Lotus Consort, who had been in the palace for three years, was still a virgin and was pregnant. This was simply unbelievable.
"Quack doctor, quack doctor, you're talking nonsense! Your Majesty, quickly issue an edict to have this quack doctor killed. Summon other imperial physicians to save our child. This concubine is in unbearable pain, and if it's too late, it will be too late. We must save the child! Your Majesty, this concubine has been in the palace for three years. How many times have I served you? How can I still be a virgin? He's lying."
Lotus Consort was the most shocked. How many times had she been intimate with Ji Shiyou in bed? She remembered it clearly and would not be mistaken.
"Consort Lotus, this servant has not misdiagnosed. You are not pregnant either, you are just having your period."
Lotus Consort's words did not make the imperial physician nervous. This was because before coming, Ji Shiyou had clearly instructed him. The purpose of this visit was not to preserve Lotus Consort's pregnancy, but to diagnose whether Lotus Consort was truly pregnant and to confirm whether Lotus Consort was still a virgin.
"Impossible, I haven't had my period for two months. Moreover, I have had nausea and vomiting, and I like sour tastes. This is pregnancy. Did you take money from the Empress to help her get acquitted?"
Lotus Consort did not believe it. She thought of her symptoms over the past two months and was sure she was pregnant.
"Consort Lotus, you are eager for a child, and your anxious thoughts have caused a false pregnancy. You are not truly pregnant. This servant can guarantee it with his life. Moreover, you are still a virgin. It would be a miracle if you could get pregnant."
The imperial physician spoke with certainty and argued reasonably, refusing to back down.
"Enough, Emperor, what is going on?"
The Empress Dowager saw that the imperial physician was so confident, his backer must be Ji Shiyou. So she looked intently at Ji Shiyou, wondering what Ji Shiyou was trying to do.
"Does the Empress Dowager want to discuss Lotus Consort's matters here?"
Ji Shiyou no longer called her "Mother" but "Empress Dowager." His eyes shot out sharp light, staring at the Empress Dowager without fear.
"Return to Cining Palace!"
The Imperial Garden was crowded and full of gossip. There might be spies from other palaces hiding nearby. It was indeed not a place to handle matters. The Empress Dowager waved her sleeve and turned to leave. The servants of Cining Palace hurried to help Lotus Consort and followed behind.
"Do you want to go?"
Ji Shiyou turned back and extended his hand to Mingyue, inviting her to go together. The situation had already gone completely off track, and it seemed to have nothing to do with Mingyue. But Mingyue wanted to go because she had a gossipy heart. Lotus Consort was still a virgin, falsely pregnant, and the bloodstains on her clothes were just her period. Her gossipy nature was stirred, and intense curiosity drove her to Cining Palace to hear the explanation. But she didn't want to walk with Ji Shiyou. She reached out and slapped Ji Shiyou's hand away. Grabbing Yanliu, she walked towards Cining Palace. Ji Shiyou showed a bitter smile and followed behind, with Dongnan and the imperial physician at the very end.
"Send for Granny Chu!"
Back at Cining Palace, the Empress Dowager said coldly. Granny Chu was an old嬷嬷 in the palace. All women who entered the palace would be examined by her to see if they were virgins. The Empress Dowager believed the imperial physician was Ji Shiyou's man and did not trust him. She wanted to examine Lotus Consort herself. Ji Shiyou did not stop her and calmly sat in the main seat. He took the tea handed by Dongnan and slowly drank it. Mingyue did not mistreat herself and found a corner to sit down. She said little, as she was only here to spectate, with full awareness. However, Dongnan did not ignore her. Not only did he have tea served to her, but he also brought her melon seeds.
"All irrelevant people, withdraw!"
"Emperor, explain to me, why?"
After the time it took for an incense stick to burn, the Empress Dowager walked out of the back hall with a dark face. Following behind her was Lotus Consort, who had changed her clothes and looked distraught. All the servants attending in the hall withdrew, including Dongnan. Seeing the Empress Dowager driving people away, Mingyue, who could not watch the excitement, grabbed Yanliu and took another handful of melon seeds, wanting to leave.
"Empress, stay. You are not an irrelevant person. The matter from just now is not yet resolved?"
Seeing Mingyue about to leave, Ji Shiyou suddenly spoke. He thought to himself, this ungrateful girl, he had gone to so much trouble just to stand up for her. She clearly wanted to stay and watch the show, so why was she so obedient now? Mingyue, unusually obedient, quickly sat down and began to crack melon seeds.
"Your Majesty, why? Why am I still a virgin? Since I entered the palace, I have served you many times. I don't understand."
Lotus Consort looked bewildered and asked tearfully.
"Why? Because you are from the Feng family, the niece of the Empress Dowager, and your family is of high standing. I cannot let you give birth to my child. It's all your status. Do you remember that every time I slept with you, I would have Dongnan burn incense? That incense is called Yimeng. After smelling it, it would make people have hallucinations, making them think they were having intercourse with someone else. So all the scenes of you and I being intimate were just dreams. I never had intercourse with you."
Ji Shiyou had no choice. He did not like any of the concubines in his harem. They were almost all married into the palace due to political interests, and he had never touched them, nor did he want to. Due to palace rules, it was extremely difficult for these women to see their families after entering the palace. Ji Shiyou was not worried that they would complain to their families, but Lotus Consort was different. The Empress Dowager was her aunt. If the Empress Dowager knew that he and Lotus Consort had not consummated their marriage, it would cause a lot of trouble. So he had people concoct the Yimeng incense. This way, Lotus Consort would not complain to the Empress Dowager. Other concubines would think that Lotus Consort was favored exclusively and would not suspect Ji Shiyou.
"You are so cruel! I always thought I was favored above all other concubines. Your Majesty only loved me, which is why you didn't favor other concubines. It turns out that I am the same as them, even worse. Does Your Majesty have someone he loves in his heart, that he doesn't bestow even a little favor upon us?"
Lotus Consort wept profusely, her words filled with grief. She wanted to know if the heartless Ji Shiyou had someone he loved. Mingyue, cracking melon seeds, also involuntarily looked at Ji Shiyou. She also wanted to know if the stone-hearted Ji Shiyou had ever loved anyone. Ji Shiyou glanced at Mingyue, then turned his head away. Mingyue suddenly felt a little nervous. She told herself that the person in front of her had a deep-seated hatred with her. If he loved her, he wouldn't have let her suffer the pain of a destroyed nation and clan, nor would he have killed her family. Ji Shiyou protecting her in front of the Empress Dowager today must be to use her as an excuse again, just like he dealt with Marquis Huguo, to deal with the Empress Dowager and Prime Minister Feng.
"Just assume I am impotent!"
Ji Shiyou really wanted to loudly tell everyone that the person he loved was Empress Mingyue. But he held back and, as if possessed, blurted out that he was impotent. Mingyue spat out a mouthful of tea. Ji Shiyou was impotent? No wonder he was so perverted and became a murderer. It turned out to be due to a hidden illness that affected his psychology. This person was sick, but even if he was sick, the deep hatred could not go unavenged. She would never let Ji Shiyou go, Mingyue thought to herself.
"Enough, Ji Shiyou, what is your purpose in doing this today?"
The Empress Dowager was shrewd. Ji Shiyou could have kept the matter of the Yimeng incense a secret. But exposing it today proved that he was no longer worried about her knowing, nor was he afraid of offending Prime Minister Feng. He intended to make a move. The Feng family was at a point of life and death. Her foolish niece was still discussing matters of men and women with others, truly not knowing the gravity of the situation.
"The Empress Dowager asks well. Now do you believe that Lotus Consort is a virgin? Then let's get back to business and settle accounts. Lotus Consort was disrespectful to the Empress, falsely accused the Empress of pregnancy, and slandered the Empress, committing several palace rules. Her crimes are heinous. How does Your Majesty the Empress Dowager intend to deal with her?"
Ji Shiyou raised an eyebrow and looked up at the Empress Dowager. Mingyue's melon seeds crackled loudly. She thought to herself, here it comes? The same situation, the same formula. He was using her as a shield again to eliminate his rivals and achieve his goals. This time, she would not let him take all the benefits! Mingyue plotted in her heart.