Chapter 36: The Method of Termination of Pregnancy

Chapter 36: The Method of Inducing Miscarriage

In the Ganlin Palace, the emperor's sleeping quarters.

Kneeling by the bed, Gao An carefully wiped the cold sweat from Zhu Yunxuan's closed eyes while Doctor Fang meticulously inserted needles into his abdomen, cautious not to make any mistakes.

After half an hour, the elderly doctor palpated Zhu Yunxuan's pulse once more and finally sighed in relief. He softly reported to Liang Zhen, who stood nearby with furrowed brows and a grave expression, "His Majesty's pulse has stabilized. The child in his womb should be safe now."

"How is His Majesty?"

"Rest on the bed and do not move, lest you disturb the pregnancy. I will prescribe some medicine. After some time of recuperation, there should be no further issues."

Liang Zhen glanced at Zhu Yunxuan, drenched in sweat as if he had just been pulled out of water, and nodded. He then instructed in a deep voice, "You may leave first."

The elderly doctor retreated, and Liang Zhen stepped forward to take the handkerchief from Gao An, intending to personally wipe Zhu Yunxuan's sweat. Zhu Yunxuan turned his head away, and Liang Zhen's raised hand paused before retracting. "…Even if His Majesty is angry, don't vent your frustration on the child in your womb. Hurting him will only cause you suffering. In the end, it is you who will lie here in pain."

Zhu Yunxuan remained silent with his eyes closed. Liang Zhen sighed softly and continued, "If you don't wish to see this subject, I won't come these days. But you must rest well. The physician has advised bed rest. Even if you hold a grudge against me, don't hold one against yourself. This child is connected to your bones and blood; his life is yours. Please, Your Majesty, take care of yourself."

Seeing that Zhu Yunxuan still refused to respond, Liang Zhen fell silent for a moment before saying, "…This subject will take my leave now. May His Majesty rest well."

Liang Zhen went to the side palace where Doctor Fang was in the midst of writing a prescription. Upon seeing him enter, he put down his pen and stood up. Liang Zhen waved his hand dismissively. "Sit down and continue writing."

After the physician finished the prescription, Liang Zhen asked, "You didn't explain in detail earlier. How is the child? Could there be any hidden ailments?"

Doctor Fang carefully replied with caution, "It's still too early to tell. We'll only know after the child is born. Fortunately, His Majesty's pulse has stabilized. As long as there are no more severe abdominal pains, there shouldn't be any major issues. However, such an incident must not happen again. If this child... were to be lost, it would also put the Emperor's life at risk."

Seeing Liang Zhen's furrowed brow, Doctor Fang knelt down and pleaded, "I beg you, Prince, to understand the Emperor's situation and refrain from further distressing him..."

Liang Zhen closed his eyes. "This prince understands."

Inside the sleeping quarters, Gao An carried a freshly brewed bowl of medicine and fed it to Zhu Yunxuan spoon by spoon. Zhu Yunxuan frowned and waved his hand, causing Gao An to lose his balance and spill the medicine, creating a mess.

"Your Majesty..."

"Send someone to clean it up," Zhu Yunxuan instructed with a hoarse voice.

Gao An knelt on the ground, tears welling up in his eyes as he earnestly pleaded, "Your Majesty, regardless of the situation, you must drink this medicine for your own health..."

Zhu Yunxuan forced a bitter smile. "What's the point of drinking it? Without me, many would be pleased."

"Your Majesty, please don't say that. You are the Son of Heaven. For the sake of this land and its people, you must take care of your health..."

"What difference does it make whether I'm here or not for this realm and its mountains?" Zhu Yunxuan shook his head slightly. "I am but a colossal joke."

Crawling to Zhu Yunxuan with tears streaming down, Gao An bowed fervently. "Your Majesty, I beg of you, at least... at least consider Duke Ding. If anything were to happen to you, how would he cope? Don't you wish to see him? You could summon him or write a letter, asking him to come to the capital. Perhaps seeing him would lift your spirits?"

At the mention of Zhu Yunjing, Zhu Yunxuan's expression softened slightly. "My elder brother... I dare not let him witness my current state..."

"Seeing you like this, Duke Ding might be deeply pained. Why bear it alone?!"

Zhu Yunxuan still shook his head. "No, it's too dangerous here... I can't involve my elder brother. No, I can't..."

"How does Your Majesty know that Duke Ding doesn't wish to see you? With Duke Ding by his side, he'll be safe. Perhaps... perhaps they could even assist you, offer some advice?"

Zhu Yunxuan was taken aback. Gao An knew he had struck a chord and bowed again. "Your Majesty, please listen to my plea. Duke Ding and the others are your only support now. Why push them away?"

Zhu Yunxuan hesitated, clenching his fists slowly. Suddenly, a sharp pain stabbed at his abdomen, causing him to groan and curl up in agony. Seeing this, Gao An panicked and scrambled to fetch the imperial physicians. Zhu Yunxuan called out to stop him. "Don't go..."

"Your Majesty!"

Zhu Yunxuan gritted his teeth, beads of cold sweat rolling down his forehead! The words on the tip of his tongue changed: "Summon Doctor Fang, I have something to... ask him."

Doctor Fang rushed over once again. Zhu Yunxuan was helped up by Gao An and propped against the headboard of the bed. After a long while, he managed to croak, "Is there a way for me to get rid of this thing inside me?"

Gao An cried out first, "Your Majesty, you mustn't!"

Doctor Fang was also taken aback, "Your Majesty, it's impossible... For a man to conceive against the natural order, once pregnant, it cannot be terminated. Otherwise, it will result in two deaths. In the two hundred years since our dynasty developed the child-conceiving medicine, there has never been an exception. It must not be done!"

Zhu Yunxuan's pale face remained composed, "Methods are invented by people. Before our dynasty, it was a fantastical notion for men to bear children. Since there were renowned physicians who could formulate such a child-conceiving medicine back then, can it truly be that difficult for me to simply terminate the pregnancy?"

The royal physician urgently pleaded, "The fetus sustains itself in the womb by absorbing the essence and blood of its parent, connected to the father's circulatory system. It can only be separated at full term. To forcibly terminate the pregnancy would be akin to excavating one's own life force. It must not be done!"

Zhu Yunxuan frowned slightly. "I have no interest in hearing why it cannot be done. I order you to find a solution, and if you cannot, consult ancient texts. I refuse to believe there is no way to counteract this potent medicine."

"Your Majesty, why must you put yourself through this? Even if, by chance, it succeeds, your body will suffer immense harm. You...,"

"Enough," Zhu Yunxuan interrupted the old physician's earnest pleading impatiently. "Go and find a way for me. Listen carefully, not a single word of this can reach Prince Zhao. I am still the emperor. Whatever Prince Zhao can do, so can I. For the sake of your own life and fortune, weigh your actions wisely."

The old physician reluctantly agreed, "I dare not."

Gao An attempted to persuade further, "Your Majesty, please reconsider. What if... what if something truly happens?"

Zhu Yunxuan nonchalantly closed his eyes. "I'm exhausted. All of you, withdraw."

The emperor fell ill again and did not attend court for half a month. The officials whispered among themselves. Liang Zhen would occasionally visit the Sweet Rain Palace but only from a distance, glancing at Zhu Yunxuan. He would inquire about the emperor's condition with High Eunuch Gao and Doctor Fang without disturbing him further.

On one occasion, he heard the sound of objects shattering outside and rushed into the palace. Zhu Yunxuan was scolding the cowering Doctor Fang, who dared not lift his head. Upon seeing Liang Zhen's entrance, Zhu Yunxuan's expression immediately turned cold. Liang Zhen asked Doctor Fang to leave first and softly advised the emperor, "Why put yourself through this, Your Majesty? Your health is paramount. Why become angered over trivial matters?"

Zhu Yunxuan scoffed in response, ignoring Liang Zhen. Liang Zhen stood there for a long while before he had no choice but to leave.

After half a month, Zhu Yunxuan issued an imperial edict, punishing all the nobles, aristocrats, and officials involved in the land enclosure case. Titles were revoked, positions were abolished – no mercy was shown. Other nobles secretly entered the palace to plead for leniency on behalf of the Duke of Xian, but Liang Zhen's men intercepted them, preventing even an audience with Zhu Yunxuan.

As for Zeng Huai, his entire family was sentenced to exile, the severest punishment among those implicated. Many officials protested against this injustice, arguing that it was Zeng Jin who committed the crime, not Zeng Huai himself. Zhu Yunxuan ignored the flood of petitions for mercy, and when the judge in charge sought his approval, he simply said, "The imperial edict has been issued. Let the judgment stand."

"But...?"

"Although it was Zeng Jin who acted, he did so under the banner of the prime minister, stirring public outrage. Zeng Huai claims ignorance, but who can verify that? He was my teacher, and therefore, I cannot show favoritism."

What he didn't mention was that Zeng Huai, in prison, had secretly sent him a letter written in blood, pleading tearfully for a severe punishment to take advantage of the situation to deal with the Duke of Xian and his associates, thus cleansing the court.

Even in the end, his mentor had remained on his side, considering his well-being. There were others capable of assisting him, not just Liang Zhen. But Liang Zhen had never understood, and was too arrogant to see the strengths in others.

After the land enclosure scandal subsided, Zhu Yunxuan finally appeared in court. His first act was to revive the proposal of diverting the Yellow River, leaving no room for further debate. He issued an imperial edict, ordering the Ministry of Revenue to allocate ten million taels of silver for preliminary relocation and diversion efforts. He also promoted Zhou Jian, an official from the Ministry of Works, to Left Vice Minister, putting him in charge of the entire Yellow River diversion project.

After the court session, Zhou Jian followed Liang Zhen out and expressed his gratitude. Liang Zhen replied coldly, "It was the Emperor who promoted you, so there's no need to thank this prince. If you lack real talent or commit a crime in the future, seeking this prince's protection will be futile. Now that the Emperor has high expectations of you, do your duties well and don't betray His Majesty's trust."

Zhou Jian hastily acknowledged, "This official understands."

Liang Zhen halted his steps, gazing at the slowly rising sun on the horizon. Despite the scene, he didn't feel the usual sense of relief and joy. Recalling the earlier court session when he observed Zhu Yunxuan, seated aloofly on the imperial throne, he sensed that the thread connecting them seemed ready to snap.

Perhaps it wasn't just his imagination.