Chapter 351: Bound to the Birth System, Becoming a Winner in Life Chapter 352: A Passerby Strives to Live (20)

·

·

·

Protagonist:

Shen Yao

Liu Xiuwen's return was a joyous occasion for the Liu family.

Meanwhile, Shen Yao, as expected, was pregnant once again.

Originally she hadn't planned to give birth; Liu Mingxuan and Liu Mingfei had decent aptitude, and once they grew up, Shen Yao could simply live off them and enjoy a comfortable life.

But the System had somehow made a deal with the Heavenly Dao, and since the reward was decent, Shen Yao endured the hardship of pregnancy life.

System:...

'Host, this child is born with innate wisdom; this deal isn't a loss at all, and is even quite profitable. After all, other women risk death in childbirth, while the Host gives birth as easily as drinking water and eating.'

Shen Yao raised an eyebrow. 'No matter how wise, I'm the one who has to give birth. Ten months of pregnancy—you say it's easy because you've never experienced a woman's hardships.'

Was she supposed to keep giving birth just because she had a cheat, making it safe and burden-free? What kind of logic was that?

Though Shen Yao needed to trade with the System to secure her chance at survival, she was no puppet; she had her own thoughts.

'In this world, not even adults live well, let alone children. I'm not the type to bear children without raising them.'

The System was thoroughly scolded and immediately cowed, carefully suggesting the Host strengthen her defenses.

Shen Yao waved a hand. 'Liu Xiuwen is back—the power of a Seventh Rank Expert is no empty boast. Right now, this manor outside the city is the safest place in Yingchuan.'

As long as Liu Xiuwen remained, Shen Yao and her child would be in no danger.

'Help me probe the depths of Luojing. The Liu family managed to extricate themselves—how are the other families arranging things?'

From her observation of Liu Xiuwen, Shen Yao didn't believe he would contentedly stay in Yingchuan to enjoy his twilight years; who knew what treasonous plots he might be hatching in private.

Tsk tsk tsk

Pity this child she carried was a Buddha Son, destined to resolve this chaotic world and thus have no connection to the position above ten thousand people.

But this child having no connection didn't mean Shen Yao couldn't bear someone fated for that position.

After all, they were blood relatives. Shen Yao patted her not-yet-swollen belly and decided to find a chance to properly brainwash her own children.

Once chaos erupted outside, it wouldn't be the Liu family committing treason, but rather the capable rising within the Human Race.

"The Emperor is muddle-headed and incompetent; we can only save ourselves. Watching those commoners suffering, there's little we can do," Liu Xiuwen stood in the study, shaking his head and sighing at the hardship of the people within Wei State's borders. Along the way, it could be said the closer to the border, the more chaotic the situation.

The Emperor's personal expedition had not achieved the desired effect, and he had slunk back in defeat.

Luojing, as the rear area, was in utter chaos and offered no hope to others. In such a country, who could believe it had been flourishing just a few years ago?

Liu Jingsheng and Liu Jingyan exchanged glances, then spoke to comfort their grandfather not to think too much.

"This matter has nothing to do with you, Grandfather."

"Grandfather has already done much. The Emperor is unkind, and the commoners suffer."

Liu Xiuwen waved a hand. "I know in my heart. I am no Saint, nor do I have a heart that loves the people as my own children."

Even if he occasionally reached out a hand, it was only on the basis of ensuring his own safety.

When the front line was in chaos, Liu Xiuwen only looked out for himself. How many soldiers and commanders had died before him? If he truly worried, he wouldn't have lived to this day.

Sighing, Liu Xiuwen said, "I'm back. I won't be receiving guests for now."

"The Emperor allowed me to return home to enjoy my twilight years; he's just temporarily unable to attend to Yingchuan."

He came to Yingchuan partly to suppress the surrounding forces so they wouldn't stir up trouble.

"You brothers, from today onward, maintain good relations with the Yingchuan Clans."

"Jingsheng, as for your marriage, Grandfather is gratified. You have sacrificed too much for the Liu Clan." Liu Xiuwen patted Liu Jingsheng's broad shoulder, his eyes filled with the emotion called guilt.

Liu Jingyan felt sad too, and when he returned to the Small Courtyard, he still couldn't muster any enthusiasm.

Shen Yao supported her waist and ordered Qing Shui to deliver the two chubby babies into Liu Jingyan's arms.

Suddenly holding a weight that wasn't light, Liu Jingyan regained his senses, lowered his head to tease the children, and smiled as he extended his hand to Shen Yao.

Shen Yao used his strength to lean back into Liu Jingyan's embrace, and the two children were thus carried away.

"A Yan, what's wrong? Is Grandfather giving you trouble?"

Her brows tightly furrowed like a little old man's. Shen Yao raised her hand and stroked Liu Jingyan's cheek.

The gentle touch made Liu Jingyan's tone soften, and his expression grew much milder.

"It's nothing. I just feel that if I left the family, I couldn't accomplish anything. I consider myself diligent, and after years of cultivation I've worked hard, but facing such a chaotic world, I can do nothing."

Grandfather said so many words in the study today. All Liu Jingyan felt was that he was too useless—even Yingchuan's affairs relied on Grandfather's advance planning. He, he was truly incompetent.

Shen Yao:...

So the young man had been dealt a blow, doubted himself, couldn't let it go, and had driven himself into a corner.

Shen Yao held Liu Jingyan's cheeks firmly with both hands, lowered her head, and looked into his eyes.

"A Yan, don't think nonsense. You've done very well—better than many in Luojing."

They had traveled all the way without injury or death from illness. Upon first arriving in Yingchuan, they punished the Liu family's side branch and reclaimed their property. Before Liu Jingsheng arrived, Yingchuan had not fallen into chaos. These were all Liu Jingyan's achievements.

Shen Yao's comfort worked. Liu Jingyan wasn't the one being groomed as a priority, and the pressure of recent times had forced him to grow, though the unease in his heart still remained.

"Yao Yao"

Liu Jingyan's voice was hoarse, carrying a faint tremble, and he didn't know what to say.

Shen Yao raised her hand to cover Liu Jingyan's mouth corner, then reached out and pulled his head into her embrace.

She patted his back like coaxing a child. "Sleep soundly. Don't think about anything."

……………

Closing one's eyes to sleep couldn't resolve anything, but having family stay by one's side without abandoning was a very healing thing.

Liu Jingyan no longer went out, but stayed in the small courtyard with Shen Yao and their two children, holding his beloved wife and young son in his arms, Shen Yao's belly still carrying another child, and Liu Jingyan's mood calmed considerably.

He slowly regained the image of a noble young master; perhaps the experiences of these days had settled him, and compared to his earlier slight restlessness, the current Liu Jingyan was like a flawless, clear, and lustrous piece of fine jade.

"Host, you've picked up a treasure."

Anyone you casually meet is a potential stock; no wonder it chose him.

Shen Yao:...

Shen Yao rolled her eyes at the system in annoyance, looked up and closed the system window, while also blocking out the sounds of the father and son playing outside, "Isn't it his good luck? Being able to meet me is luck that many people can't even beg for."

Just the fact that Shen Yao can give birth and will give birth is enough to make many people envious.

Rather than saying Shen Yao picked up a treasure, it's better to say Liu Jingyan had good luck to meet her in advance.

Her lower abdomen was already slightly bulging, like an overturned round bowl; Shen Yao stretched her limbs and lay on her side on the couch, casually picking up a fruit from the tray and putting it into her mouth to chew.

Sour and sweet, clear and light.

Sweet juice burst in her mouth, soaking her entire tongue and taste buds; Shen Yao unconsciously narrowed her eyes, enjoying the rare peaceful life.

"Mm, although this salted fish posture makes me seem lacking in ambition, I have to admit, it is indeed comfortable."

Liu Jingyan had plenty of time recently, and the matters outside didn't require him to worry.

Putting all his heart and mind on his small family, Liu Jingyan discovered that his two children truly had excessively strong talent.

Clearly, they should have needed many secret medicines to temper their tendons and bones before cultivating, but these two children just waved their hands, and there were waves of technique fluctuations.

Catching Liu Jingyan off guard again, looking at the two children sitting on the rug and giggling foolishly, Liu Jingyan could only send someone to find Liu Xiuwen.

Geniuses were not something he hadn't seen before; the Liu Family had produced many descendants with powerful talent.

But children as excessively strong as these, and so young at that, Liu Xiuwen, having lived so many years, was seeing for the first time.

Touching his white beard, Liu Xiuwen walked around the two children again and again, and finally made the decision to have them temper their tendons and bones earlier.

"Normally at five years old, those with good aptitude at three; they are already one year old, so we can start in half a year."

Liu Xiuwen reached out and touched the bone skeletons of the two children, ensuring they could withstand the bitterness of tempering their tendons and bones, and immediately stated that their future cultivation would be entirely under his charge.

The highest cultivation realm in the entire Liu Family was Liu Xiuwen; back then, Liu Jingsheng was handled by Liu Xiuwen, while Liu Jingyan was guided by the family's enshrined master.

Now it was Liu Jingyan's two children getting a taste of the Qilin Son treatment; leaving other things aside, Liu Jingyan's mood was indeed quite great.

So this was what "father gains status through son" meant? No wonder those great clans liked to have many children; even if they themselves were useless, as long as one of their descendants had promise, they could live a good life.

Liu Jingyan bowed to thank his grandfather, then turned around and picked up the two children to give Shen Yao the good news.

Shen Yao said that although she felt reluctant and heartache, her grandfather was an elder in the family, and if he did this, he surely had his own reasons; as long as it benefited the two children, she supported it.

"Yao Yao, Eldest Young Master and Father were both cultivated by Grandfather; Mingxuan and Mingfei being valued by Grandfather is their good fortune."

At least compared to their own biological father, the two children's future path could be easier and smoother.

"Now I only hope your child in the womb is born safely, and our family of five stays together," not expecting to win the grand prize every time, Liu Jingyan felt more joy as a father; what he couldn't get, what he had never achieved, would be accomplished by the two children in his place.

Living at the manor outside the city was relaxed and carefree; when Liu Jingyan returned to a normal frequency of going to the Government Office, Shen Yao still basked in the sunlight with her eyes closed, enjoying herself.

"Master, Madam requests your presence."

Qing Shui took small steps to Shen Yao's side, spoke in a low voice, then raised her hand to help Shen Yao up from the rocking chair.

At this time Shen Yao's pregnant belly was already quite large, round and plump like a ripe watermelon.

"Mother invited me, but didn't say what for?"

Shen Yao fiddled with her somewhat disheveled skirt hem, and tidied her hair.

A pink and white gauze long dress paired with the dangling tassel hairpin hanging down made Shen Yao look charming and gentle.

Recently the weather turned warm, and what Shen Yao loved most was lying on the rocking chair basking in the sun.

Qing Shui shook her head, mentioning the Flower God Festival held in the city in two days, "Madam will return to the ancestral home then," possibly related to this matter.

Qing Shui wasn't sure, but as for the ancestral home, her mistress being pregnant for nearly eight months definitely couldn't go.

"Go, don't let Mother wait too long," Shen Yao wasn't curious what Lady Liu wanted from her; it would be said eventually.

The mistress and servant walked through the long corridor, and soon arrived at Lady Liu's residence.

"Yao Yao, sit quickly," Lady Liu smiled kindly, her words caring whether Shen Yao had any discomfort during her pregnancy.

Shen Yao pursed her lips and smiled, "He is a doting one; daughter-in-law is all well."

Lady Liu patted the back of her hand, "That's good; it's hard for a woman to be pregnant," Shen Yao had given birth to two children in quick succession, and Lady Liu still worried Shen Yao's body couldn't take it.

"The Flower God Festival in a few days, the Government Office invited us; originally we were all going to enter the city."

"But considering your health, Jingyan staying with you at the manor, would it be a wrong?"

Lady Liu knew pregnant women were sensitive, and spoke carefully, afraid Shen Yao would think leaving her behind was deliberate targeting.

Shen Yao:...

She was just pregnant, not out of her mind; how could she not distinguish right from wrong?

"Mother, rest assured, daughter-in-law understands that right now the most important thing is the child in the womb," she wouldn't go to the city; not only would she not go, she would also advise Lady Liu best not to go.

Pity Lady Liu shouldered heavy responsibilities and needed to maintain relations with those ladies.

"What relationship is more important than life? People die on the night of the Flower God Festival in Luojing; Yingchuan's Flower God Festival won't be exempt either," Shen Yao held her belly and went out.

"Host, where isn't strange? Isn't there Liu Xiuwen and Liu Jingsheng?" Lady Liu probably wouldn't have an accident, just the city would be a bit chaotic.

"Strange phenomena attacking the Government Office, just a bit chaotic?" Shen Yao sneered at this.

The system really liked to lie with open eyes more and more; frequent strange phenomena were already disturbing, knowing something would happen in the city, yet insisting on walking into the tiger's mouth.

Were those false clan affections and Government Office interests really that important?

"Grandfather knows the city is unstable; this return to the city has other arrangements."

Liu Jingyan returned in the evening, saw Shen Yao was in low spirits, and hurriedly asked about the situation.

As husband and wife, Shen Yao didn't hide it from him; quite a few things had happened in Yingchuan city during this period.

Even the Yingchuan Exorcism Office couldn't solve it itself, and asking the Liu Clan for help would not be done without a price.

"Grandfather wants to take over Yingchuan? Wei State still exists; that wouldn't be proper."

Liu Jingyan laughed lightly, reaching out to touch Shen Yao's loose hair, "Just let the Yingchuan clans see the situation clearly; Wei State still exists, but it has no leisure to attend to other places."

Since the Emperor returned to Luojing, the average daily death rate has steadily risen, and many clans have already been struck from the register by the imperial family; fortunately, the Liu Clan fled quickly.

"Early this year, the Prefect of Yingchuan completed his term; Luojing should have sent down an order to reassign him, but nothing happened here," the Prefect is still the Prefect of Yingchuan, yet this man is still a wallflower grass.

Shen Yao raised an eyebrow, hearing another meaning from Liu Jingyan's words.

With an "oh," she nodded, Shen Yao leaning herself into Liu Jingyan's embrace, "The Emperor's health has been poor for several months; has the Crown Prince not yet been chosen?"

Liu Jingyan patted Shen Yao's back, "Several elder princes are out of the running, and the Emperor has no choice."

Even if there were one, no one dares to choose; choose today and something will surely happen tomorrow.

The remaining few have directly gone red-eyed; the Emperor dragging it out can still protect them, but announcing it directly is tantamount to sentencing someone to death, and immediate execution at that.

"Be good, don't think about these," Liu Jingyan was unwilling for Shen Yao to be in a bad mood; what did those things have to do with them anyway?