[1]The Consort is Both Charming and Scheming, Rising Through Palace Intrigue

Back at the Lan Yue Pavilion, Ning Shuyan suddenly felt an intense ache in her waist.

Qiu Le, upon realizing this, took Ning Shuyan's pulse. This time, Ning Shuyan noticed that Qiu Le seemed to take a longer time than usual, and her expression was somewhat grave.

"What's wrong? Is it that the pregnancy pulse has disappeared?" Ning Shuyan had been feeling for the past few days that she wasn't pregnant, as she had taken pills after every encounter with the emperor.

Qiu Le frowned slightly. "It is the pregnancy pulse, but I feel like your pulse is weaker than yesterday. Normally, it should be more obvious by now."

Ning Shuyan asked, "Could it be that the pulse is not right, and it's just a delayed period?"

Qiu Le shook her head. "But there's no sign that your period is coming soon based on your pulse."

Ning Shuyan placed her hand on her cheek and rested it on the table, deep in thought. Suddenly, her brows twitched, and her expression turned grave. "Could it be that I'm not pregnant at all, and someone is trying to frame me?"

Qiu Le's expression also changed abruptly. "If you're suggesting that, there is a drug that can make a woman who isn't pregnant show symptoms of pregnancy."

Ning Shuyan's face turned solemn, her expression cold as if a layer of frost had formed. "If that's the case, what is the purpose of this?"

Her hand clenched into a fist, and she said coldly, "Is it to wait for the pulse to disappear and frame me for faking pregnancy to compete for favor?"

Qiu Le was stunned, unable to respond immediately.

"Or perhaps not. I'll check your pulse again tomorrow. If it becomes weaker, it's likely someone is framing you."

Ning Shuyan nodded, but the sense of unease in her heart grew stronger. She firmly believed that this pregnancy was part of a meticulously planned conspiracy against her. She had to uncover this plot as soon as possible. How could she let the person behind it succeed?

That night, Ning Shuyan thought a lot—who the person behind this could be, and when she had taken the so-called pregnancy pills. If it was Lv Rui, it didn't make much sense, as Lv Rui had never meddled with her food or entered her inner chambers.

The next day, when Qiu Le checked Ning Shuyan's pulse, she couldn't help but freeze. She widened her eyes, staring at Ning Shuyan.

Ning Shuyan knew immediately from her expression.

"Has the pregnancy pulse weakened?" she asked, her face calm.

Qiu Le nodded, stunned. "Not only has it weakened, but the pregnancy pulse has completely disappeared. It seems someone is indeed trying to frame you."

Ning Shuyan's eyes narrowed. When her period arrived, or when her backer was plotting something, the imperial physician would diagnose her with a fake pregnancy.

Fake pregnancy! That was a serious crime. If it were proven, she would never recover from it and would even bring down her entire family.

As she opened her eyes, the icy coldness in her gaze seemed to melt away. She spoke calmly, "Please send for Dr. Ji, but keep it discreet."

When Dr. Ji arrived and checked her pulse, he was immediately shocked, eyeing Ning Shuyan suspiciously. He felt something was wrong with her pulse.

Ning Shuyan gave him a glance and said faintly, "Dr. Ji, if you have something to say, please speak. Do you think something's odd with my pulse?"

Dr. Ji responded, "I noticed that your pulse is not the pregnancy pulse."

Dr. Ji was also very surprised. He knew that Dr. Lu had previously diagnosed Ning Shuyan's pulse as a pregnancy pulse. Dr. Lu was highly skilled, so it was impossible for him to have made such a simple mistake.

Ning Shuyan wasn't as shocked or afraid as Dr. Ji had expected. Instead, her expression was calm.

"To be honest, I noticed the pulse was weaker yesterday. I didn't expect it to disappear today. I want to ask Dr. Ji, is there a drug that can make a woman show pregnancy symptoms and pulse?"

Dr. Ji was slightly taken aback. He realized something and kept his face impassive. "Indeed, there is such a drug. When I have free time, I study rare ailments and special medicines. I once found this in a medical book."

Ning Shuyan was now fairly certain that she had taken such a drug.

"Dr. Ji, can you estimate when I took the fake pregnancy drug?"

Dr. Ji thought for a moment. "I remember that the vomiting symptoms usually appear half a month after taking the drug, and the pregnancy pulse can be diagnosed. Typically, after a month of taking the drug, the pregnancy pulse gradually fades away."

Dr. Ji gave Ning Shuyan a slight glance, wondering who the concubine was who used such a malicious method to harm her.

Ning Shuyan recalled that the vomiting started about ten days ago, meaning the drug had been taken within a month...

Ning Shuyan pondered, "Dr. Ji, is there any way to make the pulse appear as if it's a sign of a miscarriage?"

Dr. Ji was taken aback. "May I ask, what is it that you intend to do?"

Ning Shuyan's brow carried a faint, undisguised sorrow. "You see, my pregnancy pulse has disappeared. If someone is planning to make me fall or do something else, a visit from a physician would reveal that I'm not actually pregnant. Dr. Ji, you understand what the consequences of a fake pregnancy would be..."

Dr. Ji slowly nodded. "Since you've taken the fake pregnancy drug, I can prescribe a prescription to promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis. However, after using it, your period will return, and there will be abdominal pain."

Ning Shuyan's eyes were filled with coldness. Abdominal pain was just what she needed—it would make the "miscarriage" seem more convincing.

"Good. Then I'll rely on you, Dr. Ji."

"Also, Dr. Ji, is it possible for you to maintain my pregnancy pulse for now, and I will take the 'miscarriage' medicine at the right time? I want to see who is behind this conspiracy."

Ning Shuyan was expecting Dr. Ji to refuse, but this time he agreed without hesitation. After all, this was just for self-preservation.

"I'll prepare the medicine for you, but if I prepare the prescription for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, people might start to suspect."

Ning Shuyan thought for a moment and looked at Qiu Le. "When you go back to the Imperial Medical Department, write down Qiu Le's name and say she's having menstrual issues. Also, if the miscarriage medicine can be made into pills, please have Dr. Ji make them in pill form."

Dr. Ji cupped his hands. "Understood."

After Dr. Ji left, Ning Shuyan sank into deep thought, gently spinning the tea lid in her hands. The room was completely silent, and the sound of the tea lid tapping against the teacup echoed clearly in the quiet space.

According to Dr. Ji, she had taken the drug about 25 days ago.

Ning Shuyan slowly reviewed the events in her mind. Twenty-five days ago...

She suddenly remembered—only at the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet had she eaten something outside her usual food. And that day, the soup she drank had tasted strange. It seemed that the problem lay there.

She had heard that, aside from the Empress, Concubine Zhuang had also participated in the food arrangements for that day.

Half a month later, she hadn't realized she was pregnant. When she vomited, Lv Rui anxiously told her that maybe she was pregnant.

So, it was very likely that the person behind this was Lv Rui's mistress.

That person must have calculated when her pulse would disappear, and when the time came, they would expose her fake pregnancy.

Soon, it would be the Empress's birthday. That person might take action then.

But was the person behind this Concubine Zhuang or the Empress?

No matter who it was, that day would provide an opportunity to expose the schemer.

Before that, she still had more important matters to attend to!