Chapter 47: Fetus in Fetus

Gu Jiu Ling's expression changed slightly in that instant; she hadn't expected to find such a scar on Cheng Ming's body. In the original owner's memory, regarding that palace banquet after being forced, her face was covered tightly, and she could only feel a sharp scar. Could it be… 'Jiu Ling?'

The Grand Princess seated beside her saw Gu Jiu Ling's expression change and couldn't help but startle. Gu Jiu Ling took a breath, swept the doubt from the bottom of her eyes, and while helping Cheng Ming examine, she asked in a low voice: 'How did this scar come about? Such a long wound—the child must have suffered a lot.'

Cheng Ming, lying on the bed, clenched his back teeth in silence. For the first time, a woman younger than him kept calling him 'child' on the left and 'child' on the right, saying 'You're the child! Your whole family are children!' His face was dark and gloomy; if his mother weren't watching beside him, he would surely have made this woman look bad. The Grand Princess glanced at her son's expression, looked at Gu Jiu Ling's face, felt a little embarrassed, and sighed: 'There was a year when I sparred with someone and got injured.'

She spoke half and concealed half. It was those brats in Jing Cheng mocking her son for his big belly, waddling like a hen when he walked, which angered her son and led him to fight them. At that time he broke the leg of the bastard son of the Cheng'an Bo manor and snapped the arm of the young heir of the Qingping Marquis manor… he himself was also badly injured. After that, the Grand Princess didn't spare anyone in seeking apologies; she even harshly beat her son with a board for the first time. From then on, her son locked himself in the princess's residence, and it's been a full four years. These four years, he hasn't laughed once; his temper has grown ever more volatile, his character peculiar—truly enough to drive one to despair. Gu Jiu Ling knew the Grand Princess was speaking half and hiding half, so she didn't press further on this matter, shifting the topic: 'At the palace banquet two months ago, did our little prince also attend? I don't know if he likes those few palace pastries on the banquet table; I am extremely fond of them.'

The Grand Princess started, wondering why she would bring up the last palace banquet out of the blue; no matter who mentioned it, the eldest miss of the Gu family would surely not want to talk about this topic. After all, what happened then was seen by almost all the guests—her disheveled, wanton appearance. Later she also puzzled over it, wondering who that adulterer was; she never expected it to be her own ninth younger brother, though that brother has become increasingly reckless over the years. The Grand Princess herself didn't expect Gu Jiu Ling to suddenly ask about this; she thought it was just idle chatter to fill silence, and felt that Gu Jiu Ling wasn't taking the diagnosis seriously. However, the fact that Gu Jiu Ling completely revived Tuo Ba Yu is indisputable; as his mother, she truly has no choice—she can't just watch her son become violently abusive and turn into a monster everyone fears. She had once gone to Huangjue Si to burn incense and kowtow, kowtowing step by step up the stairs until her forehead split, begging the heavenly deities to save her son! Even if she gave up her princess status and endured myriad pains and torment, she only wishes her son's illness could be cured. The Grand Princess smiled and said: 'Ming'er has never liked sweets since childhood; on the contrary, he likes that roasted pigeon.'

But this child is also physically frail; after eating a few dishes, he left to rest in another empty room.

Gu Jiu Ling's hand froze mid-air, her gaze sinking. Everything matched—time, place, this person's dislike of crowds and tendency to slip away alone could also be possible, but the only thing that didn't match… Gu Jiu Ling looked at Cheng Ming's belly; even a pervert lugging around such a huge belly would find it inconvenient to do that sort of thing, right? Her brows furrowed again; she felt something was off, it probably wasn't Cheng Ming. Yet doubt welled up inside her, making her feel somewhat uneasy—maybe they used a special position? Gu Jiu Ling's thoughts were in turmoil, but she couldn't neglect treatment. She placed her stethoscope on Cheng Ming's belly; this time she was truly astonished. She quickly switched to the ultrasound probe, gently placed it on Cheng Ming's belly, and her expression changed instantly: 'How could this be?'

She muttered to herself. The Grand Princess and Cheng Ming both jumped in shock. Gu Jiu Ling focused her gaze, glanced at Cheng Ming, then slowly stepped back into the side hall of the outer room and sat down in a chair. The Grand Princess hurried after her, while Cheng Ming was dressing in the inner room. 'Jiu Ling, what on earth is this illness?'

The Grand Princess looked at Gu Jiu Ling. Gu Jiu Ling lifted her teacup, took a sip, and said: 'Fetus in fetus!'

'What nonsense are you talking about?'

Suddenly, Cheng Ming from the inner room grabbed his sword and charged out; if the Grand Princess hadn't stopped him, he would likely have cut Gu Jiu Ling down with one blow. Gu Jiu Ling remained unmoving, with his mother present, this brat wouldn't get anywhere. 'Ming'er! Impudent! Hurry up and apologize to your aunt! What kind of madness have you taken?'

'Mother! She's just a fraud!'

Cheng Ming trembled all over with anger, having been made to take off his clothes and examined for so long, only to be told there was a fetus in his belly. 'I'm a man—how could I possibly be pregnant?'

'You clearly let that idiot swindle you!'

'Her reputation— the whole Shang Jing capital is utterly ruined!'

Gu Jiu Ling's expression sank as she slowly rose: 'Jiu Yue, take the medicine box and go.'

'Why bother? We must have the resolve to fulfill others' fates!'

'Jiu Ling!'

The Grand Princess hurriedly rose to stop her, at this moment she also panicked. She felt Gu Jiu Ling was spouting nonsense—her son is a man, how could he get pregnant? This isn't a joke! Although she had consulted many doctors, none could say what illness her son had; at least Gu Jiu Ling had voiced a cause, and she couldn't offend the physicians. Gu Jiu Ling turned to face the Grand Princess; when she was young she must have been a beauty, but now she looks aged beyond her years—under forty, her temples already white, all from worrying over this son. She softened a bit; Cheng Ming, that little rascal, is fortunate to have a good mother protecting him. She looked at the Grand Princess and said: 'It's not that your son is pregnant; rather, when you were pregnant back then, you likely suffered some harm, or perhaps… because the Martial Might General died in battle, your grief was truly overwhelming, or for other reasons.'

'In short, when you were pregnant, something went wrong; you actually were carrying twins, and one ended up consuming the other.'

'What… what…?' The Grand Princess's face turned deathly pale. Gu Jiu Ling also knew this was too harsh to say, so she softened her tone a bit: 'Put it this way—it's malformed growth of identical twins, one developing inside the other's belly; your son's condition is extremely special and rare.'

'But there is a way—perform an operation to extract that dead fetus, then I will repair him; after his body recuperates, he will be no different from a normal person.'

This left not only the Grand Princess dumbfounded, but Cheng Ming as well; mother and son stared at Gu Jiu Ling as if looking at a monster. Cut open the belly, take out what's inside? Gu Jiu Ling finally realized how arduous it is to chat across specialties, across time and space, and across worldviews. She took a deep breath, thought of an idea: 'Imperial Elder Sister! There's still another method…'