Doctor Wei paused for a moment, then replied calmly, “I think the way things are now is great. I am free and at ease, without the burden of a family. I can concentrate on studying medicine without any distractions.”

The same excuse again.

Wei Jieyu looked helpless: “Ah Yan, I know you are passionate about medicine. With your current medical skills, it won’t be difficult for you to become a supervisor in the Imperial Hospital in the future. But you are not young anymore. Others at this age would have at least two or three children. You can’t always be alone like this. How can you be alone without someone to take care of you?”

“Besides, there are only two of us in the Wei family. I have entered the palace as a Jieyu, and now I have Anya, so I have someone to rely on in this life. If the Wei family wants to continue the family line, it depends on you.”

Wei Jieyu spoke earnestly and earnestly, and every word she said was reasonable.

Doctor Wei had no way to refute this, so he simply kept silent and let Wei Jieyu talk on.

“…When you were eighteen, the Empress wanted to matchmake for you and let you marry the daughter of the Xu family’s side branch. You were unwilling and swore in front of the Empress that you would never marry. That was just a temporary escape plan. You must not take such an oath seriously. Now six years have passed. If you don’t marry and have children, you will really delay your lifelong event.”

Wei Jieyu sighed, but the situation of that year emerged in her mind.

Empress Xu wanted to marry him to the daughter of a branch of the Xu family, but Wei Yan firmly refused the marriage.

She seemed to be favored in the palace, but in fact, her foundation was unstable and she was walking on thin ice. She was powerless to fight against Empress Xu. She knew that Empress Xu wanted to use this incident to test her and her brother, but she was powerless to protect her brother. She could only watch Wei Yan make a promise that he would never marry.

Over the past few years, whenever she thought about this, she felt heartbroken.

It was all because of her useless sister!

“Your Majesty, the oath I made back then was of my own free will, without the slightest coercion. You need not dwell on it.”

No one knew a sister better than her brother. Just by looking at the self-blame in Wei Jieyu’s eyes, Doctor Wei guessed what Wei Jieyu was thinking and said to comfort her: “As long as you and Anya live in peace and happiness, it is enough for me.”

Wei Jieyu frowned slightly: “But, I will not be able to let go of the pain until I see you get married. Ah Yan, even for my sake, you should get married sooner!”

Doctor Wei had a cold heart, and few people could move him. Today, he remained calm despite the various challenges posed by King Yan.

This calmness and composure were of no use in front of his elder sister who looked pleading.

Doctor Wei finally put away his smile and whispered, “Sister, you know the situation in the palace better than I do. My sister and I seem to have everything going for us in the palace, but in fact, we are trapped in danger and unable to extricate ourselves. Under such circumstances, my marrying and having children only gives me more weaknesses and leverage. Once someone forces me to do something outrageous, it will not only harm you and me but also implicate others.”

“I have never thought about starting a family. I just don’t want to implicate an innocent woman.”

Wei Jieyu’s heart trembled, and she remained silent.

Yes!

Outsiders only saw the glory of the siblings, but no one knew the hardships they lived in the palace. As a Jieyu, she seemed to be Wei Yan’s support, but in fact, Wei Yan had always been the real backbone of the siblings.

With his superb medical skills, Wei Yan won the Emperor’s respect and trust and became the Emperor’s full-time imperial physician. This position was not only high-ranking but also very important.

He was able to see the Emperor every day and was fully aware of his health. All the medicines the Emperor took were prescribed by Wei Yan. Wei Yan also regularly consulted Empress Xu and the Crown Prince.

As the only imperial physician who had access to the three most distinguished people in the Zhou Dynasty, Wei Yan had secretly built up far more connections than most people could imagine.

In such a situation, every move of Wei Yan was under everyone’s eyes. He had to be careful and meticulous in everything and not make any mistakes.

No wonder he was reluctant to get married and have children.

How could he have the energy to think about this after working so hard day and night?

“In the end, it’s always me who has implicated you.”

Wei Jieyu’s eyes were slightly red, and her voice was a little choked up: “Back then, I was forced to enter the palace, and I couldn’t let you go, so I asked the Emperor for grace to let you enter the Imperial Hospital. I originally thought that we, sister and brother, would have a chance to meet in the palace, and I also prayed for a good future for you. I never thought that I would drag you into this quagmire…”

As she spoke, tears quietly slid down her cheeks.

Empress Xu controlled the harem, supported the Xu family, secretly formed a clique, and was extremely ambitious.

Because of her, Wei Yan was also controlled by Empress Xu in disguise.

Once the wind and clouds gathered, a merciless storm would sweep in. The siblings may be lucky enough to save their lives, or they may be swept away by the storm and die.

A slight change of mind back then had led to the current dilemma.

Thinking of the past, Wei Jieyu was overwhelmed with grief and burst into tears.

Doctor Wei sighed softly, and his voice became a little deeper: “Sister, I have told you many times. Being able to enter the Imperial Hospital was something I dreamed of. I was fortunate to learn medical skills from the Imperial Hospital and read all the medical books in the Imperial Hospital. This is how I have my current medical skills.”

“If there hadn’t been that time, there wouldn’t be me now.”

“Life is full of ups and downs. No one knows who will be the final winner until the end. You don’t have to be pessimistic. I am here to protect you and Anya.”

Wei Jieyu raised her tearful eyes, and Wei Yan’s handsome and resolute face immediately came into view.

Over the years, whenever she felt down and sad, she was fortunate to have Wei Yan by her side.

Her anxious heart gradually calmed down.

Wiping away the tears with a handkerchief, Wei Jieyu calmed down a lot and sighed, “Over the years, there are many women in and outside the palace who admire you, and there are many talented and beautiful women among them. I still remember the female official named Lu Zhu beside the Empress. She was born into an official family, was good at poetry, and was very beautiful. She was quite fond of you, and I saw that you were kind to her. I originally wanted to ask for this marriage for you.”

“Unexpectedly, Luzhu was not so lucky. She got smallpox and was sent out of the palace. She died before she could even return home.”

After saying that, she sighed again, her tone full of regret.

Wei Yan was not polite to women, because he often went in and out of Empress Xu’s Jiofang Hall and had some contact with Lu Zhu, the female official in charge of the Jiofang Hall. She saw it and was secretly happy.

Unfortunately, Lu Zhu had a short life and was not destined to be husband and wife with Wei Yan.

When mentioning Lu Zhu, Doctor Wei didn’t know what he was thinking of. A trace of inexplicable coldness flashed across his eyes. But he said lightly: “It’s all in the past. It’s better not to mention it.”

(End of this chapter)