Yun Qi shot Da Bao a cold glance, her eyes fixed on the ceiling, neither speaking nor giving any serious thought to what Da Bao was saying.

Seeing Yun Qi’s demeanor, Da Bao sighed, walked over again, and spoke with strained patience, "Yun Qi, I know Mother is anxious about this matter. Did Mother say anything harsh today? If she did, don't mind it, just endure it a little. I understand all of this. It'll be fine if you just come here later, but Father and Mother are waiting in the courtyard right now. Go see the doctor first, don't keep them waiting too long."

Yun Qi opened her eyes and looked quietly at Da Bao, her expression tinged with sorrow. She didn't speak. Da Bao noticed Yun Qi's sadness too and sighed again, softening her tone, "I know your life hasn't been easy while I was away. You have to take medicine every day and are often criticized by Mother and Grandmother. I can understand why you're feeling irritable, but there's nothing that can be done about it. Why else would we still not have a child after all this time? This issue must be treated. If you don't go today, you’ll have to go in a couple of days anyway. Why make Mother unhappy?"

Da Bao’s words had initially softened Yun Qi’s heart, but what followed made her uncomfortable. What did she mean by ‘because we don't have a child’? Was she blaming her? Thinking this, Yun Qi remained quietly on the bed, her tone quite vexed as she spoke, "I already said I’m not going today, so stop talking about it. Never mind you; even if the Jade Emperor himself came today, if I say I won't go, I won't go." After saying this, Yun Qi turned her body away, presenting her back to Da Bao.

At this, a surge of anger welled up in Da Bao. Thinking how much good counsel she had offered, yet this person remained so obstinate, Da Bao said loudly, "I’m telling you, you have to go today, whether you want to or not! If you absolutely refuse, I will ask the doctor to come here for you. If your health still doesn't improve then, don't blame me for whatever Mother decides to do."

Da Bao waited in the room for a moment after speaking. When Yun Qi still didn't move, Da Bao stormed out angrily, telling Huang Shi that she was going to call a doctor to come for her.

Even after Da Bao left, Huang Shi couldn't coax Yun Qi out. She spoke loudly in the courtyard, "Today's wives are truly unbearable! She holds her in-laws and her own husband in such low regard. For such a small trip, she needs to summon a doctor? She truly thinks she’s destined to be a young mistress! I want to see if things will be any different once the doctor arrives."

Niu Er, standing nearby, saw Huang Shi’s aggressive posture looked like she was spoiling for a fight and quickly tried to persuade her. Eventually, he pulled Huang Shi away, saying that since Da Bao had already gone to fetch a doctor, it would be the same to have the doctor come to the house, so there was no need to argue about it.

After a considerable wait, Da Bao returned with a doctor who took Yun Qi’s pulse. The doctor said much the same as before, offering no specific details, merely prescribing some medicine and stating that her body still required ongoing conditioning.

Once the doctor left Yun Qi’s room, Huang Shi called the doctor aside and asked, "Doctor, please tell me, how long must my daughter-in-law continue this conditioning before she recovers? It’s been over a year now. We’ve tried every method, even the common folk remedies in the open air, and she never misses the medicine you prescribe. Yet her body still won't conceive. Can you give me a definitive answer? Can my daughter-in-law’s body ever bear children?"

The doctor looked at Huang Shi and asked with a smile, "Madam Lin, do you wish to hear the truth?"

"Yes, Doctor, please speak plainly," Huang Shi stated firmly.

"Well, Madam, if this were a different person, I might not speak so directly. But since you are the Second Young Mistress’s family, and the Second Young Master and Mistress are very familiar with our shopkeeper, I won't beat around the bush with you. Regarding your daughter-in-law's body, I dare not say it’s absolutely impossible for her to conceive, as these things are never certain. However, it is likely to be difficult for the next year or two. Her body has been conditioned for a long time, and although the pulse shows slight improvement, it is not very significant. Complete recovery will likely require a period of further conditioning," the doctor said with a serious expression.

"Doctor, so what you’re saying is that my daughter-in-law’s condition cannot be cured? If she conditions for another two years, can you guarantee she will conceive?" Huang Shi asked somewhat anxiously.

"Heh heh, Madam Lin, this old man cannot guarantee that. I imagine no doctor would dare make such a promise," the doctor replied with a smile.

Hearing this, Huang Shi’s mind was thrown into turmoil. Niu Er escorted the doctor out, and she had no heart left to listen to whatever they discussed afterward. She was now certain that Yun Qi could not bear children. What should be done if she couldn't bear children? Should she divorce Yun Qi, or should Da Bao take a concubine?

Although Huang Shi had long harbored this suspicion—that Yun Qi, after taking medicine for so long with no results, might indeed be infertile—and had considered arranging another woman for Da Bao, it had always remained a suspicion, never confirmed. Today, hearing the doctor say this, the last sliver of hope was utterly extinguished. Fortunately, Huang Shi had some mental preparation, so she could accept it, concluding that she needed to figure out a solution for Da Bao.

With this thought, Huang Shi sat fretfully in the courtyard. When Niu Er returned after seeing the doctor off, he too sat down, looking troubled. The couple looked at each other and sighed heavily. Finally, Huang Shi broke the silence, "Husband, what should we do now?"

"Alas, this matter is not easy to handle. It depends on what Da Bao says. Let's ask him when he comes out," Niu Er replied with distress.

"I don’t think we need to ask Da Bao. Since the doctor has confirmed Yun Qi cannot conceive, we only have two paths left: either divorce Yun Qi, or let Da Bao take a concubine. There is no other way," Huang Shi said, looking at Niu Er.

Niu Er had never approved of Huang Shi trying to arrange things for Da Bao like this. In fact, she had brought it up many times in front of him, but each time Niu Er stopped her. Given past examples—the troubles that arose with his elder brother’s two wives—his own household absolutely could not follow the elder brother's old path. Thus, for a long time, even though Niu Er was anxious about Yun Qi not conceiving, he steadfastly refused Huang Shi’s suggestion of finding a concubine for Da Bao.

But now that the doctor had said such things, even though the doctor mentioned that perhaps in two years her body might be conditioned, he also said that nothing was certain. What if, after two years, her body still hadn't improved? How old would Da Bao be then? Moreover, it would surely invite considerable gossip.

When Huang Shi brought up the matter again today, Niu Er did not stop her this time, merely asking, "Wife, what is your plan then?"

"You always say that adding another daughter-in-law will bring more trouble to the house, right? Why don't we just have Da Bao divorce Yun Qi and then marry someone new for him?" Huang Shi proposed tentatively. (To be continued)