“Why is the First Princess unaffected?”
Director Li and Judge Chen were startled and couldn’t help but look at each other.
Emperor Taixiang’s expression grew even colder: “Why is only the First Princess fine?”
“Director Li, you speak!”
“This—” Director Li pondered with difficulty.
He was just a physician, not a living immortal. How would he know?
“Judge Chen?” Emperor Taixiang looked at Judge Chen.
“Perhaps… perhaps because the First Princess was the first child after Your Majesty recuperated for nearly a year…”
Emperor Taixiang shot up from his seat, radiating murderous intent.
He was going to kill Li Shi!
“Or perhaps… the First Princess’s mother consort has a special constitution?” Judge Chen added a sentence as he watched Emperor Taixiang stride toward the exit.
Emperor Taixiang suddenly stopped in his tracks.
In Yufu Palace, after hearing the two imperial physicians’ diagnosis of the First Princess, Li Jiǎo completely relaxed and instructed a eunuch: “Go invite Marquis Guanjun’s wife to the palace. Tell her this palace misses her.”
Her First Princess was fine, which meant she was now the only concubine who had borne imperial offspring. In the short term, her position in His Majesty’s heart would be unmatched.
She wanted to see how Third Sister Li would still put on airs as a marquis’s wife at this time.
“Noble Consort Xian is inviting me to the palace for a chat?” Upon receiving the message, Qiao Zhao found it amusing but showed no emotion on her face as she politely declined: “Please tell the eunuch to convey to Noble Consort Xian that I’ve caught a slight cold and dare not enter the palace lest I pass the illness to Your Highness.”
After the eunuch left, Qiao Zhao said to Shao Mingyuan: “It seems the First Princess’s condition is good.”
Shao Mingyuan sneered: “Noble Consort Xian probably doesn’t know her situation.”
The First Princess’s birth was the best proof that Emperor Taixiang’s breaking of vows was inseparable from Li Jiǎo. Whether she was intentional or not, being despised by His Majesty was unavoidable.
Receiving the eunuch’s reply, Li Jiǎo angrily bit her lip.
Third Sister Li had refused—who did she think she was?
“His Majesty arrives—”
Hearing the eunuch’s announcement, Li Jiǎo calmed her mood, curved her lips slightly, and rose to greet him.
“This subject pays respects to Your Majesty.”
Emperor Taixiang didn’t respond and lifted his foot to walk inside.
Li Jiǎo, left behind, looked somewhat embarrassed. On second thought, His Majesty was probably still grieving for the three deceased princes and princesses, so she felt relieved. After waiting a while without hearing Emperor Taixiang speak, she simply rose and followed inside.
“Where is the First Princess?” Seeing Li Jiǎo enter, Emperor Taixiang asked with a stern face.
“The First Princess is sleeping.” Li Jiǎo observed Emperor Taixiang’s expression and took the opportunity to complain: “The First Princess misses Third Aunt. This subject sent someone to invite her, but unfortunately, Third Sister wasn’t available—”
Before she finished speaking, a slap struck her face.
The crisp sound echoed in her ears. Li Jiǎo was completely stunned, covering her cheek and murmuring: “Your Majesty—”
“Silver-tongued slut!” Emperor Taixiang grabbed Li Jiǎo and pushed her onto the bed, pressing down on her.
“Your Majesty—” In shock, Li Jiǎo instinctively pushed back.
Emperor Taixiang bound her hands and delivered another slap with his free hand, his eyes glowing red.
He wanted to see if it was because this slut had a special constitution!
Thinking that the three princes and princesses had all died because he broke his vows prematurely, and that even future offspring would meet the same fate, all thanks to the woman before him, Emperor Taixiang was filled with deadly hatred.
But he couldn’t take this woman’s life yet. If the First Princess being fine wasn’t because she was his first child after breaking vows, but because this slut had a special constitution, then he would still need to rely on her to bear healthy offspring…
After an unknown period, Emperor Taixiang rose awkwardly, his face iron-blue as he swept his sleeves and left.
After a long while, Li Jiǎo rolled her eyes, clutched her torn clothes, and sat up, her face extremely ugly.
His Majesty was… dysfunctional?
No, impossible. His Majesty wasn’t even forty yet—how could he be dysfunctional?
Emperor Taixiang, leaving Yufu Palace, was almost in a state of collapse.
These past few months, he had stayed away from women because he had no such impulses. However, not wanting to and being unable to were completely different things.
Could it be that he was permanently impotent?
Just thinking about it made Emperor Taixiang feel like the sky was falling. His legs gave way, and he nearly collapsed.
“Your Majesty!” The eunuchs following behind were shocked and quickly supported him.
“Go, go to Fengzao Palace.” Emperor Taixiang said with a trembling voice.
He had no problems—he must have been too disgusted by that slut to feel interested.
Yes, that was it!
Emperor Taixiang hurried to Fengzao Palace and asked bluntly: “Where is the Empress?”
A palace maid quickly replied: “The Empress is admiring flowers in the garden.”
Emperor Taixiang ran toward the garden.
At that moment, the flowers were in full bloom. The Empress was lowering her head to smell a blooming rose when she heard movement and turned around. Seeing it was Emperor Taixiang, she quickly curtseyed.
Emperor Taixiang pulled the Empress up and left.
“Your Majesty?” The Empress was very surprised.
But Emperor Taixiang said nothing, pulling the Empress into the room and coldly shouting: “All of you get out!”
After the eunuchs filed out, Emperor Taixiang immediately pushed the Empress onto the bed and collapsed on top of her.
“Your Majesty, it’s broad daylight. You, you cannot—”
“I am the Emperor. What can’t I do?” Facing the Empress, Emperor Taixiang still showed some respect and explained.
Kisses tinged with violent breath fell upon her. A tear slid from the corner of the Empress’s eye, but she ultimately submitted.
Having been married for half a year and still being a virgin was a shame she couldn’t tell anyone. She couldn’t bear this burden forever.
About a quarter-hour later, the Empress, lying stiffly on the bed, gradually turned pale.
Emperor Taixiang sat beside her without saying a word.
After remaining quiet like this for a long time, Emperor Taixiang looked deeply at the Empress and fled in embarrassment.
When Director Li and Judge Chen heard His Majesty had summoned them, their hearts began beating like drums.
All the princes and princesses were gone, and the First Princess had just been examined—there shouldn’t be anything more serious, right?
“Director Li, please.”
“Judge Chen, please.”
At the entrance to the imperial study, the two deferred to each other.
“Director Li is the superior and should go first.”
“Judge Chen has served His Majesty the longest. Though I shamelessly occupy the Director’s position, I’m far inferior. Judge Chen should go first.”
In such turbulent times, whoever went first would be unlucky.
“Both imperial physicians, His Majesty is still waiting,” a eunuch reminded them.
Director Li and Judge Chen looked at each other and said in unison: “Together.”
The two gathered their courage and entered together, paid their respects to Emperor Taixiang, and respectfully waited for him to speak.
“All of you withdraw.” Emperor Taixiang dismissed the attendants and swept his gaze back and forth between the two physicians.
Just as the two grew increasingly nervous, Emperor Taixiang spoke: “You two physicians are the ones I trust most. Your medical skills are also outstanding in the Imperial Medical Bureau. There’s something I want to discuss with you two.”
“Your Majesty flatters us.” The two physicians relaxed slightly upon hearing this.
Hmm, His Majesty was using such a consultative tone—it seemed there was nothing serious.
Emperor Taixiang grabbed his teacup and drank it all in one gulp, then set it down on the dragon desk with a crisp sound.
“I seem to be dysfunctional. You two physicians figure out what to do about it.”