Chapter 307 - 306: Patience
Upon hearing this, Du Yunluo felt a few more traces of relief in her heart.
As Imperial Doctor Xing had said, many physicians were unwilling to wade into the muddy waters of the inner residence.
Especially matters concerning the Duke’s Mansion, where the doctors were becoming increasingly cautious.
If it weren’t for the great favor she had done for him, Imperial Doctor Xing might not have revealed the truth.
"I ask for your guidance." Du Yunluo stood up and bowed.
Imperial Doctor Xing waved his hand, signaling her to sit down: "From the pulse, you indeed have used substances that could harm your offspring, but the dosage was very small and not consumed daily, making it not very obvious, and I almost missed it.
This also means that those substances are temporary and will not harm your body’s foundation.
As long as you stop using them and take good care, it won’t be difficult to conceive again after a period of time.
It seems that the other party didn’t want to block your path completely, or rather, they didn’t dare to. If they used heavy doses and encountered someone brave enough to speak the truth, the perpetrator would be exposed.
However, medicine is three parts poison; you have been married for two months, and it hasn’t impacted you greatly, but I can’t say what the consequences would be if you used it for three or five years. It might make it difficult for you to have a child, and even if you conceive, it might be hard to keep."
Du Yunluo remained calm and wasn’t frightened by these words; instead, she felt peaceful.
What Imperial Doctor Xing said basically matched her own suspicions.
For Du Yunluo, as long as her body’s foundation was not harmed, she wasn’t afraid.
Since she didn’t consistently use these substances, she hadn’t used them from the Capital to Tong City, indicating she was exposed to them only within the mansion.
Thus, it appears to be something like incense or food.
For Lian Family to act against her, they would also need to consider their situation. It’s likely that after Mu Lianxiao left the Capital, there was no need for the Lian Family to use these substances on Du Yunluo.
Before Mu Lianxiao returns home, Du Yunluo need not fear being exposed again.
Regarding offspring...
Du Yunluo lowered her gaze; she certainly wanted children; children of her and Mu Lianxiao.
But now was definitely not a good time for pregnancy and childbirth.
The second branch of the family was watching eagerly; if she were to get pregnant now, there was no telling what might be waiting for her in the future. After all, accidents happen often to pregnant women, and it’s hard to prevent them.
Du Yunluo wasn’t crazy enough to use herself as bait to provoke actions from the second branch.
Because Mu Yuanmou and the Lian Family weren’t people who sought instant gains.
This struggle for the title had been in the works for decades; they were low-key and discreet, even concealing it from Old Madam Wu. What they relied on was their patience and endurance.
How many decades do people have in a lifetime?
If they were short-sighted, how would they succeed?
This wasn’t child’s play; if one wished to plant a seed today and harvest a full warehouse tomorrow, Mu Yuanmou would have calculated himself to destruction long ago.
Without absolute certainty, Mu Yuanmou and the Lian Family would not expose their plots. They planned for the long "struggle" ahead.
Until now, the inner residence of the Marquis Mansion was still in the hands of the Lian Family. If Du Yunluo got pregnant now, the day she would take over managing the household would be even further away.
Who could guarantee she would pass through the Ghost Gate safely?
Risking her life, what meaning would this life have? Even if she survived, she might not catch any evidence against the second branch, and by then, she might lose everything.
Du Yunluo slowly let out a breath.
It seemed that to have a peaceful pregnancy and birth, she first had to quickly give the second branch some trouble.
Enough trouble to make the Lian Family weary.
You can’t eat a big meal in one bite; since the second branch was casting a long line to catch a big fish, she too could gradually build up her own tower.
Du Yunluo thanked Imperial Doctor Xing.
Imperial Doctor Xing said, "As for the matters inside the Marquis Mansion, I can’t help much, nor do I dare help. I am an old man with no legs, just hoping to live long enough to see Ning grow up.
When you want to take care of your health, I can prescribe some medicine for you, and that’s about it."
Du Yunluo smiled. Such candid words were much better than beating around the bush.
She carefully said, "Rest assured; I won’t mention this matter to anyone for now, and I ask you to keep it confidential for me.
However, in the future, I might ask for your help to examine someone."
"Examine someone?" Imperial Doctor Xing was surprised, "What person? What illness do they have?"
"A mute," Du Yunluo replied.
Imperial Doctor Xing waved his hand: "A mute? If someone is mute, they are mute. I can’t cure it."
"No need to cure it. Just help me determine whether they are truly mute or pretending, and if they are truly mute, how they became so," Du Yunluo enunciated each word carefully.
Imperial Doctor Xing wore a bitter expression: "I knew it wouldn’t be anything good! Fine, fine, for the sake of my old life, I’ll help you in the future."
Du Yunluo saw Imperial Doctor Xing off and then turned to look at Jin Rui and Jin Ling.
When Imperial Doctor Xing took her pulse, Du Yunluo hadn’t let them avoid the room, so every word fell clearly into their ears.
Shock, fear, confusion—various emotions surged forth and were hard to contain until now.
"Madam..." Jin Rui helped Du Yunluo sit, "Who is..."
As soon as she spoke, Jin Rui realized the answer herself. Over the past two months, Du Yunluo had been most distant toward the second branch, and her unpleasant experiences and caution toward Mu Lianhui were well-known.
"Is that why you want me to marry Yun Qi early?" Jin Ling kneeled in front of Du Yunluo, holding her hand.
Du Yunluo mustered a smile and softly said, "Not every place is like Du Mansion or Zhen Mansion; to prevent their schemes, we must be meticulous and cautious."
Jin Rui asked, "Aren’t you going to tell the Princely Heir?"
"Tell him what?" Du Yunluo took a deep breath, "We have no evidence, so how can we expose others? Even if the Princely Heir believes me, there’s nothing he can do about the second branch in a short time. It would just make him worried on his campaign. My future depends entirely on the Princely Heir’s success."
This was also why Du Yunluo didn’t immediately have Imperial Doctor Xing diagnose Mu Tang.
If Mu Tang really knew something, he must have a reason for not speaking. Whether he was truly mute or pretending, he wouldn’t talk.
Mu Tang wasn’t afraid of death; threats and bribes were useless.
And for the sake of reputation, the entirety of the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion wouldn’t kill him.
Back then, when Mu Tang attempted suicide and was dissuaded by the abbot of Qinglian Temple, he couldn’t be forced then; now as Master Kongming, he couldn’t be forced either.
If Mu Tang was wary of the second branch, only once Mu Lianxiao achieved honor and the long family line truly took control of the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, with the second branch no longer having overwhelming power, might he finally speak.
This meant that what Du Yunluo could do was actually quite simple.
Make the second branch chaotic first.
If the second branch didn’t descend into chaos, everything would proceed as usual, and Du Yunluo, from thousands of miles away on the frontier, would be powerless to intervene.
Jin Rui and Jin Ling exchanged a glance, seeing the determination in each other’s eyes.
Only if the mistress was well, could they be well too, and in the future, they must do their utmost for Du Yunluo, to escape from this predicament as soon as possible.