Chapter Nineteen: The Pulse of Pregnancy

Only then was Li Tinghan satisfied. “Since the physician has arrived, we should not disappoint Wen Niang’s good intentions. Let him see what illness truly afflicts you.”

Shen Tubai clenched her sleeve tightly. She had already surmised that the problem lay with the fabric. She was not pregnant and naturally had no desire to let the doctor feel her pulse.

Li Tinghan noticed her resistance and furrowed his brows deeper. “What? Could it be that you are pretending to be ill in front of Wen Niang without cause?”

“Of course not,” Shen Tubai denied firmly, quietly tugging on Li Tinghan’s sleeve and stepping away from the others.

Leaning close to Li Tinghan’s ear, she whispered her complaint, “It’s all the prince’s fault for pushing me too hard. I haven’t had time to recover, and while Miss Cui’s concern before her marriage was understandable, how could the prince be so inconsiderate? How could I possibly let others examine me in such a state?”

Her tone was a mixture of mild reproach and sweetness, and her words instantly recalled that night of indulgence. Her ears flushed crimson with embarrassment, yet recalling what she had confided to Wen Niang in her letter, she felt a twinge of annoyance.

Li Tinghan reprimanded softly, “Wen Niang is gentle and virtuous, dignified and proper. How could you speak of such things to her and sully her eyes?”

Shen Tubai pouted, treating a trivial matter as a serious command. “Now the prince finds me filthy, yet when I pleaded for mercy back then, why did he not relent? Miss Cui, worried I was faring poorly in the household, asked me to report my well-being every ten days. I only complained once.”

“You wrong me, my lady. If I truly sought to flaunt power without measure, would the physician have come today to visit you?” Shen Tubai babbled on.

Li Tinghan watched her soft lips move and coughed to clear his throat, “So you’re saying it’s still my fault?”

“It’s the prince’s fault,” Shen Tubai feigned annoyance, hiding behind him in a low voice. “Prince, please get this over with quickly, or else I won’t have the face to show myself to anyone ever again.”

Amused by her demeanor, Li Tinghan allowed Shen Tubai to push and pull him toward the physician.

With a smile at the corners of his mouth, Li Tinghan instructed the doctor, “Report truthfully upon your return. She is perfectly well; let Wen Niang rest assured.”

Shen Tubai avoided the physician’s sharp gaze. Since the prince had given the order, there was no room for refusal.

Yet, before coming, the physician had received strict orders from the Cui family. He hesitated for a moment before struggling out, “Entrusted with a duty, I must be loyal. I observe this lady’s complexion is rosy, but her eyes are darkened and her cheeks pale. It seems she has suffered from poor appetite and restless nights recently.”

“If the lady trusts me, it would be best to take her pulse and prescribe some medicine.”

“Is what he says true?” Li Tinghan frowned and looked toward Shen Tubai.

Before Li Tinghan, Shen Tubai could not refuse too openly. She simply stuck out her tongue and whispered, “I am sensitive to the cold; every change of season brings this on. I do not want medicine, nor needles. Prince, please do not trouble me.”

“You,” Li Tinghan teased, gently pinching her nose.

The next moment, he pressed her firmly onto the bed, leaving no room for refusal. “You cannot avoid treatment by hiding your illness. Let the physician examine you properly.”

Through the thin gauze, the doctor felt her pulse. Shen Tubai watched his expression nervously.

She was unsure if she was truly pregnant, but if not, she had no doubt Lady Cui would carry out her threat.

Instinctively, Shen Tubai glanced at Li Tinghan. At that moment, would he save her?

Noticing her gaze, Li Tinghan gave a reassuring smile, then asked the doctor, “You have taken her pulse for a long time; is there any problem?”

The doctor released her wrist, his expression complicated, as if uncertain how to answer.

“Why did you not tell me, Sister Shen, that you were ill? If I had not known, people would think I was too stingy to seek medical help for you. If the prince asks, would it not become my fault?”

Lu Consort wore a crimson dress, regaining her former radiant charm.

Since Shen Tubai’s words at the banquet, Lu Consort had been too frightened to leave her chambers for days. Monks and Taoist priests came and went; the Frost Court was nearly soaked in sandalwood incense.

If not for Li Tinghan’s stern reprimand, the ritual might have continued to this day.

Shen Tubai turned toward the voice and saw Lu Consort, though spirited, was heavily made up, her entire being exuding exhaustion as if she had not yet shaken off the weight of those words.

What concerned Shen Tubai more was the physician standing behind her.

Meeting Shen Tubai’s eyes, Lu Yuanshuang curled a malicious smile, then proudly introduced to Li Tinghan, “This is Doctor Wen, a disciple of the current chief physician of the Imperial Medical Institute — not like ordinary country doctors.”

“If the current doctor cannot diagnose Sister Shen’s condition, why not let Doctor Wen try?”

Before Shen Tubai could refuse, Lu Yuanshuang stepped aside, pushing away the physician Li Tinghan had brought. Doctor Wen swiftly grasped Shen Tubai’s wrist.

In less than a tea’s time, Doctor Wen’s face changed drastically. He suddenly released her wrist, sweat beading on his forehead.

After Lu Consort inquired, he was so frightened he knelt, trembling, “Prince, have mercy! Consort, have mercy!”

Feigning innocence, Lu Consort said, “I came to ask you to diagnose her. Even if Sister Shen is beyond cure, it is not your fault. What are you doing?”

Covering her mouth with a handkerchief to stifle laughter, she glanced sideways at Li Tinghan.

Shen Tubai’s heart pounded like a drum, unease mounting.

Doctor Wen bowed deeply, voice trembling, “To answer Consort’s question, this Miss Shen is… with child.”

Lu Consort echoed, “Finding a pregnancy is good news. Prince, you should reward him rather than ask for mercy. Why are you begging?”

Doctor Wen’s wrist trembled. “I dare not. From the pulse, it appears Miss Shen is three months pregnant.”

Hearing this, Shen Tubai felt as if a great stone had been lifted from her heart.

Before, she had not understood their intentions, but now she did — and she knew how to respond.

“Three months?” Lu Consort exclaimed, grabbing Li Tinghan’s arm in disbelief. “Sister Shen has only been in the household a month…”

Even now, Li Tinghan’s expression remained inscrutable, but his gaze deepened as he looked at Shen Tubai.

Unwilling to concede, Shen Tubai met his eyes, her own growing moist.

Li Tinghan’s breath faltered; he turned back to Doctor Wen, voice low and laced with restrained anger. “Doctor Wen, are you certain of your examination?”

Wiping the cold sweat from his brow, Doctor Wen replied, “Prince, I have studied medicine for many years. Such a clear pregnancy pulse cannot be mistaken. I will keep this matter completely secret. I beg for your mercy!”