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

"I'll ask you one more time: is it... or is it not?"

Emperor Qianwu's eyes were deep and dark, with a complex and intense emotion brewing within them, like a volcano that had been accumulating for many years and was about to erupt.

His thin lips were pressed tightly together, and his Adam's apple bobbed uncontrollably.

The atmosphere was so tense that large beads of sweat instantly appeared on the imperial physician's forehead.

The emperor's question was not easy to answer.

If the answer doesn't satisfy him, I'm afraid I'll lose my head!

After careful consideration, the imperial physician was about to speak when Zhou Mingyi whispered, "It hurts, Your Majesty, my stomach aches!"

"What did the imperial physician just say?"

Emperor Qianwu immediately grasped Mingyi's hand tightly, "My beloved consort!"

"Do we have children yet?"

Zhou Mingyi frowned, her eyes filled with hope as she stared at Emperor Qianwu, who in turn stared back at her face.

There was a bloody welt on her face from being whipped; the welt seemed to have scabbed over. Her hands were icy cold, yet clenched tightly.

Her slender, soft hands were trembling slightly.

Everything showed that she, like herself, was eagerly anticipating his and her child.

Emperor Qianwu calmed down a bit.

At that moment, he didn't immediately suspect Mingyi.

She was beaten so badly by Chaoyang. If the matter with the child wasn't a misdiagnosis by the Imperial Hospital, then it must be true.

Chaoyang, you've really gone too far!

No matter what, she was still her stepmother.

Emperor Qianwu couldn't help but recall Chaoyang's childhood. She was clearly a delicate and lovely little girl. How did she... become like this now?

It must be that Chen woman who corrupted his daughter.

"His Majesty……"

Zhou Mingyi called out softly, and Emperor Qianwu's thoughts were pulled back.

"You, go and summon all the imperial physicians who are accompanying me."

"Consort Zhen's pulse is very clear."

He stared at the red marks on her face. "Have the Imperial Hospital bring over the best ointment. Consort Zhen must not have any scars."

The imperial physician felt as if he had been granted a pardon and turned to leave tremblingly.

"What? Consort Zhen has been diagnosed with a slippery pulse?"

The accompanying imperial physicians were dumbfounded.

"How is this possible?"

"Imperial Physician Tao, His Majesty's health has been primarily managed by you for years, but what turning point has occurred?"

Imperial Physician Tao is now the Director of the Imperial Medical Academy.

Firstly, he had the seniority, and secondly, the previous head of the academy had run into trouble, so he naturally took over.

Although the chief physician of the Imperial Medical Academy always took charge of the emperor's pulse diagnosis, the emperor's pulse diagnosis was of paramount importance in the Imperial Medical Academy.

Physician Tao was originally the deputy head of the hospital, and he had both ability and authority.

"this……"

After a moment's consideration, Imperial Physician Tao said, "Apart from that... His Majesty's health is indeed fine."

Although he is old, he is physically strong and has a strong libido.

With such formidable physical strength, coupled with the daily care provided by the Imperial Medical Academy, it wouldn't be impossible for women with special constitutions who are prone to pregnancy to conceive.

"Perhaps we should first check Consort Zhen's pulse before making a decision."

After a brief discussion, the imperial physicians all agreed to the proposal.

It's no use for them to say anything more here.

Ultimately, we still have to face it.

These days, being a royal physician is a high-risk profession!

……

Inside the main tent.

The imperial physicians entered in single file.

Consort Chen, Princess Chaoyang, and Consort Lan all rushed over.

Seeing so many imperial physicians, Consort Chen felt both uneasy and jealous.

It must be that Zhou's Gui water just happened to arrive.

How could she be pregnant?

She shared the same idea as her daughter, Princess Chaoyang.

So many years have passed, and His Majesty only has one daughter, Chaoyang. How could any other woman possibly get pregnant?

This is absolutely impossible.

But if it were just for that minor external injury, His Majesty would never have alarmed so many imperial physicians.

Is it...

Consort Chen was torn between her inner turmoil and her own conscience.

Princess Chaoyang, however, was much more composed.

"This Zhou family is truly cunning. Despite the example of the Jin family, she still doesn't know how to restrain herself. This princess will go and expose her hypocritical mask."

Ever since she deliberately jumped into the water and was subtly insulted by Zhou Mingyi, this feud has been completely formed.

Princess Chaoyang was spoiled growing up and was not a very tolerant person.

Consort Lan followed behind the mother and daughter without saying a word.

Seeing so many imperial physicians lining up to enter the main tent, even a normal person would realize that something was wrong.

If it weren't for the fact that a royal physician diagnosed Consort Zhen with pregnancy but wasn't sure, where would so many royal physicians have come from?

It seems that Consort Zhen is almost certainly pregnant...

At least, there are clues to pregnancy in the pulse.

Consort Lan was unaware of her own feelings at that moment.

She couldn't help but think back to more than ten years ago.

What were Consort Chen's feelings when she learned that Consort Chen was pregnant?

So much time has passed that things have become somewhat blurry.

But she was probably jealous.

At that time, who in the entire harem didn't want to bear an heir for His Majesty? But no one did.

Ironically, it was the most unremarkable woman, surnamed Chen, who became pregnant.

At that time, she desperately hoped that Chen's pregnancy was a misdiagnosis by the Imperial Hospital.

But as the days went by, Chen's belly slowly grew bigger...

Consort Lan knew that the concubines in the harem had all, to varying degrees, tried to harm Chen.

But the most egregious examples, like her, Consort Min, and Consort Rou, either died or were sent to the Cold Palace...

Now she is Consort Zhen...

She is truly blessed.

But she and Consort Zhen are now on good terms.

Since she herself couldn't conceive, it was better for Consort Zhen to conceive than for her mortal enemy, Consort Chen, to conceive again.

If Consort Zhen's son were to become emperor in the future, wouldn't she, as a "Dowager Consort" who was on good terms with the future Empress Dowager, be able to enjoy her later years in peace and wealth?

Upon thinking this, Consort Lan's eyes lit up.

After spending her life in the cold palace, Consort Lan felt that she had truly understood life.

What use is the emperor's love?

Although it would allow her to live a more luxurious life while she was alive, and provide her with some spiritual sustenance.

However, as the Empress Dowager's adopted daughter, the Emperor's childhood sweetheart, and now Consort Lan, very few people in the palace dared to provoke her.

Even Consort Chen and Princess Chaoyang couldn't do anything to her unless she deliberately committed suicide.

But my brother, the emperor, will die soon...

Even if she really saved the emperor, would he still survive?

He was so much older than her, he was bound to leave first.

But the throne and the throne will not be interrupted; there will always be someone to inherit it.

The emperor of the previous life, now Crown Prince Xie Jing, is no good.

That's a pervert.

Consort Lan dared not provoke Xie Jing, but she also hoped that the Crown Prince would not be Xie Jing, and the future emperor would not be Xie Jing.

Thinking about it this way, Consort Lan became Buddhist.

She even deliberately provoked Consort Chen and Princess Chaoyang.

"May God protect us, may Buddha protect us, may all the gods and Buddhas protect the little prince in Consort Zhen's womb so that nothing bad happens to him!"

Consort Chen and Princess Chaoyang turned around abruptly and glared at Consort Lan.

Consort Lan preemptively asked, "What are you looking at?"

He gave a soft hum and turned to walk into the main tent.

Consort Chen's face instantly darkened. "That vile woman!"

"Seventeen years ago, it was she who almost prevented you from being born. Over the years, the Empress Dowager has protected her, otherwise I would have already..."

Princess Chaoyang: "Mother, how about now..."

Consort Chen immediately grabbed Princess Chaoyang's sleeve, "Chaoyang, you can't be rash. This... your imperial grandmother has always protected her."

"If she hadn't attacked you, we probably wouldn't have been able to do anything to her either."

Princess Chaoyang: "If she won't lay a hand on me, then let her lay a hand on us."

Consort Chen's eyes flashed. "Don't talk nonsense. Let's go in and see what's going on."

As soon as Consort Chen entered, she saw the imperial physicians kneeling in front of Emperor Qianwu, while Emperor Qianwu sat on the couch, and the vixen lay weakly and bonelessly in His Majesty's arms.

This scene was extremely jarring.

"Your Majesty, Consort Zhen, according to our unanimous diagnosis, you are likely pregnant, but it is still early in the pregnancy and cannot be confirmed yet."

"Yes, let's prescribe some medicine to stabilize your pulse and prevent miscarriage for now. Once your injuries have healed and the baby is further along, we can get a more accurate diagnosis."

Consort Chen staggered and almost lost her balance.

My mind suddenly went blank.

How is that possible?

That's absolutely impossible!

Consort Chen could barely hear any other sounds.

The word "pregnancy" kept crashing in her mind, impacting her sensitive and fragile nerves.

Princess Chaoyang quickly stepped forward.

"Outrageous! You quack doctors dare to collude with Consort Zhen to deceive my father, the Emperor!"

"Father, this Consort Zhen must have bribed the Imperial Hospital! How...how could she possibly be pregnant?"

Princess Chaoyang looked shocked, her eyes filled with anger and disbelief.

At that moment, she had only one thought in her mind—it was absolutely impossible!

Didn't they say that the Emperor couldn't possibly get the female lead pregnant?

Upon hearing this, Emperor Qianwu was immediately displeased.

When he only had this one daughter, he would be absolutely unhappy if anyone said anything bad about her.

He had been struggling to conceive for many years and was about to give up when his beloved Consort Zhen became pregnant. Even if it was just a hope, Emperor Qianwu did not want it to be shattered.

Even if this person is his most beloved daughter.

"Nonsense!"

"Guards, the princess is chilled and talking nonsense. Please remove her from here."

Consort Chen looked on in disbelief.

In the past, no matter what the princess did, His Majesty never criticized her. Even if he only scolded her verbally, he would quickly come over to comfort her.

But now, that vile Consort Zhen has completely stolen His Majesty's heart with just a suspected pregnancy.

His Majesty has even abandoned the princess.

"Your Majesty! Chaoyang is your only daughter. How can you let her be heartbroken for the sake of an outsider?"

"Even if Consort Zhen is indeed pregnant, Chaoyang is just too happy... afraid that if her expectations are too high, it will all be for nothing in the end, which is why she is acting this way..."

"Your Majesty is wise; Chaoyang meant no harm!"

Emperor Qianwu remained silent for a moment.

It must be said that Consort Chen was right.

Chaoyang is his only child, and although Consort Zhen is suspected of being pregnant, the pregnancy is still uncertain. Even if she is pregnant, she will have to wait a long ten months to give birth to the child.

If this child cannot be born, how can he be compared to a lively princess?

Emperor Qianwu was very pragmatic.

However, even if it is only a possibility of pregnancy, given that Consort Zhen has always been extremely compatible with him, she is naturally different from the likes of Consort Jin.

"Alright, I didn't mean to blame Chaoyang. I was just being considerate of her not having fully recovered."

"You may all leave."

"Don't loiter around me."

At this time, Emperor Qianwu was filled with intense anxiety and uncertainty.

He needed to process these emotions on his own and didn't want to see so many unrelated people.

Consort Chen and her daughter were reluctantly asked to leave.

Consort Lan was very tactful and said, "Your Majesty, then this concubine will also take her leave."

She glanced at Mingyi and teased, "Once we return to the palace and confirm the pulse, I will come to congratulate Consort Zhen."