A middle-aged emperor, childless, was blessed with a beautiful and pregnant concubine who entered th

Zhou Mingyi glanced out the window and said softly, "I heard it from the imperial physician."

"The imperial physicians of the Imperial Medical Academy are highly skilled and should not be mistaken."

Now, Shiliu and Lianwu were truly happy for Zhou Mingyi.

Shiliu's mother died early, and she was raised by her father. The two of them depended on each other for survival.

But her father didn't live long either. After he died, her uncles wanted to sell her to a brothel, but she fought back and sold herself to bury her father.

She was bought by Zhou Mingyi and brought back to the Zhou family.

The Zhou family had been kind to her, and the Empress had been even more so.

Without the Empress, she would have died without a proper burial.

In Shiliu's heart, nothing is more important than the Empress.

including herself.

As for the wax apple, although its loyalty is somewhat less than that of the pomegranate, it now serves in Consort Zhen's palace, so naturally, its fate is intertwined with the honor of the concubine.

After learning that her mistress was pregnant, Lianwu knew that as long as the mistress could give birth to the child smoothly, Weiyang Palace would definitely usher in its peak moment.

As for her, just look at Aunt Zhulan and you'll know.

The pinnacle of a maidservant is someone like Aunt Zhulan, whose skill is so high that even the Emperor would have to give her some respect.

Besides, Consort Zhen is intelligent and shrewd, and she is fair in rewarding and punishing her servants. Working for her guarantees a bright future!

So the wax apple was happy too.

"Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations!"

Shiliu quickly added, "That's wonderful, Your Majesty, that's truly wonderful!"

Zhou Mingyi's tone was so gentle it seemed to drip with water.

"Um."

"I hope God will bless me so that I can successfully give birth to these two children."

Just then, the curtain was suddenly flung open.

The Empress Dowager and Emperor Qianwu walked in quickly, their steps revealing a sense of impatience.

Emperor Qianwu, in particular, had an anxious look in his eyes and showed no trace of imperial majesty.

"My beloved concubine, are you telling the truth?"

"Are they really twins?"

The Empress Dowager was also very attentive, and even her eyes were red.

Zhou Mingyi was taken aback at first, then asked with a surprised look, "Why are His Majesty and the Empress here?"

She struggled to get up from the bed, but Emperor Qianwu pressed her down, saying, "Lie down, don't get up."

The Empress Dowager quickly added, "Yes, lie down! Your health is poor now, what does it matter to me and the Emperor?"

"Good child, don't call me Empress Dowager anymore, it makes it seem too formal."

Emperor Qianwu nodded, "Yes, nothing is more important than your health right now."

He spoke extremely fast, the kind of fast pace one has when someone is emotionally agitated.

As soon as he finished speaking, the Empress Dowager immediately said, "Yes, the Emperor is right, your health is of utmost importance."

"More important than anything else!"

The mother and son talked back and forth, then simultaneously stared intently at Zhou Mingyi with their similar eyes.

Zhou Mingyi knew perfectly well what the mother and son intended, but she deliberately touched her face and asked, "What's wrong?"

"Is there something dirty on my face?"

The Empress Dowager hurriedly said, "No, our Ah Chang is naturally beautiful, with a smooth and flawless face. She is the most beautiful girl in the world."

Emperor Qianwu immediately nodded.

Zhou Mingyi: ...

"That……"

Emperor Qianwu coughed lightly. "I was wondering, is what you said earlier true?"

Zhou Mingyi feigned ignorance, "What just happened?"

The Empress Dowager didn't argue with Zhou Mingyi and immediately said, "It's about the fact that you're actually carrying twins..."

Zhou Mingyi then adopted a "So that's what you were asking about" attitude.

She blushed slightly, "It was Physician Chen from the Imperial Hospital who said it. Although Physician Chen is young, his medical skills are superb."

When he took the pulse of his concubine, he said that her belly was bigger than usual for three months, and he felt that she might be carrying twins.

Emperor Qianwu and the Empress Dowager exchanged a glance, both seeing surprise in each other's eyes.

The Empress Dowager almost burst into tears of joy.

She longed for her son to have an heir, but over the years, the emperor had only one princess.

Now, Consort Zhen has finally become pregnant again, and she is carrying twins!

This was an incredible blessing for her.

The Empress Dowager almost lost her composure and immediately knelt down to thank God for his great kindness.

She hurriedly said:

"Quickly, go and fetch the imperial physician, let Physician Tao come and examine Consort Zhen's pulse. He must ensure that Consort Zhen's pregnancy is well taken care of."

Emperor Qianwu also said, "Yes, Empress Dowager is right. Tao Xingzhi's medical skills are among the best in the Imperial Medical Academy, and he is also upright and humble. Letting him examine my son's pulse is an honor!"

Zhou Mingyi glanced at him and heard a hint of smugness in his tone.

The Empress Dowager nodded, "That's right, Tao Xingzhi's medical skills are barely passable, and there's also that Physician Chen..."

She looked at Zhou Mingyi, "What's your name?"

Zhou Mingyi remained silent. Emperor Qianwu pondered for a moment, then said, "I remember, his name is Chen Huaishan."

The Empress Dowager nodded. "Although Chen Huaishan is young, the fact that he was able to identify Consort Zhen's twins shows that he is a promising young man."

Emperor Qianwu nodded in agreement.

"Then let him follow Tao Xingzhi and learn more."

"Having multiple imperial physicians examine Consort Zhen's pregnancy will provide more assurance and ensure that Consort Zhen can give birth to the child smoothly."

The mother and son made the final decision.

Fuquan was also pleased, as Consort Zhen showed him great kindness as soon as she entered the palace.

Fuquan, having served Emperor Qianwu closely, was accustomed to seeing the women of the harem.

They were naturally charming and alluring in front of His Majesty, but in private they almost all despised a eunuch like him.

Fuquan was already used to being looked down upon.

Outsiders see him following the emperor and think he's glamorous, but in private, who would respect him?

But if there were no other way, who would want to be a rootless person?

But with Consort Zhen, Fuquan felt the dignity of being a human being.

And the respect of being treated as a normal person.

Of course, Fuquan also knew that the reason why the Empress was so kind to him was entirely because he was His Majesty's man.

If he were just an insignificant eunuch in the palace...

No, Consort Zhen was kind to any of the eunuchs in the palace and never bullied them.

This small act of kindness is invaluable.

While it wouldn't warrant sacrificing his life, he was perfectly willing to grant Consort Zhen's wish if conditions allowed.

"Yes, this servant will go right away."

Two imperial physicians arrived simultaneously, each carrying a medicine chest.

Tao Xingzhi's heart started pounding.

From the moment Consort Zhen's pulse was detected, he knew that his duties at Weiyang Palace would be among the best in the entire palace.

Even compared to His Majesty and the Empress Dowager, she is even more outstanding.

Chen Huaishan, young and humble, followed behind, as if he were a handyman.

But he was able to detect the twins in Consort Zhen's womb, which shows that he is a formidable young man and no one dares to underestimate him.

If Consort Zhen successfully gives birth to the imperial heir this time, these two imperial physicians will be directly tied to Consort Zhen's big ship.

"I've heard that Physician Chen, though young, is very capable and has discovered that Consort Zhen is actually carrying twins?"

Tao Xingzhi: ...

He glanced at Chen Huaishan subconsciously.

Young man, you've really ruined my life!

Even if Consort Zhen were to conceive only one child, it would be of paramount importance, let alone two.

How dare you?!

However, in front of Emperor Qianwu and the Empress Dowager, Tao Xingzhi dared not show that he wished he could kill Chen Huaishan with a single blow.

He could only say, "I caught a cold a few days ago and was resting at home. It just so happened that Physician Chen was on duty at the Imperial Hospital. I never expected such a joyous occasion!"

Emperor Qianwu immediately said, "Quickly, take a look at Consort Zhen."

Tao Xingzhi immediately bowed and stepped forward, "Yes!"

He draped the thin handkerchief over Zhou Mingyi's wrist, and in an instant, his brows furrowed.

It is indeed a slippery pulse.

This is the most important task for the Imperial Medical Academy during this period.

Every day, the imperial physicians would go to Weiyang Palace to take Consort Zhen's pulse. After two months of this, the pulse records had become a thick stack.

It seems that Consort Zhen is indeed pregnant, but for the Imperial Hospital, this will be the most important event of the coming year.

Of course, if a prince were to be born, the entire Great Zhou Dynasty would likely undergo a dramatic change.

It should be noted that, under pressure, His Majesty had already established a crown prince three years ago.

The reason that crown prince was established was simply because Emperor Qianwu had no sons.

Now that he is about to have his own son, does the crown prince still have a chance of winning?

Of course, these matters had little to do with the Imperial Medical Academy.

Doctor Tao has a lot on his mind, but on the surface he is as calm as a rock.

Emperor Qianwu and the Empress Dowager couldn't see the expression on his face, and they became a little anxious.

The Empress Dowager asked, "How is it?"

"Is the little prince in Consort Zhen's womb healthy?"

Imperial Physician Tao: ...

How can you tell the gender of a three-month-old baby?

To determine the sex, you must wait five months before checking again.

However, the pulse of a male fetus is indeed much stronger than that of a female fetus.

Consort Zhen's pregnancy was indeed very healthy.

He was so strong that even Physician Tao couldn't help but take a second look.

Furthermore, upon closer inspection, there are indeed signs of twins.

Moreover, Imperial Physician Tao could understand His Majesty and the Empress Dowager. They had been struggling to have an heir for decades, and Emperor Qianwu was already nearly forty. Consort Zhen had finally conceived this child, so she must have hoped for a boy.

This is understandable.

However, for a royal physician, the key to survival in the harem is to avoid speaking too definitively.

So after a moment's consideration, Physician Tao immediately knelt down.

"Congratulations, Your Majesty and Empress Dowager! Congratulations!"

"Consort Zhen does indeed show signs of being pregnant with twins, and the two little princes are in very good condition."

The Empress Dowager and Emperor Qianwu exchanged a glance, both overjoyed.

The Empress Dowager couldn't help but weep with joy.

"May our ancestors bless us, may God bless us, my son has an heir! My son finally has an heir!"

Zhou Mingyi said softly, "It is the greatest blessing from Heaven for our Great Zhou to be pregnant with Your Majesty's child!"

The Empress Dowager and Emperor Qianwu both looked at Zhou Mingyi.

The former looked at her with even more affection than he would at his own daughter.

The latter is so gentle it seems to drip with tenderness.

"Ah Chang is a treasure bestowed upon me by Heaven."

"By imperial decree, Consort Zhou of Weiyang Palace is of gentle and virtuous character, and of dignified bearing. She serves the palace with utmost diligence and respect, and reveres the ancestral temple day and night without fail. She is hereby promoted to the rank of Noble Consort, with her original title remaining unchanged."

Just as Zhou Mingyi was about to get up to receive the imperial decree, he was simultaneously pressed down by the Empress Dowager and Emperor Qianwu.

"You are currently carrying twins and going through a difficult time, so there's no need for such elaborate rituals."

Emperor Qianwu also said, "The Empress Dowager is right. There's no need for such formality between me and A-Chang!"

Emperor Qianwu was genuinely pleased.

He had been childless for many years and thought that this would be how his life would be, but unexpectedly, God was kind to him in the end.

Consort Zhen was pregnant with twins.

Even the worst outcome, two girls, is better than only having one baby.