Chapter 528
Chapter 528
“After that, her fleet was caught in a storm and shipwrecked on a mysterious island. She vanished for two months, and everyone thought she was dead. Even her fleet was nearly destroyed. But then, she reappeared. Stronger and more fearsome than ever. When the tide rose and the sea winds picked up again, her fleet reappeared on the waves.”
Hearing this, Shen Lang was startled.
‘Missing for two months? Did something happen to her? Qiu Yao'er was already incredibly strong. How could she have gotten even stronger? Did she become powerful enough to defy the heavens?’
“And so, she headed west, destroying cities and crushing her enemies. She annihilated the fleets of countless pirates and slave masters, freeing numerous slaves. The slaves she saved founded a nation and hailed her as their queen! Just like that, she unwittingly built a kingdom beyond the sea.”
Shen Lang felt his hair stand on end.
‘This sounds somehow familiar… Right. The woman from *Game of Thrones*, the Mother of Dragons.’
But Qiu Yao'er and Daenerys were different. Daenerys was short, while Qiu Yao'er was incredibly tall. And while Daenerys rose to power through unexpected allies and three dragons, Qiu Yao'er became a queen purely through her own formidable combat prowess.
“So, has she given birth to the child?”
Yunmeng Ze shook his head.
“I don't know. I haven't heard anything about that.”
Shen Lang was shocked.
‘By my calculations, it's been about eleven months since she became pregnant. She should have given birth long ago.’
“Then is she there now? How far is she from us?”
“I don't know. She continues to head west, crushing enemies, destroying cities, and liberating slaves along the way. No one knows where she is now. But based on the destruction of a certain lord's city a few months ago, she would have been about fifteen thousand li away from us at that time.”
‘Damn it! If she was fifteen thousand li away a few months ago, where could Qiu Yao'er be now?’
Truly, only the heavens knew her whereabouts. And only the heavens knew if she had given birth to the child.
“So, did the slave masters who fled to the Great Yan Dynasty say they saw Qiu Yao'er's large belly?”
Yunmeng Ze nodded.
“They did. They said her belly was still huge. That's how she earned another nickname: the Queen Pregnant with a Demon. Because she was so powerful that she could sail the seas and even fight in battles while carrying such a swollen belly. Moreover, no opponent she faced could withstand a single one of her blows. So, many people started saying there must be a demon in her womb, giving her such incredible strength.”
Once again, Shen Lang's hair stood on end. An image formed in his mind: the peerless beauty Qiu Yao'er, standing tall with her large belly, wielding two glans-headed swords, slaughtering and crushing her enemies as she passed, leaving nothing in her wake. She was always victorious in battle, her enemies falling before her like grass under a scythe. Did this mean the baby in her womb had been listening to the wretched screams of her enemies as prenatal education?
“Brother, such a formidable woman is carrying your child in her womb. How does that make you feel?”
“I feel like none of this has anything to do with me.”
That was Shen Lang's honest feeling. To use an analogy, it was like someone had donated sperm, and the world's wealthiest woman had used it. In a sense, the child the world's wealthiest woman was carrying was his, but the whole affair had nothing to do with him.
“The moment I heard the news about Qiu Yao'er, I was struck by the thought that I am a truly useless man.”
“In the presence of such a formidable woman, any man in the world would feel useless.”
“I used to think Ning Yan and Qiu Yao'er were on the same level, but now I see Qiu Yao'er is even more incredible. Princess Ning Yan acts with the power of the Ends of the Earth Sea Pavilion behind her, but Qiu Yao'er relies purely on her own strength, doesn't she?”
“Ning Yan is a bitch.”
Shen Lang cursed.
“Brother Lang, did you get on Ning Yan's bad side?”
“You know about that too, brother?”
“You've never been to the Yan capital, so you wouldn't know, but it's the center of the Eastern world. News about the upper class there is no secret at all. Whatever happens, rumors spread throughout the city within a few days.”
Shen Lang imagined a massive metropolis where all the capable people gathered. Yunmeng Ze sighed.
“Brother, that's no small matter. The power of the Ends of the Earth Sea Pavilion is far greater than you can imagine.”
“You don't think they'd retaliate against me, do you?”
“Not directly, but the Ends of the Earth Sea Pavilion will take a cold stance toward you. And that alone is a huge problem. Many people will see you as an enemy because they are desperate to curry favor with the Pavilion.”
Shen Lang cursed Ning Yan again.
“Ning Yan, that wretched woman.”
Originally, while Shen Lang wasn't exactly close with the Ends of the Earth Sea Pavilion, the scholars there held him in high regard, and they had corresponded. But because of Ning Yan, his relationship with the Pavilion was completely and silently severed.
Yunmeng Ze sighed again and said.
“I truly am a useless man!”
* * *
Around noon, Shen Lang firmly locked the door to the building.
Mulan bathed, changed her clothes, and perfumed herself. Then she lit incense, drew the window curtains, and lit the candles. She poured her own glass one-third full of wine and Shen Lang's one-fifth full. They should only drink enough to set the mood; any more might interfere with conception. After a moment's hesitation, she lit another incense stick. It was a special kind containing an aphrodisiac. Soon, they would exchange words of love, kiss, and gradually become one. After waiting for so long, Mulan was finally about to taste the sweet fruit of her fulfilled wish.
* * *
Shen Lang finally understood why Mulan was acting this way. Because after everything was over, she kept her legs raised against the wall for a full thirty minutes. She was truly desperate to have a child. Shen Lang chuckled and said.
“My love, that should be enough. You've had your legs up for half a shichen already.”
“No. I have to wait longer.”
Her beautiful face was flushed as if drunk, and her large, beautiful eyes seemed lost in imagination. Though she wasn't even pregnant yet, she had already begun to imagine what the baby would look like. From her expression, it seemed she had already imagined the child at three or four years old.
* * *
That evening, Mulan had a serious talk with Ning Yan.
“My husband has an ordinary constitution, so don't engage in *that act* too frequently; once every three days should be enough. Your Highness, please don't be too rough and hurt him. My husband is of very poor character and will make all sorts of selfish demands. You may indulge him, Your Highness, but don't give in too much. Most importantly, you must manage the household well and never allow just any woman to enter the house.”
Finally, Ning Yan couldn't hold back and asked.
“Isn't Shen Lang a scumbag? What should I do if he says he's going to the brothel to sample some fresh women like last time? Should I tear down the brothel, or should I just beat him up?”
Mulan was stunned.
‘That happened? That scumbag, that scumbag!’
Ning Yan quickly covered her mouth.
“D-Did I say something wrong? But don't worry. He only wandered around the brothel about four times; he never actually went in. He probably wanted to, but didn't have the courage.”
“If he really does go to a brothel, Your Highness must punish him. Don't let him touch you for half a month.”
“Is that punishing him or punishing me?”
Mulan felt sorry for her.
‘Ning Yan, you really are a pig-headed ally. You're even worse at managing my husband than Xiao Bing. Scumbag husband, just you wait. After Bing'er gives birth, see how that little vixen torments you.’
Mulan said.
“Your Highness acts tough but is soft on the inside, so I can't rely on you. Then let me just give you one piece of advice.”
“What is it?”
“You must never let Zong Zhengci get close to my husband. If she ever comes to the house, beat her and throw her out immediately. Understand?”
“Are you worried Zong Zhengci will beat up Shen Lang?”
“I'm worried she'll sleep with my husband.”
Ning Yan was shocked by her words.
“Shen Lang, that scumbag, isn't that charming, is he? Besides, what woman would like a man with such trash stamina?”
Mulan said nothing, simply staring at Ning Yan with her large, beautiful eyes.
‘Ning Yan, it's not that I underestimate you, but if my husband didn't love me and thus restrain himself, you would have slept with him the day after you met.’
The next morning, Mulan once again left the capital to return to Xuanwu City. Her parting words to Shen Lang nearly brought him to tears.
“Scumbag, don't you touch any unclean women!”
‘My dear wife, is that really the image you have of me in your heart?’
Jin Mulan hugged Shen Lang and kissed him breathlessly. She truly didn't want to leave, and it pained her that they couldn't be together every moment. Every time they parted, she felt a pain as if they were being cut apart by a knife, but it couldn't be helped. There were countless matters at home for Mulan to attend to. With her father, Jin Zhuo, overseeing Raging Tide City, Mulan had to manage not only Xuanwu City but also the shipyard. She had to oversee the construction of the great ship that would allow her and Shen Lang to embark on the long-distance voyage they had dreamed of. That ship was the vessel that would realize her happiest dreams, and she was determined to make it the best it could possibly be.
* * *
When King Ning Yuanxian fell ill and missed the morning court for several days, a great disturbance arose, just as expected. The entire capital entered a strange state, and an air of danger hung over it. In the past, Ning Yuanxian had always been remarkably healthy and had never been bedridden for long. Though he was in his fifties, he looked as if he were in his thirties. The king's sudden illness made everyone start to see the situation in the State of Yue differently. They all realized it was uncertain how much longer Ning Yuanxian could hold the throne. They had once thought he might reign for another twenty or thirty years, but his illness prompted everyone to have second thoughts.
‘How much longer can he stay on the throne? Shouldn't we make a move quickly? If we just wait, something might happen one day that leaves us with no options.’
Everyone desperately tried to get news about the king's condition.
‘What is this illness? Can it be cured?’