Chapter 386: A Bad Omen Comes True
Hearing Emperor Han Yuan’s words, Ye Jiamei’s heart sank halfway to the ground.
She had no desire to become an imperial physician. If the emperor ever discovered she was from the Yu family, he wouldn’t just deny her a position—he would likely have her entire family executed. Even though her daughter and husband were still in the frontier, he might send troops to eliminate them as well.
In truth, it had always been clear to those who paid attention that the crime of Grandfather Yu harassing the imperial concubine was nothing more than a trap set by the emperor himself. A carefully orchestrated scheme.
After all, no matter how foolish Yu Laotou might have been, even in a drunken state, he would have had enough sense not to commit such an offense in the palace. The real reason behind everything was the emperor’s fear of the Yu family’s growing power—he had long been looking for an excuse to strip them of their military authority.
“Your Majesty, I lack both skill and knowledge. It was mere luck that I was able to treat your illness. Please, withdraw your decree. I am unworthy of such an honor.”
Lying in bed, Han Yuan looked at Ye Jiamei, who had immediately knelt down to refuse him. A trace of surprise flickered in his eyes.
This was a privilege countless women would beg for, yet she rejected it outright.
“Very well. I will not force you. However, my wound still pains me. I will need to keep you in the palace for a few more days. Once I am well enough to walk, you may leave.”
Hearing this, Ye Jiamei finally breathed a sigh of relief. Though she wished to leave immediately, the emperor’s words reassured her somewhat.
“Understood. I will do my best to ensure Your Majesty recovers quickly. However, you must take care to balance work and rest. Overexertion will only harm your health.”
Han Yuan nodded and closed his eyes in exhaustion.
This was also due to the sedatives Ye Jiamei had added to his medicine—keeping him asleep not only sped up his recovery but also minimized unnecessary conversations with her.
She had hoped the next few days would pass peacefully, allowing the emperor to recover enough for her to leave. But Ye Jiamei had completely underestimated the empress’s thirst for revenge.
That day, just as she finished administering the emperor’s medicine and was preparing to rest, she noticed a palace maid anxiously speaking with the commander of the imperial guards outside the side hall. The maid kept glancing toward the chamber, her expression filled with urgency.
Curious, Ye Jiamei stepped to the doorway.
As soon as she appeared, the maid excitedly waved to her, filling Ye Jiamei with suspicion.
Naturally, Ye Jiamei was well aware of her position and responsibilities, so she had no intention of stepping outside or responding to the maid.
But when the maid saw that Ye Jiamei was not coming, she suddenly knelt before the commander of the imperial guards and began kowtowing fervently, knocking her forehead against the ground with audible thuds.
The commander, seeing this, had no choice but to step forward and relay the message.
“That is a maid from Consort Xi’s palace. She says that Consort Xi has fallen into the water. Though she was rescued, she is now in critical condition. The imperial physicians are at a loss, so the maid came to request your help, believing in your medical expertise.”
“I’m sorry, but I must remain here to watch over His Majesty. If I leave—”
“Consort Xi is carrying my child! Doctor Ye, please go at once! I will be fine here. Besides, there are plenty of guards and attendants. Saving Consort Xi and my heir is the priority. Hurry and go!”
Ye Jiamei had just begun to refuse when Emperor Han Yuan, despite having been asleep moments earlier, suddenly raised his voice from within the chamber.
She hadn’t expected him to have such sharp hearing, nor to react so quickly.
In truth, Ye Jiamei wasn’t concerned about the emperor’s safety. This place was heavily guarded, and no one unauthorized could enter. What truly troubled her was the situation itself—why had Consort Xi suddenly fallen into the water?
And even if she had, wasn’t it suspicious for her palace maid to come directly to her, demanding assistance, as if the emperor’s own physician could be summoned at will?
Even if the empress herself had fallen ill, no one would dare pull the emperor’s doctor away from his side. Yet this maid had the audacity to do so for her mistress?
But with the emperor giving a direct order—and given that Consort Xi carried the imperial heir—Ye Jiamei had no choice but to take her medical kit and go.
“Your Majesty, in that case, I will go. In the meantime, I strongly advise that you do not eat or drink anything, and that no one be allowed to enter this chamber.”
She could not afford any accidents during his recovery, or she would be held responsible.
“Go, hurry! I understand.”
Drowning victims had only a brief window of time to be saved. Ye Jiamei wasn’t sure if Consort Xi would still be alive when she arrived, but she couldn’t afford to waste time. She grabbed her kit and hurried after the maid toward the accident site.
As they rushed past an arched gate, Ye Jiamei unexpectedly collided with another palace maid coming from the opposite direction.
The impact was hard. Had another maid not caught her in time, she might have been knocked to the ground.
Her arm ached from the collision, and her medical kit fell to the ground. Without stopping to check on the other maid, Ye Jiamei quickly retrieved the kit and continued running after the first maid toward Consort Xi’s palace.
When they arrived at the lakeside pavilion, it was already crowded with people. Ye Jiamei pushed through the throng and was startled to see both the empress dowager and the empress present.
“Doctor Ye, you came just in time. Consort Xi has just regained consciousness, but these foolish physicians are useless. I cannot trust them with her care.
She carries His Majesty’s child, and not even the slightest mishap can be allowed. Please examine both her and the baby.”
Since the Empress Dowager had spoken, Ye Jiamei had no choice but to comply. She set down her kit and took Consort Xi’s pulse.
“Your Highness, both Consort Xi and the child are fine. In truth, obstetrics is not my specialty. If you are still concerned, you may summon additional imperial physicians for further examination. His Majesty is alone in the side hall, so I must return at once.”
Hearing her words, the Empress Dowager finally relaxed and allowed her to leave.
Ye Jiamei felt uneasy about the situation but couldn’t pinpoint why.
When she returned to the emperor’s chamber, she immediately checked on him again and found his condition unchanged. Only then did she feel a little more at ease.
But less than an hour later, news spread—Consort Xi had suffered a miscarriage.
Upon hearing this, Emperor Han Yuan was enraged, his fury shaking the palace.
And at that moment, Ye Jiamei’s ominous premonition became a dreadful reality.
