At this very moment, in Rui Qinwang Manor, the people serving by Rui Qinwang’s side, that was all hating that they can’t find a crack to squeeze into and thoroughly disappear.
One can’t blame Li Hong Ming for having the greatest reaction. It’s just that right now, he was very worried. Ever since new year’s eve that day, he realized that in his manor, there indeed hasn’t been any news for a very long time. Originally towards having an heir, he wasn’t that worried, believing that as long as he can give birth, then it wasn’t a problem. But, what if he can’t give birth anymore? And what if his imperial father finds out? Then, he can a hundred percent guarantee that the throne will thoroughly have nothing to do with him anymore. No one would feel reassured having the throne given to someone that is destined to not have an heir.
Having that kind of suspicion, the manor doctor in Li Hong Ming’s manor came to examine the pulse. The outcome was that there wasn’t any problems. However, even so, he still wasn’t reassured. He needed a child, urgently needing a child to prove himself. As long as someone in his rear court gets pregnant, regardless whether it was his wangfei, side consorts, or concubines, as long as one of them gets pregnant, then it’ll prove that he doesn’t have any problem.
The reason why it wasn’t considered the women’s problem was because they’d gotten pregnant before from time to time, and the wangfei had further given birth before, so there was no reason for all of them to have problems. One or two fields not growing sprouts, it was still possible for it to be the field’s problem, but when all the fields don’t grow, then it was more likely to be the seeds’ problem. After all, the fields were different, but the seeds were the same.
Li Hong Ming, under the excuse of ‘showing concern’, ordered someone to examine the pulse of every women in his rear court. Aside from those tiny few that had a bit of a cold constitution, the rest all didn’t have any problems. As such, even if Li Hong Ming didn’t want to admit, he also knew that if there really was a problem, it was very possible for it to be on him.
Although the doctor didn’t find the problem, for someone like him, once producing suspicion, unless able to thoroughly dispel, otherwise it will just be like a thorn pricking the heart, unbearably difficult to bear.
That’s why, during this period of time, the usually not considered lustful Li Hong Ming continuously spread his seeds, seemingly non-stop everyday. Even if his eyes circles were black and blue, his legs weak and limp, drinking bowl after bowl of tonic, he still insisted on continuing.
He let the mama by his side arrange out the times for when the women in his rear court can easily become pregnant and slept over one by one. Including the side consort that he originally didn’t plan on dealing with, he all didn’t let off. Moreover, towards those servant girls that appear to be able to bear children easily, as long as not too ugly, he also extended his claws.
(T/N: Many of the wangye’s side consort are from an enemy faction due to Le Cheng Emperor wanting to balance power between the factions after the Jiangnan incident.)
Going this far was still not enough. Because of suspecting his wangfei doing something to his rear court in the past, he even raised two mistresses outside. And because Li Hong Ming’s reputation outside has always been preserved quite well, doing this kind of thing, he can be said to be exceptionally careful. He was very clear, once discovered by others, his image will completely collapse, and for him, this will be very detrimental.
Just like for instance, a bad person occasionally doing a common bad deed, others perhaps won’t even bat an eye, but a good person doing the same thing perhaps can cause a huge wave, getting pointed at by thousands.
That’s why, this good reputation was a sharp weapon, yet also like shackles.
Li Hong Ming hid the matter from the outside, but towards the inside, he wasn’t that cautious, especially in front of his wangfei. It can be said that he was just short of bluntly stating the problem. From this, one can see that he indeed trusted Rui Wangfei very much. Just, giving his trust, and naturally expecting her to put out for him, he nevertheless didn’t give her much in return. A lot of times, he won’t even say anything. In his heart, for Liu-shi to be able to become his wangfei, that in itself was probably just an enormous honor, so she should just view him as the sky, and no matter what she did, it was only naturally so.
Between husband and wife, even if not as one, that was still bounded by shared interest.
Li Hong Ming was worried, and Rui Wangfei was similarly worried. If her husband doesn’t have an heir, no longer having fate with the throne, the aftermath, she didn’t dare to imagine. After all, he has long started fighting to the death with his other brothers, no longer having a way out. If he dies, she perhaps can survive, but will be ‘confined’ for the rest of her life, and also her children…………
As such, although not clearly pointed out, Rui Wangfei still secretly thought of ways to help, firmly controlling the rear court, not letting the slightest detrimental rumor leak out. Despite feeling extremely miserable inside, she still needed to voluntarily look for women that can easily bear children for him, and at the same time, prepare some warm soups and drinks. Because of not knowing the specific situation, she didn’t dare to directly use medicine.
This kind of tacit understanding lasted for a period of time. Only a month had passed, so unable to make out any result, yet despite clearly knowing this, they were still unable to sit or stand peacefully.
Despite knowing that Li Hong Ming was even more irritable than usual, Rui Wangfei still personally prepared some food and delivered to the study, having the servants all sent out.
Li Hong Ming didn’t have an appetite and just hastily ate a few bites.
“Wangye, how about looking for the doctor again to verify?”
“Verify? How to verify?” Rui Qinwang had a dark expression. The tea cup in hand seemingly was all about to be crushed into pieces.
This kind of thing, anyone would all rush to cover up, because once there’s the slightest wind, even if in the end, it’s proven to be nothing, it would still become a problem.
And to want to verify wasn’t impossible either. There was two ways, either letting someone very trusted go look for a doctor, and regardless whether it’s threatening or enticing, all must have the doctor controlled in hand, or hiding one’s identity and go look for a doctor among the commoners.
That’s right, regardless of which, all can’t involve the imperial physicians, even if it’s one that’s loyal to him, because there was no telling with the human heart. And for someone like Rui Qinwang, it was very difficult to wholeheartedly trust someone. Just like for instance, Rui Wangfei. He believed that she will stand on his side from beginning to end, but he similarly suspected her of harming the other concubines in his rear court.
“Should we tell consort mother?” Rui Wangfei said with a bit of difficulty.
Rui Qinwang fell into a long silence. The atmosphere was stifling to the point of making one hard to breathe.
After a full half hour, Rui Qinwang finally opened his mouth slowly, “Tomorrow, take a trip to the palace.” His voice was somewhat hoarse, “It’s also better to confirm sooner, if by chance…………..it’ll be good to make preparations early.”
“It won’t be like that.” Rui Wangfei suddenly reached out and grasped his hand. The usually composed and virtuous Rui Wangfei had only done this kind of thing when she first married over, “Wangye must believe, there won’t be that chance.”
Rui Qinwang, in that moment, was somewhat moved, but it was also just for a moment, and even he himself all didn’t detect, before returning to tranquility. Afterwards, he pulled back his hand, picking up the tea cup, neither lightly nor heavily responding with a ‘en’.
Compared to many having a hard time sleeping that night, Jing Wan and Li Hong Yuan nevertheless slept very well.
Children, for Jing Wan, perhaps was also troubling, but it was unable to affect her.
Additionally, it was probably just Shu Consort Qin that slept pretty well too, going to see the Imperial Noble Consort in her dreams.
Shu Consort Qin calmly had the matter outside told to the Imperial Noble Consort in its entirety, in the end, sighing, “Yuan’er, that child, normally appears to be bad-tempered, having a condescending look towards everyone, but in reality, just has a blunt personality. If this younger sister has to say, compared to those that have the mouth of a buddha but the heart of a snake, don’t know how much better.”
The Imperial Noble Consort naturally knew what her son was doing, although she didn’t know Li Hong Yuan’s inherent reason for doing it, just knowing that he wanted to preserve her. Originally, she felt that he was stirring up too big of a disturbance, worrying that he won’t be able to clean up. Yet, in the end, he even disdained that there wasn’t enough trouble, even having the Nine Cauldrons brought out. Towards this kind of son, she truly was both worried and proud.
The two of them then intimately said a few words. Then again, having coexisted in one body for more than ten years, there was no one more intimate than them. Especially after Shu Consort Qin learned that the Imperial Noble Consort originally had the opportunity to completely control her body, letting her disappear, yet the Imperial Noble Consort didn’t do that, even stopping Jin Qinwang.
Just, this peach blossom incident developed too fast. In fact, don’t even need Noble Consort Su to think of ways to send Li Hong Yuan people. For the Nine Cauldrons to ‘fall from the heavens’ at this time, it was an enormous matter. Although it was the Imperial Noble Consort that brought about this kind of good fortune, but the Imperial Noble Consort has already passed away after all. As the person that directly benefited, aside from the Emperor, it was probably just Jin Qinwang.
And Jin Qinwang right now, for the most part, can be said to not lack anything, just having no children under him.
“Jin Wangfei has entered Jin Qinwang Manor for almost a year, yet to this day, still doesn’t have any good news. Shouldn’t your Majesty consider appointing two side consorts for Jin Qinwang. Moreover, Jin Wangfei serving Jin Qinwang alone is truly too hard on her, so naturally should have someone share the burdens with her. Besides, when Jin Wangfei is inconvenienced, won’t it be wronging wangye.”
