He was the constable responsible for maintaining order in the town. Seeing such a large crowd gathered together, he had no choice but to step forward and see what was happening.
As he drew closer, he finally saw the scene clearly.
A group of women had surrounded the young master of the Fang family, while just outside the crowd stood a slender figure, petite and seemingly helpless.
He walked straight over and asked,
“What’s going on here?”
The women who had been enthusiastically trying to match their daughters with Fang Shubai immediately fell silent at the sound of his voice.
Fang Shubai cupped his fists in greeting.
“Constable Han, it’s nothing. These aunties were simply chatting with me for a while. We’re just about to disperse.”
Han Sheng raised an eyebrow at him, a faint smile playing on his lips, carrying an unmistakable sense of authority.
He had already overheard enough to understand what was happening. These women had been trying to marry their daughters to Fang Shubai.
But wasn’t Fang Shubai already married?
His gaze lingered briefly on Ruan Qingli before quickly shifting away.
“If there’s nothing going on, then everyone should disperse. You’re blocking the street.”
“Yes, yes, we’ll leave right away.”
After bowing to Han Sheng, Fang Shubai walked over to Ruan Qingli and spoke to her quietly. The two then continued walking together.
Han Sheng silently followed behind them—not because he intended to trail the couple, but because the Han residence shared a wall with the Fang family estate, and his home was in the same direction.
He overheard Fang Shubai explaining,
“A’Li, don’t take what those people said to heart. I won’t marry any of their daughters. You saw what happened—I simply couldn’t get away.”
Ruan Qingli looked up at him with a gentle smile.
“I understand, Husband.”
Hearing that, Fang Shubai tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
“Thank you for understanding me, A’Li.”
Han Sheng felt as though his eyes hurt from watching them. He decided to walk ahead, but just as he passed them, Fang Shubai called out to him.
“Brother Han, are you heading home as well?”
Han Sheng replied indifferently,
“Mm.”
“Then we’re going the same way. If you don’t mind, let’s walk together.”
Han Sheng did mind.
For some reason, he simply couldn’t stand Fang Shubai’s overly refined, pretentious manner. The mere sight of him made him uncomfortable.
He slowed his pace, turned back, and returned the salute.
“I have matters to attend to at home. I’ll take my leave first.”
With that, he lengthened his stride and quickly left Fang Shubai and Ruan Qingli far behind.
Fang Shubai clicked his tongue.
“A brute truly is a brute. So uncouth.”
Ruan Qingli offered no comment.
Han Sheng had only become the town constable earlier that year. She had met him a few times before, though they had never exchanged a single word.
She simply felt that he rarely smiled and always seemed cold and distant.
As they passed a medical clinic, Ruan Qingli glanced toward it.
“Shubai, I’d like to go in and have the physician examine me. Perhaps there’s still hope for a cure. I want to give you a child.”
The moment Fang Shubai heard those words, panic flashed briefly across his eyes. He quickly composed himself and smiled.
“A’Li, do you know why I always took you out of town to see a doctor in secret? It’s because I didn’t want news of your illness spreading. People would only gossip about you. Let’s not see a physician here in Liu Town. In a few days, I’ll take you somewhere else for treatment.”
Looking up at him, Ruan Qingli said,
“But we can’t ignore an illness simply because we’re afraid of gossip. It’s alright, Shubai. Even if everyone finds out, I can endure it. As long as there’s even the slightest hope, I want to try.”
Seeing that she insisted on visiting the clinic, Fang Shubai had no choice but to say,
“A’Li, why don’t you go home and wait? The physician here isn’t particularly skilled, and the clinic is crowded. I’ll invite the best doctor from the city to examine you at home.”
After thinking it over, Ruan Qingli agreed. It would indeed be more convenient.
“You’re so thoughtful, Husband. Then I’ll go home and wait.”
About half an hour later, Fang Shubai returned with the physician.
Ruan Qingli recognized him immediately.
He was the renowned Doctor Zhang, famous throughout the city.
He carefully felt her pulse before saying in front of her,
“Madam’s condition stems from cold invading the body, resulting in kidney yang deficiency and a womb deprived of warmth. As it is written in Gynecology Classics: ‘On frozen ground, no grass grows; in the deepest icy abyss, no fish or dragons thrive. If the womb itself is cold, how can it nurture conception?'”
Fang Shubai clasped his hands respectfully.
“May I ask, Doctor, is there any cure?”
Doctor Zhang shook his head and sighed.
“Not even I can cure it. I’m afraid even if Hua Tuo himself were alive, he would find Madam’s condition difficult to treat.”
Fang Shubai glanced at the stunned Ruan Qingli, who was lying quietly on the bed, before bowing again.
“Thank you for your efforts, Doctor. Please prescribe a few nourishing medicines for my wife. Her health is far too weak and needs proper care.”
After seeing Doctor Zhang out, Ruan Qingli sat up on the bed.
She had never imagined her condition was so serious.
When she was four years old, she had indeed fallen into the water. Otherwise, Master Ruan would never have found and adopted her.
She had been too young then. She only vaguely remembered falling into the river while trying to save a little boy. She hadn’t been strong enough, and he had dragged her into the water instead.
Her final memory was the two of them clinging to each other as they struggled in the current.
When she awoke again, she had become Master Ruan’s adopted daughter.
Meanwhile, in the Fang family’s guest room, Fang Shubai rested his wrist on the pulse pillow while Doctor Zhang carefully examined him with closed eyes.
After withdrawing his fingers, Doctor Zhang asked,
“How is it, Doctor? Has my condition improved?”
Stroking his beard, Doctor Zhang replied,
“It has improved somewhat. Why don’t you try sharing your wife’s bed tonight?”
Fang Shubai hesitated.
“Will it work?”
“It’s hard to say. But perhaps being with a woman will awaken your natural desire. More intimate contact should do your recovery no harm.”
“I understand.”
Fang Shubai took two taels of silver from his robe and handed them over.
“I ask that you continue keeping my condition a secret. And regarding my wife’s illness, I also hope you’ll remain discreet.”
Doctor Zhang accepted the silver, weighed it in his hand, said nothing, and quietly departed.
After the lamps were lit that evening, Fang Shubai took a warm bath.
He and Ruan Qingli had been married for nearly three years.
Although they slept in the same bed, they had always kept to their own sides, never crossing the line.
When choosing a wife, he had searched carefully before settling on Ruan Qingli.
There had been two reasons.
First, she was beautiful and had no family to rely on. Aside from her adoptive father—who had passed away years earlier—she had no one.
Second, he was certain she knew nothing about relations between men and women. Raised solely by her adoptive father, a Confucian scholar with extremely conservative values, she would never have been taught such matters.
What he needed was a wife who could conceal his shame and shield him from the suspicions and gossip of others.
After all, no man who suffered from such an ailment wanted anyone to know about it.
As it turned out, his gamble had paid off.
Ruan Qingli truly knew nothing about intimacy between husband and wife. For all these years, he had deceived and reassured her, and she had never once grown suspicious.
Now that Doctor Zhang had suggested he try being with her, hope began to stir within him.
Perhaps…
Tonight, he should give it a try.