Chapter 12: with translation of chapter title

Imperial Physician Dong cautiously glanced at Shang Jing's top evil god, Xiao Yin, and felt waves of dizziness.

Xiao Yin is now a world‑troubling demon in Shang Jing; offending him would bring countless troubles, but offending the Empress Dowager right now would mean losing one's head immediately.

He slowly rose and said with utmost caution: "Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, I have seen this prescription before."

Just take a drop of blood from the Princess Consort of Rui's womb and a drop from Prince Rui, then, as with the usual blood‑drop kinship test, the truth will be revealed.

Empress Dowager Ning An said with a stern face: "Then let's do it your way!"

Gu Jiu Ling felt uneasy; although she thought this blood‑drop kinship test was sheer nonsense, time travel itself was nonsense.

Who could know what the rules of this other world really are?

Moreover, she truly did not know who the father of the child in her belly was; she only knew that that scoundrel had a horizontal slash scar across his chest, which felt terrifying to the touch.

Besides that, she knew nothing else.

If they really went ahead with the test, it would cause trouble; she lifted her head and looked at Xiao Yin.

Xiao Yin's face was also grim beyond compare; no one expected Empress Dowager Ning An to give Prince Rui no face at all, it seemed mother and son had completely torn apart.

Gu Jiu Ling tightly shut her eyes; at this moment Xiao Yin could do nothing.

After all, the Empress Dowager demanded the test, and it was for the sake of the imperial bloodline; Xiao Yin could not stop it.

Soon, the matrons from the bamboo lodge came in one after another, placed a chair beside Gu Jiu Ling, and hung a thin gauze around—this meant the test would happen right then, allowing Gu Jiu Ling no room to retreat.

Gu Jiu Ling had to sit in the chair; the gauze curtains were drawn, gradually separating her from Xiao Yin.

At that instant, a flicker of guilt passed through Xiao Yin's eyes, fleeting yet it made Gu Jiu Ling's heart pound.

Was this guy preparing to abandon her?

After all, they had only just married, their relationship was merely cooperative; now, sacrificing the pawn to save the chariot, Gu Jiu Ling had no reason to expect Xiao Yin to protect her.

She felt a twinge of regret for her dowry, not knowing who would benefit from her wealth if she died.

No, she could not die!

Imperial Physician Dong walked up to her behind the gauze, handed a silver needle to the head matron beside him, and said, "Please help the Princess Consort of Rui draw blood."

That matron entered the gauze; two palace maids had already helped Gu Jiu Ling remove her outer garments, and the matron squatted before her, about to lean in and prick.

"Wait!" Gu Jiu Ling seized her wrist.

Head Matron Li, who served Empress Dowager Ning An, felt her expression shift slightly when Gu Jiu Ling grabbed her wrist.

Gu Jiu Ling smiled faintly: "Matron, pricking is fine, but I am in great pain; better to bring the bowl of clean water in, draw one needle‑drop of blood directly, to avoid breaking the needle, then having to go out for another bowl and come back in to draw blood, which would hurt."

She said this on purpose for those outside to hear; Imperial Physician Dong is a physician, not one of the Embroidered Uniform Guard's executioners who specialize in torture.

He found this reasonable, handed the bowl full of clean water to Matron Li, and whispered, "Following the spot I told you, just prick once; let the blood drop fall straight into the bowl."

Matron Li nodded, holding the needle in one hand while ordering another palace maid to hold the bowl.

Unexpectedly, as Matron Li prepared to prick again, Gu Jiu Ling panicked and shouted, knocking over the bowl held by a palace maid, spilling the water.

"Sorry, sorry, just scared of the pain!" Gu Jiu Ling gave a bitter smile.

Matron Li's patience was exhausted; if she couldn't finish this task, the Empress Dowager would surely be displeased.

One of the palace maids was also anxious: "Matron, should we go fetch another bowl?"

"No need, just pour clean water into this bowl!"

Matron Li's face darkened; she looked at Gu Jiu Ling with a hint of menace and coldly said, "Princess Consort, there's no need to stall—even if you delay until today next year, it will be the same."

She snorted coldly, then drove the needle hard into Gu Jiu Ling's lower abdomen; Gu Jiu Ling grunted in pain, gasping.

A bright red bead of blood fell into the bowl; another palace maid helped Gu Jiu Ling dress and removed the surrounding curtains.

Matron Li took the bowl from the palace maid's hand, walked to Xiao Yin, bowed, and said, "Prince, please."

Xiao Yin remained silent, frost settling on his handsome face; Empress Dowager Ning An, seated in the place of honor, slowly lifted her teacup, glanced at Gu Jiu Ling's pallid face, then finally rested her gaze on Xiao Yin.

"Yin'er, the Empress Dowager also does this for your own good; the imperial bloodline cannot be spoken of lightly—this is a matter of state!"

Xiao Yin furrowed his brows, slowly raised his hand, glanced again at Gu Jiu Ling, and his eyes grew more complex.

Gu Jiu Ling dared not look at him, head lowered, silent, her demeanor listless—likely from fright—but no one could see the hint of mockery hidden in her eyes.

Xiao Yin inhaled, pricked his fingertip with the silver needle, and a drop of blood rolled into the enamel‑colored porcelain bowl.

Everyone's eyes fixed on the bowl; the two blood beads drifted with the water's ripples, drew near, circled a while, then gradually merged together.

Splash!

Empress Dowager Ning An's teacup in her hand shattered on the floor instantly; she rose and stared fixedly at Xiao Yin, "How could this be?"

Consort Duan also rose, staring in disbelief at the bowl where the blood had completely fused; even Xiao Yin looked somewhat dazed.

Then she turned her face toward Gu Jiu Ling, a profound look flashing in her eyes.

Gu Jiu Ling kept her head down, her fingers lightly rubbing her belly; a trace of pure white powder still clung to them—she had taken it from her space just then and, when she overturned the palace maid's water bowl, had slipped it in.

The powder vanished from her palm, leaving no trace.

Enzyme powder, a potent biological catalyst—let alone her blood and Xiao Yin's, even if a pig's blood were drawn and catalyzed by this substance, it could perfectly merge with Xiao Yin's blood.

At that moment, Matron Li felt holding the porcelain bowl was like grasping a lump of burning coal; her face twitched.

Imperial Physician Dong also stared at Xiao Yin in disbelief; when Prince Rui was brought back to the capital seven years ago, every member of the Imperial Medical Institute had gone to the Rui Wang Fu.

His injuries were truly severe, especially that part—wasn't it said to be ruined? Could it really have recovered?

Moreover, it made Miss Gu pregnant with twins—what heaven‑defying luck!

Empress Dowager Ning An's face sank severely; she also felt she had lost composure, slowly sat down, and after great effort managed a smile.

Her gaze fell on Su Wanrou, who had come with Xiao Yin and looked on the verge of tears; her eyes flickered involuntarily.

Empress Dowager Ning An smiled faintly: "Yin'er, this must be the Wan lady from your manor, right?"

Xiao Yin grunted in reply, his tone perfunctory—clearly he was angry.

Empress Dowager Ning An paid no mind, waved gently at Su Wanrou with a loving smile and said, "Good child, come over so I may look at you; I have often heard Yin'er mention you, and indeed you are a lovely beauty."

Su Wanrou had not yet recovered from the news that Xiao Yin had a child; the Empress Dowager's greeting left her somewhat dazed.

She had always thought Gu Jiu Ling was carrying a bastard's child and shamelessly forced herself into marriage with Xiao Yin, but she never expected it to actually be the Prince's child; for a moment she almost burst into tears.

Upon hearing the Empress Dowager's meaning, a glimmer of hope sparked in her heart.

Everyone is smart; the Empress Dowager clearly dislikes Gu Jiu Ling, but now her gaze suddenly turned to her, and she hurried over, bowing to the Empress Dowager.

But as she bent over, she felt a slight bloating and pain in her abdomen.

She had been fine when she arrived, but this sensation grew stronger and stronger, and she could only endure it desperately.

"Wan'er, greetings to the Empress Dowager!" Su Wanrou gave a gentle salute.

The Empress Dowager laughed, tightly grasping Su Wanrou's hand: "Indeed, you're a remarkable person; over the years Yin'er has given you no title, truly neglecting you."

"Like this, today I will decide; since Yin'er has taken a wife, you should also mention your rank."

Su Wanrou's eyes instantly lit up, a flash of joy crossing her face.

She hadn't expected the Empress Dowager to back her up.

On the side, Gu Jiu Ling secretly shook her head: "Damn, what a fool, being used as a pawn."

Obviously the Empress Dowager wants to create discord in Xiao Yin's harem; ideally she could use Su Wanrou's hand to do something, to get rid of the child in her belly.

Xiao Yin's face also looked grim; he suddenly regretted bringing this woman back. Had he not been worried about leaving her in a separate villa, fearing someone might harm the loyal and good, he would really have wanted to throw her out this time.

Upon hearing the Empress Dowager's meaning, it was to make her a concubine; she was overjoyed and hurriedly knelt down.

Just as she was about to speak, a discordant sound suddenly burst from her body, and the odor directly assailed the Empress Dowager.

Empress Dowager……

Su Wanrou……

"Em… Empress Dowager… Your Ladyship…"

Pfft! Pfft-pfft!

Everyone……