Not sure if it was out of spite or some other reason, but when Qin Yuanxi returned to the room with a belly full of grievances, his lower abdomen began to ache faintly. In this critical moment, Qin Yuanxi dared not be careless and quickly had the imperial physician summoned. It turned out to be fetal movement..
Just as the imperial physician finished brewing the medicine, Zhao Tuo came back.
“Give it to me.”
The bowl of medicine was handed over to Zhao Tuo. Qin Yuanxi remained seated, motionless, still holding that small storybook. The captivating stories that used to be a delight to read now couldn’t hold his attention. He knew Zhao Tuo was aware of what had happened today, and he was curious to see how Zhao Tuo would explain.
“Your Majesty, it’s time to take the medicine.”
Qin Yuanxi ignored him, didn’t even spare a glance. He wasn’t a patient person, especially at this moment. Just thinking about those things made his chest feel tight; he didn’t want to see that face at all.
“When you asked people to guard the villa, did you mean for them to guard the people outside, or were they intended to guard the people inside?”
“Is Your Majesty upset?” Zhao Tuo, holding the medicine bowl, naturally sat beside Qin Yuanxi.
Qin Yuanxi raised an eyebrow and tossed the book in his hand, saying, “Did I ask you to sit? General, such audacity, so unruly, what decorum is this!”
This was just picking a fight out of nothing.
But to be honest, it wasn’t like Qin Yuanxi deliberately picked a fight.
In Qin Yuanxi’s understanding, Zhao Tuo was a very honest and loyal person, adhering to the traditional respect for the emperor. Even in bed, he maintained a respectful attitude. After repeated guidance from Qin Yuanxi, things had improved, but overall, he would never show the slightest disrespect to Qin Yuanxi.
However, that was in the past.
It was okay not to think about it, but upon reflection, something was off.
Since entering this villa, Zhao Tuo had noticeably relaxed a lot. His attitude towards Qin Yuanxi had become much more natural and friendly. Unlike before, where Qin Yuanxi could clearly feel that Zhao Tuo placed himself in a lower position, recognizing Qin Yuanxi as the emperor with a higher status. But in this villa, that sense of hierarchy had completely disappeared. If it weren’t for what Yan Shaoning came to tell him and the predicament Qin Yuanxi found himself in today, if it were just the two of them enjoying a honeymoon in the villa, anticipating the arrival of a new life, Qin Yuanxi would have been happy.
Unfortunately, now he couldn’t be happy. Not only was he unable to be happy, but there was also a faint sense of post-regret.
Zhao Tuo’s attitude had already changed, but he hadn’t noticed it in time. Moreover, Zhao Tuo’s change in attitude wasn’t because of him at all!
It was because Zhao Tuo now held all the cards. He had the military power and the connections, just waiting for the right moment. At that point, Qin Yuanxi would have to relinquish the throne willingly.
What was this opportune moment? Qin Yuanxi wasn’t foolish; he knew. The opportune moment was the child in his belly. Once the child was born, Qin Yuanxi, the puppet, would be utterly useless!
“Is Your Majesty feeling unwell?” Zhao Tuo frowned, still holding the medicine bowl, attempting to persuade Qin Yuanxi to take the medicine. “Or should you take the medicine first? It’ll taste even more bitter if it cools down.”
“Don’t you want to explain to me?” Qin Yuanxi stared at Zhao Tuo, turning his face. “Are you trying to confine me, Zhao Tuo?”
“How could Your Majesty think that way?” Zhao Tuo’s expression changed slightly, speaking in a soothing tone. “It’s all for Your Majesty’s safety. Considering Your Majesty’s current health, precautions must be taken everywhere. The physician also advised against any jolts or stress during this time. I instructed them for Your Majesty’s sake. The guards may lack tact, but they know I care about Your Majesty’s safety and worry about Your Majesty’s health. It’s not about truly stopping Your Majesty.”
“Is that so?” Qin Yuanxi retorted. He was about to say something, but the words stopped at his lips. He took the medicine bowl and sipped. “I’m tired. You’ve had a busy day too; go rest.”
With a plate of dried fruits in his hand, Zhao Tuo was about to say something more, but Qin Yuanxi had already taken the plate from him. “Leave it. I’ll take the medicine. Don’t hover around me now. Didn’t the physician tell you? Pregnant people have fluctuating emotions. I’m not in a good mood right now, and it might affect you. Once I rest for a while, everything will be fine.”
Clearly, Zhao Tuo didn’t want to leave, but Qin Yuanxi didn’t give him the chance, directly sending him away.
After Zhao Tuo left, Qin Yuanxi finally shifted his gaze to the medicine bowl.
When there was no suspicion, he would drink whatever Zhao Tuo gave him without any precautions. However, now with a sense of alertness, everything felt different. As Qin Yuanxi held the medicine bowl earlier, he sensed something was off. He hadn’t thought about it before, just feeling that the tonic was excessively bitter, much more so than the ones in the palace, and the taste seemed a bit off.
“How is it? Any problems?”
Seeing Yan Shaoning sniff the medicine bowl several times and even take a sip, Qin Yuanxi, who had been holding his breath, slowly relaxed. If Yan Shaoning could drink it, it meant there shouldn’t be any major issues with the medicine.
But as Yan Shaoning put down the medicine bowl, he held onto Qin Yuanxi’s wrist and furrowed his brows. “Your Majesty, do you feel abdominal pain?”
“It doesn’t hurt now.” Qin Yuanxi’s nervousness resurfaced. “Could there be a real issue with this medicine?”
“There is an issue,” Yan Shaoning said to Qin Yuanxi after listening to his pulse for a while. “They’ve added labor-inducing drugs to it. However, the amount is not significant. How many times has Your Majesty drunk this so far?”
“This should be the second time.” Qin Yuanxi thought and said, “There was once before, but I haven’t had it since. Today is the second time.”
“Will there be any problems?” Qin Yuanxi, holding his stomach, was a bit anxious. “Will the child be born prematurely?”
The fetus in his belly was already more than seven months old. Using labor-inducing drugs at this time made Qin Yuanxi break into a cold sweat. If the dosage wasn’t controlled, and something went wrong, he might end up here. Giving birth wasn’t a trivial matter. Instead of ensuring the child’s safety, Zhao Tuo had actually given him labor-inducing drugs. It was like he genuinely wanted Qin Yuanxi dead!
“The dosage isn’t large, and for now, there are no signs of premature birth. But this medicine must not be taken again.” Yan Shaoning’s expression was serious. “Your Majesty is giving birth as a man, and using labor-inducing drugs before the full term is extremely risky. There’s a high chance of accidents.”
“I understand, I understand.” Qin Yuanxi’s face turned a bit pale. “I know, it’s very dangerous.”
Looking at the dark bowl of medicine, his hands began to tremble. “He can’t wait anymore, can he? As soon as the child is born, my usefulness ends, and he will kill me. I will die. I will definitely die!”
“Divine physician, what should I do?” Qin Yuanxi looked at Yan Shaoning pleadingly, took a step back, and his expression turned to despair. “He has everything under control. I must leave here. I have to escape his control.”
All of Qin Yuanxi’s hopes were now pinned on Yan Shaoning, but what could Yan Shaoning do?
Yan Shaoning sighed heavily, helped Qin Yuanxi sit down, and handed him a cup of tea. “Your Majesty, calm down. Have some hot tea to warm yourself. We currently have no better option. The situation is entirely in Zhao Tuo’s hands. Your Majesty can’t escape his grasp right now. If Your Majesty acts rashly, it will only anger him, and that will be more troublesome and dangerous for Your Majesty.”
“Zhao Tuo hasn’t torn off his mask in front of Your Majesty yet. Perhaps for now, we can use his trust to our advantage. Without raising his suspicion, try to awaken Prince Lu as much as possible. As long as Prince Lu wakes up, we still have hope. Prince Lu can control the current situation and ensure Your Majesty’s safety.”
Hello, everyone ヾ(＾∇＾). I hope you enjoyed the story! If you’re feeling generous, please buy me a coffee, share/comment on my translated works! Check out the link below for early chapters. (๑>ᴗ<๑)
