"Ah!"
Shen Jingshu let out a startled cry as her foot caught on the hem of her own gown. Her balance faltered, and she stumbled backward.
It all happened in a blink. Yun Shu, who had been watching closely, dashed forward without hesitation and caught her just in time. But Yun Shu herself was only thirteen or fourteen. She had never done any heavy lifting in her life, and her strength was limited.
Though she managed to catch Shen Jingshu, her knees gave out under the added weight. She fell straight to the floor, landing on her backside with a dull thud.
"Fifth Sister, are you all right?"
The Third Prince rushed to her side and reached out to help Yun Shu up. But she paid him no mind. Her attention was entirely fixed on Shen Jingshu. She supported her by the shoulders and asked, her tone laced with concern, "Side Consort Shen, are you injured? Why do you look as though you're in pain?"
Shen Jingshu, whose expression was perfectly calm: "…?"
The Third Prince, who saw no sign of pain at all: "…?"
Yun Chuhuan, still catching up to what was happening: "…??"
"Imperial Physician Sun!" Without the slightest concern for the puzzled stares around her, Yun Shu turned her head and called out sharply.
"Physician Sun, quickly. Come check on Side Consort Shen!"
Calling for an imperial physician?
Did that not imply—
Shen Jingshu's eyes widened as she hurriedly pulled away from Yun Shu and tried to rise.
"This Consort is quite well. Your Highness need not trouble yourself."
"Absolutely not."
Yun Shu pressed her down gently but firmly. Her tone was upright and righteous.
"Just now, Side Consort Shen's expression hardly seemed like that of someone uninjured. If we do not have Physician Sun examine her here and now, and she later claims to be hurt in some way, would that not place Sixth Brother in a compromising position?"
"Exactly, exactly!"
Yun Chuhuan chimed in immediately upon hearing the suggestion. The mere idea of being falsely accused later made him break into a cold sweat.
"We must have Physician Sun take a look. This Prince has no desire to be dragged into a scandal."
"You two jest. How could this Consort ever frame His Highness the Sixth Prince? I am truly unhurt—"
"You already tried to frame my Fifth Sister once. Why would I believe you wouldn't do the same to me?" Yun Chuhuan, still young and lacking in tact, had always spoken without much filter. Coupled with his lingering anger over her prior attempt to slander Yun Shu, his words slipped out unchecked.
The hall, once buzzing with confusion, suddenly went silent. It was as if someone had struck a drum and cut the sound from the air.
The Crown Prince's gaze darkened slightly. A glint of something unreadable flickered in his eyes as he turned a wary look toward Yun Shu. He had been halfway to rising, perhaps intending to intervene. But at that moment, he slowly settled back into his seat.
His lowered eyes gave away nothing, but a flash of murderous intent passed through them like a shadow across deep water.
It was under this heavy silence that Physician Sun arrived.
He glanced at Shen Jingshu with hesitation and set down his medicine case. He then laid a padded pillow atop it for the pulse check.
"May Side Consort Shen extend her hand."
"I truly do not—"
"You must, you must!"
Before Shen Jingshu could finish her protest, Yun Shu had already seized her wrist and gently placed it atop the pillow.
"Physician Sun, quickly now."
Physician Sun: "…"
Why did this feel so strange?
It was only a routine pulse reading, yet it felt as though he were being asked to sever someone's hand.
Something was wrong. Very wrong.
But when gods quarrel, how could a mere mortal like him intervene?
He steeled himself, placed his fingers upon Shen Jingshu's wrist, and began the examination. Only a few heartbeats passed before his expression changed.
His face turned pale.
Shen Jingshu, sensing that the truth was now laid bare, gave up resisting entirely. Her face was resigned, even defiant. When Physician Sun asked for her other hand, she complied without waiting for Yun Shu's help.
"Well?" Yun Shu asked quietly.
Physician Sun's brow was furrowed deeply, and cold sweat had broken out on his forehead. Yun Chuhuan, alarmed by the sight, stepped closer.
"Side Consort Shen isn't really injured, is she? I swear I never even touched her. Fifth Sister caught her before she even hit the ground! If there is any issue, it surely wasn't caused today. It might be from before!"
"That is indeed the case…"
The sweat on Physician Sun's forehead thickened.
Had Princess Sheng An not reminded him earlier that the Emperor favored him, he might have lost the power of speech entirely.
Even so, his knees went weak as he turned and bowed toward the Crown Prince with trembling limbs. "Side, Side Consort is… with child."
"With child?!"
Yun Chuhuan's voice cracked like a whip through the hall.
"If she's pregnant, that means someone already shared a room with her, right? I heard you have to marry first and sleep in the same chamber. But Side Consort Shen only married my Crown Prince Brother today. It isn't even evening yet. How can she already be with child?"
"You dare taint the Imperial bloodline? Shen Jingshu, how bold of you!"
The Eldest Prince, who had remained silent for quite some time, finally seized the opportunity to strike. His voice rang out with fury.
"Guards! Seize Side Consort Shen immediately!"
"Wait."
Yun Shu stepped forward just then, as though belatedly realizing the gravity of the situation.
"Side Consort Shen is with child. Using force would be most unwise. Let us report this matter to Father Emperor. He shall decide her fate."
"That is indeed proper."
The Eldest Prince frowned, unaware that the Right Prime Minister's household had already abandoned Shen Jingshu entirely. In his mind, if Shen Jingshu could be driven to ruin, it might also drive a wedge between the Crown Prince and the Right Prime Minister's faction.
Having his order interrupted by Yun Shu displeased him.
But then he remembered that it was Yun Shu who had orchestrated today's events. She must have a deeper plan.
Suppressing his irritation, he gave a faint nod.
"This matter is grave and must not be delayed. Let us head to the imperial study and request an audience with Father Emperor at once."
The banquet had not even begun, yet it was already clear no one would be eating today.
A procession of royals swept grandly toward the imperial study. The sight of them together was so startling that even the seasoned eunuch Li Dehai could not help but be alarmed.
He quickly turned and reported inside.
"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince has arrived, along with the Eldest Prince, Third Prince, Fourth Prince, Princess Sheng An, the Sixth Prince, Side Consort to the Crown Prince, and Imperial Physician Sun."
"All of them?"
Emperor Xuanwu's brow twitched. He set down his vermillion brush and frowned.
"Did they say what matter prompted this sudden visit?"
"No, Your Majesty."
Li Dehai bowed low.
"This servant saw them approaching as a group and feared it might be serious, so I came ahead to report."
Not a single person left out. They all came.
Could it be… that the painting Xiao Wu had chosen for today truly provoked the Crown Prince into such a state?
That Crown Prince really is something…
Even Xiao Wu had endured his schemes without falling apart, and yet he could not take a bit of teasing?