Chapter 418: We Must Have an Heir!

Chapter 418: We Must Have an Heir!

Li Shouye is a remarkably talented child, passing every examination he has taken. Although he didn't top the county and provincial exams, qualifying for the metropolitan exam at such a young age clearly marks him as a genius.

Even Cheng Bingan, a year his senior, has yet to pass the provincial exam and will have to retake it this year.

This has allowed his mother, Lu Hanyi, to hold her head high in recent years, standing tall with pride.

Especially in the years when her son passed the provincial exam and Cheng Bingan did not, she walked with a noticeable spring in her step!

She became quite exuberant at home, nearly alarming the other members of the Li household, thinking her son's success had driven her to joyous madness.

Lu Hanyi was overjoyed, and rightly so. At last, she saw hope!

After her burst of joy, Lu Hanyi spent every day by her son's side, constantly urging him to study diligently, to earn her the title of top scholar!

This also highlighted Li Shouye's potential in the eyes of both the Li and Lu families.

The Li household began to show greater concern and attention toward the mother and son, and Lu Kuan's father also began to value his grandson more highly.

He urged Lu Kuan to provide more guidance to Li Shouye.

In the realm of officialdom, the more talented the offspring, the stronger the family naturally becomes.

Particularly for civil officials, a group that ostensibly discourages cliques and lacks deep roots, blood ties are the most natural bonds.

The Lu family now boasts a successful Lu Kuan, and with a few more capable descendants, their standing in the court will be even more secure.

Lu Kuan naturally agreed when he heard this and also passed the news on to Lu Lingyun.

"Shou Ye is truly a very promising child," Lu Lingyun nodded after hearing this.

The following day, Lu Lingyun visited Lu Kuan's home.

She had come to see Tong Nanyuan.

When she arrived, Tong Nanyuan was personally overseeing the brewing of medicine.

"Nanyuan?"

Tong Nanyuan, who was watching the medicine, turned her head and saw the dignified and noble Lu Lingyun.

"Cousin, you've come."

Seeing Lu Lingyun arrive, Tong Nanyuan handed over what she was holding to her personal maid.

"What medicine are you brewing?" Lu Lingyun glanced inside and asked.

Tong Nanyuan's face turned slightly red, and she whispered to Lu Lingyun, "It's a fertility medicine I had someone find in Jiangnan. It's said to be very effective; many women in Jiangnan have taken it and given birth to twins."

Lu Lingyun: "..."

One child is not enough, she wants twins.

"Nanyuan, this medicine..." Lu Lingyun walked into the kitchen, lifted the lid, and smelled the medicine. A strong bitter scent hit her nose, and she turned to look at Tong Nanyuan, "It's very bitter, isn't it?"

"What's a little bitterness? Good medicine tastes bitter, as long as it helps me conceive a child for my husband."

Lu Lingyun heard this, "Is this medicine being brewed for you?"

"Of course!" Tong Nanyuan sighed deeply, "I've been married into the Lu family for ten years now and still have no children. If this continues, how can it be acceptable?"

Tong Nanyuan is already thirty years old. In this era, women who have children early can become grandmothers by the age of thirty.

At such an advanced age, Tong Nanyuan still has no children, how can she not be anxious?

"But, I heard from Kuan'er that it's not your problem..." Lu Lingyun slowly advised.

Hearing this, Tong Nanyuan gave her a reproachful look, "Cousin, you're just deceiving me along with my husband!"

Lu Lingyun's heart sank, thinking perhaps Tong Nanyuan had found out?

Then she heard Tong Nanyuan continue, "For so many years without children, I've thought about getting a concubine for my husband, to have one or two children from a concubine, but every time I mention it, he strongly opposes, saying it's his problem, that he can't have children."

"But if he doesn't try, how would he know!" Tong Nanyuan gazed deeply at Lu Lingyun, "Or perhaps, he already knew it was my problem, and didn't want to hurt me by telling the truth, so he comforted me with lies."

Tong Nanyuan is clever.

Moreover, women are particularly sensitive about fertility issues. Lu Kuan always says it's his problem, but he doesn't even take a single secondary wife, and in their intimate life, she hasn't noticed any lack of virility on his part.

Instead, she often feels that the duration is too long...

The only thing to note is that Lu Kuan only shares her bed around her menstrual period, and on other days, even if they share a bed, they do not consummate.

She suspects that perhaps Lu Kuan has no issue, but she does.

"Nanyuan, since Kuan'er himself doesn't care, why don't you just let it go?" Lu Lingyun comforted her.

In terms of offspring, Lu Lingyun's views are indeed quite progressive.

Perhaps because she almost died giving birth to Li Wenxun in her previous life, her outlook on children is quite forward-thinking.

Whether they are her own or not doesn't matter, or even whether she has any at all.

After all, one only has this one life, and if one can live happily and abundantly without any shackles, that would be the best.

Of course, she also feels sympathy for Tong Nanyuan not having children.

But when it comes to her own life versus a child's life, she still insists that her own life comes first.

Life is so precious; the first thing to cherish is oneself.

"No! I must bear my husband a child!" Tong Nanyuan declared with unwavering determination, "Even if I die, I must leave him a descendant!"

Lu Lingyun: "..."

Looking at Tong Nanyuan, whose eyes were gleaming with obsession, Lu Lingyun was at a loss for words.

Forget it; after all, this is just a vast difference in personal beliefs.

Having children is the lifelong goal of most people; they don't want to live for themselves and can't find other reasons to live.

But the reason of having children, that always works.

Without a child by one's side, life is not worth living!

Seeing Tong Nanyuan so determined, Lu Lingyun sighed gently, thinking she might as well try to persuade Lu Kuan to take a concubine.

She didn't mention the topic of children again to Tong Nanyuan, instead guiding her to sit down and chatting with her about other interesting things.

While they were chatting, the matron from the Lu family came to report, "Madam, Young Master Li has arrived."

"Shou Ye is here," Tong Nanyuan said upon hearing that Shou Ye had arrived. "My husband hasn't returned yet, so let's have him come to my courtyard for some tea first."

"Yes, Madam."

At this, Lu Lingyun glanced at Tong Nanyuan.

Tong Nanyuan poured tea for her and said, "Shou Ye has been visiting every day lately, asking my husband to review his essays and offer guidance."

Lu Lingyun gave a nod.

She had heard about this from Lu Kuan yesterday.

Shou Ye is not only ambitious but also quite savvy. He knows how to make the most of his resources. His uncle was once a top scholar who won three consecutive first places in the Imperial Examination. Seeking his advice and predictions is simply the best option.

If his father had more influence and could lend some support, his success in the Imperial Examination would be almost certain. He might even create a miracle of being a child prodigy.

After all, the Imperial Examination is only relatively fair, not entirely so.