Chapter 119 The Elixir of Childlessness
Physician Sun could hardly believe his ears. He knelt on the ground, his voice trembling with shock: "Your Majesty! You...you are the Son of Heaven, the Emperor of the Great Zhou. You bear the weight of the nation on your shoulders! Moreover...even with the First Prince and the Second Prince and Princess whom the Empress just gave birth to today, you only have two sons and one daughter...your offspring are not yet abundant. How...how can you take such a sterilizing medicine! This...this is against propriety, and it is an omen of misfortune for the country!"
Yuwen Che's expression remained unchanged as he repeatedly asked in an unquestionable tone, "I only ask you, does this medicine exist... or not?"
Looking into the emperor's resolute eyes, Physician Sun knew that the emperor's mind was made up, and any persuasion would be futile. He lowered his head dejectedly, his voice dry: "There is... indeed a formula recorded in ancient books, called the 'Delaying Offspring Powder.' Once this medicine is taken, it is... incurable, and will forever deprive a person of the ability to conceive."
He raised his head and hurriedly added, "But Your Majesty, rest assured, this medicine only affects fertility. It does not interfere with sexual intercourse and has no harm to other aspects of the body."
Upon hearing this, Yuwen Che's face showed a hint of relief. He nodded and said decisively, "That's good. I need this medicine. Go and prepare it, and present it to me as soon as possible."
Physician Sun wanted to make one last effort: "Your Majesty! You..."
Yuwen Che raised his hand to stop him, his gaze sharp: "What you said today, once it came from your mouth, will enter my ears. If a third person knows..." He didn't finish his sentence, but the coldness in his eyes sent chills down the spine of Doctor Sun.
"Your Majesty... understands." In the end, Physician Sun could only kowtow and accept the order, but his heart was in turmoil. He had traveled the world and practiced medicine for decades, and he had never seen or imagined that an emperor would willingly take a sterilization drug just to prevent his beloved from risking pregnancy again.
Yuwen Che instructed Physician Sun: "Go and prepare. Once the medicine is ready, present it directly to me."
"Yes... Your Majesty, I take my leave." Physician Sun withdrew with mixed feelings.
Yuwen Che returned to the inner chamber, where the stench of blood had largely dissipated. Zhang Mama had just directed the palace servants to change the quilts to brand new ones, and then, together with Fuling, she carefully changed the blood-stained nightgown of the unconscious Su Luoxue.
"Quickly close the window. Her Majesty is weak now and must not catch a cold!" Zhang Mama instructed.
Fuling wrung out a warm handkerchief and carefully wiped Su Luoxue's cheeks and neck.
Meanwhile, the imperial physicians had already finished examining the two newborn princes.
"Your Majesty, although the Second Prince is congenitally weak, with careful care, he should be fine. The Little Princess has just been holding back for a while and is otherwise unwell."
Yuwen Che nodded.
The two wet nurses quickly stepped forward, respectfully took the swaddling clothes, and waited quietly to the side.
Yuwen Che walked to the bedside, gently sat on the edge, and gazed intently at Su Luoxue's pale sleeping face. He reached out and gently brushed away the strands of hair on her forehead, his fingertips trembling slightly.
He leaned down and whispered a promise in her ear, a promise that only the two of them could hear:
"Xue'er, from now on... we will never have any more children. The son and daughter you risked your life to give birth to today are enough."
"All I want is for you to be safe and sound."
Yuwen Che stared at Su Luoxue for a moment, making sure her breathing was steady, before gently getting up and walking to the outer room.
He instructed Li Dehai, who was standing guard outside, "Li Dehai, convey my decree. The Empress has safely given birth to twins, a boy and a girl, today. All the palace servants who served her in Guanju Palace will be rewarded, and their salaries will be doubled."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
“Today, all the midwives who delivered babies will be rewarded with a thousand taels of gold and a hundred bolts of silk. They will be properly sent out of the palace so that they can enjoy their old age in peace.”
"This old servant has noted it down."
Yuwen Che's gaze swept towards the side hall, where the imperial physicians, who had been anxious and desperately trying to save lives that day, were waiting.
"All the imperial physicians on duty today, especially the chief imperial physician and several key physicians, will be promoted one rank and their rewards will be doubled. Tell them that I appreciate their hard work today."
Li Dehai bowed and replied, "Your Majesty is wise. This old servant will immediately draft an edict to announce to the six palaces and to generously reward all the meritorious officials."
Yuwen Che nodded slightly and added, "Also, go and take out the five-hundred-year-old snow ginseng from my private treasury and give it to Physician Sun. Tell him to make sure to use the best medicine to treat the Empress."
"yes!"
After giving instructions on the rewards, Yuwen Che immediately returned to Su Luoxue's side in the inner room.
He sat quietly on the edge of the bed for a moment, his gaze never leaving her pale sleeping face. Then, he turned to the wet nurse who was waiting respectfully to the side and said softly, "Let me hold the princess."
The wet nurse quickly and carefully handed over the swaddled baby. Yuwen Che's movements were a little clumsy, but he gently took the small, soft bundle into his arms and looked down at his daughter's wrinkled little face.
He whispered a promise to his daughter in his arms: "My only daughter... I will make you the most noble and happiest princess in this Great Zhou Dynasty."
He held her for a while before reluctantly handing her back to the wet nurse, saying, "Give the Second Prince to me."
Another wet nurse quickly handed over the swaddled baby. Yuwen Che held his son, who looked even thinner than his daughter, and his brows furrowed almost imperceptibly as he tightened his grip on him.
He looked at his son, whose breathing was weak, in his arms, and said in a low but firm voice: "...Father will search the world for the best medicines to keep you healthy. The vast land of the Great Zhou will eventually be handed over to you."
He gently kissed both children on the forehead before handing them back to the wet nurse, solemnly instructing, "Take good care of the Second Prince and the Princess, and do not let anything go wrong."
"This servant obeys the order."
After dealing with everything, Yuwen Che sat back down next to Su Luoxue, took her slightly cool hand, and pressed it against his cheek, as if only in this way could he confirm that she was truly out of danger.
"Our children are all very, very good... When you wake up, shall we name them together...?"
A moment later, Doctor Sun walked in carrying a tray with a complicated expression. On the tray was a bowl of thick, dark herbal soup.
He bowed and whispered, "Your Majesty, the medicine... is ready."
Yuwen Che glanced at the sleeping Su Luoxue and instructed the wet nurses waiting nearby, "Take the Second Prince and the Princess to the side hall to rest and take good care of them."
"Yes." The wet nurses, holding the two children, quietly withdrew.
Only Yuwen Che, the unconscious Su Luoxue, and the two doctors, Sun and Li Dehai, remained in the hall.
Yuwen Che's gaze fell on the medicine bowl, the black liquid emitting a bitter smell. He turned his head and took a deep look at his beloved wife, who lay on the bed, pale-faced and breathing weakly, having just been pulled back from the brink of death.
He silently prayed in his heart: Xue'er, in this world... even I can't find a second life-extending pill to save you.
Without hesitation, he picked up the medicine bowl, tilted his head back, and drank the bowl of medicine that would prevent him from having children in one gulp. His movements were swift and decisive, without the slightest hesitation.
The bitter medicine slid down his throat, but Yuwen Che remained calm, as if he were simply drinking a cup of ordinary tea.
Doctor Sun dared not look up.
Yuwen Che placed the empty bowl back on the tray and waved to Doctor Sun: "Go down. If anything about today's events is leaked, I will hold you responsible."
"Your Majesty, I understand." Physician Sun's voice was hoarse as he bowed and withdrew, holding the empty bowl.
Yuwen Che sat back down next to Su Luoxue, took her hand, and felt a calm and resolute heart.
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