Although Su Qianqian had already been reborn as a girl for over twenty years and had come to accept this identity, having a child was absolutely not included! She had never even considered it!
After living as a man for over three hundred years, even after becoming Su Qianqian, she had never thought about marrying someone of the opposite sex or having children.
Precisely because it had never crossed her mind, now that she was suddenly told to choose between having a boy or a girl, for a moment, Su Qianqian felt as if the sky was collapsing…
Although her current gender meant she wouldn’t be having children with the opposite sex, which was some small comfort, and even though she didn’t dislike Luo Wuhen, having a child—impossible!
But now, she had no choice at all.
In Su Qianqian’s mind, she could already picture her own tragic future: carrying a huge belly, nurturing a fetus, and then raising a child…
Su Qianqian looked at the half-smiling, half-mocking Luo Wuhen and pleaded weakly, “I don’t like children, whether boys or girls. Let’s not have any, alright…”
“If you don’t like them, then let a nursemaid take care of them. I like children, and the more the better—ideally, you’d give me a dozen or so.” Luo Wuhen replied offhandedly.
“A…a dozen or so?! Are you crazy?! That’s impossible—not even one!” Su Qianqian struggled desperately to break free, but unfortunately, with her current strength, there was no way to get away.
“No, I don’t want to!”
“Let me go! I don’t want to have children! If you want them, you have them yourself!”
As Su Qianqian made a fuss, Luo Wuhen’s expression remained unchanged.
The corners of her mouth lifted slightly as she stroked Su Qianqian’s cheek.
“Mn, when our children are old enough to stand on their own, I can give it a try.”
“No——!!!”
Faced with Luo Wuhen, who wouldn’t listen to reason, Su Qianqian felt utterly helpless. Was this child simply unavoidable?
While she was still in the midst of her protest, suddenly her mouth was covered.
Su Qianqian stared in terror at Luo Wuhen, whose hands were now muffling her cries.
To Su Qianqian, Luo Wuhen was becoming more frightening by the moment.
Clearly, when she’d first assisted her, Luo Wuhen had been a kind and naïve girl.
But now, Su Qianqian looked into her face and found she could no longer read Luo Wuhen’s emotions at all.
“My beloved Heavenly Emperor, don’t embarrass yourself in front of the Retainers. I hope you can understand one thing: from the moment you stepped into this Imperial Palace, you were already mine…”
“If not for the Wuxinguo Fruit still being unfound, you’d be starting your pregnancy from today… In the coming days, I won’t touch you, but don’t test my patience.” Luo Wuhen’s voice was as gentle as ever, but Su Qianqian could hear the icy threat beneath her words…
“Don’t…don’t cry in front of me. If you really can’t accept it, then just decide: one boy and one girl for now, and later you can choose as you like.”
Seeing the mist gathering in Su Qianqian’s eyes, Luo Wuhen finally relented and gently wiped away the tears at the corner of her eyes.
Su Qianqian had just begun to feel a little better when her expression suddenly froze.
Had she just been tricked by Luo Wuhen?
A moment ago she couldn’t accept even one, but now two seemed almost…barely acceptable?
Su Qianqian felt hopeless. Sooner or later, she would be completely devoured, body and soul. In terms of schemes and cunning, the current Luo Wuhen was absolutely victorious.
At that moment, all the ministers below revealed relieved expressions. How wonderful～
As the trusted confidants chosen by Su Ling and Luo Wuhen, they all believed these two were a match made in heaven.
Though the current situation was completely different from what they’d expected, it was still good.
Next year, they’d get to see a Crown Prince or Princess—the Long Princess! How wonderful～
The one shipping them the hardest was Ying. Shun glanced sideways and found that the usual poker-faced little sister was nearly unable to suppress her smile.
Yes, everyone present was satisfied with this outcome—except for the one person who had already given up on thinking…
Very soon, Su Qianqian came back to her senses as Luo Wuhen finally released her. With a wave of her hand, she flew to Shun and Ying’s side.
“Follow them to the Household and wait for me. I have some other matters to take care of.”
Shun and Ying made an inviting gesture, and the bewildered Su Qianqian followed them out of the Royal Court.
Facing the Retainers below the steps, Luo Wuhen resumed her former, majestic air—her mere presence inspired awe without anger. The ministers once again bowed deeply in deference.
“I kept you here because I trust you. I hope you don’t betray that trust…”
Upon hearing this, the ministers bent even lower, not daring to even breathe.
Luo Wuhen raised her hand, and a scroll radiating golden light floated before one of the ministers.
“Sign your name in the Mountain River Record and make your vow.”
The ministers glanced at each other in shock, then as one, knelt and declared from the heart, “Thank you—Your Majesty!!”
The Mountain River Record was the core treasure of Ziyuan Kingdom, the symbol and center of power.
Only by leaving one’s name in it could a person fully wield the faith-based power of the nation.
Previously, the Royal Court had been in chaos, and even after peace was restored, Luo Wuhen had not allowed her cultivated confidants to inscribe their names in the Mountain River Record.
Now, she’d had them witness the Prime Minister’s return, and was letting them sign the Mountain River Record—this signaled that Luo Wuhen was finally placing her true trust in them!
With their names left in the Mountain River Record, they felt a stronger connection with the nation itself; the power they could command was far beyond what had been possible before!
But now, Luo Wuhen’s control over them grew even deeper. As King, the pressure she exerted was even more terrifying in their eyes.
“The Mountain River Record can use the power of the nation to protect your souls. Within Ziyuan Kingdom, no one in this world can force you to reveal secrets you shouldn’t reveal. But in the end, people are unpredictable—I hope you won’t let me down.”
After this, Luo Wuhen dismissed the assembly and sat upon the Dragon Throne, contemplating her plan for the “conquest” of Su Qianqian…
Meanwhile, Su Qianqian had already been led into a room.
The furnishings were rather simple, but everything necessary was present.
Most eye-catching of all was a grand and ornate bed, which left no doubt as to the room’s purpose.
The moment Su Qianqian saw that bed, she couldn’t help but imagine all sorts of unpleasant scenes.
Though it felt like a pointless gesture, she still sat down on a chair with her back to the bed.
“You two—I’ve been so good to you, and this is how you repay me?” Su Qianqian grumbled in annoyance, scratching her head and glaring at the two standing respectfully before her.
“It’s true you saved me, but my sister and I nearly got beaten to death by you, I—”
“Sis!” Shun hadn’t finished before Ying instantly covered her mouth.
She knew her elder sister respected and was grateful to the Prime Minister, but she really didn’t know how to keep her mouth shut.
Watching the squabbling sisters, Su Qianqian had nothing more to say. She knew it wasn’t really their fault.
Loyalty to the sovereign wasn’t a mistake, and even if it wasn’t the two of them arresting her, someone else would have done it.
Seeing Su Qianqian looking so troubled, Shun wanted to comfort her and hesitantly said, “You really don’t have to worry, we can help you look after the child! When I took care of my sister, I—mmph mmph—”
Ying immediately lunged at her elder sister, cutting her off.
If she kept talking, even if Su Qianqian hadn’t intended to hold it against them, they might be beheaded any moment now!
“Sigh, it’s hard on you, Ying. Take Shun and leave for now. I’d like some time alone.”
“Yes.”
As the door clicked shut, Su Qianqian took advantage of the quiet and began desperately turning over ideas in her mind.
How could she possibly avoid getting pregnant…