Chapter 200

When it was finally Teresa’s turn, the doctor who greeted her was an elderly man with graying hair and thick reading glasses, appearing to be in his seventies. Teresa sat down, took off her coat, and handed it to Jonathan, who held it silently. The doctor placed his fingers lightly on Teresa’s wrist, his expression calm but focused. “Your kidney energy is quite weak, your blood and vitality are depleted, and your liver seems stressed. Do you often feel irritable, have trouble sleeping, or feel overwhelmed at night?”

“Well, a little,” Teresa admitted reluctantly.

“And your lower back? Does it ache often?” he continued.

“I—” Teresa started, but feeling defensive, she stood up abruptly. Grabbing Jonathan by the arm, she pulled him into her seat. “Why don’t you check him instead? Let’s see what symptoms he has.”

The doctor chuckled and humored her, placing his fingers on Jonathan’s wrist. After a moment, he said with a faint smile, “Your husband’s kidney energy is strong. No back pain, no leg issues—he probably walks with a spring in his step, doesn’t he?”

Jonathan remained silent, his expression unreadable, while Teresa stifled a laugh. But Jonathan quickly stood up, gently pressing Teresa back into the chair. “You’re not done yet,” he reminded her.

The doctor adjusted his glasses and resumed writing the prescription. Then, as if struck by a thought, he paused and said, “Let me check your other hand again.”

Jonathan frowned slightly. “Is something wrong?” he asked, his tone calm but firm.

The doctor hesitated before replying. “It feels like a pregnancy pulse. Could your wife be pregnant?”

Teresa froze, her eyes widening in disbelief. “What? No way. That’s impossible,” she blurted out, her voice rising.

Jonathan placed a steady hand on her shoulder, his touch firm but reassuring. “Let’s hear what the doctor has to say,” he said quietly.

The doctor continued to check her pulse, his brows furrowing slightly as he concentrated. “It does resemble a pregnancy pulse, but I can’t be certain. Miss, when was your last period?” he asked.

“It wasn’t that long ago. And my husband and I—it’s been less than ten days since we last had sex. How could I possibly be pregnant?” Teresa stammered, her face flushing. “The embryo wouldn’t have even implanted yet, right? It’s way too early to detect anything,” she wondered.

Her mind drifted back to her previous pregnancy with Michael. She remembered how it had taken months to confirm. During that time, she’d even experienced brief spotting and assumed it was just a lighter period. Yet, Michael had been born healthy and strong.

The doctor stroked his beard thoughtfully. “It’s still early, so I can’t say for sure. You could go to the hospital for a check-up, or wait until my grandfather is available. He’s much better at identifying pregnancy pulses.”

Teresa blinked in surprise. This elderly doctor, who looked to be at least seventy, had a grandfather who was still alive. The doctor chuckled at her expression. “I’m the youngest in my family. My grandfather’s still sharp, but he doesn’t like dealing with the weekend rush of patients.”

Since he couldn’t confirm whether Teresa was pregnant, the doctor adjusted her prescription. He included nourishing herbs but removed any with strong effects that might be unsuitable for a pregnant woman.

“Take this for one treatment cycle and see how you feel. Come back next time, and check your pulse again,” he advised. “Alright, thank you,” Jonathan said, taking Teresa’s hand in his and holding the prescription in the other. With a calm but thoughtful expression, he guided her out of the clinic.

“Ridiculous. A pregnancy pulse? That’s impossible. There’s no way I could be pregnant,” Teresa exclaimed as she walked, her tone full of disbelief.

Jonathan’s expression grew more serious. “That doctor’s family has been practicing traditional medicine for three generations—even treating kings. Are you sure the contraceptive pills weren’t faulty?”

Chapter 201