In the room, Ji Xuan, who had been hesitant, finally made a decision.
"Gu Qing, if I choose to have a child, how confident are you that the prince will not die prematurely?"
“Well,” a troubled look appeared on the old doctor’s face, “this humble one has no confidence.”
The royal family's various conspiracies and schemes could easily cost a person their life if they weren't careful. He himself wasn't even sure he could escape them, let alone protect an infant.
Knowing that her request was unreasonable, Ji Xuan immediately lowered her expectations and asked, "Can the fetus be delivered at full term?"
What he really wanted to ask was whether he could be sure it was a boy.
Since Doctor Gu has already said it's uncontrollable, it means there's really nothing that can be done. Even if we make things difficult for him, it won't help.
"If the mother is healthy and has no hidden illnesses, and the baby is born at full term, there is not much difficulty."
"Could the fetus have any hidden illnesses?" Ji Xuan's expression was complicated. "Could it be like mine, born weak and lacking in health, hindering offspring and shortening lifespan?"
This is what he fears most.
He was born weak and later became depleted, dragging his heavy body along for more than twenty years, almost numb.
She didn't want her descendants to repeat this suffering, whether it was a son or a daughter.
Even if the child doesn't meet his expectations or isn't perfect, Ji Xuan, as a father, still wants to give him (or her) the best as the continuation of his own bloodline.
This is a father's instinct.
"There may be some congenital weakness, but with proper care, one will be no different from an ordinary person, and it will not affect offspring or lifespan."
"Very good!" Concealing the complexity in his eyes, Ji Xuan waved his hand. "I agree to this matter. Go and begin preparations."
"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. I take my leave now."
After Doctor Gu left, Qi Yong walked over with red eyes. "Your Majesty, why is it like this? Let's think of another way. Don't make a decision so quickly."
He had always felt that Ji Xuan's body was getting weaker and weaker, but he never thought that he only had one year left to live.
If Qi Yong hadn't heard Doctor Gu's words, he wouldn't have known that even ordinary walking could bring such a great burden to his master.
How cruel is God to take a person who is only twenty-five years old and has exhausted all his energy!
If he could, Qi Yong would give up the rest of his life to do so, even if it was just to add one year to his master's life.
Having no parents, no children, and having lived his entire life for his master, he was completely unsure whether he could survive if his master were gone.
Even if they could, they would only be walking corpses.
"An emperor must be decisive and resolute; indecisiveness is a great taboo!"
“This matter concerns His Majesty’s health, and we must consider it carefully,” Qi Yong knelt down with tears in her eyes. “I beg you, please consider it again. Don’t give up so quickly. Let’s think of another way.”
Upon hearing this, Ji Xuan's eyes gradually welled up with tears.
At the prime of his life, with immense power and ambitions yet unfulfilled, and having not yet witnessed the golden age of the Great Zhou Dynasty, how could he be willing to turn into a handful of dust?
However, fate did not grant them a chance!
"Stop talking. This matter is settled. My word is law, and I will not go back on it."
"Your Majesty," Qi Yong kowtowed hard to the ground, "Give this servant a chance, don't give up yet. This servant will definitely find a way to help you recover. Let's try one last time."
Qi Yong's voice was filled with barely suppressed grief and a desperate resolve.
No matter what, he had no choice but to watch helplessly as his master walked down such a dead end.
Everyone in the world thinks that the imperial heir is important. Exchanging three months of life for an imperial heir who can balance the court and stabilize the world is a very worthwhile deal. But he doesn't!
For him, the safety of the emperor was more important than the entire world combined.
With His Majesty present, this vast empire has meaning.
“It’s no use,” Ji Xuan clenched her hands tightly, her exhaustion mixed with despair. “Gu Cangyu’s medical skills are unmatched in the entire Great Zhou. If he can’t do anything, no one else can.”
He would not give up as long as there was even the slightest hope.
But he really had no other choice.
Over the years, no one has been able to diagnose my own illness, let alone treat it.
Although it was largely because he deliberately concealed it, if they couldn't even see through this trick, then these imperial physicians were nothing but a bunch of good-for-nothings.
It can only treat minor ailments like headaches and fevers.
Ji Xuan misunderstood the cautious imperial physicians on this point.
It's not that they can't see it, but that they dare not say it.
Ultimately, the imperial physicians were merely the emperor's retainers; what their masters didn't want others to know, they could only pretend not to know.
However, to some extent, Ji Xuan did not wrong them; their understanding of Ji Xuan's condition was very limited.
“No,” Qi Yong shook his head, “The Huang family, Your Majesty, the Huang family’s wine is effective.”
As he spoke, he quickly analyzed, “Over the years, the imperial physicians have prescribed all sorts of decoctions, brewed all sorts of medicinal wines, and cooked all sorts of medicinal dishes, each time claiming that they could nourish the body of the Holy Mountain. However, the more they nourished, the weaker the body became. On the contrary, the wine from the Huang family had a significant effect on His Majesty after just one drink. Over time, it will surely improve his health. Therefore, there is absolutely no need to take such drastic measures so early.”
After saying that, Qi Yong gritted his teeth and cursed, "Those good-for-nothings in the Imperial Medical Bureau are wasting so many good things. They're not even as good as a jar of wine we just stumbled upon."
Upon hearing this, Ji Xuan's heart stirred with emotion.
He was not afraid of death, but he was unwilling to give up. If there was a real chance for things to turn around, he would definitely give it a try.
I'm afraid that all my efforts will be in vain.
Just as hope is ignited, it plunges into even greater despair; the extreme highs and lows torment a person to the point of collapse.
Qi Yong realized that Ji Xuan's attitude had softened, so he pressed on to persuade her, "Your Majesty, let's try one last time. If it doesn't work, we can do as Doctor Gu asked. At worst, it will be the same result as before, and there will be no loss."
Changing his tone, Qi Yong's face flushed slightly. "However, if we do receive an unexpected surprise, it will be a ray of hope. As long as His Majesty's health improves, even if we only maintain the status quo, we can slowly plan for both the country and the offspring, instead of being as passive as we are now."
In that last sentence, Qi Yong played a little trick.
He implied to his master that even if they were to spend time together in bed, he should not sacrifice his life for the sake of the imperial heir.
Ji Xuan was well aware of this little scheme.
Ji Xuan gave Qi Yong a deep look and sighed softly, "If I don't let you try, you won't give up. Fine, I'll let you be willful this once."
This both fulfills Qi Yong's deep desire to protect his master and gives himself one last chance.
If it still doesn't work this time, he'll just give up completely.
It's just death, the Emperor of Great Zhou has nothing to fear!
"This servant thanks Your Majesty for your understanding," Qi Yong said excitedly, kowtowing repeatedly. "Your Majesty, rest assured, this servant will do this even if it costs me my life. The Huang family's formula must be in Your Majesty's hands, no matter what."
“There’s no need for that,” Ji Xuan said in a deep voice after a pause. “Do your best and leave the rest to fate!”
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