Chapter 36

Chapter 36: From Her Hand

Concubine Lian lowered her eyes, looking a little dejected. “This concubine… this concubine was not in good health.”

Sheng Zhi Wan’s gaze shifted slightly. She naturally knew Concubine Lian had no child not because of poor health, but because back when Concubine Lian was carried into the household as a concubine, both Concubine Lian and Concubine Ping had been given a Fertility-Severing Pill by Madam Cui.

That was why, after so many years, the residence still had only the child Madam Cui bore.

But who was Sheng Zhi Wan? She was a medical and poison prodigy whom three Masters could no longer teach after only two cold seasons. If she wanted to undo the poison in a Fertility-Severing Pill, she could.

“The Fertility-Severing Pill is not without a cure,” Sheng Zhi Wan said slowly.

Concubine Lian’s breath caught. She jerked her head up and stared at Sheng Zhi Wan. “Heir’s Wife has a way? No-How did Heir’s Wife know?!”

Madam Cui had done it in secret. Even Concubine Lian’s personal maidservant did not know. Yet Sheng Zhi Wan had said it out loud.

Concubine Lian’s breathing turned sharp and fast. Sheng Zhi Wan said nothing. Sheng Zhi Wan could tell at a glance.

In truth, the Fertility-Severing Pill circulating on the market had come from Sheng Zhi Wan’s own hands when Sheng Zhi Wan was ten. Back then, Sheng Zhi Wan only wanted the feral cats and stray dogs near the manor to have fewer litters that could not survive.

Later, the Third Master, greedy for money, had secretly sold the medicine, and at an outrageous price. One pill cost several hundred taels of silver.

After Sheng Zhi Wan found out, Sheng Zhi Wan never made that kind of pill again. Sheng Zhi Wan had feared someone would use it to harm people.

Sheng Zhi Wan had not expected that after marrying into Duke Qi’s residence, Sheng Zhi Wan would see traces of a Fertility-Severing Pill on Concubine Lian and Concubine Ping.

“Just tell me,” Sheng Zhi Wan asked calmly, “do you want a child of your own?”

Concubine Lian took a deep breath. After a moment, Concubine Lian spoke with solemn resolve. “As long as Heir’s Wife can let this concubine have my own child, this concubine is willing to be an ox and a horse!”

“Even if Madam finds out and comes after you,” Sheng Zhi Wan said, “and you might not only fail to give birth, but even lose your life, you still want to try?”

“This concubine is not afraid!” Concubine Lian said. “This concubine only wants a child of my own. This concubine does not want to compete for favor, only to stay with the child and watch the child grow up.”

“Heir’s Wife can rest assured. This concubine has been in this Duke residence for many years and has some ways to protect myself. As long as-as long as Heir’s Wife helps this concubine fulfill this wish, this concubine will not betray Heir’s Wife even if this concubine dies.”

Sheng Zhi Wan said, “…”

That really was not necessary.

“Since you have decided,” Sheng Zhi Wan said, taking out an exquisite small porcelain bottle, “take the medicine inside for half a month. After half a month, the Fertility-Severing Pill will be undone, and that will also be when you are most likely to conceive.”

“Good!” Concubine Lian clutched the bottle like a priceless treasure.

Sheng Zhi Wan felt less at ease instead. “You are not afraid I am lying to you? What if there is poison inside?”

“Heir’s Wife should not need to lie to this concubine,” Concubine Lian said with a bitter smile. “Besides, even if there is only one chance in a thousand, this concubine is willing to gamble!”

That night, Sheng Zhi Wan took a pot of orchids in full bloom from Xin Lan Courtyard.

Early the next morning, Sheng Zhi Wan had An Zhi find men’s clothes for Sheng Zhi Wan to change into. An Zhi combed Sheng Zhi Wan’s hair while Ting Lan spoke about news Ting Lan had just heard outside.

“I heard that after Heir Apparent left our Ping Lan Residence yesterday, Heir Apparent went to find three Physicians who understood medicine to brew medicine for Madam. Each one got ten taels a month. And then-guess what happened?” Ting Lan said, squeezing Ting Lan’s eyes.

Ever since Sheng Zhi Wan stopped caring about Qi Shu Xian, the whole Ping Lan Residence seemed to brighten with relief.

“What?” Sheng Zhi Wan played along.

Ting Lan grinned. “Those three Physicians brewed medicine for hours, and Madam only smelled it once and said the scent was wrong. Madam smashed it on the spot and made them brew it again!”

“They brewed all night yesterday, and even now they are still being tormented. Tsk tsk, I heard those Physicians were already discussing leaving. They said, ‘No matter how high the monthly pay is, you have to live to spend it. We are brewing medicine for a Duchess, not walking to our deaths.’”

Ting Lan even copied the Physicians’ tone for the last part. An Zhi could not hold back a laugh.

“Let her torment them,” Sheng Zhi Wan said with a sneer in Sheng Zhi Wan’s eyes. “She is doing it to show me. But each dose uses herbs worth dozens of taels. If she wants to keep tormenting people, the Duke residence has to be able to afford it.”

This time, Sheng Zhi Wan also brought An Zhi along when Sheng Zhi Wan went out. Mistress and maids boarded Shopkeeper Lin’s carriage and went straight to Ci Xi Hall.

They waited less than the time it took to finish half a cup of tea before Madam Tao arrived.

Through the screen that let the inside show faintly through, Sheng Zhi Wan saw a young woman with delicate features enter gracefully while holding Nanny’s hand. Madam Tao wore a half veil. Even in late autumn, Madam Tao still wore a long gauze dress, looking like a slender willow that could fall with the wind.

“Madam, please sit,” Sheng Zhi Wan said, the corner of Sheng Zhi Wan’s lips lifting.

Hearing Sheng Zhi Wan’s voice, Madam Tao froze for a moment, as if Madam Tao had not expected the famous miracle physician to be so young. But Madam Tao quickly composed Madam Tao’s expression. “Thank you for the trouble, Divine Physician.”

“Not at all,” Sheng Zhi Wan said.

Madam Tao held out Madam Tao’s hand. On Madam Tao’s pale wrist was a thin, vivid green jade bracelet, and Sheng Zhi Wan recognized at once that it came from the same stone as the one Madam Cui wore.

Tsk. Sheng Zhi Wan’s father-in-law really did know how to save effort. Giving the Principal Wife and a Mistress the same style-if Madam Cui found out, Sheng Zhi Wan wondered how furious Madam Cui would be.

Sheng Zhi Wan took Madam Tao’s pulse for a while. “Your nutritive blood is depleted, your menses do not flow smoothly, heat and stasis are trapped inside, and your qi and blood are both deficient. Madam, did you catch a cold condition in childhood?”

Madam Tao blinked. “I did fall into water when I was young.”

“That explains it,” Sheng Zhi Wan said. “It is difficult for Madam to conceive, but if Madam nurtures your body well, Madam can still seek offspring.”

Sheng Zhi Wan pondered briefly, then quickly wrote a prescription and handed it to Madam Tao.