Phoenix Reigns Over The Nine Heavens - Chapter 4

Li Xue was quickly brought over; Leng Shuang personally went to get her, so there was no way she wouldn’t bring her.

The woman wore a plain white garment, her face pale and frail, as if she would fall over with a gust of wind. She truly looked delicate and fragile.

Xiao Yunheng couldn’t help but feel heartbroken when he saw her, stepping forward to wrap his arm around her shoulder: “Xue’er.”

Li Xue nestled in his arms, watching the scene before her, seemingly frightened and shivering: “Brother Heng…”

“Xue’er, don’t be afraid.” Xiao Yunheng patted her shoulder. “You just fell into the water, and your body got cold, which could leave a lasting illness. The imperial physician from the palace will come over to take your pulse and diagnose you and see if they can prescribe some medicine to help you recover.”

Imperial physician?

Li Xue’s face changed drastically, her gaze falling on the faces of the several imperial physicians, her pupils slightly constricting, her hands unconsciously clenching tightly: “Brother Heng, I’m scared…”

“The rules of the Xiao family are indeed extraordinary.” Si Cang’s voice was cold and hard. “A concubine doesn’t know to pay respects when seeing a princess?”

Xiao Yunheng angrily said, “Captain Si, Xue’er just fell into the water this morning, and her body is weak right now. Can’t you show a bit of compassion?”

Si Cang’s gaze was icy: “In that case, when I enter the palace later, I will truthfully report to the Emperor that the concubine of the Xiao family shows no respect for the royal family, that the Xiao family lacks proper hierarchy, and that the young general of the Xiao family favors his concubine over his wife—”

Madam Xiao’s and her son Xiao Yunheng’s faces began to turn pale again.

“Xue’er”, Xiao Yunheng looked down at the woman in his arms and said in a restrained tone, “Go pay your respects to the Princess.”

Li Xue bit her lip: “Brother Heng…”

Why should she pay her respects to that bi*ch?

“Be good.”

Li Xue’s face was pale, her eyes red-rimmed, and she reluctantly stepped out of Xiao Yunheng’s embrace, turned around, and walked slowly to Yun Zishu, bowing deeply and saying, “Xue’er pays her respects to you, Sister.”

“Your sister is not here, and this princess does not have a younger sister named Li Xue.” Yun Zishu sat down calmly and said, “Does the concubine need to learn the proper etiquette for greeting a princess?”

“Yun Zishu, don’t go too far!” Xiao Yunheng said angrily, “Xue’er is weak; can’t you be a bit more lenient with her?”

“This princess is just a narrow-minded person who doesn’t understand what tolerance is.”

Si Cang’s voice was cold with anger, “Leng Shuang.”

“Yes.”

With a flash of her figure, before anyone could see what Leng Shuang had done, they suddenly saw Li Xue, who had been half-crouched, lunge forward without warning. The sound of her knee hitting the ground heavily startled everyone, and then they saw her whole body awkwardly collapse on the ground.

“Ah!” The scream was full of pain.

The air froze.

The imperial physicians exchanged glances, not understanding what this was all about.

“Xue’er!”

Madam Xiao and Xiao Yunheng both hurriedly stepped forward, reaching out to help her up from the ground. However, a long knife suddenly pressed against Li Xue’s back, halting their movements.

“Si Cang!” Xiao Yunheng clenched his fist tightly. “Relying on being the commander of the Shadow Guards, you act so recklessly in the Xiao family. Did the Emperor agree to this? How dare you humiliate the Xiao family like this?”

Li Xue’s face turned pale from the pain, tears welling up in her eyes as she struggled to get up.

“There’s no need to get angry,” Yun Zishu said indifferently. “Compared to the Xiao family’s offense against this princess, this little grievance is nothing. After taking the pulse, if General Xiao can still maintain such a righteous tone, this princess will definitely respect you as a real man.”

Saying this, she looked at Li Xue, who was lying on the ground.

“You don’t need to be afraid,” she said, her tone softening a bit. “The imperial physicians in the palace are all highly skilled. Taking the concubine’s pulse is a small matter for them. For the sake of the concubine’s health, please cooperate.”

She gestured to the imperial physicians to begin.

Li Xue suddenly, out of nowhere, found the strength to get up from the ground. Looking at the approaching imperial physician, she was so frightened that she kept retreating: “You… don’t come any closer…”

“Madam, there’s no need to be afraid.” The chief physician squatted down, took her wrist, and said, “I’m just checking your pulse—”

Before she could finish her sentence, Li Xue, in a frenzy, shook off his hand and shouted, “Get lost… get lost! I don’t need you to check my pulse; just get out all of you! My child is gone; please, don’t torment me anymore. Let me die! Let me die!”

Madam Xiao’s heart twisted in pain, and she hurriedly stepped forward to hold her in her arms: “Xue’er! Xue’er, don’t be afraid, I’m here…”

Yun Zishu watched Li Xue’s dramatic performance with detached amusement, showing no urgency. “If you don’t let the imperial physician take your pulse, it can only prove that the concubine is guilty and is deliberately framing and slandering this princess.”

“Your Highness, I beg you, please spare Xue’er!” Madam Xiao steeled herself and knelt down to plead, her voice filled with resentment. “Today is my fault. I shouldn’t have questioned Your Highness, nor should I have wronged you by saying you are ruthless! You are of noble birth, holding the power of life and death over your subjects. If you want someone dead, they will die. Xue’er is unfortunate; she shouldn’t have dared to compete for favor with Your Highness and shouldn’t have conceived the Xiao family’s child before you. This humble woman shouldn’t have resisted Your Highness. Shouldn’t have begged for Your Highness’s mercy—”

“Enough.” Yun Zishu’s expression turned cold. “Since Madam Xiao remains so obstinate, this Princess can only let the facts speak for themselves. Imperial Physician!”

Leng Shuang forcibly pulled Madam Xiao away with one hand while using the other hand to hold back Li Xue, who was still retreating. “The imperial physician can take the pulse now.”

Thus, the chief physician of the Imperial Hospital finally managed to grasp Li Xue’s wrist. At this moment, under such circumstances, no one thought about the propriety of men and women touching each other. After taking her pulse, the chief physician suddenly exclaimed, “This…”

Xiao Yunheng looked tense: “The imperial physician?”

Madam Xiao, now restrained, could only stare intently at the imperial physician: “Imperial Physician Xue, please report the situation truthfully. Don’t wrong Xue’er.”

Dr. Xue didn’t say anything, turned around, and said, “You all should give it a try too.”

So the other three imperial physicians took turns stepping forward, each taking Li Xue’s pulse. Each of them frowned deeply, their expressions grave.

Li Xue collapsed on the ground, feeling completely drained.

“What on earth is going on?” Xiao Yunheng roared, “If you have something to say, just say it. Don’t hold back on anyone’s account!”

“Yes, Imperial Physician, please speak plainly.” Madam Xiao nodded in agreement. “Even if Xue’er doesn’t compare to the princess in status, she still deserves to know the truth. We won’t hold the princess accountable, but at the very least—”

“The concubine is menstruating.”

Madam Xiao’s voice faltered, and she stared blankly at the speaking Dr. Xue: “Wh…what?”

Xiao Yunheng was shocked: “Imperial Physician, did you make a mistake in your diagnosis? Xue’er clearly had a miscarriage; how could she be on her period?”

“The concubine is neither pregnant nor did she miscarry. She is indeed menstruating.” Doctor Xue spoke in a calm and steady tone, his gaze toward Li Xue revealing a hint of contemplation. “So, I don’t know what kind of miscarriage the young general is referring to. Our diagnoses are all the same.”

Madam Xiao froze: “How is that possible? The doctor clearly diagnosed a pregnancy…”