180: The Tenth Son—Emperor Xuanshu

Outside the Imperial Study.

A series of slightly hurried footsteps approached from a distance.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!" A Palace Maid dressed in elegant, simple palace attire ran to the Imperial Study, her voice filled with surprise and urgency. "Reporting to Your Majesty, news has come from Suwei Palace that Consort Liu is about to give birth!"

Di Yan looked up, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.

Without the slightest hesitation, he set down the vermilion brush in his hand and rose. "Prepare the carriage for Suwei Palace!"

"Yes!" The Palace Maid hurriedly turned to lead the way.

Di Yan's steps were composed but extremely fast, his black-and-gold imperial robes trailing behind him like a streak of light.

Before long, he arrived outside Suwei Palace in the Harem area.

Many concubines who had heard the news were already waiting outside. Seeing Di Yan's arrival, they all bowed gracefully. "Your Subject greets Your Majesty."

Di Yan nodded slightly, his gaze fixed on the tightly closed palace doors.

Right at that moment—

[Ding! Empress Taisu Liu Susu has given birth to the host's first offspring!]

[Congratulations, host, you have gained one lottery chance!]

Almost the instant the System's prompt ended, a loud and powerful infant's cry echoed clearly from within the hall:

"Waaah—!"

The cry was crisp and full of vigorous vitality.

Di Yan's brows rose slightly, and a smile unconsciously appeared on his face.

He raised his hand in a gesture, and a Palace Maid stepped forward to open the palace doors.

Di Yan stepped into the hall, where a faint scent of blood mixed with the aroma of calming incense filled the air.

Several mid-wife Palace Maids were busy; seeing Di Yan enter, they hurriedly bowed. "Greetings, Your Majesty!"

Di Yan scanned the room. Besides the busy Palace Maids, high-ranking concubines like Di Yunshu and Mu Xuanyin were gathered around the bed.

Hearing him, the women turned and bowed. "Your Majesty."

"How is Susu?" Di Yan walked quickly toward the bed.

Di Yunshu and the others quickly made a path for him.

Liu Susu was leaning against soft pillows, her face slightly pale and her forehead dotted with fine beads of sweat. However, her beautiful eyes were strikingly bright, filled with the tenderness and joy of a first-time mother.

She held an infant in her arms, whose tender pink face was scrunched up as he cried.

"Your Majesty, you've come." Seeing Di Yan, a bright smile blossomed on Liu Susu's pale face. Her voice was weak but could not hide her happiness. "Look, it's a boy. Our son."

Di Yan stepped forward and sat by the bed. He reached out and gently brushed away the sweat-dampened hair from Liu Susu's cheek, saying softly, "You've worked hard, Beloved Consort."

His gaze then fell upon the infant. The little fellow seemed to sense something; his crying gradually ceased, and he opened a pair of dark, shiny eyes, looking toward Di Yan with curiosity.

"Let me see him." Di Yan reached out and gently took the child from Liu Susu's arms.

The infant moved in the crook of his arm, his small mouth twitching unconsciously, appearing exceptionally well-behaved.

Di Yan carefully studied the child's features; he could faintly see a few traces of Liu Susu's soft beauty and his own silhouette, and warmth flowed through his heart.

He looked at Liu Susu and said gently, "Beloved Consort, you have performed a great service by giving birth to a son for me."

Liu Susu nodded with a smile, her gaze lingering affectionately on the child and Di Yan. She said softly, "Your Majesty, please give the child a name."

Di Yan lowered his eyes to look at the young child in his arms. After a moment of contemplation, he spoke slowly, "'Xuan' represents the deep and profound mysteries of the unpredictable Heavenly Dao."

"'Shu' refers to the hub, the key, and also the Tianshu star, which governs movement and contains the power of vitality and transformation."

"This child shall be named Di Xuanshu."

"May he understand the profound mysteries of the Great Dao in the future, hold the central mechanism of the world, and become a pillar of my Taiyan Immortal Court."

[Name: Di Xuanshu]

[Cultivation: None]

[Physique: Taisu Dao Body]

[Identity: Tenth Son of Di Yan, Son of Liu Susu]

[Luck: 77,777,777,777,777+]

[...]

"Di Xuanshu." Liu Susu repeated the name in a low voice, her eyes full of love and approval. "Xuanshu... it's a good name. I like it very much. Thank you, Your Majesty."

As she spoke, a trace of exhaustion appeared on her face, and her voice grew even softer. "Your Majesty, I am a bit tired."

Before she could finish, her eyelids fluttered closed, and she fell directly into a deep sleep.

"Take good care of Consort Liu and the Tenth Imperial Prince," Di Yan instructed everyone in the hall as he carefully handed the child back to a nearby Palace Maid.

"Yes, Your Majesty," everyone responded in unison.

Di Yan stayed in Suwei Palace for a while longer. After confirming that Liu Susu was Awakening her memories and that the child was safe, he turned to leave and returned to the Imperial Study.

Di Yan sat on the dragon throne and thought, "System, use the lottery chance."

[Ding! Congratulations, host, you have obtained one billion enlightenment tea leaves!]

[Ding! Congratulations, host, you have obtained one character summoning card!]

[Ding! Congratulations, host, you have obtained one hundred thousand Royal Dragon Guard!]

enlightenment tea leaves: Produced from the Innate Ancient Enlightenment Tea Tree, the leaves contain the dao rhyme of heaven and earth. When brewed and consumed, they can help a person instantly enter a state of deep enlightenment, greatly enhancing their perception and understanding efficiency of the Great Dao. They have miraculous effects on Cultivators of any Realm with no side effects.

Royal Dragon Guard: Personal guards exclusive to the Emperor. All members wear dragon-scale black armor and Cultivate the 'Royal Dragon Heavenly Scripture.' Their loyalty is at maximum, and they are skilled in the 'Nine Dragons Protecting Heaven' combined battle formation. Their cultivation ranges from Heavenly Immortal to Immortal King. they can condense the Emperor's Luck to empower themselves, possessing extraordinary combat power.

Looking at the three rewards floating in the System space, especially that staggering quantity of enlightenment tea leaves, a sharp glint flashed in Di Yan's eyes.

This item could be called a supreme treasure for Cultivation, and it would have an incalculable effect on raising the overall strength of the entire Taiyan Immortal Court.

"System, use the character summoning card."

[Ding! Used successfully. Summoning the Ever-Victorious General—Zhao Yun!]

Inside the Imperial Study.

Ripples appeared in space, and a figure as upright as a pine tree solidified from nothingness.

The newcomer had a face as fair as jade and eyes like bright stars. He wore bright silver dragon-scale armor and held a Gentian Bright Silver Spear, exuding a heroic aura.

It was the famous general of Shu Han, Zhao Zilong of Changshan!

Seeing Di Yan, Zhao Yun did not hesitate to drop to one knee. He cupped his fists and said in a deep voice, "this humble general, Zhao Yun, greets Your Majesty! I am willing to serve Your Majesty with the loyalty of a dog or horse, and I will not hesitate even if my body is ground to dust!"

[Name: Zhao Yun]

[Cultivation: Late Stage Immortal King]

[Weapon: Gentian Bright Silver Spear]

[Dao: Spear Dao]

[...]

"Zilong, please rise." Di Yan raised his hand to help him up, feeling very pleased.

Zhao Yun was matchless in loyalty and bravery, with extraordinary combat power. Furthermore, his Late Stage Immortal King cultivation was exactly the top-tier combat strength currently needed.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Zhao Yun stood up and stood tall with his spear, his demeanor awe-inspiring.

Di Yan directly ordered, "Zhao Yun, I appoint you as the commander of the Royal Dragon Guard. You shall lead one hundred thousand Royal Dragon Guard, responsible for guarding the Imperial Palace and protecting my safety. Can you handle this?"

Zhao Yun's tiger-like eyes snapped open, and he cupped his fists, responding forcefully, "this humble general accepts the command! I will surely not fail Your Majesty's heavy trust. Even if there are ten thousand enemies, they shall not cross a single step past the Royal Dragon Guard!"

"Good!" Di Yan nodded, then sent a voice transmission: "Xiao Heng, Historical Strategist, come to the Imperial Study immediately."

Before long, the left and right prime ministers arrived together and bowed. "Your Subjects greet Your Majesty."

Di Yan said no more. With a wave of his hand, two Storage Rings filled with enlightenment tea leaves flew toward the two men.

"These are enlightenment tea leaves. Their effects are extraordinary; they can help one comprehend the Dao and enhance their perception of the Laws." Di Yan said deeply, "There are three hundred million pieces in each. I order you two to immediately set about distributing the tea leaves."

"Ensure that every soldier and every registered official of my Taiyan Immortal Court receives one piece! Prioritize the soldiers with merit and the officers and men on the front lines. There must be no mistakes!"