Yu Jingchen knew Nan Zhiyun was not feeling well and would not let this matter go easily.
"Second Princess Yu Wan'er plotted against the imperial heir. Her crime is unforgivable. Given her youth, the death penalty is waived. However, while her life is spared, her punishment is not. She is hereby stripped of her royal princess title and confined to Changning Pavilion, forbidden to leave without a decree!" Yu Jingchen ultimately spared Yu Wan'er's life.
"Father Emperor..." Yu Wan'er pleaded, but no one would give her the chance. (A side story about Yu Wan'er will later reveal the plot holes in the main narrative.)
Although Yu Wan'er's matter was resolved, other affairs were not.
"Your Majesty, there is one more thing..." Xing Lai hesitated.
"Speak!" Yu Jingchen's mood was at an all-time low, and he had no patience.
"The imperial physician you ordered me to investigate earlier... has a problem." As soon as Xing Lai finished speaking, Yu Jingchen and Nan Zhiyun both looked at him.
"What do you mean?" Yu Jingchen asked.
"Your servant discovered that the imperial physician frequently visited Consort Yuan's palace. Recently, when the Eldest Prince was unwell, it was this imperial physician who attended to him. Furthermore... the imperial physician received many favors from Consort Yuan." Xing Lai had said enough; the implication was clear.
"Summon the imperial physicians, all of them from the Imperial Medical Office." Yu Jingchen calmed down. Nan Zhiyun felt uneasy. That imperial physician had been responsible for her fetus these past few days. If there was truly a problem...
"Don't worry, nothing will happen," Yu Jingchen reassured her.
Nan Zhiyun had no other recourse but to wait patiently. When Yu Jingchen suddenly ordered all the imperial physicians to come, everyone initially thought something had happened to the Empress.
The imperial physicians knelt outside. Yu Jingchen did not allow them inside. Seeing this situation, anyone with a discerning eye knew something was amiss, especially the imperial physician who had been responsible for Nan Zhiyun's fetus.
"His Majesty has decreed that each imperial physician shall take turns to examine the Empress's pulse," Xing Lai announced. This puzzled them, but they could only obey. The first imperial physician entered, his legs trembling.
"Examine the Empress's pulse." Yu Jingchen's tone was calm. Nan Zhiyun leaned into Yu Jingchen's embrace, her heart in turmoil, terrified that something might happen to her child.
"Yes..." The imperial physician examined Nan Zhiyun's pulse through a silk cloth. At first, he thought it was a serious issue, but after taking her pulse, he visibly relaxed.
"How is it?" Yu Jingchen, having noticed the imperial physician's change in expression, was moved.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, the Consort may have been startled, causing some instability in the fetal pulse. Combined with her recent emotional instability, it has had some impact on the fetus. However, with proper care and a stable mood, there should be no major problems," the imperial physician stated.
"No other issues?" Yu Jingchen pressed, his voice devoid of inflection, making it impossible for the imperial physician to gauge his intentions. He even wondered if he had made a mistake and re-examined the pulse.
"Reporting, reporting to Your Majesty... it is indeed as I said." The imperial physician lacked confidence, not even believing his own answer.
"Very well, wait aside. Let the next one enter." Yu Jingchen offered no opinion. The imperial physician was apprehensive, fearing that if His Majesty became displeased, his life might be forfeit.
Xing Lai went down and summoned the second physician. The report was essentially the same: Nan Zhiyun's pulse was slightly unstable.