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

Zhao Chen'an was delighted to hear this promise.

Another marriage?

Great, fantastic!

My father really understands me.

This is a really comfortable leg to cling to!

But he remained expressionless, only bowing slightly and speaking sincerely.

"It's entirely up to Father Emperor to decide."

Zhao Daoting nodded in satisfaction. He liked his son more and more the more he looked at him!

It's a pity, it would be even better if I could cultivate!

He carefully put away the scroll of "The Great Wilderness Imprisoning Heaven Finger," his solemn demeanor as if he were holding the future of the entire Great Zhou Dynasty.

"You may leave now. I need to go into seclusion for a few days to study this martial art."

"Your subject takes his leave."

Zhao Chen'an responded and turned to leave.

But as soon as he reached the door, he stopped, as if he had remembered something.

He turned around and asked in a somewhat tentative tone:

"Father, I have another request."

"explain."

Zhao Daoting was in a great mood at the moment, and waved his hand generously, showing exceptional leniency.

"Regarding the 'Great Dao Heavenly Evolution Scripture' that I presented before, I wonder... could it be passed on to my two concubines?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the atmosphere in the Imperial Study, which had just eased, froze again.

Zhao Daoting's body, which had just relaxed, tensed up again.

He looked at Zhao Chen'an silently without saying a word, but an invisible imperial pressure quietly spread out.

Heavenly Grade Cultivation Technique!

These four words carry more weight than a city.

In the Great Zhou Dynasty, this was considered a national treasure and the most core secret of the royal family.

According to the rules, only the crown prince can learn from it, and even less so the future emperor can fully understand it.

Zhao Chen'an's two concubines?

One was a hostage saint sent by a defeated tribe.

The other was the daughter of a military family. Although she was a loyal minister, she was ultimately an outsider.

Should these divine skills be passed on to them?

This is against the rules!

Zhao Chen'an lowered his head, as if he couldn't bear the pressure, but he did not back down.

He knew what his father was worried about.

But he knew even better what his father wanted most right now.

It is that ethereal yet so close "fate to the immortals"!

Sure enough, after a full dozen breaths of silence, Zhao Daoting's heavy aura slowly subsided.

He thought of the mysterious ancient power behind Zhao Chen'an.

Since the cultivation techniques and martial arts skills were bestowed by that powerful being, then perhaps all of this was within that being's calculations.

If I were to interfere, would it displease that being and ruin this incredible opportunity?

risk……

But the returns are even greater!

Zhao Chen'an is his own son, and the children born to his concubine in the future will also carry the bloodline of the Zhao family!

Rather than clinging to this divine skill, it would be better to...

Let it flourish and grow, nurturing more powerful individuals for the Zhao family and the Great Zhou!

Having figured this out, Zhao Daoting slowly spoke.

"Can."

There is only one word.

Yet it weighs as much as a thousand pounds.

"All martial arts techniques and skills can be passed on."

Zhao Daoting's voice rang out again, carrying an unquestionable determination.

"But this applies only to the two of them. If even a whisper of this matter were to leak out, it would affect my plans."

"Your Majesty, I understand! Thank you for your kindness!"

Zhao Chen'an was overjoyed and bowed deeply.

He knew he had made the right bet.

Zhao Daoting waved goodbye one last time.

Zhao Chen'an bowed again, but this time he did not linger and turned to leave the Imperial Study.

……

When Zhao Chen'an returned to the border between the imperial court and the harem, the magnificent carriage was still quietly parked in the same spot.

Two palace maids and several imperial guards stood with their hands at their sides, and the surroundings were quiet.

He lifted the carriage curtain and saw Wulanxue and Li Qingluan sitting upright, one on each side, neither of them speaking.

Upon seeing him enter, both women visibly breathed a sigh of relief.

Especially Wulanxue, whose face, which had been tense, finally regained a bit of color.

"Is it all over?"

Li Qingluan spoke first, her voice remaining calm.

"Yes, let's go home."

Zhao Chen'an smiled, sat down between the two women, and the carriage slowly started moving.

"Her Majesty the Empress and the others...didn't they make things difficult for you?"

He asked casually.

Ulanxue shook her head and whispered:

"Her Majesty the Empress is very kind and has given us many gifts."

Li Qingluan added:

"The ladies only asked about everyday matters and subtly inquired about His Highness's recent situation, which Qingluan handled smoothly."

Zhao Chen'an nodded.

It would be strange if it weren't difficult.

If you throw two innocent rabbits into a group of shrewd people, you're lucky if you don't get skinned alive.

However, with Li Qingluan around, he felt at ease.

This daughter of a military family possesses a mental fortitude far beyond that of ordinary people.

The carriage traveled in silence through the bustling streets and soon returned to the Sixteenth Prince's residence.

At the entrance of the mansion, the steward and a group of servants were already waiting.

Zhao Chen'an ignored these formalities and led the two women through the front yard back to their residence, Qingxin Xiaozhu.

He waved his hand to dismiss all the servants.

"Both of you, come here."

He walked straight into the study and spoke to the two women who followed him in.

Wu Lanxue and Li Qingluan exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of doubt in each other's reactions, but they still obediently followed.

Inside the study, Zhao Chen'an didn't speak. He simply walked to the desk, spread out two sheets of fine Xuelang paper, and began grinding ink.

The scent of ink quickly filled the room.

The two women stood to the side, watching him quietly.

In the candlelight, the man's profile was clearly defined, focused and serious.

What is he going to do?

Finally, the ink was ground.

Zhao Chen'an picked up the pen, his wrist suspended in the air, the pen tip fully dipped in ink, and began to write on the paper.

His movements were fluid and graceful, and one after another, profound and complex ancient characters flowed from his brush.

The characters were strangely structured, as if they contained some profound truth of the universe. Just one glance was enough to make one's mind and spirit tremble.

Li Qingluan, born into a military family, possessed exceptional insight, and she quickly sensed that something was amiss.

This is no ordinary poem or essay!

This...this looks like a copy of the general outline of some kind of martial arts technique!

She held her breath, not daring to make a sound to disturb them.

Although Wu Lanxue couldn't understand it, she could feel that as Zhao Chen'an wrote more and more words, the air in the entire study seemed to become heavier.

A mysterious Taoist aura was flowing through it.

Time passed by, bit by bit.

Zhao Chen'an wrote with utmost seriousness, and even beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

This "Great Dao Heavenly Evolution Scripture" is a Heavenly Grade cultivation method. Every word contains the Dao principles, and even just memorizing it is extremely mentally taxing.

Finally, as the last word fell, he let out a long breath.

Two identical volumes of cultivation techniques lay quietly on the desk.

He handed one scroll to Li Qingluan and the other to Wulanxue.

"This is a reward for you."

His voice carried a hint of weariness, but was full of laughter.

"award?"

Both women were stunned.

Li Qingluan subconsciously took the scroll; it felt slightly heavy in her hand.

She unfolded it and saw the first four ancient characters, which instantly captured her entire attention.

The Great Dao Heavenly Evolution Scripture.

She didn't recognize the technique, but just looking at those four characters made her feel her very soul tremble.

She continued reading.

"The Tao gives birth to One, One gives birth to Two, Two gives birth to Three, Three gives birth to all things... Drawing upon the spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth, it evolves into the Great Tao..."

After reading only a few sentences, Li Qingluan's breathing suddenly stopped.

She suddenly looked up, her face filled with disbelief.

"Your Highness...this...this is..."

Her voice was trembling.

Wulanxue, who was standing to the side, also curiously unfolded her own portion.

Although she couldn't understand many of the profound theories, she could sense what was recorded on the scroll.

It is ten thousand times more profound than the Sirius Sacrifice Method that her tribe has passed down for thousands of years!

"This is a top-grade cultivation technique."

Zhao Chen'an looked at their reactions and said calmly.

boom!

Heavenly Grade Cultivation Technique!

These four words, like a thunderclap from the heavens, exploded in the minds of the two women.

Ulanxue's hand trembled, and the priceless animal hide scroll almost fell to the ground.

Her face turned deathly pale instantly, followed by an unnatural flush.

"Heavenly...Heavenly grade?"

She stammered as she spoke, feeling as if her tongue was about to burst.

"Husband...you...you're not joking, are you?"

The strongest cultivation technique in her tribe, the Sirius, was only at the upper level of the Profound Rank, which was already the tribe's most prized possession.

Only the holy maidens and clan leaders of each generation are qualified to cultivate.

Heavenly-grade cultivation techniques are legendary items that only core figures of the imperial dynasty can access.

Now, her husband has casually given her a scroll of top-grade cultivation technique as a "reward"?

At this moment, Wulanxue felt as if she were dreaming.

A dream so absurd it's almost unbelievable, yet so sweet it breaks your heart.

Her eyes instantly welled up with tears.

Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably, soaking the front of her clothes.

She wasn't sad; she was moved, shocked, and overwhelmed by a tremendous sense of happiness that broke down the dam of reason.

What is my identity?

A woman sent by a defeated small tribe for a marriage alliance was nominally the principal wife, but in reality, she was nothing more than a slightly prettier hostage.

She never thought she could win her husband's favor; she only hoped to live peacefully in this deep palace.

But now, what has her husband given her?

It's a top-tier martial arts technique!

It is a supreme treasure that could drive the entire continent mad!

He actually... just gave it to me like that?

This trust and this high regard are more effective at breaking through her defenses than any sweet words.

"My husband..."

Ulanxue could no longer hold back and knelt down with a thud, tears streaming down her face.

"Your kindness to Lan Xue is beyond repayment..."

On the other side, Li Qingluan's reaction was not as intense, but the turmoil in her heart was no less than that of Wulanxue.

She gripped the scroll of martial arts tightly, her knuckles turning white from the force.

Heavenly Grade Cultivation Technique!

She understood what those four words meant even better than Wulanxue!

Her father, Li Qingcang, the God of War of the Great Zhou Dynasty, was a peak expert in the Four Extremes Realm, but he only cultivated the Li family's ancestral "Wildfire Technique".

The strongest cultivation technique in the entire Great Zhou royal family is only the mid-level Earth-grade technique practiced by His Majesty the Emperor.

Heavenly Grade?

That's something I wouldn't even dare to dream of!

Her brain was working at lightning speed.

Where did this technique come from?

It is common knowledge throughout the entire imperial city that His Highness is unable to cultivate.

He couldn't possibly possess such a thing himself.

So... there's only one source!

Your Majesty the Emperor!

That's right! His Highness entered the palace today and just came out of the Imperial Study!

This must have been obtained by His Highness from His Majesty!

A scene instantly flashed through Li Qingluan's mind.

Inside the imperial study, her husband, the sixteenth prince who usually seemed carefree and unrestrained, was present.

In order to obtain a top-grade martial arts manual for his two concubines, he argued vehemently with the supreme Emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

They even paid a huge price to obtain these two scrolls of top-grade martial arts techniques from the emperor!

Why did he do that?

For them!

For her, the concubine who was forced into marriage, and for Wulanxue, the pitiful principal wife!

At this moment, the last bit of resentment in Li Qingluan's heart from being betrothed as a concubine, and the last bit of pride of a daughter of a military family, vanished instantly.

Instead, there was an unprecedented feeling of excitement and warmth.

She looked at Zhao Chen'an, whose slightly weary smile appeared so sincere in the candlelight.

So... he remembered it all.

So... he was protecting them in his own way too.