Killer Queen: Tyrant, prepare to die!

Chapter 10: Three Months into the Fetus! The Imperial Physician's Test of Loyalty

The secret in the tree hollow was revealed on the morning of the fourth day.

Shen Qingci chose the safest time—3:45 AM, when dawn was breaking and the eunuchs on night duty were exhausted after staying up all night.

She used her newly acquired sensory abilities to confirm that no one was around before quietly climbing out the back window.

The withered tree stood in the far corner of the yard, surrounded by overgrown weeds. She crouched down and probed her finger into the hidden hollow in the tree.

It feels cold to the touch.

It was an oilcloth bag, wrapped very tightly.

She quickly pulled it out, tucked it into her bosom, and then quietly returned to the house as she had come.

Close the window and bolt it.

Jinshu was still fast asleep in the outer room, her breathing even.

Shen Qingci sat down on the edge of the bed and opened the oilcloth package in the dim light of dawn.

There are three things inside.

A thin, yellowed booklet with no words on the cover.

Inside were handwritten acupoint charts and breathing techniques, the handwriting vigorous but clearly from a long time ago.

This is not the "Eternal Spring Secret," but a more basic internal energy cultivation method called the "Nourishing Qi Chapter."

There is also a small note next to it: "Those with abundant fetal essence can practice this to strengthen their foundation and cultivate their vital energy."

Shen Qingci's eyes narrowed.

Did Eunuch Li even know that her fetus was abnormal?

Or is it... just a coincidence?

The second item was a black iron plate about half the size of a palm.

It feels heavy in the hand; it's neither gold nor iron, and the material is hard to discern.

The front is engraved with intricate cloud patterns, while the back features an ancient-style character for "dark".

The third item was a folded piece of paper with a special texture.

It has a supple feel, like it's been treated with some kind of leather.

Unfold, and there's only one line of text on it:

Three days later, at midnight, behind the Cold Palace.

There was no signature.

But Shen Qingci knew who it was.

She rewrapped the things and hid them back in the hidden compartment of the bed. Then she lay down and closed her eyes.

But my mind was racing, analyzing the situation.

The "Nourishing Qi" chapter was for her, or rather, for the fetus in her womb.

Eunuch Li was paving the way for her—he couldn't teach her advanced martial arts directly, for fear of attracting attention, so he started with the most basic skills to help her build a solid foundation.

The iron plaque is a token, possibly used to mobilize a certain part of the secret guards.

And that note... indicated the time and place for our next meeting.

What exactly is this old eunuch plotting?

Just then, a commotion came from outside.

Jinshu woke up, quietly dressed, and then tiptoed in, saying, "Your Majesty, you're awake so early?"

"Hmm." Shen Qingci sat up. "Will Physician Chen come today?"

As previously agreed, every five days, Imperial Physician Chen would use the pretext of "inspecting the pharmacies in each palace" to sneak around to the vicinity of the Cold Palace, where Jinshu would find an opportunity to go out and meet him.

"It should be today." Jinshu nodded. "This servant will wait by the corner in a little while."

Be careful.

"This servant understands."

Breakfast was still the same: spoiled porridge and pickled vegetables, but today there was an extra hard cornbread – probably because Wang Fu had diarrhea and was too weak to eat too much.

Shen Qingci only drank some water, broke the cornbread into pieces and soaked it until it softened, and managed to eat a few bites.

Her requirements for food are now very simple: as long as it keeps her alive.

In the morning, Jinshu went out twice under the pretext of emptying the chamber pot, but she didn't see Physician Chen either time.

It wasn't until the afternoon, when the sun was at its strongest, that three soft knocks came from the corner of the wall—two short and one long—the agreed-upon code.

Jinshu's eyes lit up as she looked at Shen Qingci.

Shen Qingci nodded.

Jinshu immediately took a tattered basket and went out, saying she was going to pick wild vegetables from the corner of the wall—there were indeed some wild amaranth growing in the backyard of the Cold Palace, which was bitter and astringent, but at least it was green.

Fifteen minutes later, Jinshu returned.

In addition to wild vegetables, there was also a small cloth bag in the basket.

"It was given to me by Physician Chen." Jinshu lowered her voice and handed the cloth bag to Shen Qingci. "He said that the Imperial Hospital is checking things very strictly today, so he can only stay for a while. He asked me to give this to you."

Inside the cloth bag was a small porcelain bottle and a folded piece of paper.

Inside the porcelain bottle were three brown pills with a faint ginseng scent. The note read: "Pregnancy-Strengthening Pills, one pill every three days. A face-to-face consultation is necessary to assess the pulse."

Shen Qingci put away the pills and looked at Jinshu: "Where is he?"

"They're still by the woodpile in the backyard; they said they can wait for an incense stick to burn."

"Walk."

Shen Qingci stood up, and Jinshu quickly helped him up.

The two women exited through the back door—the back door of the Cold Palace was always locked, but the door panels were rotten, and the gaps at the bottom were large enough for a person to climb out. They had discovered this a few days ago.

The woodpile was in the most secluded corner of the Cold Palace, next to the wall, piled with some broken furniture and withered branches. Physician Chen, dressed in his worn-out imperial physician's robes, was squatting in the shadows. When he saw them arrive, he immediately stood up.

"Your Majesty." He bowed deeply, his voice low.

"Physician Chen, there's no need for such formalities." Shen Qingci sat down with Jinshu's help. "Time is short, let's get straight to the pulse diagnosis."

Physician Chen nodded, took out a clean handkerchief from his medicine box, placed it under Shen Qingci's wrist, and then placed three fingers on her pulse.

He looked very focused, his brows slightly furrowed.

After a moment, his brows relaxed a little.

"The pulse is slippery and strong, like pearls rolling on a plate..." he said softly. "Your Majesty, the fetus is three months along and developing well. However..."

He paused, looking at Shen Qingci's face: "The poison in your body seems to be suppressed? But not eradicated, and... the fetus seems to be absorbing the toxins?"

Shen Qingci did not deny it: "Yes."

Physician Chen gasped, "This...how is this possible? 'Crimson Death' is a deadly poison. If the fetus absorbs it..."

"But he's doing very well." Shen Qingci interrupted him, "Doctor Chen, you just need to tell me, is the child healthy now?"

Physician Chen focused intently on taking the pulse again, and after a long while, he slowly withdrew his hand.

"As it stands... it's healthy. Even more vigorous than a typical three-month-old fetus." His tone was complex. "But this is ultimately a case of drinking poison to quench thirst. The toxins accumulating in the fetus's body will inevitably erupt sooner or later. Your Majesty, we must detoxify it as soon as possible."

"I know." Shen Qingci withdrew her hand. "The antidote is already being searched for. Physician Chen, besides taking your pulse, there is another matter I wanted to discuss with you today."

"Your Majesty, please speak."

"What's the current situation at the Imperial Medical Academy?" Shen Qingci asked, looking at him. "To what extent does the Liu family have control?"

Physician Chen's face darkened.

He was silent for a moment before saying in a low voice, "The head and deputy head of the Imperial Medical Academy are both disciples of Prime Minister Liu. The lower-ranking imperial physicians either have to curry favor with the Liu family or have been marginalized. Someone like me... doesn't even have the qualifications to take the master's pulse; I can only manage the medicine storeroom and copy prescriptions."

"The imperial physicians who take the pulses of the various empresses..."

"They were all people arranged by the Liu family." Imperial Physician Chen smiled bitterly. "Especially that one from Chunxi Palace. Every time she takes a pulse, at least three imperial physicians are present, and the prescriptions she writes have to be reviewed by Consort Liu herself. Let alone poisoning, even using an extra ingredient would be discovered."

Shen Qingci's eyes turned cold.

No wonder Liu Ruyan was so reckless in poisoning people.

The entire Imperial Medical Academy was filled with her informants and accomplices.

"Physician Chen," she suddenly asked, "would you like to... take charge of the Imperial Medical Academy?"

Physician Chen was taken aback, then shook his head: "This humble official dares not presume. As long as I can save my life and occasionally do some chores for Her Majesty, that's enough..."

"I'm not joking." Shen Qingci looked at him, her voice calm. "If I ever rise to power, I will make you the head of the Imperial Medical Academy. Not a deputy, not a manager, but the true head of the academy—leading the entire Imperial Medical Academy and eradicating the remaining poison of the Liu family."

Physician Chen was stunned.

He looked at the woman in front of him, whose face was still pale but whose eyes were sharp as knives, and suddenly felt his throat go dry.

"Your Majesty, you..."

"You only need to answer me," Shen Qingci said, enunciating each word clearly, "Do you dare to answer?"

Do you dare to gamble your own life, and the future of your entire family, to follow this deposed empress in the cold palace and fight for an almost impossible future?

Physician Chen's chest heaved violently.

He recalled Shen Anbang's generous help years ago when he was at his lowest point. He thought of the cold stares and ostracism he had endured from his colleagues in the Imperial Medical Academy over the past three months. He remembered how the Liu family had turned the life-saving Imperial Medical Academy into a tool for power struggles…

After a long while, he took a deep breath, lifted the hem of his official robe, and knelt on one knee.

"Your humble servant Chen Jinghe is willing to follow Your Majesty."

The voice wasn't loud, but every word hit the ground hard.

Shen Qingci looked at him and nodded.

"Get up," she said. "Now, I need you to do something for me."

"Your Majesty, please give your orders."

"Liu Ruyan will soon become suspicious," Shen Qingci analyzed calmly. "I've been 'sick' for so many days, yet I haven't died. She will definitely send someone to investigate. The next time she sends the imperial physician for a follow-up examination..."

She whispered a few words.

Physician Chen's expression changed slightly as he listened, but he ultimately nodded emphatically: "This humble official understands."

Just then, footsteps suddenly came from afar.

All three of them tensed up at the same time.

Physician Chen immediately packed his medicine chest and said in a low voice, "This humble official will take his leave now. Your Majesty, please take care."

He crouched down and slipped away from the other side of the woodpile.

Shen Qingci and Jinshu also hurried back.

Just as he climbed back through the back door, he heard Wang Fu's shrill voice coming from the front yard: "Doctor Liu, this way please—ouch, watch your step!"

Jinshu's expression changed: "You've arrived so quickly?"

Shen Qingci remained calm.

She lay back down on the bed and said to Jinshu, "Proceed according to plan."

Jinshu nodded, immediately took out a small porcelain bottle from her bosom, poured out some powder, mixed it with water, and then gently applied it to Shen Qingci's face.

The powder was extracted from medicinal herbs and could temporarily give the skin a sickly bluish-gray hue.

I had just finished wiping when the door was pushed open.

Wang Fu led in a middle-aged man dressed in the robes of an imperial physician, his face plastered with a fawning smile: "Imperial Physician Liu, look, this is Madam Shen. She's been seriously ill these past few days, it's been heartbreaking for us..."

The imperial physician, Liu, was in his forties, with a fair complexion, no beard, and shrewd eyes. He ignored Wang Fu and went straight to the bedside.

His gaze first swept over Shen Qingci's face—the ashen complexion made him frown slightly.

Then he reached out to take her pulse.

The moment her fingers touched him, Shen Qingci felt a subtle internal force probing into him—this imperial physician actually knew martial arts? And he wasn't weak at it!

She immediately suppressed her breathing and minimized the fluctuations in the fetus's energy. At the same time, she mobilized the remaining toxins in her body, making her pulse appear as if she was "poisoned to the bone but temporarily being kept alive by some force."

This is the result of her research over the past few days: using the warm current of fetal refeeding to simulate the complex pulse of someone who is on the verge of death and then recovers.

The physician, Liu, spent the entire time it takes to drink a cup of tea examining the patient.

His brows furrowed deeper and deeper.

Finally, he withdrew his hand and looked at Wang Fu: "He is indeed seriously ill. The poison has penetrated deep into his internal organs, and he should have been dead long ago... But strangely, there seems to be a life force supporting him in his heart meridian."

Wang Fu hurriedly asked, "Then... how much longer can he live?"

Physician Liu pondered, "It's hard to say. It might take three to five days, or... it might drag on for a month or two. It depends on fate."

He stood up and glanced at Shen Qingci again, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

Then he turned and left.

Wang Fu followed him out, his voice fading into the distance: "Imperial Physician Liu, do you think we should report this matter to the Imperial Concubine...?"

The door closed again.

Jinshu breathed a sigh of relief and quickly grabbed a damp cloth to wipe Shen Qingci's face: "Your Highness, you scared me to death just now..."

Shen Qingci frowned.

That Physician Liu... is no ordinary person.

His ability to detect the "vitality" in the heart meridian demonstrates his exceptional medical skills. Moreover, the internal force he probed, though subtle, was remarkably pure.

Will he report the truth?

Will they still be able to spot some flaws?

Just as I was thinking this, my lower abdomen suddenly moved slightly.

Shen Qingci lowered her head and touched it.

It's been three months.

This little life arrived when she was at her most desperate, giving her a reason to live and the strength to fight back.

"Child," she said softly, her voice tinged with emotion, "you've come at the wrong time."

In this cannibalistic harem, at a time when she was poisoned and her life hung by a thread.

"But," she gently pressed the slightly raised curve, her eyes hardening with determination, "now that you're here, your mother will definitely protect you."

"Use every possible means."

Outside the window, it was getting dark.

Meanwhile, in Chunxi Palace, Imperial Physician Liu was bowing before Liu Ruyan, giving a detailed report on his pulse diagnosis.

Liu Ruyan played with the jade ruyi in her hand, listened, and smiled.

"Is your heart still holding on?" she asked softly. "It's truly... tenacious."

"Yes." Physician Liu bowed his head. "But the poison has indeed penetrated deep into the five internal organs. Without an antidote, he will have at most... a month."

"A month..." Liu Ruyan tapped her fingertips lightly on the table. "That's too long."

She looked up at Physician Liu.

"Physician Liu, tell me... if someone who is poisoned and should be dead suddenly dies 'accidentally,' would anyone suspect anything?"

Doctor Liu's forehead was beaded with cold sweat: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty means..."

Liu Ruyan smiled.

Her smile was gentle, but her eyes were icy cold.

"I didn't mean anything by it. I just felt that... anything could happen in a place like the Cold Palace, right?"

Physician Liu knelt down with a thud: "This humble official... understands."

"Good, I understand." Liu Ruyan waved her hand. "Go. You know what to do."

"Yes……"

Physician Liu withdrew.

Liu Ruyan continued to play with the jade ruyi, watching the deepening twilight outside the window, and murmured to herself:

"Shen Qingci, oh Shen Qingci..."

"Don't blame me."

"If you have someone to blame, blame yourself for blocking too many people's way."

"It's also your fault... for getting pregnant with a child you shouldn't have."