Chapter 1045 - 152: Five Years Later, 9th Layer of the Spirit Platform (2)

"Father... Emperor."

"Father Emperor..."

...

A chorus of baby voices reached Chen Mo's ears.

It was the daughters of Xia Zhiqing, Xiao Ya, Chu Juan, Xu Ying, Yu Zhu, and Song Min.

Indeed, Chen Mo didn't know how it happened.

All five women were diagnosed with pregnancy in February of the Third Year of Zhen Guan, and they all gave birth to daughters.

Chen Mo named them Chen Qing, Chen Ya, Chen Yan, Chen Ke, Chen Rou, and Chen You respectively.

"Hey, what good girls, come, let Father Emperor give you a hug."

Chen Mo stopped walking, squatted down, and opened his arms, a loving smile on his face.

The six daughters wobbled towards him on their little legs.

In truth, it was only because of Chen Mo's exceptional memory; otherwise, with so many children, he wouldn't be able to tell them apart.

"Mama..."

Each of the six little girls gave Chen Mo a kiss on the face, and some clamored to play horsey.

Chen Mo pinched their little cheeks and looked at Zhiqing and the others: "Come quickly to take them. Elder Geng has something to discuss with me, and I cannot accompany you all at the moment."

Xia Zhiqing smiled and nodded, gesturing to Chen Qing: "Qing'er, come over to Mother Consort; don't pester your father, he has matters to attend to."

...

After coaxing the daughters, Chen Mo arrived at the Imperial Study, where Geng Songfu had been waiting for quite some time.

"This minister pays respects to Your Majesty!" The graying-haired Geng Songfu rose and bowed.

"No need for such formalities, Minister Geng, please sit." Chen Mo invited Geng Songfu to take a seat.

Chen Mo was able to have ample time for cultivation largely due to Geng Songfu.

Chen Mo held him in high regard, permitting him to enter court without bowing and to be honored by name.

However, Geng Songfu exercised strict self-discipline and never used the privileges granted by Chen Mo.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Geng Songfu bowed again, then took a report from his sleeve and handed it to Chen Mo, saying, "Your Majesty, this is a summary of the national investigation of fugitive households and extra-territorial lands, with a total of 480,000 households identified, significantly increasing our tax revenue and military resources."

Chen Mo skimmed through the report and then put it away, smiling: "With Minister Geng handling things, I am at ease, but such minor matters can be discussed during the morning court session; there's no need for you to personally come to the palace."

"There is one more matter that requires Your Majesty's approval." Geng Songfu took a letter from his chest and handed it to Chen Mo.

Chen Mo took it with a smile, but after a few glances, his expression turned solemn, and he frowned: "You wish to resign?"

Geng Songfu bowed his head and said: "Your Majesty, I am of advanced age, and in handling state affairs in recent years, I've felt increasingly inadequate. I beg Your Majesty's approval."

Many systems in Great Wei were inherited from the previous dynasty, where officials retired at seventy.

And Geng Songfu was already past this age.

Of course, age was only part of the reason.

The other reason was that His Majesty had shown him too much favor.

Besides allowing him to enter court without bowing and being honored by name, His Majesty even sent people to visit and reward him on holidays.

Whenever other court officials impeached him, they faced demotions instead of him.

This level of favor made him fearful.

"Has anyone in court said anything? Minister Geng, tell me, and I will make the decision for you." Chen Mo said.

"The officials in court are all very respectful to me."

"Then why do you wish to resign? Is it because I haven't treated you well?" Chen Mo said this as he looked at the elderly minister across with white whiskers that quivered slightly with his breath, his voice gentle like autumn rain:

"Last year, during the Huai state flood, an urgent document came into the palace in the middle of the night. I saw you standing bare-footed in a single garment before the sand table, the ice shards on your raincoat reflecting the candlelight. Are you really willing to put down the pen of these hands, which have measured the documents of the Six Ministries and patched the nation's fissures?"

Hearing Chen Mo's words, Geng Songfu seemed to be lost in the memories of that time, his gaze shifting as he spoke: "Your Majesty has bestowed on me the grace of knowing and employing me, allowing me to realize my ambitions and apply my life's knowledge. Yet, I am now old and frail, unable to fulfill the heavy responsibilities Your Majesty entrusts to me. I beg Your Majesty's approval."

"Is it really just because of old age?" Chen Mo gazed intently at the old minister.

Geng Songfu remained silent, which was tantamount to admitting it.

Chen Mo tapped his fingers lightly on the desk, pondering, and decided it was time to reveal some truths about the world. He took out a Fire Spirit Pill from the Qiankun Bracelet and handed it to Geng Songfu, saying: "Although the seas are calm now, my Ming Hall still needs sturdy pillars.

This pill is something I procured from an Immortal Island overseas in the Second Year of Zhen Guan. Consuming it will invigorate you."

Geng Songfu, being a Fifth-Grade Martial Artist, would be able to advance to the Upper Three Grades with this Fire Spirit Pill.

At this, Chen Mo suddenly smiled: "I've heard that the young ones in Minister Geng's family are adept at practicing 'Urgent Note.' Let them bring calligraphy into the palace tomorrow. I will teach him that the true art of governance is not on bamboo slips, but in the moments of doubt when reviewing memorials, with the vermillion pen poised above the paper."

Hearing this, Geng Songfu's body trembled slightly, then began to shake, not from fear, but from the genuine emotions conveyed in Chen Mo's words, which moved and excited him.

The favor was too overwhelming.

With things being said to this extent, if he were to decline further, it would be ungrateful.

"Yes." Geng Songfu cupped his hands and bowed.

Afterward, Chen Mo shared some truths about the world with him.

...

After handling Geng Songfu's matter, Chen Mo summoned Zuo Lianglun. Meanwhile, he pondered over Geng Songfu's valid point: he was indeed getting on in years, and Chen Mo should consider whom to appoint as a successor to share the burden.

While contemplating the choice, Zuo Lianglun arrived.

"This humble servant greets Your Majesty." Zuo Lianglun said respectfully.

"Dispense with the formalities, come in."

"Thank Your Majesty."

Once Zuo Lianglun entered, Chen Mo got straight to the point and asked: "How is the construction of the palace in Chaoping County going?"

At the start of last year, seeing the treasury well-stocked, Chen Mo had instructed Zuo Lianglun to oversee the construction of a palace for cultivation in Chaoping County in River Sea.

He ordered that instead of conscripting labor, craftspeople should be hired, to avoid burdening the people.

Because Chen Mo asked for the palace to be built modestly, Zuo Lianglun gave a specific timeline: "Your Majesty, it should be completed before the spring of next year."

Chen Mo nodded, and then they discussed some matters regarding the Celestial Star Realm.

...

Time passed quickly, and three years had slipped by in the blink of an eye.

It was September of the Eighth Year of Zhen Guan.

In the palace at Chaoping County in River Sea.

[Name: Chen Mo.]

[Age: 35.]

[Cultivation Technique: Golden Crow Heaven Burning Skill (Perfection 2,499,999/3,000,000).]

[Realm: Celestial Human Realm (First Grade, 9th Layer of the Spirit Platform.)]

[Power: 310,669.]

[Skills: Great Sun Qi Slash (Intermediate 4,332,930/6,000,000), Sun-Shooting Arrow (Intermediate 125,539/3,000,000), Divine Burning Technique (Advanced 310/250,000), Gluttonous Technique (Perfection 142/50,000), Esoteric Dual Refining Technique (Perfection 109/20,000), Wandering Dragon Step (Advanced 7,389/10,000), Vajra Longevity Skill (Perfection 47,196/50,000), Circulation Sword Array (Great Success 3,079/49,999.)]

"Ninth layer, could it be that I will be stuck in the Spirit Platform Realm until death..." Looking at the system interface, Chen Mo had a wry smile.

Fortunately, there was a bright side.

Chen Mo also checked his Primordial Spirit interface.

[Name: Chen Mo.]

[Age: 32.]

[Cultivation Technique: Nine Heavens Divine Forging Technique (Entry Level 10,300/100,000)]

[Realm: Early Stage of Celestial Yuan Realm (30/1,000,000)]

[Power: 409,611.]

His Primordial Spirit cultivation had successfully stepped into the Celestial Yuan Realm alongside his spiritual cultivation reaching the 9th Layer of the Spirit Platform, without showing any signs of his body bursting.

He speculated that it might have been due to the 9th Layer of the Spirit Platform.

After all, the highest was only supposed to be seven layers, and he had two more.

"Knock knock..." As this thought lingered, there was a knock on the door, and the voice of a palace maid followed: "Your Majesty, Lady Shufei has instructed me to inform you that she is pregnant."

"Xuelan is pregnant!"

Chen Mo's face lit up with joy.

This time, during the visit to Chaoping County, Chen Mo had not brought all the concubines, only those whose bellies showed no signs of pregnancy.

From the start of the year until now, with his persistent efforts, someone finally conceived.

He tidied himself up and, led by the palace maid, walked towards Lin Xuelan's chambers with a smile.