A few days later, Gu Jupu's fingers, resting on the wrist of Low-Rank Concubine Yan, trembled involuntarily.
His heart raced, and even his breathing became slightly labored.
The drowsy Low-Rank Concubine Yan looked in confusion at Gu Jupu, who remained motionless and silent on the floor.
"Director Gu, what is wrong? Have I contracted some illness?"
With Imperial Physician Jiao's sudden departure from the capital, the head of the Imperial Hospital had taken over the care of these low-ranking concubines. Low-Rank Concubine Yan was overwhelmed by this favor, and his earnest, responsible, and hands-on attitude had won their praise and trust.
Resting his left hand on his medical box, Gu Jupu slowly stood up. "Congratulations, My Lady. You are with child."
A teacup filled to the brim crashed onto the floor. Low-Rank Concubine Yan blinked, failing to process the words for a moment.
"What did you say?"
Gu Jupu repeated, "To answer you, My Lady, you are already a month and a half pregnant."
The only palace maid in the room looked at Low-Rank Concubine Yan in absolute shock. It had been over a decade since any concubine in the palace had become pregnant, and now her lady was expecting?
Coming to her senses, Low-Rank Concubine Yan immediately looked down and placed her hands over her stomach. "I am pregnant... I am pregnant!"
Weeping tears of joy, she covered her mouth and hurriedly instructed the maid.
"Caixia, go quickly and tell the Emperor. Tell him I am with child."
The maid named Caixia nodded hastily and ran outside, almost tripping over the threshold in her carelessness.
Soon, Xiao Chengjing arrived, clad in his dragon robes.
His intense gaze fixed on Low-Rank Concubine Yan's stomach, his eyes brimming with pleasant surprise.
"Gu Jupu, I am entrusting Low-Rank Concubine Yan's pregnancy to your care. You must ensure she safely delivers a prince."
Gu Jupu nearly choked on his own saliva. What if she gave birth to a princess?
"This humble official obeys Your Majesty's decree."
It did not take long for the news of Low-Rank Concubine Yan's pregnancy to spread to every concubine in the inner palace.
For a time, hundreds of people simply could not accept it.
No one in the inner palace had been pregnant for over ten years. They had assumed it was because the Emperor was getting older and his endurance was lacking, which was why they could not conceive.
But now, Low-Rank Concubine Yan had become pregnant after only two months of his favor. Could it be that the Emperor was not the problem after all?
Upon learning of Low-Rank Concubine Yan's pregnancy, the Empress immediately rushed over to offer endless advice and arranged for over a dozen palace maids and eunuchs to wait on her.
If the other concubines were merely jealous of Low-Rank Concubine Yan, the birth mothers of the Prince of Qi and the Prince of Ying were downright terrified.
If a prince was born, wouldn't that mean another rival competing with their sons for the throne!
The Prince of Ying's birth mother, Noble Consort Rong, slumped onto her couch, muttering to herself in disbelief.
"How could she be pregnant? Hasn't the Emperor already..." She shut her mouth tightly just before the words slipped out, her brows locked in a deep frown.
The Emperor had already lost his ability to sire children, so how could he get a woman pregnant?
When the Prince of Qi, Xiao Rongche, first heard the news, he thought it was a mere rumor.
"Who is this Low-Rank Concubine Yan? Why have I never heard of her?"
The steward responsible for relaying palace news replied, "Recently, the Emperor has bestowed his favor upon quite a few young, low-ranking concubines who were previously out of favor. Low-Rank Concubine Yan is one of them. Director Gu stated that she is already a month and a half pregnant."
Xiao Rongche placed his hands on either side of his forehead, massaging his temples with his palms.
"Imperial Father is already at such an age. How can a prince still be born? This child truly should not have come."
The steward reminded him softly, "Your Highness, perhaps it will be a princess."
Xiao Rongche opened his eyes, a dark glint flashing in their depths.
It had better be a princess. If it was a prince, there was no guarantee he would grow up safely.
Upon learning of Low-Rank Concubine Yan's pregnancy, Xiao Rongyan rushed straight to the palace to question Noble Consort Rong.
All the servants in the Palace of Eternal Harmony were dismissed from the room.
"Mother, how could Low-Rank Concubine Yan be expecting? Didn't you say that Imperial Father could no longer impregnate women?"
Noble Consort Rong sat on her chaise longue, her face filled with worry.
"I do not know what is going on either. That palace maid definitely drugged your imperial father back then; otherwise, the inner palace would not have gone so many years without a pregnancy."
Xiao Rongyan slowly walked over and crouched before Noble Consort Rong. "Could it be that the child in Low-Rank Concubine Yan's belly does not belong to Imperial Father?"
Noble Consort Rong's eyes widened abruptly, glaring larger than a bull's, and she drew in a sharp breath.
"Are you saying Low-Rank Concubine Yan committed adultery?"
Xiao Rongyan nodded. "Besides Imperial Father, there are guards in the palace. It is entirely possible that Low-Rank Concubine Yan could not bear the loneliness. Otherwise, there is no way to explain why she alone is expecting."
After pondering for a moment, Noble Consort Rong felt her son's words made sense.
Since the Emperor could not get a woman pregnant, the child in Low-Rank Concubine Yan's womb had to belong to someone else.
"I will investigate this matter. As long as they are still in contact, I will definitely root him out."
Shifting her gaze, Noble Consort Rong stared at Xiao Rongyan and urged him to have children. "Yan'er, both you and the Prince of Qi only have daughters and no sons. Whoever manages to produce your imperial father's first imperial grandson will surely bring him great joy."
"A while ago, I had your maternal grandfather search the civilian populace for a few women who are well-suited for childbearing. I will have them sent to your manor today."
Xiao Rongyan replied, "Thank you for your concern, Mother. I will work hard."
Both of them thought they would soon uncover Low-Rank Concubine Yan's secret lover, but who could have known that just a few days later, another concubine in the palace would become pregnant.
Inside a humble palace chamber, Noble Consort Rong watched as rewards were carried in endlessly like flowing water, her expression turning as dark as coal.
How could this be!
Surely Attendant Hai had not committed adultery as well!
With two pieces of good news in succession, Xiao Chengjing was smiling even while reviewing memorials upon returning to the Imperial Study.
After going through two memorials, he suddenly thought of something and turned his head to instruct Zhao Yande.
"Summon County Princess Linghui into the palace for an audience, and bring Gu Jupu to me as well."
Song Jinzhao, who had been packing her things, was called into the palace before she could even change her clothes.
Just as she walked into the Imperial Study and prepared to kneel in greeting, the Emperor stopped her.
"Dispense with the formalities. I have summoned the two of you here today to assign you an important task."
Hearing Xiao Chengjing say there was an important task, an ominous feeling welled up in Song Jinzhao's heart. She had a strong sense that this would not be a good thing.
She glanced at Gu Jupu standing beside her, and he returned a look telling her to stay calm.
Xiao Chengjing said sternly, "Two concubines in the palace are pregnant at the same time. It is inevitable that Director Gu will be stretched too thin trying to care for them alone."
"I have already witnessed County Princess Linghui's medical skills. To protect the imperial heirs, starting today, you will reside in the palace. You no longer need to attend to the Empress. I am entrusting Attendant Hai's pregnancy to your care. You must ensure she safely delivers a prince."
Song Jinzhao fluttered her eyelashes in astonishment.
Were all those imperial physicians in the Imperial Hospital just fed for nothing? They couldn't even protect a pregnancy, and now she was being forced to live in the palace on call twenty-four hours a day.
This wasn't a matter of a day or two. The pregnancy was only a month along, which meant there were eight months left until the delivery. She absolutely could not agree to such a long commitment.
