Rebirth: Making a Fortune in Ancient Times

After pondering for a while, Physician Wen whispered to Madam Liu...

"The princess is still a virgin, how could she be pregnant?"

"what?"

"what!"

Liu and Xia Yu both exclaimed "Ah!" at the same time. However, Liu's "Ah!" was unexpected and incredulous, while Xia Yu's "Ah!" was because she realized that traditional Chinese medicine really could tell a person's physical condition by taking their pulse.

Madam Liu had considered all sorts of scenarios, but this was the last thing she had imagined. She had even wondered if her daughter's inability to conceive was due to a poor upbringing, which had taken a toll on her health. She never imagined that her daughter's six months of marriage without pregnancy was because she and her husband hadn't consummated their marriage. She suddenly turned her gaze to her daughter, only to find her looking away, her head bowed, avoiding her eyes.

For a moment, the room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Imperial Physician Wen was especially restless, as if he had stumbled upon some secret he shouldn't know. He wiped the cold sweat from his brow, quietly tidied the pulse pillow on the table, and packed his medicine box. Once everything was in place, he rose, bowed to Madam Liu and Xia Yu, and took his leave.

"Thank you for your help today, Physician Wen, but the princess's condition..." Lady Liu said, looking at Physician Wen.

"Madam, please rest assured, the princess is in good health and has no discomfort."

"Thank you, Physician Wen. I'll have someone escort you back. Please!" Madam Liu said to Physician Wen as she personally saw him out and instructed someone to take good care of him.

After seeing Physician Wen off, she instructed the servants to guard the door and not allow anyone to enter. Then she closed the door and went into the inner hall to ask her daughter for the reason.

Before Imperial Physician Wen had even left the Marquis's residence, he saw Shen Jingheng striding towards him.

"Greetings, Grand Tutor Shen!"

"Imperial Physician Wen, I heard that the princess is unwell. How is she?" Shen Jingheng asked anxiously.

The sweat that Imperial Physician Wen had just wiped from his forehead reappeared. At the same time, he was very puzzled. Looking at Grand Tutor Shen's expression, he could see that she cared a lot about the princess. But if she cared so much, how could this happen after the princess had been married into the Shen family for more than half a year? Could it be Grand Tutor Shen's health?

Physician Wen quickly shook his head, banishing the terrible thought from his mind. For a physician, the most taboo thing is to make wild guesses about a patient's condition without taking their pulse; it's a grave taboo, a terribly taboo indeed.

"Imperial Physician Wen?"

Seeing Physician Wen wiping his sweat and shaking his head, Shen Jingheng felt as if his heart was being fried in oil on a hot pan.

"Ah? Oh, Grand Tutor, rest assured, the princess is in good health and has no discomfort." Reminded by Shen Jingheng's voice, Imperial Physician Wen quickly replied.

"Nothing wrong? Then why did she summon the imperial physician?" Shen Jingheng asked with some skepticism.

"Well, actually, it was Lady Hou who was worried about the princess's health, so she asked me for help. However, I have already taken the princess's pulse, and she is indeed fine. Grand Tutor, please rest assured. The princess and Lady Hou are inside. If you don't believe me, Grand Tutor, you can go in and take a look to see for yourself and you will know that what I said is true."

"Yes, thank you for your help, Physician Wen!" Shen Jingheng nodded and strode inside. He was led by the people from the Marquis's residence to the flower hall where Madam Liu and Xia Yu were.

Looking at the row of maids and servants standing in the courtyard outside, Jian's eyebrows furrowed slightly.

Aunt Ma and Granny Lian rushed to greet him when they saw him come in.

"Uncle!"

"Aunt Ma, Granny Lian, are Mother-in-law and the Princess inside?" As he spoke, Shen Jingheng slowed his pace and walked forward slowly.

"Yes, son-in-law. The madam and the princess are inside, but the madam just said that no one is allowed to go in. She has something to say to the princess."

"Yes, it's alright. I'll wait under the eaves for a while," Shen Jingheng said gently.

"Yes"

As they talked, the group reached the edge of the veranda. Shen Jingheng stopped walking and stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the cluster of canna lilies in full bloom below the window.

Soon, a maid brought over a grand chair and a tea table. Then someone brought tea and snacks. Shen Jingheng sat down in the chair, picked up the brewed tea, and admired the scenery in the courtyard. But as he lowered his head to drink the tea, his ears twitched involuntarily. Although eavesdropping was not a gentleman's act, it concerned Xia Yu, so what did it matter if he acted like a petty person? Shen Jingheng thought to himself.

"What did you say? You said your son-in-law is no good?" Madam Liu quickly covered her mouth with her handkerchief, almost crying out.

"Hmm," Xia Yu lowered her head somewhat guiltily and nodded, essentially shifting all the blame for her infertility onto Shen Jingheng.

Her silent demeanor with her head down was interpreted in yet another way by Madam Liu.

"Didn't his previous wife also get pregnant? How come she suddenly stopped having children?" Liu murmured.

Shen Jingheng, who was drinking tea, almost spat out his tea when he heard his mother-in-law talking to his wife behind the window.

Aunt Ma and Granny Lian, standing a few steps away, watched their son-in-law's face grow increasingly dark, unsure of what to do. The princess and her son-in-law had been married for over half a year, and he had always been extremely humble and polite whenever he visited the Marquis's residence; they had never seen him with a cold expression. What was wrong with him today? He was perfectly fine just a moment ago. For a moment, the two women exchanged bewildered glances, unsure whether they should go and inform the madam.

The conversation inside continued, and Liu asked Xia Yu...

"Have you seen a doctor yet?"

"I checked, he's taking medicine now, maybe he'll be fine in another year or two," Xia Yu said, continuing to make up a story with her head down. At this point, she couldn't think of any better reason than to fabricate one. She couldn't very well tell her mother that the reason they hadn't consummated their marriage was because their feelings hadn't reached that stage yet, and that they were dating after marriage. That would be too shocking.

"It's going to take that long? Does your mother-in-law know about this?" Liu asked again.

“Mother, how can you talk about this kind of thing everywhere? When you see him in the future, please don’t ask him anything. Just pretend you don’t know anything. You know how ashamed a man is to let others know if he has this kind of disease.”

"I know, Mother understands that. Sigh..." Madam Liu sighed, worried for her daughter. But then, she asked...

Did you give him the water from inside? Maybe it can cure him!

“He drank it. I use that water to make tea for him every day…” Xia Yu said.

At this moment, Shen Jingheng, who was outside saying "no," couldn't listen any longer. He put his cup down on the coffee table, bowed towards the window, and then said loudly...

"Mother-in-law, your son-in-law has come to take the princess back to the manor."

The two people inside stopped talking immediately. After a while, the door was opened from the inside, and Xia Yu came out with a flushed face, followed by Liu Shi.

When she saw this son-in-law, whom she had once been very satisfied with, again, Liu didn't know what expression to wear.

Looking at the sun in the sky, Lady Liu said to the two of them...

"It's almost noon, let's have lunch before going back."

"No," Xia Yu said.

"Alright," Shen Jingheng said.

The two exchanged a glance, then spoke at the same time.

"Let's eat before we go!" Xia Yu said.

"Let's go back and eat!" Shen Jingheng said.

Seeing the two of them, Liu's worries had largely dissipated. It seemed that their relationship was still quite good, and they both knew how to consider each other's feelings.