177: Zheng Chengwu

Chapter 176 Zheng Chengwu

Year Nine of zhengyong, April 28th.

Consort Duan Xu Qingluan went into labor.

Inside Xianfu Palace, Zheng Yi was holding Zheng Yuxuan and waiting anxiously.

There were also several other consorts around, continually peering into the room.

Perhaps because of the matter concerning Xu Xuanwu, the day of Consort Duan Xu Qingluan's labor was actually advanced by more than half a month.

This was a huge challenge for both the pregnant woman and the infant.

Lu Liner held Zheng Yi's hand and said, "Your Majesty, please rest assured. Sister Luaner is blessed with great fortune and will definitely be fine."

Zheng Yi said, "We know. After all, Luaner possesses Martial Artist cultivation; hopefully, she can pull through."

Zheng Yuxuan was now nearly six years old and very sensible.

She hugged Zheng Yi's neck and said, "Imperial Father, don't worry. Imperial Mother will definitely be fine, and she will definitely give Yuxuan a cute little younger brother~"

Zheng Yi pinched her nose and said, "Yuxuan, how do you know?"

"Hmph! Imperial Mother said it herself~"

Zheng Yuxuan said, "Imperial Mother said she dreamed several times about a little boy running around playing with her, and he was exceptionally cute."

"Is that so? Then he certainly isn't as cute as our Yuxuan, right?"

"Of course, Yuxuan is the cutest."

"Hahaha..."

Zheng Yi laughed heartily. Although Zheng Yuxuan did not have a Spiritual Root according to the last test, it did not affect Zheng Yi's fondness for Zheng Yuxuan in the slightest.

Besides, he had the seed of the Reincarnation Nine Infant Fruit. As long as it was blood-sacrificed and planted, the Reincarnation Nine Infant Fruit would grow after nine thousand years. After consuming it, accompanied by nine lifetimes, there was also an extremely high probability of Awakening a Spiritual Root.

Nine thousand years...

Of course, it had to be irrigated with vital blood!

A single drop of vital blood equaled a year of lifespan. If it was nine thousand years... it would require nine thousand drops of vital blood!

Thinking of this, Zheng Yi felt darkness before his eyes.

However, this matter still had a probability of being accomplished.

"Wawa wa...!"

Not long after, a crisp sound of an infant crying came from inside the bedchamber, and Zheng Yi stood up holding Zheng Yuxuan.

"Born!"

"Consort Duan has given birth!"

"Imperial Mother has given birth! She gave Yuxuan a little younger brother~!"

Soon, the doors of the bedchamber were pushed open, and an attendant walked out quickly holding a small infant.

"Congratulations, Your Majesty! Felicitations, Your Majesty! Consort Duan has given birth, and it is a little imperial prince!"

A little imperial prince!

As soon as the attendant finished speaking, the surrounding concubines all began to discuss excitedly.

"That's wonderful! Elder Sister Consort Duan has given birth to an imperial prince!"

"There will be something to look forward to in the future!"

"This is the second imperial prince..."

Although Lu Liner was smiling, the depths of her gaze were clearly somewhat unnatural.

She hadn't expected that Consort Duan would actually give birth to a son as well.

Truly...

However, she quickly reacted, hurried over to Zheng Yi, and said, "Congratulations, Your Majesty! Felicitations, Your Majesty! Sister Luaner has given birth to an imperial prince for Your Majesty. The prosperity of our Great Yu is within sight!"

Zheng Yi held the child and teased him for a moment, causing the child to wail loudly.

"Hahaha, the cry is quite resonant; at a glance, his Martial Artist bone structure is very strong."

"You all return to your palaces first. We will go check on Luaner."

"Understood!"

Handing the child to the wet nurse, Zheng Yi walked into Xu Qingluan's bedchamber.

"Your Majesty~"

Xu Qingluan was a Grandmaster Realm powerhouse, after all. Giving birth has a huge impact on women, but it clearly did not include Xu Qingluan.

Even though she gave birth a month prematurely, her spirit was still very vigorous.

"Beloved Consort, you needn't get up; just lie down."

In the end, Xu Qingluan leaned against the quilt, gazing affectionately at Zheng Yi.

"Your Majesty, this concubine has not failed the commission and has finally given birth to an imperial prince for you."

Zheng Yi comforted her, saying, "Whether it is an imperial prince or a princess, We love them all."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Xu Qingluan said shyly, "I wonder if Your Majesty has chosen a name for our child yet?"

"It has already been chosen."

Zheng Yi said, "You and Grand General Xu have been loyal for generations, and you excel most in Martial Arts and military strategy, guarding the ten-thousand-li rivers and mountains of our Great Yu."

"Therefore, We plan to use the character 'Wu' for our child's name. What do you think?"

"Wu? Zheng Chengwu?"

"Correct. 'As for Wu, it settles merits and stores weapons. Therefore, stopping conflict is Wu.' Zheng Yi said, "We hope that after Wuer grows up, there will be no more chaotic martial conflicts in the realm of Great Yu."

"With the country at peace, the seas clear and rivers calm, and horses turned loose in the southern mountains, how does that sound?"

Xu Qingluan immediately said, "This concubine... thanks Your Majesty for bestowing the name!"

"Zheng Chengwu, Wuer. Your Majesty, you have truly given Wuer a good name~"

"I wonder how happy Father will be when he learns of this."

Zheng Yi patted his forehead and said, "Ah, We were so focused on our joy that We haven't yet ordered someone to send word to Father-in-law."

"Beloved Consort, rest well. We will dispatch someone right away to send word to Father-in-law."

"Thank you, Your Majesty~"

Just at that moment, Liu Chengen suddenly walked in quickly, his expression somewhat anxious: "Your Majesty..."

"What is the matter?"

Liu Chengen glanced at Xu Qingluan, hesitating to speak, and said, "this servant has an important matter to report."

"What is it..."

"Your Majesty."

Xu Qingluan pulled Zheng Yi and said, "Your Majesty has state affairs to handle, and it is inconvenient for this concubine to listen. Please move to White Jade Capital, Your Majesty."

Zheng Yi touched Xu Qingluan's forehead and said, "Then Beloved Consort, rest well. We will go handle state affairs first."

"Respectfully sending off Your Majesty!"

Leaving Xianfu Palace, Zheng Yi frowned and said, "What is so urgent?"

Liu Chengen hurried forward a couple of steps and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, the Jinyi Guard reports that Xu Xuanwu... has committed suicide."

"Hm?"

Zheng Yi's pupils shrank slightly as he said, "Really or fake?"

"Absolute truth!"

Liu Chengen said, "About an hour ago, a jailer discovered that Xu Xuanwu had dashed his head against the prison wall and died, and he left a blood-written letter."

"A blood letter? To whom?"

"To Grand General Xu."

Zheng Yi immediately said, "Pass down the order to protect the crime scene; no one is allowed to enter."

"Understood!"

"Also... pass this matter on to Grand General Xu."

"Understood!"

"Forget it, We will go personally."

"His Majesty departs~!"

The Grand General's Estate was located in the southern part of the capital city, being a residence bestowed by the late emperor, Emperor Tianqi, during his lifetime.

It covered an area of over a hundred mu and was adjacent to the Forbidden Army camp, being an important military strategic location.

Zheng Yi's sedan chair moved slowly forward, with the Forbidden Army clearing the way and the Imperial Guards protecting, soon arriving before the Grand General's Estate.

"Your subject Xu Mujun pays respects to Your Majesty. May Your Majesty live for ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand years!"

"Beloved subject, rise!"

Zheng Yi hurried forward two steps, helped Xu Mujun up, and said, "Between the two of us, ruler and subject, there is no need for such excessive courtesy."

"This is Our first time coming to the Grand General's Estate. Why doesn't the Grand General show Us around properly?"

"Your subject obeys the decree!"

Xu Mujun stood up, stepped aside, and said, "Your Majesty, please!"

Zheng Yi took the opportunity to step forward and glanced at Xu Mujun.

Compared to his high-spiritedness last time, Xu Mujun now appeared somewhat fatigued.

On his originally resolute face, a few wrinkles had appeared at this moment.

Especially his pair of eyes, which had grown increasingly exhausted.

His empty left arm seemed to be telling something.

In order to personally bring back his own son, Xu Mujun had left an arm behind in Yunzhou!

The ruler and subject thus entered, stepping into the Grand General's Estate.

"Please take a look, Your Majesty. This estate was bestowed upon your subject by the late emperor in the twenty-first year of Tianqi, but your subject rarely stays in the capital, so family members have always looked after it."

"This estate covers more than one hundred and fifty mu and has over thirty houses. Your subject specially opened up a drill ground within the estate..."

Under Xu Mujun's guidance, Zheng Yi quickly toured the Grand General's Estate.

To be honest, covering more than one hundred and fifty mu sounded like a huge area, but for someone of Xu Mujun's status, it was still too small.

After all, he was not alone; there were quite a few family members to take care of.

And there were some personal troops who fought and killed for him.

After retiring, becoming disabled, or falling gravely ill, they were all supported by Xu Mujun within the estate.

Zheng Yi saw quite a few domestic servants and guards in the estate who were missing arms or legs.

But each of them looked extremely capable and fierce, with sharp gazes.

Zheng Yi believed that if these disabled people wanted to kill someone, they would be far stronger than ordinary Martial Artists.

After the tour, Zheng Yi brought up the main business.

"Beloved subject, Our visit this time is to inform you of an important matter."

"Please speak, Your Majesty."

"One happy event, one bad event. I wonder if the Beloved Subject..."

Xu Mujun smiled and said, "Then let your subject guess?"

"Is it that Luaner has given birth to a dragon-like son for Your Majesty?"

Zheng Yi said, "As expected of the Grand General."

"Correct. Luaner has given birth to an imperial prince for Us, and We have named him Zheng Chengwu!"

"We hope that in the near future, Wuer will be able to gallop across the battlefield just like the Beloved Subject, and perform great military exploits for the realm of Great Yu!"

Xu Mujun said respectfully, "Your subject obeys the decree!"

"Your subject will definitely teach Wuer well, making him a dragon and phoenix among men, a cornerstone of Great Yu!"

Zheng Yi hesitated and said, "There is also a piece of bad news..."

Xu Mujun said, "Could it be Xuanwu?"

"However Your Majesty chooses to deal with it, your subject naturally has no complaints!"

Zheng Yi shook his head and said, "Xuanwu committed suicide in prison, leaving behind a blood-written letter."

"What?"

Xu Mujun said in astonishment, staring blankly as Liu Chengen took out a prison garment stained with blood from his bosom and handed it to Xu Mujun.

"Grand General, please restrain your grief."

Xu Mujun quickly reacted, silently took the prison garment, and said, "Xuanwu doing this is truly... bringing this upon himself!"

"Is the Grand General alright?"

Xu Mujun said, "Your subject is fine."

Xu Mujun said, "Your Majesty, please. Your subject has already arranged a banquet for Your Majesty, please..."

"No need."

Zheng Yi shook his head and said, "We still have matters in Our palace, so We will return to the palace now."

"Respectfully sending off Your Majesty!"

Zheng Yi turned around and said, "Right, Xu Xuanwu's corpse and the suicide scene are still in the Jinyi Guard Imperial Prison. If the Grand General has time, you may go inspect them at any time."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Zheng Yi let out a long sigh, slowly walked out of the Grand General's Estate, and returned to White Jade Capital.

After dismissing the attendants on both sides, Chen Liancang slowly walked out.

"Your Majesty."

"Elder Chen, this matter was done well."

Zheng Yi said calmly, "However, are you certain that Xu Xuanwu's matter will not be discovered by anyone?"

"Replying to Your Majesty, this old slave is already a Qi Refinement Phase Cultivator, and has cultivated the 'Soul-Bewitching Technique' from the Yellow Springs Scripture. This method shares the same miraculous effect with the mental secret arts of Innate Realm powerhouses, but it is countless times more covert than the mental secret arts of Innate Realm powerhouses."

"This old slave confused Xu Xuanwu with the Soul-Bewitching Technique, ordering him to write a blood letter and commit suicide. Unless a Cultivator can summon Xu Xuanwu's lingering soul, no one can discover this matter."

"Even if Grand General Xu Mujun inspects it personally, it is the same!"

"That is good then."

Zheng Yi murmured, "Have Zhong Chun make a trip to the Grand General's Estate."

"Understood!"

"Your Majesty."

Chen Liancang added, "During the three months since Your Majesty entered seclusion, this old slave followed the imperial decree to conduct a comprehensive investigation of Emperor Taizus Mausoleum, and finally, not failing Your Majesty's commission, discovered a secret chamber at the bottom of the mausoleum!"

"A secret chamber was discovered?"

Zheng Yi said pleasantly surprised, "Are there treasures inside?"

"Replying to Your Majesty, yes!"

Chen Liancang said, "And there are quite a few, but..."

"But what?"

"Your Majesty, you had better go inspect it personally, and then you will know."