CHAPTER 102 — THE HALL OF SCANDAL AND SHATTERED SCHEMES
Imperial Physician Li's words fell like a thunderclap.
For a heartbeat, the entire hall froze.
Not a whisper.
Not a breath.
The Prime Minister shot to his feet, his face draining of colour, then flushing, then paling again in rapid succession. His daughter had not even left the Prime Minister's estate for long. She was unmarried. She had not even completed her engagement to Mu Shao Yi. And now—pregnant?
His heart nearly stopped.
The Empress staggered back two steps, her hand flying to her chest. Her face turned ashen, her lips trembling as though she wished to speak but could not form a single word.
Ye Lan Jue's eyes narrowed sharply.
Pregnant?
She… is pregnant?
If she truly carried a child, then that child could only be his.
A slow, dangerous smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
If she were pregnant, he could marry her openly, immediately, without resistance.
But he also knew this situation was far from simple.
This was not joy.
This was a trap.
Her reputation was at stake.
Her future.
Her life.
Even if he married her, the stain would remain.
And Ye Lan Jue would never allow her to be wronged.
So he remained silent, watching.
Ye Lan Chen stood frozen, mouth slightly open, unable to process the words.
Feng Qingyan's face twisted in shock. Her mind raced wildly.
Pregnant?
Whose child?
Could it be His Highness?
No. Impossible. Absolutely impossible.
His Highness would never…
He and Tang Ke Xin could not possibly have…
In the centre of the hall, Tang Ke Xin lowered her gaze, her expression darkening.
She was a physician.
She knew her own body better than anyone.
She was not pregnant.
This was a scheme.
And she knew exactly whose.
"This Prince—"
The Crown Prince suddenly spoke.
He had not finished the sentence, but the implication was unmistakable.
The hall was so silent that even the faintest breath could be heard.
Everyone understood what he intended to say.
Tang Ke Xin understood instantly.
When he had failed to force her into marriage, he had resorted to this.
He had dared to use such a vile method.
Yesterday, she had acted with Ye Lan Jue in front of him, hoping he would retreat.
Instead, he had chosen to destroy her innocence entirely.
Perhaps that was precisely what he wanted.
Ye Lan Jue's eyes turned murderous.
The Crown Prince had not finished speaking, but Ye Lan Jue already knew what he intended to claim.
His gaze sharpened into a blade.
Just as the Crown Prince drew breath to continue—
Tang Ke Xin moved.
She snatched the fruit platter from the palace maid's hands and—
CRASH!
The entire platter smashed onto the floor, fruit scattering across the polished tiles.
Before anyone could react, she swung the heavy plate and struck Imperial Physician Li squarely on the head.
Gasps erupted throughout the hall.
Tang Ke Xin did not stop.
"What nonsense are you spouting?!" she roared, eyes blazing. "Say it again! Say it again if you dare! Do you believe I won't beat you until even your own mother fails to recognise you?!"
She punctuated each sentence with another vicious smack of the fruit plate.
Imperial Physician Li collapsed to the ground, shielding his head as she rained blows upon him.
The hall erupted into stunned silence.
No one—absolutely no one—had ever dared to beat someone in the imperial hall.
Not even the Emperor himself had done such a thing.
Dong'er stood frozen beside her mistress, eyes wide.
She did not intervene.
Even if she had regained her senses, she would not have stopped Tang Ke Xin.
The Crown Prince's face twitched violently.
His words died in his throat.
Ye Lan Jue's lips curved upward in a slow, delighted smile.
As expected of my woman.
Even when furious, she was adorable.
The Empress coughed lightly, torn between horror and helpless amusement.
Xin'er's temper was… formidable.
With such a savage streak, who would dare marry her?
"I am pure and untouched!" Tang Ke Xin shouted, still brandishing the fruit plate. "I have never even held a man's hand! Tell me—how could I possibly be pregnant?!"
A collective cough rippled through the hall.
Even Ye Lan Jue coughed.
Never held a man's hand?
Aside from that night, she had kissed him yesterday—of her own accord.
And she had certainly held his hand.
Ye Lan Chen shot her a look of silent accusation.
You held hands with Third Brother!
The Empress, who had just witnessed that very hand‑holding, swallowed hard.
Her Xin'er… was truly unmatched in this world.
Still, Xin'er's words were necessary.
Brilliant, even.
The Prime Minister exhaled in relief.
Tang Ke Xin stopped hitting Imperial Physician Li and jabbed a finger at him.
"Well? Speak! How could I be pregnant?!"
Imperial Physician Li trembled violently, head bowed so low it nearly touched the floor.
He dared not utter a word.
"Why aren't you talking?!" Tang Ke Xin barked. "Do you believe I won't bury you alive right here?!"
She raised the fruit plate again.
"Miss Tang, spare me! Spare me!"
Imperial Physician Li wailed, utterly terrified.
Tang Ke Xin paused, preparing to question him again—
When a small voice piped up:
"Big Sister Tang, I know how a woman gets pregnant."
The entire hall turned.
The little princess—barely twelve—stepped forward with utmost seriousness.
"First, she must kiss a man," the princess declared solemnly. "Then she must take off her clothes. And then the man must lie on top of her—"
The hall nearly collapsed.
Several ministers choked.
A few nearly fainted.
Tang Ke Xin almost died on the spot.
Was this child even twelve?!
Why did she know the entire process so clearly?!
"Princess!"
Her maid turned crimson. "Princess, please—!"
But the little princess ignored her completely.
She marched up to Imperial Physician Li.
"Imperial Physician Li, was what this princess said correct?"
Imperial Physician Li turned beet red.
He stammered incoherently.
"This princess asked you a question!" she snapped. "Why are you mumbling?!"
Before anyone could stop her, she snatched the fruit plate from Tang Ke Xin's hands and—
WHACK! WHACK! WHACK!
She beat Imperial Physician Li with even more enthusiasm than Tang Ke Xin.
Tang Ke Xin blinked rapidly.
Ah. So that was why the princess had come over. She wanted to try hitting someone.
Because she was… truly convinced.
"Yes! Yes!" Imperial Physician Li cried, collapsing under the princess's blows.
Only then did the princess stop, though she looked mildly dissatisfied.
She turned to Tang Ke Xin.
"Big Sister Tang, have you ever kissed a man, taken off your clothes, and then let him lie on top of you?"
Tang Ke Xin choked violently.
Even after all her righteous shouting, she still felt guilty under the princess's innocent interrogation.
Not far away, Ye Lan Jue's gaze sharpened, fixed entirely on her face.
He watched every flicker of emotion.
He wanted to know—
Was the woman from that night truly her?