Chapter 182 Infertility
Empress Song Zhuyi said so.
Jiang Wan Ning naturally had no reason to refuse, so she extended three fingers and placed them on Song Zhu Ran's wrist.
About half an incense stick later, he slowly opened his eyes.
The Empress looked at Jiang Wan Ning's furrowed brows and couldn't help but feel worried.
She felt a pang of regret; if the outcome was bad, she didn't want Ranran to know.
"Your Highness." The Empress's eyes were filled with complex emotions.
Song Zhuran spoke first, "It's alright, sister, don't worry."
"At worst, I won't live for more than a few years. I know that myself."
"Don't talk nonsense," the Empress scolded.
Song Zhuran shrugged indifferently, "I'm just stating the facts."
"I am already very content to have lived this long and enjoyed so many things that many people never get to experience in their entire lives."
The Empress felt a pang of sorrow and turned away to secretly wipe her tears.
"Sister Jiang, how am I feeling?" Song Zhuran seemed to be asking about something other than her own illness.
It was very relaxing.
Jiang Wanning glanced at Empress Song Zhuyi.
Song Zhuyi said, "Ranran, how about we..."
"It's okay," Song Zhuran said. "I know even if you don't tell me."
“I was already prepared, but I didn’t want my older sister to keep it from me like my parents did.”
Song Zhuyi opened her mouth, but her throat seemed to be blocked by something, and she couldn't utter a single word.
In the end, all he could do was watch Jiang Wan Ning nod.
Jiang Wanning said, "Don't worry, Miss Song. Although you are weak, it's not to the point of being life-threatening."
"I'll write down two prescriptions in a bit. Take them on time, and with your regular care, you should be able to live to see your grandchildren running all over the place."
Song Zhuyi looked at Jiang Wanning in surprise, "Is...is it really so?"
Upon hearing this, Song Zhuran's eyes revealed a hint of obscure emotion.
She quickly returned to normal, saying, "Sister, even if it's not true, I'm still happy to hear it."
Song Zhuyi subconsciously looked at Jiang Wanning, wondering if she really said that to comfort Ranran.
Jiang Wan Ning lowered her head and wrote the prescription, saying, "Your Majesty, please do not worry."
She couldn't say too much right now. What made Jiang Wan Ning suspicious was that Song Zhu Ran, who looked extremely weak, actually had no symptoms at all.
She's healthier than she is, someone who's been wielding a whip all year round.
On the contrary, Empress Song Zhuyi, who appeared to be healthy, was actually very weak, which was why she was not pregnant.
Even if she becomes pregnant in the future, given her current physical condition, there is a high probability that she and her unborn child will die.
Her body couldn't have gotten like this overnight; it must have been like this even when the Empress was still in the Song family.
Although the emperor was deeply suspicious, the Song family, despite lacking military power, had an ancestor who, like his maternal grandfather, was entitled to be enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple.
The emperor needed the Song family's support in court, which meant he didn't want Empress Song to conceive a legitimate son. Naturally, he would only use someone else's hand to administer some contraceptive medicine.
Or, if the empress gave birth to a boy, they would secretly switch the baby with the boy.
In the end, the child was saved, and the maternal relatives did not grow stronger because of the eldest son.
But Jiang Wan Ning knew in her heart that the Emperor would never give Empress Song such a deadly poison.
However, none of the imperial physicians in the Imperial Hospital have been able to diagnose the Empress's condition, or rather, even if they have, no one is telling the truth.
There is only one possibility: the Song family used underhanded tactics.
"May I ask Your Majesty, which imperial physicians have taken your pulse all these years?"
Jiang Wan Ning's sudden question startled Song Zhu Ran. "It's Physician Liu. Physician Liu used to receive help from my grandfather."
"Grandfather said that this harem is even more than the previous dynasty, so my sister needs more than just trusted confidants to take care of her."
We needed a highly skilled physician, so we sent Physician Liu to the Imperial Hospital. Sister Jiang, is there a problem?
Jiang Wan Ning shook her head. "No, I was just asking casually."
"Your Majesty and Miss Song are both blessed people, and they will naturally be able to turn misfortune into good fortune, so you can rest assured."
Jiang Wan Ning changed the subject and said, "I have heard that some people in this world, who are not good at conceiving, will visit the homes of pregnant women."
"Let's share in the joy, and maybe this will bring us a child. If Your Highness has time, why don't you visit the Marquis's residence?"
The Empress laughed and said, "This is just a folk legend. As the Empress, I must not lead the way in promoting such feudal superstitions."
"Sister, Sister Jiang just wants you to go out for a walk and clear your head. Why don't you understand?"
Empress Song Zhuyi was taken aback upon hearing this; so that's what Jiang Wanning meant.
Jiang Wan Ning smiled in agreement, "I will explain to His Majesty when the time comes, so that Her Majesty the Empress can leave the palace smoothly."
Once you enter the palace, it's like entering a deep sea; you're completely cut off from the outside world.
It was already difficult enough for them to return home to visit their relatives, let alone easily leave the palace to relax.
Empress Song Zhuyi felt a lump in her throat, her eyes filled with gratitude. "Alright."
She also wanted to go out for a stroll, but she didn't know how to bring it up with the Emperor. If she asked directly, the Emperor would naturally not agree.
If this is the reason, and with Jiang Wan Ning's help, maybe we can really leave the palace to relax.
Then she will have no regrets in her life.
"Can I accompany you then, Sister?" Song Zhuran asked coquettishly, clinging to the Empress's arm.
The Empress smiled and said, "If you can quietly copy a Buddhist scripture and change your impatient nature, I will take you with me."
Song Zhuran pouted, "Then I'll try my best."
The two burst into laughter, but Jiang Wan Ning's smile didn't reach her eyes.
Song Zhuran was right; she did want the Empress to go out and relax, but it wasn't just a simple relaxation.
She was using the opportunity to examine the Empress's illness.
It's still unclear what the situation is with the Song family, so it's best not to reveal it for now.
"Your Majesty, it's getting late. I'm sure the Prince and the Emperor have finished their business. I'll take my leave now."
"Sister, I also want to go out with Sister Jiang."
Jiang Wan Ning originally wanted to leave as soon as possible to give the sisters space to have a proper get-together.
Unexpectedly, Song Zhuran wanted to leave the palace with him.
"You said you came to see me, but I think you just came to have fun."
The Empress showed no displeasure, but said indulgently, "You're not feeling well, so you shouldn't trouble the Princess."
"Sister~" Song Zhuran said coquettishly, "Sister Jiang knows medicine and martial arts, I feel very safe with her."
"Sister, please, please let me go. I really want to be like Sister Jiang, but alas, I have the will but not the body."
"Let me go with Sister Jiang and take a look."
Song Zhuran's expectant eyes softened the Empress's heart somewhat.
The Empress looked at Jiang Wan Ning with a pleading gaze; she knew Jiang Wan Ning still had many things to do.
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