Chapter 5: The Emperor can’t have Heir?

Two imperial physicians knelt down in haste. Zhou, the senior physician, spoke sorrowfully, “Your Majesty, your pulse… your pulse indicates that you… you are no longer able to have children.”

His words sent a shockwave through the room.

Hei Jin’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Zhou Physician, what are you saying? The Emperor has no heir? How is that possible?”

Hei Mu furrowed his brow. “What’s going on? How can he be infertile? His health has been fine all along.”

Zhu, the other physician, inquired, “Has Your Majesty taken any medication recently? We check your pulse almost daily, and we have never observed this condition before.”

All eyes were fixed on Nangong Yan. As the Emperor, he couldn’t be childless. Without an heir, what would become of the vast Southern Kingdom?

Nangong Yan recalled the medicine the woman had given him the previous night. He didn’t know if it had other effects. Could it be that she had given him a potion to make him infertile?

His emotions grew complex. This woman, her actions were always unpredictable. He had helped her, yet she had repaid his kindness with treachery, poisoning him?

Nangong Yan remained silent, before finally asking after a while, “Is there a cure?”

Zhou shook his head. “Your Majesty, it appears to be caused by medication, but I cannot discern what kind of medication it is. Therefore, I cannot offer a solution. We can only find the person who gave you the medicine and see if they can resolve this.”

Nangong Yan nodded. “Very well. I understand. The matter of my infertility need not be kept secret, but let us wait until we return to Southern Yang City before making it public.”

Hearing this, the physicians immediately objected. “Your Majesty, if this news gets out, rumors will spread like wildfire. Things could go awry!”

“Indeed! Your Majesty, you have yet to choose an Empress. If this news gets out, it will… what will become of the future?”

Nangong Yan’s mind was solely focused on matters of state. He had never considered matters of the heart, nor had he ever thought about having children. The ministers had been urging him to choose an Empress for years, but he had always declined. Before, it was because of his crippled leg, and now it was because he couldn’t have children. In any case, he was a flawed man, so he wouldn’t burden anyone.

His expression remained calm as he said, “These things are of no consequence. If I truly have no children in the future, I will adopt one. There are many young men in the royal lineage. Surely, there will be a suitable candidate.”

Upon hearing this, everyone’s eyes filled with sorrow.

Zhou, the senior physician, gritted his teeth. “Your Majesty, I was unable to cure your leg before, but I will do my utmost to solve this infertility problem. Even if it means dying, I will find a solution.”

Nangong Yan waved his hand, dismissing them. He then instructed Hei Jin to prepare writing materials. He drew a picture of the woman from his memory. However, the portrait showed her wearing a veil, revealing only her eyes.

“Find this woman. Bring her before me.”

Hei Jin took the portrait and glanced at it, feeling a sense of astonishment. However, he didn’t ask any questions. He took the portrait and left to give his orders.

While Nangong Yan was searching for the woman, the one he sought, Qingli, was fast asleep in an inn.

After a tiring night, she was exhausted and slept soundly until nightfall. When she woke up, she asked the innkeeper to bring her dinner. After finishing her meal, she intended to go back to sleep, but she could hear a cacophony of voices from the courtyard behind the window, disturbing her rest.

This time, she had chosen a small inn, far from the one she stayed in the previous night. She was afraid that the man might hold a grudge and come looking for her.

Qingli got up and opened the window. The window opened onto a courtyard. In the middle of the courtyard, there seemed to be a well. Two small ghosts were sitting on the well, seemingly eating something, chattering away.

Qingli called out to the two ghosts, “You two little ghosts, be quiet. You’re disturbing my rest.”

The two ghosts froze for a moment before turning to look at Qingli. If a normal person had seen the two ghosts at that moment, they would have been terrified.

The two ghosts had pale faces, a sickly white, almost like death. Their eye sockets and eyes were pitch black, and in the darkness, their eyeballs were invisible. Their hair was messy and hung down, strands falling over their paper-white faces. In the darkness, anyone would be frightened, except for Qingli.

Three pairs of eyes met in the darkness. Qingli frowned and stared at them. The two ghosts looked at each other, then asked in confusion, “You can see us?”

The voices of the little ghosts were childish, filled with curiosity.

Qingli nodded. “Yes, I can see and hear you, so please keep it down. You’re disturbing my rest.”

With that, she closed the window and lay back down on her bed.

The two little ghosts exchanged glances, then dropped the food they were holding and floated to Qingli’s window.

“Big Bai, why can she see us?” the smaller ghost asked curiously.

Big Bai, slightly taller, shook his head. “I don’t know!”

The two little ghosts floated outside the window, going back and forth, staring inside.

At this time, autumn had just begun, and the moon was full and bright. Qingli looked out the window and could clearly see the two little shadows floating around.

Feeling a bit exasperated, she got up again and opened the window.

“What are you two doing?”

Qingli’s sudden opening of the window startled the two little ghosts, almost making them fall.

Big Bai quickly steadied himself and said, “We’re just curious why you can see us. Many people come here every day, but no one has ever seen us. Why can you?”

Qingli looked at the two little ghosts and explained, “Because I am a sorceress who specializes in collecting ghosts, so I can see you.”

The smaller ghost gasped. “Ah? You’re a sorceress?”

“Oh no, Big Bai! She won’t want to collect us, will she? Let’s run!”

The little ghost grabbed Big Bai and tried to flee, but he couldn’t move him. Big Bai feigned calmness and said, “If she wanted to collect us, she would have done it already. Don’t be afraid, Xiao Bai.”

The two little ghosts had never encountered a sorceress before, but they had heard from other ghosts that they were feared by all spirits, as they were the most dreaded among them.

Qingli smiled at the older little ghost. “You’re quite clever.”

Since she couldn’t fall asleep anyway, Qingli sat on the windowsill and asked the two little ghosts, “What are your names? Why haven’t you reincarnated?”

The two little ghosts looked confused. Big Bai said, “We don’t know how to reincarnate.”

Xiao Bai chimed in, “What’s so great about reincarnation? I think we’re doing just fine as we are! We get to sneak food every night, but it’s a bit boring not being able to go out and play.”

Qingli looked at them and asked, “Do you know what reincarnation means?”

The two little ghosts nodded and then shook their heads. “We’ve heard other ghosts say that being a ghost is bad and that we should reincarnate to become human and have a better life. But when we ask them how Xiao Bai and I can reincarnate, they say they don’t know.”

Qingli inquired, “Do you not remember how you died? Do you not recall your family?”

Xiao Bai nodded vigorously. “Sister, how did you know? Those ghosts say that if you don’t know where you came from, you won’t know where to go, which is why we can’t reincarnate.”

Qingli nodded. “Yes, what they said is correct. Little ghosts, would you like me to help you? I’m in a good mood today and can help you for free, but it must be under the condition that you didn’t commit murder in your past lives.”

Helping ghosts who hadn’t committed murder to transcend to the afterlife was also an act of virtue. In her line of work, accumulating virtue was very important; the more good deeds she collected, the more beneficial it would be for her.

The two little ghosts hesitated, uncertain whether they should reincarnate.

Seeing their expressions, Qingli said, “How about this? I’ll help you restore your memories. Come on in!”

Qingli stepped into the room, and after a moment of hesitation, the two little ghosts followed her inside.

Qingli took out a mirror-like object from her bag, but instead of reflecting, it was covered in various unknown runes.

Xiao Bai nervously tugged on Big Bai’s sleeve, casting him an anxious glance.

Big Bai, feeling a bit tense, asked, “Why do you want to help us?”

At that moment, Big Bai regretted coming in. It seemed too impulsive, and if this person turned out to be bad, they would be in trouble.

Qingli sensed their tension and chuckled. “Isn’t it a bit late for you two to be having second thoughts now?”