Chapter 88: Trip to Prince Chen's Mansion
Xie Jinglan lifted the curtain and walked out of the study, looking towards the end of the corridor and did not move forward.
He leaned against the vermilion lacquer column, bent his left knee and casually rested it against the pillar.
The jade belt around her waist reflected the sunlight, casting a slender silhouette on the bluestone ground.
The little maid who came running from the corridor just got close to him, looked up and saw his stern face, her cheeks turned red, and she lowered her head in panic.
"My Lord, the Princess and Miss Wen are getting along very well. I asked this servant to come and inform you in advance. Don't wait any longer."
He hummed, his voice rich and masculine.
The little maid stole a glance at his profile which was still looking at the inner courtyard. Seeing that the Marquis had no other instructions, she bowed and retreated quietly.
…
Wen Ning and Shen Yunshu sat opposite each other under the window. After only three rounds of tea, they seemed like old friends.
Seeing that she spoke elegantly and had a gentle look unique to a doctor, Shen Yunshu smiled and placed his wrist on the pulse pillow.
"I've heard that Miss Wen is an excellent doctor. Today is a good day for you to take a look at my body and see what's wrong with me. Why haven't I gotten pregnant yet?"
The princess didn't want to miss this good opportunity, so her sleeves slipped down, revealing a pale wrist.
Wen Ning quickly stood up upon hearing this and bowed slightly, "Your Highness, I am too kind. I only know a little bit about it."
She rolled up her sleeves slightly, and first tested the temperature of her wrist with her fingertips before carefully taking the princess's pulse. "I apologize for overstepping my bounds."
He lightly pressed the Cun, Guan and Chi points with three fingers, and the doctor frowned slightly, diagnosing the patient with extra care.
After a moment, he said in a gentle voice: "Although the princess is weak, she has been well taken care of. If we only consider her physical condition, it should not be a problem for her to keep the child now."
She raised her eyes, met Shen Yunshu's expectant gaze, and said carefully, "But I dare to say frankly that the princess has been depressed and worried for many years. This tension has caused her qi and blood to flow poorly, which has become an obstacle to conception."
"To be honest, I was very weak during the first two years after I married the prince. Not only could I not bear children, I couldn't even withstand a common cold." Shen Yunshu looked up at Wen Ning with a hint of self-doubt and helplessness. "But I've recovered a little in the past two years, and my body is getting stronger, but there's still no sign of anything."
These words have been suppressed in my heart for too long. Now, facing someone as insightful as Wen Ning, there is no need to be polite anymore and I can just say it frankly.
Seeing Shen Yunshu's worried look, Wen Ning's tone softened, "Princess, please don't blame me for being rude. I just said that you are hoping for a child right now, and you must be thinking about giving an explanation to the prince and this palace.
But have you ever considered that a woman's ten months of pregnancy should be filled with anticipation and happiness, or at least a joy that outweighs anxiety. A child should be a testament to mutual love, a treasure welcomed with joy, not a burden weighing on the heart. Constant worry only makes the body too tense.
Shen Yunshu was stunned, and tears gradually welled up in his eyes.
She only knew that she had to have a child, but she never thought that she was so unfamiliar with the child itself.
Shen Yunshu's hand holding the cup paused, and when he raised his eyes, there was a hint of sincerity, mixed with a little cautious temptation.
"Miss Wen, forgive me for being blunt, but I vaguely heard that you have a child?"
Seeing Wen Ning nod in surprise, she gently put down the teacup and said bluntly, "I'm really curious, after you really have a child, what kind of feeling will you have in your heart?"
"To answer the princess, the most genuine feeling is fear."
"Afraid?" Shen Yunshu was slightly surprised.
"Well, I am more afraid of birth, old age, sickness and death than before, and I am afraid that the time I spend with him will be too short. I am also afraid that he will get sick, that he will be in pain, and even more afraid that this world is not good enough for him."
When Wen Ning raised her eyes, the sky outside the window was reflected in her eyes, and the clearness was wrapped with a layer of faint melancholy.
Sometimes, seeing him smile heartily, I feel that my life on earth is ultimately worth it. But if I encounter war or disaster, like the city-wide epidemic, I can't help but blame myself, wondering why I brought him here to endure such unpredictable suffering and experience the cycle of birth, aging, sickness, and death.
She turned to look at the princess, her eyes clear, "So, Princess, you see, matters of childbearing are never determined by the word 'should'."
These words were without any pretense, like warm water flowing over the princess's heart, which not only untied the knot in her heart, but also retained just the right amount of understanding.
After all, being a mother is always a mixture of sweetness and bitterness.
Wen Ning continued softly, "I can prescribe some soothing prescriptions for you, Princess. Why don't you let go of this obsession first? You and the prince have a deep affection for each other. If you relax your mind, your qi and blood will flow smoothly, and you might even get what you want."
Her words were like a breeze, blowing away the haze that had been accumulating in Shen Yunshu's heart for many years.
Shen Yunshu felt that the heavy depression in his chest suddenly dissipated, and his limbs and bones felt relaxed.
She nodded slowly, a genuine smile playing on her lips. "I'll listen to Miss Wen. She's right. I was just being too picky."
Finally, Shen Yunshu held Wen Ning's hand and walked her away for a long time. He did not let go until they reached the gate of the inner courtyard, his eyes full of reluctance to leave.
"Please come and talk to me again some other day."
Wen Ning responded in a gentle voice, turned around and was about to take a step forward when she caught a glimpse of a familiar figure in the corridor from the corner of her eye.
Xie Jinglan was still half-leaning against the vermilion corridor pillar, a corner of his dragon robe lifted by the wind, and the satin ribbon that tied his hair swayed gently at his temples, brushing across his Adam's apple and causing a slight itch.
It was unknown how long he had been waiting, but there was no trace of impatience between his brows. He just looked at her quietly.
Wen Ning exchanged a few more private words with the princess before turning around and walking quickly down the corridor.
When she reached him, she panted slightly and looked up at him, "My Lord, have you been waiting for a long time?"
"If you don't come out, I'm going to go in and ask Prince Chen if he has been holding back the princess's words on a daily basis, and why she has so many intimate things to say to you when she sees you."
Wen Ning couldn't help but smile when she saw him like this.
The two of them got on the carriage, and Wen Ning still felt a little apologetic.
"My Lord, you came out to do some serious business, but I delayed you."
She thought that the Marquis had come to discuss serious matters with Prince Chen, and that there might be other important matters to attend to after the discussion, but he was delayed for so long by the long conversation between her and the princess.
Xie Jinglan heard this and said with embarrassment: "It is true that I have delayed something important."
Wen Ning's heart tightened, and she couldn't help but tug at his sleeve with her fingertips and asked, "Is it too late to go now?"
The man raised his eyebrows and looked at her, a hint of mischievous smile on his face. "It's still in time, even before dark."
The carriage drove forward for half a cup of tea and stopped in front of a shop called Cangchun Pavilion.
Just now in Prince Chen's study, Xie Jinglan saw three small gold characters "Cangchun Pavilion" engraved on the corner of the box. This must be the place.
He lifted the car curtain, and some cold air leaked into the car.
He straightened the collar of Wen Ning's cape and said, "Wait in the car for a moment. I'll be back soon."
Wen Ning didn't understand what was going on, so she just thought he wanted to buy something and nodded meekly.
When Xie Jinglan entered the store, he smelled the fragrance of medicine mixed with a hint of powder.
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