Chapter 73: This kind of illness may harm my lady’s offspring. [One update]

Chapter 73: This kind of ailment may harm the lady's fertility. "First Watch."

In the following days, the palace appeared calm on the surface, but undercurrents of tension swirled beneath.

The first was the border military situation.

Due to the urgency of the war, Jing Huayan did not directly issue an order to replace the general mid-campaign. Instead, he transferred Xu Ruhui, who had been stationed at the Western Capital garrison, to Wucheng to replace Xu Fengnian as vice general.

He also issued an edict ordering the Earl of Zhongyi to reflect on his actions, with all border affairs temporarily overseen by Xu Ruhui.

Xu Ruhui was the eldest brother of Moral Consort Xu and the legitimate firstborn son of Earl Zhongyi Xu Chuang. Skilled in both literary and martial arts since childhood, he was an exceptional military talent for the court.

This was a risky move, but it demonstrated Jing Huayan's strategic foresight.

As a direct descendant of the Xu family, the Loyal Army naturally obeyed his commands without daring to defy them. Meanwhile, the Border Defense Army, anxious after the recent city breach, also followed Xu Ruhui's orders.

Regardless, Wucheng was now united in purpose.

Upon arriving in Wucheng, Xu Ruhui immediately began deploying troops. Within just three days, he led an active offensive outside the city, catching the Tatar Tiger Head Battalion off guard.

With the war progressing smoothly, the tense atmosphere in the inner palace and the imperial court eased abruptly. Moral Consort Xu, who had been withdrawn for two months, reappeared before everyone as she recovered, still as haughty as before.

In contrast, Consort Yi Zhou's Brocade Palace and Baolin Ruan's Longspring Palace were both silent and desolate. The palace servants moved quietly, not daring to provoke their mistresses.

After all, the Xu family had Xu Ruhui to turn the tide, while the Zhou family lacked anyone capable. As for Baolin Ruan, she had brought this upon herself—no one else was to blame.

Setting these matters aside, the emperor occasionally smiled these days, and the Qianyuan Palace echoed with more laughter.

Recently, Jiang Yunran had been menstruating and had not gone to the Qianyuan Palace.

Those who reappeared before the emperor were Noble Consort Yao, Zhao Yi Mei, Baolin Su, and Talented Lady Meng. For a time, the Eastern and Western Six Palaces regained their liveliness.

However, the joyous atmosphere of the entire Everlasting Palace could not reach the Snow Listening Palace.

Jiang Yunran had suffered in her youth, which later caused her to experience abdominal pain and dizziness during her menstrual periods. Before Zhao Tingfang left Qingzhou, she had nursed Jiang Yunran back to health for a time. After they parted, Jiang Yunran refused to take medicine.

Due to this neglect, the menstrual pain gradually returned. This time, for some reason, Jiang Yunran's pain was so severe she could barely get up.

Qing Dai, seeing her pale face and trembling lips, grew anxious.

"My lady, should we summon Imperial Physician Zhao to the palace for a diagnosis?"

Lately, Imperial Noble Dowager Consort's back pain had flared up, and Zhao Tingfang had been attending to her at the Jing'an Palace, with no time to spare for others.

Jiang Yunran thought for a moment and said, "No need. Take the Snow Listening Palace's token and request a physician from the Imperial Hospital."

Before long, a young female physician arrived swiftly.

She appeared a few years older than Zhao Tingfang, not yet thirty, and was likely Imperial Physician Qian, who was highly skilled in gynecology at the Imperial Hospital.

Imperial Physician Qian first paid her respects and then began taking her pulse.

After listening for about a quarter of an hour, Imperial Physician Qian carefully examined her face, hesitated, and finally released her hand without speaking immediately.

Seeing this, Jiang Yunran suddenly felt uneasy.

"Imperial Physician Qian, what is wrong with me?"

Qing Dai invited Imperial Physician Qian to take a seat, and only then did she speak thoughtfully, "Lady Jiang, your previous routine pulse readings were taken by Imperial Physician Zhao. Before coming here, I reviewed them and found nothing unusual."

"But just now, upon observing your pulse, I found that this is not the case."

Jiang Yunran's heart sank. Noting Imperial Physician Qian's hesitation, she said, "Imperial Physician Qian, speak plainly. I can handle it."

Imperial Physician Qian said, "It is not that Imperial Physician Zhao lacks skill. Because she has always taken your pulse during ordinary times and never during your menstrual cycle, she overlooked this."

She was fair-minded and did not take the opportunity to undermine her colleague.

"Did you experience famine in your youth?"

Jiang Yunran had not experienced famine, but she had indeed been imprisoned by the Ruan family for over ten days, nearly starving to death in their firewood shed.

Jiang Yunran said, "I did experience something like that."

Imperial Physician Qian glanced at Qing Dai and, seeing that Jiang Yunran had not dismissed her, continued, "My lady, during that time of hardship, not only was your spleen and stomach damaged, but you may have also mistakenly consumed Cold Bitter Herb. This herb is cold and particularly harmful to a woman's body."

"As a result, as you grew older, your pulse became thin and weak, your *qi* and blood deficient, causing severe abdominal pain during menstruation and impaired blood circulation."

"This kind of ailment may harm the lady's fertility."

Imperial Physician Qian hesitated for a moment but spoke truthfully.

Jiang Yunran showed little reaction. She carefully recalled the suffering in the Ruan family's firewood shed. At that time, the Ruan family gave them nothing but plain water.

What did that water taste like?

Later, Jiang Yunran recalled it always tasted bitterly harsh.

But at the time, she and her mother were so hungry that their mouths were constantly bitter and sour, so they didn't notice anything unusual.

Perhaps even then, Ruan Zhongliang had already considered selling them—mother and daughter—to the Yixiang Pavilion but did not want any of the Ruan bloodline to remain outside.

So he resorted to such a vicious method.

It was truly squeezing the bone dry and then sucking out the marrow—utterly malicious.

When Zhao Tingfang left Qingzhou, she had only been studying medicine for a few years. It was reasonable that she couldn't detect these details. Treating menstrual pain with conventional methods could only alleviate it, not cure it completely.

Hearing this, Qing Dai's face turned pale, and she clenched her hands tightly.

For an imperial concubine, bearing children was of utmost importance.

If Jiang Yunran could not conceive, even if she remained in favor now, what about the future?

Could the emperor possibly favor her for a lifetime?

Once she aged and lost her beauty, how would she survive in the palace?

When Imperial Physician Qian said this, she had already steeled herself, but this Lady Jiang remained unfazed, as if unconcerned.

Jiang Yunran did feel some worry inwardly, but her life had been filled with hardships. She had faced all kinds of suffering, and this was just one more.

She did not complain about heaven or people, nor did she weep and wail. Instead, she calmly looked at Imperial Physician Qian and asked, "Can it be treated?"

That was the most critical question.

Imperial Physician Qian breathed a sigh of relief.

"It is possible," Imperial Physician Qian paused, then said, "This is a chronic illness my lady has, lasting over a decade. The effects of the Cold Bitter Herb have already weakened. If not..."

Imperial Physician Qian hesitated briefly, leaving her meaning unclear, and said, "It’s not untreatable, but it will require time."

At this point, Imperial Physician Qian glanced up at Jiang Yunran.

Seeing that although Jiang Yunran looked pale, her eyes were clear and she was neither foolish nor rash, Imperial Physician Qian hesitated repeatedly but still asked, "Has Lady Jiang ever taken contraceptive soup before?"

It is a major taboo for consorts to take contraceptive soup.

Generally speaking, every consort wishes to bear more royal heirs to secure their future.

Surprisingly, this Lady Jiang had actually taken contraceptive soup.

The Imperial Hospital had no record of this, and Imperial Physician Qian found no trace of it when reviewing her case history. Either Jiang Yunran had taken it secretly herself, or it was done by His Majesty.

Whether to mention this or not, Imperial Physician Qian had pondered for a long time.

In the end, her compassion as a healer won out, and she risked saying it.

Jiang Yunran was surprised.

Seeing her wary look, Jiang Yunran grasped her concern.

She couldn't help but sigh, "Imperial Physician Qian, your compassion is noted; don’t be afraid. I know about this—it was just a coincidence."

This statement was meant to reassure Imperial Physician Qian.

Clearly, this wasn’t the emperor’s doing.

As long as it wasn’t against the emperor’s wishes, Imperial Physician Qian instantly felt relieved. She exhaled and said, "Lady Jiang, the reason your condition is so painful this time and your pulse so clear is precisely because you previously took contraceptive soup. The cold nature of the contraceptive soup triggered the last traces of the Cold Bitter Herb’s potency. The combination of the two allowed me to pick up on some signs."

"In my opinion, Lady Jiang should not take contraceptive soup again."

Jiang Yunran instead smiled. "Since I have difficulty conceiving, I naturally will not take it again. It was unintentional before."

After stating all the issues, Imperial Physician Qian finally calmed down.

"In that case, it’ll be simpler."

Hearing this, Qing Dai’s expression also softened as she paid close attention.

Imperial Physician Qian carefully explained Jiang Yunran’s pulse readings and then said, "Once Imperial Physician Zhao returns, I will work with her to write up a prescription for you. You must begin the herbal brew today."

Imperial Physician Qian spoke very seriously, "Lady Jiang, to completely eradicate the effects of the Cold Bitter Herb, potent heating remedies must be used. Fortunately, it is now winter, which is the best timing."

"For the next three months, I may prescribe heavy medication for you. You might occasionally have fevers or feel overheated, but don’t fret over it."

"After three months, when spring comes and flowers bloom, we will change to a new prescription."

Hearing this, Jiang Yunran cursed Ruan Zhongliang eight hundred times in her heart.

If not for that vicious schemer’s cruel deeds, she would not have to take so much medicine.

After pushing her and her mother to the brink, he still was not satisfied. Afraid of being discovered, he not only gave her mother a fatal poison but also ensured Jiang Yunran would suffer.

Ruan Zhongliang was the most evil person Jiang Yunran had ever encountered in her life. She couldn’t help but wonder how he had raised the otherwise unremarkable Ruan family to its current status.

If one is not ruthless, how can one achieve great things?

However, she would return all this suffering twofold to Ruan Zhongliang.

Jiang Yunran sighed, "How long will it take to cure?"

Imperial Physician Qian had just seen her calm and composed, but now, upon hearing about taking medicine, she showed a rare childish frustration.

Imperial Physician Qian couldn’t help but smile. "The medicines are warming by nature and won’t be too bitter. With added red dates and ginger, they will have a sweetness and goes down easy."

After this reassurance, she continued, "The spring medicine shouldn’t be taken too often. For every five days of medication, you must stop for ten days. By summer, the treatment should completely stop."

"At that time, we will examine your pulse. If you have recovered, no more medicine will be necessary. If not, we will add two more doses in autumn, which should eliminate at least ninety percent of the remnants. The remaining amount will be negligible."

Hearing this, Qing Dai’s eyes lit up.

"So, once Lady Jiang is cured, she can conceive?"

Imperial Physician Qian did not dare to make definitive claims and only said, "There will be an opportunity by then."

Jiang Yunran and Qing Dai exchanged a glance. Jiang Yunran smiled and said, "Imperial Physician Qian, I appreciate your hard work."

Imperial Physician Qian hurriedly replied, "You are too kind, Lady Jiang. This is what I ought to do."

But Jiang Yunran knew this was not merely Imperial Physician Qian’s duty.

The imperial physicians in the palace emphasized caution and stability. They usually preferred mild prescriptions and rarely dared to use strong medicines.

If strong medicines caused accidents among the nobles, their entire families could lose their heads.

Although the previous emperor had issued a decree not to trouble imperial physicians unnecessarily, for thousands of years, physicians had adhered to this principle—caution was an iron rule engraved in their bones.

That Imperial Physician Qian dared to prescribe strong medicine for her today was partly due to medical compassion and partly due to remarkable courage.

Jiang Yunran guessed that she must have a very good relationship with Zhao Tingfang, which was why she dared to speak so frankly.

She paused and said, "Imperial Physician Qian, as long as you can cure me, I will naturally not treat you unfairly. Even if you cannot, it is not your fault."

"However, I ask that you keep this matter confidential. I do not wish others to know, especially... His Majesty."

Jiang Yunran looked up at her. "You should know how to handle the medical records."

Imperial Physician Qian broke out in a cold sweat.

After a moment of thought, she said, "Imperial Physician Zhao and I will carefully consider the prescription. Imperial Physician Zhao will likely inform you how to prepare the decoction."

To keep it hidden, thorough precautions were necessary.

At the very least, the prescription must not reveal anything.

Seeing that she had a solution, Jiang Yunran slowly smiled.

She said, "Thank you, Imperial Physician Qian."

With that, she asked Qing Dai to escort Imperial Physician Qian back to the Imperial Hospital.

No sooner had Imperial Physician Qian left than Zi Ye entered with a grim expression.

"Lady Jiang, someone from the Qian Yuan Palace is here."

Seeing her expression, Jiang Yunran’s heart sank. She asked, "What happened?"

Zi Ye shook her head.

She leaned in and said, "I don’t know, but Eunuch Little Liu looks very serious and refuses to say anything."

Jiang Yunran took a deep breath. "Then let us go to the Qian Yuan Palace and see what has happened."