Chapter 32: The Canary Captured by the Enemy Emperor 19

The imperial physician stood to the side, not daring to make a sound, wiping sweat from his forehead as he pondered possible solutions.

His Majesty was already thirty-five years old. It had been so difficult for him to have a child, and now it turned out to be multiple children—what a dilemma.

Among the common people, women pregnant with multiples rarely delivered safely. If the babies survived, it was already considered a miracle. Triplets were usually…

No one in the palace had ever given birth to more than twins.

After Lin Muqing finished her medicine, the heat in her body gradually subsided.

She slowly regained consciousness and saw Jun Yuanming sitting beside the bed. His expression was somber, a faint melancholy between his brows, and the whole room was filled with a subtle tension.

“Your Majesty, what’s wrong?” She sat up and gently smoothed the crease between his brows.

The imperial physician thought the emperor would get angry, but instead, he gently took her small hand in his own with tenderness and pity. The physician was astonished—so this was how His Majesty and Consort Lin interacted?

His astonishment quickly turned to greater fear.

“Your Majesty, though rumors among the common folk say that multiple births are dangerous, we have the most skilled imperial physicians in the palace. With careful care, it should be possible.”

“I don’t want should—I want certainty! If it’s not certain, then…” Jun Yuanming took a deep breath, faced with this kind of decision for the first time.

Lin Muqing understood—she had been discovered to be pregnant, and from the pulse reading, they had determined it was multiples. Apparently, the imperial physicians here were better than those in her previous life.

“Your Majesty, am I with child?”

Her eyes curved into a smile—those bright, starry eyes.

“Even if it’s multiples, I’m not afraid. I can give birth to them safely.”

The word “safely” made Jun Yuanming’s heart harden.

“Qing’er, let’s wait until next time, all right?” His voice was gentle, full of comfort.

“No! I want them.” Lin Muqing was anxious. Childbirth in this era was far more dangerous than in her past life—no one could guarantee survival.

But she couldn’t exactly say she had miracle medicine. A sudden idea struck her.

The system immediately echoed her thoughts:

[Host, make up a powerful master. Didn’t he take that healing potion before? Just buy another magical prescription, say it’s from that master. The system already found it for you—it only costs one gold ingot. That should convince him not to go through with aborting the pregnancy.]

“Your Majesty, can we go back to Shuyu Palace first?” Lin Muqing blinked coquettishly.

Jun Yuanming looked at the physician.

Imperial Physician Chen cautiously said, “Your Majesty, please think carefully.”

A royal heir!

Imperial Physician Liu added, “A decision must be made within three days.”

“This matter—I don’t want anyone to know. Not even the Empress Dowager.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Physician Chen handed Lin Muqing two more doses of medicine. “If you feel unwell, have the maids brew this. Each dose takes half an hour.”

“Thank you, Physician.”

Jun Yuanming carried Lin Muqing out.

“Lin Xuyi.”

“Your servant is here.” The Right Chancellor slightly bowed his head.

“Seal the news,” Jun Yuanming said, gazing into the night, then turned toward Shuyu Palace.

Back at Shuyu Palace—

Jun Yuanming placed her on the bed. She sat up and hugged him, explaining patiently:

“Your Majesty, these children can be kept. I have a way.”

“It’s still too dangerous,” he said, shaking his head while holding her.

Lin Muqing raised her head, speaking seriously:

“Last time, the medicine you drank was left to me by my late master. It was the only one of its kind. I knew you must have many hidden injuries after years of war, so I secretly gave it to you.”

Jun Yuanming’s heart trembled. He couldn’t believe she admitted it, and how precious the medicine was.

With such amazing effects, of course it was rare. It could practically bring someone back from the dead. She clearly understood its value but still gave it to him.

Guesses and confirmations were two different things—and now he felt far more moved than before.

Does Qing’er… truly love me?

[System: Favorability increased from 70 to 85. I’m applying for a reward. Converting it to cash would be a waste!]

Jun Yuanming said regretfully, “But your master has passed.”

“He gave me a prescription tailored for me. Master said the hardest trial for a woman is childbirth—it’s like stepping through the gates of hell.”

Lin Muqing’s words gave Jun Yuanming some reassurance. After a moment’s silence, his heart still couldn’t settle.

“Your Majesty, I truly want these children. Please don’t secretly make decisions for me.”

Jun Yuanming’s dark eyes flickered, and her boldness made him smile faintly.

“No one dares speak that way to me—except you.”

Anyone else would’ve lost their head already.

Lin Muqing shifted slightly, took his still-cold hand, rubbed it warm, and placed it gently on her abdomen.

She smiled brightly and teased, “Does this count as sneaky? Touching them while they’re not paying attention.”

Through the fabric, Jun Yuanming felt the warmth of her belly and a strong, rhythmic pulse. His heart rippled with emotion.

His large palm covered her fully. The sensation was strange yet tender—he moved his hand slightly, as if he really was sneaking a touch.

“How far along are they?” Lin Muqing asked.

“One month.”

“So tiny,” she said with a dramatic sigh.

“Oh right—Your Majesty, has Eunuch Qin been found?”

“I’ll handle that soon.” Jun Yuanming kissed her forehead and added softly, “Qing’er, find that prescription tomorrow and let the physicians take a look.”

“All right. Then please handle your affairs, Your Majesty. I’ll have Xiao Yu stay with me.”

Jun Yuanming placed her back on the bed.

Before leaving, he assigned a unit of the imperial guards to guard Shuyu Palace.

…

Imperial Study.

Eunuch Qin was found unconscious.

Jun Yuanming’s personal guards had caught a man in black near the scene.

The palace maid, after waking, confessed she only lured Lin Muqing there—she didn’t know what happened afterward.

Jun Yuanming wasn’t concerned that Lin Muqing stabbed a maid—in fact, he admired her caution. But the deaths of ten masked men were shocking and unusual.

The only surviving assassin eventually led them to Consort Rou.

Consort Rou and those ten assassins were likely not part of the same group. Investigations into the night also revealed the Left Chancellor’s involvement.

The entire scheme had been a trap—an attempt to frame the Right Chancellor and entangle Lin Muqing in scandal.

Jun Yuanming’s expression turned icy. One order after another was quickly issued, and the guards left at once.

Eunuch Qin finally regained consciousness and immediately knelt: “Your Majesty, this servant deserves death! How is Consort Lin?”

“She’s fine. Take this letter to the Ministry of Rites.” Jun Yuanming handed him a sealed letter.

Qin took the order and left.

…

That night, Lin Muqing bought the prescription from the system. She had plenty of gold now.

[System: This prescription comes from a divine doctor of an advanced ancient world. One gold ingot is a bargain.]

Pregnancy Nourishment Prescription for Multiples: Specially formulated for women pregnant with multiples.
Price: One gold ingot.

She purchased it.

A small red dot popped up—someone had exchanged a Mind-Clearing Pill.

Lin Muqing was delighted. She kept it and even bought a no-morning-sickness fruit with a roast duck. She ate it happily and fell sound asleep.