The old doctor walked unhurriedly, showing no fear even upon seeing the Prime Minister’s mansion, displaying the demeanor of a true professional.
Yuetao was impressed and, when Madam Gu inquired, confidently replied, “This servant invited a doctor from Xuanhu Hall.”
Gu Huairou nodded and offered her wrist for the doctor to examine.
“I have practiced medicine for decades and am most proficient in women’s complex ailments,” the old doctor said confidently. “Others may often misdiagnose, but I will not.”
Hearing this, Madam Gu’s eyes lit up. “Then can you diagnose a pregnancy that’s just over a month along?”
“That’s simple,” the doctor replied. “Through observation, inquiry, and pulse-taking, as long as the madam cooperates, detecting a month-old pregnancy is not difficult. Just inform me about your menstrual cycle and recent physical condition, and let me check your pulse, and I can determine it.”
“Excellent!” Gu Huairou quickly said. “Yuetao will discuss the details with you later. For now, please check my pulse first.”
The doctor nodded and carefully took her pulse. He then observed Gu Huairou’s complexion and inquired about her recent diet and menstrual cycle. Turning his head, he smiled and said, “There’s no need for doubt. Madam is certainly pregnant!”
“Really?” Gu Huairou was overjoyed. “Are you sure?”
“Certainly,” the doctor affirmed. “Xuanhu Hall’s reputation wouldn’t be risked over this!”
This was wonderful news! Gu Huairou was ecstatic, her sickly appearance instantly vanishing. She quickly instructed, “Yuetao, take the doctor to the accounting room for a reward, then inform the First Madam and the Prime Minister!”
“Yes!” Yuetao was also delighted and promptly led the doctor out. The doctor shook his head, saying, “Today is a day of free consultations, no reward is necessary. If Madam needs anything in the future, just come to Xuanhu Hall to find me. I’ll take my leave now.”
What a kind doctor! Yuetao repeatedly expressed her gratitude as she escorted him out.
By the time Jiang Taohua returned to the Prime Minister’s mansion after her long sleep, the entire household was in a state of jubilation.
“What’s going on?” Qing Taicaught someone and asked curiously.
The servant, grinning from ear to ear, replied, “Madam Gu is pregnant. It’s been confirmed as true. The First Madam is overjoyed and has rewarded everyone with ten strings of cash. Now we’re just waiting for the lord to return for more rewards!”
Taohua was surprised and couldn’t help but ask, “Wasn’t it said that early pregnancies couldn’t be diagnosed?”
“In response to the concubine, this servant doesn’t know the details,” the servant said. “But Wenqing Pavilion has already announced the news, and the First Madam has acknowledged it. As for the rest, it’s not our place to question.”
Initially, Gu Huairou had been very cautious, not allowing Liu Shi to spread the news. How had she suddenly become so impatient? Feeling somewhat doubtful, despite still feeling unwell, Taohua headed towards Wenqing Pavilion first.
Wenqing Pavilion was already bustling with visitors, and Madam Gu’s face was beaming with joy. After seeing off several guests and just about to rest, she saw Jiang Taohua arrive.
Her joyful expression dimmed slightly. Gu Huairou, sitting on the bed, looked Taohua up and down and smiled, “The concubine has returned?”
Taohua pursed her lips. Seeing that there weren’t many people in the inner chamber, she sat down and asked directly, “How did you confirm your pregnancy?”
If she had asked this earlier, Gu Huairou wouldn’t have thought much of it, considering it was just an ordinary concern. But now, being asked like this made her feel somewhat uncomfortable.
“Does the concubine think I’m lying?” she asked.
“No,” Taohua shook her head. “But early pregnancies are not easy to diagnose. Why not wait a bit longer?”
Chuckling lightly, Gu Huairou said, “A doctor from Xuanhu Hall came to examine me today. He specializes in women’s ailments, and detecting an early pregnancy pulse is not a difficult task for him.”
I see, Taohua nodded. Sensing Gu Huairou’s slight hostility towards her, she didn’t want to linger. After expressing a few words of concern, she left with Qing Tai
“What’s going on?” Qing Taifrowned. “Wasn’t Madam Gu quite friendly with you before? She even came to warn you personally, fearing you’d get caught up in the disputes. How has her attitude changed so suddenly?”
Taohua replied calmly, “Even the best of friends can fall out. What’s so strange about a mere alliance of a few words dissolving? Someone probably made some moves behind the scenes, causing Madam Gu to distrust me.”
“But,” Qing Taisaid sincerely, “People who don’t trust you seem to end up quite unfortunate.”
This was true. Having been by her mistress’s side for so long, Qingta’s increasing loyalty wasn’t without reason. Although her mistress was just a frail woman, she was more perceptive about worldly affairs than anyone else. Following her wouldn’t lead to any losses.
Taohua smiled lightly, “I’ll take that as a compliment. Let’s go back and rest.”
“Yes,” Qing Tainodded.
While the Prime Minister’s mansion was filled with joy, Shen Zaiye was oblivious to it all. He was still in the imperial study, quietly watching the Emperor rage.
“Those snakes were painstakingly raised by me. What do you mean by this?” Emperor Mingde glared at the kneeling Mu Wuxia. “You killed so many of them? Do you have any respect for me at all!”
Prince Nan knelt upright, head bowed and eyes lowered, with only one response: “It wasn’t done by this son.”
“If not you, then who? Someone even brought me your token!” the Emperor shouted. “Who else could have stolen your token?”
Seizing the opportunity, Shen Zaiye calmly spoke up: “This minister also believes that such a valuable item as a personal token wouldn’t be easily stolen from the Prince Nan.”
Emperor Mingde turned his head and looked at Shen Zaiye, saying, “Minister Shen’s words are quite right.”
“But, has Your Majesty considered,” Shen Zaiye smiled, “If others couldn’t steal it, why would the Prince Nan go to the snake pavilion to kill snakes and deliberately leave his token behind? Wouldn’t that be courting death?”
The Emperor was taken aback. Frowning in thought, he realized there was some logic to this. Although the Prince Nan displeased him, he wasn’t one to commit treason. How could he possibly go to the snake pavilion to kill snakes and leave his token there for no reason?
“Who else went to Yingxian Mountain yesterday?” the Emperor asked the eunuch beside him.
The eunuch lowered his head and replied, “In response to Your Majesty, this servant has already investigated. The only royal relatives who went up the mountain that day were the Prince Nan and Prince Jing.”
Wu Yin? The Emperor fell silent.
He had recently had a falling out with Wu Yin, and that child was panicking, desperately trying to gather support in the court. He was aware of this. But why had he now targeted Wu Xia?
Could it be that he felt Wu Xia was a threat and wanted to eliminate him quickly?
His gaze fell on Mu Wuxia kneeling below. The Emperor thought carefully. Come to think of it, it was because of his mother being a hostage in Wu Country that he didn’t look favorably upon this mother and son. Now that Consort Ning was gone, Wu Xia had proven himself capable, studying under Master Qian and earning quite a good reputation.
Looking at it this way, he indeed posed some threat to Wu Yin.
“Your Majesty,” Shen Zaiye bowed and said, “Yesterday was the Spring Festival gathering, and many people went to Yingxian Mountain. Although this matter cannot be blamed on the Prince Nan, there’s also no evidence that it was done by someone else.”
The implication was that Prince Jing was also innocent.
The Emperor frowned, feeling somewhat confused. His sons were openly and secretly competing, their thoughts more numerous and convoluted than the rivers of Da Wei. If he didn’t handle this matter properly, he could easily be used as a pawn by one of them.
However, among the four princes, Wu Xia and Wu Hen were the least competitive, while Prince Jing and Prince Yu were fiercely contending. Thinking about it this way, Wu Xia might indeed have been framed.
Feeling a bit of a headache, after pondering for a long time, Emperor Mingde sighed deeply and said, “Forget it, they’re just a few snakes.”
Prince Nan, kneeling on the ground and feeling nervous, was startled to hear such a statement and immediately raised his head in shock.
Father Emperor said, “forget it”? Wasn’t he always valuing snake lives more than human lives? How could he…
Frowning, he couldn’t understand, but still bowed his head first: “Thank you, Father Emperor.”
“You child, you should know better by now,” the Emperor said displeased. “This time I won’t hold it against you, but next time you should be more careful! You may go now!”
“…Yes,” Mu Wuxia responded, respectfully retreating.
The great hall fell silent. The snake incident had put the Emperor in a bad mood, his face showing signs of fatigue.
“Minister Shen,” he spoke, “Among my princes, who do you think is most capable?”
Shen Zaiye lowered his head and chuckled lightly, “Your Majesty asking such a question, aren’t you putting me in an impossible position?”
“It’s fine, just between you and me. Who would dare to speak of it? I’d have their heads if they did,” the Emperor raised his eyes, looking at him with a smile. “You’re the one I trust the most.”
“Since that’s the case, then this minister will speak frankly,” Shen Zaiye nodded and said, “Among Your Majesty’s princes, Prince Jing is wise and resourceful, mature and steady. Prince Yu is young and vigorous, full of energy. Prince Heng keeps a low profile, quiet, and stable. Prince Nan is righteous and innocent.”
“Hahaha,” the Emperor laughed heartily, looking at him and saying, “You cunning man, with such an answer, who is the best?”
“Who is best for Your Majesty to judge,” Shen Zaiye respectfully smiled and said, “Whoever Your Majesty deems best, this minister will undoubtedly serve with all his might in the future.”
“Excellent!” The Emperor was greatly pleased. As he was leaving, he even had the eunuch beside him fetch some items to reward the Prime Minister.
At the Prime Minister’s mansion.
Jiang Taohua looked at the array of items before her – strings of agate beads, bracelets, hairpins, and a heap of other things – feeling quite perplexed.
“So, you’re saying that when the Prince Nan made a mistake, you cleverly misled the Emperor into thinking it was Prince Jing’s succession struggle affecting an innocent party, and on top of that, you brought back all these rewards from the Emperor?”
“The idea was yours, so half the rewards are for you,” Shen Zaiye reclined on the soft couch, in a very good mood. “This matter was resolved beautifully.”
Earlier, he had intentionally had people subtly mention the recent princely succession struggles in the Emperor’s ear. The Emperor already had some thoughts on the matter, so when it was brought up again today, it naturally exonerated the Prince Nan without going against his wishes by framing Prince Jing. After all, the Emperor only had suspicions and hadn’t accused anyone of a crime.
It was just a pity about those few snakes.
Taohua was astounded. The idea might have been hers, but for Shen Zaiye to execute it so smoothly showed that he had a deep level of trust and significant influence with the Emperor.
This man was truly extraordinary.
“My Lord!” Yuetao’s voice came from outside, her tone a mix of joy and anger, sounding quite peculiar:
“Madam Gu has confirmed her pregnancy, yet you’re still here in Zhengchun Pavilion?”
(End of Chapter)