People in the Qin Dynasty sought good fortune and avoided misfortune.

Chapter 14, A Shocking Change is Imminent

"Ah? Madam Mingzhu wants me to take your pulse?"

Xu Qing hesitated as he looked at the maid before him, a sense of unease creeping into his heart. Even if he did have some connection with Madam Mingzhu, he dared not be careless.

After all, the true mastermind within the Han royal palace is not that good-for-nothing Han King An, but rather Lady Mingzhu, one of the Four Fiends of the Night, the Azure Tide Demoness.

“That’s right, Physician Xu, please come with me.” The maid gestured for Xu Qing to follow.

Xu Qing's eyes darted around, but she finally nodded.

Chao Nu Yao is not like Lady Nanming; she's not so easily fooled. Since they've sent someone to invite her, she has to go whether she wants to or not.

"Physician Xu, come with me."

"I wonder if Madam Mingzhu is feeling unwell?"

"When Physician Xu examines the lady's pulse, we will naturally know."

Seeing that she couldn't get any useful information out of her, Xu Qing could only silently follow behind the maid, constantly thinking about whether her recent actions were related to the Tide Demoness.

Just as Xu Qing was heading to Mingzhu Palace with her maid, Yingchun, Lady Nanming's maid, hurried back to Nanming Palace.

Inside the Nanming Palace.

The beautiful Lady Nanming was dressed in a gorgeous robe and wore a magnificent headdress. One of her fair hands supported her head, while the other hand was constantly stroking her flat stomach.

Chen Yi knelt on the ground and kowtowed, saying...

“Madam, the eldest prince has very few children now. Apart from the few young masters who have already come of age and Princess Honglian, there are no other children. In the past, there were quite a few concubines in the harem who were pregnant, but none of them were able to give birth smoothly.”

"There must be something hidden behind this. Please be more careful in the future, Madam."

Madam Nanming looked at Chen Yi, who had suddenly knelt on the ground, her eyes gleaming, and she sized him up with a half-smile.

Chen Yi had only been taking her pulse when he suddenly knelt down to pledge his loyalty, catching her off guard.

However, Lady Nanming quickly realized that Chen Yi was expressing his loyalty to her.

As for what Chen Yi mentioned, how could she not know about such sordid affairs within the palace?

Just as Lady Nanming was about to speak, the tightly closed door suddenly opened, and Yingchun quickly walked to her side and whispered a few words in her ear.

Hearing Yingchun's words, Madam Nanming's expression was unreadable.

"Are you sure he was called away by Madam Mingzhu?" Madam Nanming asked in a deep voice.

"I saw with my own eyes that she was called away by Lady Mingzhu's personal maid, and they headed towards Mingzhu Palace together," Yingchun said in a low voice.

Madam Nanming's face was gloomy. The person she and Yingchun were talking about was Xu Qing. The reason she had Xu Qing examine her pulse today was simply because of the rumors circulating about Xu Qing.

Yesterday, Xu Qing cured Hu Meiren with a story, which led outsiders to believe that he had the ability to communicate with ghosts and gods.

Upon hearing this, she conceived a plan to win over Xu Qing and make him one of her own.

She is currently pregnant, but the sex of the child is still unknown. If someone who can communicate with spirits were to say that the child in her womb is a boy, then she would enjoy even greater favor in the future, perhaps even surpassing Consort Hu and rivaling Lady Mingzhu.

This morning, upon waking, she did feel some unusual movement in her womb, so she took the opportunity to ask Xu Qing to examine her pulse. However, she didn't expect that Xu Qing had become Consort Hu's personal physician, and it was Chen Yi who ultimately came.

She had originally been waiting for Xu Qing to finish examining Hu Meiren before calling him to examine her, but she didn't expect to learn that Xu Qing had been called away by Madam Mingzhu.

Although Consort Hu was favored, she was low-key and had good relationships with the other women in the harem. Lady Mingzhu, on the other hand, was feared by all the concubines in the Han King's palace.

Lady Mingzhu was aware of Lady Nanming's methods. Previously, some people had challenged Lady Mingzhu's position, but without exception, they all died mysteriously.

Now that Xu Qing has been summoned away by Madam Mingzhu, she realizes that Madam Mingzhu might be planning something against her. Xu Qing is no longer useful, and she has no other reliable people in the Imperial Hospital.

Then Lady Nanming looked at Chen Yi, who was kneeling on the ground, and said...

"Doctor Chen, the ground is cold, get up and talk."

"Yes." Chen Yi stood up abruptly.

Looking Chen Yi up and down, although he wasn't as useful as Xu Qing, he was still one of the top experts in the Imperial Hospital. Taking him in would be a good insurance policy for herself and her unborn child. "Yes, even if a person doesn't intend to harm a tiger, the tiger may still want to hurt the person. This harem may be large, but there are few people who can be trusted," Lady Nanming sighed, her words tinged with grievance.
"Physician Chen, what do you think I should do from now on?"

Chen Yi's eyes gleamed, and he immediately said...

"Thank you for your kindness, Madam. I am willing to serve you at your service."

"Since Physician Chen has this intention, I naturally cherish his talent. I will ask His Majesty later to make you my personal physician."

"Thank you ma'am."

Chen Yi looked at Madam Nanming with great excitement. The smoothness of the matter exceeded his expectations. Far from arousing his suspicion, it made him feel that his choice was right.

"From now on, my life and the health of my unborn child depend on you. If you can successfully deliver a son, I will reward you handsomely," said Madam Nanming.

"At that time, let alone becoming the Imperial Physician, even if you want to enter the previous dynasty as an official, I have a way to help you."

Chen Yi's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he knelt down again, saying...

"I am willing to die ten thousand times to serve you, Madam, and I will certainly not allow anyone to harm you or the young master in the slightest."

"It's good that you have this determination. It's time to take your medicine to prevent miscarriage today," said Madam Nanming.

Just as Yingchun was about to speak, Chen Yi spoke first.

“Madam, from now on I will personally prepare your medicines, and I will certainly not allow anyone to take advantage of me.”

"Then I'll leave it to Physician Chen." Madam Nanming smiled with satisfaction.

"I will go and brew it right away."

After bowing, Chen Yi walked towards the door, his face filled with excitement.

Xu Qing, don't think you can do whatever you want just because you have Hu Meiren as your backer. From now on, I'll show you what it means to be outmatched. If I don't kick you out of the Imperial Hospital and render you a cripple, I'll change my surname to yours.

Chen Yi kept imagining Xu Qing in his mind, envisioning himself rising to the top with the help of Madam Nanming, and his pace quickened.

At Mingzhu Palace, a maid led Xu Qing into the palace.

Looking at the ornately decorated palace in front of him, Xu Qing felt uneasy.

He thought carefully about the past month and realized that he had never had any interaction with the Tide Demoness, nor had he offended her. He guessed that he was summoned by the Tide Demoness because of Hu Meiren.

Hu Meiren appears to be the favorite concubine of the King of Han, but in reality, she is also a puppet in the hands of Chao Nu Yao.

"Physician Xu, please come with me," the maid said, standing at the door.

After taking a deep breath, Xu Qing walked towards the palace. In the current situation, he could only deal with things as they came.

After entering the palace, the doors were closed from the outside.

Led by a maid, Xu Qing entered the boudoir of the Tide Demoness.

The boudoir was filled with a unique incense, a rich scent that was not suffocating, with a faint fragrance that Xu Qing couldn't quite place.

Xu Qing knew that Chao Nu Yao was a master of perfumery, and that she used various incense to manipulate Han Wang An.

"Madam, Physician Xu has arrived," the maid said.

Xu Qing looked at the Tide Demoness behind the curtain and bowed.
"Xu Qing greets Madam. May Madam be well!"

Chao Nu Yao looked at Xu Qing bowing outside, her willow-leaf eyebrows slightly raised, her red lips slightly upturned, and a hint of a smile flashed in her beautiful eyes. She swayed her slender waist and walked towards Xu Qing.

Hearing the sound of heels scraping against the floor, Xu Qing nervously swallowed.

The Tide Demoness emerged from behind the curtains and sat down on the small bed beside her.

"Lift your head up and let me see." The seductive voice of the succubus was laced with a hint of allure, making one's heart race.

(End of this chapter)