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There are cases where the Qi Kou pulse (pulse at the radial artery of the wrist) still beats one or half a day after death; this is mostly seen in people from wealthy and noble families. The reason lies in their daily luxurious life and rich diet, known as "extracting essence while using much," which causes the Hun Qi (ethereal soul energy) to be deeply rooted and difficult to dissipate; or it may be due to excessive consumption of Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Renshen, 人参) during illness, which captures the rootless deficient Yang, causing it to knot in the chest and not dissipate quickly. Therefore, young people who die from acute diseases, as well as those who suffer violent deaths, may have warm bodies for half a day after death because the Sheng Qi (vital energy) has not yet completely exhausted. Even more rarely, some temporarily revive after death; although their bodies become cool and pulseless, their Shen Qi (spiritual energy) is clear, their speech is coherent and reasonable, sometimes even surpassing their usual state; this is caused by wandering Hun acting up, and it only occurs in youths who died unjustly or whose ambitious desires were unfulfilled. These situations are unrelated to seeking medical treatment, but the principles behind them must be understood.

Fetal pulses (Tai Mai, 胎脉) exhibit the most variations; the *Mai Jing* (Pulse Classic) generally emphasizes the uniformity of Yin and Yang respiration. However, recently I examined a case where the pulse was fine and weak, with a scattered halo on both sides, beating more than five times per breath, with a strong arrival and weak departure, perceptible only at superficial (Fu, 浮) and middle (Zhong, 中) depths, feeling empty upon deep pressure (Chen, 陈). Carefully observing between lifting and pressing, the fingers felt slightly slippery and rapid, resembling entirely the pulse of Blood deficiency and Qi dryness. This type of pulse is commonly seen in women with Blood deficiency and Heat during the first one or two months of pregnancy. If judged solely by the pulse without recognizing pregnancy, one would inevitably prescribe Sweet and Sour formulas to nourish, thereby ensuring the prevention of miscarriage. Regarding Ghost Fetus pulse (Gui Tai Mai, 鬼胎脉), I once examined a patient whose Chi pulse (Kidney pulse) was deep, fine, and rapid, feeling slippery under the fingers, positioned short behind the Guan (Cun-Guan-Chi system), unable to reach the Cun position. All three positions lacked elevation, with very small fluctuations. At the stage of eight or nine months of pregnancy, the pulse resembled that of early pregnancy (two to three months), with no other abnormalities; women with non-rushed Qi and Blood often present this pulse. At the time, I did not know it was a ghost fetus; later, she experienced repeated abdominal pain and urge to deliver, while her abdomen gradually shrank and wasted away, with no other illnesses.

Wang Hangan stated: There are cases where, less than ten days or half a month after conception, the person experiences mania and cold limbs almost leading to death, occurring intermittently; during attacks, they appear critically ill, but when symptoms cease, they return to normal. One must suspect pregnancy, though the cause was not explicitly stated. Through repeated verification of diagnosed early pregnancies, abnormal pulses and symptoms are numerous. Symptoms include extreme internal chills, extreme heat like burning, shortness of breath nearly ceasing, continuous sweating, generalized macules, or abdominal pain as if being squeezed. Pulses may show absence in one position, hardness and pounding in one position, sudden cessation resembling bird pecking, or fluctuating size irregularly. Tracing the root cause, these occur when conception happens during fatigue, drunkenness or overeating, hunger or thirst, wind and cold, summer heat, fright, worry, anger, or when the constitution is inherently Blood deficient, Liver dry after menstruation, fluids not restored before conception, or waking abruptly from insufficient sleep with Blood not returning to the Heart. In all these cases, Zheng Qi (Upright Qi) has not recovered before conception, allowing various pathogenic Qi to enter the fetus along with it. Since the Bao Mai (uterine vessels) connect to the Heart, their Qi interacts, resulting in these various pulse and symptom manifestations. Illicit pregnancies often present this image due to unstable Shen Ming (spiritual clarity). After two or three months, as pathogenic Qi dissipates and Zheng Qi recovers, these phenomena disappear. Some cases require medicinal regulation; otherwise, there is a risk of injury or miscarriage.