CMWKSD -Chapter 140 Pulse Records

The two exchanged words back and forth for a while. Emperor Fengyuan nodded repeatedly and praised her twice, saying she deserved a reward.

Jiu Yue grinned widely, showing her teeth in sheer delight. She hadn’t expected treating Shen Zongsheng’s leg to come with such an unexpected bonus. Turning her head, she roughly understood why the emperor wanted to reward her.

After all, Ji Yiqing had mentioned many times the Shen family’s status among military generals. Not to mention, the Shen family was like a stabilizing anchor for the northern border.

But several of Shen General’s sons had died or been injured, leaving no clear heir. Shen Zongsheng was the most likely to inherit the legacy—but then his leg was injured. Everyone had concluded that Shen Zongsheng would be bound to a wheelchair for life.

No one had expected Jiu Yue to heal him.

The emperor watched Jiu Yue’s emotions plainly displayed on her face and couldn’t help but be amused. He had lost count of the years since anyone dared to show their true emotions in front of him. Even he himself, as emperor, could not be scrutinized or read by others…

After letting Jiu Yue enjoy herself for a moment, Emperor Fengyuan finally said slowly, “In that case, I suppose your medical skills are quite remarkable.”

Jiu Yue nodded, beaming with pride as her little eyebrows shot up. “Naturally!”

Her proud expression made it obvious that her ego had been boosted again. No one could question her medical skills! No one!

The emperor smiled. “Then show me?”

Jiu Yue nearly let out a yelp.

She belatedly remembered Ji Yiqing mentioning the royal family’s curse. But of course, she didn’t believe in curses at all. Moreover, Ji Yiqing, Ji Chaoxian, and many others she knew had repeatedly said that Emperor Fengyuan was a rare, truly good ruler.

Industrious and conscientious, he had diligently expanded the territory, promoted talent from humble backgrounds, and even created many employment opportunities for women. Thanks to his efforts and those of the previous emperor, the status of women had greatly improved.

A few decades earlier, it had been a hell for women. Countless girls died each year for various reasons…

Compared to those bad emperors, Jiu Yue was lucky. If she had lived in a harsher era, she would have been decapitated long ago, unable to sit here and chat casually with Emperor Fengyuan.

So when he made this request, Jiu Yue simply thought it over and nodded. Besides, in front of Emperor Fengyuan, there was none of that stiff, intimidating formality she had seen elsewhere. She didn’t feel like her head might be dislocated by protocol. She was willing to give it a try.

The emperor had not expected her to agree so readily. His good mood wasn’t accidental—he simply felt his time might be limited and thought to accrue some virtue. In earlier years, Jiu Yue’s brazen, irreverent personality would have warranted a sharp rebuke, or even a few strikes. After all, imperial authority could never be taken lightly.

Now, however, as Jiu Yue prepared to take his pulse, Emperor Fengyuan felt an unfamiliar tension. It was as if her words alone could decide his life or death.

He sat on the dragon throne, meeting Jiu Yue’s sharp gaze.

Li Feng: …

Seeing them staring each other down, Li Feng hurried forward. “Doctor Jiu Yue, shouldn’t you prepare something first? This is the emperor we’re talking about!”

Jiu Yue looked puzzled. “It’s just taking the pulse. What preparation do I need?”

A bath, incense, washing hands a hundred times? No way!

Emperor Fengyuan glanced at her, quietly approving. The worst doctors were those who frowned and shook their heads while taking a pulse, making patients feel their life might end at any moment.

Thinking this, he rose and sat at the side. Jiu Yue plopped down beside him.

Li Feng: !!!

Imperial doctors usually knelt beside the emperor to take his pulse! What on earth was this Mrs. Ji doing?

He broke into a cold sweat but saw the emperor was unfazed. He hurried to lift the emperor’s sleeve. Jiu Yue had already closed her eyes and begun taking his pulse.

Li Feng held the cloth, watching as the emperor shook his head slightly. Eventually, he had to put the cloth away.

Jiu Yue frowned after a short while. Then she took a deep breath and said, “Let’s use the other hand as well.”

Both the emperor and Li Feng looked uneasy. Jiu Yue’s expression was now completely serious, no trace of her earlier playful demeanor.

She had never taken a pulse for this long—half a quarter-hour straight. Smelling and feeling the pulse, the emperor felt the hand on the table begin to go numb.

Finally, she opened her eyes. Emperor Fengyuan, barely able to contain his anticipation, asked, “Well? How is it?”

Jiu Yue tapped the table lightly with her fingers, then remembered he was the emperor, not an ordinary person. She put her hand back on her lap. “I have a preliminary idea, but I need further evidence.”

The emperor’s eyes brightened. “So… what’s wrong with me?”

Jiu Yue wasn’t very confident—just examining the emperor alone made it hard to judge. But encountering a case even she couldn’t immediately solve was exciting. She forgot everything else and knelt down.

“Your Majesty, I need to investigate the pulse records of the royal family to corroborate my hypothesis.”

Emperor Fengyuan’s brow furrowed. A formidable aura pressed down, even Jiu Yue, experienced as she was, felt a slight tremor.

“You mean… all members of the royal family could have a problem?”

Jiu Yue knelt lower. “I have not confirmed it yet, Your Majesty, so I cannot speak definitively.”

The emperor stood, understanding her implication immediately. She wanted to examine the pulse records of the entire Chu family lineage—meaning the whole royal family could potentially have issues. But the specifics, she didn’t say—either because she wasn’t sure, or because the matter was serious.

Emperor Fengyuan stared at her. Jiu Yue knelt without flinching. Even if she were to be executed, she would first verify the pulse records before speaking.

Jiu Yue never acted without confidence. Be it Ji Chaoxian’s leg, Ji Yiqing’s face, or Shen Zongnian’s earlier illness—or even Shen Zongsheng’s leg—she would only speak if she was certain.

The room fell silent; Li Feng broke into a cold sweat. After a long pause, the emperor looked at him: “Give her access! But ensure no one else knows. Find a suitable place for her to carefully examine the records.”

After all, the Chu family had ruled for generations. The pulse records, though not hundreds of volumes, would fill over half a room.