Chapter 1101

Since ascending the throne, Zhu Qiyu had never been impeached in such a manner; he blushed furiously, and when he returned to the Astronomical Bureau, his eyes were red.

Even so, Pan Yun told him: "Your Majesty, you won't cultivate Qi this way. You must relax, must feel ease—only when your body is comfortable can you sense the Qi of heaven and earth."

Zhu Qiyu could no longer contain his temper and flung down the schedule Pan Yun had drawn up: "I have twelve hours a day. Four are for sleep. The rest are packed solid. How am I supposed to relax?"

Pan Yun: "If merely following routine could let you perceive your true nature and attain immortality, how could cultivation be called defying heaven?"

Zhu Qiyu froze.

Pan Yun said: "And this is still the most basic level. To achieve anything, you must endure hardship. Otherwise, with so many people cultivating in this world, fewer than one in ten enter the Dao. Since the Tang Dynasty, countless have entered the Dao—but not one has attained it."

Pan Yun said: "Not all effort yields results, but without effort, there are certainly no results. Your Majesty, if you wish to achieve anything, effort is the most fundamental requirement."

Zhu Qiyu fell silent.

Two more weeks passed, and he moved back from the Astronomical Bureau to the Qianqing Palace.

In the evening, as officials finished their duties and went home, the Emperor also returned to the inner palace—no longer rushing frantically to cultivate.

At this time, the Empress was visibly pregnant; she smiled gently at the suddenly appearing Emperor and asked casually: "I'm choosing tonight's dishes. Would Your Majesty like to take a look?"

"Of course." Zhu Qiyu walked over and joined the Empress in selecting the evening meal.

After choosing the dishes, the imperial couple held hands and strolled through the Imperial Garden; by the time they returned after their walk, it was time to eat.

After dinner, the Empress wanted to digest her meal, and the Emperor suddenly had nothing to do; the Empress invited him to visit the Crown Prince and the eldest Princess.

The Emperor had only two children: his eldest son, Zhu Jianji, born to Consort Hang; his eldest daughter, Zhu Ning, born to the Empress.

Whether due to the Emperor's physical condition or his overwhelming duties upon ascending the throne, over four years only the Empress and Consort Hang had become pregnant.

Zhu Qiyu's harem was small—only three women including the Empress. The ministers were not without concern, and since the court stabilized over the past two years, they had repeatedly urged the Emperor to select concubines through imperial examinations.

Coincidentally, Zhu Qiyu had taken up cultivation, and since he was never fond of women, the matter was quietly dropped.

Now, sitting with the Empress in the palace, a tall boy and a short girl beside his knees, Zhu Qiyu suddenly felt the joy of fatherhood—and his interest in cultivation faded further.

The State Master was right: not all effort yields results.

As Emperor, his priority must be governing the state; he had too little time to spare for cultivation.

Perhaps he should father more children?

The Emperor thought for a moment and summoned the imperial physician to take his pulse.

When Pan Yun heard of it, she sent him a health-prescribing formula.

Sleep before Hai Hour; rise each morning and practice a set of fists; walk a hundred steps after meals; keep your heart broad, and all things are within reach.

The imperial physician, as if granted divine pardon, immediately began expounding on this formula.

The Emperor listened to him drone on for a long while, finally understanding: his cultivation over the past year had indeed borne some fruit. Though he had abandoned it, his vital energy, spirit, and essence were indeed slightly better than a year ago.

Zhu Qiyu also understood: his lack of heirs was not only due to his small harem, but also because he himself was physically weak.

A physically weak man must practice restraint; if he were to greatly expand his harem, it would harm both his lifespan and his prospects for offspring.

The imperial physician ventured cautiously: "The State Master's formula suits Your Majesty perfectly. You are still in your prime; offspring may be pursued gradually. Both the Empress and Consort Hang are healthy, fertile women…"

Meaning: if he were to take concubines, he must choose women like the Empress and Consort Hang—but…

Zhu Qiyu naturally favored the Empress and Consort Hang, but if judged purely by personal preference, he actually loved Consort Tang more.

The imperial physician knew this well: the current peace in the inner palace was because the Emperor respected the Empress, and the Empress and Consort Qian focused their energies on increasing the imperial treasury and Great Ming's charitable endeavors.

But everyone knew that, despite the Empress's dignity and Consort Hang's bearing of the eldest son, the most favored woman in the harem was actually Consort Tang, who had been the Emperor's favorite two years ago.

Fortunately, both Emperor and Empress were wholly devoted to their work, so no problems had arisen over Consort Tang.