Man is he?

Shiyou on reaching his estate now was seating in his dark study. Like his study room the weather was also dark and gloomy hinting of possible storm. He felt unsettled even after the stamped decree. Memories of his childhood and times spent with his father danced in his eyes.

He drinks the cold tea to sooth his heart but instead vomits blood and falls on the ground. The eunuch waiting outside the door hears the breaking sound of the cup and the large thud. He enters to see that crown prince had fallen and fainted.

He was carried in his chamber and physician was called to check on him. After giving a sniffing potion Shiyou awakes to see he was now at his chamber with a physician beside him.

His memory of falling comes back and he pushes his body to sit up. The physician had a very nervous face which was caught by Shiyou's sharp eyes "what is it?...speak "

The physician looked as if about to cry and subtly hints with his eyes towards the servants. Shiyou was now full alert hence orders for all the servants to leave them alone.

The physician was all sweaty when answering "your highness...that..just now I checked on your pulse...and...this one found an abnormality.."

Shiyou looking at the nervous man knew the matter was grave and asks "stop dawdling and come to point...what is it...is benwang poisoned??"

The physician trembles and answers "no ...your highness...you are not poisoned...but it seems from the birth you have been...impotent.."

Shiyou felt as if his ears were playing tricks on him. He questions with dark and choking voice "repeat what you said...but be warned if your diagnosis is wrong then be ready to face the chopping block"

The physician kneels and replies "your highness...this one has been in service for 40 years and cannot misdiagnose such matter...earlier I checked your pulse...your body is healthy free from any ailments but without a doubt your Yang energy is very low...

with such low energy the possibility to have a child is close to none...hence this one said you are impotent...Though you will have no problem to perform bed activities but your seeds are too weak to bear fruits."

Shiyou felt as if he was falling in a dark pit from hearing the physician. He couldn't believe he had such abnormalities in his body. How will he face people from now on? He was thankfull that this news came after the decree was stamped if not his father would definetly not hand the throne to him.

He asks with shaky voice "is it curable?" The physician rests his head on the ground and sweating heavily answers "this one fears that because its from birth no one in huajin has the ability to cure your problem..as you might have suspected perhaps lord of the valley may have method for she is the divine doctor and sits on the top of the chain in medical pyramid of the world.."

Shiyou closes his eyes, his fist gripping the sheets producing the tear sound. He didn't know how to feel as being diagonised as a impotent definetly hit hard to his pride as a man. He would turn to a big joke infront of all his enemies and friends alike. Worst he will be dragged to ground and stomped if opposing party learns of his impotence.

He felt the entire year was as if being cursed and punished by heavens. After taking his time to calm his emotions he opens those stormy and dark eyes and threatens the physician "benwang's illness...better if you forget it...you stayed behind to inform that benwang's body is taking toll from heaving burden and worrying about father and brother...beside that everything is fine with benwang...

You should clearly know what will happen if you happen to slip up...you will spreads the word of how sad and overworked benwang is to the point of feeling ill...tomorrow you shall come to check on benwang's consorts and concubines and declare that all the women of benwang's harem had long been poisoned and now unable to give birth...

Tonight you shall pass the pills that will make them infertile...make sure it is the strongest...as you have been in this field for so long benwang knows you must have some tricks in your sleeves to make it smooth and undetected...as long as your work is perfect benwang will not lay a finger on you...

If you fail then not only benwang will have you on the chopping block your entire clan will suffer the wrath of benwang...you will be evicted as a traitor...every men of your clan shall follow you to the chopping blocks while the womanhood shall be toys for the soldiers..and for the virgins after benwang tasting their youth will be gifted for benwang's man servants and guards..you have been warned now leave."

The physicians nods like a student and leaves the bed chamber to do what has been ordered for his entire clan's lives depended on his success.