FID – Chapter 898

Chapter 898: Something Big Is About to Happen!

When Feng Mohan thought about that night, he still felt completely unsettled.

His heart was also bothered.

He really was a clean freak. Although it was a habit he developed later by following his uncle, being schemed against like this was extremely disgusting.

“I’m only puzzled by one thing: how did she get pregnant after just one time?” Feng Mohan couldn’t understand this.

He was almost sixteen years old.

Since he was canonized at fifteen, he had taken on the heavy responsibility of continuing the royal lineage. In a year, he had summoned consorts to bed over a hundred times, at the very least.

Some were summoned multiple times.

Yet, up until now, not a single pregnancy announcement had been made.

Because of this, he even doubted whether he was capable…

“Uncle, is that child really mine?” It wasn’t surprising he doubted. Even with his exceptional abilities, hitting the mark perfectly every time wasn’t guaranteed.

On that day, he was completely unconscious when he was set up. Who knew if it was really his fault? What if he was cheated on? What if he became an unwitting father?

It wasn’t impossible.

“Before it’s been confirmed, you’re already imagining a green hat hanging over your head?”

“……”

Feng Qingbai lowered his gaze in thought, his fingers tapping slowly on his knee.

“Tell me about Shan Lai’s background.”

“I don’t know,” Feng Mohan replied awkwardly, then summoned Xiao Banzi. “Tell us the information about Concubine Shan Lai.”

Xiao Banzi responded diligently, “Your Majesty and Your Highness, Concubine Shan Lai is seventeen years old. She used to be a medical lady serving in the Imperial Medical Academy. She entered the palace three years ago and has been studying medical theory under the chief imperial doctor. She is skilled in health conditioning. After achieving some success, she began helping the concubines in the harem with physical care and recuperation.”

Feng Qingbai narrowed his eyes. “When did she start entering the harem?”

“This servant isn’t exactly sure, but the approximate time seems to be about a year and a half ago. If Your Majesty and Your Highness want to know the exact time, this servant will go check immediately.”

“No need, you may leave. What we’ve discussed today must not be leaked.”

Xiao Banzi’s heart jolted sharply. He immediately bowed, “Even if I were to die, this servant would never reveal a single word!”

Something big was about to happen! 

Otherwise, His Highness wouldn’t have specifically warned him like that.

As soon as he stepped out of this door, he would erase everything he just saw!

He withdrew and closed the door of the imperial study, standing rigidly by the entrance to keep watch.

Inside, the atmosphere was heavy and tense.

“Entering the harem a year and a half ago… I only began summoning concubines to the bed a year ago. If she tampered with something in between, causing the concubines to be unable to conceive, and successfully schemed against me, then the dragon heir she’s carrying would be the only one in the entire harem!”

After she gives birth to the dragon heir, her next move would likely be to eliminate him, Feng Mohan.

Once he was dead, she wouldn’t even need to fight for the throne. Her child would naturally ascend to the throne. Such scheming and cunning was utterly vicious!

“So you’re saying Shan Lai carries the bloodline of Baicao Valley?” Feng Qingbai said calmly.

Knowing Xue Zhong, there was no way he’d make clothes for someone else’s wedding.

Either Shan Lai was his direct blood relative, or she was from his branch of the family.

It was absolutely impossible that she had no connection to Baicao Valley.

At this point, everything almost became clear.

“Uncle, what should we do?” Feng Mohan asked.

Having figured out the key point, he wanted nothing more than to kill Shan Lai immediately, but he worried about ruining the bigger plan of his uncle.

Because behind Shan Lai was Baicao Valley, and that was the real target of his uncle.

After a moment of thought, Feng Qingbai said, “Right now, everything is still just our speculation. Shan Lai’s true identity still needs to be verified. Once confirmed, we will plan our next steps.”

He glanced at Feng Mohan. “Next time your aunt enters the palace, have her check your pulse to see if there’s anything unusual. Also, secretly investigate the chief physician of the Imperial Medical Academy.”

“Uncle, do you suspect the old imperial physician?”

“After Shan Lai entered the palace, she stayed by his side, so she must have been under his care. Otherwise, how could a lowly medical lady freely enter the harem and even gain the trust of the concubines to help with their health? There isn’t just one medical lady in the Imperial Medical Academy. Some have much more seniority than her.”

Feng Maohan added, “There’s also the suspicion about the Empress Dowager’s poisoning. As the chief imperial physician, his medical skills are definitely not ordinary. Did he really not know that the Empress Dowager was poisoned? Did he really fail to diagnose signs of her kidney failure?”

Seeing that Feng Mohan could follow his train of thought, Feng Qingbai smiled slightly. “Baicao Valley has countless disciples. Moreover, decades ago it already had a great reputation in many countries because its doctors are highly skilled. That’s why they are highly respected by royal families and nobles. It’s not surprising that some of the imperial physicians in Nanling’s Imperial Medical Academy are disciples of Baicao Valley. What’s strange is that these people concealed their origins.”

A heavy feeling settled in Feng Mohan’s heart, and it was only at this moment he truly realized that the influence of Baicao Valley was deeper and more terrifying than he had imagined.

Controlling people with medicine, harming people with medicine, using medicine to seize power.

Baicao Valley had long lost the ethics of medicine and was unworthy of being called healers!

No wonder the entire Baicao Valley clan was wiped out back then.

Perhaps others had detected Baicao Valley’s ambitions and decisively struck to eliminate future troubles forever.

The matter was temporarily settled, and Feng Qingbai didn’t linger any longer, hurrying back to accompany his young lady. “Tomorrow, issue an edict: Concubine Shan Lai has conceived the royal heir, a great service to the royal family. The Emperor is pleased and will promote her to the rank of Consort.”

Feng Mahan’s face became extremely unpleasant.

But it wasn’t over yet. As Feng Qingbai reached the door, he reminded him once more, “It’s your first time becoming a father. You should be overjoyed, especially at your age. Don’t look like you’re mourning a death. Are you afraid people will doubt your motives?”

“…” In other words, even though he knew the heir was a trap set against him, a scheme against his life, he still had to put on a show of being wildly joyful and lavish affection on that poisonous woman?

There was nothing more screwed up in the world than this, right? If he didn’t do it, it wouldn’t work!

“Lavish affection?” Feng Mohan glared toward the direction of the harem, his eyes icy cold. “Bring someone! Concubine Shan Lai is pregnant, and I am very pleased. Reward her!”

Overnight, the harem was shaken.

That lowly woman who had been bullied and mistreated since entering the harem had actually become pregnant?!

Just one night of favor, and she conceived the royal heir?!

Amid their shock, the other concubines felt jealousy, hatred, and fear.

They had been summoned to the bed many times over the years, yet their bellies had never shown any sign of pregnancy.

Why was that wretched woman Shan Lai so lucky to get pregnant with the royal heir right away?

This time, she was truly the sparrow that turned into a phoenix. With her child, she had risen overnight in status!

The Emperor had already issued orders, showering her with rewards and preparing to promote her to Consort. 

Once Shan Lai climbed to a high position, wouldn’t she turn around and take revenge on those who had once made things difficult for her?

In a usually quiet and desolate secluded courtyard within the harem, it was unusually lively today. Ever since the news broke that Shan Lai was pregnant and the Emperor planned to promote her, gifts from various palaces had arrived in an endless stream.

A young maid looked at the mountain of lavish gifts piled in one corner of the room, grinning so wide her eyes nearly disappeared.

“This servant knew that my lady was destined for blessings. See, fortune has finally arrived! With His Majesty doting on you, let’s see who still dares to bully you!”

Shan Lai sat before her vanity, eyes lowered as she gazed at her still-flat belly, her expression calm and unreadable.