."

Upon hearing this, Li Tianze frowned slightly, appearing somewhat dissatisfied.

Mo Qingshan had no choice but to add, "I do have another prescription that is suitable for the early stages of pregnancy."

Having said that, he wrote down a standard fetus-preserving medicine prescription and managed to fool Li Tianze.

While writing, he thought that logically, Li Tianze should be the most troubled by Noble Consort Wan’s pregnancy.

After all, Lingya being a princess from Tulan, it was impossible for Li Tianze to allow her to bear a descendent.

Yet he seemed to be unusually happy about Noble Consort Wan’s pregnancy.

Mo Qingshan could not figure it out for the time being, so he suppressed his doubts and planned to ask Qi Yu after returning to the Prince Residence.

That girl was shrewd and clever; she would definitely know the reason.

After finishing the prescription, he took the opportunity to suggest checking the Empress’ pulse for peace, "I heard from the Imperial Physician that the Empress is carrying the Dragon Son, and her months are advanced, it is only right to be more cautious."

Although Li Tianze didn’t care much for the Empress, the child she carried was still his own, and without much thought, he agreed.

He even had Zhou Fu go to Jingyang Palace to pass the decree, asking the Empress to prepare.

In Jingyang Palace, the Empress was having her meal.

These days, as Noble Consort Wan was also pregnant, Li Tianze gradually shifted his focus to Xuanruo Pavilion and no longer accompanied her for meals.

Although she was angry about this, there was nothing she could do.

Suddenly seeing Zhou Fu coming over, she thought the Emperor had arrived and was about to have Treasure Bead help her up, then she saw Zhou Fu and two young eunuchs come in and perform a salute.

The Empress frowned and asked, "Why didn’t His Majesty come?"

Zhou Fu immediately answered, "Replying to the Princess, His Majesty will come soon."

Upon hearing this, the Empress’ expression eased slightly.

She maintained her dignity and said to Zhou Fu, "If so, why didn’t the eunuch come with His Majesty?"

Bowing his head, Zhou Fu replied softly, "Princess may not be aware, just now in Yangxin Hall, Daoist Mo said there’s a fetus-preserving prescription particularly suitable for Your Highness, His Majesty was overjoyed and said he would ask Daoist Mo to also check Your Highness’ pulse for peace."

He did not say it was Mo Qingshan who offered to examine her pulse, fearing the Empress would be displeased.

Moreover, as long as he mentioned the Emperor, the Empress couldn’t refuse even if she was reluctant.

Zhou Fu, being an outside observer, had understood what game Daoist Mo was playing the moment he heard his righteous words.

Considering that Mo Qingshan was Li Mingjue’s master, he almost guessed whose hand was behind this matter.

After delivering the decree, he quickly went back to report, without even looking at how upset the Empress’ expression was.

Almost as soon as he left, the Empress smashed the tableware completely.

The palace attendants all knelt down tremblingly, with Treasure Bead quickly cautioning, "Princess, please take care of your body; do not harm the Dragon Son in your belly."

The Empress, one hand on her slightly bulging belly and the other pointing at the palace maids on the ground, coldly commanded, "What are you standing around for, quick, clean this up thoroughly before His Majesty arrives, or I will flay you!"

The palace maids hurriedly responded, "Yes."

Each one bowed their heads and started to clean up the shattered dishes from the ground.

Treasure Bead supported the Empress as they left, still whispering words of caution.

Impatiently waving her off with a hand, the Empress coldly commanded, "Hurry, fetch Imperial Physician Chen!"