Qiu Qing’s medical skills were superb, so naturally she was to remain by the Consort’s side.
As for Tiao Hong’s situation… it could not be delayed any further.
Therefore, before departing, Song Chaoyu still called Qiu Qing back to the manor, and then summoned Tiao Hong as well.
After so many days, Tiao Hong’s spirits appeared much improved.
However, upon entering Song Chaoyu’s room, she sensed that the atmosphere was not quite right.
She asked, “Princess Consort, Qiu Qing, what is happening? Why do both of your expressions look so peculiar?”
Always thinking of Song Chaoyu, she added, “Are you worried about the people who will be serving you on this trip to Qin Prefecture?”
She looked earnestly at Song Chaoyu, “Princess Consort, why not let me accompany you instead! My health has recovered, and even if the journey is long and arduous, I am not afraid. I can serve you and the Prince well.”
Hearing her say this, Song Chaoyu felt even more distressed.
If… it were not for that incident, Tiao Hong would indeed have been the best choice.
She had always disliked having too many people serving her, accustomed to only Qiu Qing and Tiao Hong. Now, she felt she had no one else to trust.
Song Chaoyu also hoped that it would not be the worst possible outcome.
Qiu Qing did not say much, but stepped forward and took Tiao Hong’s pulse.
Tiao Hong was startled, then, as if realizing something, she subtly tugged at the corner of her mouth and forced a smile, “What are you doing? My body has recovered well, there’s no need to worry so much. I’m fine, I can accompany the Princess Consort to Qin Prefecture.”
However, the next moment, Qiu Qing’s brows furrowed, and Song Chaoyu’s heart sank.
Qiu Qing looked up and asked Tiao Hong, “Your menstrual cycle… it hasn’t come for almost a month, has it?”
Upon hearing this, Tiao Hong naturally understood the implication.
Her body trembled slightly, and then she suddenly pulled her wrist out of Qiu Qing’s hand.
Tiao Hong shook her head, her voice trembling slightly, “Sister Qiu Qing, it wouldn’t be like that, would it? Didn’t you tell me that my body had sustained too much damage, and that it was normal for my period to be late?”
Her voice was filled with fear, and even Song Chaoyu closed her eyes.
Could it be that their most feared outcome was about to occur?
Qiu Qing stepped forward and gently embraced Tiao Hong, “Haven’t you felt something was amiss these past few days? I heard them say you haven’t been eating well, and you’ve been experiencing morning sickness?”
“No, it’s impossible!”
When Tiao Hong looked up again, her eyes were filled with tears.
As she shook her head, tears flowed down her cheeks, “Aren’t these symptoms all because my body is not well? Sister Qiu Qing, you said that as long as I took good care of myself, everything would be fine!”
But the way she cried like a tearful mess already proved that in her heart… she had likely guessed, and believed, the reason for her condition.
Song Chaoyu frowned and looked at Qiu Qing seriously, “Qiu Qing, are you certain?”
Qiu Qing sighed, “Yes. It’s been almost two months now. Forget about me, even if you brought in a doctor from outside, the result would surely be the same.”
She rubbed her forehead and gazed at Tiao Hong with concern, “Tiao Hong, I must be clear with you now. So that you can decide for yourself whether you want this child or not.”
“No! How can I want this child?! Sister Qiu Qing shouldn’t ask me that!”
Tiao Hong clasped her head with her hands, her expression suddenly becoming extremely pained, “A child like this should not exist in this world! I don’t want this child, I absolutely will not have it!”
If it were any other day, Qiu Qing would not have asked Tiao Hong.
After all, that incident… was probably the most painful memory of Tiao Hong’s life.
But Song Chaoyu recalled what Qiu Qing had told her the last time, shortly after Tiao Hong’s incident.
Her brow furrowed.
Qiu Qing had said that because Ti Le had used drugs on Wu He that time, Wu He had actually caused great damage to Tiao Hong’s body.
Tiao Hong, in this life… would likely never have children again.
And this child might be Tiao Hong’s only child.
This was why Qiu Qing was asking Tiao Hong to make this choice, whether to want it or not.
Song Chaoyu stood up and walked to Tiao Hong’s side.
Tiao Hong immediately hugged Song Chaoyu’s waist, unable to believe the truth, “Miss, why is this happening?! Didn’t you conceive the little heir almost a year after marrying the Prince? Why am I like this? It was only that one time, why would it make me pregnant?!”
The more Tiao Hong acted like this, the more Song Chaoyu’s hatred for Ti Le grew.
She held Tiao Hong tightly, and though her heart ached, she had to tell Tiao Hong the truth, “Tiao Hong, please stop crying and listen to me, alright? There’s a reason Qiu Qing is asking you this. If it were a normal situation, we wouldn’t ask you, and Qiu Qing would just prescribe you a medicine, and we would forget about it from then on!”
Tiao Hong understood that Song Chaoyu would never harm her in anything she did.
She raised her tear-filled eyes and looked at Qiu Qing, “Sister Qiu Qing, why? What’s wrong? Is there another problem?”
Qiu Qing sighed and also embraced Tiao Hong, “Tiao Hong, I told you from the beginning. Your body sustained great damage, perhaps even more severe than you imagined. I wanted to tell you after you had recuperated more, but I didn’t expect things to still develop in the worst possible direction.”
She lowered her head, her eyes also reddening, truly heartbroken for Tiao Hong, “If you don’t want this child, then perhaps in the future… you won’t be able to have any more children.”
“Wh-what?!”
Tiao Hong’s eyes widened, she even forgot to cry, and looked at Qiu Qing in disbelief, “Sister Qiu Qing, what are you saying?! I can’t have any more children? Why?!”
Qiu Qing became even more distressed, “The damage to your body is too great! And it was your first time, so… but don’t worry, I will do my best to help you. Even if my current medical skills cannot resolve your problem, it doesn’t mean I won’t be able to in the future. Perhaps, I will always find a way. But for now, I can only say that you must prepare yourself for the possibility of never having children again.”
“How could this happen?”
Tiao Hong’s eyes were shrouded in immense despair, “Why did it turn out like this? No more children? But I am a woman. If I have no children, how can my life be complete?”
Song Chaoyu actually did not agree with Tiao Hong’s idea, but everyone had their own definition of a “complete life.” She respected Tiao Hong and understood her.