Chapter 46 Excessive indulgence damages the body's foundation.
As soon as the words "Third-Rank Imperial Lady" were uttered, Liu Ruolan and Huo Yunzhan instantly fell silent, their previous arrogance quickly deflated like a punctured balloon.
Liu Ruolan covered her stinging face, clenching her teeth, but no longer shouted as recklessly as before.
Shen Qingci ignored her and turned to look at Huo Yunzhan: "Lord Marquis!"
"Whether I have an affair with you or not, you know it perfectly well."
"If the Marquis doesn't even have this much responsibility and can't explain the matters between you two in your private quarters to his wife, he can only let the Marquis's wife make a scene in the Marquis's mansion because of the disharmony between you two in bed."
"That's none of my business, and I don't want to get involved."
“But now you have affected my innocence and reputation, which I cannot allow under any circumstances.”
"I'll say it again: if the Marquis has health problems, he should see a doctor."
“Since the Marquis is reluctant to seek medical help, and the Marquis’s wife seems to have completely forgotten about the existence of a doctor, then I will…”
Shen Qingci raised her chin slightly and looked at Wanqing, who was standing aside watching the show with great interest since she was unharmed: "Wanqing, go and invite the imperial physician over!"
She glanced around at the bewildered crowd, a cold smile curving her lips: "Since you've already woken me up tonight, no one will get a good night's sleep until this matter is thoroughly resolved!"
Wanqing had been unable to contain herself any longer. Upon receiving Shen Qingci's order, she immediately responded crisply with "Yes!" and turned around to run off to fetch the family physician.
Soon, Wanqing practically dragged the family physician over. The old man, still half-asleep, was clearly startled by the commotion in the middle of the night.
Shen Qingci didn't even glance at Liu Ruolan's ashen face, and went straight to Huo Yunzhan, saying, "My lord, please. Let the physician take your pulse and see what's wrong with you, that makes you so... 'tired'."
On his way here, the physician had already heard most of the details of the incident from Wanqing.
He walked up to Huo Yunzhan and saw that Huo Yunzhan looked unwell, but he didn't dare to say anything. He could only brace himself and extend his hand, signaling Huo Yunzhan to hand over his wrist.
Huo Yunzhan was now in a difficult situation. He gritted his teeth and could only force himself to remain calm as he extended his hand.
The physician held his breath, and after a moment, released his grip, looking at Huo Yunzhan with a complex expression: "My lord... this is because you... for a considerable period of time, indulged in excessive sexual activity, which has severely damaged your health. This has led to a deficiency of kidney qi and insufficient essence and blood, which is why you are in this state now..."
"Dizziness, tinnitus, lower back and knee pain, fatigue, to the point that I am too weak and unable to have normal sexual intercourse!"
Upon hearing this, Huo Yunzhan and Liu Ruolan were struck dumb, their eyes widening in disbelief, shock, and panic!
Previously, when Huo Yunzhan returned to the manor, he and Liu Ruolan did indeed indulge in passion every night without restraint. In the first few days, they had sex at least three times every night. Little did they know that this would sow the seeds of such disaster!
At this moment, Huo Yunzhan no longer cared about saving face. His voice trembled slightly as he hurriedly asked, "Then... is there any way to save him?"
He absolutely cannot fail!
The royal physician frowned, his expression grave: "Your Excellency's condition... is somewhat troublesome. Forgive my frankness, but I am not entirely certain of success. Your symptoms shouldn't have only just appeared tonight, right? How long has it been going on?"
Huo Yunzhan's face turned deathly pale, and he was covered in cold sweat. At this moment, he dared not hide anything. He said in a hoarse voice, "It's been about seven or eight days. At first, I didn't feel any discomfort, but... but that night, I suddenly felt... powerless, and I just couldn't... do it anymore."
He spoke cryptically, but who among them wasn't a shrewd person?
The words "It's no use" struck everyone's hearts like a heavy hammer, especially Liu Ruolan, whose face turned ashen!
Liu Ruolan left the Marquis's residence in a huff only two days ago.
However, Huo Yunzhan had been unable to perform for seven or eight days!
The time difference made Liu Ruolan's accusations seem utterly absurd and ridiculous!
The physician lowered his eyes, pondered for a moment, and then slowly said, "I can only... prescribe a few doses of mild tonics to nourish your kidneys, strengthen your foundation, and see if there is any improvement. If it works, there is still a glimmer of hope. If... if there is no improvement after a few days, then I'm afraid... it will truly be beyond saving."
Huo Yunzhan's face grew increasingly pale, and his body swayed uncontrollably, as if all his strength had been drained away.
How could this happen? He... he's in the prime of his life, how could he make a mistake in something like this?
Liu Ruolan is not pregnant yet! He has no children of his own! He took his brother's place, wasn't it all for power and offspring?
A bone-chilling cold suddenly rose from the soles of my feet and instantly swept over my entire body!
Almost instinctively, Huo Yunzhan turned his head sharply, his gaze filled with mixed emotions of fear as he looked at the calm-looking Shen Qingci.
No… he once had a child… a child who should have been born healthy…
But... it's gone now.
All because of Liu Ruolan's scheme to frame him!
So... is this retribution? Is it because Liu Ruolan killed his and Shen Qingci's child that he and Liu Ruolan can never have children again? Is this how God punishes them?
"No...it's impossible..." Huo Yunzhan murmured, his eyes filled with despair and fear.
He was about to say something more when Shen Qingci's cold voice ruthlessly interrupted him: "Lord Marquis, Lady Marquis, I'm sure you both heard clearly."
"The physician explained it very clearly, and everyone heard it clearly. It is because you and your wife did not exercise restraint and indulged in excessive sexual activity that you have now suffered the terrible consequence of impotence."
"This matter has absolutely nothing to do with me, Shen Qingci!"
Shen Qingci took a step forward, his gaze like an icy blade shooting at Liu Ruolan. His voice suddenly rose, carrying an undeniable authority: "Then, Madam Hou, shouldn't you... apologize to me properly for those foul words, for those unfounded accusations and malicious slanders against my reputation?"
Huo Yunzhan's face grew increasingly ashen and ugly, his resentment towards Liu Ruolan reaching its peak! It's all that stupid woman's fault!
If she hadn't been so unreasonable and insisted on making a big fuss, his secret of being unwell wouldn't have been exposed in public, becoming known throughout the mansion and causing him to lose face.
He abruptly flung his sleeve, unable to contain his anger any longer, and roared at Liu Ruolan in a fit of rage, "How many times have I explained this to you! You're the one who's suspicious and refuses to believe me! Now that things have turned out like this, are you satisfied? Happy?"
He didn't want to look at Liu Ruolan again, and turned away angrily, saying, "You made this mess yourself, so you have to clean it up!"
That figure was filled with embarrassment and anger.
Liu Ruolan was still reeling from the doctor's devastating words, "Unable to have intercourse," her mind blank. Hearing Huo Yunzhan's heartless and cruel rebuke, she felt a chill run through her body. She hurriedly looked up, only to see Huo Yunzhan's resolute departing figure.
"Sister-in-law," Shen Qingci's cold voice rang out again, like a death knell, "My patience is limited. What do you have to say?"
Liu Ruolan's hands trembled violently uncontrollably. She turned around stiffly, her face deathly pale, meeting Shen Qingci's cold and sharp eyes. Her voice was hoarse and strained: "You... what do you want... what do you want?"
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