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

Chapter 189: A Joyful Pulse

Only then did Ning Shuyan realize—it really had been five or six days. But her cycle was often irregular, so she hadn't paid it much attention. She nodded lightly.

Xiao Yu's joy deepened. "Tell me—could it be..."

He swallowed hard and looked at her expectantly.

Eyes wide, Ning Shuyan asked in disbelief, "Your Majesty... are you saying I might be pregnant?"

Xiao Yu nodded and motioned for her to come closer.

Ning Shuyan walked over, dazed, and sat on his lap. "I... I probably am not pregnant, am I?"

She clearly remembered that she had taken contraceptive precautions. The last time they were together was only two days ago—so if she were pregnant, it would have to be from the time before that, which was during her safe period. The chance was minimal. And it had only been once.

Xiao Yu wrapped an arm around her slender waist, placing his hand gently over her lower abdomen. His eyes softened as he gazed at her flat stomach. "I have a feeling—you are."

He spoke with conviction.

Seeing the anticipation on his face, Ning Shuyan couldn't bear to dampen his hopes. If she wasn't actually pregnant, he'd surely be disappointed.

Night deepened. Moonlight diffused through the light mist, shining in through the sheer window screens and blending with the flickering orange candlelight—soft and full of warmth.

They barely finished eating before tensely awaiting the physician.

The warm brazier filled the room with heat, causing the wax plum blossoms in the vases to release their fragrance, like spring in bloom.

Xiao Yu's heart was full of excitement and nervousness, waves of emotion rising and falling.

After a while, Imperial Physician Liu arrived.

Just as he was about to salute, Xiao Yu cut him off impatiently, "Quick, check Lady Zhao's pulse."

Physician Liu, knowing how rare it was for the emperor to behave this way, dared not delay. He knelt, placed the pulse pillow under Ning Shuyan's wrist, and began checking her pulse carefully.

He started with two fingers, then furrowed his brows and switched to three.

The hall was silent, the atmosphere extremely tense.

Xiao Yu waited with bated breath. Seeing Liu hesitate, he grew impatient. "Well? Is it a joyful pulse?"

Somehow, he just knew it was.

Finally, Liu stood and smiled broadly, bowing to the emperor. "Congratulations, Your Majesty. Lady Zhao's pulse indeed indicates pregnancy. The fetus is still very early, which is why I was so careful—but I can confirm it: this is a joyful pulse."

Ning Shuyan's eyes widened in shock. Her mind went blank like a drifting feather with no place to land. How... how could she be pregnant?

Xiao Yu, on the other hand, couldn't contain his joy. He waved his hand grandly. "Reward! Everyone in Lan Yue Pavilion shall be rewarded!"

He was so thrilled that he no longer spoke like an emperor, but like an overjoyed father.

Physician Liu was one of his own, which only made Xiao Yu trust his words more.

All the palace staff, including the physician, congratulated them. "Congratulations, Your Majesty. Congratulations, Your Grace."

Physician Liu couldn't help but look at Lady Zhao again. This wasn't the emperor's first child, yet he was visibly thrilled—it said something about her significance.

Eunuch Yang An, however, understood perfectly. Having served the emperor for years, he knew exactly which consorts were favored on the surface, which truly had the emperor's heart, and which he cared deeply for.

Xiao Yu laughed heartily, his eyes sparkling with joy. Turning to Ning Shuyan, he saw her still in a daze.

After dismissing everyone, he sat beside her and asked with a smile, "What's wrong? So happy you're stunned?"

She raised her eyes—not with joy, but with concern. "Your Majesty, could we summon another physician for confirmation? Physician Liu said the pulse was shallow. I fear it might be a false hope."

Having experienced a false pregnancy before, the sudden news of being pregnant now caught her off guard—especially since she truly felt she wasn't.

She couldn't help thinking back to the tea she drank at Fengqi Palace—it had seemed odd. Plus, Physician Liu had ties to the Empress. Last time, it was the Empress who assigned him to care for Concubine Xue during her pregnancy.

The thought nagged at her—there was something suspicious about this pregnancy.