No Children in This Lifetime

The young imperial physician started to speak, then hesitated.

Shen Qing's expression remained cool, but he was growing anxious inside.

Seeing that the physician still would not speak, he asked, "I've been poisoned for a long time. Could you tell?"

The young physician had not actually detected any signs of poisoning, but the young master's health was extremely poor. His pulse was chaotic, his heart's blood flowed sluggishly, and all his internal organs seemed to be failing...

There were signs of vitality as well, but they were too faint for him to be certain.

After a moment's thought, the young physician decided his own medical skills might be lacking. These symptoms must be as the young master had said: he had been afflicted by a strange poison. He silently continued the examination for a while, his brows deeply furrowed.

Seeing the physician remain silent as his expression gradually grew grim, Yun Wu became increasingly anxious...

"Physician, please tell us, just how is my young master's health?"

Nanny He hurried forward. "Young master, there's no need to worry. Today's visit is only a routine checkup, and the head of the household is still waiting for the physician's report."

Shen Qing inwardly groaned. He knew nothing of medicine, but he knew very well that the poison had been completely purged from his body, because it had not flared up during this full moon. If Grandmother learned that the poison was gone, his marriage would truly be difficult to arrange. He had planned every step, only to overlook this physician...

"Nanny He, I know that no medicine can cure me. Since the physician is already here, surely it wouldn't hurt for him to tell me a thing or two. Besides, you're right here, aren't you?"

Nanny He thought that she was right here, the second young master did not know this physician, and it was absolutely true that he had been poisoned. Oh, well.

Nanny He held her patience and said to the physician, "Then please tell our young master about it."

The young physician withdrew his hand and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

"The young master's health is extremely poor. His pulse is chaotic, his heart's blood flows sluggishly, and all his internal organs seem to be failing. He must have been afflicted by a strange poison, and..."

"And what?"

Yun Wu gripped Shen Qing's hand tightly, tears glistening in his eyes. What were they to do?

"And I'm afraid the young master will have no children in this lifetime."

Shen Qing's eyes widened slightly. He staggered back a step and collapsed into his chair.

He watched the physician's mouth open and close, unable to hear a single word he said afterward.

"My skills are lacking. I cannot diagnose what poison the young master was afflicted with. The Grand Preceptor could invite the chief physician of our Imperial Medical Academy to examine him."

The young physician's face was full of helplessness.

Nanny He was also taken aback for a moment, but her expression soon returned to normal.

In her eyes, Shen Qing was a dying man, so whether he could have children hardly mattered. She only thought it a pity that the second young master had such good looks and such a good disposition...

It was a pity the child had been born from Yuan-shi's womb.

"Sorry for the trouble today, physician. I hope you won't speak of today's matters after leaving the residence."

The young physician hastily cupped his hands. "Rest assured, Nanny. I know the rules."

Nanny He felt she had listened carefully, so there was no need for the physician to make a separate report. She decided to see him out, as she needed to hurry and report to the head of the household herself.

"Then I'll see the physician out. Second young master, please get some rest."

Nanny He then led the physician out of the residence.

Shen Qing closed his eyes, and at once his heart felt as though it were being twisted by a knife.

Father... why did you treat me this way? Why?

Yun Wu could not hold back his tears. He crouched beside Shen Qing and clutched his hand tightly. He felt that no one's hand had ever been so cold. The person before him seemed to have lost all vitality in an instant; those starry eyes, black as ink, were like lamps that had gone out, dim and lusterless.

"Young master, please don't be like this. We'll take good care of your health. The physician himself said his skills were lacking, so his diagnosis might not be right. You're still so young. Once you've nursed yourself back to health, you'll surely have children."

"That's right, the eldest young lady! I'll go find her. She's so clever, she's bound to have a way."

Yun Wu hurried to rise, but Shen Qing grabbed him tightly.

"Yun Wu, there's no need."

"Young master, the eldest young lady cares for you so much. She surely can't bear to see you like this. She said she would come to propose after she placed high in the exams. You have to believe in her. She'll surely have a way."

"Yun Wu, help me go and rest for a while."

Shen Qing felt utterly powerless. No matter how he struggled, these shackles held him fast. He had thought he could escape this cage...

"All right, I'll help you to your room to rest. Don't let your thoughts run wild, and don't upset yourself..."

Yun Wu's heart twisted in anguish. Why had such a good man been poisoned for so long? Why was his body in such a ruinous state? Wasn't he the legitimate young master of the Grand Preceptor's Residence?

Yun Wu dared not ask more, afraid it would make Shen Qing even sadder. With some difficulty, he helped Shen Qing back to his room. He did not dare leave, so he sat by the bed and kept him company. Only when he saw Shen Qing close his eyes did he feel a little relieved.

"If I can't even bear her a child, it would be the same as ending her family line..."

"In the end, we simply weren't fated to be."

At the Residence of the Earl Who Protects the State, preparations for the boxes upon boxes of betrothal gifts were in full swing. Everyone in the residence wore a beaming smile, except Madam Chen and her daughter.

Bai Jingyao personally led the servants in checking each item: betrothal money, betrothal cakes, incense, firecrackers, gold bracelets, dried seafood, fresh fruit, four kinds of candy, four kinds of dried fruit, the three sacrificial animals, a gift box, two dou of rice, wine, fish, tea and sesame seeds, as well as ten large chests of gold, silver, jade and silk, and ten large chests of antiques, calligraphy and paintings.

"Uncle, I have two more chests of treasures here, all collected by me. Take them along too."

Seeing that so many things had already been prepared in the courtyard, Bai Mo had to pare her selection down again and again, until she had packed two chests with the things she considered the very best.

Bai Mo also secretly brought out a pair of diamond rings for lovers.

"And these: one for me, and one for Shen Qing."

Bai Jingyao found them curious. "What are these? I've never seen anything like them."

"Hehe, do you like them, Uncle? They come from the West. The stone on top is the hardest gemstone in the world, called a diamond.

"There's a saying in the West: a diamond is forever, and one will be passed down for eternity.

"It has much the same meaning as saying love is stronger than gold, but a diamond is much harder than gold.

"And diamonds take millions of years to form, so they symbolize lasting forever. The part beneath the diamond is platinum. Like gold, it's a kind of metal."

The more Bai Jingyao heard, the more reluctant he was to put them down. "'Passed down for eternity'-what a wonderful meaning. This tiny gemstone is so dazzling in the sunlight, so clear and sparkling, and the platinum is very beautiful too. Momo, where did you buy them? I want to buy a pair too, and give one to your aunt."

Bai Mo was amused. Her uncle really knew quality when he saw it, and he was romantic too.

"Wait here, Uncle. I have another pair in my room."

Bai Jingyao's eyes lit up at that.

"Hurry and bring them, Momo. I'll trade you something good for them. I won't take advantage of you."

Bai Mo pretended to go into her room and took several pairs of diamond rings from her space. Thinking of her uncle and aunt's height and weight and recalling the size of their fingers, she picked out a pair they could wear and came out of the room, looking very pleased with herself.

"Here, Uncle, take a look. Do you like them? There aren't many pairs like these in the world. They're very rare."

Bai Jingyao hastily reached out and snatched them up.

"Even the brocade box is so exquisite."

He opened the box to find a matching pair of one-carat rings inside. Their style leaned toward the unisex. Bai Mo had picked them up and put them in her space while searching a jewelry store during the apocalypse. They were all from major brands, exquisitely crafted, with a simple and beautiful design.

"Uncle, these matching rings should be worn on the ring finger, right here."