Chapter 1450: Chapter 1428 Happiness
Even though they had long known, when the imperial physician announced it once more, the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess couldn’t help but joyfully grasp each other’s hands.
The Crown Prince cleared his throat lightly and routinely asked, “How long has it been?”
The imperial physician then inquired in detail about the date of the Crown Princess’s last menstrual period and the time of intercourse, of course, answered by the attendants serving the Crown Princess.
After calculating the time in his mind and combining it with the pulse diagnosis, he said, “It’s approximately just over a month.”
The Crown Prince nodded slightly, which matched roughly with Zhou Man’s estimation, so was Zhou Man’s pulse diagnosis now better than the imperial physician’s?
This thought flashed through his mind, and the senior palace maid beside the Crown Princess said to the imperial physician, “The Crown Princess’s term is still short; it’s best not to announce it outside before three months.”
This was a customary practice understood by the imperial physician, so he quickly agreed.
Then he quietly glanced at the Crown Prince, wanting to take the Crown Prince’s pulse, but due to the Crown Prince’s imposing presence, he didn’t dare to ask, and thus, he lifted his medicine box and bade farewell.
Before leaving, he looked at Zhou Man with a rather complicated expression.
After exiting the Eastern Palace, he did not return to the Imperial Hospital immediately but instead went to Taiji Hall to seek an audience with the Emperor.
It should not be disclosed publicly before three months, but clearly, the Emperor was not considered “outside,” especially since the issue of the Crown Prince’s offspring involved the entire empire and the court.
After Gu Zhong left the imperial study, he soon walked in quickly and reported softly to the Emperor, “Your Majesty, Imperial Physician Zhang from the Imperial Hospital has arrived.”
The Emperor, without raising his head, continued reading memorials and asked, “What is he here for?”
Gu Zhong bent low and said, “The Eastern Palace summoned an imperial physician, and Imperial Physician Zhang just came out from the Eastern Palace.”
The Emperor raised his head, frowned, and inquired, “Isn’t Zhou Man at the Eastern Palace?”
Gu Zhong whispered, “Doctor Zhou Junior indeed came to the palace today.”
The Emperor then put down his pen, “Summon him in.”
Imperial Physician Zhang quickly came in with his head lowered, knelt down, and reported, “Your Majesty, the Crown Princess is pregnant.”
The Emperor, startled, stood up from his chair and asked urgently, “What did you say?”
Imperial Physician Zhang kowtowed again, reaffirming, “I have just taken the Crown Princess’s pulse, and she is over a month pregnant.”
The Emperor was overjoyed, pacing a few delighted steps in place, turning his head to laugh heartily and ask Gu Zhong, “Did you hear that? What did he just say?”
Gu Zhong immediately bent over, laughing happily, “I heard clearly, Your Majesty. Imperial Physician Zhang said the Crown Princess is pregnant and has been for more than a month.”
The Emperor couldn’t help but burst into laughter and, upon finishing, felt something was off. Tilting his head, he asked Imperial Physician Zhang, who was still kneeling on the ground, “It’s been over a month?”
“Yes,” Imperial Physician Zhang said, “I estimate it to be between thirty-four and thirty-one days, more specific calculations cannot be determined.”
The Emperor asked, “Is Zhou Man in the Eastern Palace?”
“Yes, Doctor Zhou Junior is still in the Eastern Palace.”
The Emperor then lightly scolded with a laugh, “The Crown Prince also knows how to keep his composure now.”
After a bit of thought, the Emperor said, “I am aware of this matter; do not spread it outside for a while longer.”
Imperial Physician Zhang accepted the order.
The Emperor then rewarded Imperial Physician Zhang with some items. After he left, the Emperor stared blankly at the memorials on the table, finding himself unable to concentrate on reading them.
After sitting for a bit longer, he still found it hard to focus, so he simply pushed the table away and stood up, “Come, let’s go see the Empress.”
The Empress was playing with a few of their daughters in the Imperial Garden. Seeing the Emperor approach with a broad, joyful grin, she rose, glanced at the sun, and frowned slightly. But when he came closer, she smiled and asked, “Does Your Majesty have some joyful news?”
The Emperor pursed his mouth, attempting to suppress his smile, but his face twitched and failed, resulting in an even more awkward expression.
The Empress laughed at the sight, “It must be great news, tell me what it is quickly.”
Princess Mingda and a few other princesses looked over with curiosity.
The Emperor waved them off, drawing the Empress closer and whispering in her ear, “The Crown Princess is pregnant…”
The Empress widened her eyes and grabbed his arm, staring at him as she asked, “Really?”
The Emperor couldn’t help but grin, “Naturally, it’s true. Imperial Physician Zhang just came to see me and said it’s been over a month. Zhou Man is still in the Eastern Palace. I was saying, why do they summon Zhou Man to the palace every day, doing nothing else but playing music and chess with the Crown Princess…”
The Empress also rejoiced, unconsciously bantering, “Wasn’t it you who said Dalang was trying to mislead outsiders?”
Princess Changyu couldn’t help but run over and ask, “Father, Mother, are we still going to pick flowers?”
The Emperor, in a particularly good mood, smiled and asked her, “Changyu, what flowers would you like to pick?”
“Peony flowers. We want to adorn our hair with flowers. I found one in Grandmother’s hall, and Mother said she would help me ask Grandmother for it.”
The Empress laughed, “With spring in full bloom these past few days, they want to host a flower banquet themselves. If they don’t enjoy the peonies now, the season will pass.”
The Emperor waved a grand gesture, “Adorn your hair with flowers? Take all the flowers from my garden if you wish; clip whichever you fancy.”
The princesses cheered happily, all in high spirits.
The Emperor suddenly recalled, “I remember Zhou Man also loves flowers and plants. Last year, the Crown Princess rewarded her with many things.”
The Empress noted his hint and stopped him, “Reward her later. For now, the children’s flower banquet could include her.”
The Crown Princess is the sisters-in-law, so she would definitely attend, and it would be good for Zhou Man to accompany her to avoid any incidents.
The Emperor was eager to reward someone, but the Empress’s point was valid. Now was not the time to disclose it publicly, so he had to restrain himself.
However, shortly after, when the Crown Prince went to pay his respects, the Emperor summoned Director Xiao and had him check the Crown Prince’s health.
The Crown Prince’s expression darkened, but understanding the Emperor’s concern, he rolled up his sleeve and offered his arm to Director Xiao.
Director Xiao hadn’t felt the Crown Prince’s pulse for a long time, ever since Manbao returned to the capital, it became infrequent.
Upon feeling his pulse, Director Xiao couldn’t help but be surprised. After confirming the pulse for a while, he stood up to congratulate, “Your Majesty, the Crown Prince’s health is well!”
Although there were some minor ailments.
For someone of this age, it was impossible to be completely free of ailments, but previously the Crown Prince’s vital energy was too weak for conception. Naturally, the issue now resolved was that.
The Emperor was overjoyed.
The Crown Prince also slightly lifted the corners of his mouth, modestly saying, “Zhou Man said I need to continue acupuncture for a while, to reinforce, reinforce.”
Director Xiao also smiled, “This is highly beneficial to His Highness; the rest is all about gradual recuperation.”
The Emperor was very pleased and remembered the Empress mentioning the establishment of a female medical institution, in line with Zhou Man’s petition, which he previously thought was somewhat far-fetched.
Given Zhou Man’s exceptional medical skills, then…
He looked at Director Xiao and with a smile asked, “What do you think about establishing a separate female medical institution under the Imperial Hospital?”