I've announced that I'm destined to have many children, and my father has bestowed upon me

The sky is dimly bright.

Zhao Chen'an woke up in a soft embrace.

The brocade quilt beside him was still warm, but the beauty had vanished.

He propped himself up, shaking his head as a slight headache from the hangover hit him.

The madness and beauty of last night still linger in the sweet fragrance of the air.

He got out of bed barefoot, walked to the window, and pushed it open a crack.

In the courtyard, a dazzling red color suddenly came into view.

Li Qingluan had changed out of her wedding dress and into a fiery red outfit. Holding a silver spear, she was practicing in the courtyard.

Her posture was upright, and her spear moved like a dragon.

Every move and every stance carries a sharp gust of wind, whipping up the fallen leaves on the ground.

This is not simply a martial arts exchange.

Zhao Chen'an could feel that with her movements, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth around her was being drawn into her body in a mysterious rhythm.

Her body even glowed with a faint red light, reflecting the morning sun.

The Red Spear Blazing Flame Sutra.

The Li family's inherited martial arts technique, a Xuan-grade technique, although not of high rank, has evolved into countless forms in Li Qingluan's hands.

By studying martial arts, one can comprehend the true essence of the techniques, absorb spiritual energy, and improve through repeated sweating and practice.

This is her method of cultivation.

Zhao Chen watched quietly.

This woman, last night, writhed and yielded beneath him, her tenderness like flowing water.

This morning, she transformed into a valiant female warrior on the battlefield.

The system's rating of 88 points for talent is indeed well-deserved.

And that special talent of "open-mindedness" is even more rare.

No wonder she could so readily accept this marriage, which was not of her own volition, and be able to devote herself wholeheartedly to cultivation on the second day of her marriage.

Do not be disturbed by external things, nor be troubled by your own emotions.

This kind of mindset is a priceless treasure on the path of spiritual practice.

Zhao Chen'an thought of Wu Lanxue again.

That princess from the Northern Wilderness had a completely different method of cultivation.

She would always find a place with the brightest moonlight at midnight, sit cross-legged, breathe deeply, and absorb the cool essence of the moon.

One is as fiery as a raging fire, the other as still as a virgin.

The methods of cultivation in this world are truly diverse and wondrous.

A hint of envy and a hint of longing quietly surfaced in his heart.

He also wanted to possess such power, to personally experience the pulse of heaven and earth, instead of forever remaining a bystander.

Just as he was lost in thought, he heard hurried footsteps outside the courtyard.

A maidservant respectfully announced from outside the door.

"Your Highness, Eunuch Wei has arrived."

Eunuch Wei?

Zhao Chen'an snapped out of his thoughts and smiled calmly.

She turned around and began to put on her clothes.

"Have him wait in the front hall."

……

The front hall of the Prince's residence.

Zhao Chen'an changed into a purple-gold python robe and strode in.

Upon seeing him, Eunuch Wei immediately greeted him with a beaming smile and bowed respectfully.

"This servant greets His Highness the Sixteenth Prince."

"No need for such formalities, Eunuch Wei."

Zhao Chen'an offered a helping hand and got straight to the point.

"Your Excellency has come so early this morning, does Father have some imperial decree?"

Eunuch Wei straightened up, his smile undiminished, and his high-pitched voice echoed in the hall.

"Your Highness is overjoyed, and His Majesty is also delighted."

"That's why I was specially sent to deliver a verbal order."

He cleared his throat.

"His Majesty has decreed that the Sixteenth Prince, along with his two consorts, be summoned to the palace immediately for an audience."

The two princesses entered the palace to pay their respects.

Zhao Chen'an understood.

The Emperor is elevating the status of his son, who is unable to cultivate, and making a grand spectacle of himself.

It was also a reminder to him that it was time to hand over the "surprise".

"Your subject obeys the decree."

Zhao Chen'an agreed, and then instructed the attendant beside him:

"Go and invite the two princesses over."

Not long after, two figures arrived at the front hall one after the other.

Walking in front was Wulanxue.

She wore a light blue long dress, which made her skin appear even whiter.

Perhaps it was because she heard that she was to meet the emperor that she looked a little nervous, like a frightened fawn.

Li Qingluan was half a step behind Wulanxue.

She had already bathed and changed into a dignified and luxurious palace dress. Her long hair was tied up high and adorned with several gold hairpins, which swayed gracefully as she walked.

The heroic spirit he possessed during his cultivation was perfectly concealed, leaving only the grace and poise befitting a legitimate wife.

The two women, one in red and one in blue, one active and one still, had completely different temperaments, yet both were stunningly beautiful.

Their gazes met for the first time in the center of the foyer.

For a fleeting moment, the air seemed to freeze.

A sense of amusement, like watching a good show, rose in Zhao Chen'an's heart.

According to the stories, the first meeting between the principal wife and the concubine should be a spectacular event, full of thunder and lightning.

However, the anticipated confrontation did not occur.

Wu Lanxue's reaction was indifferent; she simply nodded slightly to Li Qingluan as a greeting.

There was no aggressiveness, nor any deliberate distancing; it was as if they were simply looking at an ordinary family member.

Li Qingluan was not in a hurry and gave Wulan Xue a curtsy.

"I've met...my sister."

Her voice wasn't loud, but it was clear enough for everyone to hear.

She showed absolutely no airs of superiority befitting a general's daughter.

"Sister, there's no need for such formalities."

Ulanxue spoke, her voice cool but without hostility.

She stepped forward and naturally helped Li Qingluan up.

"From now on, we're all family, there's no need to be so formal."

This friendly gesture amazed Zhao Chen'an, who was standing nearby.

Surprising.

An eerie peace.

This young lady from the general's mansion was even more insightful than he had imagined.

She was very clear about her position.

It seems unlikely that a fire will be lit in my backyard.

This saved him a lot of trouble.

"Alright, it's getting late, we should head to the palace."

Zhao Chen'an broke the strange atmosphere and took the lead in walking outside.

……

On the vast bluestone road leading to the palace, a magnificently decorated carriage, escorted by the Imperial Guards, traveled smoothly.

The carriage is spacious.

Zhao Chen'an sat imposingly in the middle, with Li Qingluan on his left and Wulanxue on his right.

He held one of the two women's soft hands in each hand.

Li Qingluan's hands, with their distinct knuckles and calluses from years of gun practice, felt cool to the touch.

Ulanxue's hands, small and soft, were now somewhat cold and slightly sweaty.

"take it easy."

Zhao Chen'an could sense Wu Lanxue's fear and spoke to comfort her.

"Once you enter the palace, you will be taken to the inner palace to pay your respects to the Empress and several imperial concubines. Remember, speak less and observe more, and be cautious in everything you do."

He gave his instructions.

"Especially Lan Xue, all the concubines in the harem are not simple. Don't let someone trick you into revealing too much information."

"I...I've got it."

Ulanxue responded softly.

At this moment, Li Qingluan, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke.

"Your Highness, rest assured."

Her voice was calm, giving people a sense of inexplicable trust.

"Qingluan accompanied my father to the palace several times when she was young, and she still remembers some of the palace etiquette. I will take good care of my sister."

Zhao Chen'an turned to look at her.

In the candlelight, she exuded a gentle yet spirited air.

At this moment, she is calm and reliable.

Wu Lanxue also cast a grateful glance at Li Qingluan and said softly, "Thank you, sister."

Zhao Chen'an nodded in satisfaction.

With Li Qingluan around, he felt much more at ease.

The carriage passed through numerous palace gates and finally stopped at the boundary between the inner palace and the outer court.

Eunuch Wei respectfully said from outside the carriage:

"Your Highness, we have arrived. Your consorts, please follow this old servant to Fengming Palace. His Majesty is waiting for you in the Imperial Study."

Zhao Chen'an got out of the car with the two women.

He glanced at his two wives one last time, giving them a reassuring look.

Li Qingluan responded with a confident nod.

Ulanxue, on the other hand, still had that pitiful look with her head down and eyes downcast.

Two palace maids stepped forward and led them to follow Eunuch Wei into the depths of the red-walled, golden-tiled inner palace.

Led by another eunuch, Zhao Chen'an turned and walked down another path.

At the end of that road lies the power center of the entire Great Zhou Dynasty.

The Imperial Study.

……

Inside the Imperial Study.

The air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood, and it was so quiet that you could hear the rustling of leaves in the wind outside the window.

Emperor Zhao Daoting of the Great Zhou Dynasty did not sit on the dragon throne that symbolized supreme power.

He stood with his hands behind his back by the window, gazing motionlessly at an ancient pine tree in the courtyard that had lived for countless years.

But if someone observes closely, they will notice that his hands, hidden beneath his wide sleeves, are unconsciously caressing a jade thumb ring.

one more time.

This revealed his unsettled inner world.

He was filled with anticipation, yet also with a hint of trepidation that a monarch shouldn't have.

The son he least favored, yet doted on the most, was Zhao Chen'an.

Ever since he presented the Heavenly Grade Cultivation Technique, it has become increasingly unfathomable to him.

The legacy of ancient powerful beings?

If such words came from someone else, Zhao Daoting would only take them as a joke, and might even be furious.

But ironically, it was Zhao Chen'an who said those words.

The key point is that it's a genuine top-tier cultivation technique!

For Zhao Daoting, who has been stuck at the peak of the Dragon Transformation Realm for decades and has been unable to even glimpse the threshold of the Immortal Platform, the implications are self-evident.

So he believed it.

At the very least, I was skeptical.

He gave Zhao Chen'an a grand wedding and bestowed upon him the most dazzling jewel of the imperial city.

He wanted to see what kind of surprises this son could bring him.

He wanted to know whether the so-called "fate to the immortals" was just a fleeting moment or... had a long and rich history.

"Your Majesty, the Sixteenth Prince has arrived."

The silence was broken by the eunuch's announcement outside the door.

Zhao Daoting slowly turned around, his face instantly losing all emotion.

He transformed back into the dignified and awe-inspiring ruler of the Great Zhou Dynasty, one who never showed his emotions.

He returned to his desk and sat down.

"Announce."

A single word, calm and unassuming, yet carrying an undeniable authority.

A moment later, Zhao Chen'an appeared at the door of the Imperial Study.

He stepped over the high threshold and walked in step by step.

The atmosphere in the entire study seemed to become heavy with his arrival.

Zhao Chen'an walked to the desk and bowed.

"Your subject greets Your Majesty."

Zhao Daoting did not immediately tell him to rise.

He simply looked at his son quietly, his deep eyes seeming to see right through Zhao Chen'an, inside and out.

Time passed slowly, breath by breath, as the father and son gazed at each other in silence.

Finally, Zhao Daoting spoke.

He leaned forward slightly, his fingers interlaced on the desk.

"The ancient powerful being you're talking about?"

"Is there any movement?"

The atmosphere in the Imperial Study was tense.

He knew that his father was waiting for him to reveal the truth.

Zhao Chen'an raised his head and met his father's unfathomable eyes.

"Yes, Father Emperor."

His voice was calm.

Zhao Daoting didn't speak, but simply raised his hand slightly, signaling him to continue.

Zhao Chen'an took out a brocade box from his bosom.

The brocade box was small, about the size of a palm, and dark gold in color. It was engraved with intricate patterns and faintly shimmered with spiritual light.

This is what he retrieved from the system space.

[Top-Tier Martial Skill: Great Wilderness Imprisoning Heaven Finger]

[Grade: Lower Heavenly Grade]

[Note: Created by an ancient powerful being, a single finger can imprison heaven and earth and suppress mountains and rivers. Upon reaching the highest level of cultivation, those below the Sendai realm can be annihilated with a single finger.]

This "Great Wilderness Imprisoning Heaven Finger" is a martial skill of the lower rank of Heaven.

In this world, martial arts techniques are also divided into five major grades: Holy, Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow.

Each grade is further divided into three levels: upper, middle, and lower.

For a dynasty, possessing even a low-grade earth-level item is a treasure to protect its clan.

The highest grade is something only the imperial dynasty is qualified to touch.

As for the sacred item?

That's the foundation of a power at the level of the Celestial Empire and the Divine Court!

Throughout the entire Great Zhou Dynasty, the strongest martial arts technique was only at the mid-level of the Earth Rank.

Now, what Zhao Chen'an is about to offer is a top-grade product.

He presented the brocade box with both hands.

"Father, this is the second opportunity bestowed upon me by an ancient great being in my dream that day."

Zhao Daoting's gaze fell on the brocade box.

He didn't take it immediately, but stared at the brocade box for a long time.

It was as if they wanted to see through that brocade to see what was inside.

"Open."

His voice was soft, but carried a barely perceptible tremor.

Zhao Chen'an opened the brocade box as instructed.

An old-fashioned animal skin scroll lies quietly inside.

On the scroll, three large ancient seal characters, vigorous and powerful, seem to burst forth from the paper.

The Great Wilderness Imprisoning Heaven Finger

Zhao Daoting's pupils suddenly contracted.

He suddenly stood up, grabbed the scroll, and quickly unrolled it.

His breathing became rapid as his gaze swept over the contents of the scroll.

Take a breath.

Two breaths.

Three breaths.

The only sounds in the entire imperial study were the rustling of Zhao Daoting turning the scrolls and his increasingly heavy breathing.

Zhao Chen'an stood aside, watching quietly.

He could clearly see that his father's hand, which was holding the scroll, was trembling slightly.

Finally, Zhao Daoting finished reading.

He slowly raised his head, and the look in his eyes as he looked at Zhao Chen'an was completely different.

It was an almost fanatical intensity.

"Heavenly Grade..."

He muttered to himself, his voice hoarse.

"It really is a top-grade martial art..."

The next moment, he suddenly turned around, his back to Zhao Chen'an, his hands on the desk, his shoulders heaving violently.

Zhao Chen'an could see that his father's back was trembling slightly due to the intense emotional turmoil.

"Father, please don't be agitated. I have no use for this martial skill, so I'm giving it to you."

In terms of emotional intelligence, Zhao Chen'an is definitely not low.

This one sentence saved Zhao Daoting from having to ask for it.

Zhao Daoting was utterly shocked by this top-grade martial arts technique.

Besides that, he had no doubt about the ancient powerful beings that Zhao Chen'an mentioned!

No one would use top-grade cultivation techniques and martial arts as bait to deceive a useless person who cannot cultivate!

Or perhaps they were plotting to establish their own Great Zhou Dynasty.

These two treasures are worth more than the entire Great Zhou Dynasty!

Taking a deep breath, Zhao Daoting slowly said:

"I have remembered your contribution."

"I've already arranged your next marriage."