Chapter 73 Curing the Root Cause

Zhuo Sigui assumed she was just shy and quickly comforted her, "Your Highness, please don't be angry. I just couldn't help asking. This matter of marriage is a very important one. I wonder what went wrong? Your Highness can tell me. I've lived many more years than you should, so I can give you some advice."

Little did she know that although the two hadn't done anything after their marriage, they had already done everything they should and shouldn't have done before the wedding.

Yang Qing's face turned completely red, her mind a jumble of panic. She only wanted to appease Zhuo Sigui, and blurted out, "This...this...this..."

"He can't do it, and I really can't do anything about it."

When the words left her mouth, Yang Qing herself was shocked, and Zhuo Sigui was even more astonished.

She had watched His Highness the Crown Prince grow up, so she naturally knew that Li Shangxuan had always been healthy.

But these things are hard to say.

Some people look incapable, but are actually quite capable; some people look incapable, and are actually not capable either; some people look capable, and are actually quite capable; and the last type is that some people look capable, but are actually not capable.

Zhuo Sigui suddenly understood. No wonder, no wonder! She had always wondered, how could any man resist sleeping with his wife when he finally married a girl he liked and the Crown Princess was so beautiful?

If the crown prince is the last type of person, then it makes sense.

Zhuo Sigui sighed deeply, feeling a deep sense of injustice. She thought about how her kind-hearted mistress had passed away so early, and how her offspring had been afflicted with such a hidden illness.

She knew the gravity of the situation; if a ruler of a country could not have children, it would be the most ridiculous thing in the world.

Zhuo Sigui shook her head, personally cleaned up the spilled tea, and comforted Yang Qing, "Sigh, this kind of thing... Crown Princess, please don't worry. His Highness is still young, and he might recover again sometime. But please don't tell anyone, not even your own siblings."

Yang Qing was still feeling guilty, so she nodded quickly like a chick pecking at rice, "I know."

She also breathed a sigh of relief. Zhuo Sigui seemed to believe it. She was only thinking of Li Shangxuan and would not spread such news.

Yang Qing shrank her neck, thinking that if the rumors she spread about him got to his ears, she would really be in big trouble.

So she also instructed, "Zhuo Sigui must keep her mouth shut and never tell anyone else."

Zhuo Sigui nodded solemnly.

Yang Qing thought that this matter was over and that no one else would know about it except for her and Zhuo Sigui.

But when it came time for dinner, she realized she was wrong. Although Zhuo Sigui didn't tell anyone, she wouldn't pretend she didn't know.

Yang Qing looked at the table full of deer antler, deer penis, wolfberry, mutton and other foods and fell silent. She picked up her chopsticks and only took a few bites before stopping.

What is Zhuo Sigui doing? This is too nourishing!

Li Shangxuan didn't eat much either. Before going to sleep that night, lying on his bed, he was still wondering to himself, "Could this be something Yang Qing deliberately instructed me to do?"

She was always shy and wanted to make peace but couldn't bring herself to do it, so she deliberately ordered the kitchen staff to make these things, hoping he would take the initiative.

But judging from her expression, it doesn't seem quite right.

Li Shangxuan hesitated for a long time, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep. He hadn't eaten much of those highly nourishing foods, but he still felt incredibly hot.

He suppressed his feelings and waited for an unknown amount of time. The night grew darker, and all the sounds outside fell silent. All he could hear was her breathing.

They had been intimate just the day before, but he couldn't stand it anymore.

This is really bad.

I crept up to her and whispered her name to test her, but she didn't react at all; she kept her eyes closed.

Li Shangxuan felt relieved and carefully kissed her earlobe while taking her hand in his and bringing it to his waist and abdomen.

The moment he touched her, before he could even savor the sensation, her soft hand suddenly pulled away from him.

Li Shangxuan was stunned and before he could react, he was kicked off the bed.

You scoundrel!

Hearing the commotion, the palace servants on night watch immediately lit lamps and came to investigate.

Li Shangxuan hurriedly got up from the ground before the lamps were lit.

Seeing that both of them looked unwell, Lili had no time to ask what was wrong when she saw Li Shangxuan turn and leave with a dark expression, not even bothering to put on his coat.

Lili was even more frightened. She guessed that the two of them had quarreled, so she immediately fell silent, lowered her head, and lowered it even further, wishing she could bury it in her stomach.

Li Shangxuan still has the nerve to be angry.

Yang Qing pulled herself under the covers. This shameless scoundrel was only born into royalty; if he had been born into the common people, he would definitely have grown into a womanizer.

By the candlelight, she stared at her palms, her brows furrowed. She wanted to ask Lili to fetch a basin of water for her to wash her hands, but she was also afraid that Lili would keep asking questions.

In the end, all they could do was let her turn off the light, lie down again, and vigorously wipe her hands with the blanket that originally belonged to Li Shangxuan.

He cursed inwardly again, "Bastard, hooligan, scoundrel."

She never expected that she would actually be able to kick Li Shangxuan down.

He is the crown prince; this time, I'm afraid I've really angered him.

A moment of panic flashed through my mind, but it was only for a moment.

There's a saying: "It's better to offend a gentleman than a petty person."

Although Li Shangxuan could not be considered a gentleman in Yang Qing's eyes, to be fair, he was not a heartless person. Even if he had a new love, he would probably still take good care of Yang Qing in the Eastern Palace.

Anyway, that's what Yang Qing thought. Even if they couldn't be a harmonious couple, they still had a bond from childhood, so he wouldn't really punish her.

Her mind suddenly cleared up. After this, he probably wouldn't even come over for dinner every day anymore, and she was happy to be free.

With this thought in mind, she had no other worries and soon fell asleep.

As she expected, Li Shangxuan became really angry, and she didn't see him for several days.

She felt a little disappointed, but not much either, especially with the arrival of the new puppy making her less focused on Li Shangxuan.

Zhuo Sigui was incredibly efficient; she found the dog Yang Qing wanted in just three days.

The found yellow puppy looks to be only a month old, but it is already very well-behaved and understands simple commands.

If Yangqing tells it to sit, it will sit down; if she tells it to stand up, it will obediently stand up, forming a stark contrast to the unruly cat that loves the rooftop.

Yang Qing stroked the puppy's ears, hoping that the dog wouldn't be like the kitten, who was clingy and well-behaved when it was a puppy but completely changed its personality when it grew up.

Zhuo Sigui explained with a smile, "Absolutely not, its parents were dogs kept by the Dali Temple."

Dogs have a keen sense of smell, and government offices like the Dali Temple and the Jinwu Guard would keep several obedient dogs.

Yang Qing smiled and lifted the puppy up, "He's a second-generation official, isn't he?"

The son of an official remained calm and showed no sign of struggling, even when lifted above his head.

Yang Qing was very satisfied. "Very good. From now on, you will be called Xiao Huang, Chi Xiao Huang."

Little Yellow seemed to understand and barked, the puppy's bark naturally carrying a hint of affection.

The puppy's growth was almost visible to the naked eye; it changed every day, and in less than ten days, it had grown much bigger.

Li Shangxuan asked again in a calm voice, "She really didn't mention me at all?"

Xiaoman tilted her head and thought for a while, "Really not."

She secretly thought to herself that the puppy was at its most fun, and even someone as determined as herself couldn't resist it, let alone someone like Yang Qing whose willpower was not so strong to begin with.

Li Shangxuan didn't speak, and his expression didn't change, but Xiaoman felt that he was definitely angry.

She was speechless. This prince was really strange. He clearly wanted to see her, but since the Crown Princess wasn't coming to him, why couldn't he take the initiative to go to her? Why was he making things difficult for her here?

Li Shangxuan gave her a final instruction, telling her not to tell anyone about his inquiries about Yang Qing, before finally letting her go.

After Xiaoman, that silly goose, left, he couldn't help but let out a long sigh.

He couldn't help but wonder again, could it be that Yang Qing really didn't like him...?

No, if she didn't like him, why did she secretly kiss him last time when she thought he was asleep?

He closed his eyes in frustration, but the scene from that night kept replaying in his mind.

He was indeed very angry, but actually, he was more ashamed and annoyed. He had made some harsh words, but he couldn't help himself. He wanted to do it again after the first time.

Yang Qing is right about this; he really is vulgar.

But now she is his wife, lying right next to him. How could he possibly remain unmoved?

It had been ten days since the two had last seen each other, and she hadn't reacted at all.

However, in a few days it will be the birthday of the Chi family's grandmother, and the two of them will definitely go back together then, so he is not in a hurry.

In the evening, Zhuo Sigui looked troubled, as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.

Li Shangxuan said, "Aunt, please speak freely."

Zhuo Sigui then stammered, "Your Highness, alas... this situation between you and the Crown Princess is not a long-term solution. In my humble opinion, we must address the root cause."

Li Shangxuan was silent for a moment. Ultimately, it all came down to that damned past life. Although he had explained it to her before, she might not have fully believed him.

Actually... he hadn't really remembered everything; all he could vaguely recall were scenes related to Yang Qing.

He remembered the circumstances of entrusting his child to Yang Qing at the end. He only remembered that Yang Qing scolded him angrily, and his heavy mood at the time was definitely not fake, but he really couldn't remember exactly what happened...

He was also uneasy. Where did that child come from? Could it really be his...?

No, if it were him, even if Yang Qing never had any children, there were so many children in the royal family, he could easily choose a smart and talented one. His own children might not even have the same talent.

Besides, when he died in his previous life, they were still quite young, and he didn't have time to be adopted from the royal family, let alone have a child.

He still believes that this child is a form of security he found for Yangqing.

Although her position as Empress Dowager was secure, if she were to suddenly be adopted from the imperial clan, not only would the court officials not be willing to accept her, but even her stepson might not be able to. It would be better to find a newborn baby and raise him from a young age.

Seeing his furrowed brows and pensive expression, Zhuo Sigui assumed he was interested but too embarrassed to say so directly, so she quickly continued, "Your Highness, I have heard that there is a highly skilled person among the common people who has taken it upon himself to invite him to the Eastern Palace. Would Your Highness like to go and meet him?"

A master?

In the past, Li Shangxuan would have absolutely scoffed at such supernatural tales, but his memories from his previous life were definitely not fake.

Fine, I'll go see him then.