"The gentleman you mentioned is Doctor Xiao’s granddaughter, Chun Nuan?"

Zhong Huimin asked in surprise.

"Yes."

"Can you ask her to see me for a consultation?"

I’ve long heard that Chun Nuan is skilled in diagnosing women’s illnesses, but I never got the chance to submit a request.

It’s because she hardly has any social contacts in the Capital.

Moreover, she never accepts consultation requests.

"Elder sister, I will try my best."

"Alright, Fifth Sister, if you can get Chun Nuan to see me, if I could..." Some words were hard to say: "I will be grateful to you, and I will ask mother to find you a good marriage match."

"Thank you, elder sister."

Zhong Xiuxiu felt a great weight lift off her heart upon hearing these words.

Goodness, she nearly got sent to the Minister’s Mansion as a concubine!

Something other sisters would envy, she was desperately avoiding.

People are indeed different.

To avoid being sent as a concubine, Zhong Xiuxiu shamelessly approached Chun Nuan that day.

"Teacher..."

"What’s the matter?"

"Teacher, it’s like this..."

Zhong Xiuxiu, blushing, explained Zhong Huimin’s situation.

"The Young Madam of the Minister’s Mansion?"

"Yes."

Zhong Xiuxiu wasn’t sure if the teacher would agree to help.

"I’ve never set up a consultation in the Capital." Apart from those close to her and the two in the palace, she doesn’t accept requests from anyone else.

As Zhao Minghua would say: Why tire myself out when I am not lacking in clothes or food? If she sets up a consultation, she’ll be competing for business with many doctors in the Capital, which would unnecessarily provoke resentment.

"I’m troubling you, teacher." Zhong Xiuxiu quickly said, "If it’s inconvenient for you, then forget it."

There was no other way but to tell her elder sister the truth.

"It is indeed inconvenient," Chun Nuan said. "However, you can ask your elder sister to send you to the college to attend classes."

Zhong Xiuxiu was stunned for a moment before she suddenly realized.

"Thank you, teacher!"

"Go ahead."

Chun Nuan knew Zhong Xiuxiu was a clever person.

She wouldn’t consult or make house calls, but if Zhong Xiuxiu’s elder sister sent her to the college, she could inadvertently meet Chun Nuan. There they could "chat" about Zhong Xiuxiu’s progress at school, using this as a pretext to check her pulse without issue.

"Is this true?"

Zhong Huimin was overjoyed to learn that Zhong Xiuxiu had secured an appointment with Chun Nuan for her.

"Absolutely true." Zhong Xiuxiu looked at her elder sister’s excited appearance with emotion, realizing the benefits of attending Chunshan Women’s Medical College!

Truly, the more she learned about medicine, the wiser her initial decision seemed.

To ask for a medical consultation, what is that?

It’s an opportunity even money can’t buy!

"Fifth Sister, thank you, thank you so much."

No matter her health situation, having Chun Nuan see her, even if it was a diagnosis that confirmed mortality, would be a clear understanding.

She dared not see the doctors outside, nor did she trust them.

Madam Zhong was also pleased to hear that the concubine daughter had received the favor of Chun Nuan, who was willing to provide a consultation to her daughter.

"Xiuxiu is truly clever," Madam Zhong said. "Rest assured; mother will not treat you unfairly."

"Mother has always been good to her daughter."

"This child!"

Well, this concubine daughter is indeed more astute than the other concubine daughters.

Yes, astute.

On the surface, she appears honest, doing whatever she is told.

Who would have thought, the head of the family likes this type of concubine daughter?

All dressed up flamboyantly, eager to be sent to the Minister’s Mansion as concubines immediately, these shameless vixens are no better than their aunts.

Disobedient ones, she naturally does not want to send to her daughter’s house lest she gets bullied.

Zhong Xiuxiu is compliant, yet inwardly proud.

It’s clear she does not wish to be a concubine.

If her daughter could even have a son or daughter, she wouldn’t have to play the villain anymore.

Finding her a good marriage match is no harm.

The following day, Zhong Huimin personally escorted Zhong Xiuxiu to Chunshan Women’s Medical College for her classes and showed great concern for her Fifth sister’s studies, specifically visiting Mountain Master Chun Nuan.

"Teacher, this is my elder sister, Zhong Huimin."

"Huimin greets the teacher."

"Miss Zhong, no need for formalities, please sit."

Since it was a consultation, Chun Nuan didn’t beat around the bush and directly checked her pulse.

She also asked about her daily routine and diet.

Finally, Chun Nuan asked one more question.

"Does your husband have any concubines besides you?"

"There’s a chamber maid."

"Has the chamber maid ever been pregnant?"

"Yes."

Speaking of this, Zhong Huimin became very upset. The chamber maid had been pregnant twice.

But because the Madam of the Minister’s Mansion said that without a legitimate heir, the illegitimate child could not be born, she had the chamber maid miscarry.

As a result, this chamber maid held Zhong Huimin responsible and bore a deep grudge against her.

"Could you tell me about your marital relations?"

Zhong Huimin blushed as she described the dates of their marital relations.

Zhong Xiuxiu, on the side, listened, her face burning.

Having heard her elder sister talk about the dates of their marital relations, she seemed to understand where the problem lay.

After all, the teacher mentioned this issue during class.

"Teacher, am I incapable of having children?"

Zhong Huimin just wanted to hear it from Chun Nuan, even if it meant her death.

"No, you are in good health, and there is no issue with having children."

This left Zhong Huimin stunned.

"Then why am I..."

"Your diet is the issue; you’ve consumed abortion medicine."

"No, I have never..."

Zhong Huimin suddenly thought of something!

That must be it...

Chun Nuan saw her face change drastically and knew that she had figured it out. Backyards are filled with many dirty, lurking things.

"Pay attention to your diet, and additionally, switch up the timing of your marital relations."

Learning that their marital relations were not during her fertile days left her dumbfounded.

No wonder, during the days when her husband wasn’t in her room, it was convenient for the chamber maid, who happened to be fertile.

"Teacher, can I really bear children?"

"Yes," Chun Nuan said, "As I mentioned, be cautious about your diet."

No matter how fruitful, drinking abortion medicine won’t help.

"I understand, thank you, teacher."

Zhong Huimin presented a silver note worth two hundred taels.

"I don’t charge for consultations, so I cannot accept this."

"Teacher, think of it as a modest contribution to the Women’s Medical College."

"Alright, I’ll accept it, and the money will be used for the female disciples of the Women’s Medical College." Chun Nuan said, "Miss Zhong is a great benefactor, destined for a lifetime filled with children and grandchildren."

"I appreciate your auspicious words, teacher!"

Hearing Chun Nuan’s words, Zhong Huimin felt a new lease on life.

She could bear children.

But she wasn’t pregnant because she was sabotaged.

And she miscalculated the timing.

How unjust.

Upon returning to the Minister’s Mansion, to avoid alerting others, Zhong Huimin refused all food and drink from the mansion, opting instead to have her maid fetch everything from her dowry shop, delivered through food containers or other means.

Additionally, she adjusted the timing of her marital relations based on Chun Nuan’s advice.

Two months later, Zhong Huimin felt nauseous.

She returned home and informed Madam Zhong.

Madam Zhong immediately called a doctor, who confirmed her pregnancy with a pulse check.

"That’s wonderful." Madam Zhong was happy for her daughter, thinking of the child as a result of Zhong Xiuxiu arranging for Chun Nuan’s pulse check and generously sent a set of fine jewelry to Zhong Xiuxiu’s quarters.

"Your daughter thanks mother for the reward."

"Good child, study well, and mother will find you a suitable husband, so you too can live a prosperous life."

"Thank you, mother!"

Finally, the need to become a concubine was gone, and this was the future she truly desired.