Chapter 20: Chapter 20: The Princely Heir Is a Woman 20

She handed the empty bowl to the maid and placed a candied fruit in her mouth.

The medicine was truly bitter; over the years, she couldn’t recall how much bitter medicine she had drunk—it had already become a part of her life, and she was used to it.

Gently caressing her belly, Ning Yulan sighed to herself; after all, it wasn’t doing its part.

She felt somewhat guilty inside; unable to bear children, her in-laws had collected numerous prescriptions to help nourish her body but didn’t say much more.

Given the current situation, she could accept her husband taking a concubine, but alas, he refused even unto death, insisting that even if the two of them remained childless forever, it wouldn’t matter. He even caused a scene before the in-laws, declaring his determination not to take a concubine.

Her husband was his parents’ child in their old age, spoiled since childhood, with a stubborn temperament that nobody could persuade.

Her in-laws didn’t have much criticism for her.

But her sisters-in-law did gossip, and even her married cousin worried often, frequently finding her remedies for childbirth.

Ning Yulan considered her destiny fairly fortunate, harboring a genuine desire for a child, thus never declining the medicines.

However, as the years passed, they proved useless.

The maid had already retreated, and Ning Yulan was lost in thought about her troubles, momentarily forgetting Ah Zhen.

Awakening abruptly, she promptly said, “Sorry, Ah Zhen, I spaced out.”

“There’s nothing wrong here; you don’t need to worry.” Ning Yulan guessed Ah Zhen’s purpose in coming—to see how her days were going.

Though married early, she didn’t live a hard life.

With a loving husband and reasonable in-laws, she fared better than most. Occasionally being the topic of gossip for not having children wasn’t significant; who doesn’t face dissatisfaction in life?

Outsiders labeled her as jealous, hogging the spot without giving birth, unwilling to let her husband take a concubine despite her infertility.

Her husband angrily explained to them that it was his choice not to take a concubine, unrelated to her.

Yet, outsiders didn’t listen, still convinced she was to blame.

Life was lived behind closed doors; initially, she was saddened by the rumors, but with her husband’s unwavering defense, she gradually became indifferent.

If Heaven granted her a child one day, that would be wonderful.

“Today, I brought a doctor to examine you, elder sister,” Ah Zhen said, “it’s better to resolve the issue than to endure these bitter medicines daily.”

Ning Yulan suddenly understood—indeed, news of her situation was not hard to come by.

Ah Zhen, having settled matters for the other sisters, was certainly seeking resolution by comforting her personally.

The Prince Ning Mansion currently had thriving business, with Ah Zhen employing many skilled people; she even gave her third sister a female doctor. At a recent gathering, her third sister’s complexion appeared much improved, chatting with Ning Yulan about the female doctor.

Ning Yulan showed some anticipation, not refusing Ah Zhen’s offer to have the doctor examine her.

“Have doctors examined him in all these years?” Ah Zhen inquired during the doctor’s examination.

Ning Yulan smiled slightly and said, “He’s been checked long ago; I understand your thoughts, but your brother-in-law has no issues—the problem lies with me. Don’t worry too much; he’s a considerate person.”

Her husband was not like Jiang Weiming or Li Bianxing, so she didn’t mind Ah Zhen paying more attention.

“Since the doctor is here, why not have them look at both, not just fertility but for general health diagnostics, seeing if any other areas need care,” Ah Zhen suggested, “Cloud Doctor is adept at body nourishment; since she’s here, let her examine the Duke Mansion’s members as well. I heard the Duchess hasn’t been sleeping well lately, which is perfect timing—Cloud Doctor excels at treating insomnia.”

“If there are minor health issues or hidden ailments, diagnosing them early makes treatment easier.”

“Cloud Doctor’s skills are remarkable,” Ah Zhen added, “you’ll see soon enough.”

She personally trained this doctor—Yun Qing, naturally skilled in medicine with exceptional talent, among those gifted to her as beauties. The specifics were unnecessary, but Yun Qing was now utterly loyal.

Ah Zhen was here today to ensure everything was prepared.

Before this, she had already taken the opportunity to diagnose Ning Yulan, and today was for formality.

Ning Yulan’s body fundamentally had no issues; however, years of various medicines and other mixed drugs had been ingested, causing definitive troubles.

Some are unable to conceive and refuse to admit it, pointing blame on others while feigning goodness, all to absurdity.

The example being her brother-in-law Yuan Bingjun, a man unable to father children.

“Can it really be treated?” Ning Yulan urgently grasped Yun Qing’s hand, her eyes reddening, “Cloud Doctor, can my body truly be healed? Can I still have children?”

It was not only for her husband; she genuinely desired a child regardless of gender, simply longing for her own lineage.

Yun Qing subtly eased her stiff lips, discreetly glancing at an apparently clueless Ah Zhen, her mouth twitching slightly as she patted Ning Yulan’s hand, “Yes, in a month there will be noticeable improvement, but to thoroughly adjust your body without affecting future child and your health, the minimum is half a year.”

Not long at all; half a year is a very short time.

“It truly worked, Cloud Doctor just needle-tapped twice and my body immediately felt invigorated!” The speaker was the Duke Mansion’s second young madam, generally having a good relationship with Ning Yulan, just visiting and Ning Yulan, remembering Ah Zhen’s proposal, suggested letting Yun Qing examine Wu Fangfang.

Since days earlier, Wu Fangfang complained about discomfort, Ning Yulan noted the matter for this sister-in-law she got along with well.

Upon receiving Yun Qing’s prescription advice, Wu Fangfang quickly nodded, expressing she would diligently follow instructions, departing joyfully.

Ning Yulan, along with Ah Zhen and Yun Qing, went to visit the Duchess; meanwhile, Wu Fangfang spread word around the mansion about Yun Qing being a miracle doctor, saying Yun Qing could likely cure Ning Yulan too.

“Is she really that effective?” The Duke Mansion’s eldest young madam, Chen Family, sneered, “Don’t make a fuss when in the end nothing changes.”

“Ning Yulan is stubborn, refusing to let her younger uncle take a concubine, after drinking medicines futilely for so many years—isn’t that hindering her uncle?”

The maid said, “I heard Fifth Young Madam is escorting Cloud Doctor to help the Duchess with insomnia.”

“She is skilled at pleasing people.”

“No wonder her in-laws and her younger uncle favor her.” Chen Family said irritably, “She best conceive now, otherwise I’ll have to persuade the in-laws—continuing like this, should her uncle remain childless indefinitely?”

“Let’s go, I want to see what Cloud Doctor is capable of.”

There, Ning Yulan explained the reason and waited for the Duchess to agree to Yun Qing diagnosing her insomnia.

But the Duchess was off in her thoughts, having mentally wandered a while.

“Mother-in-law?” Ning Yulan called.

The Duchess finally snapped back to reality, her eyes landing on Ning Yulan and then shifting to Yun Qing, “Can you really cure Yulan?”

Yun Qing casually eyed the hands the Duchess clenched and smiled; truly interesting.

Intriguing.

Suddenly sensing a gaze, she didn’t need to seek it out; surely it was her secretive master’s.

Probably hinting at urgency.

Internally scoffing, she maintained a neutral exterior, replying earnestly, “Yes, Duchess, my specialties are treating infertility and insomnia.”

Her art of healing was as she claimed; if it pleased her master, it sufficed.

Hopefully, after this task, her master might impart some skills.

Unfortunately, her master seemed uninterested in her allure; otherwise… she might’ve coaxed greater knowledge through charm.

The Duchess seemed dazed, articulating joy but inwardly chaotic, requesting Yun Qing’s diagnosis.

Ning Yulan thought the Duchess found it unbelievable, unaware her mother-in-law feared Yun Qing’s true capabilities.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep