Youthful Glory

Ming Tan didn't dwell on it further and continued toward the study. Just as she stepped into the courtyard, Shu Jingran happened to push the door open and emerge.

Seeing Ming Tan, he cupped his hands in greeting. "Princess Consort."

"Is Second Young Master Shu leaving already? I was just bringing some snacks to fill your stomachs." Ming Tan was somewhat surprised as she took the food box from Suxin and approached slowly.

Shu Jingran smiled regretfully. "Thank you for your kindness, Princess Consort. However, it's getting late, and my father is waiting for me at home. I'm afraid I won't have the chance to enjoy the midnight snack you've prepared."

"I see."

Understanding, Ming Tan didn't press him to stay.

After arranging for someone to escort Shu Jingran out, Ming Tan entered the study alone. Jiang Xu was still standing by the sand table, fiddling with something. She placed the food box on the desk and glanced at the three wine cups that hadn't been cleared away.

"Husband, I had someone prepare a midnight snack. You didn't eat much at dinner, so have some now."

Jiang Xu gave an acknowledging hum and turned to sit at the desk.

He also noticed the three wine cups, but as he ate the snack, he showed no intention of bringing it up. Though Ming Tan was curious about the figure she'd glimpsed outside earlier, since Jiang Xu didn't mention it, she didn't press the matter.

The next day, Jiang Xu had to enter the palace again. With time to spare, Ming Tan remembered to ask Imperial Physician Feng if there were any methods to conceive sooner, so she sent someone to invite him early in the morning.

Unfortunately, Imperial Physician Feng had returned to his hometown for the New Year and was still on his way back to the capital.

After some thought, she sent for Dr. Yu from Renxin Hall, who was overseeing Shen Hua's pregnancy.

When Dr. Yu heard that Princess Consort Dingbei had summoned him, he was both astonished and nervous. As he packed his medical kit, he anxiously slipped some silver to the maid who had come to fetch him and inquired, "Miss, do you know why the Princess Consort seeks this humble one? To my knowledge, Her Highness has always been attended by imperial physicians."

The maid smiled and pushed the silver back. "Don't worry, Dr. Yu. The second young madam of the Li family is our Princess Consort's cousin. Since you're overseeing her pregnancy, and she speaks highly of you, praising you as a master of gynecology, our Princess Consort wished to invite you for a visit."

Hearing that it was the second young madam of the Li family who had recommended him to the Princess Consort, Dr. Yu finally relaxed and roughly guessed why the Princess Consort had summoned him.

Ming Tan knew that a physician who had made a name for himself in the capital couldn't be a fool. After exchanging a few pleasantries in the drawing room, she got straight to the point.

Dr. Yu answered quickly and in detail. Having practiced medicine for many years, he had been asked about methods to aid conception countless times and could recite them without hesitation.

Ming Tan listened carefully, nodding occasionally. Though she knew little about medicine, she sensed that Dr. Yu possessed genuine expertise.

After he finished his advice, Ming Tan took the initiative to say, "Then please examine my pulse, Dr. Yu. With the New Year and the imperial physician away visiting family, it's been some time since my health was checked."

Dr. Yu hurriedly assented and eagerly took out a pulse pillow and fine cloth from his kit. "Princess Consort, please."

Ming Tan rested her hand on the pillow.

After a short while, Dr. Yu withdrew his hand and said gently, "Your Highness's constitution is slightly weak. You should move about more daily and pay attention to your diet, avoiding overly spicy or cold foods."

"The imperial physician said the same."The physician Yu comforted her further: "The imperial physicians are highly skilled. With them tending to Consort's health, a slightly frail constitution is of no great concern. Please set your mind at ease, Consort. Pregnancy will come in due time."

Ming Tan nodded and signaled Suxin to present the consultation fee.

Though she assumed Physician Yu wouldn't dare spread rumors, for safety's sake, she still intended to subtly remind him not to mention today's fertility consultation to others. However, before she could speak, a maid entered with a tonic soup.

"Set it aside for now. I'll drink it when it's cooler," she instructed.

Physician Yu glanced at it without much thought, but as the steaming soup released wisps of fragrant vapor into the air, he caught an elusive medicinal scent—extremely faint yet extraordinarily rare. Having encountered it only once before, he hesitated before asking uncertainly, "Might I inquire what this tonic is for?"

"It's a special restorative soup prescribed by the imperial physician to regulate my health." Noticing his expression, Ming Tan suddenly asked, "Is there... something amiss?"

Physician Yu's heart skipped a beat.

Prescribed by the imperial physician.

Which essentially meant Prince Dingbei had tacitly approved it.

Being shrewd, Physician Yu quickly grasped the implications and nervously replied, "No, no, nothing's wrong. I merely asked out of curiosity."

He inwardly lamented, now filled with deep regret. Had he known this would happen, he would never have come to Prince Dingbei's Manor. He wondered if Prince Dingbei would allow him to see tomorrow's sunrise after learning of his visit today!

Beads of sweat formed on his forehead as he swallowed hard and hastily rose to take his leave.

Yet at the doorway, someone stopped him.

Ming Tan, seated calmly at the head of the room, stirred the tonic soup and said evenly, "Physician Yu, what exactly is wrong with this soup? Speak."

"I... I dare not."

"If you speak, His Highness may seek trouble with you. But if you don't, I will seek trouble with you now."

"......"

Cornered, Physician Yu had no choice but to tremulously step forward. After cautiously tasting the soup to confirm, he carefully explained its true nature to Ming Tan.

After hearing him out, Ming Tan remained silent for a long while, her expression unreadable.

Physician Yu cautiously added, "This contraceptive tonic does no harm to Consort's health. Some of its ingredients do have warming and restorative properties. Perhaps... perhaps the imperial physician made an error in the prescription."

Ming Tan said nothing, merely waving her hand to signal the maids to escort him out.

The hall suddenly felt vast and silent. After sitting quietly for a while, Ming Tan abruptly ordered, "What happened today must not reach His Highness's ears. Make sure to properly instruct those maids."

"Miss—"

Suxin wanted to say something, but Ming Tan dismissed her firmly. "You may leave as well. I wish to be alone."

The visit from Physician Yu of Renxin Hall had been arranged under the pretense of treating Suxin. When Jiang Xu returned to the manor and received the routine report from his guards about household matters, he thought little of it.

Two uneventful days passed. Suxin watched as her mistress carried on as if nothing had happened, behaving no differently toward Prince Dingbei than usual. Yet this only deepened her worry and unease.

Her young mistress was not one to bottle things up—she typically made her displeasure known immediately, unable to tolerate delays. But this time... Such abnormal behavior surely concealed something ominous.On the third day, word came from the Imperial Medical Bureau that Imperial Physician Feng had returned and would visit the prince's residence in the afternoon to check Consort Ming Tan's pulse.

Ming Tan waited patiently for Imperial Physician Feng. When he arrived, she straightforwardly asked him about methods to aid conception, just as she had done in previous days.

Imperial Physician Feng paused briefly before carefully responding, with several points aligning with what Physician Yu had mentioned earlier.

Ming Tan subtly observed his expression while drinking a bowl of tonic soup in front of him. Apart from a slight hesitation when she inquired about conception aids, his face showed no other unusual signs.

Jiang Xu was occupied with matters and went straight to his study upon returning at night.

By the hour of Hai (9-11 PM), Ming Tan brought him some late-night snacks. He had just finished his work and ate in the study. Under the cool moonlight, the couple strolled leisurely back to Qi'an Hall, chatting idly about trivial matters as usual.

After returning to their chambers, they bathed together and, caught in the moment, shared rare intimacy.

Jiang Xu noticed his young consort was particularly passionate that night—twice in the bath and twice more on the bed, actively seeking him each time. Normally, she would have already been crying out in pain or exhaustion by then.

When the storm subsided, Ming Tan was so exhausted she could barely lift her arms. Breathing heavily, she whispered, "Husband, help me place the pillow under my waist."

"What for?"

"Imperial Physician Feng said this position helps with conception," Ming Tan replied earnestly, adjusting herself with serious intent despite her soft voice.

Jiang Xu was silent for a moment. "Didn't we agree before? You're still young—there's no harm in waiting a couple more years. There's no rush."

"But Cousin Hua and my half-sister are both expecting. During the New Year visits, so many women announced pregnancies—only I haven't. If Imperial Physician Feng hadn't assured me my health is fine, I'd have thought I was infertile."

Jiang Xu fell silent for a long while.

Ming Tan, seemingly oblivious, listed all the conception methods Imperial Physician Feng had suggested, clearly intending to try each one.

Listening, Jiang Xu suddenly interrupted, "No need. You won't conceive for now."

He ruffled her hair and confessed everything about the contraceptive soup.

Ming Tan listened quietly, secretly relieved—she had been right. Her husband hadn't intentionally prevented her pregnancy. Over the past few days, her emotions had been tumultuous, countless speculations flashing through her mind. Yet in the end, she chose to trust him—to believe he wasn't unwilling to have children with her. That was why she had feigned ignorance today, playing her role thoroughly, just to hear him admit the truth about the contraceptive soup.

Since this was an act, she couldn't appear completely unsurprised. Wide-eyed, she asked, "That tonic was contraceptive soup? Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"I didn't mention it earlier because it seemed unnecessary. I didn't realize it would burden you so much." He pulled her into his arms and said calmly, "Wait another year or two. You can have as many children as you want—after your body is fully nourished." And after I reclaim Rongzhou, he added silently.

In truth, Ming Tan had already been recuperating for nearly a year and was now perfectly capable of bearing children. But the battle for Rongzhou would inevitably occur within the next year or two. War never guaranteed victory—if he couldn't return triumphant, there would be no need to leave behind heirs.

He didn't want his child to grow up fatherless before understanding the world, nor did he want his wife to endure life alone with unnecessary ties, as his mother had.

Ming Tan nodded obediently, nestling in his arms. She was sensible—as long as he willingly shared the truth, she was content to understand.The moonlight flowed like water, quietly spilling through the window lattice as both of them were lost in their own thoughts.

In truth, how could Jiang Xu not know? When Imperial Physician Feng reported back today, he had already detected the underlying implications. Upon further investigation, he discovered that the visiting physician that day was actually a renowned gynecologist, unskilled in treating common colds or miscellaneous ailments. It wasn't difficult for him to guess that she had already learned about the contraceptive decoction. All her acting and probing tonight was simply to seek his honest confession. Since that was the case, he might as well grant her wish.