Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside-Chapter 708: Not Taking a Wife

Doctor Liu understood Luo Wu’s feelings and comforted him: "I’ve been practicing medicine for decades and have come across many unsavory matters in wealthy households. Don’t overthink it; perhaps she can be cured."

Even though hope was slim, the poison in the venison was too strong.

Luo Wu shook off Doctor Liu’s hand on his shoulder: "I don’t believe it, I know I can do this!"

Doctor Liu had seen many such people and spoke with the tone of an elder: "Young man, I know it’s hard for you to accept this, but don’t give up. If you take the medicine for a few years, maybe even a decade, you might recover."

At most, he would never recover in his lifetime, but he wouldn’t die; he needed to stay strong.

Luo Wu frowned: "Didn’t you say that you couldn’t tell whether I was poisoned by taking my pulse?"

Doctor Liu pointed to the two male rabbits and the package of venison: "These are the things you brought. There really is poison on them, and it’s a potent poison at that. Besides, most infertility drugs can’t be detected through pulse diagnosis."

He revealed another piece of information to Luo Wu: "Many of the infertility drugs circulating in Great Chu come from the court of the former dynasty. It’s rumored that an Emperor of the former dynasty, fearing cuckoldry, secretly administered such drugs to all the guards on night duty in the Forbidden Palace. When this palace secret was exposed, those guards went mad, embarking on a massacre in the palace. Although that Emperor escaped, his three Princes were first eunuched then killed, and many concubines were, you know... Violated by the guards, young man."

Luo Wu’s face turned uglier than just being upset. Seeing this, the attendant hurriedly said to Doctor Liu: "Master, you are a healer, not a storyteller. Why bring up these historical scandals?"

I’m still young and unmarried; what if he can’t take it and lashes out with his sword? What do we do then?

Doctor Liu, seeing that Luo Wu wasn’t comforted and instead looked even more upset, awkwardly hastened to say: "Young man, don’t be in a hurry, if you really want to know whether you’re poisoned, you can go to Qingshan Medical Hall and find Doctor Xiao."

Even though he and Old Man Xiao were enemies, he had to admit that Old Man Xiao’s medical skills surpassed his own. Seeing this young man, pitiable, still a bachelor, and likely never having touched a woman, if he were to become impotent that would truly be a misfortune.

Luo Wu also didn’t want to give up just like that. This matter was not only about his own life but also about Sister Xiu’s. Even if it was just for Sister Xiu, he had to make a trip to Qingshan Medical Hall.

Luo Wu quickly packed his things and rode to Qingshan Medical Hall to find Doctor Xiao.

Unfortunately, Doctor Xiao said much the same as Doctor Liu.

But Doctor Xiao, being worldly and insightful, also identified that the infertility drug in the venison was Duan Yang Powder.

"This drug originated from the court of the former dynasty, there’s no antidote. My master once researched this drug, attempting to create an antidote, but alas..." Doctor Xiao shook his head and sighed. However, "You didn’t eat the venison, so maybe you’re not poisoned."

He took Luo Wu’s pulse, and his pulse did not show signs of being poisoned with the infertility drug. However, the tricky part about Duan Yang Powder was that even if you were poisoned, it would not appear in the pulse. Only if you failed to conceive for many years could you possibly be diagnosed as poisoned.

Luo Wu listened, trembling all over, his face buried in his palms, silent. After a long time, he asked again: "Do I really need to be with a woman to test for the poison? Can’t I not do it?"

He didn’t want any other woman. If it wasn’t Sister Xiu, he wouldn’t be willing... But if he was really infertile, wouldn’t being with Sister Xiu harm her whole life?

Doctor Xiao said: "My medical skills are limited; I only know this one method."

If his master were still alive, perhaps he would know other methods to test for poisoning. But as it stands: "This is the simplest and most accurate method."

But Luo Wu didn’t want to resort to such a method.

"If it’s really poison, can it be cured?" Luo Wu asked hopefully, but Doctor Xiao had already said there was no cure.

Doctor Xiao, seeing Luo Wu so distressed he couldn’t stop shaking, didn’t want him to lose hope and lied: "You can start with medicine, take it for a few years and see what happens; maybe there’s a chance of recovery."

Almost as Doctor Liu had said, but Luo Wu was not foolish; he knew this meant the condition was incurable.

He remained silent, tears trickling through his fingers. Doctor Xiao didn’t dare to leave, fearing that this young man might do something foolish... After all, he was a grown man, the sole heir, and now he faced such a predicament. Should he have a fierce temper, one could guess he would either take his anger out on others or end his life on the spot.

Luo Wu remained silent for a whole two hours, and Doctor Xiao kept him company the entire time.

After extreme despair, Luo Wu finally stood up and bowed to Doctor Xiao: "Thank you for your effort. Please keep this a secret for me, and do not tell anyone else, especially the Gu Family People."

Xiao Yu was acquainted with Doctor Xiao; she often visited Qingshan Medical Hall to buy affordable medicinal herbs over the past three years.

Doctor Xiao reassured him: "Don’t worry, a doctor always keeps their patients’ secrets."

He tried to console him further: "Try to keep an open mind, maybe there’s been a mistake."

Luo Wu nodded and replied, "Rest assured, I won’t do anything foolish."

He was the only son in his family, the one who would have to care for his parents in their old age and support his sister. He couldn’t just end his life like that.

But Sister Xiu...

Luo Wu led his horse away, wandering aimlessly through Prefecture City and somehow found himself in a narrow alley where a crowd was gathered.

"You eunuch dog, you should have said earlier that you’re a rooster that can’t crow. Why eagerly marry our Meizi if you can’t have kids? You’ve made her childless even past thirty. What grudge do you hold against Meizi to torment her like this?"

A wave of angry curses rose, causing Luo Wu to frown. Looking up, he saw a group of people beating a middle-aged man not far away.

The man was frail and stood no chance of fighting back. Next to him knelt a woman who was crying and beating him: "Zhao Youliang, you bastard, we grew up together as childhood sweethearts, neighbors from the same street. Why have you done this to me? I’m thirty now, and even if I remarry, who knows if I can still bear children. You’re doomed to have no heirs, and you dragged me down with you. You’ve ruined my entire life!"

Hearing this, Luo Wu felt a stabbing pain in his heart and turned his horse around, dashing out of the alley.

The onlookers continued to gossip: "Oh, it turns out that it’s Zhao Youliang who can’t have kids. We always thought it was Tan Meizi who was infertile, making fun of her for over a decade, even praising Zhao Youliang for his conscience, keeping her despite her not laying eggs."

"Hmph, this Zhao Youliang really is a capon, truly treacherous and malicious. Not only can he not sow his seed, but he also monopolizes a good piece of land, truly doing great harm."

Luo Wu couldn’t recall how he left that alley. When he came to his senses, his horse had already reached the city gates.

The soldiers guarding the city yelled at him: "What’s with the daze? If you’re leaving the city, hurry up, or the gates will be closed soon."

Luo Wu hurriedly spurred his horse away, galloping on the official road until the sky grew completely dark. As daylight broke with a rare winter sunrise, he made a decision.

Sister Xiu’s life should be bright and happy; he cannot drag her into a dark quagmire to spend her life with a man who cannot have children.

He would not marry her so she could wed another and have the chance to become a mother.

Luo Wu thought he wouldn’t cry again after such a devastating blow, but when he decided not to marry Sister Xiu, tears still flowed.

He wiped away the tears in one motion and continued riding towards Tianfu County.