The imperial physician never expected Ye Chutang to openly humiliate him, and his face flushed red with anger.
"Miss Ye..."
Ye Chutang cut him off.
"If you wish to take my pulse, you must first solve the challenge I present."
The physician knew she was deliberately making things difficult for him and naturally refused to fall for it.
"I have no time for riddles."
With that, he turned to Xue Dong, the renowned physician. "Since Miss Ye holds no regard for my skills, perhaps Physician Xue should take over."
Xue Dong understood perfectly—if he didn’t examine Ye Chutang and confirm she wasn’t pregnant, the rumors would never fully dissipate.
He looked at her and asked, "Miss Ye, would I have the honor of attempting your challenge?"
His words not only showed her respect but also served as a subtle rebuke to the imperial physician.
At the same time, Ye Chutang realized her earlier assumption had been wrong.
Physician Xue was not her enemy!
Relieved, she nodded. "Of course. Physician Xue, can you eradicate smallpox at its root?"
"No. I can only treat it, and even then, I cannot guarantee every case will be cured."
A faint smile curved Ye Chutang’s lips. "I can."
Xue Dong stared at her in astonishment. "Are you serious, Miss Ye?"
The moment he asked, he felt foolish.
Someone capable of devising prescriptions to prevent and treat plagues naturally had the means to eradicate smallpox.
Shopkeeper Lin, unable to contain his excitement, asked, "Miss Ye, how can it be done?"
"When both I and the other physicians have time, I’ll explain in detail."
"Such an important matter can’t wait! We’ll make time whenever you’re free. Just let me know in advance, and I’ll gather the physicians from all the clinics."
Ye Chutang agreed, then turned back to Xue Dong.
"Though you didn’t solve my challenge, you once saved my life. I’ll grant you this courtesy."
She extended her wrist, palm up.
Xue Dong placed his fingers on her pulse.
Though he didn’t detect the signs of pregnancy, he knew the pulse had been altered—it wasn’t her true reading.
In other words, Ye Chutang was most likely with child.
Otherwise, why go to such lengths?
This young woman’s medical skills were unfathomable—truly remarkable.
He withdrew his hand.
The imperial physician pressed eagerly, "Well, Physician Xue?"
The onlookers craned their necks, straining to hear.
Xue Dong replied calmly, "Miss Ye is not pregnant. Those vile rumors are baseless."
The crowd immediately began murmuring against the imperial physician.
"All those other physicians said Miss Ye was framed, yet he insisted on examining her. What was he really after?"
"He was probably sent by the rumor-mongers to smear her name!"
"Exactly! But Physician Xue ruined their scheme."
The imperial physician caught fragments of their words and shot them a cold glare.
Satisfied when they fell silent, he said smugly, "Physician Xue, I shall return to the palace first. Don’t forget—you must be back by the hour of Shen."
Once he left, Xue Dong turned to Ye Chutang.
"Miss Ye, your medical knowledge is astounding. There are some ailments I’d like to discuss with you—if you have the time?"
She sensed he had more to say.
Nodding, she replied, "It would be my honor to exchange knowledge with you."
"My clinic isn’t far. Would you accompany me there?"
The crowd dispersed, spreading the news that Ye Chutang was indeed innocent.
She followed Xue Dong to his clinic.
It was small, modestly furnished, with items haphazardly placed.
His apprentice was still in the mountains gathering herbs.
Brushing dust off a stool with his sleeve, Xue Dong said, "Please sit, Miss Ye. I’ll prepare tea."
She stopped him. "There’s no need for formalities. Let’s speak plainly."
"But conversation dries the throat. I’ll fetch hot water from next door."
He returned shortly with a pot of boiling water and dropped two pieces of dried tangerine peel inside.
Seeing this, Ye Chutang knew he had seen through her deception.
"Why did you help me?" she asked.
Xue Dong poured her a cup of the infused water and countered, "Why did you think I would?"
Had she refused the examination, he couldn’t have forced her—after all, he hadn’t solved her challenge.
Ye Chutang answered, "Because you didn’t side with the imperial physician. In fact, you embarrassed him."
Xue Dong chuckled.
"I thought you only resembled your mother in appearance. But your way of thinking is just like hers."
"Did she say something similar?"
"Yes. The first time I met her, she was distributing porridge to famine victims. I had just returned from the mountains, filthy and exhausted, when starving refugees knocked me down.
Your mother handed me steamed buns and rice gruel. Then bandits, disguised as refugees, rushed forward, trying to take her hostage. They mistook me for an accomplice and ordered me to escort her out of the city."
His smile deepened at the memory.
"I immediately pulled her away, and she didn’t resist. Later, I asked why she trusted me. Can you guess her reply?"
Ye Chutang thought for a moment. "She probably said, ‘Because you didn’t obey the bandits and flee toward the city gates.’"
"Exactly. She was the purest soul I’ve ever known—shrewd in business, yes, but never in matters of the heart."
"And so she died, caught in the petty schemes of the inner court."
Xue Dong sighed, regret and sorrow clouding his expression.
"A life wasted on the wrong man."
Then he shifted to the matter at hand.
"You’re with child, aren’t you? No more than two months along."
A clearly detectable pregnancy pulse would be impossible to conceal entirely.
Ye Chutang admitted, "Yes."
"Whoever spread these rumors won’t stop now. They’ll watch your every move, waiting for you to slip. You may evade them once, ten times—but not a hundred."
She knew that all too well.
Morning sickness was beyond her control.
She couldn’t falsify her pulse indefinitely.
And she lacked the energy to remain perpetually vigilant.
Soon enough, the truth would come out.
Which was why, before even stepping into the clinic to dispel the rumors, she had made a bold decision.
She would go to Prince Chen's Mansion—and force a marriage.
