Chapter 71: False Pregnancy, Fight for Favor

Chu Yunzheng's eyes turned suddenly cold, and Li Defu trembled as he took the letter.

The Emperor's fingertip paused briefly, then he lifted his gaze toward Wan Tang.

She knelt in the hall, her complexion as pale as paper, yet she kept her back straight.

The eyes of the officials from the Ministry of War flashed with bloodthirsty light.

A branch of the Xiao family exchanged glances in secret.

Neutral officials kept their heads down, fearing any implication.

The offspring of the harem are the foundation of the nation; moreover, Chu Yunzheng has no child yet, while Lady Qi and Wan Tang are both pregnant.

Who can bear a prince? It's truly uncertain.

But Wan Tang is an orphan, belonging to a side with no backing at all.

Lady Qi, on the other hand, belongs to the Xiao family.

Now, at the palace banquet, Wan Tang clashes sharply with the Xu family; could she have already aligned with the Empress's faction?

Everyone at the banquet is speculating; on the surface it seems like a dead pond, but in reality it is a green‑black abyss.

Chu Yunzheng's knuckles on the letter turn white as he reads carefully, a terrifying storm churning in his eyes.

He slowly lifts his gaze, his eyes stabbing at Wan Tang like a blade.

"Wan Pin, regarding what the letter says, do you have anything to say?"

His voice is low and icy, no longer the gentle tone of before.

The Emperor's murderous intent in his eyes almost solidifies, as if in the next instant he would tear her apart with a thousand knives.

Wan Tang's heart is more frantic than anyone's, yet she forces herself to stay calm; now she must not lose composure.

【This letter—did it actually get delivered?】

【Didn't Xu Chengyuan say he didn't believe the contents of this letter? Then why is it still on his person?】

【Is the bedside gossip really that strong? It makes Xu Chengyuan not even recognize his own inner‑chamber lady?】

【What is bedside gossip? Where could Xu Chengyuan be the type to spread it? Didn't the earlier plot say that Wang Jingyi holds leverage over him, forcing Xu Chengyuan to abandon those two children?】

Wan Tang suppresses all emotion, refusing to show any crack.

She lowers her head and bites out: "I am wronged."

Chu Yunzheng's gaze carries a hint of turmoil, yet he still tosses the letter down, it landing on Wan Tang's face.

His words are purely cold: "How do you explain this?"

The letter's content is entirely about Wan Tang's false pregnancy; it details daily pulse readings, regular diet, even a single hiccup, all written with crystal clarity.

Wan Tang begins to sweat.

What terrifies her is not the fact that she is not pregnant, but the exhaustive details in the letter.

Only three people could know it in such detail.

And those three are also the people Wan Tang trusts the most.

Xu Chengyuan snorts coldly again, steps forward, and declares loudly, "Emperor, I have already consulted a renowned physician and examined these pulse records in detail."

"The renowned physician has said that this is not a pregnancy at all, just a case of gastric distension!"

"Oh my!" Xiao Mingshu covers her lips in shock, phoenix eyes wide open, an expression of disbelief, "Wan Pin sister, you... you how could you do such a thing?"

Her fingertips tremble, as if in anguish, yet a flash of triumph glints in her eyes.

"Absurd!"

Li Pin leaps up, slamming the table, her golden hairpin rattling, "General Xu, you use an unknown letter to defame the Imperial Heir?"

She steps forward a few paces, kneels beside Wan Tang: "Emperor, Consort Wan gives daily morning sickness; the Imperial Medical Institute has records—how could it be false?"

She knows Wan Tang plotted to send her to the Cold Palace, yet now they are grasshoppers on the same rope!

Li Pin and the Lin family have wagered everything on the child, leaving no room for error.

Even though her pregnancy is now under suspicion, Li Pin is terrified to death, yet she can only grit her teeth and stand by Wan Tang.

Wan Tang kneels on the ground, her fingertips digging hard into her palm.

She feels a chill all over, yet forces herself to lift her head, tears streaming: "Emperor, I am wronged..."

Her voice chokes, but she does not know how long this drama can still be performed.

Chu Yunzheng's complexion is no longer merely unsightly, but as cold as iron.

He stares rigidly at Wan Tang, his knuckles cracking, as if he will tear her apart in the next second.

Yet when he looks into her tear‑filled eyes, his heart involuntarily jolts hard.

Bits and pieces flash through his mind; perhaps among them lies a misunderstanding.

Perhaps Wan Tang has indeed been wronged?

"Human hearts are unfathomable, Emperor."

"I, the consort, am most unwilling to believe Wan Pin could do such a thing."

"Yet in this palace, countless strange events have truly been witnessed by me."

Xiao Mingshu sighs lightly, phoenix eyes tinged with worry, "Shall we summon the Imperial physician for questioning? It would also restore Wan Pin sister's innocence."

Her tone is gentle, but as she lowers her gaze in an instant, her eyes become overly cold.

A few words, appearing to defend Wan Tang, actually push her into a true abyss.

It forces the Emperor to continue the investigation.

"Emperor!" Wan Tang bows heavily, cold sweat sliding down her temples, "My pulse has always been personally attended by Xie Taiyi..."

She lifts her gaze, tears streaming: "I beg the Emperor to summon Xie Taiyi for a face‑to‑face interrogation!"

Wan Tang truly has no other recourse.

She only hopes that once Xie Taiyi arrives, there will still be room for the situation to turn around.

Chu Yunzheng closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, he had restored his imperial bearing: "Chuan, Xie Huairen!"

His voice was low, but he emphasized the three words "Xie Huairen."

This is the last chance for Wan Tang.

Li Defu hurried back, cold sweat beading on his forehead: "Yes, Emperor, the Imperial Medical Institute staff have all arrived, but …"

He swallowed: "Imperial Physician Xie was injured on his head last night and remains unconscious."

Chu Yunzheng frowned slightly, and Li Defu hurriedly explained: "It seems she was injured on the way back from consulting Consort Wan last night."

Wan Tang's fingertips suddenly pinched into her palm.

Imperial Physician Xie is in trouble!

Is it the Xu Family? Or the Empress?

She forced down her panic, lifted her eyes to Chu Yunzheng, and saw a faint, obscure emotion flash in the Emperor's eyes.

"Heh." Xu Chengyuan sneered, "How very convenient."

Wang Jingyi feigned a sigh: "Oh dear, could it be that someone, feeling guilty, is eager to silence a witness?"

With their words, the already tense atmosphere grew even heavier.

"Audacious!" Chu Yunzheng thundered, slamming the dragon desk so it rang, "If you dare speak rashly again, I will cut out your tongue!"

Wang Jingyi fell silent at once, but could not hide the smugness in her eyes.

Chu Yunzheng took a deep breath, forcing calmness: "In that case, the imperial physicians may examine this pulse chart."

He tossed the note onto the ground; Li Defu quickly picked it up and handed it to the head of the Imperial Medical Institute.

Xiao Mingshu added in a gentle voice: "Everyone, look closely—do you see anything suspicious?"

A young imperial physician opened the record, puzzled: "I don't know whose Madam this belongs to …"

"Rogue!" Chu Yunzheng suddenly erupted in anger, "I let you look, so where does all this idle talk come from!"

Xiao Mingshu hurriedly tried to smooth things over: "Emperor, calm your anger; they are being cautious."

She turned to the imperial physicians: "You may speak freely."

Wan Tang knelt in the hall, cold sweat soaking her back.

At that moment, she suddenly felt a gaze fall upon her.

She looked up and met Su Yanci's smiling eyes.

That bastard, at a time like this, he still has the heart to smile.

Wan Tang gritted her teeth hard, forced to suspect that this bastard was possessed by a misfortune spirit; otherwise, why could he still smile despite her plight?

The staff of the Imperial Medical Institute whispered among themselves for a moment, and the institute's chief finally stepped forward: "Yes, Emperor, judging from the pulse records …"

He paused, then forced himself to speak: "This woman is not pregnant; the chaotic pulse is merely caused by gastric distention."

The hall erupted in a roar!

Clang—

Li Pin staggered backward, fell to sit on the ground, her gold hairpin crooked, her complexion as pale as paper.

Lin Zehai rolled his eyes and collapsed outright, and when the guards dragged him out of the hall, the hem of his official robe left a disheveled trail on the floor.

The two had wagered everything on Wan Tang's belly, only to find it was false!

All the ministers wore expressions as if watching a comedy.

Wan Tang's breathing grew increasingly heavy.

Chu Yunzheng waved his hand irritably: "Take her away."

Xu Chengyuan sneered, his eagle eyes sharp as knives, as if he had long anticipated this moment.

Wang Jingyi covered her lips with a light sigh, but a malicious delight flashed in her eyes: "See, it truly is! Consort Wan, this woman, dares to deceive the emperor!"

Xiao Mingshu shook her head in anguish, phoenix eyes teary: "Sister Consort Wan, how could you be so foolish?"

Yet the corner of her mouth lifted imperceptibly into a slight curve.

Su Yanci's brows furrowed slightly, his folding fan fluttered lightly, his gaze drifting thoughtfully between the imperial physicians and Consort Wan.

Wan Tang knelt in the center of the hall, her fingertips pinching hard into her palm, blood seeping through the gaps and staining her skirt red.

Her complexion was pale, yet she kept her back straight, as if this could preserve her final dignity.

"Impossible …" Chu Yunzheng's voice was low, a terrifying storm roiling in his eyes, "I do not believe it."

He suddenly pointed at Consort Wan: "Take her pulse! Now!"

"Emperor!" Wan Tang's voice trembled, instinctively shielding her lower abdomen, "I, your humble servant …"

The child is a fake; once examined, everything will be too late.

Even though they are already trying to save her, it seems they cannot match the speed of the opponent's actions.

The Imperial Guards stepped forward, forcefully restraining her wrist and dragging her before the physicians.

The imperial physicians looked at each other, none having expected this.

The one to be diagnosed publicly today turned out to be Consort Wan, whose imperial favor is at its peak!

The institute's chief placed his fingertips on Consort Wan's pulse; moments later his complexion changed dramatically, and he hurriedly knelt: "Yes, Emperor, Consort Wan … is indeed not pregnant!"

The other physicians each stepped forward, and their diagnoses were identical.

Not pregnant.

The pulse is chaotic, caused solely by a stomach ailment.

Wan Tang felt a chill in her heart, planning each move carefully, yet she hadn't expected to be outwitted.

No matter who is behind it, the other side has won.

【My mind feels clogged, is Wan Tang a pig? She can't control any emotion, clearly Wang Jingyi deliberately brought Xu Yanchuan to provoke Wan Tang.】

【It seems the false pregnancy was orchestrated by Wang Jingyi, and the person was brought in on purpose; Wan Tang is finished this time.】

【Actually, I think Tangtang is still very good. From the very beginning, she was already thinking of ways to break the deadlock.】

【But getting pregnant is a process. It's only been two or three days since the relations happened; having a child that fast would be truly strange.】

Is it Wang Jingyi?

Listening to the Barrage, Wan Tang's gaze also slowly fell upon Wang Jingyi.

She had previously probed Xu Luoyan, and she knew nothing at all.

If it were Wang Jingyi, it wasn't impossible either.

But even if it were her, how could she precisely calculate that she herself would come to attend the palace banquet?