Chapter 75: Let’s have a child

Regarding the matter of the buried needle, after learning about his own health condition, Pei Huaijin had given the issue much thought.

Originally, he considered having the needle removed two years earlier, but he quickly dismissed the idea.

Since his health would deteriorate in the future, how could he use a child to bind her to his side?

Although he was reluctant to part from her now, before his body declined, he wanted to let her go. It might be two years, or maybe five. With her kind of beauty that would never fade, she would have no trouble remarrying. There was no reason for her to spend the rest of her life with a sickly man like him.

However, he also had to consider the issue of heirs.

He was the only son of his parents, and naturally bore the responsibility of continuing the family line.

His mother had been pressing him to have children for this very reason.

Since he had no intention of using children to trap Shen Youran, he was equally unwilling to use children to bind any other woman. Therefore, the idea of taking concubines to continue the lineage was something he could not bring himself to do.

So, when his mother once brought up the issue of heirs again and suggested that if Shen Youran didn’t conceive this year, he would have to take concubines, Pei Huaijin made it clear that his health was compromised and no matter how many concubines he took, he would not have heirs.

His mother found it hard to accept: “How could this be? How could your body have a problem at your age?”

“It has been confirmed, Mother,” Pei Huaijin said calmly, “I’m sorry to disappoint you.”

“That’s impossible. Maybe it was a misdiagnosis. Find another doctor for a second opinion.”

“I know it’s hard for you to accept, but you need to come to terms with it.”

How could Mrs. Zhu accept it? Her world went black and her head spun fiercely.

Still, she forced herself to stay composed and asked him, “Apart from Qingjian, is there anyone else who knows about your condition?”

“Only one person knows.”

“That’s good, keep it hidden for now, keep it hidden…” Mrs. Zhu murmured, “Your mother can’t find a solution.”

“I know you’re worried about the issue of heirs. I’ve already come up with a solution for you.”

“What kind of solution?”

“Your health isn’t good, but Father is still vigorous. You could let Father take two concubines…”

“I…”

Mrs. Zhu hadn’t expected that the suggestion of taking concubines would eventually backfire on herself.

She arranged for her son to take concubines not because she didn’t understand how much her daughter-in-law would suffer, but because her daughter-in-law was still young and not suitable for pregnancy these past two years. Meanwhile, her son was older; at his age, every man usually already had one or two children.

Mrs. Zhu’s health was poor. Years ago, after having only one son and one daughter, the doctor advised her against having more children.

Fortunately, her husband had been considerate then and didn’t say much, only mentioning that two children were enough, and over the years, he had only stayed with her, never bringing up the matter of taking concubines.

She felt somewhat guilty towards her husband and thus urged her son to have more children in his household to strengthen their branch of the family.

But unexpectedly, her son’s health deteriorated, making it difficult to continue the family line.

And now, her son was proposing to take concubines himself?

Adding more people to their backyard, Mrs. Zhu finally understood what it meant to feel a stinging pain like swallowing a needle.

“Go back first. Let your mother think of a good solution…” Mrs. Zhu rubbed her forehead and waved him away.

Not long after Pei Huaijin left, a maid came in to inform her that the Seventh Master had arrived.

Mrs. Zhu wasn’t in the mood to see anyone, but since it was the Seventh Master whom she had called over on purpose regarding the matter of Meng Wanxin, she obliged.

Ever since the legitimate Seventh Master returned, Mrs. Zhu had noticed he was being raised exceptionally well—better even than her own son. He was more obedient and mild-tempered, and unlike her son’s rigid personality, the Seventh Master was gentler. Mrs. Zhu liked this child very much and had decided to match him with Meng Wanxin.

She had mentioned this before, and unlike the earlier Crown Prince, he hadn’t outright refused. He had only said that Meng was a very good girl, but since he was preparing to take the National Examination next year, it wasn’t the right time to get involved in a relationship.

Mrs. Zhu understood that answer was essentially a refusal, but the Seventh Master was such an excellent child she couldn’t give up easily. She arranged for them to meet by chance, and seeing them get along quite well—one polite and refined, the other graceful and elegant—she thought they were a perfect match.

Still, he never gave a clear answer. And since it wasn’t proper for Wanxin to always be the one to take the initiative, Mrs. Zhu had someone go to his courtyard to invite him to Haitang Garden when he was free, so she could ask him directly.

She sent the invitation early that morning, but it was nearly noon before he arrived.

Suppressing her worries for the moment, she had him called inside.

The moment Pei Huaian entered, he clasped his sleeves and apologized, “Please forgive me, Great Aunt. I was buried in my studies all morning and saw no one. I only just learned that you wanted to see me, hence my delay…”

“That’s alright.”

Mrs. Zhu lifted her eyes to the nephew standing in the hall, dressed in a simple green robe embroidered with bamboo leaves. Handsome and slender, he carried himself with grace. His voice, like the jade pendant hanging at his waist, was gentle and refined, a refreshing sound to the ear.

For a moment, she felt as if she herself liked wearing green, embracing the scholarly air.

Snapping back to reality, she said,

“Focus on your studies, but you can also start considering marriage. If you meet a suitable girl, it wouldn’t hurt to get things arranged in advance.”

“You’re right, Great Aunt,” Si replied softly, “I’m indeed at the age to talk about marriage. If one day I meet a suitable girl I like, I will definitely…”

That was a clear refusal of her offer to match him with Meng Wanxin.

Mrs. Zhu was puzzled. Wanxin was such a good girl—beautiful, talented, and with a great character—how could finding a good match be so difficult?

Well, if he didn’t like her, then he didn’t. A forced match wouldn’t count as fate. Not wanting him to think she had ulterior motives, Mrs. Zhu asked, “What kind of girl do you like? I’ll keep an eye out for you.”

“I’ve been studying at the academy and haven’t really met any girls, so I can’t say.”

“There must be some idea in your mind, like appearance, character, or temperament…”

Pei Huaian had to think on the spot and said, “I’m an ordinary person. I like girls who are pretty and lively…”

Pretty? Lively? Such girls were a dime a dozen.

Mrs. Zhu was not fond of lively girls; her own daughter-in-law had that kind of personality—though she was calmer now than before, she was still far from refined and gentle.

Fortunately, Mrs. Zhu was only asking casually. After chatting a little more, she sent him off.

Another night of indulgence came to an end. Shen Youran tilted her head back, the jade-white curve of her neck stretching into a perfect line.

After a sigh tinged with a tremor, she softly collapsed onto Pei Huaijin’s chest.

Since the day she had learned from Qingjian that he would no longer be ‘normal,’ Shen Youran had taken the lead these past few nights, actively seeking intimacy, determined to savor whatever happiness they could have now.

Nestling into the hollow of his shoulder, she heard his steady breaths and knew he was equally exhausted.

“Husband, I want to discuss something with you…”

Pei Huaijin’s hand caressed the sweat-dampened skin of her back. “What is it?”

“I want you to remove the needle.” Since he was still vigorous now, it was better to have a child sooner rather than risking not being able to later.

His hand froze on her back. “Why? Didn’t you say you didn’t want to take contraceptive medicine?”

“I don’t take it anymore,” Shen Youran whispered near his ear, “We want a child.”

Pei Huaijin’s body tensed. Gripping her shoulders, he helped her sit up, a flicker of emotion trembling in his clear eyes. “Your mother… do you know something?”

As his partner, her sudden passionate change these past nights had not escaped his notice.

Moreover, Shen Youran was not one for schemes. In the past, her feelings were written plainly on her face. Although she had learned to hide things now, her experience was limited, and he could still see through her.

Besides, these past days when he went to Qingjian for medicine, Qingjian always avoided looking at him.

He had thought Qingjian was sad about his health, but now it seemed Qingjian felt guilty about something and didn’t dare to meet his eyes.

Tonight, when she suddenly brought up having a child, it confirmed his suspicion: Qingjian must have told her about his condition.

Sure enough, she admitted, “Yes, I already know.”

Heh, that Qingjian…

Pei Huaijin was silent for a moment, then turned her onto the bed and took a silk handkerchief to wipe her.

“If you already know, then why do you want to have a child?”

“I’m afraid that if we wait a few more years, I won’t be able to conceive.”

“Wouldn’t it be better if you couldn’t? Then you could remarry, and not be tied down by children.”

“What are you talking about?” Shen Youran kicked him lightly, “Who’s going to remarry? I’m not remarrying…”

Pei Huaijin grabbed her ankle and gently put her down. Seeing how she had shed her usual shyness these past nights to become passionate and bold, he teased, “Fool, if you don’t remarry, you won’t be able to satisfy me in the future…”

He had already entertained thoughts of letting her remarry, but every time he saw her with him, above or beneath, he couldn’t bear it. The thought of her remarrying and doing the same things with another man was unbearable.

Part of him wanted to ruin her so no other man could touch her. Yet for her future happiness, he softened his grip and treated her gently.

When Shen Youran heard him say he might not satisfy her, she knew her guess was correct.

“The truth is, I think the most important thing between husband and wife isn’t that,” she sat up, hugging him, “The most important thing is that I like you, and you like me. As long as we like each other, nothing else matters.”

“Even if I’m bedridden and can’t take care of myself, that doesn’t matter?”

“As long as you’re still alive.”

“Even if I might die many years before you?”

“Then we have to cherish the days we still have together all the more.”

“Silly girl…”

Though touched, Pei Huaijin didn’t take her words fully to heart.

She was still young. Five years from now, when she reached his age, her attitude toward things would be far less naïve and headstrong.

He couldn’t allow her to make such an immature decision while she was still so innocent. So he refused her request to remove the needle.

Because of this, Shen Youran coaxed and pressed him for many days, soft and hard, until she finally threatened, “Husband, I’m warning you. If you still don’t agree, don’t blame me if one day I slip you some sedative, put you to sleep, and call the doctor to remove the needle…”

That threat finally worked. The next day, Pei Huaijin agreed to go to the clinic to have the needle removed.

It was the same clinic where he had the needle implanted before. Shen Youran, worried, went with him but had to wait outside; she was not allowed in.

When Pei Huaijin entered alone, the doctor inside had just finished implanting a needle for someone else and murmured words similar to what he had heard before, “Sigh, so young, and yet it’s the time to have children…”

The man was tidying his clothes and looked up, meeting Pei Huaijin’s gaze.

“Hm? Big Brother…”