Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 1763: Chapter 1763 Depression

Bai Ruozhu’s heart tightened. Why did she feel that Consort Yue’s attitude was somewhat strange, as if it was not just avoiding medical treatment, but rather wary of her?

”Jiu Sheng is my disciple, after all, I’d feel more at ease if I take another look.” Bai Ruozhu suppressed her surprise and said with a smile.

This time Consort Yue did not oppose, she extended her wrist allowing Bai Ruozhu to take her pulse. Bai Ruozhu carefully examined it, her brows involuntarily furrowing.

”Master Bai, is there something amiss?” Ling Xue asked worriedly as she approached.

Bai Ruozhu glanced at her lightly but did not respond. She was treating Consort Yue, what business did a maid like Ling Xue have to interject?

Moreover, Bai Ruozhu vaguely felt that Consort Yue’s change had something to do with Ling Xue. Perhaps she was being petty, disliking Ling Xue, but who could blame her for being a woman?

Ling Xue didn’t seem to feel embarrassed, she looked at Bai Ruozhu with concern, appearing genuinely anxious about Consort Yue. Consort Yue glanced at her, feeling a bit distressed.

After a while, Bai Ruozhu withdrew her hand and spoke, ”Your Majesty’s body has not been properly recuperated, coupled with the constant travel and emotional instability. You have some internal damage, but with proper care over time, it shouldn’t be a big issue, it’s just that...”

”Just what?” Ling Xue asked anxiously.

Bai Ruozhu cast an annoyed glance at her, given that she was Consort Yue’s person, and since Consort Yue said nothing, it wasn’t her place to rebuke her.

”It’s just that before your body’s condition improves, you cannot become pregnant, otherwise, it will harm not only your body but also pose great danger to the fetus.” Bai Ruozhu said to Consort Yue, deliberately ignoring Ling Xue.

”How long must I recuperate?” Consort Yue grew a bit anxious, because the Imperial Doctors only mentioned the need to recuperate her body to avoid any lasting maladies, without mentioning the issue of having children.

Bai Ruozhu smiled at her, ”Your Majesty need not worry. As long as you remain relaxed and take the prescribed medication, you can be well in three months.”

Actually, the emphasis is on staying relaxed, although Bai Ruozhu refrains from emphasizing this repeatedly. She believes Consort Yue is smart and will realize this.

If it was in the past, she would have spoken directly, but today Consort Yue’s attitude was different from usual; there was a distance between them, making it inappropriate to speak as casually as before.

”That’s good, that’s good.” Consort Yue murmured, not knowing what she was thinking.

”Your Majesty, it’s alright, you can stop worrying now.” Ling Xue said with a smile, seemingly happier than Consort Yue.

Consort Yue smiled back at her, ”Yes, I feel relieved too.”

Bai Ruozhu found Ling Xue obtrusive, making it hard to speak freely, but given Consort Yue’s affectionate attitude towards Ling Xue, she couldn’t say much. In the end, she could only issue the Formulas and said she would go see Prince Xi.

”I feel tired, let someone lead you there, I won’t be joining.” Consort Yue said.

Bai Ruozhu found this strange, but she could only bow and leave.

A palace maid led her to Prince Xi’s quarters. She walked very slowly, given her current pregnancy with twins, making her extra cautious. As she walked, she heard voices from inside the room.

Neither Ling Xue nor Consort Yue would have expected her hearing to be so acute, allowing her to hear from such a distance.

”Your Majesty, you should rest. Didn’t Master Bai say you should stay relaxed?” Ling Xue said.

Consort Yue let out a long sigh, ”How can I relax? I let down the Empress Dowager, she was my own aunt, yet I failed to take her remains away, I...”

She began to weep.

”Your Majesty, don’t be like this. Remember, Prince Xi still needs you to care for him.” Ling Xue urged again.

”What use is it? I still can’t cure him, perhaps someone is deliberately stalling, and I don’t even dare to say anything!” By the end, Consort Yue’s tone was filled with anger. If not for her upbringing, she might have shouted.

Bai Ruozhu did not dare stop in her tracks, fearing the palace maid leading the way might notice something, but inside, she felt a storm raging. Wasn’t Consort Yue implying that ”someone deliberately stalling” could be about her or Ning Yu?

Wasn’t it clearly stated earlier that Prince Xi was too young, and that performing the curse removal now was very risky? It would be better to wait until he grows older, and the curse technique wouldn’t activate so fast, so why accuse them of stalling?

Someone must be misleading Consort Yue!

Actually, Consort Yue’s nature is gentle, not one to have much autonomy. Previously, she relied on the Empress Dowager and the Emperor for decisions. Now, with the Empress Dowager gone and the Emperor preoccupied with the current chaos, she has no one to defer to.

At this time, if there was a trusted confidante whispering some things, she might just follow them.

”Indeed, holding it off with Prince Xi isn’t a solution. Wouldn’t it be better to treat him early and spare you the worry?” Ling Xue continued.

As they moved further and further away, she could no longer hear the conversation, but her mood grew even heavier.

Bai Ruozhu went to see Prince Xi. Fortunately, Prince Xi was very healthy, the witchcraft had not manifested, and he opened his big glittering eyes with adorable innocence.

She sighed internally. Consort Yue should spend more time with Prince Xi, seeing such a lovely son could improve her mood.

After seeing Prince Xi, she rose to report back to Consort Yue. Upon entering, she no longer saw Ling Xue, but Consort Yue sat reclined on the soft lounge, her expression depressed, both eyes hollow and vacant.

Bai Ruozhu stepped forward to bow, ”Reporting to Your Majesty, Prince Xi’s condition is very good, no need to worry.”

”Oh, then you may leave.” Consort Yue did not look at Bai Ruozhu, her voice extremely weak.

Bai Ruozhu withdrew, but she already had the answer in her heart, Consort Yue was suffering from depression.

In modern times, many mothers experience prenatal or postpartum depression. Consort Yue evidently had some depression postpartum, which worsened with incidents involving Prince Xi, the Empress Dowager, and the state, deepening her mental distress.

Depression is a mental illness that cannot be treated with decoction. In ancient times, when psychological illnesses weren’t valued, it was a truly frightening malady.

Bai Ruozhu went again to see Tang Yin, reporting Consort Yue’s condition to him.

”Consort Yue is thinking too much, feeling melancholic, causing emotional blockage affecting her health. I have read a Western medical book that greatly values psychological illnesses. Cases like Consort Yue’s were referred to as depression.” Bai Ruozhu explained in detail.

”Depression? Isn’t it just a bad mood? How can it be considered a serious illness?” Tang Yin asked, frowning.

Bai Ruozhu wanted to say that severe depression could lead to mental breakdowns or even life-threatening situations, but saying such things seemed like cursing Consort Yue, so she could only give a gentle example.

”I shall accompany Consort Yue more, take her out for relaxation, and everything should be fine once her body is recuperated.” Tang Yin said.

Bai Ruozhu sighed silently. The ancients misunderstood the severity of mental illnesses, and with everyone’s differences being unknowable, it would be very hard to convince the Emperor.

However, the matter of Ling Xue cannot be delayed any longer.