The Legend of Zhen Huan Reborn: Overthrowing Zhen Huan to Become the Queen Mother

Shen Meizhuang picked up the teacup and was about to drink it when the sour fragrance penetrated her nostrils and she suddenly began to retch.

But it frightened the few people who had eaten and drunk enough, "Hey, what happened to Concubine Shen?"

Concubine Qi was older after all, and her eyes rolled. "He was fine just now, why did he suddenly become sick?"

Concubine Wen rubbed Shen Meizhuang's back and said, "You've been feeling sick for a few days."

Shen Meizhuang didn't think about it for a moment and answered obediently.

It wasn't until Liu Bin congratulated her with a humble look that she seemed overwhelmed by the huge surprise and said, "I, I'm pregnant."

"It's been almost a month since the first signs of slippery pulse appeared," Liu Bin answered flawlessly. "For the health of you and the fetus, please ask another imperial physician to take a look."

Concubine Qi thought she was being covert but winked at Cuiguo, who then quietly retreated.

Zhen Huan's heart was shaken, and she quietly took hold of Shen Meizhuang's hand and squeezed it hard.

Concubine Xin held her chest with a trembling voice and took a step back in fear.

Concubine Qi's eyes and eyebrows were filled with unconcealable joy. She was frantically and comically concerned about Shen Meiyu, as if she couldn't wait to see a joke.

Shen Meizhuang looked at Zhen Huan in shock, then realized: it had only been nearly a month since she was released from confinement. She had only started sleeping with Zhen Huan less than half a month ago.

Concubine Qi laughed and said, "Sister Shen is pregnant now, which is a top priority. Naturally, we should ask the court judge to come."

As she spoke, she wanted to call Cuiguo, but then she remembered that she had just sent Cuiguo to Jiuzhou Qingyan to "report the good news".

She casually pointed at the young eunuch in Wuling Chunse and said, "You, Concubine Shen is pregnant. Go and invite Zhang Mi over."

Shen Meizhuang frowned unhappily. She knew herself best. She would rather believe that Liu Bin's medical skills were not good enough and he had misjudged the month. But if it was a misdiagnosis and the emperor was alarmed, wouldn't the whole palace know about it?

So she wanted to stop her, but Concubine Wen immediately grabbed Shen Meizhuang's hand as she was about to raise it, "Sister Shen, you are so happy that you are confused. The Emperor must know that the concubine is pregnant. Why does he care who makes the diagnosis?"

Shen Meizhuang had to give up her thoughts. The two women on her left and right comforted her, but she felt like she was surrounded by jackals, tigers and leopards, and she was the piece of meat emitting a strong bloody aura, making them salivate.

Zhen Huan couldn't get in, so she just held Shen Meizhuang's hand tightly.

One of Shen Meizhuang's hands was held tightly by Concubine Wen Cao Qinmo, and the other hand was clenched into a fist. The warm back of her hand was wet with sweat from Zhen Huan's palm.

The emperor arrived faster than Zhang Mi. The door opened and closed, and a dull heat wave poured in. Shen Meizhuang became inexplicably irritated.

The emperor slammed himself down on the main seat, his eyes half-closed in fatigue.

Concubine Wen took a step back and stood obediently beside Zhen Huan. Concubine Qi, unaware of this, happily came over and said, "Your Majesty, Concubine Shen is one month pregnant." She winked at Shen Meiyu as she spoke.

The emperor opened his eyes and glanced at Shen Meizhuang calmly, "Is that so?"

Shen Meizhuang stepped forward and bowed, her expression neither humble nor arrogant. "In reply to the emperor's words, after dinner at Concubine Wen's place, I suddenly started retching. My sisters were worried about me and sent for the imperial physician, who then discovered that I was pregnant."

Liu Bin added, "It's because the baby is too young. The pulse is like a bead, but it seems weak. It must be almost full term."

At this time, Zhang Mi, sweating profusely, finally arrived.

The emperor waved his hand and said, "You come and take Concubine Shen's pulse."

Zhang Mi trembled, shifting from his left hand to his right, and finally offered an explanation: "As Imperial Physician Liu said, Lady Shen's pulse is weak and slippery. Perhaps it's because the pregnancy is too young. Does Lady Shen often feel chest tightness and lack of energy?"

Shen Meizhuang nodded, and Zhang Mi also nodded. "It's because you are depressed, my dear. You can relax and recuperate for a while."

The emperor looked extremely bad, and Shen Meizhuang was confused.

"But I..."

Before Shen Meizhuang could finish her words, Liu Bin calmly said, "My lady, you may not know that a woman's pregnancy doesn't start from the day she sleeps with the emperor. It starts from the luteal phase. First, the corpus luteum forms and grows on its own, and then the baby implants in the womb. Therefore, it's common for gestational periods to be inconsistent. Even if the highly regarded Imperial Physician Jiang comes, the same principle applies."

Zhang Mi knew that Shen Meizhuang's pulse was not as strong and solid as other pregnant women's pulses, but with Liu Bin taking the lead, he also agreed with this.

(I don’t know if the egg is called the corpus luteum, forgive me kowtow.jpg)

Liu Bin's calm demeanor reassured Shen Meizhuang. The emperor's expression brightened slightly as he said to her, "I remember you used to be very strong, but now you're not as strong as before. The palace maids didn't take good care of you. Please ask Jiang Cheng and Jiang Shen to take another look at you."

Shen Meizhuang lowered her eyes and said softly, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

The emperor didn't wait long for Jiang Cheng and Jiang Shen. He casually said, "Your name is Liu Bin, and your accent doesn't sound like someone from the capital."

Liu Bin bent down with his head bowed, his expression extremely respectful. "I am from Jeju. I was admitted to the Imperial Hospital and was just assigned to the Old Summer Palace."

Because Liu Bin's explanation seemed like that of a knowledgeable doctor, Shen Meizhuang had a good impression of him and smiled when she heard his answer.

The emperor naturally noticed it, nodded and said nothing more.

It wasn't until Jiang Cheng and Jiang Shen came to the same conclusion that the emperor felt relieved. He said to Shen Meizhuang with concern, "You've had a hard time with your pregnancy. Although Siyi Academy is not far from Jiuzhou Qingyan, it's quite remote. You might as well move to Bitong Academy. It will be more convenient for you to visit the garden."

Shen Meizhuang was excited for a moment, but then she calmed down. "Although Bitong Academy is nice, there are no sisters living next door, and I am not afraid of crowds. Besides, didn't Imperial Physician Liu say that my pulse was unstable and that it was forbidden to mobilize troops?"

Shen Meizhuang's gentle tone comforted the emperor greatly. "You value Liu Bin so much, so let him take care of you. I have always thought you were the most dignified and gentle. I had thought of the word 'Hui' earlier, and now it is appropriate to give it to you."

"Thank you very much for your kindness, Your Majesty." Shen Meizhuang thanked him happily, and Zhen Huan, who was being neglected, also smiled at Shen Meizhuang happily.

Concubine Qi was deflated, but still unwilling to give in, "Sister Hui is so lucky, but it's getting late now. Sister, you should go to bed early."

The emperor ignored Concubine Qi's hopeful look.

Concubine Xin knew that she could not compare to Zhen Huan and Shen Meizhuang in terms of favor, nor to Concubine Qi in terms of status, nor to Concubine Wen, Wen Yi's biological mother, in terms of love and status. So she lowered her head.

The emperor's eyes swept over the obedient Concubine Xin and stayed on Concubine Wen for a moment. Zhen Huan was immersed in the joy of her sister Mei's pregnancy and was completely unaware of the emperor's gaze.

"Wan Changzai, accompany me to see Concubine Hui off. Concubine Wen is so thoughtful. I will reward you well on Wen Yi's birthday."

Concubine Wen smiled and respectfully saw the three people off, while Concubine Xin had a complicated expression.

After leaving Siyi Academy, the Emperor shook Zhen Huan's hand and said, "Noble Consort Hui is pregnant. Are you so happy? Why don't you want to give birth to a little prince for me?"