Passing by the garden, they encountered a man draped in a plain white gown walking towards them with a sluggish gait, supported by two young manservants on either side.
Liao Tingjun stopped in his tracks, pulled his arms out of the servants' grasp, and nodded in greeting to the two of them. "Sister Wen."
Liao Xiwen returned the greeting and exchanged a few pleasantries. "Have you had lunch yet, Big Brother?"
A weak, faint smile appeared on Liao Tingjun's face. "I just ate. I had a bit too much and felt bloated, so I came out for a walk. I assume this is Doctor Song?"
Song Jinzhao suppressed the surprise in her heart and nodded at him. Why did this Young Master Liao look like he was bound to have a short life? His breathing was unsteady, and he even needed people to support him when walking.
A head of the household's legitimate wife who had miscarried twelve times, a cousin-concubine who had miscarried three times, and a frail, sickly only son.
Her gaze turned to Liao Xiwen. Could she have some hidden medical problem too?
Liao Tingjun bowed to Song Jinzhao with cupped hands, pointing to the pavilion in the garden. "I wonder if Doctor Song could take a look at me, so my sickly and useless body can become a bit stronger."
Inside the pavilion, Song Jinzhao's fingers pressed lightly on the radial artery of Liao Tingjun's wrist.
Liao Tingjun was tense all over, his gaze fixed intently on Song Jinzhao's face.
After a long while, she lifted her eyelashes, took a listening tube from her medical box, and walked behind Liao Tingjun. "Take off your outer clothes and leave only your inner garments."
The manservant waiting in the pavilion caught Liao Tingjun's eye and immediately came over to help him undress.
Looking at Song Jinzhao, who remained silent after finishing the examination, Liao Tingjun's heart sank to the bottom of a cliff.
He touched his face, pulling up his cheeks to force a smile. "I've heard too many doctors' words, so I'm already used to it. Doctor Song, you can speak your mind frankly."
Song Jinzhao stared at him, shaking her head as she replied, "My skills are shallow. Please forgive me, but I am powerless to treat Young Master Liao's illness."
"What are you doing?" An angry roar that seemed to pierce the sky exploded in their ears.
Concubine Su ran over furiously, the corners of her alluring eyes turning cherry-red from extreme anxiety.
Liao Tingjun propped his trembling hands on the stone table to help himself stand up. "Concubine Su, I heard Doctor Song's medical skills are superb. I just wanted her to take a look at me."
Concubine Su looked at the closed medical box, her sharp nails digging into her palms, but she couldn't feel a hint of pain.
She forced the corners of her mouth up, but there was no trace of a smile in her eyes. "Your illness has always been treated by Physician Jiang. I was afraid that your body wouldn't be able to adapt to a sudden change of doctors."
"But since you've already examined him, I wonder if Doctor Song has a solution?"
Song Jinzhao stood up, picked up her medical box, and slung it over her shoulder. "Your son's illness is too rare. It is beyond my abilities."
Concubine Su's tightly clenched fists loosened for a couple of seconds before clenching even tighter than before.
"We've heard the same words countless times. Thank you for your hard work today, Doctor Song."
Liao Xiwen sensed the atmosphere was off. Thinking that Concubine Su, like her mother, had experienced too many disappointments and was on the verge of losing control of her emotions, she quickly ushered Song Jinzhao to leave.
"I've already had the servants prepare a carriage. It's waiting at the door right now. I'll walk you out."
It wasn't until they turned the corner and stepped through the circular stone gate that the intense, staring gaze behind them finally disappeared.
Just before getting into the carriage, Song Jinzhao turned her head and asked, "Was Young Master Liao born prematurely?"
Liao Xiwen shook her head without a second thought. "No, my eldest brother was carried to full term."
Song Jinzhao didn't say a word. She ducked into the carriage, sat down, and fell into deep thought.
She truly couldn't cure Liao Tingjun's illness. He suffered from congenital heart defect brought from the womb. Unless he underwent heart surgery, there would never be a way to completely cure it.
With the legitimate wife and a concubine pregnant at the same time, it wouldn't be surprising if Concubine Su had wanted to give birth to the eldest son first.
If that was really the case, she must be full of regret now, knowing that Kong Wanru had given birth to a daughter.
After returning to her room, Concubine Su dismissed the servants, leaving only the maid who had grown up with her since childhood. Her voice trembled slightly.
"Nanny, do you think Song Jinzhao diagnosed it?"
Nanny Diao spoke in a low voice, "Rest assured, Miss. So many years have passed. How could that female doctor find out just by checking the Young Master's pulse once? Just put your heart at ease. The Young Master will never know."
The already cold teacup in her hands was gripped so tightly by Concubine Su that it felt scorching hot. Her eyes were slightly wet, and her usual alluring charm vanished without a trace, leaving only bitterness and self-blame.
"I know how much Tingjun has cared about his health all these years. Whenever he hears of a famous doctor somewhere, he sends people to travel day and night to invite them back and treat them like royalty. I'm just afraid that one day he'll find out the truth and hate me. Even more so, I'm afraid he'll be so heartbroken that he'll be disappointed in me."
Nanny Diao knelt by Concubine Su's legs and held her trembling knees. "You did all of this for the Young Master, Miss. Back then, everyone in the manor said the Madam was pregnant with a boy, which was why you resorted to such a desperate measure. Who knew she would end up giving birth to a girl in the end? This is all fate; you didn't want this either, Miss."
Concubine Su closed her eyes to cool her mind. When she opened them, her gaze looked distantly ahead.
"Send someone to keep an eye on the Spring Water Courtyard. Whatever medicine Song Jinzhao prescribes, tell Physician Jiang. Kong Wanru can linger on with her last breath, but she absolutely must not have another child."
"I can't give birth, and neither can she."
Nanny Diao's lips moved, and after hesitating a few times, she finally spoke.
"If Song Jinzhao can truly cure the Madam's infertility, perhaps she can cure you too, Miss."
Concubine Su's eyes were as firm as iron. "There's no need. Having Tingjun alone is enough for me."
Nanny Diao asked, "Should we still have Wang Zhong continue to deal with Song Jinzhao?"
Concubine Su shook her head. "He can't deal with Song Jinzhao. If he gets exposed and she catches a vulnerability, it will only be detrimental to us."
"Keep a close watch on the Spring Water Courtyard. No matter how brilliant her medical skills are, it's useless if they can't be applied to Kong Wanru."
Seeing that Song Jinzhao had been gone for so long before returning, Song Shixue asked curiously, "Sister, is Madam Liao's illness very serious?"
Song Jinzhao put down her medical box and tapped her head with her finger. "Illnesses of the heart are hard to cure, but what's even harder to cure is someone's mindset. If she can't figure things out, she can never be saved."
Liu Xuanqing, who was practicing suturing techniques, stopped his movements and looked at Song Jinzhao. Thinking of Kong Wanru's condition, he couldn't help but nod in agreement. "Actually, as long as she doesn't have children and is willing to cooperate with the treatment, living to sixty will definitely not be a problem."
He sighed and chimed in, "But she insists on giving birth. It's understandable, though. After all, having no heir is not a long-term solution."
Song Shixue looked at Liu Xuanqing in confusion. "Isn't Miss Liao born to Madam Liao?"
Liu Xuanqing opened his mouth and closed it again. A girl can't carry on the family line.
Song Jinzhao shot a cold glare over, and Liu Xuanqing instantly lowered his head.
He hastily picked up the pigskin with his hands and started changing the subject. "Why does this stitch seem crooked?"
Song Shixue walked over to take a look, clicking her tongue in disgust. "How come your suturing isn't even as good as mine when I was eight? This is all twisted outward like a splayed character. How ugly will it be when it heals?"
