Chapter 31: The Canary Captured by the Enemy Emperor 18

The young official cautiously asked, “Lady Lin, are you lost?”

“No.” Lin Muqing quickly walked past him without another glance.

The man stood still, watching her back with a thoughtful expression.

Lin Muqing had a good memory, and she retraced her steps, making her way back to the grand hall.

A conspiracy?

For women, it always came down to reputation. Judging from the formation of those black-clad attackers earlier, their goal was likely either to use her to threaten the Emperor—or to frame her in a scandal with another man.

Jun Yuanming happened to be coming out just as she arrived. Upon seeing her return, a trace of relief flickered across his face. He immediately walked up to her.

“Qing’er, where were you? Why did you take so long?”

“Eunuch Qin went missing. I got lost and made my way back on my own,” Lin Muqing answered calmly.

Jun Yuanming’s expression turned cold in an instant. He glanced sharply back toward the ministers inside the hall.

“I understand. Stay by my side for the rest of the night.”

He didn’t return to the banquet. Instead, he took her hand and walked away.

Knowing she was out of danger, Lin Muqing deliberately feigned dizziness.

Jun Yuanming had seen her drink a little earlier, so he gently asked, “Are you drunk?”

“Mhm… a little lightheaded.”

“Do you remember which path you just took?”

“I do,” Lin Muqing nodded obediently.

“Show me.”

Under Jun Yuanming’s command, the imperial guards entered the narrow path she had taken.

To their surprise, they found a palace maid and ten black-clad corpses sprawled on the ground. The lighting was poor, but after a careful search, they discovered wounds to the heads—small punctures resembling those made by a tiny metal spike. The current theory was that a martial arts master had struck with precision.

Jun Yuanming fell into brief silence after hearing the report, then gave an order: tighten security.

He never imagined it was the delicate woman beside him who had done it.

“Take them all in for interrogation,” he commanded.

Then he sent men to look for Eunuch Qin.

On the way back, they encountered that young scholar again.

Lin Muqing, eyes half-lidded, recognized him—and heard someone whisper the words: “Right Chancellor.”

Then she fainted into Jun Yuanming’s arms.

“Qing’er?” he called out, alarmed.

At first, he thought she was simply drunk, but then he noticed her body was unusually warm.

Without hesitation, he scooped her into his arms and rushed toward the Imperial Medical Court.

The Right Chancellor, recognizing the gravity of the situation, followed behind.

Everything the mastermind had so carefully plotted had completely fallen apart—before it even began.
What followed next would be a storm of pressure from Jun Yuanming that sent ripples of fear through the entire court.

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Imperial Medical Court.

A group of court physicians were quietly writing in their medical texts—until the doors burst open.

His Majesty appeared, holding someone in his arms.

“Greetings, Your Majesty,” they quickly bowed.

Jun Yuanming had no time for formalities. Seeing an available bed, he gently laid Lin Muqing down.

“All of you, examine Lady Lin—her body is burning up.”

Physician Liu took her pulse and within moments, exclaimed, “She has a high fever… and… congratulations, Your Majesty—Lady Lin is pregnant.”

Jun Yuanming, seated at the bedside, froze.

He stared at the peacefully sleeping woman. His mind went blank.

She’s pregnant?

Wasn’t she diagnosed with infertility? That she would never conceive in her lifetime?

He turned sharply toward Physician Chen—the one who had diagnosed her previously.

“Didn’t you say Qing’er would have trouble conceiving?” his tone was dark.

Cold sweat poured from Physician Chen’s forehead. He scrambled for an answer.

“Your Majesty, perhaps the later prescriptions had a restorative effect. Please trust in your servant’s medical skill…”

Yes, yes, that must be it.

“She likely didn’t know she was pregnant and drank a little wine. That caused the fever. I’ll prescribe something to bring it down.”

Other physicians had already begun preparing the medicine. Chen busied himself barking out ingredients while secretly watching their progress.

Meanwhile, Liu, still taking her pulse, would stroke his beard, frown, then smile—repeatedly.

Jun Yuanming couldn’t help but ask, “Physician Liu, why is your expression so… strange?”

Liu immediately stood and stepped aside. “Ah, old Chen, you take a look. I… I can’t say for sure. Please don’t be angry, Your Majesty. It’s just that Lady Lin’s pulse doesn’t quite match a typical pregnancy…”

Jun Yuanming’s brows knit tightly. “Speak plainly.”

At that, Physician Chen took her pulse again. After a long while, his face lit up with surprise and joy.

“Congratulations, Your Majesty! This is… a multiple pregnancy.”

Jun Yuanming’s expression changed from joy to dread. Even his voice became unsteady.

“What are you congratulating me for? Multiple… how many?”

Chen hesitated, “Your servant detects… three.”

“Triplets? What risks does Qing’er face?”

“Uh…” Liu’s forehead broke out in cold sweat again. He quickly searched for a tactful way to explain.

“Best case… mother and children will be safe. Worst case…”

The other physicians all turned pale.

The Right Chancellor, who had followed them in, realized he had stumbled upon something monumental.
The child… or the favored consort?
Which would the Emperor choose?

When the medicine was finally ready, Jun Yuanming said nothing. His entire presence was cloaked in a chilling silence.

He carefully lifted Lin Muqing, propping her up against his chest, and fed her the medicine in small sips.

Though barely conscious, she instinctively swallowed.

Jun Yuanming’s hands were ice cold.

Lin Muqing turned her head slightly and pressed her cheek against his trembling, cold arm. A soft murmur escaped her lips.

But she did not wake.