Chapter 36: Chapter 36: Offspring

“Your Ladyship! It’s born! Consort Shuu has given birth!”

Outside Cining Palace, an elderly palace maid briskly approached, shouting loudly as she walked.

Inside the grand hall, Empress Dowager and Empress sat opposite each other, sipping tea continuously in an attempt to conceal their anxiety.

At this moment, Empress Lu Lin’er was about six or seven months pregnant, her belly slightly protruding, round and smooth like a peach.

Upon hearing the shout of the personal maid, Empress Dowager instinctively looked over.

As for Lu Lin’er, she even stood up nervously.

“How is it?”

The palace maid came in quickly, suppressing her harsh breathing, “Reporting to Empress Dowager and Empress, Consort Shuu has given birth, it’s a princess!”

“Phew…”

Upon hearing it’s a princess, both women breathed a sigh of relief.

A princess is fine; the fear was that it would be a prince.

No matter that Consort Shuu’s maternal family had declined, as long as it was a prince, there would be grounds to compete for the throne.

The Great Yu established its nation more than three hundred years ago with a strict decree for the eldest legitimate son to inherit.

But how many who truly became emperor were the eldest legitimate sons?

Faced with this, Empress Dowager and Empress couldn’t help but be anxious.

“Fortunately, fortunately, Aunt, Consort Shuu gave birth to a girl.”

Lu Lin’er patted her increasingly ample chest and said, “Yang Ni is to be executed in two months, and then without her family’s support, she poses no threat to us.”

Empress Dowager did not agree but instead asked, “Has Your Majesty given a name?”

“Replying to Empress Dowager, he has.”

“What name?”

In the imperial family, naming offspring carries significant meaning, often reflecting the emperor’s expectations for his child.

Especially for princes, it is even more crucial.

It sometimes requires consulting several elder scholars and members of the royal family to determine the name and title.

As for daughters, the emperor himself decides based on his own thoughts.

“Named Zheng Yuyao, bestowed ’Princess Yaoshi’.”

“Yuyao?”

Lu Lin’er, being from a literary family, although somewhat simple-minded, quickly understood.

“Aunt, the two characters… seem to mean the same thing, both represent beautiful jade?”

“And Princess Yaoshi… Is Your Majesty determined to pursue immortality and enlightenment?”

Empress Dowager exhaled deeply, shook her head, “Even I am unclear, Your Majesty’s disposition greatly changed after two assassination attempts during Yang Ni’s rebellion, becoming very different from usual.”

“His thoughts are increasingly hard for me to fathom.”

“However, this title Eldest Princess… beautiful jade, is it to hope that Consort Shuu can be independent and not get too deeply involved with the family of Yang Xuansu, who is soon to be executed along with the nine clans?”

“Aunt…”

“Alright,” Empress Dowager shook her head, “Since Consort Shuu has already given birth to a princess, you should be reassured and go back to rest…”

“Empress Dowager, Your Ladyship!”

At this time, another female official quickly ran up, her tone urgent, “Reporting to Empress Dowager and Empress, Consort Bi in Chuxiu Palace is about to give birth as well!”

“What?”

Empress stood up in shock, while Empress Dowager calmly said, “Why the rush?”

“The delivery dates for Consort Shuu and Consort Bi were close to each other, hence what’s surprising about giving birth on the same day?”

“Go, quickly investigate.”

“Yes!”

The palace maid left, and Empress asked again, “Aunt, if Consort Bi gives birth to a prince…”

“You are the Empress, the mother of the world!”

Empress Dowager instructed, “You must have the demeanor to remain composed even with a mountain collapsing in front of you; an insignificant concubine position, promoted from a palace maid, already carries great fortune.”

“Without maternal family support, even if she gives birth to a prince, the threat to you is minimal, though caution is advised.”

“Let’s wait and see.”

“Yes, Aunt…”

Half an hour later, in Chuxiu Palace.

The elderly maid, sweating heavily, joyfully carried a small baby out, respectfully raising her hands to present the child to Zheng Yi.

“Reporting to Your Majesty, Consort Bi has given birth, it’s a princess~!”

“Hmm, not bad, reward!”

Zheng Yi directly took his second daughter this time, inspecting her closely.

All the children born from the bellies of several consorts in the harem were born bearing Pure Yin Qi.

But what effect does this Pure Yin Qi have, besides enabling the birth of daughters?

Until now, he didn’t know.

As expected, the daughter born from Consort Bi also had a faint aura of Pure Yin Qi, a very familiar sensation.

Under his gaze, it dissipated slowly like green smoke.

Revealing an adorably sculpted, jade-like face.

“This Pure Yin Qi has dissipated again? What exactly is going on…”

Zheng Yi immersed his mind into the depths of his thoughts, the Yin Yang Treasure Mirror quietly floating in mid-air.

His mind moved, and lines of words appeared on the mirror’s surface.

[Life Master: Zheng Yi]

[Gift: Yin Yang]

[Lifespan: 24/133]

[Cultivation Technique: “White Lotus Reincarnation Divine Skill” first layer (100/100)]

[“Hundred Battle Blood Slaughter Saber” third layer (10000/10000)]

[Overall Strength: Tier One]

His lifespan was originally only 42 years.

Later, through Yin Yang Treasure Mirror, it increased by 16 points from Bi He, 19 points from Consort Shuu, 19 points from Consort Duann, 19 points from Empress.

And also from Consort De, who served after Empress within just a few days, gaining 18 lifespan points.

This means his current lifespan is 132 points!

As long as he avoids illness, disaster, assassination, and reckless actions, he can live securely to 133 years.

But to Zheng Yi, it was still too little!

“Pure Yin Qi dissipated, and the Yin Yang Treasure Mirror showed no response?”

Zheng Yi murmured, continually guessing the effect of Pure Yin Qi.

Could it be… that he needs to test Pure Yang Qi?

Or perhaps combining both?

Zheng Yi still shook his head, suppressing the chaotic thoughts in his mind.

“Hmm… something’s wrong?”

He suddenly shifted his focus, concentrating on the backside of the Yin Yang Treasure Mirror.

He remembered clearly.

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

And now, on the underside of the Yin Yang Treasure Mirror, a hint of brass color appeared.

No… it’s two streaks!

Two vague but indeed existing streaks of brass color.

“Is this… the result of Pure Yin Qi’s birth?”

Zheng Yi quickly speculated, “Could it be that the Yin Yang Treasure Mirror undergoes some changes because I have children?”

“Charging? Percentage progress?”

“Using Pure Yin Qi to give birth to daughters causes these changes, then what about using Pure Yang Qi to give birth to sons?”

Zheng Yi’s thoughts raced, generating numerous ideas in an instant.

As expected, with his conjecture, another reflection appeared on the mirror’s surface.

Based on his assumptions, special data was produced.

[Innate Spiritual Energy Progress (Tier One): 2/10]

“Innate Spiritual Energy Progress? And Tier One? What kind of thing is this?”

“Does it mean I need to give birth to 10 daughters to unlock this so-called Innate Spiritual Energy Progress?”

Zheng Yi quickly understood, pondering.

“Consort Shuu Yang Huan, Consort Bi Bi He, Consort Duann Xu Qingluan, Empress Lu Lin’er, Consort De Li Changle are all pregnant, five daughters equate to five Pure Yin Qi.”

“Still lacking five more…”

“There’s also Noble Consort Cui, but she’s been in poor health, constantly excusing herself, a thorough examination by the Imperial Physician is necessary.”

Thoughts abound, but he still suppressed these chaotic ideas and walked slowly into Chuxiu Palace.

Inside the room, a weakened Bi He lay on the bed.

Upon hearing movement, she quickly struggled to sit up, “Your Majesty~”

“Bi He, you have just given birth, don’t exert yourself.”

Bi He said softly, “Your Majesty, this concubine has not succeeded in giving birth to a Dragon child for Your Majesty.”

Zheng Yi shook his head, wondering why every woman wanted to bear him a son?

“Bi He, let’s not dwell on it, whether male or female, I will treat them equally.”

“Thank you for Your Majesty’s reassurance,” Bi He said, “I ask Your Majesty to grant a name.”

“Your name, Bi, also signifies precious stone and jade.”

Zheng Yi thought briefly then said, “Let’s name the child ’Xia’.”

“Xia, representing the red clouds. Jade surrounded by the blue sky and red glow, indeed matches with you.”

“Hence named Zheng Yuxia, bestowed title ’Princess Jin Xia’!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep