After a long time, stepping back into the Princess’s Residence again, Prince Wei Yangwang glanced around, feeling a surge of emotions.

He recalled that the last time he visited the residence, it had been for Wen Yuruo’s coming-of-age ceremony.

Now, the princess’s residence was adorned with blooming flowers and an air of tranquility.

The golden Buddha statue, shrouded in the evening’s shadows, glimmered with divine light.

Unable to suppress his thoughts, he murmured to Zhang Feiyan beside him, “What do you think would happen if I told Sining I wanted to stay here for a while?”

Zhang Feiyan shot him a sidelong glance, her smile insincere. “She’d probably tell you to leave this instant.”

Prince Wei Yangwang: …

Upon entering the tranquil pavilion, they found Zhou Manniang already waiting with a small medicine chest, accompanied by a radiant young woman.

Zhang Feiyan learned from the introductions that the woman’s name was Jiang Lu, but she didn’t understand why Jiang Lu would also be in the princess’s residence.

Her gaze lingered briefly before landing on Princess Sining, who sat calmly drinking tea.

Although Zhang Feiyan had heard of the famous Princess Sining before, seeing her in person, along with the people in her residence, left an entirely different impression.

The women around Princess Sining—whether it was Jiang Lu, Zhou Manniang, or even Lu Hongying, whom they had encountered earlier—seemed to shine with an extraordinary light.

Once they were seated and Prince Wei Yangwang explained their purpose for coming, Zhou Manniang posed a question that took everyone by surprise.

She asked directly, “May I ask, in the Prince’s residence, aside from the princess consort, have any other concubines ever been pregnant?”

Zhang Feiyan was taken aback but eventually replied, “There was one, many years ago, who did become pregnant.”

Thinking back, though, it had been five or six years ago.

Zhou Manniang frowned slightly and turned to Prince Wei Yangwang. “If that’s the case, the problem likely lies with Your Highness.”

The pavilion fell silent.

Her straightforward remark caused the attendants traveling with the prince and princess consort to visibly react.

Although only close confidants accompanied them, as these were personal attendants who knew the situation well, Zhou Manniang’s bluntness still stunned them.

In their society, when a couple remained childless for a long time, it was almost always assumed to be the woman’s fault.

Yet Zhou Manniang, with a single sentence, shifted the focus to Prince Weiyang.

Her words contradicted traditional thinking, leaving even the prince visibly displeased.

But Zhou Manniang’s face remained composed.

In the past, as an unmarried woman, she might have hesitated to speak so candidly about such matters in public, even if she understood the underlying issues.

However, after spending time under Wen Yuesheng’s guidance and even experiencing battle in Fuzhou, Zhou Manniang had grown fearless.

To a healer, there should be no barriers of gender or propriety.

Her duty was to convey what she knew. Whether the patient could accept it or not was their own concern.

Zhang Feiyan, after recovering from the initial shock, said, “I’ve been feeling unwell myself lately. Perhaps Miss Zhou could examine me first?”

Despite her brash reputation, the Third Princess Consort chose to protect Prince Weiyang’s dignity in front of others.

Zhou Manniang did not refuse.

She took Zhang Feiyan’s hand and checked her pulse for a moment before pulling back and speaking plainly:

“The Princess Consort is in good health. Just ensure you manage your emotions, avoid anger, and don’t let worries weigh on your heart.” She paused briefly. “As for bearing children, the Princess Consort is perfectly fine.”

The moment she finished, all eyes shifted to Prince Weiyang.

The prince’s face darkened.

No man would take kindly to having their fertility questioned in front of others.

After a moment of tense silence, however, he extended his hand.

Zhou Manniang began examining his pulse.

This time, the examination took much longer than it had for Zhang Feiyan—so long, in fact, that it became the longest pulse diagnosis Zhou Manniang had ever conducted.

The winter night was cold, and the pavilion, situated on the lake, was even chillier than other parts of the residence.

Jiang Lu had the attendants bring in a few braziers and light the pavilion’s lamps.

The warm glow dispersed some of the winter chill.

Yet as time passed, Prince Weiyang’s expression grew colder.

Zhou Manniang was renowned for her skill, having treated countless patients, including Lu Qinghuai, who had been poisoned, and Li Qingyuan, whose right hand was nearly crippled.

The prince couldn’t doubt her abilities, but her prolonged silence made everyone anxious.

Those unaware of the situation might have assumed he had contracted an incurable disease.

Finally, Zhou Manniang withdrew her hand but didn’t immediately give an answer.

She seemed lost in thought.

Zhang Feiyan asked softly, “Miss Zhou, is something amiss?”

Zhou Manniang glanced briefly at Wen Yuesheng, who was sipping her tea, then spoke decisively:

“…Based on my examination, the issue indeed lies with His Highness.”

Her words sent shockwaves through the pavilion.

Prince Weiyang’s face tightened, and he stared at her in disbelief.

Jiang Lu, however, mused aloud, “That doesn’t make sense. Members of the royal family undergo regular checkups by imperial physicians.”

“If there were any issues with His Highness’s health, how could they have gone unnoticed for so long?”

Her reasoning seemed to ease Prince Weiyang’s expression slightly.

Zhang Feiyan couldn’t help but glance at Jiang Lu again.

“That’s precisely the crux of the problem,” Zhou Manniang said gravely. “At first glance, His Highness’s pulse seems exceptionally healthy, indistinguishable from that of an ordinary person.”

“But if you look closely, that’s not entirely the case.” She furrowed her brows. “It’s as though something is obscuring the true pulse condition.”

Her explanation was cryptic, but the expression on Prince Wei Yangwang’s face shifted drastically.

She merely mentioned that the pulse was obscured; she didn’t admit to making an incorrect judgment.

Could it be that he truly was infertile?

“What is causing the obstruction?” In the silence, Wen Yuesheng’s voice was calm as she asked.

Zhou Manniang replied, “It’s not yet certain.”

She hadn’t encountered this kind of situation often before, but since curing Lu Qinghuai previously, she had gained considerable insights.

This prompted her to delve deeper into medical texts and trust her own judgment more confidently.

Prince Wei Yangwang, on the other hand, was already on the verge of losing his temper.

He didn’t care about any “obstruction” or lack thereof; he was only concerned with one question: “So, am I truly infertile?”

His head buzzed, and he found the notion unbearable. “But one of my concubines clearly conceived before!”

How could it possibly be his issue?

Zhou Manniang turned her head, her expression neutral but her words brutally honest: “Then perhaps, Your Highness, you need to carefully investigate the concubine who supposedly conceived.”

Prince Wei Yangwang: ?

What did she mean?

Was she implying that not only was he infertile, but his beloved concubine had cuckolded him?

Prince Wei Yangwang struggled to accept this and almost fainted from anger.

Zhou Manniang, unfazed, said coldly, “Go back for now. Once we’ve figured out why you’re infertile, someone will inform you.”

After a pause, she added, “Also, the root of fertility has been destroyed. No matter how it’s treated, there’s no possibility of recovery.”

“If you hear anyone claim they can cure you in the future,” she continued with a blank expression, “they’re lying to you.”

Such definitive words left Prince Wei Yangwang’s face utterly green with anger.

He couldn’t recover from the shock. Pointing at Zhou Manniang, he struggled for a long time to say anything, nearly fainting from his pent-up rage.

Eventually, he stormed out of the princess’s residence in a fury.

Long after he had left, Zhang Feiyan finally processed what had happened.

She stood up to bid farewell, but after a moment’s thought, she turned to Zhou Manniang and asked, “Miss Zhou, are you certain he will never be able to conceive again?”

Zhou Manniang answered without hesitation, “Certain.”

She glanced at the beautiful Third Princess Consort in front of her and said softly, “Princess Consort, it may be wise to make other plans.”

A man who can’t have children—what’s the point of keeping him around?

Hearing this, Zhang Feiyan’s smile almost faltered.

“Good, very good!” she said, warmly grasping Zhou Manniang’s hand. “Thank you, Miss Zhou. Tomorrow, I’ll send you a grand gift as thanks.”

Zhou Manniang: ?

This couple was truly unique.

One had an entire household of concubines with no children and didn’t suspect himself.

The other was so delighted upon hearing her husband couldn’t have children, as though he weren’t her husband at all.

Before Zhou Manniang could fully process this, Zhang Feiyan had already left the princess’s residence with a face full of joy.

Left behind, the people in the princess’s residence exchanged baffled looks in the quiet pavilion.

Yan Ling set down his teacup and remarked calmly, “A royal heir who cannot produce children…”

“Prince Wei Yangwang has lost any chance at the throne in his lifetime.”

Beside him, Jiang Lu’s eyes sparkled with intrigue.

This meant that among the emperor’s offspring, four were now effectively out of contention.

Or rather, five.

Because apart from the four sons, there was also Princess Furui.

It seemed the only potential heirs left were the well-protected Second Prince, Jingkang, and the legitimate son of the Empress, the Fourth Prince, Yong’an.

If one were to think seriously, Prince Wei Yangwang hadn’t been entirely without prospects before.

But now, knowing he was infertile…

That possibility was virtually nonexistent.

For a royal prince, infertility was even more severe than Prince Xiao Rui’s earlier disqualification when he lost an arm for treason.

The princess’s residence remained quiet.

Wen Yuesheng’s subordinates were not talkative people. Even knowing such royal secrets, they didn’t spread them around.

However, despite their discretion, the news spread like wildfire throughout the capital.

It started with Prince Wei Yangwang’s, who grew increasingly agitated after returning to his residence.

Thinking back to Zhou Manniang’s remark about his concubine cuckolding him, his anger boiled over.

He immediately ordered a thorough investigation of that concubine.

To his shock, by the next evening, he caught the concubine in the act of having an affair.

Prince Wei Yangwang was livid, nearly losing his mind.

He wanted to execute the concubine immediately, but the woman had already prepared for such an outcome.

Before he could act, the concubine spread the news of his infertility throughout the capital.

Known for his libertine lifestyle, Prince Wei Yangwang had a household full of concubines.

Even though Princess Zhang Feiyan managed the household strictly, he still frequently brought new women into the residence.

The concubine in question was someone he had taken home from a theater, and she had been a favorite of his.

Having grown up in the complex environment of the theater, she was shrewd and perceptive.

After spending years in the prince’s residence and noticing that none of the other women around her bore children—not even the princess—she began to suspect the truth.