The path to immortality through martial arts begins with being forced into marriage!

"You want him to be emperor?"

Xiao Yuli nodded and asked in return, "What's wrong with making such a decision?"

"I am the Empress, and my children are naturally qualified to inherit the throne."

"But... Cui Yi."

Hearing Xiao Yuli suddenly call his name, Cui Yi's eyes narrowed slightly; he could sense the other person's inner turmoil.

It was as if there was something she couldn't bring herself to say, something that had been weighing on her heart.

"Your Majesty, please speak freely."

"We can now be considered to have a life-or-death bond."

Xiao Yuli looked into Cui Yi's stubborn eyes, and after a long while, she sighed softly.

"You must have wondered whose child is in my belly. Now I'll tell you."

"This child is yours!"

The moment those three words "It's you" were uttered, Cui Yi's ears rang instantly!

His... his child?

How is that possible?

He never had any close relationship with the princess of the Great Yan Dynasty.

How could this child be related to me?

wrong!

A scene suddenly flashed through Cui Yi's mind!

That was the woman he encountered when he went to Donghai City, the one who had been drugged!

Holy crap! The world can't be that small!

Seeing the unpredictable changes in Cui Yi's expression, Xiao Yuli knew that he had already guessed it.

"Indeed, I am the woman from that night."

Having obtained the answer he had guessed, Cui Yi felt his throat go dry: "Why...why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"What am I supposed to tell you to do?"

"You are a wanted criminal by the imperial court, and I am a princess."

"Tell me, what can you do?"

Cui Yi opened his mouth, but couldn't say a word.

Xiao Yuli continued, "Later, when you stormed the execution ground in Qingshuifang, I learned that your name was Cui Yi."

"Later, when you killed the Golden Core Ancestor in the Cui Clan, I realized how strong you were."

"I didn't recognize you until we met for the first time."

"If things hadn't gone smoothly, I wouldn't have decided to tell you the truth."

"I am telling you this not so that I want you to do anything."

"This child is my flesh and blood, my heir."

"I will give him the best of everything: the best teachers, the best resources, and the best future."

"And you can continue to do what you want to do."

"Cultivate, explore, and rebuild the Blood Robe Sect as you please; I will not stop you."

"You don't need to take responsibility for this child."

"As long as you become powerful in the future, and the Great Yan Dynasty encounters any danger, I hope you, as its father, can lend a hand."

Cui Yi was stunned by the news; he wasn't prepared at all to become a father.

Especially since Xiao Yuli's pregnant belly was so big it looked like a balloon, and she only found out about it when she was about to give birth.

If he had found out any later, the child would probably have already been born...

"I......"

Xiao Yuli waved her hand, interrupting him.

"Alright, let's leave this matter at that for now."

"I know you're thinking about your two confidantes, and they're doing very well."

"I arranged a separate courtyard for them, assigned people to guard them, and provided them with good food and drink. They are much more comfortable than I am, who is pregnant and still has to review memorials."

Cui Yi: "..."

How is he supposed to respond to that?

Why did he sense a hint of jealousy in Xiao Yuli's tone of voice?

He coughed lightly, "Um...that's not what I meant..."

Xiao Yuli looked at him and suddenly smiled.

"Alright, I was just teasing you. They really are quite nice."

"That girl Tang'er talks about you every day, asking when the young master will come back."

"Xu Yunyan..."

Upon hearing this name, Xiao Yuli suddenly paused.

Cui Yi's heart tightened.

"What happened to Yunyan?"

"I'm pregnant."

Cui Yi's pupils suddenly contracted!

Pregnancy...

Pregnant?!

He stood there, stunned, his mind blank.

Seeing his appearance, Xiao Yuli's sour feeling in her heart actually subsided a bit.

"The imperial physician has diagnosed it; it's been two months, and it's a girl."

Cui Yi opened his mouth, but found that he couldn't say a word.

Suddenly, many images flashed through his mind.

He thought of that gentle, tender woman who had been with him since he was a sickly man.

She stayed by his side through his most difficult days, waiting for him, hoping for him, worrying about him, and never complaining.

Her bright eyes always looked at him with a smile.

As she was leaving, she held back her tears and didn't say anything to persuade him to stay, afraid of affecting him. She only said, "You must come back alive."

Now, my wish has finally come true.

Xiao Yuli wanted to speak, but suddenly her expression changed drastically, she covered her stomach with her hand, and her body tensed up!

Cui Yi was startled by her action: "What's wrong?!"

Xiao Yuli gritted her teeth, and a fine layer of sweat instantly seeped out from her forehead. She took a deep breath and then exhaled sharply!

"I...I think..."

"She's going into labor!"

Cui Yi felt his scalp tingling and rushed to the outside of the palace, shouting, "Imperial Physician! Imperial Physician!!!"

Yun Yi was the first to rush in, and his expression changed when he saw Xiao Yuli's appearance!

"Someone come here! Quickly summon the imperial physician! Summon the midwife!!!"

The entire palace instantly descended into chaos!

The palace maids went in and out, carrying hot water and clean cloths, their steps hurried but they dared not make too much noise.

The imperial physician jogged in carrying his medicine chest, sweat beading on his forehead.

The midwife was dragged directly out of bed, and before she could even put on her outer clothes, she was carried into the bedroom.

Cui Yi stood outside the door, his face pale.

He hadn't even flinched when faced with the combined attack of four Golden Core cultivators, but now he was flustered and at a loss, pacing back and forth.

Yun Yi stood to the side, looking at him like this, and couldn't help but want to laugh.

But hearing the cries of pain coming from inside, he couldn't laugh.

"Fellow Daoist Cui, don't be anxious."

"His Majesty is in good health; he will be fine."

Cui Yi glanced at Yun Yi. That look made Yun Yi swallow back all the words he was about to say.

Yun Yi obediently shut up and walked around outside the door with Cui Yi.

Time passed second by second, and the cries of pain inside rose and fell.

Cui Yi's heart also rose and fell with the tide.

A series of hurried footsteps approached.

Cui Yi looked up and froze.

Two familiar figures were walking briskly from the other end of the palace road; it was Xu Yunyan and Tang'er, whom they hadn't seen for a long time.

Xu Yunyan wore an elegant moon-white dress, her lower abdomen slightly protruding.

She is more than two months pregnant, and her belly is not very noticeable yet, but she has already subconsciously been protecting her stomach with her hands when walking.

Tang'er followed beside her, looking around anxiously as she walked.

They were both stunned the moment they saw Cui Yi.

"Young Master!!!"

Tang'er rushed over without a care, threw herself into Cui Yi's arms, hugged his waist tightly with her two little arms, buried her face in his clothes, and cried so hard she could barely breathe.

"Young Master, sob sob... You're finally back... Tang'er thought she'd never see you again..."