Zheng Dinglian raised his eyebrows slightly. He believed Gu Qinlan's words without a doubt, but he also felt that she had not told the whole truth.
But if she is unwilling to reveal it, he will not investigate further.
Everyone has secrets they don't want to reveal, right?
Upon entering the mansion, one finds it brightly lit and filled with a festive atmosphere.
Gu Qinlan was still wearing mourning clothes. Although she didn't care much about the mourning period, since she had arrived in the capital, she had to follow the customs and make a show of it. Therefore, her courtyard was not decorated with any festive items and remained simple and elegant.
As soon as she stepped into the courtyard, Fuyu handed her a bowl of medicinal soup: "Madam, this was sent by the old lady."
Gu Qinlan frowned slightly and asked in confusion, "What kind of medicine is this?"
Fuyu smiled gently and replied softly, "It's a good medicine for inducing fertility."
Zheng Dinglian reached out and took the bowl of medicine, then poured it outside without hesitation before handing the empty bowl back to Fuyu.
The maids were all stunned by this scene.
"From now on, these medicinal soups must never be sent to my wife again."
After a moment's thought, Zheng Dinglian said, "I will personally go and negotiate with my mother."
He didn't want Gu Qinlan to be blamed because of her mother's unreasonable behavior.
He knew his mother's temperament all too well. Although his mother currently cared for Gu Qinlan more than her own daughter, that was because she had relied on Gu Qinlan for survival in the past.
However, now that they have arrived in the capital and his official position has been promoted, his mother will likely soon come to her senses and reveal her true nature again. At that time, she might very well use this fertility-enhancing medicine to her advantage.
Therefore, he had to take precautions in advance and keep his mother quiet.
Without hesitation, Zheng Dinglian immediately turned and headed to the residence of Princess Duan.
When Princess Duan saw him arrive, she was overjoyed and waved to him warmly, saying, "Dinglian, come and sit here."
Zheng Dinglian followed etiquette, bowed to Princess Duan, and then sat down on the other side of the soft couch.
Princess Duan smiled happily, revealing a mouthful of pearly teeth: "I heard you spent the night with Qinlan?"
Zheng Dinglian still felt somewhat awkward and uneasy when discussing such private matters in front of his elders.
Princess Duan covered her mouth and chuckled, "This is a joyous occasion. Now that you are husband and wife, I no longer need to worry that Qinlan will ask you for a divorce. However, I still have some concerns, so you must have children as soon as possible. The medicine for regulating menstruation and fertility was specially prepared by a famous doctor in the capital, and even the imperial concubines in the palace are eager to have it."
Zheng Dinglian took a sip of tea and slowly said, "Mother, we are not in a hurry regarding having offspring. As for the medicine, there is no need to prepare it for Qinlan anymore; we have no need for it."
Princess Duan was taken aback, her face showing displeasure: "What exactly is going on? Could it be Qin Lan's idea? Does she not want to keep the child?"
Zheng Dinglian calmly explained, "No, I was unfortunately wounded on the battlefield, and the doctor said it would affect my ability to have children. Therefore, there is no need to send the medicine anymore; it would be futile and a waste of money for us."
Princess Duan panicked immediately: "When did this happen? Why didn't you consult me about such an important matter? Is the military doctor's diagnosis reliable? No, we must find a way to go to the palace immediately and ask the imperial physician to make a diagnosis. Maybe the situation isn't as bad as it seems."
Zheng Dinglian comforted him, saying, "I have already asked my Uncle Mu from my sect to diagnose me. He prescribed some medicine for me, and I will recover after taking it for three to five years."
Princess Duan was somewhat relieved and patted her chest, saying, "It's good that she can be cured, it's good that she can be cured. It's just that Qinlan has suffered, and she will have to wait for several years before she can finally become a mother."
Zheng Dinglian waved his hand and said easily, "It doesn't matter if I have no children for the rest of my life. I already have three children in my family, and they all call Qinlan 'Mother'."
Princess Duan gave him a disapproving look: "How can they be compared? Although our three children are all outstanding, they are not our own, so there is always a lack of intimacy. Qinlan is so intelligent, capable, and beautiful. If she has a child, it will definitely be outstanding."
The family is indeed too small, and you are unwilling to take a concubine. Therefore, the responsibility of bearing children in the future will fall entirely on her shoulders.
Zheng Dinglian responded calmly: "Why bother raising so many children? If they are talented, one is enough to shoulder great responsibilities. If they are mediocre, even if there are as many as carp crossing a river, it will all be in vain."
Princess Duan smiled and replied, "Entrusting the children to Qinlan for upbringing means we will not allow them to become mediocre. Therefore, the more children you have, the brighter the future of my Zheng family will be."
Zheng Dinglian sighed softly, "I only have this one beautiful woman. Mother, you should probably reduce your workload a bit."
Princess Duan scolded playfully, "You've really forgotten your mother after marrying a wife! All my hard work and worry is for your own good!"
The mother and son were chatting and laughing when a maidservant walked in lightly and announced, "Madam, Young Master, Miss Mei has arrived."
Princess Duan nodded with a smile: "Let her in."
Then, she turned to Zheng Dinglian and said, "This Miss Mei is indeed very thoughtful. Since she moved into the manor, she has often come to visit me. She not only cooks many nourishing medicinal dishes for me, but also massages me every day. My old ailment of back and leg pain has been relieved a lot."
Zheng Dinglian casually said, "If your mother is comfortable, let her continue to serve you. Don't forget to settle her payment."
Mei Yun had just entered the room when she heard this, and hurriedly explained, "Young Master, I don't need any reward. I massaged the old lady only to express my gratitude for the Duan Prince's Mansion's meticulous care, and I had no other intentions."
Zheng Dinglian remained unmoved: "Then consider it as your payment for accommodation."
He was determined to draw a clear line.
Meiyun's eyes instantly reddened: "Young Master, why do you have to be so calculating with me?"
Zheng Dinglian said seriously, "Even if we are brothers, the accounts must be clear. You originally had no connection with the Prince Duan's mansion, and it is already inconvenient for you to be staying in our residence. If you don't have a reasonable explanation, outsiders may misunderstand you."
"If you are unwilling to use your massage skills to offset the cost of your accommodation, then you can pay the rent separately, or you can move out of this Prince Duan's Mansion."
Princess Duan glared at Zheng Dinglian, her eyes wide with anger: "What's wrong with you? Miss Mei's brother entrusted you with looking after her, is this how you fulfill your duty?"
Zheng Dinglian responded with a serious expression: "What other way can I take care of her? Countless warriors have sacrificed their lives on the battlefield. If I were to take care of everyone's family, how could I possibly manage? I can only guarantee that she will not be bullied by others. Beyond that, I am unable to bear any more responsibility."
Princess Duan pondered for a moment and thought that this was indeed the case.
If everyone entrusts their families to Zheng Dinglian, how can he possibly take everyone under his wing and protect them?
So she slowly said, "Then let's proceed according to your suggestion."
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