Su Xiaoqi didn't have much time to worry about Wen Ruohua's actions.
After showing off her skills while taking Wen Ruohua's pulse, she was swarmed by everyone.
The wife of the Right Shaoqing of the Ministry of Justice said, "Madam Shen, could you please take my pulse?"
Another wife of the Right Shaoqing of the Court of Diplomatic Relations also said, "Madam Shen, please take a look at me too."
"And me."
"I want to have mine checked too."
...
Except for Madam Li, who already had children, and Wen Ruohua, whose pulse had already been taken, everyone else spoke up.
At this moment, even in front of so many people, due to the shared hardships they had experienced, no one held back.
They laid their problems bare.
Su Xiaoqi couldn't refuse and proceeded to examine each of them.
It turned out that out of seven people, two had no physical problems at all.
With good food and care, they would surely be able to conceive.
But strangely, they had been married for three years and had never conceived even once.
Even more outrageously, neither the concubines nor the maids they had taken had conceived.
After hearing this, Su Xiaoqi withdrew her hand.
She stared at the two young, delicate women and sighed, "Having children is a result of the joint efforts of both men and women.
Is it only the woman's issue whether a child can be born?"
The two young wives were taken aback.
One woman, wearing a goose-yellow long dress, said, "I've thought the same way before.
But, but my mother said that regardless of who the problem is, it's always the woman's problem. If there's blame, it can only be blamed on one's own bad luck, how can one blame their own man..."
Su Xiaoqi frowned. She remembered Wen Ruohua had explained her identity to her.
She was Tang Fang, the illegitimate daughter of Tang Kaiquan, the Minister of Justice and a Grand Secretariat Assistant. She was married to He Shengjin, the eldest illegitimate son of He Weiwen, also a Grand Secretariat Assistant.
They had been married for three years and had no children.
Su Xiaoqi heard this and realized it was clearly the man's issue, with no relation to Miss Tang at all.
But there was no other way. Since she was an illegitimate daughter and married to an illegitimate son, she could only follow the arrangements of her elders.
"It's alright, sometimes men's issues can be treated by doctors."
However, Su Xiaoqi knew very well that even if a doctor could treat men's problems, they might not be able to cure the hearts of people in this era.
The other was Zhao Qingshuang, the legitimate daughter of a Director of the Ministry of Revenue. She was married as a second wife to the Great General Huwei.
The crucial point was that his former wife had given him a son and a daughter.
Since she entered the household three years ago, not only had she not conceived, but the concubines she had taken for her husband also had no news of pregnancy.
"If you say my husband is incapable, but the sister before me had children. If that's the case, wouldn't it mean we are all incapable..."
Zhao Qingshuang looked puzzled.
Su Xiaoqi could only tell her that her body was absolutely fine.
She believed that after all these years, she had consulted many doctors, and they all said the same thing.
Zhao Qingshuang looked at Su Xiaoqi with some surprise: "Madam Shen, you're right, I, I have indeed sought out quite a few doctors, and they all said I was fine."
At this point, Zhao Qingshuang seemed to recall something and didn't continue, but her tightly pressed lips showed that her mood was far from good.
After all, if they hadn't failed to conceive for so long, they wouldn't have found that dog Kongshan, who almost ruined their reputations.
She took her handkerchief and discreetly wiped away tears.
Su Xiaoqi continued with her examinations.
Of the remaining five, one had not properly recovered her health after giving birth to her first child and had developed some lingering ailments, which could be treated.
Two others had too many fundamental health problems, and even if they were treated, they might not be able to conceive.
The last one had been given a fertility-blocking medicine.
After Su Xiaoqi gave this answer, the woman fainted on the spot.
Wen Ruohua looked around. Before the pulse-taking, they had sent all the servants away.
Now, there was no one to attend to them.
She had no choice but to step forward to support her and lay her down on the couch.
She quietly whispered to Madam Li to tell Su Xiaoqi about her tragic experience.
She was the illegitimate daughter of the Duke of Huangguo Manor.
She was betrothed as a second wife to Xu Shiyuan, the current Minister of Revenue.
Her predecessor was her own elder sister, the legitimate wife.
Huang Yafang, the third daughter of the Duke of Huangguo Manor.
But she passed away at a young age, leaving a son and a daughter in the Xu household. The Duke of Huangguo Manor, citing concerns about the two young children, insisted on sending their own illegitimate daughter to serve as a replacement wife for Minister Xu.
As it turned out, her thoughtfulness extended to ensuring Huang Yaying would not have children, by first giving her a fertility-blocking medicine.
No matter how hard she tried or how many prayers she offered, she would likely never conceive.
Su Xiaoqi let out a heavy sigh.
While she was ostensibly taking pulses, she felt as if she were experiencing another realm of human existence.
From the seven women before her, each in their own unique circumstances, she seemed to glimpse the inner workings of the official households throughout the Great Liang dynasty, as well as the power struggles and factionalism among the court ministers.
She didn't know about others, but just regarding the last one, Huang Yaying.
The Duke's Manor sending her to the Xu household was not because they were worried about the care of her elder sister's children.
It was more likely out of concern for losing the powerful trump card that was the Xu Grand Secretariat.
Unfortunately, while everyone else profited from this situation, only Huang Yaying was inexplicably turned into a pitiable person who could never bear children.
When she awoke, she cried again. Everyone was shocked by her experience, and for a moment, no one disturbed her or offered comfort.
Everyone sitting here had their own unique sorrows; who was more fortunate than whom?
Su Xiaoqi's mood suddenly turned somber.
Wen Ruohua stepped forward and held her hand, thinking she was upset about her own lack of pregnancy.
She comforted her, "You are a physician, you can diagnose yourself, and with Lord Shen's affection for you, you will surely have a child soon."
Madam Li also smiled and comforted her, "You are still young. As long as your body is fine, having a child is only a matter of time."
Su Xiaoqi blinked her eyes, somewhat speechless.
The reason she hadn't had children was that she was intentionally using contraception.
As they had said, her body was still young and not suitable for having children too early.
Su Xiaoqi turned around. She remembered there were a total of seven people in their group, and she had only taken the pulses of six so far; one had not been examined.
That person was likely the oldest among them, appearing to be in her thirties. She was well-maintained, wearing a crimson top embroidered with peonies, paired with a Hangzhou silk pomegranate skirt.
Her appearance was beautiful, but at the moment, she sat blankly in her seat. Regardless of how lively the conversation had been, she had not participated, her eyes vacant, staring ahead, unfocused.
Su Xiaoqi stared at her for a long time. Seeing that she showed no intention of speaking, she sought help from Madam Li, who was the most well-informed in the group.
What was the situation? Should she take her pulse or not?
Madam Li saw her and quickly came over. She made an excuse to pull Su Xiaoqi aside and, after looking around to ensure no one else was present, said, "Don't ask Madam Liu."
Su Xiaoqi raised her eyebrows. Recalling Kongshan's arrogant words to her when he was in power, she suddenly began to understand.
Indeed, as Madam Li spoke, it corresponded with her thoughts.
"That one is the wife of the Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture. Her husband's surname is Liu.
Lord Liu came from humble beginnings. He passed the imperial examinations through his own efforts and gained favor from his superiors, becoming a high official.
This Madam Liu and Prefect Liu were childhood sweethearts, married from a young age as a child bride.
They had been married for several years without conceiving.
Later, upon someone's recommendation, they found Kongshan, the silver-stick monk, at Huangjue Temple. After performing a ritual, she became pregnant and gave birth to a robust son for Lord Liu the following year.
However, after that incident, her womb showed no signs of activity for ten years. It was then that they sought out Kongshan again. Who would have known..."