“This is impossible!” Before Prince Rui could react, the imperial physician interjected, immediately drawing everyone’s attention.

The imperial physician’s face flushed red with excitement: “Setting aside whether the concubine inside can even save her child, dare I ask Miss Li, how can you determine a woman is pregnant just from a single glance?”

“Observation, listening, inquiry, and pulse-taking are the fundamental principles of medicine. Has the Imperial Physician forgotten that ‘those who know through observation can see the five colors and know the illness’?” Qiao Zhao showed no displeasure at the imperial physician’s questioning, calmly countering instead.

The imperial physician sneered: “To know through observation is called divine, to know through listening is called sage, to know through inquiry is called skilled, to know through pulse-taking is called clever. Is Miss Li saying her medical skills have already reached the level of a divine physician?”

This young girl dared to argue with him! Of course, he knew that highly skilled physicians could diagnose illnesses through mere “observation,” but could a young girl like her reach such a level? Even if she had been learning since the womb, it would be impossible!

Prince Rui’s heart had already jumped to his throat. Unable to bother with going to see Li Jiǎo, he immediately ordered: “Go bring—”

After thinking and not knowing which concubine Qiao Zhao had encountered, he steeled himself: “Go summon all the concubines. Ask Miss Li to examine them.”

The imperial physician’s expression stiffened.

Seeing the prince like this, he hadn’t taken his words to heart.

Fine then. No matter how good-tempered, he was still a dignified prince, and he was just a minor imperial physician. He’d better keep quiet and wait to see the joke.

“Third Miss, thank you for the trouble today.” Prince Rui expressed his gratitude.

“It’s just a look. It’s not troublesome.” At this point, Qiao Zhao naturally wouldn’t decline.

Before long, all the concubines in the prince’s residence were summoned to the adjacent courtyard, a chattering crowd filling the entire yard.

Prince Rui personally accompanied Qiao Zhao over. Seeing the mass of people, Qiao Zhao nearly swooned from the overwhelming fragrance and couldn’t help but glance at Prince Rui.

Prince Rui awkwardly touched his nose, wanting to explain that he wasn’t a lustful man and that everything was for the sake of heirs. But considering that she was an unmarried young lady, he could only swallow these words silently.

“Which one did Third Miss encounter?”

Qiao Zhao’s gaze slowly swept through the crowd, stopping at a certain spot: “The one in the pomegranate-colored skirt on the east side.”

“Qian Niang, come here.” Prince Rui spoke.

The woman whose name was called felt at a loss, approaching Prince Rui anxiously to pay respects: “This concubine greets My Lord, greets—”

She quickly glanced up at Qiao Zhao but didn’t know how to address her, so she lowered her head and silently curtsied slightly.

Among the many concubines, Prince Rui had some impression of this woman called Qian Niang.

Including Qian Niang, about ten concubines had only entered the residence a few months ago. Their appearance didn’t matter; the key was that they should be fertile.

This Qian Niang before him was selected according to this standard—her face round as a moon cake, her bottom as broad as a millstone, and her exposed skin rough and dark.

Binglu couldn’t help but blink.

Even someone like this could become a concubine in the prince’s residence. What exactly had the eldest miss been so proud of when she returned home that time?

“Please extend your hand.”

Hearing Qiao Zhao say this, Qian Niang couldn’t help but look toward Prince Rui.

Prince Rui’s face darkened: “Do whatever Third Miss tells you to do!”

Qian Niang hurriedly extended her hand.

Cool fingertips touched Qian Niang’s wrist. The young girl’s fingers were as delicate and pale as green onions, forming a sharp contrast with Qian Niang’s skin. Qian Niang instinctively tried to pull back.

“Don’t move.” Qiao Zhao’s tone was gentle, and she quickly released Qian Niang’s wrist.

“How is it?” Prince Rui asked impatiently.

The many concubines were all confused, whispering among themselves.

“What’s going on? Why was Qian Niang called out for pulse-taking?”

“I don’t know. Let’s just watch. I always feel the prince is somewhat different today.”

Qiao Zhao nodded slightly: “Congratulations, My Lord. It is indeed a pregnancy pulse.”

“She’s pregnant?” Prince Rui was overjoyed.

“My Lord may ask the imperial physician to confirm the diagnosis.”

Prince Rui nodded repeatedly: “Good, good, confirm the diagnosis, confirm the diagnosis!”

All the concubines were stunned.

Qian Niang was pregnant? This was impossible. She was so ugly, and the prince had only visited her once. How could she be pregnant?

This young girl must be talking nonsense to please the prince!

Soon the imperial physician was summoned, and with a complex and embarrassed expression, he confirmed the fact that Qian Niang was pregnant.

Prince Rui was beside himself with joy: “Third Miss, please trouble yourself to examine all of them.”

Qiao Zhao hesitated: “There are quite a few people…”

“The three of you examine together. You all form three lines.”

The concubines were all excited, hurriedly forming lines as instructed.

After taking pulses one by one, Qiao Zhao’s line diagnosed two more pregnant concubines, while the other two lines found nothing.

Prince Rui was already delirious with joy, looking at Qiao Zhao as if he wanted to hide her away and have her exclusively examine his concubines’ pulses in the future.

“Third Miss, you’ve worked hard. I’ll escort you to the flower hall.”

Hearing Prince Rui say this, the concubines in the other two lines all began to cry: “My Lord, please have Third Miss examine us too.”

There was no reason why Third Miss’s line had two pregnant women while their two lines had none at all.

Naturally, the more heirs, the better. Prince Rui looked hopefully at Qiao Zhao.

Qiao Zhao pressed her lips together without speaking.

“Please have Third Miss examine them too. Consider that I owe Third Miss a favor.” With three concubines pregnant at once, plus Li Jiǎo making four, Prince Rui was nearly mad with joy.

Qiao Zhao smiled and signaled for the other two lines of concubines to come forward.

She didn’t need Prince Rui to owe her a favor; she just wanted to offset the favor Shao Mingyuan owed Prince Rui.

After spending some time examining the other concubines, Qiao Zhao shook her head.

Prince Rui was somewhat disappointed but quickly recovered his mood, waving at the concubines: “All of you go back. Qian Niang, you three don’t return to your original quarters. I’ll have the steward arrange new accommodations for you.”

Under the envious gazes of the other concubines, the three concubines struck by fortune were escorted away by maids and matrons.

After politely seeing off Qiao Zhao, Prince Rui finally remembered to go see Li Jiǎo.

After the abdominal pain stopped, Li Jiǎo’s complexion had improved considerably. Seeing Prince Rui enter, she slowly managed a smile.

“Are you feeling better?” Prince Rui took Li Jiǎo’s hand.

“Thanks to My Lord’s blessing, our child has been saved.”

The prince’s joy was impossible to hide, showing how much he valued the child in her womb.

Prince Rui was indeed in high spirits, his tone much more relaxed: “In my opinion, we should thank Third Miss for her blessing.”

Li Jiǎo’s smile faded, but she quickly covered it up: “Yes, that our child could be saved this time is all thanks to Third Sister.”

“More than that! Jiǎo, do you know that Third Miss just diagnosed three concubines as pregnant?”

Li Jiǎo’s eyes suddenly widened: “What?”

Prince Rui laughed heartily: “This is wonderful! Now you four are all pregnant. The prince’s residence will soon become lively.”

Li Jiǎo’s eyelids rolled back, and she fainted.

After Qiao Zhao returned to the Li residence, she was summoned by Old Madam Deng for a talk.

Hearing that Li Jiǎo was safe, Old Madam Deng dismissed the servants and asked seriously: “Third girl, the child in your eldest sister’s womb… is it male or female?”