The Prince's household had a regular physician who would visit every other day to check on Wang Qingyao's well-being. He found nothing amiss. However, Wang Qingyao, still uneasy, asked Xiao Yun to summon Imperial Physician Lu, a renowned specialist in gynecology.
Upon examining Wang Qingyao, Imperial Physician Lu smiled and declared, "Congratulations, Princess Consort, congratulations! You are carrying twins! I wasn't entirely certain a month ago, but now I am completely sure."
A wave of surprise and joy swept through the room, with everyone offering their congratulations.
Xiao Yun beamed, unable to contain his elation. "I'm the better one, two at once! What's the Prince of Qi got?"
Everyone was laughing, except for Wang Qingyao.
Given the medical conditions of ancient times, even a single birth was precarious, let alone two! Would she die in childbirth?
Her face turned ashen.
Xiao Yun noticed her expression and asked with concern, "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" He quickly instructed Imperial Physician Lu to examine her.
"Is Your Highness feeling unwell?" Imperial Physician Lu inquired, having found everything normal during his examination.
Wang Qingyao asked, "Imperial Physician Lu, is there a risk in giving birth to twins?"
So many women in ancient times had died in childbirth. The saying that childbirth was like stepping one foot into the gates of hell wasn't an exaggeration.
So, that was her concern.
Xiao Yun, who had just relaxed, became anxious again. Childbirth was no trivial matter, especially for two!
There were many families in the capital whose wives had not survived childbirth.
The thought made Xiao Yun's face turn pale, his hand trembling as he held Wang Qingyao's.
"Imperial Physician Lu, will the Princess Consort be alright during childbirth? Is it more dangerous to have twins?"
Imperial Physician Lu was almost amused by their worries.
"What nonsense are you two talking about? While childbirth does carry some risk, it varies from person to person. The Princess Consort is healthy and has a strong constitution. As long as she continues to maintain this, without over-supplementing, there will be no problem."
Xiao Yun felt reassured, and Wang Qingyao nodded, though a hint of worry remained.
"Imperial Physician Lu, I have a few more things I'd like to ask you."
"Please speak, Princess Consort," Imperial Physician Lu replied, assuming she had questions about prenatal care and not paying much heed.
However, Wang Qingyao then dismissed all the maids from the room, leaving only the couple.
"Imperial Physician Lu," Wang Qingyao asked, "Was Empress Xiaoxian also carrying twins back then?"
Imperial Physician Lu was startled. "How did Your Highness know?"
"Consort Chen told me."
Imperial Physician Lu's expression turned fearful. "Why would Consort Chen tell you?"
This was a long story. Ever since Wang Qingyao and Xiao Yun began investigating the matter of the eldest prince, she had recounted this tale several times.
"This all started with a story I wrote..."
After listening, Imperial Physician Lu looked utterly bewildered. "Was it purely by chance that the Princess Consort wrote this story?"
"Of course. If you want to hear more, I can invent several more. For example, to consolidate power, a newborn daughter is swapped with someone else's son, and they fall in love when they grow up. Or, a first love loses his memory, and upon meeting again, doesn't recognize his former lover, but they fall in love step by step. Or, the true daughter is lost and later found, while the imposter..."
"Enough, enough," Imperial Physician Lu waved his hand. He was now certain that the Princess Consort of Ding'an's mind was indeed different from others, filled with too many peculiar ideas.
"So, you have been searching for the whereabouts of the eldest prince?" he asked.
Wang Qingyao nodded. "Grand Tutor Wei is also searching. We need to find the eldest prince before he does."
Imperial Physician Lu sighed, a hint of recollection appearing on his aged face. He slowly said, "Empress Xiaoxian was indeed carrying twins. However, the Empress asked me to keep it a secret, and I told no one. During her labor, I was supposed to be on standby outside the delivery room, but Grand Tutor Wei's men found an excuse to send me away. Afterward, I announced that the Empress had died during a difficult labor, and her child had also perished. At the time, it was stated that there was only one child, and no one mentioned two children dying. Even when the Emperor rushed back, he only assigned a rank to one child. No one knew of the second child's existence."
"At that time, I thought that Empress Xiaoxian's second child must have survived and been rescued."
Wang Qingyao nodded in agreement, adding, "Consort Chen took the second child."
Imperial Physician Lu nodded. "Yes, Consort Chen then handed the child over to me..."
"Handed him to you?!" Wang Qingyao exclaimed, then quickly covered her mouth. "My apologies, I got too excited. Please continue, Imperial Physician Lu."
She and Xiao Yun had always assumed Consort Chen had given the child to the late Duke Zhongyong.
Imperial Physician Lu cleared his throat. "I successfully brought the child out of the palace and delivered him to the late Duke Zhongyong, Empress Xiaoxian's father."
Well, the process was different, but the outcome was the same.
Wang Qingyao and Xiao Yun exchanged a look and continued to ask, "And then, where did Duke Zhongyong send the child? Was he kept and raised in the Duke's mansion? Do you know where the child is now?"
Wang Qingyao fired off three questions in rapid succession. Imperial Physician Lu shook his head. "That, I do not know."