The humble-looking Chunxue spoke with conviction. Emperor Taizong of Northern Wei did not pursue her impertinence, but instead coldly snorted at the two female doctors: "You two are guilty of unforgivable crimes. Bring them to the Ministry of Punishment for severe torture. I believe that under extreme duress, they will yield some information." He then pointed at Wu Yuanying: "Strip this man named Wu of his official position and investigate him. Throw his family into the Imperial Prison. If he refuses to reveal his mastermind, execute his entire clan! Such punishment is fitting for the crimes of deceiving the Emperor and harming the Crown Prince."

  Xiao Huanghou was shocked to the point of pale face, watching the emperor's great anger, two female doctors kneeling on the ground begging for mercy, she only felt a severe pain in her chest again, but dared not make a sound, enduring the pain standing beside the empress dowager.

  The two female doctors were so frightened that they lost their minds, and at this moment, they couldn't care about anything else. They looked up at the empress with pleading eyes. Empress Xiao was shocked to see them like this, and immediately, Qi Mama stepped forward and slapped Sun Yuer on the face, shouting: "You wicked things! You deceived the emperor and intended to harm Huijie Yu, do you still want to ask for mercy? If you know what's good for you, think carefully about how to confess in the Ministry of Justice, or maybe you can still save your family's lives."

  Sun Yini covered her face, looking up at Qi Guigui with pleading eyes that gradually turned to despair. Even if it came to this point, she absolutely could not implicate the Empress Dowager, or else her brothers and parents would all be put to death! In the end, she lowered her head, not daring to look at the Empress Dowager again.

  Xiao Huanghou's fingers were tightly clenched, the armor on her hand had pierced through her palm, but she didn't feel a thing. She was usually astute and wise, but at this moment, her mind was in a daze, the pain in her chest almost made her collapse to the ground, luckily Quan Qiu was holding her up with all his might. She was both shocked and terrified, what she couldn't understand was why Lin Yuan would be pregnant? And since the two female doctors Wang and Sun had already taken her pulse, they must have known that she was pregnant, how could they still dare to carry out the original plan?

  If it were just a matter of damage to the heart and lungs, even if the truth came out, they wouldn't be held accountable by the Emperor, let alone lose their lives. But Lin Wan was already pregnant, and in this situation, trying to cover it up would only lead to being accused of plotting against the imperial heir, and neither of the two medical women would have a way out. How dare they!

  But Empress Xiao had no idea that something unexpected would happen. The two midwives were her confidantes, and after they discovered that Lin Yuan was pregnant, the most they should have done was to immediately inform Empress Xiao in secret, letting her make all the decisions! If Empress Xiao had known, she would have definitely changed her strategy.

  But they actually took it upon themselves to conceal their pregnancy! It's gotten to the point where things can't be taken back! Not only will those two not come to a good end, but even Empress Xiao will also be implicated!

  Xiao Huanghou's mind was all muddled and confused, almost unable to react.

  The guards outside poured in, and the two female doctors were dragged away with their hands tied behind their backs, still crying out for mercy. Wu Yuemei simply knelt silently, not saying a word. Just as his official hat was being removed, the Empress Dowager raised her hand and said: "Wait. These two female doctors should be hacked to pieces, but let Wu Yuemei go."

  Tuoba Hong's face showed incomprehension, and the Empress Dowager smiled faintly and said: "If it weren't for Wu Yuanyi's medicine boy coming to Chang Le Palace today to report to me, I wouldn't have known about this black dragon in Changxin Palace. Wu Yuanyi is a fifth-grade medical officer who was coerced by someone, committed the crime of deceiving the emperor, and has extenuating circumstances. Fortunately, his conscience hasn't been extinguished, he diagnosed Yun'er's pregnancy and didn't dare to hide it anymore, but he also didn't dare offend the person behind him, so he could only send someone to seek help from me."

  "Such things still exist!" Tuoba Hong let out a faint sigh: "It's all right, the darkness in this palace has been going on for more than one or two days. Being an imperial physician is always difficult. Today's events were thanks to Wu Imperial Physician reporting to Empress Dowager, otherwise I would have been deceived and Consort Yu would have been deeply humiliated." He closed his eyes and pondered for a moment before instructing: "Wu Imperial Physician's merits and demerits cancel each other out, so I won't pursue his crimes. Today he saved Consort Yu, from now on I will appoint him to be in charge of Consort Yu's pregnancy."

  He said to Wu Yuanyi, "You should pay attention to treating Consort Wei in the future. As long as she gives birth to a prince safely, I will reward you heavily."

  Wu Yu Yi immediately knocked his head and said loudly: "Your humble servant will definitely work hard to make up for the mistake."

  "How is Concubine's body now? Are there any signs of instability in the fetus? She was still feeling unwell just now, always dizzy and weak." Emperor Taizong of Northern Wei asked carefully.

  "Her Royal Highness's pulse is indeed weak and floating, but that is due to the severe injury she suffered which damaged her qi and blood. However, for now, the fetal image appears stable and there is nothing wrong. Her symptoms of fatigue and dizziness are not due to illness, but rather the discomfort of early pregnancy, which will naturally subside in a few days." He paused, lowering his head in thought: "I will prescribe some nourishing tonics for Her Royal Highness later, and as long as she rests and recuperates peacefully, her body will gradually recover."

  Hearing Wu Yuanyu say this, Tuoba Hong completely put his mind at ease and ordered the palace attendants to reward Wu Yuanyu with 100 taels of gold: "In my opinion, your merits today outweigh your faults."

  "It was supposed to be a good day for the New Year, but instead, I watched a farce." The Empress Dowager's voice and color were tired, and she got up with the help of Ziyun's hand: "Forget it, I'll go back first, and leave the rest to the Emperor to handle."

  Everyone knelt down to bid farewell to the Empress Dowager. Emperor Taizong of Northern Wei scanned them coldly, reached out and grasped Lin's fingers, saying in a warm voice: "I will definitely seek justice for you."

  Tuoba Hong immediately turned around, stood with his hands behind his back, and his face was already stern. He pointed at Ye Liangyu: "Ye, those two midwives and Wu Yuanyi were all people who helped you with your pregnancy. Do you have anything else to say?"

  Ye Xiu fell to her knees with a thud, and when she looked up again, her face was already covered in tears, her voice trembling: "Your Majesty, concubine...concubine didn't know anything..."

  Tuoba Hong was still in a rage, but Ye Shi's belly was still carrying a child. Without Tuoba Hong's orders, the two imperial maidservants stepped forward and held down Ye Xiu Xin's body, pulling her up and forcing her back into the chair. Ye Xiu Xin had long been frightened out of her wits, struggling to say: "No, the concubine absolutely did not want to harm Princess Wei, please believe the concubine..."

  "Your Majesty," Lin Wan's fingers touched Tuoba Hong's hand: "Don't get angry for the sake of a concubine, Your Majesty."

  "Detestable! They are really hateful! I will definitely punish the real culprit today!" Touba Hong was furious.

  "Your Majesty, please listen to my humble opinion." Lin Yu spoke softly: "I and Ye Liangyu have never gotten along, this is something everyone in the palace knows. But if I'm being honest, I don't think this matter was done by Ye. She's just a sixth-rank imperial concubine, her family isn't prominent, how could she possibly order around two female doctors and an imperial physician?" As she spoke, she glanced at Wu Imperial Physician who was still standing to the side: "Wu sir previously told a lie, but I'm still very grateful to him. Why doesn't Your Majesty ask Wu sir who coerced him into doing so?"

  Taizong of Northern Wei also looked at Wu Yuanyi, just wanting to ask questions, but the words reached his lips and he sighed: "Forget it. Today's affairs are just two female doctors who are reckless. I was also impatient and angry with Liangyu."

  Lin Wan had long expected this outcome and wasn't angry, only smiling as she said: "Your Majesty, just don't be offended."

  Tuoba Hong's anger vanished in an instant, leaving only a cold and gloomy face. He personally helped Lin Yuan up and ordered his attendants: "Prepare the carriage, I will accompany Concubine to Huayang Palace."

  Not even giving the queen a glance.

  Jing Fei and Tian Pin saw the emperor's cold expression, not daring to say more, waited until the emperor walked far away before bidding farewell to the empress, leaving Changxin Palace. Ye Liangyuan was pale, limp like a survivor of a disaster.

  The Empress Dowager and several others had already withdrawn, but Consort Xiao could no longer bear it. She stumbled forward, clutched at her chest, and fell to the ground. The palace maids were frightened and rushed forward to support her. Qi Mama was almost in tears: "Your Majesty, please don't get angry, your body is important... Little Zhangzi, hurry up and go invite the imperial physician..."

  "Impossible!" The empress suddenly grabbed Qi's hand: "Now I'll ask the imperial physician to spread the word to the emperor, he'll just think I'm faking illness." She forced herself up, trembling as she stood, and rushed two steps forward to Ye Liangyu's face, slapping her cheek.

  With a loud "slap", the palm hit clearly and loudly. Ye Xiu Xin covered her abdomen with one hand and knelt in front of the empress, not even daring to cry. The palace maid serving beside her was so frightened that she kept kowtowing: "Your Majesty, spare our young master's life, Young Master is still pregnant..."

  "Useless thing!" The queen's face was almost ferocious: "It's all your stupid idea, trying to steal a chicken but losing the rice instead! If it weren't for the treasure in your belly, I would have deposed you today!"

  "Your Majesty, please spare my life!" Ye Xiu's face was swollen from the slap, and her belly was big with child. She looked pitiful with tears streaming down her face: "It's concubine's fault for being useless...concubine never thought that Lin would harm the unborn child...Your Majesty, it's concubine's fault for not thinking things through..."

  "This palace is confused!" The empress's words were harsh and severe, completely different from her usual elegant and noble demeanor: "How did you instruct Wang and Sun? They actually dared to take matters into their own hands and conceal Lin's pregnancy! And that Wu imperial physician, this palace has accompanied the emperor for over a decade, and there has never been anyone who betrayed the master in this Longsheng Palace. He is the first one! This palace asks you, what is going on with Wu imperial physician? What is going on with Wang and Sun?"

  Xiao Huanghou's usual dignified demeanor was nowhere to be seen today, as her anger flared up like a raging fire. Ye Liangyuan was so frightened that she trembled all over. She kowtowed on the ground, speaking incoherently: "I didn't know, I don't understand anything... I just told them to say that Lin Shi is dying soon, and most importantly, she can't serve the emperor, no matter what her body is like, they must say so... I also told them that if they dare not obey, Her Majesty the Empress will punish them..."

  "Idiot!" Empress Xiao seemed to know where the problem lay. She raised her hand, wanting to give Ye Shi another slap, but was finally persuaded by Qi Mama. She was so angry that her temples throbbed with pain, pointing at Ye Xiu Xin and scolding: "You coerced them in my name, which is not unforgivable, but you actually said that no matter what Lin's body was like, they had to... Wang and Sun are even more foolish than you! They listened to your orders, and even if they diagnosed pregnancy, they would continue to deceive the emperor. How could they not be flexible? Such a big accident happened, why didn't they report back to me first?! Now it's too late, the emperor is furious, those two medical girls are yours, but I assigned them to you. The emperor must have suspected me!"