建平王妃姬等皆丽而无子，择良家未笄女人御又无子。问曰∶“求男有道乎？”澄对之
曰∶“合男女必当其年，男虽十六而精通，必三十而娶；女虽十四而天癸至，必二十而嫁，皆
欲阴阳气完实而后交合，则交而孕，孕而育，育而为子，坚壮强寿。今未笄之女，天癸始
至，已近男色，阴气早泄，未完而伤，未实而动，是以交而不孕，孕而不育，育而子脆不寿。
此王之所以无子也。然妇人有所产皆女者，有所产皆男者，大王诚能访求多男妇人谋置
宫府，有男之道也。”王曰∶“善”。未再期生六男，夫老阳遇少阴，老阴遇少阳，亦有子之道
也。
上褚澄遗书一卷，初得萧氏父子护其石而其书始全，继得僧义堪笔之纸而其书始存，今得
则继先锓之木而其书始传，亦可谓多幸矣。澄字彦道，河南阳翟人，宋武帝之甥，尚书左仆射湛
之之子，庐江公主之夫，齐太宰侍中录尚书公渊之弟，仁宋自驸马都尉，遍历清显，仕齐至侍中
顾右军将军，永明元年卒（《南史》云永元元年卒，误也。）东昏侯立其女为皇后，追赠金紫光禄大夫，实
永元元年，去其卒时已七十年矣。遗书题其赠官，岂萧广得其椁石，考之史传而附题于前乎？
叨齐高帝爱子豫章王嶷，自江陵赴都得疾日臻，帝忧形于色，乃大赦天下，闻澄传杨淳秘方，召
澄治立愈，帝喜甚，擢澄左氏尚书以宠之，其守吴郡也。民有李道念，以公事至郡，澄遥见谓曰∶
“汝有奇疾。”道念曰∶“某得冷疾五年矣。”澄诊其脉，曰∶非冷也，由多食鸡子所致，可煮苏一斗
服之，即吐物如升许，涎裹之动，抉涎出视，乃一鸡雏，翅距已具而能走。澄曰∶未也，盍服其余
药从之，凡吐十三枚，疾乃瘳，其妙皆此类也。是书幽眇简切，多前人所未发而岂徒哉。问子篇
称建平王，当是澄之妻之侄景素，其生子六，即延龄延年辈。
云嘉泰元年日南至甘泉寄士丁介跋。
建平王的妃嫔等人都容貌美丽却没有生育，挑选未行笄礼的良家少女侍奉又未能怀孕。建平王问道：“求取男婴有方法吗？”褚澄回答说：“男女结合必须年龄相当，男子虽然十六岁精气已通，但一定要等到三十岁才娶妻；女子虽然十四岁天癸（月经）初至，但一定要等到二十岁才出嫁，都是希望阴阳之气完备充实之后才进行交合，这样就能交合而受孕，受孕后顺利生产，生下孩子后健壮长寿。现在那些未行笄礼的少女，天癸刚刚到来，就接近男子，阴气过早泄漏，身体尚未发育完全就已受损，元气尚未充实就已动欲，所以交合而不能受孕，即使受孕也不能顺利生产，生下的孩子脆弱且不长寿。这就是建平王没有子嗣的原因。然而有些妇人生的全是女孩，有些妇人生的全是男孩，大王如果能访求多子多孙的妇人安置在宫府中，这是得到男丁的方法。”建平王说：“好。”不到一年就生了六个男孩，这是老阳遇到少阴，老阴遇到少阳，也是得子的道理。
以上是一卷褚澄的遗书，起初得到萧氏父子保护其石椁，这本书才得以完整；后来得到僧人义堪将其抄写在纸上，这本书才得以保存；现在得到则先将其刻印在木板上，这本书才得以流传，也可以说是非常幸运了。褚澄字彦道，是河南阳翟人，宋武帝的舅舅，尚书左仆射湛之的儿子，庐江公主的丈夫，齐太宰、侍中、录尚书公褚渊的弟弟。他在宋朝曾任驸马都尉，历任清要显赫的官职，在齐朝官至侍中、辅国将军，永明元年去世（《南史》记载是永元元年去世，这是错误的）。东昏侯立他的女儿为皇后，追赠他为金紫光禄大夫，这实际上是永元元年，距离他去世时已经七十年了。遗书上题写的是追赠的官职，难道是萧广得到了他的石椁，考证了史传资料而在前面附加题写的吗？
当时齐高帝宠爱的小儿子豫章王萧嶷，从江陵回到京城后病情日益加重，皇帝忧虑表现在脸上，于是大赦天下，听说褚澄传承有杨淳的秘方，便召褚澄来治疗，立刻痊愈，皇帝非常高兴，提拔褚澄为左氏尚书以宠幸他，当时他正担任吴郡太守。百姓中有个人叫李道念，因为公事到郡里来，褚澄远远看见他对他说：“你有怪病。”李道念说：“我患冷疾已经五年了。”褚澄诊察他的脉象，说：“这不是冷疾，是由于多吃鸡蛋导致的，可以煮一斗紫苏服用，就会吐出像升那样多的东西，涎液包裹着它在动，挑出涎液查看，原来是一只小鸡雏，翅膀和脚爪都已经具备而且能走动。”褚澄说：“还没完，何不把剩下的药也服下？”听从了他的建议，一共吐出了十三只，病才痊愈，其中的奇妙都像这类情况一样。这本书深奥精微、简明切实，有很多前人未曾阐发的内容，难道只是徒有其表吗？《问子》篇中提到的建平王，应该是褚澄妻子的侄子褚景素，他生了六个儿子，就是延龄、延年等人。
嘉泰元年冬至日，甘泉寄士丁介作跋。
Jianping King's consorts and concubines were all beautiful but childless; selecting unmarried young women of good families for service also resulted in no pregnancy. The King asked, "Is there a method to obtain male offspring?" Cheng replied, "Union between man and woman must be at appropriate ages. Although a man's essence may become clear at sixteen, he should not marry until thirty; although a woman's Tian Gui (menstruation) may arrive at fourteen, she should not marry until twenty. This is to ensure that both Yin and Qi are complete and substantial before intercourse, so that conception occurs, gestation proceeds smoothly, and the born child is robust, strong, and long-lived. Now, girls who have not yet undergone the capping ceremony have just begun their Tian Gui; if they approach men prematurely, their Yin Qi leaks early, damaging them before development is complete, and moving them into desire before their vitality is solid. Thus, intercourse leads to infertility, or if pregnant, failure to deliver, or if delivered, a fragile and short-lived child. This is why the King has no sons. However, some women bear only daughters, others only sons. If Your Highness could seek out women known for bearing many children and place them in the palace, this would be a way to obtain male heirs." The King said, "Good." Within less than a year, six sons were born. This illustrates the principle of Old Yang meeting Young Yin, and Old Yin meeting Young Yang, which is also a path to having children.
The above constitutes one volume of Chu Cheng's posthumous writings. Initially, it was preserved intact thanks to the protection of its stone coffin by the Xiao family father and son. Subsequently, it was copied onto paper by the monk Yikan, ensuring its survival. Finally, it was woodblock printed by Zexian, allowing it to circulate widely. One can say this is great fortune. Cheng, courtesy name Yandao, was from Yangzhai, Henan. He was the nephew of Emperor Wu of Song, son of Zhanzhi, Left Prime Minister of the Department of State Affairs, husband of Princess Lujiang, and younger brother of Yuanyuan, Grand Preceptor, Attendant in the Palace, and Recorder of Secretarial Documents of Qi. In Song, he served as Commandant of the Imperial Horses, holding various prestigious posts. In Qi, he rose to Attendant in the Palace and General Who Assists the Country. He died in the first year of Yongming (Note: *History of the Southern Dynasties* erroneously states the first year of Yongyuan). The Donghun Hou (Marquis Donghun) established his daughter as Empress and posthumously honored him as Gold Guanglu Daifu (Gold Light Luxurious Officer). This actually occurred in the first year of Yongyuan, seventy years after his death. The posthumous title on the book suggests that perhaps Xiao Guang obtained the stone coffin, verified historical records, and added the inscription at the front?
At that time, Yu Zhang Wang Yi, favored son of Emperor Gao of Qi, fell ill upon returning to the capital from Jiangling, with his condition worsening daily. The Emperor's worry was evident on his face, leading to a general amnesty. Hearing that Cheng possessed a secret prescription from Yang Chun, the Emperor summoned Cheng to treat the prince, who recovered immediately. Overjoyed, the Emperor promoted Cheng to Left Shi Shangshu (Left Minister of the Household) as a favor. At the time, Cheng was serving as Governor of Wujun. A commoner named Li Daonian came to the commandery on official business. Cheng saw him from afar and said, "You have an unusual ailment." Daonian replied, "I have suffered from cold disease for five years." Cheng examined his pulse and said, "This is not cold disease; it is caused by excessive consumption of eggs. Boil one dou of Perilla leaf and take it, and you will vomit up a quantity resembling a sheng measure. It will be wrapped in saliva and moving. Extract the saliva to inspect it, and you will find a chick, fully formed with wings and spurs, capable of walking." Cheng said, "Not yet finished. Why not take the remaining medicine?" Following his advice, thirteen chicks were vomited in total, and the illness subsided. Such wonders were typical of his practice. This book is profound, subtle, concise, and pertinent, containing much that predecessors had not expounded upon. Was it merely superficial? The chapter "Asking About Sons" mentions Jianping Wang, who was likely Jusu, the nephew of Cheng's wife. Jusu had six sons, including Yanling and Yannian.
Colophon by Ding Jie, hermit of Ganquan, on the Winter Solstice of the first year of Jiatai.