The next day, after the morning court session ended.
Just as Xu Tianran was heading to the Imperial Study, a eunuch ran over to report: "Your Majesty, Hall Master Hongchen requests an audience."
"Oh?"
Xu Tianran paused in his steps, "What's the matter?"
The eunuch lowered his head and said, "Hall Master Hongchen says he misses the Empress, so he wishes to enter the palace to visit her for a while. He hopes Your Majesty will permit this."
Hearing this, Xu Tianran fell silent.
To be honest, he didn't want to grant this request.
After all, without male capabilities, he had not yet consummated his marriage with Meng Hongchen even after the wedding. Once Jing Hongchen came into contact with Meng Hongchen, he would inevitably learn of this matter from her mouth.
Even if Jing Hongchen couldn't guess the true reason, it would still be unfavorable news for himself. But could he refuse?
A grandfather visiting his granddaughter—this was only human nature.
Thinking of this, "Go tell Hall Master Hongchen, I permit it. And rather than choosing another day, let it be now."
"Your servant obeys."
After the eunuch left with his orders, Xu Tianran continued walking forward without looking back, but spoke: "Xue Chen."
A black shadow flashed by, "Your Majesty."
Xu Tianran's face was completely indifferent, "In a moment, accompany Hall Master Hongchen on his trip. Hide yourself first, no need to show yourself."
"Your servant obeys."
Clearly, a naturally suspicious person wasn't so easily reassured.
Moreover, Xu Tianran was confident—with Shadow Douluo Xue Chen's cultivation and the special nature of his martial soul, Jing Hongchen would find it difficult to detect him.
Meanwhile, the eunuch also conveyed Xu Tianran's decree to Jing Hongchen and led him toward Meng Hongchen's sleeping quarters. But no one discovered that a shadow was actually following behind.
"I wonder how Grandfather and Xiao are doing?" In the Empress's sleeping quarters, Meng Hongchen sat alone by the window, idly fiddling with the flowers in a potted plant, a trace of longing showing in her eyes.
This vast imperial palace was truly so lonely!
But speaking of which, yesterday Xu Tianran had actually brought the Fifth Prince—no, it should be Prince Tianhe—into the imperial palace, and even asked her to have more contact with him. This was truly strange.
For this, Xu Tianran had even issued a command.
Only four people knew about Xu Tianhe being under house arrest in the palace. Besides Meng Hongchen herself, there remained Xu Tianran himself, Shadow Douluo Xue Chen, and a eunuch attending to Xu Tianhe.
Logically speaking, besides princes and the emperor, there shouldn't be any other males in the palace. Yet now there was an additional Prince Tianhe. Even under house arrest, this was strange, wasn't it?
What normal emperor would have his own empress have frequent contact with a prince under house arrest? It wasn't like they were cultivating feelings.
Sensing this, Meng Hongchen immediately felt awkward. If one said it was because of the deep brotherly affection between Xu Tianran and Xu Tianhe... that was pure nonsense!
Just as Meng Hongchen was puzzled and couldn't find an answer, a palace maid reported: "Your Majesty, Hall Master Hongchen has come to see you."
"Grandfather!"
Meng Hongchen was instantly overjoyed, even jumping up completely, showing none of the demeanor of an empress who should be a motherly model for the world.
Supporting herself on the window sill, she directly leaped out.
This single move—there was no trace of a proper young lady's bearing left.
"Meng!"
The moment Jing Hongchen saw his granddaughter, the longing in his heart also burst forth. Even though it had only been a few days apart, it felt like three autumns, even stronger than during the exchange student period.
The leading eunuch, seeing this, knew it wasn't appropriate for him to continue staying here. Thus after bidding farewell, he exited the Empress's sleeping quarters. And the palace maids in the quarters also similarly withdrew, giving Jing Hongchen and Meng Hongchen private space.
After simple pleasantries, Jing Hongchen began to concern himself with how Meng Hongchen was doing as Empress in the palace.
"Speaking of which, it's rather lonely."
Bringing this up, Meng Hongchen's face showed desolation, "Grandfather, I can't even find a single person to talk to here."
Who said only the emperor was a solitary person.
Even the empress is about the same.
These two sentences, Meng Hongchen didn't speak aloud. But the meaning filling her eyes was not much different.
Sigh—
Jing Hongchen sighed inwardly.
In this matter, it was he who had wronged Meng.
However, it could only be this one matter.
Thinking of this, a trace of barely detectable resolve flashed and vanished in Jing Hongchen's eyes. If that matter was true...
"Right, Meng, it's been so many days since the wedding, have you gone to see the imperial physician, whether you're carrying His Majesty's dragon seed?"
As the Empress's grandfather, the helmsman of the family behind the Empress, this question Jing Hongchen asked was completely normal—even Xu Tianran had anticipated it when granting permission.
Therefore this question didn't appear abrupt.
"Grandfather!"
The moment this topic was mentioned, Meng Hongchen instantly flushed red.
Partly from embarrassment, but more from anger. Only this anger wasn't at Xu Tianran for not favoring her, but at herself for not liking Xu Tianran at all, yet forcibly becoming Empress.
Originally, Xu Tianran having no time to favor her—she couldn't be happier, which also allowed her to try not to think about being violated.
But now, this matter was brought up again by Jing Hongchen.
"Alright, alright, alright..."
Jing Hongchen repeatedly comforted her, indicating he wouldn't ask.
But just as Meng Hongchen's expression returned to normal, Jing Hongchen still took advantage of her inattention to ask, "Did you get pregnant or not?"
"No... Ah! Grandfather!"
The moment the words left her mouth, Meng Hongchen suddenly reacted.
"If you do this again, I won't pay attention to you!"
Her blue eyes widened, like a flickering sapphire. The emotion of complaint filled them unreservedly.
If not for being concerned that this was the imperial palace, worried about ears beyond the wall, Meng Hongchen might have blurted out: Grandfather, you know I don't like Xu Tianran, yet you keep bringing up the dragon seed topic—isn't this adding to your granddaughter's heartache!
"Hiss—, this shouldn't be."
Jing Hongchen seemed truly puzzled, murmuring, "I clearly remember the wedding day was your best day to conceive a dragon seed. After that one night passed, how could you not be pregnant?"
"Grandfather..."
The third time.
Meng Hongchen truly had no strength to say anything.
But even so, she still truthfully said, "I'll tell you the truth. Up to now, His Majesty has been busy with official duties at night, so he hasn't touched me. Therefore I am still a complete jade. How could I possibly conceive a dragon seed?"
"What!?"
Jing Hongchen was instantly shocked, but quickly calmed down.
"But this isn't strange. His Majesty has great talent and bold vision, exhausting his heart and mind for the empire. But continuing like this won't do. The existence and number of heirs concerns an empire's stability..."
"No! I must go advise His Majesty!"
Speaking to this point, Jing Hongchen suddenly rose.
"Grandfather!"
Meng Hongchen, seeing this, immediately wanted to stop him. However, she was stopped by Jing Hongchen, "Alright, Meng. Grandfather will first go advise His Majesty that heirs should be prioritized. You are a woman of the Hongchen Family, bearing the heavy responsibility of continuing the imperial line for His Majesty. Don't relax!"
One sentence made Meng Hongchen swallow her words.
And after this, Jing Hongchen also didn't stay much longer. After comforting Meng Hongchen that he would visit her next time and try to bring Xiao Hongchen, he prepared to turn and leave to request an audience with His Majesty.
But before leaving, he said: "Meng, if you encounter any problems in continuing the imperial line, then come find Grandfather. Grandfather will try his best to help you."
With that, he left the Empress's sleeping quarters, leaving only Meng Hongchen sitting blankly in her original position, watching Jing Hongchen depart.
Xue Chen, hidden in the shadows, seeing that Jing Hongchen had left the Empress's quarters and was really heading toward the Imperial Study where His Majesty was, immediately flashed toward Xu Tianran's direction!
Little did he know, shortly after Xue Chen left.
"Your Majesty, shall this servant help you to rest?"
After the palace maid couldn't hear any speaking sounds, she came to Meng Hongchen's side. Seeing Meng Hongchen in a daze, she asked.
"No, no need."
One sentence instantly pulled her thoughts back. Shaking her head and refusing, Meng Hongchen's eyes instantly became clear.
She clearly remembered that Grandfather had once said a sentence to her and Xiao respectively. To Xiao, it was "If you encounter anything, Grandfather will try his best to help you. But you are a man, you must have your own bearing"; but to her, it was "If you encounter anything, Grandfather will do everything possible to help you, because you are the treasured pearl of our Hongchen Family, Grandfather's most doted-on granddaughter."
But now, this "do everything possible" had become "try his best."
Had Jing Hongchen's heart changed, thus changing his words?
No!
Meng Hongchen could be certain—there was absolutely a problem here! And this problem was absolutely in this so-called continuing the imperial line!
As the proud daughter of heaven of the Sun-Moon Empire, with Meng Hongchen's intelligence, she instantly connected this matter with Xu Tianran's strangeness.
Something's fishy!
Something's extremely fishy!
Perhaps, she should go see that Prince Tianhe.
Perfect—this was also Xu Tianran's decree.
At this moment, Jing Hongchen, having exited the Empress's sleeping quarters, could no longer maintain his previous good expression, suddenly collapsing. Yet because this was the Sun-Moon Imperial Palace, he retracted it with lightning speed.
At this moment, his heart was already completely gloomy.
Regarding the contents of that letter, he already had a number.
It was probably eighty to ninety percent true.
"Hall Master Hongchen."
At this moment, the voice of that leading eunuch from earlier came.
"Let me lead you out of the palace."
"Not yet."
Jing Hongchen shook his head, "Please, Eunuch, lead me to the Imperial Study. And please convey on my behalf to His Majesty: Jing Hongchen requests an audience."
"This... then please follow me, Hall Master Hongchen."
The eunuch led the way, taking Jing Hongchen toward the Imperial Study. Halfway there, they happened to pass by a sleeping quarters.
And before the door, an old eunuch was sweeping.
Jing Hongchen, seeing this, asked using sound transmission.
"Eunuch, does anyone live in that palace?"
While speaking, he also handed over a gold spirit coin card.
The leading eunuch, seeing this, was first delighted, then accepted it. Then lowering his voice, he responsibly explained, "There should be no one, but that old eunuch was arranged there yesterday."
"Many thanks, Eunuch, for the explanation."
Jing Hongchen replied.
But in his heart, he was completely certain now!
He knew much, including that yesterday Xu Tianhe had already been brought back by Xu Tianran and put under house arrest. And the old eunuch before this sleeping quarters had precisely just appeared yesterday.
Coincidence?
How could there be so many coincidences!
Xu Tianran, oh Xu Tianran!
In Jing Hongchen's heart, rage was already surging to the heavens.
When Xu Tianran made his granddaughter become Empress, he was already unwilling. But the arm cannot twist the thigh—he could only bow his head.
Now, combined with that letter, he already knew what Xu Tianran was planning! No wonder back then he wanted to spare Xu Tianhe's life! And no wonder previously he was so anxious to find Xu Tianhe!
The dignified Sun-Moon Emperor was actually a eunuch!
And there was also the seed borrowing...
What a seed borrowing!
If one said the position of Empress was a pit of fire, then this seed borrowing was purely a volcanic crater! And one that could erupt at any moment!
And his granddaughter's life was even more like an ordinary person walking a tightrope—her life was in danger at any moment, no, it should be that it would happen sooner or later!
Perhaps... it was the moment when Meng gave birth to a prince, and the prince's awakened martial soul was the imperial family's inherited martial soul.
Things like illness, hidden injuries...
There would always be excuses.
Moreover, the Holy Spirit Cult's matter of "resurrection from the dead" would probably make the final development of this matter even more serious.
Xu Tianran's current actions indicated that seed borrowing was imperative.
If the Holy Spirit Cult had a way to cure Xu Tianran's hidden illness, then by that time, not only would Meng have to die, but even the child left from Meng's seed borrowing, and their entire Hongchen Family would have to die!
Jing Hongchen wouldn't doubt that Xu Tianran couldn't do it. He dared to kill his father and murder his brothers—what wouldn't he dare?!
At this moment, Jing Hongchen's heart completely broke with Xu Tianran!
But this play still had to be acted out in the end. And how to ultimately preserve Meng's life, and even Xiao's life, he had to consider. Even if in the end, this grandfather would die!
But if he truly died, it could also be considered apologizing to Meng.
Thinking of this, Jing Hongchen's every step became forceful and powerful, and even his eyes unconsciously underwent transformation.
...
"...Your Majesty, this is everything that just happened."
At this moment in the Imperial Study, Xue Chen had already reported to Xu Tianran the conversation between Jing Hongchen and Meng Hongchen in the Empress's sleeping quarters.
"Sigh—"
After listening, Xu Tianran couldn't help but let out a long sigh.
Regarding Jing Hongchen's "true thoughts" about having the Empress conceive a dragon seed, as emperor, Xu Tianran naturally understood, so he didn't find it strange—after all, every generation of maternal relatives would be like this.
What truly gave him a headache was urging the dragon seed.
The problem with this matter...
"Xue Chen."
"Your servant is here."
"Regarding the seed borrowing matter, accelerate the progress."
"Yes. However..."
Xue Chen had just responded when a look of hesitation appeared on his face. Seeing Xu Tianran turn his gaze toward him, he hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, the Empress will probably be very resistant to this matter. After all, she..."
"This matter is not up to her!"
Before Xue Chen could finish speaking, he was interrupted.
"I had this Empress for the purpose of seed borrowing. Once she gives birth to the child... if she was sensible, I could have spared her life. But now it seems..." A cold light suddenly burst forth in Xu Tianran's eyes, "She fundamentally doesn't like me, which means she's not sensible. So when the time comes, when that child satisfies me, then this Empress can go down to accompany my fifth brother who went down before her."
"And if the Holy Spirit Cult can cure my hidden illness... then the entire Hongchen Family can all die for their country on the battlefield."
These ruthless words made Xue Chen feel a chill.
And just at this moment...
"Your Majesty, Hall Master Hongchen requests an audience."
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