The Emperor offered a hundred treasure ships as a betrothal gift to marry the Empress, and her father and brothers used these ships to recruit sailors, setting sail on a journey across the Eastern Sea.
This marked the first step toward Great Hui’s rise as the supreme maritime power among all nations.
When later generations studied this Eastern Sea Empress through historical texts and documents, many were curious about the immense wealth she accumulated through maritime ventures.
Countless scholars and experts debated the matter.
Yet, more historians recognized her primarily for her achievements.
Because of her and her family’s efforts, Great Hui joined the global maritime expedition, breaking free from the cyclical rise and fall of feudal dynasties and inaugurating the celebrated Jingxi Prosperity.
It was during the Jingxi Prosperity that this Eastern empire humbled its proud head, no longer satisfied with its natural riches.
It began to widely introduce cotton and sweet potato cultivation.
Memorials from the Directorate of Ceremonial frequently mentioned “Western mechanical marvels” and “steam divine power” — strange Western technologies.
Along the Eastern Sea coast, officials from the Astronomer Royal worked side by side with red-haired barbarian technicians to conduct surveys, while the Jiangnan Weaving Bureau introduced the Jinyi Machine.
The blood of this formerly agrarian empire gradually blended with the genes of industrial civilization, laying the foundation for future social progress and transformations.
Of course, this is a story for later.
In reality, the now-Empress A wu had no such long-term plans.
She lifted her skirts as she walked across the soft carpet of Fuhua Hall, eagerly enjoying the rare goods from the Red-Haired Barbarians.
She happily thought about the upcoming New Year festivities, hoping the Emperor would take a break so they could spend time together.
She wanted to go out and explore—she certainly didn’t want to stay cooped up in the palace every day.
It was unbearably dull.
Nowadays, concubines and favored consorts who left the Imperial Harem either retired with generous stipends or became palace ladies.
Concubine Hui had become a palace lady and was now A wu’s right hand, helping her greatly.
As the head of the Imperial Harem, A wu enjoyed leisure and comfort, wielded great power, and didn’t have to labor.
At night, she could even ride the Emperor—it was an incredibly comfortable life.
But A wu had her own worries.
She had been reading many books recently, including medical texts, and began to think that her fantasy of having two sons and two daughters was unrealistic.
After all, she already had one son and one daughter—more than enough.
No need to have more children.
Besides, giving birth was quite exhausting.
Emperor Jingxi, however, seemed oblivious or uninterested in this.
Perhaps he still instinctively believed that more children meant more blessings and hoped she would bear more heirs.
One night in bed, A wu couldn’t help but hesitate, and Jingxi noticed, puzzled.
Though the Emperor was in his late thirties, he had spent recent years strengthening and maintaining his health, making him look barely past thirty.
After two or three days without satisfaction, he grew somewhat displeased and asked about it.
Only then did A wu explain her reasons.
Jingxi pondered briefly and advised, “It’s really nothing. More sons and grandsons—if you have more children, can’t I support them?”
At this, A wu threw a brocade pillow at him.
The Emperor caught the pillow calmly.
“What’s this about?”
A wu huffed, “It’s me who bears the children, not you. You originally only had one son and one daughter. At your age, you have a delicate young wife like me to bear your children— what more could you want? You still want more? Greedy enough to swallow the elephant whole!”
Jingxi raised an eyebrow, confused.
He only said a few words and yet earned so much complaint.
A wu glanced at him coolly and said, “How about this: bring in some new girls to the harem, young and stunning. Then when you want children, you can have them bear your heirs. Try with several—maybe one will succeed, and you’ll have many sons and grandsons.”
Jingxi frowned, studying A wu, “What are you sulking about?”
He had been busy with state affairs recently and hadn’t offended her, had he?
As for bringing in new girls… he didn’t have the desire, and more importantly, he didn’t dare.
Everyone in the harem knew well: even if you offend the Emperor, you must never offend this Empress.
A wu snorted, ignoring him, and went straight to the bronze mirror to admire her new hairstyle and headpiece.
So beautiful, truly beautiful.
Jingxi leaned over and looked at their reflections in the mirror.
They had an age difference, but he looked young and healthy, so the pairing was quite fitting and didn’t show much disparity.
Still, she was young, and he should pamper her more.
So he finally asked, “A wu, where have I gone wrong?”
A wu answered, “I have both a son and a daughter now; I have fulfilled my duty. I don’t want to endure the pains of childbirth again.”
Jingxi furrowed his brows and said, “That’s reasonable.”
Though if she became pregnant, dozens of Imperial Physicians and palace ladies would attend her and prevent much hardship, it was still her carrying the child for ten months.
He quickly said, “Then we won’t have more children.”
A wu: “Mm, so we’ll abstain from such matters!”
Jingxi leaned in, nuzzling her neck, teasing softly, “Not to the point of complete abstinence, right? Doesn’t A wu enjoy it? Has your husband never pleased you?”
A wu blushed slightly and mumbled, “Of course I like it, but…”
Jingxi: “That’s easy—let’s use a sheath.”
In the palace, various birth control methods existed: massage and cleansing, herbal washes, sheaths, and medicinal soups.
But for Empress A wu, delicate as she was, massage and herbal cleansing were unsuitable, and Jingxi wouldn’t let her suffer.
A wu: “No, it feels strange!”
She felt uncomfortable with the sheath, always feeling like something was there.
Jingxi heard this and suggested: “Then drink the birth control soup.”
A wu hesitated, still reluctant.
“Forget it, I don’t want to drink that. Let’s just stop altogether from now on!”
Jingxi coaxed, “There are many methods; we can—”
A wu interrupted, “No!”
Jingxi regarded her carefully.
A wu ignored him.
Jingxi leaned in, kissing her subtly, nibbling the soft flesh by her ear as his long hand moved downward.
A wu felt a stir.
Jingxi lifted his gaze, admiring the flushed woman reflected in the mirror.
Calmly, he coaxed, “A wu, if we stop completely, would you be willing?”
They had been married for years, and he knew exactly how to tease her.
Today, she wore thin robes, and his fingers gliding lightly over her, even through fabric, sent waves of shivers.
Her body trembled slightly, and soft sounds escaped her lips.
Jingxi’s thin lips brushed her ear, exhaling softly, voice hoarse: “Hmm? Don’t want more?”
A wu could no longer hold back; her eyes glistened red, and she melted against the mirror.
“I want…”
Jingxi held her close, still kissing tenderly but not moving further.
“Good, then we’ll wait for now. Lie down, my dear—this servant has to attend to business.”
He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and turned away.
A wu watched his retreating figure, burning with frustration.
‘Disgraceful old man—he’s taking advantage of me! He’s doing it on purpose!’
***
For the next two or three days, Emperor Jingxi was busy.
Foreign Tribe envoys arrived, and there was a grand military review.
He disappeared from sight.
It wasn’t until that night, while A wu was taking a nap, that he suddenly returned.
Returning was one thing, but he stripped and climbed onto the bed, pulling A wu into a storm of kisses and passion.
She couldn’t dodge—it was like wildfire.
A wu was startled, “What are you doing?”
Jingxi lightly bit her earlobe and said, “You owe me, so pay your debt quickly.”
Before she could respond, he pressed down.
Caught off guard, A wu was overwhelmed, but amid the waves, she struggled, digging her nails into his strong arm and asking hoarsely, “What kind of debt is this?”
Jingxi had gone days without, and now he was utterly satisfied, his tailbone trembling, his scalp about to burst.
His usually austere face held a hint of harshness as he worked silently and fiercely.
When A wu clearly felt him release inside, she trembled and scratched a long mark on his arm.
Jingxi grunted, his strong body trembling as he completed the act without spilling a drop.
Later, half-lidded, he savored the aftertaste with satisfied eyes.
A wu raised her hand to pat his muscular chest.
Jingxi didn’t open his eyes but precisely grasped her small hand.
“Don’t worry, you won’t get pregnant.”
A wu grunted softly.
Jingxi said, “I’ve already drunk the birth control soup.”
A wu: “Ah? What?”
Jingxi lay down, pulling her soft, smooth body into his arms.
A wu: “Speak—what do you mean?”
Jingxi held her hand to his lips, kissed it lightly, and said, “I consulted the Imperial Physicians. They said the birth control soup is safe to use naturally. But if used long term, it could harm your body’s foundation.”
He spoke coldly, “Besides, you’re delicate. If you see the soup, cry and refuse to drink, causing all sorts of trouble and blaming me in the end—”
A wu: “So?”
Jingxi: “I asked the Imperial Physicians to prepare the birth control soup for men. They found a recipe that requires drinking for three consecutive days to take effect. Today is the third day.”
A wu: “That explains….”
She suddenly understood why he had suddenly left one day and then ignored her for three days.
He said he was busy with state affairs, but really he feared losing control and bringing on unnecessary troubles.
She was somewhat shocked and tentatively said, “I’ve never heard of a birth control soup for men before.”
Jingxi didn’t want to elaborate, replying vaguely, “It exists.”
A wu: “Won’t it harm the Emperor’s health?”
Jingxi shrugged lightly, “Rest assured—it won’t affect how I love you every day.”
A wu blushed faintly and didn’t ask further.
But in her heart, she felt sweet.
After all, many men father many children.
He was the Emperor, possessing a body worth a thousand gold coins.
Such a man usually had women revolving around him, not the other way around—never making concessions or sacrifices for a woman.
Especially… A wu faintly sensed that if the soup was taken often, it would inevitably have some side effects.
Now that he cared about his own health and didn’t want her to drink the soup, his love and consideration were clear.
A wu secretly savored this unexpected tenderness from the Emperor, feeling her heart bloom.
People treat others differently.
For an ordinary fisherman, even if he drank birth control soup for her sake, it would be ordinary—it was only natural.
After all, he had such a beautiful wife and should cherish her.
But for an Emperor, her feelings were different.
An Emperor could have countless beauties in his harem and fresh young consorts entering the palace one after another, with plenty of choices.
Yet he willingly gave up so many temptations and chose only her.
Moreover, he agreed to drink birth control soup himself.
This moved her tenfold more than if he were an ordinary man.
In truth, Emperor Jingxi was not a particularly considerate husband.
For instance, regarding childbirth, since he was surrounded by numerous Imperial Physicians, palace ladies, and attendants, he believed his wife received the best care.
And before this, A wu had been eager and excited about bearing heirs, so he never imagined she would dislike pregnancy.
But once she shared her troubles, he promptly and decisively solved them.
She only needed to voice her concerns, and regardless of whether he fully understood, he would swiftly and precisely handle it, presenting her the results quickly.
What he sacrificed or what trouble he faced, he never mentioned.
A wu nestled against the slightly sweaty, strong chest of the Emperor, closed her eyes comfortably, and quietly let this secret joy—the sweetness of being cherished—flow through her heart like a warm current.
She thought: the days ahead were long, and she would need many such sudden little surprises and cares.
She believed this man could give them.
Yet, of course, in her heart, she quietly hoped for one thing.
Now they were husband and wife, truly fond of each other, but between them, the Emperor held absolute control.
A wu hoped, of course, to gain more.
Her father had been ennobled in the Eastern Seas for his contribution with the sweet potato.
Her several brothers, along with Yehan, had been ordered to sail overseas and had become enormously wealthy.
But Ning Yinhua was always low-key and cautious, never daring to seize power to avoid the Emperor’s suspicion.
Great Hui’s Imperial Harem never allowed interference in politics, and external relatives were always feared.
A wu knew she had no ability, nor could she cause any trouble right under Emperor Jingxi’s nose.
When she was born, he was already a masterful ruler with his eyes on the world.
How could she scheme against such a man?
She never had a chance.
Under such secretive concerns, A wu again thought of the issue of succession.
The Second Prince, though only four years old, was intelligent and resembled Emperor Jingxi in appearance and temperament.
He was already in school, and his performance was commendable.
From subtle details, A wu could sense Jingxi’s love and praise for his second son.
The Emperor even said the Second Prince’s cleverness surpassed his own at that age.
A wu thought to herself: she couldn’t hide her thoughts from him; maybe he had already seen through them but chose not to mention it.
Not mentioning could mean silent indulgence—or deliberate ignoring.
Who could say?
Men who ruled the world were secretive about such things.
No one knew their final decisions until the very end.
But for now, the Second Prince was still young, and she didn’t want to push matters.
Her father also advised discretion, saying it would take fifteen years.
The child was only four; she had to wait patiently.
Thinking this, A wu shifted slightly and nestled into the hollow of Jingxi’s shoulder, murmuring softly, asking for more: “A wu loves you very much. Your Majesty, please treat A wu even better—much, much better!”
Jingxi lowered his eyelids, watching her delicate expression, leaned down slightly, and gently pecked her clear forehead.
Then he silently and lovingly wrapped her in his arms, holding her tightly.
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