In the other household, the Wengs, Wang Qingzhen had wrestled with her conscience for days. Finally, her longing for a child outweighed her apprehension. Hesitantly, she broached the subject with Weng Zhicheng, suggesting they have Imperial Physician Lu examine him.
"It's just a routine check-up," she explained, her voice a little shaky. "I've noticed you've been overworking lately, and you look so drawn. I thought a doctor could help you recuperate. Coincidentally, my second sister recommended Imperial Physician Lu. Since he's an imperial physician, he's only willing to see you out of consideration for her. Imperial physicians are very skilled, and it wouldn't hurt to have him take a look, would it?"
Wang Qingzhen felt guilty and nervous, her usual eloquence failing her. She kept swallowing and offering nervous smiles, afraid Weng Zhicheng would see through her.
Weng Zhicheng looked at her with amusement and placed a small, exquisitely carved wooden rabbit into her hand.
"What did the Princess of Ding'an say to you?"
The wooden rabbit was lifelike and charming, but Wang Qingzhen was too preoccupied to admire it. She clutched it, her palm growing sweaty.
She stammered, "N-nothing… nothing much. My second sister was just chatting with me. I pleaded with her for a while, and only then did she agree to ask Imperial Physician Lu to see us… cough, cough…"
Wang Qingzhen used to tell lies without batting an eye. Since being with Weng Zhicheng, her character had changed considerably. Now, she felt her cheeks flush even when telling a small fib.
Weng Zhicheng, sharp as he was, knew exactly what his little wife was up to. He reached out and gently massaged her warm ear. "I've always felt that the Princess of Ding'an knows more about fertility than most people. Since she recommended him, I'll let him take a look. It's not entirely your fault that we haven't had children. You shouldn't have to bear all the blame."
Wang Qingzhen blinked in surprise. She hadn't expected Weng Zhicheng to see through her so easily, nor had she anticipated him saying something similar to Wang Qingyao. Did men also have a role to play in not being able to have children? Wang Qingzhen lacked knowledge in this area and was momentarily lost in thought. This was a sensitive topic, and she didn't want to inadvertently hurt Weng Zhicheng's male pride.
She quickly changed the subject. "Mm, I understand. I'll have my second sister help me invite Imperial Physician Lu."
Though she wanted to avoid the topic, Weng Zhicheng insisted on pursuing it. "Wife, if it turns out to be my problem, will you leave me?" he asked, his eyes wide and pleading, looking like a stray dog that had endured hardships.
Wang Qingzhen's heart softened. She felt a pang of sympathy and quickly hugged him. "No, no, of course not. At worst, we can adopt a child."
Weng Zhicheng rested his chin on her head, breathing in her soft, sweet scent. "I know you love children. If you were to leave me, I wouldn't blame you. After all, if it were your issue, my mother would likely be arranging for me to take a concubine by now."
Weng Zhicheng spoke the truth. Society was unfair. If a woman couldn't conceive, it was natural for the husband to take a concubine. If a man couldn't conceive, well, Wang Qingzhen had only recently encountered this idea. She hadn't heard of any men being infertile before. If such cases existed, they were likely kept secret, with the blame unfairly placed on the woman. Even if the truth came out and a divorce was granted, the woman would no longer be a maiden and would find it difficult to remarry into a good family.
Wang Qingzhen was surprised by her own sudden contemplation of societal issues. "You're right," she said. "But I won't leave you. If it's my problem…" She paused, her voice taking on a chilling edge. "Adoption is fine, but as for taking a concubine," she looked him up and down, as if appraising a piece of meat on a cutting board, "hehe…"
Weng Zhicheng shivered. "Hehe, how could I possibly take a concubine? Even if it's your problem, I wouldn't."
"I hope so."
A few days later, Imperial Physician Lu was invited to the Weng residence, ostensibly to help Wang Qingzhen with her health. Before the examination, he lectured them both. "You've only been married for a year. It's normal not to conceive immediately. Why are you both in such a hurry?"
Wang Qingzhen sheepishly touched her nose, her cheeks flushing. She hadn't been in a rush initially, but seeing her married acquaintances, one after another, getting pregnant and giving birth, especially Wang Qingzhu, had made her anxious. She and Wang Qingzhu had been subtly competing, which had made her restless.
Since Imperial Physician Lu was there, he took both their pulses. His examination revealed a problem. Wang Qingyao had guessed correctly; Wang Qingzhen's difficulty in conceiving was indeed related to Weng Zhicheng. However, it wasn't a serious issue. Imperial Physician Lu prescribed medication, and after a period of recuperation for Weng Zhicheng, Wang Qingzhen became pregnant by the end of the year.
Of course, that was a story for later. For now, upon learning that the problem lay with him, Weng Zhicheng felt even more guilt towards Wang Qingzhen. After all, since their marriage, she had borne the pressure of not being able to conceive alone. Although Weng's mother hadn't said much, Weng Zhicheng knew she also longed for a grandson. Especially after learning that Wang Qingzhu had already had two children, Weng's mother, while satisfied with Wang Qingzhen, had secretly wondered if she would have had a grandson much sooner if Wang Qingzhu had married into their family.
After Imperial Physician Lu finished his examination, Weng Zhicheng explained the situation to his mother. However, publicly, Wang Qingzhen took all the blame upon herself. This made Weng Zhicheng and his mother even more indebted and grateful to her, and their family life grew increasingly harmonious.