Chapter 970 - 976, - 977: The Beginning of Transformation

The time has come to October of the Third Year of Zhenghe.

At Weiyang Palace, the sound of hitting horses echoed continuously.

Wu Mi, Han Anniang, Yi Shiyin, Song Min, Xia Zhiqing, and Xia Zhining sat together like a group of beautiful birds, playing a game of hitting horses.

Nowadays, the world is at peace, Great Wei has no war, and the governance of the country is in the hands of Your Majesty and the ministers, so the concubines in the harem need not worry. Moreover, in recent months, Your Majesty has been preoccupied with Nalan Yiren, and the children are busy with their studies at the academy. This leads to them having plenty of leisure time, only to rely on such entertainment to pass the time.

Yet playing every day eventually becomes a bit dull.

Xia Zhining held the dice, but her thoughts were not on the game, and she occasionally glanced out the window.

Xia Zhiqing noticed her sister’s behavior and asked puzzledly, "Zhining, why are you just sitting there dazed? It’s your turn to roll."

Han Anniang, sitting opposite Xia Zhining, teased, "Zhining sister must be thinking about Erlang, she doesn’t have the heart to roll the dice."

"Stop the nonsense, no...I’m not thinking about him." Xia Zhining rolled the dice.

After a few years together, Han Anniang had grasped Xia Zhining’s character, saying what she wanted to express: "Empress, do you know what’s going on with Yiren these days? According to Eunuch Jia, it’s Yiren herself who keeps seeking out Erlang, clinging to him whenever she has time, and spending time together doing that thing."

"I heard about that too. Yiren seems to be yearning for it more than her husband," Yi Shiyin chimed in.

Wu Mi, as the head of the harem, understood some things and said, "I heard it has to do with the Great Elder of Poison King Valley who lives in the Original Wei Prince’s Mansion. Lord Chen from the Ministry of Rites mentioned that he is seriously ill and doesn’t have much time left. Before he dies, he wishes to see Yiren give birth to a grandson."

Chen Mo currently hadn’t told Wu Mi about the Taotie Gu’s transformation.

After all, relying on dual cultivation for the Taotie Gu to transform would sound quite bizarre and unbelievable.

So Chen Mo planned to discuss it with Wu Mi and the others after the Taotie Gu successfully transformed for the fourth time and everything settled down.

"If that’s the case, then everything makes sense," Han Anniang said, a hint of melancholy appearing on her gentle and beautiful face. "Yiren is pitiable; her parents died when she was young, leaving her with her only blood relative, her grandfather, who was also murdered. And now, even the Great Elder who watched her grow from childhood has little time left..."

Upon hearing this, Wu Mi, Yi Shiyin, and Xia Zhiqing all sighed.

Originally feeling some jealousy and resentment toward Nalan Yiren, Xia Zhining at this moment put aside her feelings of resentment and felt sympathy for her.

"Xiao Min is the one who’s truly wronged. Not only is there no movement in her belly, but she serves Erlang the least among our sisters," Han Anniang said, raising her hand to touch Song Min’s head.

Among the concubines, Song Min is the youngest in age.

If not counting the virtual years, she would be just about twenty this year.

However, as a girl matures at eighteen, the previously skinny and sallow girl has grown into a young lady, standing graceful and elegant.

Song Min’s cheeks felt a bit warm, and her beautiful face blushed like a peach blossom, saying shyly, "Ms. Anniang, I... I don’t feel wronged."

"You, you’re even easier to bully than Consort Liu." Han Anniang playfully poked her cheek with her finger.

Xia Zhiqing didn’t join in the teasing of Song Min. Instead, she looked at Wu Mi and said, "Ms. Mi, Ru Yan said Your Majesty has entered the Celestial Human Realm, is that true?"

Wu Mi nodded, "It happened last month, but Your Majesty is not planning to make it public. It’s enough for Zhiqing and the others to know, so don’t spread it around."

Just as Xia Zhiqing’s expression showed a slight shock, a palace maid from outside the hall called, "Empress, Princess Consort Shu, Princess Consort Liang, and Princess Consort Xiang have arrived."

"Please let them in quickly."

Saying this, Lin Xuelan, Xingyao, and Yu Zhu gracefully walked in.

After arriving before Wu Mi, the three women bowed in greeting.

"No need for formalities, please sit," Wu Mi gestured with her hand.

"Thank you, Empress."

After Xingyao finished the greeting, she immediately asked urgently, "Empress, do you know where Your Majesty is now?"

Seeing Xingyao’s expression, Wu Mi quickly asked, "Has something happened?"

Xingyao nodded and immediately explained what had transpired.

When Chen Mo first arrived in Yelang, Yelang had just concluded a war with Ju Ting and Louwo, creating a vendetta.

Then, the incident with the Third Prince happened.

When Chen Mo took Xingyao and the others away from Yelang, Xingluo, the awakened monarch of Yelang, began to root out the remnants under the Third Prince and purge some rebellious ministers and traitors within the nation.

Such actions naturally caused turmoil within Yelang.

Ju Ting and Louwo seized the opportunity to wage war against Yelang.

Although when Chen Mo left, Yelang had declared Great Song as its suzerain state, at the time, Chen Mo was still just the Regent King. Xingluo believed he could resolve the issues on his own, so he didn’t seek aid from Great Song.

Later, when Great Song transitioned into Great Wei, and Yelang initially achieved some victories, Xingluo no longer thought of seeking assistance.

Firstly, he was concerned about whether Great Wei would honor the previous dynasty’s commitments.

Secondly, if Great Wei truly sent troops to help, would they linger in Yelang without leaving, or would they take advantage of the situation to extort?

Considering all these concerns, he put the matter aside.

Later, as Yelang faced the advancing forces of Ju Ting and Louwo, it gradually became overwhelmed, prompting Xingluo to once again contemplate seeking aid from Great Wei.

But at the time, Great Wei was engaged in a war with Jin Xia, the nation was under martial law, and the borders sealed. The emissaries sent by Xingluo couldn’t even enter.

So the situation has dragged on until now.