Chapter 276: False Yun Shan

"Lord Chi, what on earth did you do? On your first day as a new official you made the Emperor so angry; if you anger the Emperor a few more times, your office will be at its end."

Chi Nan Yi smiled and said, "It won't happen, but thank you, father‑in‑law, for the reminder."

She lifted her medicine box, ready to leave, when a granny blocked the way.

At a glance she recognized that granny as the Empress's personal attendant.

"Grandma Qin."

"May I present Lord Chi."

"What business do you have, granny?"

"We have heard that while you are in the Palace, the Empress is pregnant, and considering your excellent medical skill, we would like you to examine her pulse for safety in the Empress's palace."

Chi Nan Yi smiled and nodded, "Now that you mention it, I have not yet congratulated the Empress on her pregnancy; today I have some free time, and after being sent out by the Emperor, I could indeed go to the Empress's palace to take a look."

"Please."

She followed Grandma Qin all the way to the Empress's bedchamber.

At that moment, the Empress leaned against a soft couch, rubbing her temples, her face showing fatigue.

The fatigue was not feigned; even her lip color was a few shades duller than normal.

"Empress, Lord Chi has arrived."

The Empress heard this, slowly opened her eyes, a hint of cold in her gaze as she looked at the woman walking in.

"May I present Your Majesty, the Empress."

The Empress did not let her rise, only thinking of giving her a good scolding.

She never expected that Chi Nan Yi would stand up on her own without being called.

"How daring!" Grandma Qin shouted, "The Empress did not call you to rise; how could you stand up on your own?"

Chi Nan Yi heard this and gave a faint smile, "Even when paying respects to the Emperor, one need not kneel constantly. The Empress today has a request of mine; does she still intend to keep me kneeling here forever? That's a bit too self‑important." Seeing her increasingly displeased expression, Chi Nan Yi continued, "I could have refused to examine you, but I hold an imperial edict and am only authorized to take the Emperor's pulse. If the Empress doubts this, she may ask the Emperor." She smoothed her sleeves, nonchalantly saying, "I see the Empress still has the energy to test me, not a grave illness; I will take my leave."

"Stop!" the Empress sat upright, her gaze cold, "No wonder you're from Prince Li's tutelage; your temperament is as unruly as his."

"Your praise is misplaced, Empress; I am not a disciple of Prince Li. I am naturally this unruly, yet I have restrained myself before you."

The Empress heard this, her complexion turning even worse.

"Fine, I am unwell today and will not argue with you." She extended her arm, "Take my pulse."

Chi Nan Yi, without even taking out a pulse pillow, placed her hand directly on the Empress's wrist; the Empress, seeing this, became even more furious.

After a moment, Chi Nan Yi withdrew her hand.

"How is it?"

"Not very good."

"What does that mean?"

"It is exactly what it sounds like." Chi Nan Yi said bluntly, "The Empress is forcing conception, having taken medicine before intercourse; this child is forced, and naturally conflicts with your body."

Hearing this, the Empress felt a sudden jolt in her heart.

Only by pulse diagnosis, she managed to explain the matter so clearly.

Wasn't the medicine supposed to be highly secret, unknown to others?

"Is there any way to help me keep this child?"

"Of course." Chi Nan Yi smiled, "Rest assured, as long as the Empress needs, I will spare no effort to protect this fetus for the Empress."

"Really? You truly are willing to help me?"

"Yes." It was exactly what I had been hoping for.

She was eager to know what expression the Empress would have after giving birth, upon learning that the Emperor had long lost fertility.

Moreover, the Emperor shared this intention.

He intends to use this child to crush the Empress, the Qin family, and the forces behind the Qin family in one blow.

Speaking of it, this Emperor is indeed rather incompetent.

Just after leaving the Palace, a carriage rushed up.

"Miss, the Prince says his subordinate will escort you to a place."

Chi Nan Yi glanced at Yun Shan, smiled and nodded.

Getting into the carriage, Yun Shan cracked the whip, racing toward the outskirts of the city.

Watching the increasingly desolate scenery outside, Chi Nan Yi remained unperturbed.

"Why is your Prince here?"

"I do not know either; I only received a message from the Prince, ordering me to bring you here."

After that, Chi Nan Yi asked no further.

The carriage continued onward, soon completely leaving Jingcheng.

"How much longer?"

"Miss, we will arrive shortly; if you are tired, you may rest for a while."

"Fine, just call me when we arrive."

Some time later, when the carriage stopped, night had fallen.

Chi Nan Yi slowly opened her eyes; outside was pitch black.

"Yun Shan, Yun Shan?"

Smelling a strong kerosene odor, Chi Nan Yi lifted the corner of her mouth slightly and stepped out of the carriage.

At that moment, a burst of flames erupted where she stood, and the carriage was instantly engulfed.

The man impersonating Yun Shan had a strange glint in his eyes, pulled off the human‑skin mask on his face, and laughed loudly, "I thought you were truly exceptionally clever, but now it's clear you're just a fool; being killed so easily by me is no big deal." He produced a slip of paper, whistled, and a gray bird landed on his shoulder.

The bird, clutching the note, flew away swiftly; he gazed darkly at the blazing carriage, about to turn away when suddenly a cold object stuck to his throat.

Instantly, the alarm bell rang loudly.

"Want to kill me?" Chi Nan Yi's voice echoed softly by his ear: "You're not qualified enough."

The man's heart jumped in shock, and his face turned deathly pale.

"You! You! You weren't burned to death in the fire?"

"You want to burn me to death? Miss, I've acted with you all day, and you actually think you're some master of disguise?"

In fact, she saw through the fake Yun Shan the moment he appeared.

The real Yun Shan has a special birthmark on his neck.

She noticed it the first time she saw Yun Shan.

The birthmark is positioned rather high, so the collar can't cover it.

But his neck has none.

"You can't even keep up a pretense—what do you think you can accomplish? Let me guess……" She flicked her finger, struck his pressure point, then slapped his face hard, spitting out a blue pill mixed with his broken teeth.

Here, you don't even have the right to kill yourself.

Seeing her act so ruthlessly and decisively, the man's heart sank.

Today I'm probably going to suffer.

Let me guess—you're probably from the Seek Dragon Gate.

She remembered that Cang Ying had said they contacted each other using gray birds.

"You… what are you saying? I don't understand."

It's fine if you don't understand; someday you'll want to explain yourself to me.

As she finished speaking, she waved her arm and the man's figure vanished instantly.

Not long after, his painful howls echoed in her mind.

Please, I'll talk! I'll talk!

Still not enough; you want to speak now, but I don't want to listen.