Transtor Xiaobai:

  Dear Readers,

  I hope this message finds you well. I know this year has been incredibly challenging for everyone, especially my U.S. readers. With talks of a recession and rising costs, I understand how hard it is to support yourselves and your families right now. No matter where your political views lie, I know we’re all feeling the strain.

  That’s why I’m reaching out with a humble request: If you’ve enjoyed the novels I’ve transted, could you take a moment to like or share my Etsy shop, adorablethingsbynoen.etsy.com?

  You don’t have to spend a single dolr—but if you help spread the word, someone else might find something they love in my shop. Every like, share, or even a kind comment helps me earn a little income to keep doing what I love: bringing you amazing stories for free.

  Times are tough, but your support means the world to me. Together, we can keep this community thriving.

  Thank you for being here, and thank you for anything you can do to help. ??

  P.S. Even if you can’t share right now, know I’m so grateful you’re here. Your readership alone keeps me going!

  _____

  There was nothing of importance discussed during this morning’s greetings, so everyone dispersed quickly.

  By te morning, word came that Li Liangyi had once again summoned the imperial physician. Since her residence was nearby, Wumian instructed Linshui to go and see what was happening.

  Inside Biyu Pavilion, Li Liangyi looked as though she was on the verge of losing her mind. She had felt something was wrong when she woke up that morning, but by now, her entire body was covered in welts.

  The worst part was the itching—it was maddening, especially in certain private areas.

  Li Liangyi had come from a respectable family. Now, even between her legs, she itched unbearably. It wasn’t just a matter of treatment; she couldn’t even bring herself to speak of it without feeling utterly humiliated.

  What made it worse was that she was pregnant.

  When Linshui arrived, Li Liangyi was reluctant to see her, but Linshui insisted.

  After all, she was the Empress’s personal maid—Li Liangyi didn’t dare offend her.

  Linshui only took a few gnces before frowning and stepping outside to speak with the imperial physician. The physician stammered, unable to offer a clear expnation.

  "It looks quite serious," Linshui hesitated. "The physician can’t make sense of it, and I worry it might be some contagious illness. But it doesn’t look like smallpox."

  And it certainly wasn’t.

  Wumian thought for a moment. "Send Du Kang to summon Guifei. She’s in charge of pace affairs—this isn’t something we can bypass her on. If this physician is useless, find another."

  Guifei arrived quickly. Only when she came did Wumian make her way to Biyu Pavilion.

  "Greetings to Your Majesty," Guifei said as she bowed. Guifei’s brows were furrowed—this illness was clearly no minor matter.

  "Where’s the physician? If this one’s no good, change him. If needed, call the head of the Imperial Medical Bureau," Wumian ordered.

  "The physician has already been changed," Guifei sighed. "Even the female physicians have come. Li Liangyi’s entire body is covered in welts."

  As they spoke, news came from outside that Rong fei and Min Fei had also arrived.

  Another quarter-hour passed, and Li Fei joined them as well.

  At this point, Wumian spoke up. "Send word to the other paces—not to come any further." There were already enough people here. Any more would only complicate matters.

  Just then, the physician finally emerged to report, bowing toward the Empress and Guifei. "Reporting to Your Majesties: judging by her pulse and outward symptoms, Li Liangyi appears to be suffering from excessive internal heat and unpurged toxins. With her pregnancy disrupting her condition, her qi and blood have become unstable, resulting in what we diagnose as acne caused by heat toxicity."

  "On the surface?" Wumian asked.

  "Yes. As for what’s beneath the surface…" Imperial Physician Li hesitated. "After all, I am a man. There are certain pces I cannot examine. We will have to wait and hear what the female physicians say."

  The two female physicians exchanged uneasy gnces and fell to their knees. "Your Majesty, Your Highnesses, we… we dare not speak. It is such a filthy matter—we fear it would sully your ears."

  Everyone looked at one another in confusion. Guifei grew anxious. "Is it affecting the child?"

  "No, as of now, the fetus is unharmed," one of the female physicians replied.

  "All unreted persons, leave," Wumian ordered.

  A good number of people withdrew, leaving only the Empress, the consorts, their personal maids, Li Liangyi’s attendants, the two imperial physicians, and the two female physicians.

  "Speak," Wumian said calmly. "Speak the truth, whatever it is."

  One of the older female physicians finally forced herself to speak. "I wonder… I wonder if Your Majesty has heard of a disease called huì chuāng."

  Wumian frowned and shook her head. She had never heard of it.

  Neither had Guifei.

  The imperial physicians, however, immediately understood. They exchanged shocked gnces.

  "Li Liangyi’s… lower body… is already covered in sores…" the younger female physician forced herself to say. "Though we have studied medicine since our teens in the Imperial Medical Bureau, we’ve never seen such a case in person. Only read about it in the texts and heard our teachers describe it. Li Liangyi’s symptoms match closely, but we dare not make a definitive diagnosis. We would need the physicians to confirm."

  Wumian frowned. "What kind of illness is this? Expin it pinly. Guifei and I are not physicians."

  The two female physicians gnced at each other again, but the words seemed stuck in their throats.

  With a sigh, Wumian turned to Imperial Physician Li. "You speak. We need to know."

  Imperial Physician Li bowed so low his back resembled a shrimp. "To answer Your Majesty… it is a filthy disease… commonly seen in… brothels."

  Wumian inhaled sharply. "That’s impossible!"

  Her mind reeled. If it really was… Heavens…

  Guifei’s face also drained of color. "Nonsense! That’s impossible!"

  Not a single concubine’s expression remained unchanged—this matter concerned them all.

  Their tension made the attendants and physicians alike drop to their knees in fright.

  "Logically, it’s unlikely," Wumian spoke at st. "Li Liangyi only entered the pace this year. Our dynasty has a rule requiring pace dies to be virgins, and every candidate’s history is documented. She entered the pace intact. How could a maiden contract such an illness? As for His Majesty, the physicians take his pulse every ten days. It is impossible that he has such a disease. And in this inner pace, which of the women here is not clean and disciplined? His Majesty has never been one to indulge in base pleasures…"

  Just as she spoke, the Emperor himself arrived.

  "His Majesty is here!" Lu Zhong announced.

  Everyone hurriedly knelt.

  Ying Qionglou entered, frowning as he gnced around at the kneeling crowd. "I was told Li Liangyi is unwell. What is the meaning of all this?"

  His first thought was that something had happened to the child. But after hearing what the Empress had said, he realized something else was wrong.

  Wumian truly didn’t want to repeat it herself, so she said, "May I trouble the imperial physician to expin again for His Majesty?"

  Imperial Physician Li inwardly cursed his fate but had no choice. Bowing, he repeated the diagnosis.

  The Emperor’s expression darkened beyond recognition. "You will go in and examine her personally. Thoroughly."

  Imperial Physician Li was shocked. "Your Majesty, I am a man—how could I dare examine a concubine’s body?"

  "You are a physician. The female physicians are clearly cking in skill. If they misjudge, it will cause great harm. This matter is no trivial thing. If there truly is something amiss, I am the Emperor of this realm—this is no small matter," Ying Qionglou said coldly.

  Imperial Physician Li dared not refuse again. He had no choice but to grit his teeth and follow the female physicians inside.

  Guifei’s fingers clutched the armrest tightly. In her heart, she knew—Li Liangyi was finished.

  Even if it was confirmed not to be some filthy disease, her favor in the Emperor’s eyes was already gone. Would her child even be allowed to be born?

  And if it was born, would it still hold any value?

  Li Liangyi had already heard the words spoken outside. When she saw Imperial Physician Li enter, her heart sank to ashes.

  But she couldn’t refuse. She didn’t even have the right to refuse.

  A concubine, id bare before a male physician—how could she possibly win favor again?

  A tear slid down her cheek. The only consotion was that Imperial Physician Li confirmed it was not a venereal disease.

  Li Liangyi gently touched her still-ft belly. She thought to herself: I still have this child. If I can give birth to a prince, I might still have a chance.

  Imperial Physician Li gave his assessment clearly and carefully—he was certain it was not huì chuāng.

  "At present, I cannot give a definitive answer," he said. "But I lean toward the belief that she came into contact with something she should not have. As long as she avoids further contact, her condition will improve. However, given her pregnancy, we cannot administer strong medicine. We can only apply topical treatments that will not harm the fetus."

  Everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing it was not a venereal disease.

  "Lu Zhong," Ying Qionglou ordered, "find her another pce to rest quietly."

  That alone decred Li Liangyi’s fall from favor.

  But at this point, what more could be done?