ah?The palace fighting system can also cultivate immortality

Chapter 245

Having dealt a series of blows to several hostile powerful families, and with the Star River Fairy's cultivation advancing by leaps and bounds, the Ji family's influence in the Xuan Kingdom was like oil being poured on a raging fire.

Many aristocratic families privately speculated that the Ji family had become too complacent and would eventually face retribution. After all, the Xuan Emperor would not tolerate any single cultivation family dominating the field, as this would disrupt the balance of power in the entire Xuan Kingdom, which would certainly not be a good situation for the emperor.

But a piece of news dealt a heavy blow to these aristocratic families, further proving the Ji family's illustrious reputation:

Consort Ji is pregnant.

Du Xinghe was a guest at the Ji family's residence when he heard the news, and he was immediately taken aback, exclaiming, "He has this ability?!"

Ji Wu Huo, who had been looking at the explosive news with a complicated expression, was amused by Du Xing He's words and burst into laughter, trembling as he tried to cover Du Xing He's mouth: "Don't...don't talk nonsense! How come His Majesty doesn't have that ability anymore?"

Du Xinghe gestured and said, "The body type doesn't match!"

Ji Wuhuo quickly explained, "Your Majesty's cultivation is profound; you must have the ability to adjust your physique."

Du Xinghe pursed her lips and muttered to herself: Why did they have to be born now of all times, of all times, of all times...?

Emperor Xuan had few children. Apart from the crown prince, who had already reached adulthood and formed his core, there was only the second prince, who had a slight intellectual disability.

In the past hundred years, there have been many aristocratic families who have thought of sending concubines to the palace to give birth in order to climb the social ladder. However, it is strange that Emperor Xuan’s harem has only seen an increase in women but not in infants.

In response, Du Xinghe secretly speculated that the Xuan Emperor might have been cursed by the cultivators whose cultivation he had stolen, thus losing his ability to enjoy harmony and becoming, in effect, a lonely old man.

The news of Consort Ji's pregnancy was like a bolt from the blue, striking the Xuan Dynasty's harem, which had not had an heir for hundreds of years, and leaving the noble families in a state of shock.

Almost everyone believed that as long as the child was born successfully, the Ji family's power would rise to a new level.

However, the Ji family was far from as glamorous as it appeared on the surface.

A month after the news of Consort Ji's pregnancy was released, Ji Wuhuo invited Du Xinghe to visit the Consort in the palace.

On the carriage, Ji Wuhuo revealed another secret that the entire Ji family had been keeping tightly under wraps:
"Is the Imperial Concubine ill?"

Du Xinghe was taken aback upon hearing this and couldn't help but ask, "What kind of illness is it that even the imperial physicians in the palace can't cure?"

Ji Wu Huo sighed softly and explained in a low voice, "Cultivators are inherently different from mortals when it comes to conceiving offspring. The fetus will instinctively absorb the mother's spiritual power in the womb, forming a small cycle. This process not only disrupts the mother's own spiritual power, but may also repel it."

Du Xinghe stroked his chin and said, "Doesn't that sound like you're raising a parasite in your stomach?"

Ji Wuhuo raised a finger and gently pressed the pad of his finger against Du Xinghe's lips, shushing him: "You can't say that when we get to the palace."

Ji Wuhuo's fingers were long and white, with a faint fragrance emanating from the fingertips.

Du Xinghe glanced at him, and Ji Wuhuo withdrew his hand with a smile, his expression calm, as if the action just now was not some kind of ambiguous relationship between a man and a woman.

Of course, it would have looked more natural if he hadn't quickly clenched the hand that was touching the lips of the Transitional Galaxy.

"We'll be entering the palace soon." Ji Wuhuo glanced out of the carriage curtain. "I know the way to Aunt's palace very well, so you can just come with me. Don't be shy when you meet Aunt, I'll take care of the small talk."

Crossing the Milky Way was no big deal. She was entering the palace as Ji Wu Huo's companion. Consort Ji was pregnant and in poor spirits and wanted to see her family. Emperor Xuan was quite generous and readily approved Ji Wu Huo's entry into the palace to meet Consort Ji.

This was not the first time Du Xinghe had seen Consort Ji.

However, compared to their first meeting, Consort Ji had visibly lost a lot of weight.

In Du Xinghe's memory, Consort Ji was a beautiful woman with a well-proportioned figure and bright appearance. But now, Consort Ji's cheeks were slightly sunken, her limbs were slender, and she leaned against the couch, looking listless and lacking energy.

The maids brought over embroidered stools and a small table set with tea and snacks, allowing Du Xinghe and Ji Wuhuo to sit in front of the couch and speak closely with Consort Ji.

Du Xinghe picked up a red spiritual fruit that looked delicious from the small table and took two bites. The red spiritual fruit was very juicy, fragrant and sweet. What was even more precious was that as soon as it entered her stomach, a warm spiritual energy flowed from her abdomen to her limbs, with an effect no different from the top-grade spiritual plants that her master had grown.

If a cultivator with low-level cultivation were to eat a few of these, they would probably be able to break through to the next level after digesting them.

Such a top-quality spiritual fruit would only be a snack for the imperial concubine to serve to guests in the palace.

Du Xinghe sighed inwardly, but at the same time resolved to make the most of her time in the palace. She picked up another spiritual fruit and listened intently to the conversation between Consort Ji and Ji Wuhuo.

"It's not a big deal, it's just that I've been feeling lethargic since I got pregnant."

Consort Ji forced a smile, while Ji Wuhuo frowned and asked, "Then, Aunt, are you still able to eat?"

Consort Ji nodded with a wry smile: "I can eat, but I always feel uncomfortable after eating. It's like I can never get enough, no matter how much I eat."

The supply of spiritual food in the Xuanchao Palace was naturally not lacking, and Consort Ji would not mistreat herself during such an important period, as she ate three meals a day as usual.

After she became pregnant, all sorts of highly nourishing spiritual plants and animal meats flowed into Consort Ji's palace like a river. Emperor Xuan even opened the palace storerooms to Consort Ji, allowing her to take whatever she wanted without his interference.

This also shows how much Emperor Xuan valued Consort Ji's pregnancy.

Even so, this pregnancy was still quite difficult.

Du Xinghe, filled with curiosity, asked the system, "Do you have any tools that can be used to test a fetus?"

System: [Here it comes! Host, do you want to test the fetal blood relationship, like a blood test to find the adulterer?]

Du Xinghe: "No, there's no need for a paternity test. I feel that Consort Ji is unlikely to have the ability to find someone else... I want a device that can detect the health status of the mother and fetus."

System: [The "Gynecological Expert" identification skill can determine the approximate condition of the mother and fetus, making it impossible for the fetus's gestational age to be concealed, effectively curbing the unhealthy practice of falsely reporting the gestational age in the harem! Note: Due to relevant legal and regulatory restrictions, gender testing is not available.]

Crossing the Milky Way: ?

This system is quite law-abiding in this respect!
Du Xinghe redeemed the "Gynecological Expert" skill. After selecting Consort Ji for the appraisal technique, a small, slowly rotating circle appeared before Du Xinghe's eyes. A few seconds later, the appraisal technique began to generate an analysis report. [Ji Suhua]

[Maternal condition: Weak]

[Fetal age in gestational age: -]

[Fetal Status: Stillborn]

stillbirth?!
Du Xinghe stared at those two words on the analysis report, forgetting for a moment to put the spiritual fruit in his mouth.

Meanwhile, Ji Wuhuo was still worried about his aunt: "Since you feel something is wrong, should we ask someone to come and take a look?"

Consort Ji gently patted Ji Wuhuo's hand: "No need. I felt really unwell yesterday, so His Majesty summoned the Imperial Advisor to take a look. The Imperial Advisor examined me yesterday."

Upon hearing the title "Imperial Advisor," Du Xinghe slowly turned his gaze toward Consort Ji.

"What did the Imperial Advisor say?" Ji Wuhuo asked.

Consort Ji's smile seemed a little more relaxed: "The Imperial Preceptor said that my child is exceptionally gifted, so he needs to absorb a lot of spiritual energy in the womb, which is normal for the mother to feel overwhelmed. He will prepare the necessary pills for me, and judging by the time, they will be delivered today."

...Exceptional talent?
Was this stillborn baby exceptionally gifted?
Du Xinghe felt a chill run down his spine.

Couldn't the imperial physicians and the Grand Preceptor in the palace see the condition of Consort Ji's pregnancy?
Or is this actually a conspiracy targeting Consort Ji?

With the discovery within the dragon vein, Du Xinghe is now quite certain that someone like Xuan Di, who transcends moral boundaries, is capable of anything. And he will likely have a group of unsung heroes around him, such as the Samsara Institute, who will do his dirty work.

At present, it seems highly likely that the Imperial Advisor is one of the hidden agents.

Du Xinghe decided to stay and meet the Imperial Advisor, one of her future enemies.

Hearing from Consort Ji that the Imperial Advisor would be arriving today, Du Xinghe put down the spiritual fruits and snacks in order to buy time and began looking for topics to talk about with Consort Ji.

What should we talk about?

Cosmetics? Clothing? Incense making? Early childhood education?
Talking about prenatal education might be a bit too much!

Whatever, let's just go with the flow!
"Auntie, what kind of incense is burning in this burner? The scent is fresh and elegant; it's the first time I've ever smelled it."

Before Du Xinghe could speak, Ji Wuhuo pointed to the incense burner beside Consort Ji's bed, naturally changing the subject.

Consort Ji glanced at the phoenix-shaped bronze incense burner emitting wispy white smoke and casually replied, "It's ambergris with some gray amber. The scent is elegant, but the main reason is that the raw materials are rare. It's made from the ambergris of the icy white whale from the extremely cold regions. These whales don't usually surface, making it difficult to extract the fragrance, and the yield is also low."

Ji Wu Huo tilted her head slightly and exchanged a glance with Du Xing He. Du Xing He understood immediately; Ji Wu Huo had sensed her intention to stall for time, so she promptly offered to help her find topics and reasons to stay a little longer.

Consort Ji was also happy to spend more time with her family. She asked her maid to fetch the same incense from the incense burner, saying she wanted to give it to Ji Wuhuo.

At this moment, someone came from outside the hall to announce that the Imperial Preceptor had arrived.

Crossing the Milky Way, my spirits are lifted!
A moment later, a white-haired man in black robes slowly walked into the hall. He first looked around, his eyes pausing slightly when they landed on Du Xinghe and Ji Wuhuo.

"Thank you for coming all this way just for me, Grand Preceptor. Please have a seat, Grand Preceptor, and serve you tea!"

Consort Ji forced herself to stand up; clearly, even she had to show due respect to the Imperial Preceptor.

The Imperial Preceptor merely nodded in response to the Consort's curtsy. Consort Ji, supported by her maid, sat down again and introduced Du Xinghe to the Imperial Preceptor with a smile: "This is Fairy Xinghe, a close friend of my nephew. Fairy Xinghe has risen to fame in recent years; I wonder if the Imperial Preceptor has heard of her?"

Du Xinghe stared intently at the Imperial Advisor.

Up close, the Grand Preceptor wasn't bad-looking, except for his unusually dark eyes. He possessed a restrained aura, making his cultivation level difficult to discern from the outside. If he remained silent, his presence was remarkably low, a far cry from the powerful and influential confidant of the Xuan Emperor that she had imagined.

The Imperial Preceptor didn't react much when he heard Du Xinghe's name. He just glanced at her and said simply, "Fairy Xinghe is indeed a young talent. Given time, she will surely achieve great things."

Since the other party had spoken kindly, Du Xinghe had no intention of starting a conflict in front of Consort Ji. So she smiled and said, "Thank you, Imperial Preceptor."

The Imperial Preceptor, not wanting to engage in further pleasantries, quickly got to the point, asking Consort Ji to extend her hand so he could examine her health again.

A maid placed a silk handkerchief under Consort Ji's left wrist, and the Imperial Preceptor extended three fingers to grasp Consort Ji's pulse, then silently pondered.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Du Xinghe activated his "Gynecological Master" diagnostic technique again, this time targeting Consort Ji. A few seconds later, the analysis report and the Imperial Advisor's conclusions appeared simultaneously.

The Imperial Preceptor said, "The fetus is strong and healthy, and needs more spiritual energy, so the Consort's body has become somewhat weak and heavy these days."

[Fetal Status: Stillborn]

Du Xinghe stared intently at the Imperial Advisor.

Consort Ji clutched her chest, asking hopefully, "Then, according to the Imperial Preceptor, how should I replenish my deficiencies?"

The Imperial Advisor took out a small square box from his sleeve and gently placed it on the table.

"This is a tonifying and invigorating pill that is appropriate for the condition. The Imperial Concubine should take one pill a day. If she feels palpitations or discomfort, she can take another pill."

Consort Ji lifted the lid of the small square box a crack, and as soon as it was opened, a pure spiritual energy wafted out of the box. The fragrance even overpowered the scent in the incense burner, causing the maids in the palace to be mesmerized.

The Imperial Preceptor was quite satisfied with everyone's reaction. He stood up, gathered his wide robe sleeves, and said slowly, "Once this box of medicine is finished, the Imperial Concubine can send someone to the headquarters of the Samsara Academy to get the medicine from me. Alright, the medicine has been delivered. I have other matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave."

As Du Xinghe watched the Imperial Advisor's departing figure, a plan naturally popped into his mind.

The main headquarters of the Samsara Academy, can't we just go in now?

I've got the outline all set; I'm going to finish writing it all in one go! (Clenches fist)