Chapter Thirty-Two: Can This Young Imperial Physician Really See Through Her Medicine?

"Alright." Qin Zhiyi forced himself to calm down. Upon careful consideration, there truly was no better solution. He said, "But I must ask first, how do you plan to proceed?"

"Just as usual," Shen Fuyu blinked. Was that even a question? Making others angry was her top priority, especially in the harem. Only by being 'pregnant' could she truly incite resentment. "Your Majesty, you may rest assured. I am no fool. No matter how much the Empress Dowager dislikes me, she wouldn't dare openly do away with her own grandson, would she? She certainly fears criticism from the world."

"As for those moments when I run into the Empress Dowager, you should do as you did just now—pretend you don’t exist."

The conflict between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, after all, grows worse the less involved the man is! The weaker a husband's presence between his mother and wife, the more strained their relationship becomes. Shen Fuyu spoke earnestly to Qin Zhiyi, "Matters between women—I can handle them myself. You, as a man, must never interfere in such trivialities!"

Let the conflict grow as fierce as possible! She could handle it! Let the hatred come even stronger!

"..." Qin Zhiyi looked at her and said, "You’ve helped me, yet I haven’t managed to protect you before the Empress Dowager."

Ultimately, Qin Zhiyi felt a pang of guilt.

"How could you think that way? You truly lack the demeanor a man should possess!" Shen Fuyu crossed her arms, disappointed in his lack of backbone. "Since men are always busy outside, they shouldn't meddle in household affairs. Only unreasonable women make the home chaotic! So, you must never take sides!"

Take sides? That would hinder her from collecting resentment points!

"...Is she perhaps overly self-assured?" Qin Zhiyi’s expression darkened. She knew unreasonable women made the household chaotic, yet she was precisely the one causing the chaos!

Forget it, then!

"Rest assured, I know my limits," Shen Fuyu vowed, clenching her fist. Truthfully, she always had a plan, no matter the situation. She would undoubtedly turn matters to her own advantage. Now that she had chosen to ally with Qin Zhiyi, anyone counted among her own she would not trouble. As for the Empress Dowager… it was obvious Qin Zhiyi didn't truly care for his mother. The silence and distance between them was clear as day. The Empress Dowager plainly had her own agenda, and was not on the same side as Qin Zhiyi; otherwise, why would she be shocked rather than pleased by the news of her pregnancy?

Qin Zhiyi had nothing more to say; her notion of limits was wildly exaggerated.

"So be it. I will arrange for a trustworthy imperial physician to attend to you. Be careful—no one else must learn of your 'pregnancy.'"

"No need. The physician you trust should be sent to care for Princess Zhaoxi," Shen Fuyu smiled triumphantly. "As for me, just let the same Physician Zhang tend to my 'child.' Everything will be perfectly safe."

She was joking—if the fake pregnancy pill in her space could be seen through by these mediocre physicians, what use was it as a golden finger?

The fake pregnancy pill wasn’t temporary; taking one would last ten months. She could have her pulse checked anytime without fear of exposure. After the 'birth,' she could take a postpartum pill, and her body would appear just like a woman who had recently given birth, maintaining that state for a whole month. Each day, the effects would slowly fade, but there would never be any anomaly!

"By the way, if Your Majesty trusts me, you can give this to Princess Zhaoxi." With a flick of her wrist, she drew out a medicine bottle from her space. The jade vial appeared out of thin air in her hand, and inside was a single round pill, visible through the translucent jade. "It’s for stabilizing the pregnancy—far more effective than anything the imperial physicians can prescribe."

Even the best pregnancy stabilizers from this era, or the ones from her previous world, couldn't compare!

"Where did you get that?" Qin Zhiyi was puzzled.

"From… my master’s pocket." Shen Fuyu nearly said 'space,' but thought better of it—she didn’t want anyone to truly believe she was some witch. "Before entering the palace, I wasn’t favored by the Shen family. I lived for years on a remote estate, where I apprenticed with a master as miraculous as a celestial. My current condition is thanks to medicine he concocted; no imperial physician could ever detect it."

"Who is your master? Are you still in contact with him?" Qin Zhiyi took the medicine, his mind racing. Shen Fuyu’s body showed no sign of abnormality, so the pill must be genuine. If he could recruit someone more skilled than the palace physicians…

"His name is Fatty Lan. He rode away on his mount, the Time Machine, years ago and never returned."

"Can you find him again?"

"No chance." She’d sooner believe in ghosts.

Qin Zhiyi felt a trace of disappointment. "How much of this miraculous medicine do you have?"

"You underestimate me, Your Majesty! I know how to make it myself—I’d never let myself run out," Shen Fuyu said smugly. The medicine in her space replenished itself automatically; having that space truly was a blessing!

Seeing through Qin Zhiyi’s intentions, Shen Fuyu continued, "Your Majesty, why be so formal with me? We’re in the same boat now. If the imperial physicians can’t solve something, just come to me. Since I’ve promised you and the national preceptor, I’ll always side with my own."

"Thank you." Qin Zhiyi clutched the bottle tightly and thanked her. "I’ll go check on Zhaoxi."

"Take your time, and come again tonight!" Shen Fuyu squinted and waved at him. "I’ve just gotten pregnant—you must spend more time with me!"

Qin Zhiyi paused mid-step. Suddenly, he felt no desire to return.

No sooner had Qin Zhiyi left than Dong Ling arrived bearing gifts on the Empress’s orders. Shen Fuyu lounged lazily on the beauty couch, Silver Bell peeling grapes beside her. Dong Ling entered with a smile, followed by several young maids and eunuchs. At first glance, the gifts were all supplements for pregnant women, and the rest were amusements for passing the time.

"Maid Dong Ling greets the Virtuous Consort and congratulates her on her pregnancy. The Empress is unwell and cannot visit personally, so she has sent me with some supplements and fabrics. These materials are the softest—whether for making nightwear or saving for the little prince’s future clothes, they’re ideal. The rest are toys the Empress brought back from Yun Jing, thinking you might not have seen them and hoping they’ll help you pass the time." Dong Ling bowed gracefully, presenting the gifts one by one. Sincerity shone in her manner and the offerings; there was nothing one could fault.