Chapter 43

Holy Monk 9 (Child-Giving Master Enters the Palace)

A few days later, the imperial court's people finally arrived at Stone Orchid Temple.

The one who came to meet Jiang He was an acquaintance, namely that tall, sturdy, thirty-year-old childless patient—General Weiyuan.

"Master, my son is in my wife's belly, and he's already three months old." General Weiyuan said happily, "Thanks to you, Master, you are our family's benefactor."

"Maybe it's a daughter." Jiang He frowned at him, thinking, "This won't be a son-preferring deadbeat dad, will it?"

But to his surprise, General Weiyuan became even happier upon hearing that, slapping his thigh and saying with a grin, "A daughter is great—just like her mother, beautiful!"

Jiang He chuckled inwardly; General Weiyuan's wife was lovely and charming, and standing beside her, he vividly illustrated what a beauty and the beast are.

General Weiyuan wore the smug smile of a life winner, and all along the way he boasted to the pure-hearted, ascetic monk about how he had doggedly pursued and finally won the beauty.

He could brag about this for a lifetime, after all, back then he defeated countless aristocratic young masters and married a lovely beauty.

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"I told my wife I would have only her for life, not take concubines, and if I couldn't have children I wouldn't take any either." As he said this, the tall, mighty general's eyes glimmered with tears, like a beast holding back tears: "Not having children is my problem; I originally wanted to speak openly about it, but my wife preemptively took the blame upon herself, knowing I needed prestige and manly dignity in the army, so she bore all the criticism."

As this mountain-strong man spoke, tears streamed down; he hastily turned his head, afraid to let anyone see his weak side.

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These are words he could never say in front of his family; only before the master could he pour them out.

The master is their family's benefactor, so there's nothing he can't say to him; moreover, the master is compassionate and won't mock a grown man for crying.

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"I hope you will always treat your lady well in the future." The master's eyes softened; having seen much pressure on childless women, he knew how difficult it was for the general's wife.

"Of course!" General Weiyuan exclaimed proudly, "If the kids ever dare to be disobedient to their mother, I'll give them a good spanking!"

Saying that, General Weiyuan grinned, leaned close to the master, and asked, "Um, Master, could you tell me whether the daughter my wife will bear will resemble me or her?" Before the master could answer, he grew anxious again, "If she takes after me, that would be awful—how could she ever get married? I've heard sons resemble their mothers and daughters resemble their fathers."

Just thinking that his daughter would someday grow a beard and be able to behead an enemy with a single blow made him tremble; just how much dowry would it take to marry her off?

The parrot was also curious about what the baby in General Weiyuan's wife's belly looked like.

Unfortunately, this is a future altered by Jiang He, the task-doer; the AI only knows the original timeline, but Jiang He studied fortune-telling in the cultivation world, so he should be able to figure it out.

Stared down by General Weiyuan's copper-bell eyes, what could Jiang He do? He had no choice but to help him calculate.

After a moment, he said, "Hmm, General, your luck is not bad; the child in your wife's belly is a dragon-and-phoenix twin."

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"Two, two? That means the danger for my wife when giving birth would be doubled!" He grabbed the monk, tears welling up again, "Please, Master, save my wife's life; I've heard you're especially skilled at securing pregnancies and delivering babies."

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Damn it! Who spread this false rumor? Damn it, a monk skilled at midwifery—who would believe that? Which holy monk is good at delivering babies?

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Jiang He gritted his teeth, "I'm a monk, an ascetic, not a doctor." And certainly not an obstetrician.

General Weiyuan didn't care whether he was a monk or a doctor; he figured that since they were headed to the capital and couldn't escape, he could regularly invite the master to come over to secure his wife's pregnancy.

On the road to the capital, there really were people coming to kill the master, and they came in more than one wave.

General Wei Yuan nonchalantly shook the blood from his big-ringed sword, and stared in surprise at the parrot accompanying them.

"This is truly a divine bird; the enemy hasn't even gotten close, yet it senses them."

With this parrot giving warnings, they don't have to wait until the enemy attacks to notice; it saves a lot of trouble and lets them respond more calmly.

The parrot jumped onto the general's head, its claws gripping his hair, very pleased with his coarse, stiff hair, suitable for making a nest.

It proudly boasted, "Animals' five senses are far stronger than humans'."

Moreover, the parrot's shell it uses was bought from the system store, a strengthened super diamond parrot—diamond being real diamond, otherwise the store couldn't sell it at a high price.

General Wei Yuan laughed heartily, not minding the parrot using his hair as a bird's nest; this made things much easier for them, no need to stay constantly tense.

After dealing with the enemies, General Wei Yuan slipped into the carriage, shamelessly asking for tea and snacks.

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Inside the carriage, General Wei Yuan enjoyed the snacks immensely; he used to dislike snacks, but blames the master for making them too delicious, especially the savory ones, which suit his palate perfectly.

"Divine bird, do you want to be a general?" General Wei Yuan tore off a snack to feed the parrot, "If you become a general, someone will attend to you, feeding you melon seeds, giving you clear spring water, grooming your feathers, and I'll make your perch out of gold."

The parrot instantly became interested; it no longer wanted to be a tutor, as being a tutor strains the voice, and the general's profession sounds good.

"Come on, tell me, how can I become a general?"

General Wei Yuan's eyes shone with determination: "Go to the battlefield, earn merit, and you'll become a general!" He earnestly persuaded the parrot, "As long as you display your abilities on the battlefield, the emperor will surely be happy to grant you the title of general."

Thinking back, the emperor's wolfhound saved him on the battlefield; the emperor immediately ennobled his beloved dog as Wolf General, even ordering a gold plaque to be hung around its neck. This Wolf General is now the tyrant of the beast garden, strutting around with general's airs, bullying other animals.

General Wei Yuan was quite confident that if the parrot achieved great merit, the emperor would certainly not mind having more parrot generals.

The parrot was about to speak when it suddenly lifted its head toward the window and said, "There's the smell of blood ahead."

Soon after, the scout who had gone to investigate returned with a report.

"Master, General, there's a carriage stopped in the middle of the road ahead; it belongs to the Wen family, the Minister of Rites. Inside is a woman suffering from fetal distress, the wife of the Minister of Rites' son."

Jiang He stuffed the snack into his mouth, took out a silver needle, and sighed, "In this freezing weather, pregnant women shouldn't just go out casually."

Although he said that, his speed getting out of the carriage was not slow.

General Wei Yuan followed Jiang He out of the carriage and went to the Minister of Rites' carriage.

Inside the carriage, a young woman held her belly, which was less than three months along, her face filled with panic and pain, until a pure, gentle voice sounded.

"Don't fear; let this poor monk give you a few needles, and it won't hurt."

The young woman's tears were about to fall as she clung to the master's white monk's robes, like grasping a lifesaving driftwood, "Child, my child, I beg the master to surely save my child..."

This is her first child, and also the child her husband's family has been hoping for; she cannot lose him.

Jiang He comforted, "The child will be fine too."

The servants attending the young lady looked anxious, all kneeling before the Master, pleading that the Master must protect the child in the young lady's womb.

If anything happens to the young lady or the child in her womb, those who serve them will meet a bad end.

General Wei Yuan stood outside the carriage, impatiently listening to the noises inside, wondering how long this dawdling would take to reach the capital; he missed his wife.

After a while, a voice from the carriage said, "Madam, how do you feel?"

"Master, my stomach no longer hurts!" Mistress Wen showed a look of astonishment.

Hearing this, General Wei Yuan knew the child was fine and said from outside the carriage, "Enough, stop the chatter. Let's go, let's go, and hurry to the relay station to rest before nightfall."

In this freezing weather, missing the stopover would bring suffering.

Mistress Wen knew the man outside was General Wei Yuan, a favorite before the Emperor and a general who held military power, not some hollow title.

She placed her hand on her belly, her face set with resolve: "General, you are heading toward the capital; may we follow behind you?"

Though she was away from home, she had heard that Master Xuan Ji was excellent at prenatal care and treating childless women; walking behind their carriage would be absolutely safe.

Thinking this, Mistress Wen's face flushed slightly; she knew she was shameless, but the child in her womb could not be jeopardized!

Master Xuan Ji performed a clasped‑hands salute and said nothing in opposition.

General Wei Yuan clicked his tongue; indeed the Master had a Buddha's heart, and he signaled the guards to slow their pace.

Never mind, the Master was unfamiliar with the capital; a few more connections would be good.

Only the parrot muttered in its mind, not noticing General Wei Yuan's thick eyebrows, large eyes, and fierce, demonic look, yet treating the pregnant woman so kindly—was this love for the house and its crow?

The carriage set off again.

Inside, Mistress Wen's complexion remained pale, but her expression had improved greatly.

Soon, the sound of a golden bell rang ahead; Mistress Wen's brows twitched. She was not foolish and knew the assassins' purpose, so she ordered the nearby guards, "Send half of you up to help."

Mistress Wen never imagined so many people opposed the Emperor having an heir, but she was not stupid; she quickly understood why Master Xuan Ji was entering the capital.

Half an incense stick's time later, General Wei Yuan deliberately sent someone to tell her to keep distance, lest the assassins treat her as part of the group.

After all, the carriage carried a pregnant woman and could not endure any jolt.

Mistress Wen was decisive; if Master Xuan Ji's party encountered trouble, she would not gain any favor and would surely be killed by the assassins as an informant, so she chose to stay together.

Whether needed or not, the Master and General Wei Yuan would certainly remember her kindness.

Her decision proved correct; before reaching the capital, the uneasy Emperor sent guards over.

Mistress Wen's face brightened; now she also had her name recorded with the Emperor, and as long as the Emperor showed even a hint of favor, she could press her mother‑in‑law to have her husband take her niece as a concubine.

General Wei Yuan went on a rampage, caw‑caw killing, while the parrot squawked caw‑caw. "Ha ha ha!" General Wei Yuan wiped blood from his face haphazardly, "It's been ages since I killed like this, what a thrill!"

Smelling of heavy blood, he lunged into the carriage to snatch the parrot's snack, causing the parrot to caw‑caw loudly and grab at his hair.

Earlier at the relay station, Jiang He had prepared a batch of vegetarian pastries, originally planning to enjoy them in the capital, but with General Wei Yuan, the glutton, the half‑way journey was already over.

The present Emperor disliked women, and the Hougong had fewer than thirty consorts; it was clear the Emperor was not a lolicon, and the youngest of these concubines were all at least eighteen.

Doctor Xuan Ji?

Thinking of how he taught Qingwu until he wanted to be mute, the parrot decided it must learn that silence is golden.

"Feng Xiaozi?" Jiang He was slightly surprised; the surname Feng—could it be that coincidental?

Jiang He of course knew why he was so enthusiastic: the current Empress's surname is Feng, and she is his elder sister.

After Feng Ming apologized, his whole demeanor turned gray, losing the sunny, bright hue he had just moments before.

General Wei Yuan saw clearly that when the Master squeezed his prayer beads, his gaze first fell on the assassin's forehead.

How could it forget the dog‑host's petty stomach, its mind smaller than that of a bird?

The parrot, whose throat ached from the lesson, quickly covered its mouth with its wing.

The guards felt grateful toward the Master and, out of respect, blurted, "Doctor Xuan Ji, why are you angry?"

"Feng benefactor!"

General Wei Yuan couldn't help but blow his beard and glare, "My old cold leg is so severe, yet the Master healed it; what are you afraid of? The Master can cure any disease, not just infertility."

Jiang He chuckled inwardly, "I wish you'd be more proper."

He asked in puzzlement, "System, why didn't you say the plane‑world child has a mental illness?"

She lowered the curtain, a little confused; normally, Feng Ming's sunny, cute demeanor made him a beloved youth, his tender face prompting elders to want to pinch it, so how did he become a different person when killing?

Feng Ming also knew he had frightened an innocent pregnant woman, vanished for an afternoon, and only returned to the group after his red eyes cleared.

He could hardly be happy.

The accompanying guards were also conquered by Jiang He's medical skill. When fighting assassins, swords and blades missed the eyes, and the guards suffered injuries of varying degrees; normally they could bandage themselves, but here a master of superb medicine would not stand by, and after applying medicine and bandages, the wounds healed very quickly.

Before seeing people, many in the capital pointed fingers at Master Xuan Ji, whispering slanders behind his back.

The system cackled in Jiang He's mind, "Host, what he just said must be the Child‑bearing Guanyin."

They also worried that if Xuan Ji were a fraud, it would tarnish the Buddhist sect's face; the Daoist sect on the other side was eyeing the national teaching's position.

This body's scent of blood mixed with sweat was truly foul! No wonder the world calls men stinky; indeed it was quite stinky.

Amid the masters' concerns, Jiang He's first stop in the palace was to teach Buddhist doctrine to the Hougong's consorts.

Clad in immaculate white monk robes, his bearing lofty and ethereal, the parrot's splendid feathered wings added a touch of mystery to him.

General Wei Yuan's sharp eyes spotted the leader from afar, "Whoa, even Feng Xiaozi was sent, now no one will dare send assassins."

The capital's common folk were not surprised; monks wandering the city were normal, but this monk was exceptionally handsome, his reputation so great that countless women in the city's backyards, childless and yearning, looked up to him.

The court's discerning scholars could not tolerate it; the young Emperor already sought gods and Buddha for longevity, a sign of a doomed nation.

The parrot forced itself, "Maybe it was the medicine later?"

Along the way, another assassination attempt occurred, and Jiang He finally understood why General Wei Yuan called Feng Ming 'Feng Xiaozi'.

Inside the carriage, Jiang He held his breath, "Benefactor, distance creates beauty."

Jiang He ignored its words.

"Shut up!" Jiang He retorted, assuming the Master's posture, palms together, twisting prayer beads, and revealing a smile that illuminated all beings.

Jiang He's mouth twitched. Are they talking nonsense now? It must be, right?!

Jiang He, this "Child‑Giving Master", entered the capital, and the stir he caused even caught the attention of the Grand State Temple.

General Wei Yuan wasn't polite at all: "We're all our own people—no need to stand on such stiff etiquette!"

Every time the host complained, the system's parrot laughed ha‑ha‑ha, belly up.

Jiang He didn't linger outside, entering the palace with General Wei Yuan to see the emperor.

Along the way, Feng Ming followed the master warmly and openly, trying to get close.

Before Jiang He could speak, Feng Ming looked surprised: "Master, don't you only treat infertility?"

"Lord Feng."

This is absolutely intolerable!

General Wei Yuan held the reins and greeted a sunny‑tempered youth.

So, does this still come down to looks?

Jiang He lowered his eyes, and the system's voice sounded in his sea of consciousness.

The empress secretly chuckled.

This "feng" actually means "crazy", a crazy kid.

Jiang He reached out and pinched the parrot's neck, saying especially gently: "Poor monk thinks you'd be better off returning to the temple to teach Qingwu; by the way, how many years do medical students study?"

"Wow, the Son of the World is indeed extraordinary—he went to the battlefield before finishing elementary school, and before finishing middle school he'd already killed over a thousand people."

"You must be the Child‑Giving Guanyin… Holy Monk Master Xuanji, right?" Feng Ming saw the master in the carriage, his eyes lighting up with a hint of eagerness.

The carriage curtain opened, revealing the guards the emperor had sent to escort them.

At first General Wei Yuan feared he'd frighten the master, but once an assassin lunged at the carriage, he broke out in a cold sweat—yet the master simply pinched a prayer bead and flicked it lightly, piercing the assassin's hand straight through.

For these loyal subjects, the emperor having an heir would make the nation's transition smoother.

Last time the emperor also summoned a master from the Grand State Temple to exorcise ghosts in the palace; that master with a white beard and white eyebrows also lectured on Buddhist scriptures in the Hougong, yet none of them were as focused as they are now.

The emperor had no heir; the pressure fell heaviest on the empress, who had even been suspected of being narrow‑minded and of giving anti‑fertility drugs to the Hougong concubines.

However, the imperial clan didn't see it that way, nor did the opportunists seeking to profit from the dragon's merit; for a while the capital was in turmoil, and not everyone wanted the emperor to have an heir.

"Master, the emperor has sent another batch to protect you!" General Wei Yuan said, though he felt a regret—he enjoyed cutting down enemies, but the emperor surely couldn't wait any longer.

After exchanging a few pleasantries with General Wei Yuan, the youth Feng Ming spurred his horse forward to the carriage.

The youth was cute, with a round face still bearing baby fat, and though he was much shorter than the guards, the respectful bearing of his capable retinue showed he was not to be underestimated.

When they saw him, everyone thought the same thing: the legendary Buddha‑child must look something like this.

Later, when they met assassins again, he just went all out; the master's 108 prayer beads were more than enough to last before running out.

Young Madam Wen knew this couldn't be blamed on Feng Ming; if anyone was to blame, it was the assassin. Besides, she's fine now.

Seeing the master's interest, General Wei Yuan introduced: "Feng Xiaozi, whose full name is Feng Ming—don't let his age of sixteen fool you; he went to the battlefield at twelve, and his military merits are genuine."

Compared to the Liang Kang Emperor of the previous world, this world's emperor is indeed much better.

Isn't this Master Xuanji?!!!

For the rest of the journey, Jiang He put on airs as a master, not even preparing snacks for General Wei Yuan, leaving the burly man puzzled.

Jiang He's face went blank, and he asked the system in his mind: "How did he become a Son of the World without getting beaten to death?" With that mouth, plenty must want him dead.

The carriage continued to rumble along the road.

"Master, do you think you can still cure his mind? He wasn't this crazy before."

Why did the master suddenly get angry? What's he angry about?

After paying respects to the master, Feng Ming became even more convinced that this was a formidable master who could grant children, and he thumped his chest, promising that as long as he was around, no demons or monsters would dare approach the master.

"Child‑Giving Guanyin?!' Oh my, it's a man! He'd post that on the forum—hilarious!

Having said that, he spurred his horse forward to meet the newcomers.

He's practically a killing god.

As they entered the palace, Jiang He thought, fearing that if he didn't do something soon, even if his name went down in history he'd likely be history's first monk to delve into obstetrics and gynecology.

Damn it, he's said it over and over—he's a monk, a monk, not a doctor!!

His eyes reddened as he got into the killing; the more he killed, the happier he laughed, making onlookers feel chilled.

The empress lifted her gaze to the group of consorts listening intently; the ones who had been noisy before were now quiet, their eyes shining as they fixed on the handsome master.

This is what upset him—he should have become famous for the holy monk's miraculous abilities, not his medical skills. The emperor summoned him not to make him a state preceptor, but to have him cosplay the Child‑Giving Guanyin.

He really is a little madman—before General Wei Yuan could act, Feng Ming swung first, cleaving with a blade that sent a skull flying high, arcing through the sky and crashing down behind.

The day Master Xuanji entered the capital was quite ordinary—pleasant weather, and the bustling capital was no different than usual.

General Wei Yuan couldn't stand it any longer, hauling the despondent, speechless child before the master.

Jiang He felt his face freeze as if bitten by the wind of deep winter.

Chief Minister Wen returned the memorial in which an official had criticized the emperor; these fame‑seeking fools saw only that Master Xuanji was a monk, unaware of his abilities.

Jiang He had no choice but to needle again; he could see Feng Ming wasn't doing it on purpose—rather, he'd gotten carried away with killing, his reason gone.

Jiang He: "…"

The parrot glanced at Feng Ming, who looked as if he'd been soaked in blood, and hesitated: "He's not mentally ill; he suffered a brain injury, but after treatment he's normal."

They stationed guards before the Huangong, hoping to summon Jiang He at once to discuss Buddhist doctrine.

That skull landed squarely in front of Young Madam Wen's carriage, its two death‑stare eyes fixed on her; she nearly died of fright, and in her panic she even disturbed her fetal qi.

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