AUBTN -Chapter 269 The Empress Is Pregnant

“Imperial Physician Li from the Imperial Medical Bureau, hereby follows the Empress Dowager’s decree to take the Empress’s pulse for her safe condition—”

The eunuch’s sharp voice cut through the stillness of the night.

Su Hewan and Yu Qing’s expressions changed instantly. They quickly released Zhou Ruoyun and stepped back into the shadows by the side.

They lowered their heads and eyes, once again posing as obedient palace maids.

Even Su Hewan felt something was off.

Who would request a “safe pulse” check in the middle of the night?

Zhou Ruoyun hurriedly wiped away her tears, and with the help of her personal maid, sat back down on the soft couch.

The heavy curtains were lifted, and an imperial physician entered carrying a medicine box.

This Imperial Physician Li was well known in the Imperial Medical Bureau as a master of gynecology, and he was also one of the Empress Dowager’s trusted men.

“This humble subject greets the Empress.”

Physician Li bowed respectfully, then stepped forward and placed his fingers on Zhou Ruoyun’s wrist through a silk cloth.

The entire bedroom fell into a silence so deep that only the sound of breathing could be heard.

Su Hewan’s gaze was fixed tightly on the changes in the physician’s expression.

Suddenly, Physician Li’s eyes widened sharply, as if he had felt something utterly unbelievable.

His fingers repeatedly confirmed the pulse three times.

Finally, he withdrew his hand and dropped heavily to his knees with a thud.

He announced loudly before everyone:

“Congratulations, Empress! Congratulations, Empress!”

“Your pulse is smooth and rolling like beads, flowing freely and steadily…”

“Empress… you, you are already one month pregnant!”

These words were like a thunderbolt striking the Phoenix Palace!

Zhou Ruoyun’s already pale face instantly flushed red, then turned ashen white.

Her entire body collapsed weakly onto the couch.

Yu Qing suddenly lifted her head, her jaw nearly dropping to the ground.

In her mind, she let out a soul-shaking silent scream.

【Holy crap, holy crap, holy crap!!!】

【One month pregnant?!】

【The little emperor only just got married half a month ago, okay?! Even if they consummated the marriage on the wedding night, at most it would only be fifteen days!】

【Where did this baby in Zhou Ruoyun’s belly come from? Asexual reproduction?!】

【Damn it! This white lotus Empress doesn’t just act well—she really plays dirty! She actually gave the little emperor a glowing green hat!】

On the roof, Lu Yan’s breathing hitched, and the embroidered spring sabre in his hand nearly slipped.

Not only Lu Yan—even Su Hewan, who had always observed everything coldly, felt a chill run through her scalp.

【Too ruthless… Zhou Wenhai, that old fox, is vicious to the bone!】

Su Hewan instantly connected all the clues in her mind.

【No wonder he didn’t directly poison the little emperor to death!】

【No wonder he only wanted the little emperor to become a mute living corpse!】

【Zhou Ruoyun was already pregnant before entering the palace! That child, whether it belongs to the little emperor or not…】

【Zhou Wenhai is going to use that bastard child to swap the real heir for a fake one!】

【As long as Zhou Ruoyun gives birth to this child, he can publicly declare it as the emperor’s legitimate eldest son.】

【By then, the little emperor—already a useless living corpse—will have no value left and will inevitably die of illness.】

【And this child carrying the Zhou family bloodline would rightfully ascend the throne!】

【Zhou Wenhai is trying to change the heavens without spilling a single drop of blood—stealing the world right under everyone’s eyes!】

Cold sweat slid down Su Hewan’s spine.

Zhou Ruoyun looked at Imperial Physician Li, who was still kowtowing frantically on the ground, and suddenly let out a miserable laugh that was even more unpleasant than crying.

“…Pregnant?”

She closed her eyes in despair, two streams of tears sliding down her cheeks.

Su Hewan stared fixedly at Zhou Ruoyun, a flash of ruthless determination in her eyes.

“Smack—!”

A sharp, resounding slap sent Zhou Ruoyun crashing to the ground. Her already pale face swelled instantly, and a trace of blood spilled from the corner of her mouth.

“You shameless woman!”

The Empress Dowager rushed in upon hearing the sound and shouted furiously.

“Explain yourself clearly—where did the bastard in your belly come from?!”

“The Emperor is only sixteen! You’ve only been married for half a month, and he has been in a coma the entire time! Yet you dare to commit such debauchery in the palace and conceive an illegitimate child!”

“Guards! Drag this shameless slut out, strip her of her position as empress, and beat her to death with sticks!”

The Empress Dowager trembled with rage, murderous intent blazing in her eyes.

She absolutely could not allow the Zhou family to produce some inexplicable heir at this critical moment and seize power!

Several strong palace matrons immediately lunged forward like wolves and seized Zhou Ruoyun’s arms from both sides.

“Empress Dowager, spare me! Please investigate the truth!” Zhou Ruoyun struggled desperately, screaming in anguish.

“Stop!”

A furious shout made everyone turn toward the entrance.

The Empress Dowager’s face turned even paler when she saw who had arrived.

All eyes followed the sound.

A tall, sinister figure slowly stepped into the hall.

It was none other than Zhou Wenhai, the powerful Grand Chancellor of the Great Wei Empire.

This was the first time Su Hewan and Yu Qing had seen this influential minister face to face.

【Oh my god… that pressure… it feels so dark and suffocating!】 Yu Qing screamed internally.

She subconsciously shrank behind Su Hewan, lowering her head even further.

Su Hewan was also tense.

Compared to him, even the Empress Dowager—who usually carried immense authority—seemed almost gentle and kind.

Zhou Wenhai’s gaze swept across the room like a cold snake’s tongue brushing over skin, raising goosebumps everywhere it passed.

“Grand Chancellor, such great authority you have—to barge into the imperial harem in the middle of the night!” The Empress Dowager’s voice trembled with anger.

Zhou Wenhai walked straight to Zhou Ruoyun, who was slumped on the ground. He glanced down at her swollen face indifferently, then turned and gave the Empress Dowager a perfunctory bow.

“Please calm your anger, Your Majesty. This old minister heard that the Empress was unwell and was overwhelmed with worry, which is why I lost propriety. After all, if the Empress were to suffer harm for no reason, the world might say that Your Majesty cannot tolerate the families of meritorious officials.”

The hidden threat in his words was completely unmasked.

“You!” The Empress Dowager’s face turned deathly pale with rage.

“The Imperial Physician just diagnosed her as being over a month pregnant! The Emperor has only been married for half a month and is still unconscious—explain to me where this bastard came from!”

Zhou Wenhai let out a cold snort and turned his gaze to Zhou Ruoyun.

As if receiving some silent signal, Zhou Ruoyun suddenly burst into even louder sobs. She crawled forward on her knees to the Empress Dowager’s feet, crying hysterically:

“Empress Dowager—it’s my fault! A month ago, my father brought me into the palace to pay respects to you, and His Majesty once met me privately in the imperial garden. We… we lost control of our feelings. We originally intended to report it after the wedding, but then His Majesty suddenly fell ill. I truly did not intend to defile the harem!”

【What the—this script is way too well coordinated!】 Yu Qing rolled her eyes internally.

【A month ago? Lost control of feelings? The Emperor is only sixteen, lady—how are you even saying this with a straight face?】

But Su Hewan, on the other hand, secretly admired Zhou Wenhai’s meticulous planning.

As long as Zhou Ruoyun insisted the child was conceived before the marriage in a private relationship, then under strict feudal ethics, it would at most be considered shameful—not treason.