Chapter 26: The Heir is Safe and Sound
This was one of those situations that could make a person die of sheer awkwardness.
Why on earth did he have to choose to study medicine back then?
Wouldn’t any other profession have been better?
Was this really a scene that a humble imperial physician like himself could possibly hope to control?
“You may rise.”
How could Li Feng not see the terror in Physician Fang’s eyes?
It wasnāt just the physician who was rattled by a scene like this; even she, the Phoenix Empress who sat securely on her high throne, felt her own heart flutter with unease.
Although Physician Fang had previously told her that Li XuanYue was merely putting on an actāthat she had lied about her infertility to avoid their censureālooking at her deathly pale face now, Li Feng couldn’t stop the seeds of doubt from sprouting in her mind.
Was she truly barren, or had she lied to them because she was feeling unwell?
If it was the latter, she could understand and forgive it.
But if it was the former… then as the Mother Empress, she would truly have to start considering the future of the Phoenix Clan.
“Hurry and take Princess XuanYue’s pulse,” Li Feng urged. “Find out what the state of her health truly is, and whether she is, as the rumors claim, unable to bear children.”
The moment Physician Fang stood up, Li QingHe shot him a look.
The meaning behind it was unmistakable.
Physician Fang quickly lowered his head. “Yes, Your Majesty!”
His heart was hammering so hard he felt he might die from the stress. It was no longer just his own life being held in Li XuanYue’s hands, but the lives of his entire family. He had no choice but to obey.
“No need for all the trouble. You can take it directly.”
Li XuanYue brazenly extended her hand toward Physician Fang in front of everyone. Her fair wrist was like a piece of smooth, polished white jade, a sight that made oneās heart tremble.
Physician Fangās raised fingers trembled with nerves. “Forgive my impertinence, Your Highness.”
He hesitated for a few seconds before finally placing his index and middle fingers on her wrist.
The hall instantly fell silent.
Li QingHe’s gaze was fixed, unblinking, on the physician’s hand resting on Li XuanYue’s wrist. She held her breath.
Only when he withdrew his hand did Li QingHe finally lift her eyes to his face.
“Well, Physician Fang? How is my sister’s health? Is it as the rumors say?”
Everyone in the great hall strained their ears, waiting for the physician’s answer. Even the Empress, Li Feng, seated above them, couldn’t help but press him.
“Physician Fang, if you have something to say, just say it. Everyone here is a pillar of the Phoenix Clan; there is nothing that cannot be said.”
“Yes, Physician Fang, we are all clan elders. Whatever you have to say, speak it plainly before all of us,” another chimed in.
It was time they knew for certain whether Li XuanYue had lied to them.
Physician Fang felt a frantic urgency clawing at him from the inside. He finally understood what it felt like to be pushed into a corner, forced to perform under pressure. It felt no different from being roasted over an open fire, yet he had no way to retreat or fight back. The sense of helplessness was suffocating.
“Reporting to the Phoenix Empress.”
Physician Fang first glanced in Li XuanYue’s direction, then let his gaze sweep past Li QingHe and the others before finally settling on Li Feng. He spoke slowly and clearly.
“The Eldest Princess’s pulse is strong, and her body is in excellent health. There are no issues whatsoever.”
“And the matter of heirs is perfectly sound!”
“You’re lying!” Li QingHe blurted out without a second thought.
Only when she felt the weight of every gaze in the hall fall upon her did she realize how aggressively she had reacted. She scrambled to explain.
“Mother Empress, what I mean is, my sister’s face is so pale, how could she possibly be fine? Physician Fang must be lying!”
Although Li QingHe didn’t know why Physician Fang had suddenly gone against her previous instructions, she was absolutely certain of one thing: Li XuanYue’s health was not, as the physician claimed, “strong,” “excellent,” or “perfectly sound” for childbearing.
He had to be lying.
A faint, knowing smile played on Li XuanYue’s lips as she stared at Li QingHe.
“Sister, are you truly so certain there is something wrong with my body?” she asked, her tone ambiguous. “To the point that you won’t even believe the words of Physician Fang?”
Her sister’s frantic display just now all but screamed to the entire court that the physician was her pawn. She was so transparent, as if she were afraid people wouldn’t know what she was plotting.
“This is the physician personally assigned by our Father. He has been taking my pulse for years. Why would he fabricate his findings now?” Li XuanYue pressed on. “For you to say such things, sisterā¦ could it be that you are hoping I am unwell?”
Li QingHe’s face went ashen.
“Kneel!”
Before she could even begin to defend herself, the command thundered from the throne. Li Feng had already spoken.
“You vicious girl! How could you harbor such venomous thoughts? I have truly raised you in vain!”
“No, Mother Empress! I’ve been wronged!” At this point, Li QingHe couldn’t spare a single thought for the reasons behind this disaster or how to frame Li XuanYue further. She could only plead her case.
“I spoke out of turn only because I was so deeply concerned for my sister! In my heart, no one wishes for her well-being more than I do. I beg Mother Empress to see the truth!”
Such a heartfelt, moving speech. In her past life, she might have actually believed it.
But having already witnessed the depths of Li QingHe’s acting, Li XuanYue knew just how insincere every word was. Her sister wished her dead; how could she possibly wish her good health?
“Enough.”
Li Feng was old, but she wasn’t senile. She had seen Li QingHe’s knee-jerk reaction with her own two eyes. Why was she so impatient, if not because she had already decided that Li XuanYue was barren? What kind of loving sister would be so adamant that her own sibling was infertile?
“I don’t care if your concern is genuine or not. What matters is that Physician Fang’s words were perfectly clear,” Li Feng said, her face grim. “Yue’er’s body is fine. If anyone dares to use the matter of heirs to slander Yue’er again in the future, I will make sure they regret it!”
With Li Feng herself laying down the law, what more could the elders say? They all shuffled away with their tails between their legs.
Li QingHe’s face was a dark mask of fury. Though she was seething with unwillingness, she could only swallow her anger.
But as she turned to leave, she couldn’t stop herself from casting one last look at Physician Fang. The icy killing intent in her eyes was enough to send a chill down anyone’s spine. It made the hairs on Physician Fang’s back stand on end, a cold dread creeping up his spine.
As a result, the moment Physician Fang followed Li XuanYue out of the Hall of Central Harmony, he immediately dropped to his knees before her.
“Your Highness!” he cried out, looking at her with a desperate, unspoken plea.
How could Li XuanYue not understand the panic on his face? Today, he had betrayed Li QingHe in front of everyone. She certainly wouldn’t let the matter rest so easily.
“Rest assured, I will protect you.”
She raised an eyebrow slightly. “On your way back, my personal guards will follow you in the shadows. I will ensure that no harm comes to you.”
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