Chapter 47 – I have a dragon egg.
Summoning the imperial physician took time, and then the physician had to travel from the Imperial Hospital to Yonghua Palace. This period was extremely tormenting for Zhao Qi. Initially, he didn’t think much of it—feeling weak and having a poor appetite in the heat seemed normal. But after vomiting, he suddenly felt uncomfortable all over and instantly became miserable.
“Xiao Jinzi,” Zhao Qi weakly called, “help me lie down.”
Xiao Jinzi, panicked, said, “Your Majesty, hang in there, the imperial physician will be here soon.”
Zhao Qi shook his head, staring blankly ahead, “It’s too late.”
Xiao Jinzi was on the verge of tears, screaming hysterically, “Your Majesty, please don’t scare me!”
At this moment, Zhao Qi felt that if a tear could fall from the corner of his eye, it would be perfect, but he couldn’t squeeze one out. “I’m gravely ill before reaching adulthood. What will happen to my mother and the people of Great Jing after I die? Heaven is jealous of talents, my aspirations unfulfilled—”
Xiao Jinzi cried, “Your Majesty—”
Xiao Shiqing arrived at the entrance of Yonghua Palace and heard the wailing. Upon entering, he saw Zhao Qi lying on the bed and Xiao Jinzi kneeling beside, crying loudly. His face turned pale, “Zhao Qi!”
Zhao Qi propped himself up, “Has the Prime Minister come?”
Xiao Shiqing’s face looked worse than Zhao Qi had ever seen, as if his heart had stopped beating. His hand, gripping Zhao Qi’s shoulder, trembled slightly, “What’s wrong with you?”
Zhao Qi was stunned by Xiao Shiqing’s appearance and took a long time to react, “Oh… I vomited.”
Xiao Shiqing’s expression froze for a moment, “Vomited?”
“Yes, Prime Minister,” Xiao Jinzi sobbed, “The emperor just had a sip of mung bean soup, and then he vomited up all of last night’s dinner. The emperor usually eats a lot and never throws up; this is the first time something like this has happened!”
Xiao Shiqing: “…”
“You sure talk a lot,” Zhao Qi said suspiciously, “Are you really called ‘Xiao Jinzi’ because you keep your mouth shut?”
Xiao Jinzi replied, “Yes, Your Majesty, there’s no other part of me that’s tight.”
Zhao Qi frowned, “What kind of question is that…”
Xiao Shiqing watched coldly as the two bantered, “Having fun?”
Zhao Qi nodded sheepishly. Sometimes acting was quite enjoyable, especially with someone to play along.
Xiao Shiqing gritted his teeth, “You dare to nod? Do you know I almost…” His words abruptly stopped. He closed his eyes and rubbed his brow, looking as if he had been through a great ordeal.
Zhao Qi and Xiao Jinzi exchanged a look, both surprised by Xiao Shiqing’s reaction. The Prime Minister, who remained unflappable even in the face of a collapsing mountain, was scared by their little joke?
Tentatively, Zhao Qi asked, “Were you worried about me, brother?”
Xiao Shiqing’s face was expressionless, “No.”
“Oh.” It turned out he was being overly sentimental.
“If you’re unwell, call the imperial physician. Crying won’t help.”
Zhao Qi muttered quietly, “I’ve already called.”
Not long after, Jiang Dehai led the imperial physician in. It was the most senior physician, Zhang.
Zhao Qi extended his hand for Zhang to take his pulse, watching as the old physician’s eyebrows raised higher and higher, finally knitting together in a frown. Zhao Qi was terrified—oh no, could it be an incurable disease?
“Don’t give up on me, physician,” Zhao Qi grasped the old man’s hand, “I think there’s still hope for me.”
Xiao Shiqing glanced at Zhao Qi and addressed the physician, “What illness does the emperor have? Speak freely.”
Physician Zhang, trembling, withdrew his hand. A layer of cold sweat formed on his forehead, but his expression remained relatively calm. He bowed and said, “Prime Minister, the emperor has damp-heat in his stomach and intestines, and a deficiency in both Qi and blood, causing a lack of appetite and nausea.”
Zhao Qi exhaled in relief. It was just damp-heat; nothing to be afraid of. In these times, who didn’t have some dampness in their body?
Xiao Shiqing asked, “Is it serious?”
A drop of cold sweat silently slid down the physician’s cheek, “This is a common ailment in the summer heat. The emperor needs to take some herbal medicine to clear heat and dampness, and eat a lighter diet. He should recover soon.”
Xiao Shiqing’s expression softened a bit, “Prescribe the medicine.”
Xiao Jinzi took the prescription to prepare the medicine. Jiang Dehai advised earnestly, “Your Majesty, you can’t keep eating greasy foods like pig trotters anymore.”
Just as Zhao Qi was about to speak, a wave of nausea hit him, and he turned away to retch.
Xiao Shiqing frowned, sat down by the bed, and gently patted Zhao Qi’s back to soothe him. He instructed Jiang Dehai, “Bring water for the emperor to rinse his mouth.”
After rinsing his mouth, Xiao Shiqing helped Zhao Qi lie down. Zhao Qi asked, “Brother, why did you come to see me?”
Xiao Shiqing had intended to discuss a southern tour with Zhao Qi, but seeing the young emperor’s pale face, he decided against it. “Nothing, just wanted to check on you.”
Zhao Qi said, “Really? I don’t believe it.”
Xiao Shiqing was speechless for a moment, “Do you want to travel by water or land for the southern tour?”
Zhao Qi considered, “Since we’re inspecting the disaster, water travel might be better.”
Xiao Shiqing nodded, “What kind of dragon boat do you want?”
A picture appeared in Zhao Qi’s mind, and he got excited, “A dragon head on the front, grass on the deck, and a skull on the flag… Are you going to help me build a new dragon boat?”
Xiao Shiqing ruthlessly shattered Zhao Qi’s fantasy, “No.”
“…” Then why did you ask?
“Your Majesty,” Xiao Jinzi brought over the medicine, “it’s time to take your medicine.”
Xiao Shiqing said, “Give it to me.”
Jiang Dehai reminded him, “Prime Minister, the emperor said he’s old enough to drink by himself.”
Xiao Shiqing looked at Zhao Qi, “Do you want my help?”
“No…” Seeing Xiao Shiqing raise an eyebrow slightly, Zhao Qi quickly changed his tune, “I want brother’s help, ah—”
Xiao Shiqing scooped up a spoonful of the medicine, blew on it to cool it, and brought it to Zhao Qi’s lips.
Zhao Qi drank the medicine spoon by spoon, fed by Xiao Shiqing. After finishing the medicine, he began to feel sleepy. Rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand, he said, “I’m sleepy.”
“Hmm.” Xiao Shiqing’s ink-scented palm covered his eyes, his voice soft and gentle, “Sleep.”
Meanwhile, as soon as Physician Zhang returned to the imperial hospital, he could no longer hold on. His legs gave way, and he collapsed to the ground.
A young physician in the courtyard, Zhang’s proud disciple Cheng Boyan, was sorting medicinal herbs. Seeing this, he dropped the herbs and ran over, “Teacher! What’s wrong?”
Physician Zhang clung to Cheng Boyan’s arm, “Quick, pack my things. I need to leave the capital tonight and retire!”
Cheng Boyan was shocked, “Didn’t you just take the emperor’s pulse? What happened to make you so frightened?”
Physician Zhang refused to elaborate, shaking his head repeatedly. His face was ashen, and he muttered nonsensically, “Unheard of, unseen—thank goodness I held on for a moment, or I’d have lost my head!”
Cheng Boyan asked, “Is something wrong with the emperor’s illness?”
Physician Zhang wept bitterly, “More than just wrong!”
“Students believe that regardless of what illness the Emperor suffers from, the doctor should be forthright. His Majesty won’t do anything to the doctor.”
Last time, when the Emperor’s favorite male companion was drugged with an aphrodisiac, his condition was critical. The old court physicians didn’t dare to speak frankly and pushed Cheng Boyan to report to the Emperor. Cheng Boyan had initially thought he would hear the classic royal threats like “Everyone will be buried with him,” “Bring your head to see me,” or “Take him out and flog him to death.” To his surprise, the Emperor merely asked him to think of a solution and do his best.
Doctor Zhang hesitated before sighing deeply, “Boyan, don’t blame your teacher for not warning you. If you want to live, you mustn’t go to see the Emperor’s illness… Enough said, I’m leaving. Take care of yourself.”
“Teacher!”
While packing his belongings, Doctor Zhang kept muttering, “How bizarre, how bizarre! Who could be so bold as to make a king submit beneath them…”
Xiao Shiqing, worried about Zhao Qi’s deteriorating condition, ordered the physicians to report to Yonghua Palace daily.
When Zhao Qi saw that a different physician had come, he asked curiously, “Where is Doctor Zhang from yesterday?”
Cheng Boyan’s expression was subtle, “Your Majesty, Lord Zhang’s second great-aunt passed away yesterday. He has requested leave to mourn and has returned home for the funeral.”
Zhao Qi was momentarily speechless, “That’s possible?”
Cheng Boyan respectfully asked, “Has Your Majesty’s condition improved?”
Zhao Qi shook his head miserably, “No. During the morning court, if I hadn’t held it in, I would have vomited in front of all the civil and military officials.”
Cheng Boyan thought for a moment, then said, “Please extend your hand, Your Majesty. I will take your pulse.”
Jiang Dehai corrected him, “Can the Emperor’s hand be called a hand? It’s a dragon claw!”
Cheng Boyan hurriedly said, “I was careless. Please extend your dragon claw, Your Majesty.”
Zhao Qi’s expression was complex, “… There’s no need for that.”
Cheng Boyan placed two fingers on Zhao Qi’s wrist, closing his eyes to feel the pulse. Suddenly, he opened his eyes wide.
Seeing Cheng Boyan’s face turn visibly pale, Zhao Qi felt a pang of alarm, “No way, not again?! Can’t you physicians manage your expressions? This is terrifying!”
In the blink of an eye, Cheng Boyan fully understood why his seasoned teacher, despite his years of experience, was so frightened that he abandoned his position and fled home overnight.
Zhao Qi couldn’t contain his impatience, “What’s wrong with me? Just give it to me straight!”
“Your Majesty…” Cheng Boyan knelt and kowtowed, trembling, “You… you have a dragon egg… no, you are carrying a dragon child!”
Zhao Qi, Xiao Jinzi, and Jiang Dehai were all dumbfounded, “What?!”
Cheng Boyan decided to lay it all out, “Your Majesty’s pulse is smooth and steady, indicative of a pregnancy pulse.”
Zhao Qi’s expression remained in the previous phase, “What?!”
Cheng Boyan didn’t dare to lift his head, “Your Majesty’s pulse indeed indicates pregnancy. Coupled with Your Majesty’s symptoms, you should be about two months along!”
Jiang Dehai sternly said, “Lord Cheng, deceiving the Emperor is a capital offense!”
Cheng Boyan kowtowed repeatedly, “I am innocent, Your Majesty! Even if I had a hundred heads, I wouldn’t dare deceive the Emperor!”
Zhao Qi looked down at his own crotch, “But… but I am a boy…”
Xiao Jinzi murmured, “Your Majesty, I remember before the Longevity Festival, Young Master Zhao Si gave you two bottles of medicine. One was an aphrodisiac, and the other was…”
These words struck Zhao Qi like a thunderbolt, leaving him as a skeletal remains. He closed his eyes and fell straight back.
“Your Majesty!”
“Your Majesty!”
The three of them scrambled to catch Zhao Qi, while Jiang Dehai instinctively shouted, “Quick, fetch the physician!”
“Sir, I am the physician!” Cheng Boyan said as he pinched Zhao Qi’s philtrum.
Zhao Qi opened his eyes slightly, nearly spitting blood, “No— I do not accept this scenario!”
T/N: There is plenty more where that came from, so stay tuned! And stay healthy! Straighten your posture, so some stretches and drink some water before continuing hehe~
If you like my translations, feel free to donate to my ko-fi!
I really, really appreciate all the support from my readers <3 It goes a long way and motivates me lots!
Also, check out the other series we have on HoH!
If you like cats, check out Revenge of the Garfield
If you like dragons, check out I’m Pregnant with the Hope of the Entire Planet and The Dragon and the ‘Princess’
How about some mystery or showbiz? Check out Morbid Addiction & Perfection
What about the perfect, most non-toxic male lead ever? Laws of Love
How about MC nursing ML back to health? Forced into the Deep
Leave a Reply