Cultivation: Starting from a Mortal Bone

Chapter 522: Chapter 480: Your Majesty, Are You Pregnant?!

As sunset approached, Qin Yu had already sent all his beloved wives back to the Lifebound Space, yet the Empress Dowager was still reluctant to let go.

”Qin Yu, you still haven’t told me where you and the Empress went.”

The Empress Dowager clung to Qin Yu’s arm and pressed for answers.

Even though Qin Yu explained why he carried the Empress’s scent, the Empress Dowager remained somewhat skeptical.

She was indeed very clever!

”Endless Fire Domain.”

Qin Yu, aware of the Empress Dowager’s innate divine techniques, did not hide their destination.

”Endless Fire Domain? What did you go there for?”

The Empress Dowager’s brows furrowed immediately, and her delicate hand gripped Qin Yu’s robe tightly.

Clearly, she didn’t like that area very much.

”Is the Empress injured?”

The Empress Dowager asked anxiously.

Ever since the Empress returned last time, her physical condition hadn’t been good, and before Qin Yu treated her, she had to use Moonlight Power every day to sustain herself.

This time, the Empress stayed away for so long, and upon returning, went straight to the Imperial Study, not allowing her to approach.

Could it be that her condition has worsened?

Is she keeping it from me to avoid causing worry?

”Well...”

Qin Yu scratched his head.

If bleeding counts as being injured...

Then there was indeed an incident.

”Tell me quickly.”

Seeing his indecisive appearance, the Empress Dowager seemed more convinced of her concerns, so nervous that she didn’t notice the Great Phoenix’s wings unknowingly wrapping tightly around Qin Yu’s arm.

”The Empress’s injury should be stable.”

Qin Yu thought for a moment and spoke seriously.

He could tell that the Empress Dowager genuinely cared about the Empress.

”Really?”

The Empress Dowager’s clear eyes sparkled with intelligent light.

Is Qin Yu saying this to keep me from worrying?

No.

She must see the Empress personally to be reassured!

”Qin Yu, remember to bring Little Ling’Er out early tomorrow to accompany me.”

The Empress Dowager released Qin Yu’s arm, preparing to head to the sleeping quarters to question the Empress, not forgetting to remind as she departed.

”Alright!”

Qin Yu agreed in one breath, feeling a sense of relief.

He was actually curious too, wondering if the Empress Dowager would notice anything unusual about the Empress.

How exciting!

...

In front of the sleeping quarters.

”Empress Dowager, the Empress is presently in seclusion.”

Seeing the hurried arrival of the Empress Dowager, a hint of difficulty flashed in Yan Zhi’s eyes. Remembering the Empress’s instructions, she nevertheless braced herself to go forward.

”Little Yan Zhi, step aside, I won’t disturb the Empress.”

The Empress Dowager marched without a pause towards the door of the sleeping quarters.

Normally, Yan Zhi would not stop the Empress Dowager, but since the Empress personally instructed not to let her in, she had to stand in front of her.

”Oh, little Yan Zhi, you’re trying to stop me?”

The Empress Dowager’s phoenix eyes glared in disbelief.

”Yan Zhi dares not.”

Yan Zhi’s voice carried a hint of bitterness. With the Empress Dowager’s noble status, aside from the Empress, who else in the entire Imperial Palace could stop her?

”Then let me in.”

”I...”

”See, you claim you don’t dare?”

The Empress Dowager was exasperated. These Flame Guards were nurtured under her watch; how could they behave like this?!

”You should return; I’m a bit unwell, we’ll discuss it later.”

From the sleeping quarters came a cool and authoritative voice.

The Empress really couldn’t watch any longer; if she didn’t speak up, there’s no guessing what this clumsy auspicious creature would stir up.

”No, Qin Yu said you’re injured, let me see, otherwise, I won’t be at ease.”

Without a second thought, the Empress Dowager refused outright.

In the world, perhaps only the Empress Dowager would dare defy the Empress so.

However.

The Empress understood that the Empress Dowager’s defiance came out of concern, not to challenge her authority.

Once her words fell, the sleeping quarters were enveloped in silence.

”Come in then.”

After a while, just as the Empress Dowager was about to lose patience, the Empress sighed softly.

Without her intervention, no one could stop the Empress Dowager.

And once she intervened, many matters couldn’t remain hidden.

Hearing this, Yan Zhi immediately stepped aside, secretly breathing a sigh of relief.

As the Leader of the Flame Guard, she would charge forward without hesitation at the Empress’s command, even against a half-step Venerable. But stopping the Empress Dowager left her truly conflicted.

The Empress Dowager took three steps in two strides, pushing open the door with a gust of wind.

Inside the sleeping quarters, the Empress was not lying on the bed but sitting at the desk, reading memorials. Though her expression remained unchanged, an imperceptible aura of majesty made one unable to meet her gaze directly.

After enduring the Seven Emotions Tribulation, she was no longer the frail person she once was.

”Empress.”

Faced with the Empress’s majesty, the Empress Dowager straightened up a bit, her voice much softer than before.

”I’ve said, I’m not injured, do you believe it now?”

The Empress released a trace of her aura, its vast Golden Thunder Dao Rhyme Power swirling around oppressively.

”Really? Then why did you refuse to see me?”

Afraid as she was, the Empress Dowager didn’t back down a bit.

”I...”

”Are you perhaps tired of me?”

The Empress Dowager pouted, tears welling up in her beautiful eyes.

”???”

The Empress was taken aback, unable to fathom the workings of the auspicious creature’s mind.

”I’m not!”

The Empress took a deep breath and offered a comforting word.

However, to avoid revealing any abnormalities with her body, the Power of Dao Rhyme surrounding her had not dissipated.

”Hehe, I thought Her Majesty was annoyed with me.”

The Empress Dowager broke into a smile, her beautiful eyes curving into crescents.

”Your Majesty, how did you get injured? I can help you get revenge!”

The Empress Dowager became more presumptuous, rushing to the desk and almost squeezing beside the Empress, waving her little fist, deliberately putting on a fierce facade.

Yet, her features were so delicate, even with a fierce display of her tiger teeth, she only gave off a soft viciousness without any real menace.

”No need.”

The Empress said indifferently, too lazy to say much to the Empress Dowager.

Moreover, as the Empress Dowager got closer, she felt inexplicably tense, but still pretended to be calm.

”Is there something you can’t tell? Could it be that Qin Yu injured you?”

The Empress Dowager pouted, her elegant nose twitching slightly.

Hmm.

No way.

How could Her Majesty have the scent of Qin Yu, and quite strong at that?

Seems like she’s indeed heavily injured!

Pressed by Qin Yu for several days.

Upon hearing this, the Empress’s hand, which was flipping through memorials, paused slightly, soon returning to normal, her expression cold, refusing to argue.

She could tell that the Empress Dowager was very worried about her, hence her behavior.

”Your Majesty, are you tired? Shall we rest a bit?”

Seeing the Empress had no intention of responding, the Empress Dowager felt a bit aggrieved.

Hmph!

Such a foolish ruler, not caring even after so long!

”I still have political affairs to attend to. You should go back first.”

The Empress said indifferently.

Since when did this auspicious creature become so clever, hitting the nail on the head?

No way, after seeing those envoys tomorrow, I must retreat quickly, can’t let the auspicious creature notice anything.

Otherwise...

The mere thought of the Empress Dowager realizing she was pregnant sent chills down her spine.

Sigh.

Why am I experiencing such strong emotional fluctuations?

Is it really because the Seven Emotions Tribulation hasn’t passed?

Does that mean in the future, I still need to... undergo tribulation?

Oh.

What a headache.

”No way, either rest together, or let me examine your body.”

The Empress Dowager shook her head like a rattle drum, refusing outright.

The Empress frowned, glaring at her.

Want to examine the body?

Do you think you’re Qin Yu?

Pah!

Qin Yu isn’t allowed either!

”So fierce.”

The Empress Dowager muttered, shrinking back half a step, yet showing no sign of giving up.

For others, the Empress’s authority was unparalleled, and no one dared defy her, but the auspicious creature was evidently an exception.

The Empress felt a headache.

How did this stupid auspicious creature become so hard to fool?

If it were before, the Empress wouldn’t have cared, what harm in letting her investigate?

But now, with the abnormal condition inside her and the Empress Dowager’s unusually keen perception, she was truly worried that she might discern something.

”After I finish handling political affairs, we’ll talk.”

The Empress’s tone was indifferent.

”Oh~”

The Empress Dowager responded in a dejected tone, standing by quietly.

”Your Majesty, how long will you take?”

”I want to hug Your Majesty.”

”Your Majesty, did you bring a gift back for me this time?”

After waiting for some time, whether bored or tired of standing, the Empress Dowager simply rested her chin on the desk, watching the Empress with puppy eyes.

”Be quiet!”

The Empress, unable to hold back, reprimanded.

This chatterbox made her mind somewhat restless.

Of course.

This wasn’t due to an unstable mind, but... caused by nervousness!

The Empress Dowager made a pitiful face, looking at the Empress with tearful eyes.

The Empress originally wanted to kick her out.

Seeing this, she could only sigh inwardly, letting her be.

However, wanting to investigate her own condition?

Absolutely not.

”Your Majesty, your belly...”

The Empress Dowager remained quiet only a short while, and her gaze suddenly fell upon the Empress’s Dragon Robe.

The Empress’s hand holding the memorial suddenly tightened, her body slightly tensed.

No way.

Could it be that even Dao Rhyme can’t cover it?

”Ah? What’s this?”

As if discovering a new continent, the Empress Dowager’s beautiful eyes held a touch of crystalline moonlight, staring straight at the Empress’s flat stomach.

The Empress’s hand clenched tightly.

Ever since the Empress Dowager came in, she had encased herself with the power of Dao Rhyme, yet this auspicious creature still noticed something wrong?

How exaggerated is this stupid auspicious creature’s perception?!

”Your Majesty, you’re... are you pregnant?!”

Just as the Empress held onto a hint of luck, the Empress Dowager’s eyes widened, exclaiming in disbelief.

”Nonsense!”

The Empress scolded, a flash of guilt crossing her mind, instantly regretting letting the auspicious creature in.