Chapter 238

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Protagonist:

Shen Yao

How should we prepare? He Shi's importance to Ren Chengzhou goes without saying.

After Shen Yao told Ren Chengzhou the news brought by the wife of the Guogong, Ren Chengzhou became nervous as expected.

Furrowing his brow, Ren Chengzhou pinched his palm and forced himself to calm down.

"Impossible, I only saw Grandmother two days ago; Grandmother's body was clearly improving, so how could it be a sign of the oil running out and the lamp drying up?"

"Could those quack doctors have misdiagnosed? Grandmother is actually fine, just putting on a show for the New Emperor."

Shen Yao:...

Listening to Ren Chengzhou deceiving himself there, Shen Yao couldn't help but feel some heartache.

If it were anyone else, Ren Chengzhou would probably have accepted it long ago; only He Shi, with such deep affection between grandmother and grandson, made it hard for Ren Chengzhou to let go.

It was also for this reason that the wife of the Guogong and the Guogong himself found it hard to speak the actual situation, and perhaps there was also He Shi's kind concealment.

Pulling Ren Chengzhou to sit down, Shen Yao soothed him not to think so much, "Tomorrow morning, we'll go to the Guogong Fu together."

We'll know once we see; if possible, He Shi will still talk with Ren Chengzhou.

The one who tied the bell must untie it; only He Shi can resolve Ren Chengzhou's worries.

Because he had worries weighing on him, Ren Chengzhou didn't rest well at night, and when he got up to go out the next day, he was still somewhat dazed.

Fortunately, the attention in the palace was temporarily on the New Emperor and the court; Ren Chengzhou and Shen Yao were just two useless small nobodies, and truly few people paid attention to them.

"Prince, Princess Consort, we've arrived at the Guogong Fu."

After the driver said this softly, he also arranged the wooden stool at the front of the carriage.

Ren Chengzhou helped Shen Yao out of the carriage, and the two looked at the signboard of the Guogong Fu, then knocked on the door and entered.

The wife of the Guogong waited in the main courtyard; upon seeing them come, she directly led them to He Shi's residence.

He Shi lay on the bed, her face grayish-white. Compared to her cheerful talk and laughter when speaking with Ren Chengzhou a few days ago, He Shi today appeared even more notably lonely.

"Chengzhou, speak a few words with Lady Lao," the imperial physician had already issued an ultimatum; with the Guogong Fu's means, they were powerless to turn the tide.

Ren Chengzhou turned to look at Shen Yao, forced a smile and exchanged a word with her, then hurriedly came to sit by the bedside.

Shen Yao, holding her pregnant belly, did not go over; after all, this was also Lady Lao's special instruction, and she couldn't let the unborn child catch illness.

'Lady Lao has been poisoned, the poison has entered the five viscera and six bowels; unless cultivation methods are used.'

But that way, Lady Lao's body wouldn't be able to hold up first.

The elixirs of the Cultivation World aren't something ordinary people can tough out; most also have constitution requirements.

If it were He Shi not poisoned or poisoned lightly, Shen Yao might still try her best, but now, it's better to arrange her afterlife matters early.

'It was He Shi who did it herself, to put the Former Emperor at ease and also to not make things difficult for the New Emperor.'

It was an agreement from when the Former Emperor was still alive; the wife of the Guogong was just keeping the appointment.

Clicking her tongue, the system said only the Palace Intrigue World kills people like this, inexplicably, without even a reason.

He Shi's energy was very poor; even with Ren Chengzhou coming over, nothing could be alleviated.

With difficulty explaining to Ren Chengzhou that her situation was just normal birth, aging, sickness, and death, He Shi hoped this child she raised with her own hands could stay away from court struggles and live his own life.

"Chengzhou, don't do unnecessary things; Grandmother has lived long enough."

A smile appeared at the corner of her mouth; at the final moment of her life, what she felt was not panic and reluctance, but relief and deliverance.

"Go back, Grandmother is very happy;" she couldn't save that weak infant born, but she had also raised the grandson who shouldn't have existed.

Perhaps there would still be some regrets deep in her heart, but fortunately, once she passes, she can make up for it.

Coming out of the Guogong Fu, Ren Chengzhou said nothing, sitting alone in a corner, looking pitiful.

Shen Yao pondered whether to comfort him with a couple of words? Before she could speak, Ren Chengzhou refused with a bitter smile.

"Grandmother's matter, I should have thought of it earlier;" when he previously entered the palace, the New Emperor had also hinted to him.

Just as He Shi herself said, Ren Chengzhou couldn't stop a person's birth, aging, sickness, and death; besides, this was what He Shi willingly chose.

"Once the matters in the palace are finished, we'll return to the farmstead; Jingcheng is good, but not suitable for long-term residence."

People at the center of power are all in the vortex; a bit of carelessness and they'll be smashed to pieces.

Ren Chengzhou previously hid away for safety; now hiding away is to avoid trouble.

Shen Yao and Ren Chengzhou's group returned to the farmstead after the New Year.

Riding the coldness at the end of winter, feeling the lingering New Year spirit in Jingcheng that hadn't dispersed.

Shen Yao had been pregnant for over seven months, her belly round and round, looking like she could give birth at any time, which scared Ren Chengzhou so much he couldn't rest day or night.

"Rest assured, not that fragile;" the formation of the Spirit Fetus was too complex, plus the Spiritual Energy in the Mortal World was insufficient; even though Shen Yao relied on elixirs daily to make up for it, the Spirit Fetus in her belly was still malnourished.

The due date that should have been at the end of the month had to be postponed by more than three months.

However, Shen Yao didn't explain these clearly to Ren Chengzhou, afraid this person would sleep even worse.

"I've already petitioned the Emperor; the imperial physicians in the palace will come over in a few days; Yao'er, you've suffered."

Ren Chengzhou had seen women give birth, so he feared even more that Shen Yao would have trouble.

Others giving birth to one child seemed like passing through the Ghost Gate; now Shen Yao was carrying twins, with double the danger.

Secretly hating that he couldn't help at all, Ren Chengzhou planned to go find some midwives and wet nurses of reputation to have on standby.

Shen Yao's pregnancy went well; until when the due date ended and she was about to give birth, she still showed no movement.

Ren Chengzhou:?...!!!

Ren Chengzhou summoned one batch after another of imperial physicians, but without exception, they all said she should give birth.

"The child is still resting safely in the Imperial Consort's belly—how is that to be explained?"

Ren Chengzhou spoke softly and gently when facing Shen Yao, but turned to look at others with extreme irritability.

The imperial physicians in the palace were also helpless; they were indeed skilled at being cautious, but the fetus in the Imperial Consort's womb was truly rare, rendering their medical arts completely useless.

One with superb medical skill said the timing had not yet come; anyway, the Imperial Consort's body was in good condition, so just keep nurturing her—when it's time to give birth, she will surely give birth.

Ren Chengzhou:...

Ren Chengzhou, furious, drove the people away, and in his anger directly smashed the table ornament.

Nonsense!

Everyone says pregnancy lasts nine months; seeing Shen Yao's twins heading toward eleven months, Ren Chengzhou worried even more about trouble brewing in Jingcheng.

Sending all the summoned imperial physicians back to the palace, Ren Chengzhou thought it over and still personally made a trip to the Jingcheng court; by the time he returned, it was already late at night.

Shen Yao, wearing her quilt and not yet asleep, sat by the bedside resting.

"I said, you don't need to wait for me; pregnancy is not easy, so take care of yourself."

Ren Chengzhou changed into a set of clothes and entered the hall; when he reached Shen Yao's side, he was still panting.

"You slept too long during the day, so you're not sleepy at night; as for you, what's the rush?" Hurriedly riding a carriage and horse back to Jingcheng.

Were it not for the system acting as an insider, Shen Yao would not have known how much Ren Chengzhou worried.

It's also her own fault for focusing all her attention on her belly; after all, she was not carrying twins, but triplets, and after taking alchemy pills, each one had the aptitude of a Spirit Fetus.

For a Spirit Fetus to be born smoothly from the mother's body, it could only wait until the Spirit Fetus matured.

As said before, the spiritual energy in the Mortal World was insufficient, so Shen Yao still needed to rely on alchemy pills and Spirit Stones for assistance.

Even so, the growth speed of the Spirit Fetus in her womb still could not compare to that of other worlds.

There was no other way; Shen Yao could only extend the gestation period to let the Spirit Fetus mature. It was also for this reason that her pulse seemed strange—clearly a sign of impending childbirth, yet it could be delayed again and again.

"Enter the palace and speak with the Emperor; rest assured, he will absolutely not let Shen Yao and the child be harmed."

Shen Yao turned her head and leaned against Ren Chengzhou's embrace, believing his words very much; after all, this man had already negotiated with the New Emperor.

From then until childbirth, Ren Chengzhou stayed by Shen Yao's side without leaving, and the entire farmstead was strictly guarded by people arranged by Ren Chengzhou to prevent unrelated people from disturbing them.

After exceeding the due date by three months, Shen Yao smoothly gave birth to the children in her belly at the farmstead.

Three crying infants in a row were neatly lined up before Ren Chengzhou, directly leaving him dumbfounded.

Amidst surprise and joy, Ren Chengzhou rewarded everyone at the entire farmstead while sending people to deliver letters to Jingcheng.

Of course, what should be low-key remained low-key; the Washing Third Ceremony and Full Moon Rite for the three children were both held at the farmstead. Apart from the palace servants sent by the New Emperor and the Guogong Fu, no one else received Ren Chengzhou's invitations.

"That's also good; too many eyes are mixed, Jingcheng may have settled down, but not everyone is willing in their hearts," and even more wanted to cause trouble.

As the saying goes, without making a scene, where would the merit come from to rise up?

The big shots can't all wait for the New Emperor to promote them; they still have to put in some effort themselves.

The Guogong's wife sat by the bedside, with Ren Minmin, who was preparing for her marriage, beside her.

Shen Yao's body had already greatly recovered, but out of Ren Chengzhou's concern, she did not go out.

The three chatted casually, mostly with Ren Minmin speaking, the Guogong's wife supplementing, and Shen Yao serving as a background board.

Squeak—

The room door was pushed open; it was the servant who had come along. The time had come; to avoid the hour for returning to Jingcheng being too late, they should set off in advance.

Smiling as she saw off the Guogong's wife and Ren Minmin, Shen Yao turned her head to glance outside the window; the spiritual energy in the air had grown several degrees richer.

The three children, full and satisfied, were carried back by the wet nurses and brought to Shen Yao's side.

Three neatly arranged white glutinous rice balls smiled cheerfully; Shen Yao used her spiritual power to tidy their bodies while feeding them alchemy pills to supplement their aptitude.

It turns out that Spirit Fetuses differ from one another.

In the Cultivation World, Spirit Fetuses are born with a cultivation realm, while Spirit Fetuses in the Mortal World are still ordinary infants, but their bodies are extremely easy to cultivate.

But the Mortal World lacks sufficient spiritual energy, and Shen Yao did not want her three infant brats to suffer in this regard; helplessly, she could only temporarily care for them as normal infants, and begin cultivation only after they grew a bit more aware.

By that time, her family should also leave Jingcheng to travel.

Including Ren Chengzhou, who now had to be urged by Shen Yao every day to practice martial arts and strengthen his body, laying the foundation for future cultivation.

The tightly closed room door was pushed open; it was Ren Chengzhou, who had finished receiving the guests, carrying a faint fragrance on his person, also to prevent the smell of wine from offending others.

"You're back?"

Shen Yao smiled and called out; before she could speak again, only the babbling of infant speech began to sound—the three mischievous children.

Ren Chengzhou walked over and quietly spoke of the few guests he had just sent off, adding that Jingcheng might become tense recently, and even Ren Minmin's marriage would be postponed by one or two.

Shen Yao raised her eyebrow; she hadn't expected Jingcheng to become even more chaotic. But it was understandable: last year the Former Emperor passed away, and before his death he dealt only with his own sons, so the ministers at court did not suffer many casualties.

This did not serve the New Emperor's interests; in other words, too many of the Former Emperor's people remained, which was of no benefit to the New Emperor.

To seize power and control all of Jiang Guo, the New Emperor would sooner or later strike at the court.

Now, judging from Ren Chengzhou's meaning, the New Emperor could no longer hold back and wanted to make a move first, to stabilize the entire court.

"Once the children are a bit older, we'll leave Jingcheng for other places," Shen Yao casually pinched the children's chubby little arms, speaking in a relaxed and carefree tone.

The affairs of the court had little to do with this wealthy and idle couple.

Even if there had been some connection before, after Ren Chengzhou entered the palace back then, he had returned all his authority to the New Emperor.

Otherwise, why would she have been so calm after giving birth? With the Royal Family taking action to suppress things, naturally no one would dare to discuss it.

"Alright, I've heard there have been many strange rumors these past years; by luck, we might just get to see them."

Ren Chengzhou did not believe in ghosts and spirits, but his own wife was somewhat extraordinary, and there were also the three children's unusual births; he couldn't help but think about it privately.

Back when the Former Emperor pursued the art of longevity, there were folk rumors that Heaven and Earth would change; whether it was blessing or disaster remained unknown.

It was a pity that with the Former Emperor's passing, the Taoist priests he had summoned had all left; Ren Chengzhou found it inconvenient to inquire about anything even if he wanted to.

Forget it; these matters should be set aside for now. What's most important right now is raising the children.

……

Even with experience from several worlds, Shen Yao was still surprised by how much her children could change in three days or five days.

In just three years, the three children grew from babbling infants into little ones who could run all over the place.

Shen Yao had to match wits and courage with the three children every day, and once they showed extraordinary martial arts talent (cultivation talent), it became utter chaos.

"Ren Yangyao, were the herbs in the back courtyard dried by you with Yang Zuo and Yang Jue?"

Shen Yao stood in the small courtyard with both hands on her waist, looking at the three children who had run to the foot of the wall with a stern expression.

Even the most obedient child becomes troublesome once they reach the age of running and jumping.

Ren Yangyao's three children all had single spirit roots, and they were fire spirit roots passed down through the same line; their mischievousness was several times that of ordinary people.

Over these years, Shen Yao had lost her temper countless times, but it did little good—after all, fire spirit roots were famous as cultivation spirit roots.

"Yao'er, have them reorganize the herbs to polish their tempers."

Ren Chengzhou appeared at the right time, looking at his trouble-making sons and doing his best to soothe them.

Shen Yao rubbed her head, "Let them organize them, but I fear few herbs will remain."

Keep practicing martial arts in the front courtyard; you cannot rest until three hours are up today.

Those with vigorous energy need something to burn it off, otherwise there aren't enough farmsteads for them to tear apart.

Waving her hand to have the servant at the doorway lead the three children away directly, Shen Yao then spoke with Ren Chengzhou about the trip to the capital.

It was not easy; the journey to the capital that had been mentioned for so long had finally come.