Cheng Yujin feigned polite rejection two times before she finally bowed in thanks and left Kunning Palace. After she returned to Ciqing Palace, the lack of tension seemed to exacerbate her nausea and fatigue. Cheng Yujin sat slumped on the soft cushions, massaging her forehead lightly. Du Ruo, who came in with a bowl of nourishing tonic, frowned and asked, “Crown Princess, what’s wrong with you?”
Cheng Yujin shook her head: “I don’t know. I’ve been a little sleepy since yesterday. Even though I slept so long, I still feel lethargic after waking up.”
Du Ruo frowned and turned to ask Lian Qiao: “Is there anything unusual about the food and drink Her Highness consumes these days?”
Lian Qiao also knew the seriousness of this matter and began to recall with a deep frown. The two servant girls pondered hard for a long time, but couldn’t think of anything that might be wrong. After a while, a flash of light suddenly appeared in Du Ruo’s eyes, “Crown Princess, has your period arrived this month?”
As soon as these words came out, Lian Qiao was also stunned. Only then did she remember that Cheng Yujin indeed hadn’t had her period this month.
Cheng Yujin frowned: “Not yet. Is it because I’m about to have my period?”
“Oh, Crown Princess.” Du Ruo was anxious. Crown Princess was usually really smart, but she was also very slow in some aspects. Du Ruo couldn’t help lowering her voice and whispered: “Crown Princess, maybe this is the good news you are waiting for.”
The good news? Cheng Yujin suddenly realized what was going on. She stared at Du Ruo with a rare dazed expression, “Really? But I didn’t feel anything. In the case we were wrong, then…”
It was very rare for Cheng Yujin to be so indecisive. Of course she was looking forward to having children. Not only her, but also Li Chengjing, the Emperor, the entire Cheng family, and many court officials… all of them were looking forward to the arrival of the child from her womb. But precisely because she was carrying too much hope, Cheng Yujin became timid. What if she hastily called the imperial physician and attracted the attention of the entire inner palace, but it turned out to be a mistake? Wouldn’t she lose too much face then?
Du Ruo and Lian Qiao also didn’t know what to do. The mistress and her two servant girls looked at each other, totally at a loss. At this moment, a eunuch’s voice suddenly rang outside: “The Crown Prince has arrived.”
Cheng Yujin was still immersed in the dilemma when she suddenly heard Li Chengjing’s return. Taken off guard, she had no time to react when Li Chengjing strode into the inner hall with quick steps. Still wearing the crimson court attire, he seemed to have just come back from Wenhua Palace.
When Li Chengjing entered the hall, what he first saw was Cheng Yujin, who was reclining on the couch with a pale face. Seeing this, Li Chengjing felt a pang in his heart and quickly hastened his pace to stop her from getting up to greet him, “Don’t move. I heard from the servants that you are sick?”
As soon as his words fell, Li Chengjing had moved to Cheng Yujin’s side. He casually took off his outer robe and cap, then sat on the couch. He then reached out his hand to support Cheng Yujin’s shoulder and carefully examined her complexion: “What’s the matter?”
Cheng Yujin opened her mouth, but no words came out. Should she tell him? But it was just Du Ruo’s guess. In case she was wrong, wouldn’t it be embarrassing?
Seeing Cheng Yujin’s expression, Li Chengjing’s heart sank. No trivial matter could make Cheng Yujin so hesitant. Li Chengjing couldn’t wait anymore and directly issued an order: “Summon an imperial physician.”
“Your Highness!” Cheng Yujin quickly grabbed Li Chengjing’s hand and said, “It’s not a big deal. There’s no need to make a fuss.”
“You’re sick. Isn’t it a big deal?” Li Chengjing’s tone was firm, and he refused to yield to Cheng Yujin this time, “Liu Yi, you go.”
“Yes.” Liu Yi made a quick salute and turned to leave. Seeing that the matter could not be hidden, Cheng Yujin finally said, “Your Highness, I have something to tell you.”
When Liu Yi heard this, he stopped and turned to Li Chengjing. Li Chengjing’s eyes were still fixed on Cheng Yujin, but he raised his hand and signaled Liu Yi to stop.
“What’s the matter?”
Li Chengjing’s eyes were full of worry. Cheng Yujin sighed inside, leaned to his ear, and whispered softly. After that, Cheng Yujin returned to her position and straightened her back. Meanwhile, Li Chengjing was stunned for a long time before he finally realized what Cheng Yujin had just said.
Fully taken aback, Li Chengjing raised his eyebrows and exclaimed: “You…”
Cheng Yujin hurriedly pressed her finger on Li Chengjing’s lips: “It’s still a guess! Your Highness, please do not make a loud noise!”
Seeing the Crown Princess’ brashness, all the servants in the hall immediately lowered their heads, pretending to be deaf and blind. Li Chengjing didn’t pay attention to Cheng Yujin’s actions at all. His brain was overwhelmed now, and he was unable to notice anything else.
Li Chengjing subconsciously touched Cheng Yujin’s finger on his lips. It took him a long time to react. When he finally returned to his senses, he looked at Cheng Yujin with the same gaze as the one used when looking at fragile items. Li Chengjing wanted to hug his wife to express his excitement, but upon seeing her slender shoulders, he didn’t dare to move his hand.
Cheng Yujin was also panicked at first, but seeing Li Chengjing’s reaction, she suddenly wanted to laugh a little: “Your Highness!”
Li Chengjing tapped his nose and said, “Wait a minute, let me calm down first. Oh yes, we must summon an imperial physician.”
Cheng Yujin’s expression changed a bit: “But…”
“Since the possibility is here, we must let an imperial physician give you an examination.” Li Chengjing put Cheng Yujin’s hand into his palm, transmitting his warm temperature. “Don’t worry. This person works for me. He is trustworthy.”
Cheng Yujin felt relieved when she heard this. Liu Yi had been working in the palace for many years. As soon as he saw his master’s reaction, he knew there must be big news. Maybe it was the coming of the long-awaited little master! The Crown Prince and Crown Princess were usually smart and calm, but they had no experience with this kind of thing and were panicked silly as a result. Experienced eunuchs and palace maids dealt with many secrets of the inner palace on a daily basis and thus were very knowledgeable. As a result, Liu Yi could guess at a glance that the Crown Princess might be pregnant.
When Liu Yi thought of this possibility, he didn’t wait for Crown Prince to give the order again and immediately rushed to get an imperial physician.
Soon, Imperial Physician Zhao arrived. Liu Yi should have given him some words on the way, and thus Imperial Physician Zhao looked solemn when he entered the hall. He first greeted Li Chengjing, who waved his hand casually and signaled to quickly examine the Crown Princess.
At this moment, the draped curtain in the inner hall was put down. Cheng Yujin held out her arm through the curtain. Du Ruo knelt on the ground and covered Cheng Yujin’s wrist with a handkerchief. Imperial Physician Zhao cautiously touched Cheng Yujin’s hand via the handkerchief and began to read her pulse. After a while, he said solemnly, “Crown Princess, forgive this subject’s rudeness, but can you switch to another hand?”
Cheng Yujin held out another arm as told. This time, Imperial Physician Zhao read the pulse much shorter than the previous time. Seemingly had confirmed something, he quickly stood up and cupped his hands to Li Chengjing: “Reporting to Your Highness. The Crown Princess’ pulse is rolling smoothly like a bead on a slope. This subject is positive that the Crown Princess has a slippery pulse.”
