36: Offspring (Please collect and read)

Chapter 36: Offspring (Please Bookmark and Follow)

"Your Highness! She gave birth! Consort Shu has given birth!"

Outside Cining Palace, an older palace maid walked over hastily, shouting aloud as she came.

Inside the main hall, the Empress Dowager and the Empress sat opposite each other, drinking tea continuously unable to conceal their nervousness.

At this time, Empress Lu Liner was about six or seven months pregnant, her lower abdomen slightly bulged, plump and round like a peach.

Hearing her personal maid's shouts, the Empress Dowager subconsciously looked over.

As for Lu Liner, she even stood up nervously.

"How is it?"

The maid hurried inside and said breathlessly, "Replying to Your Highness the Empress Dowager and Your Majesty the Empress, Consort Shu has given birth—it is a little princess!"

"Phew..."

Hearing that it was a princess, both of them let out a sigh of relief.

A princess was fine; they were only afraid it would be a prince.

Even though Consort Shu's maternal family had declined, as long as it was a prince, he would have capital to compete for the throne.

Great Yu had been established for over three hundred years and had strictly mandated primogeniture.

But among those who actually became emperor, how many were truly the eldest son of the primary wife?

Seeing this, it was impossible for the Empress Dowager and Empress not to be nervous.

"Thank goodness. Aunt, Consort Shu gave birth to a daughter."

Lu Liner patted her increasingly full chest and said, "Yang Reverse will be executed in another two months. When that happens, she won't have support from her maternal family, posing no threat to us at all."

The Empress Dowager did not echo her sentiment, but asked instead, "Has His Majesty named her?"

"Replying to Empress Dowager, yes."

"What name?"

The naming of imperial offspring carried deep meaning, often representing the emperor's expectations for the child.

It was especially important for princes.

Several senior scholars and members of the imperial clan would even be asked to deliberate together before finalizing the name and title.

As for daughters, that was entirely up to the emperor's whim.

"Named Zheng Yuyao, granted the title 'Princess Yaochi'."

"Yuyao?"

After all, Lu Liner came from a scholarly family; although she was somewhat airheaded, she reacted quickly.

"Aunt, these two characters... seem to have the same meaning, both meaning fine jade?"

"And 'Princess Yaochi'... Is His Majesty determined to pursue immortals and the Dao?"

The Empress Dowager took a long breath and shook her head. "I do not know either. Ever since His Majesty experienced two assassination attempts and Yang Reverse's rebellion, his temperament has changed drastically, far different from usual."

"His thoughts are becoming harder and harder for me to guess."

"However, the title of this Eldest Princess... 'Fine Jade'. Is it hoping that Consort Shu will maintain her personal integrity and not get too involved with Yang Xuansu's family, who are about to have nine generations executed?"

"Aunt..."

"Enough." The Empress Dowager shook her head. "Since Consort Shu has given birth to a princess, you should rest assured and go back to nurse your pregnancy in peace..."

"Empress Dowager, Your Highness Empress Dowager!"

Just then, another female official ran over hurriedly, speaking rapidly, "Reporting to Your Highness Empress Dowager and Your Majesty Empress, Consort Bi of Chuxiu Palace is also about to give birth!"

"What?"

The Empress stood up in surprise, while the Empress Dowager calmly said, "What's the rush?"

"Consort Shu and Consort Bi's due dates were already close; what is there to be surprised about them giving birth on the same day?"

"Go and make inquiries immediately."

"Yes!"

As the palace maid left, the Empress asked again, "Aunt, if Consort Bi gives birth to a prince..."

"You are the Empress, the mother of the nation!"

The Empress Dowager instructed, "You must have the composure to remain unfazed even if Mount Tai collapses before you. A mere imperial concubine elevated from a palace maid has already received immense Luck."

"Without the support of a maternal family, even if she gives birth to a prince, the threat to you is tiny. However, caution is still advised."

"Just wait."

"Yes, Aunt..."

Half an hour later, Chuxiu Palace.

A sweating nanny joyfully walked out holding a small infant, respectfully raising her hands to present the child to Zheng Yi.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, Lady Consort Bi has given birth—it is a little princess!"

"Mm, good. Reward them!"

This time, Zheng Yi directly took his second daughter and examined her carefully.

The children carried in the bellies of the various concubines in the inner palace were all born inheriting Pure Yin Qi.

Aside from causing pregnant women to bear female children, what other effects did this Pure Yin Qi have?

Even now, he wasn't clear about it.

Sure enough, the daughter born to Consort Bi also had a faint trace of Pure Yin Qi on her, which was very familiar.

Under his gaze, it slowly dissipated like green smoke.

Revealing a delicate, adorable little face carved from jade.

"This Pure Yin Qi dissipated again? What on earth is going on..."

Zheng Yi immersed his mind into his consciousness, where the Yin Yang Treasure Mirror still floated quietly in midair.

With a thought, lines of text appeared on the mirror's surface.

[Master: Zheng Yi]

[Talent: Yin and Yang]

[Lifespan: 24/133]

[Cultivation Technique: White Lotus Reincarnation Divine Skill Level 1 (100/100)]

[Hundred Battles Blood Fiend Saber Level 3 (10000/10000)]

[Overall Strength: First Rank]

Originally, his lifespan was only 42 years.

Later, through the Yin Yang Treasure Mirror, he gained 16 years from Bi He, 19 years from Consort Shu, 19 years from Consort Duan, and 19 years from the Empress.

There was also Consort De, who had served him in bed just a few days apart from the Empress, yielding an extra 18 years of lifespan.

In other words, his current lifespan reached a full 132 years!

As long as there were no illnesses or disasters, no assassinations, and he didn't court death himself, he could peacefully live until 133 years old.

But to Zheng Yi, this was still far too little!

"The Pure Yin Qi dissipated, but the Yin Yang Treasure Mirror showed no reaction?"

Zheng Yi murmured, constantly guessing at the function of the Pure Yin Qi.

Could it be... he needed to try Pure Yang Qi?

Or perhaps combine both together?

Zheng Yi shook his head after all, repressing the wild thoughts in his mind.

"Hmm... Something's not right?"

Suddenly moved by a feeling, his focus concentrated on the back of the Yin Yang Treasure Mirror.

He remembered very clearly.

When he first obtained the Yin Yang Treasure Mirror, its overall color was bronze.

But right now, at the lower back of the Yin Yang Treasure Mirror, a hint of brass color had appeared.

No... it was two lines!

Two somewhat blurry, yet definitely existing streaks of brass color.

"Is this... the result of the birth of Pure Yin Qi?"

Zheng Yi quickly surmised, "Could it be that the Yin Yang Treasure Mirror undergoes new changes because I father children?"

"Charging? Percentage progress?"

"If fathering daughters using Pure Yin Qi brings about such changes, then what about fathering sons using Pure Yang Qi?"

Zheng Yi's thoughts spun rapidly, contemplating many things in an instant.

Sure enough, following his conjecture, another line of text appeared on the mirror surface.

A piece of special data generated based on his perception.

[innate spiritual energy Progress (Tier 1): 2/10]

"innate spiritual energy progress? And Tier 1? What on earth is this?"

"In other words, I need to father ten daughters to unlock this so-called innate spiritual energy progress?"

Zheng Yi quickly understood and began pondering in his heart.

"Consort Shu Yang Huan, Consort Bi Bi He, Consort Duan Xu Qingluan, Empress Lu Liner, and Consort De Li Changle are all pregnant; five daughters mean five strands of Pure Yin Qi."

"Still short five strands..."

"There's also Consort Cui, but she's in poor health and has been taking leave constantly. I should send an imperial physician to check on her properly."

With a myriad of thoughts in mind, he suppressed these random ideas and walked slowly into Chuxiu Palace.

Inside the room, a weak Bi He was lying on the bed.

Hearing the movement, she hurriedly struggled to sit up. "Your Majesty~"

"He'er, you've just given birth, don't move around."

Bi He whispered, "Your Majesty, this concubine is useless; I failed to bear Your Majesty a Dragon son."

Zheng Yi shook his head. Why did every woman want to bear him a son?

"He'er, don't overthink. Whether male or female, I will treat them equally."

"Thank you for comforting me, Your Majesty," Bi He said. "May I ask Your Majesty to bestow a name?"

"Your name contains 'Bi', which is also a term for precious gems and fine jade."

After thinking casually for a moment, Zheng Yi said, "Then we shall name the child 'Xia'."

"'Xia' refers to rosy clouds. 'Green jade under the blue sky with red-tinted clouds'—it suits you quite well in harmony."

"So she shall be named Zheng Yuxia and granted the title 'Princess Jinxia'!"