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Chapter 193: Infertility
Chapter 193: Infertility
Queen Qi still felt uneasy and after some thought, she lowered her voice and asked, "Did something unpleasant happen during your visit to the side courtyard?"
Not wanting to easily reveal Sui Sui's ability, Queen Qi quickly added, "I was thinking, sometimes children's dreams can be quite prophetic. We should take it seriously just in case. Why don't you try to recall again carefully?"
Upon hearing this, King Qi fell deep into thought, recalling his recent experiences.
In the end, he still couldn't remember anything out of the ordinary.
Helpless, King Qi spread his hands in a gesture of defeat. "Maybe I just stank up the place and that's why she had a nightmare. Forget it, I'm fine. I feel fine. If anything, I can have Doctor Liu check my pulse later."
As it turned out, Doctor Liu was already in the mansion. Hearing this, Queen Qi felt somewhat relieved, thinking that it must be as her husband said.
Soon, Doctor Liu arrived, examined Sui Sui, and prescribed a calming herbal soup. Afterward, he proceeded to take King Qi's pulse.
As he did so, a grave expression settled on Doctor Liu's face.
King Qi's heart skipped a beat as he wondered if there truly was something wrong. However, he had checked his pulse before leaving for the side courtyard, and aside from some minor issues, there hadn't been any other problems. How could things have taken a turn for the worse after just one trip to the side courtyard?
That shouldn't be possible!
King Qi's mind raced with speculation.
After a lengthy examination, Doctor Liu finally nodded and said, "Your Highness should consume some nourishing tonics and soups."
Consuming tonics? Why?
Before King Qi could ask, he met Doctor Liu's eyes, which held a meaningful glint.
Instantly, King Qi understood.
In his efforts to conceive a daughter, he had indeed exerted himself considerably lately.
Yes, he definitely needed to replenish his body. Absolutely!
No wonder Doctor Liu had looked so somber and remained silent earlier.
This matter was best left unspoken and only hinted at. It wouldn't do to say it outright.
Having realized this, King Qi smiled awkwardly at the queen.
The queen returned his gaze with a resigned expression.
With Sui Sui asleep again, someone was already preparing the prescribed medicine over the stove, along with a sweet dessert that she enjoyed.
Still concerned, Queen Qi wanted to stay by her side.
However, ever since she had returned to the mansion, she had been busy tending to both the king and Sui Sui, and she hadn't even had lunch yet.
King Qi, aware of this, urged her to stay and eat with him.
He himself hadn't eaten since returning either.
At that moment, he suddenly remembered that Carriage Concubine, who was in a similar situation, probably hadn't eaten either. With this in mind, he instructed, "Make sure she eats well and takes care of her health. Don't let my eldest daughter go hungry."
Despite already having Sui Sui, King Qi still hoped for a few more daughters.
Carriage Concubine had only been able to enter the mansion due to her brother's impressive record of six daughters in eight births.
Without that, someone like her would never have caught King Qi's attention!
After the meal, King Qi felt somewhat weary. As Queen Qi was reluctant to leave Sui Sui, she signaled for him to go rest first.
In the evening, when the young masters returned, they would undoubtedly want to spend time with their father, especially since he had been away for several days. Moreover, as their father and king, he ought to test their academic progress as well.
Just because he himself was a poor student didn't mean he could neglect the education of his sons.
Queen Qi's words made sense, and although King Qi was reluctant to leave, he eventually returned to the main courtyard, glancing back repeatedly as he went.
With the king back, Queen Qi didn't feel it was appropriate to sleep in the main room of the main courtyard while holding Sui Sui.
Thus, she had arranged to stay in the room next to the main chamber.
Being closer put Queen Qi's mind at ease.
Once King Qi had left, Queen Qi instructed Shaoyao to guard the door and motioned for Doctor Liu to step closer so they could speak privately.
Realizing that the king's current condition left much to be desired, Queen Qi had tactfully dismissed Doctor Liu earlier.
However, what followed was a tedious affair of meals and tea, testing Queen Qi's patience to its limits.
As Doctor Liu approached, he hesitated before speaking. "Your King suffers from a deficiency of kidney yang."
"Kidney yang deficiency?" Queen Qi echoed, a hint of understanding in her eyes. "That's to be expected. He's been rather busy at the side courtyard lately."
"Busy making babies, no wonder his kidney yang is deficient!" she thought. But then, a realization struck her, and she asked, "Could Carriage Concubine have been foolish enough to give him tiger and wolf medicine? She's young and ignorant, but surely the King knows better? Using such medicine wouldn't bode well for the stability of any child conceived."
At her words, Doctor Liu could only shake his head in uncertainty. "I cannot say for sure."
Queen Qi stood up abruptly, her face a mask of disbelief. "That's impossible!" she exclaimed, her instinct crying out. "But I do trust your medical skills, Doctor Liu."
"The injury His Majesty suffered on the battlefield has left him incapable of bearing children. It's the reason why His Majesty has been ordered to rest upon his return to the capital, and why he may not return to the border anytime soon," Doctor Liu explained.
"Ah, I see," Queen Qi murmured, her expression softening into one of resignation. "So, it's not entirely unrelated to his time at the side courtyard."
"Indeed, the King's condition has deteriorated rapidly. I fear he may follow in the footsteps of the Qing Wang," Doctor Liu added gravely.
"Follow in his footsteps?" Queen Qi's eyes widened in shock, and she was about to refute the notion, but something in Doctor Liu's tone gave her pause. "You don't mean to say that he..."
"I am afraid the probability is as high as nine in ten," Doctor Liu confirmed her worst fears.
"...that he will no longer be able to father children?" Queen Qi finished the sentence, her voice trailing off as the implications sank in.
However, what concerned her most at that moment was not the king's ability to procreate but something else entirely.
"As far as the bedroom activities are concerned, he should still be able to perform as before, but his stamina will be greatly diminished, and his essence will be but dead water," Doctor Liu elaborated, his words painting a grim picture.
In simpler terms, he could still perform, but he couldn't make babies.
"I see..." Queen Qi's mind was racing, but what troubled her most at that moment was not the king's ability to conceive but something else entirely.
King Qi had indeed consulted Doctor Liu before his visit to the side courtyard, and his kidney yang had been slightly deficient then, but not to this extent. Something must have happened during his stay at the side courtyard to cause such a drastic change.
"Could you deduce the cause, Doctor Liu?" Queen Qi asked, her voice tight with suppressed anxiety. "The matter cannot be kept hidden forever. Sooner or later, the King will find out, and Her Majesty the Empress may inquire as well. I must be prepared with a solution, or at least a plausible explanation."
Doctor Liu shook his head, his expression grave. "I cannot be certain, Your Majesty. The King's kidney yang was already somewhat deficient before his visit to the side courtyard, but the decline was not this severe. It is highly likely that it is related to the use of some medicine."
"Medicine?" Queen Qi echoed, her eyes widening in alarm. "Could it be that Carriage Concubine, in her ignorance, administered tiger and wolf medicine to the King? She's young and may not understand, but surely the King knows better? Using such medicine would jeopardize the stability of any child born!"
Doctor Liu could not confirm her suspicions but neither could he refute them. "Perhaps, Your Majesty, you could inquire discreetly about the King's daily routine at the side courtyard. Based on the symptoms, I may be able to prescribe some remedies and see if we can ameliorate the situation."
"But," he added with a sigh, "the chances of success are slim."
(End of Chapter)
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