Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 734 - 732

Chapter 734: 732

Imperial Doctor’s Office

Doctor Luo was startled upon hearing that the Princess had summoned him.

Had the secret come back to haunt him so soon?

What exactly did the young prince say to the Princess? Could anyone tip him off?

Or maybe he could bribe someone with some silver?

Feeling nervous, Doctor Luo respectfully performed a ceremonial bow in front of the Princess.

"Please have a seat, Doctor Luo. I have called you here to inquire about something."

That’s it! Doctor Luo cried inwardly, but kept his face neutral: "What does the Princess wish to know?"

"Doctor Luo, is it true that if close relatives get married, they will have a greater risk of giving birth to a sick child?"

So that’s what this is about! That certainly surprised him! Doctor Luo heaved a sigh of relief and respectfully replied, "It’s not definite, but the Imperial Doctor’s Office in collaboration with the Ministry of Revenue, has collected data from around the country about children born from close-relative marriages. We found that over 70% of families have such problems, and our statistics show that 90% of these kids were born from close-relative marriages. And when we say ’close-relative’, it doesn’t just refer to cousins, but straight and collateral blood relatives within three generations."

"That many?!" The Princess looked surprised.

This plainly showed that most sickly children of this era were born from close-relative marriages.

"Yes, your royal highness. We at the Imperial Doctor’s Office are still trying to find the reason, but so far we haven’t located it."

They’d already reported this matter to the Emperor, but he hadn’t yet brought up the issue of banning close-relative marriages in the Imperial Court.

"Alright, I understand now. You have taken a special trip to answer my question," said the Princess, before picking up a teacup and taking a sip.

This was a signal that he was being dismissed.

"Your highness, you’re too polite. I’ll take my leave now," Doctor Luo said, taking the hint.

...

The stars were embroidered in pearlescent light, and the maidens in the palace were kept busy for the Qixi Festival.

On the day of the Qixi Festival, the decree to grant the status of king was awarded. The second Prince, Shangguan Xuanhao, was named King Xian, the fourth Prince, Shangguan Xuanjun, was named King of Qi, and the sixth Prince was named King Rui.

As soon as the order was issued, all the officials started sending gifts to the three newly-crowned kings.

Xiao’er instructed the servants to record all the gifts for future return.

First, King Xian held a grand banquet, followed by the King of Qi, and finally King Rui.

Today, it was King Rui’s turn to host a grand banquet at his mansion.

The original placard at the gate of the sixth prince’s mansion was replaced by one written by the emperor himself: Prince Rui Mansion, imposing and extravagant.

Shangguan Xuanyi was welcoming male guests in the front yard.

Xiao’er was entertaining the women in the backyard.

The garden of the Sixth Prince’s Mansion was renowned for its delicate beauty and picturesque scenery.

Those fortunate enough to have visited the place could not stop singing its praises.

How could anyone who could access the mansion today pass up the opportunity to admire the ultimate beauty of the Imperial City?

Many people suggested visiting the garden, and, of course, Xiao’er couldn’t be petty and refuse to let them see it.

Despite the blazing July heat, their enthusiasm was undeterred.

However, the weather today was rather good — overcast and cloudy — unlike the dazzling sunshine during King Xian’s banquet two days ago, which nearly caused Princess Xian, with her large pregnant belly, to faint from the heat.

With everyone stepping out, only two people were left in the flower hall. Seeing Fu Ranhui’s low spirits, Xiao’er could guess the reason. However, emotions were the hardest to force in this world. Either you liked someone or you didn’t — it was hard for anyone to control their feelings.

But Xiao’er believed that time could dilute everything, including the most intense emotions.

If the present and the future ceased to exist, that relationship would become the past. There was nothing in the past that time couldn’t make you forget; there was nothing in the past you couldn’t get over.

Just as Xiao’er was considering how to comfort Fu Ranhui, Shangguan Xuanyi walked in.

Fu Ranhui was about to stand up and greet him, but Xiao’er stopped her, "Enough, we’re all family, no need for such formalities."

Shangguan Xuanyi also nodded, "Listen to your cousin."

Shangguan Xuanyi had come from the front yard without any particular reason, he was just concerned that Xiao’er might get tired. He told her if she felt tired, she should just dismiss the guests.

Xiao’er said she understood and told him to go back to the front yard and continue receiving guests.

Seeing this, Fu Ranhui couldn’t help but admit, "The Sixth Prince is really good to you."

"That’s because he genuinely loves me. When you find a husband who truly loves you, he will also keep you in his thoughts at all times. Only when a couple genuinely loves each other, can they be truly happy together," Xiao’er replied, implying something.

A bitter smile appeared on Fu Ranhui’s face, and she lowered her head without a word. She had thought she could marry the man she loved, but she did not expect this to happen.

"Xiao’er, is it true that marriage between cousins can result in sick children?"

Xiao’er nodded, "The chances are higher compared to those who are not closely related."

It seemed that the Prince had used this excuse to reject the match. But it was better this way, it was better than her knowing that the person she had always longed for loved someone else.

"But why? They’re not siblings, it’s not incestuous!"

How could she explain the existence of recessive hereditary disease genes?

Xiao’er thought for a moment and said, "There’s an equal amount of blood from both parents running through a child’s veins, right?"

Fu Ranhui nodded.

"Close relatives mean that the blood running through two people has some similarities, right?"

Fu Ranhui nodded again.

"Actually, everyone may inherit their parents’ recessive hereditary disease genes. This unlikely-to-occur disease will hide away if one marries someone who doesn’t have these recessive genes. However, if two people both have these recessive disease genes and these genes are inherited by their child, the recessive disease can become dominant and the disease will surface. If a family has blood similarities, isn’t the chance of them carrying these recessive disease genes higher? If they marry each other, doesn’t the chance of their recessive genes colliding increase? Isn’t the likelihood of giving birth to a sick child higher? Do you understand what I’m saying?"

Fu Ranhui nodded in a puzzled way but was unsure about what recessive hereditary disease genes were, why recessive genes don’t manifest, and why two recessive genes would collide and manifest?

Fu Ranhui voiced her confusion.

Xiao’er simply explained the concepts of heredity, dominant genes, recessive genes, and selective gene expression to her and let her digest and absorb this knowledge on her own!

Fu Ranhui looked dazed which made her forget about her heartbreak for a moment, but she did understand that marrying a close relative was dangerous.

"Do you wish for your future child to be born with a disease?"

Fu Ranhui quickly shook her head, "But that’s not certain at all!"

"Yes, are you willing to take the risk? But after marriage, giving birth to children isn’t necessarily required. Your husband can have a concubine to bear a child, and you can raise it. Are you willing to do that?"

Fu Ranhui shook her head, of course, she wasn’t.

She longed for the lifelong bond Xiao’er once mentioned, which didn’t involve a crowd of wives and concubines!

She believed Shangguan Ruixi was not a man who would keep both wives and concubines.