CHAPTER 464: CHAPTER 464 : XIE JIANYU’S DARK PAST (9)

Zhang Fengxi’s one night of indiscretion was quickly forgiven in light of Liu Wenyuan’s unexpected, and yet joyous pregnancy.

Countless messages and gifts poured into both Longjing Palace and Wuyang Palace, offering congratulations on the auspicious, upcoming union between Supreme General Zhang Fengxi and Prince Liu Wenyuan. The well-wishers also extended their felicitations upon the news of the Prince’s pregnancy.

Liu Yichen, in a grand display of celebratory zeal, hosted a lavish banquet. Guests remarked that the wedding-like decorations blurred the lines, leaving them wondering if they’d stumbled upon an impromptu ceremony instead of a celebratory feast.

The harmonious match between an alpha general and an omega prince of the two palaces was the talk of the entire realm for the next several weeks.

Xie Jianyu was unable to partake in the talk, because he had his own problems to take care of.

"Jianyu, what’s wrong with you?"

The Heavenly Emperor narrowed his eyes at his youngest son.

"I caught a cold," Xie Jianyu lied without batting an eyelid.

"A cold? Why haven’t you recovered? It has been weeks, and you seem to grow paler every time I see you."

"Imperial Father, please do not worry. I have been managing a lot of tasks these past few weeks, thus my recovery is delayed."

The truth was that he had been experiencing severe vomiting for multiple days, leading to a noticeable decline in weight.

"Do not leave Fuxi Palace until you get rid of the nasty cold," the Heavenly Emperor decided. "You can continue managing lighter duties from the comfort of your palace. I will allocate the rest to the other palace masters."

His father’s voice, dripping with bitter disappointment, left Xie Jianyu feeling utterly defeated. Words seemed to abandon him, lost in the echo of his own self-dissatisfaction. There was little he could say, for even his internal voice mirrored the harsh judgment reflected in his father’s eyes.

"Yes, Imperial Father."

The only silver lining to his unfavorable circumstances was the unexpected reprieve from his usual hectic schedule. Yet, staring into the pale, drawn face reflected back at him, Xie Jianyu couldn’t help but wonder -- what had brought him to this miserable state?

The next day, Xie Jianshen came to visit again. This time, he brought a physician with him.

"Big Brother, there is no need," Xie Jianyu insisted. "I am fine."

"If you are fine, let the physician draft an official report and submit it to Imperial Father," Xie Jianshen answered.

"I don’t want to," Xie Jianyu frowned. "Please ask him to leave."

As if praying for an infinite well of patience, Xie Jianshen closed his eyes for a brief moment before he turned to the physician and said, "Please wait outside for a while, Physician Wei."

"What’s going on, Little Yu?" he asked the moment Physician Wei exited the chamber. "You have been sick for weeks, but you refuse to be examined by any physician. Now you even refuse a physician in my presence."

"I am fine," Xie Jianyu insisted. "I don’t want physicians to come in and out of my palace the entire time. People will start thinking that I am afflicted with a serious disease!"

Xie Jianshen grabbed Xie Jianyu’s arm and dragged him toward the bed.

"For your information, dearest brother, they already do. Now behave and let Physician Wei take a look at you."

"Brother, I...!"

"What’s wrong?"

A chill emanated from Xie Jianshen’s gaze.

"Are you worried about something, Little Yu? Is this related to the incident during the Winter Solstice?"

"... No, of course not."

Xie Jianshen arched a brow at him.

"I don’t think that you will be that unlucky. After all, it was your first time. Even though it was done during your heat."

"... Yes."

He couldn’t possibly be so unlucky.

"Lie down," Xie Jianshen’s tone was resolute, his words spoken with a finality that allowed no room for argument. "One examination is all it will take."

Xie Jianyu closed his eyes with a sigh and did as he was told.

While the Crown Prince lay on the bed with an ashen face, Physician Wei took his hand and examined his pulse. He had done this exercise probably thousands of times, but he did it again and again just to make sure.

Once he finished examining Xie Jianyu’s pulse, he proceeded with other types of examinations. After probably the fourth examination, even Xie Jianshen ran out of patience.

"Physician Wei, what is it?" he asked with knitted brows. "What is wrong?"

Physician Wei swallowed hard, a knot of dread tightening in his throat. As the dragon clan’s trusted physician, he’d monitored the Crown Prince’s health since childhood, privy to the secret of his true secondary gender.

But even his wildest nightmares had never prepared him for this day. Should he beg for mercy? Should his voice ring out in a desperate wail? Neither option seemed sufficient in the face of such an impossible circumstance.

The way Physician Wei’s face changed color gave both Xie siblings a sense of unease.

"Is the cold incurable?" Xie Jianshen asked.

"How many days do I have to live?" Xie Jianyu asked.

Xie Jianshen shot his younger brother a glare when he heard the latter’s words.

"Don’t speak nonsense. Physician Wei, prescribe the medication at once. Do we need any rare ingredients?"

Lips quivering violently, Physician Wei struggled to find the words to reveal the truth. Alas, there really were not many ways to announce the pregnancy, thus he prostrated himself to the ground and sobbed, "His Majesty the Crown Prince is p-p-p-pregnant!"

Following Physician Wei’s announcement, a heaven-splitting silence descended in the chamber.

Xie Jianyu turned as pale as a blank sheet of paper. Apparently, he was that unlucky.

Xie Jianshen took a deep breath before exhaling slowly. He rose to his feet, towering over Xie Jianyu and the trembling physician at his feet.

"This knowledge must not spread beyond this chamber," Xie Jianshen said. "Prepare a concoction to abort the fetus at once. It must not leave any trace inside the Crown Prince’s body."