In Love With My Fierce Farming Wife!
Chapter 1098 - 1092: Balance

Chapter 1098: Chapter 1092: Balance

All eyes were now on the two eminent doctors to emerge and declare the diagnosis.

But as they waited and waited, their refreshment had been reheated twice before the two doctors leisurely made their way out.

The eyes of Prince Qi and the other two were fixed on the pair, who slightly shook their heads with a look of apology and folded their fists in a bow: "My lord, Liu Jieyu’s constitution is excellent, her pulse phase smooth and slick like rolling beads; she is indeed over three months pregnant."

"How is that possible!"

Prince Qi blurted out instinctively and realizing his outburst, quickly coughed repeatedly to cover it up.

Imperial Physician Wang who had come with them looked surprised: "Where does this come from, Your Highness? Are you suggesting that it’s impossible for Liu Jieyu’s constitution to be this good, or that it’s impossible for the child in Liu Jieyu’s womb to be more than three months along?"

"Of course, it is..."

Prince Qi hesitated, the words at the tip of his tongue choking back down.

Regaining his wits, he hastily burst into loud laughter: "What are you talking about, Imperial Physician Wang? I was merely surprised by how well Liu Jieyu is. How could there be a problem with the dragon spawn in her belly? Indeed, this is a matter for celebration."

He forcefully twisted his response. Although he was smiling with his mouth, his eyes flashed with killing intent.

Imperial Physician Wang understood clearly but refrained from saying more due to his status and led the group out of the waterside pavilion, passing through the Imperial Garden towards the Purple Zen Hall.

Unexpectedly, halfway there, they saw the Empress standing in a sheltered spot next to the flowerbeds, holding a hand stove, smiling as she watched their group approach from afar.

Prince Qi swore under his breath, yet he approached with a smile and greeted her, "Greetings to the Empress. Your Majesty is in high spirits to come out and admire the flowers in this snowy weather, truly rare indeed!"

"Prince Qi’s skin is getting thicker and thicker."

Su Pan’er had no intention of saving his face and chuckled derisively: "I have been standing here, when did I ever say anything about admiring flowers? There’s not a single flower around, and it seems that Prince Qi’s eyesight is indeed..." She shook her head in feigned pity.

The smile vanished from Prince Qi’s face, and he narrowed his eyes glaring at Su Pan’er.

This woman, just like that person sitting on the throne in the Hall of Golden Chariots, was detestable and impossible to like. He couldn’t believe it; did she know that he would return in defeat and purposely wait here to watch his embarrassment?

Su Pan’er was not vexed and stood calmly in front of him, maintaining eye contact without any hint of taking his threats seriously.

"Since it’s not for admiring flowers, perhaps it’s for enjoying the snow. It’s getting late, and I must report the truth to His Majesty! I beg to take my leave."

Prince Qi had never taken Su Pan’er seriously.

In his mind, Su Pan’er was nothing more than a country woman who had the good fortune to marry Qin Yi, and by some fluke, ended up in her current position. He was waiting for the day when she would age and be cast down, then she would have her comeuppance!

After giving Su Pan’er a fist salute, he turned and left. The two other feudal lords didn’t have his audacity and quickly bowed before chasing after Prince Qi.

Su Pan’er squinted her eyes at the departing group. If this Prince Qi could be so perfunctory to her face, one could only imagine his attitude in her absence. Today, they were prepared, which prevented any exposure. Otherwise, who knew what trouble might have arisen.

However, such people, Qin Yi would not likely tolerate their existence for much longer, would he?

She suddenly looked forward to that day’s arrival.

Prince Qi and his cohort left the Imperial Palace with their tails between their legs. Although the storm seemed to have passed calmly, it had awoken in Qin Yi a desire to dispatch of Prince Qi.

Late that night, Qin Yi returned to Huayang Palace and spoke about the issue with Su Pan’er, "Right now, it hasn’t been a full year since my ascension to the throne, and the unrest in the court has yet to completely subside. Coupled with the years of civil strife that have exhausted a vast amount of manpower and resources, the commoners also need time to recuperate. It will take at least three to five years to fully recover."

Prince Qi thought I was too scared to act against him. In reality, Qin Yi was simply trying to buy more time for the commoners.

"It doesn’t matter. Have you ever heard the saying about the fat duck and the skinny duck?"

"What about a fat duck and a skinny duck?"

Su Pan’er smiled, "It’s about comparing all the civil and military ministers in the court to ducks. Those who have been steeped in officialdom for several years, or even decades, are compared to fat ducks. If one punishes the corrupt officials by killing them all—only the fat ducks get slaughtered. The new officials who come to fill the void are like skinny ducks with empty bellies. Who knows how much of the wealth of the people will be spent to fatten these skinny ducks!"

"Actually, it’s simple. Whether it’s one Prince Qi or ten Prince Qis, there will always be those who go against you. And there will certainly be those who hang around you all day, flattering and praising you. As long as they can reach a balance where no side’s power becomes exceedingly lopsided, maintaining equilibrium, they can benefit the ordinary commoners, allowing them to recuperate."

"In this way, once Your Majesty is truly ready, a decisive move can be made to achieve twice the result with half the effort..."

Su Pan’er spoke candidly, surprising Qin Yi greatly.

"In the past, you never talked about these things; I thought you had no interest in court affairs."

"I’m not concerned with court affairs. However, regarding Prince Qi, I’m not optimistic about him. If you think such a person could be of use to you, I fear it would be... exceedingly difficult."

The court had long decreed that the Imperial Harem’s Palace should not interfere in politics.

Su Pan’er had no intention of intervening in politics, but Prince Qi’s attitude that day made her break the rule. She didn’t mind stirring up a little ’pillow talk’.

"I have it under control, you should rest well."

After sorting out his thoughts, Qin Yi stood up, "Today, when Prince Qi came, he brought two so-called eminent doctors and gave me quite a scare. I truly thought those doctors were skilled. But in the end, we were able to deceive them."

Su Pan’er had long been on guard against this, so when Liu Xuan’er pretended to be pregnant from the start, she secretly prepared a drug that, after ingestion, would make the pulse phase appear as if she were pregnant.

However, such a drug takes time to take effect, and it was for this reason that Qin Yi had someone secretly notify Su Pan’er amidst Prince Qi’s strong coercion. Su Pan’er then had Liu Jieyu take the medicine, while she herself feigned a casual encounter with Prince Qi. On one hand, she wanted to gauge Prince Qi’s character, and on the other hand, it was to buy time for the drug to take full effect.

Fortunately, it concluded with the successful deception of the two eminent doctors!

Speaking of which, Liu Xuan’er was indeed lucky. Since she was "with child," she inadvertently gave herself a protective amulet; otherwise, Su Pan’er would have likely struck her down long ago.

At this thought, Su Pan’er narrowed her eyes, "Taking advantage of the current chaos, we might as well go all in and simply..."

"Simply what?"

"Isn’t Your Majesty particularly fond of ’Feng Gui Ren’? Surely it’s only a matter of time before she carries the dragon spawn?"

Su Pan’er winked at him playfully.

This made Qin Yi frown repeatedly, "Continue with this...? Just handle it as you see fit. You are the mother of the nation, and I entrust this matter to you."