Super-Fertile Darling: Forced to Marry the Heirless Tyrant

But she had heard from too many people that the Emperor and the little prince were not close, and that Yuan Heng’s small palms were no stranger to the ruler’s sting.

She had also seen it herself a few times. Before Yuan Heng, the Emperor mostly adopted a stern, admonishing posture.

After asking, Ji Qingwu realized she had likely asked a foolish question.

No matter what, Yuan Heng was the Emperor’s only heir, naturally a treasure in the Phoenix Palace.

But the nature of that cherishing was different.

’What she wanted to ask was whether his affection, like hers, stemmed from a place of love.’

’But the birth of these two children wasn’t based on love. From a certain perspective, both of them had been coerced.’

Never before had Ji Qingwu felt such regret for the massive blunder she and the System had made.

Emperor Wu Su lowered his gaze. He understood the meaning behind her words.

"In the days after Yuan Heng was first brought to my side, he would cry all night. During the day, I had to ask the women in the camp to watch over him just so he could sleep peacefully."

Hearing him voluntarily bring up the past, Ji Qingwu bit her lip.

Her body swayed, and she felt an urge to back away, but this story was about Yuan Heng. She desperately wanted to know how he had truly fared during that time.

"Did... did Yuan Heng cry a lot? All children are like that..."

Ji Qingwu’s voice trailed off.

’She couldn’t lie to herself, because Jiu Jiu wasn’t like that. With her mother right there, the little one could sleep almost the entire night.’

Emperor Wu Su frowned, as if recalling something embarrassing. "For the first month, his cries were even louder than a wolf’s howl. It only started to get better after that."

Ji Qingwu asked softly, "Did you hire a wet nurse to care for him?"

Emperor Wu Su shot her a look that was not quite a smile. "It was a time of war and chaos. Forget about hiring a proper wet nurse—it was difficult just to find any milk at all."

’That’s right, wars were breaking out everywhere back then.’

’She had been busy trying to escape with her child, covered in dust and dirt every day as she searched for a place to settle.’

’And he... back then, he was still General Dingbei of Liang Country. Not only was he busy leading troops into battle, but he also had a wailing infant by his side to care for.’

Ji Qingwu asked, "If you couldn’t find a wet nurse, what did Yuan Heng eat to grow up?"

Emperor Wu Su’s expression froze for a moment before he said, "Wolf’s milk."

"Yuan Heng was raised on wolf’s milk?" Ji Qingwu was so shocked she couldn’t recover for a long time.

’She had imagined the situation was difficult, but she had never imagined it would be *this* difficult.’

Emperor Wu Su said, "It’s not what you think. As I just said, Yuan Heng’s cries shook the heavens. One night, he attracted several wild she-wolves with their cubs. I ordered my men to capture those wolves, and we made do with their milk for half a month."

Ji Qingwu’s throat felt dry and hoarse as she pictured the scene in her mind.

He continued, "Yuan Heng drank wolf’s milk for half a month. After those she-wolves were released, they would still occasionally bring prey to the entrance of the tent. Those she-wolves showed more sentiment than some people."

Ji Qingwu was suddenly at a loss for words.

Emperor Wu Su glanced at her and said, "I often watched over him at night. Looking at his little face, red from crying, it was as if I was seeing the face of another person."

Ji Qingwu was silent for a moment. She lowered her head and asked in a low voice, "Your Majesty, do you resent me in your heart?"

He didn’t answer, instead asking, "What do you think?"

Ji Qingwu nodded and said nonchalantly, "If our positions were reversed, I would feel resentment and hatred too."

But after she said the words, feigning indifference, a sharp pain lanced through her heart.

He saw her dark brows knit together, her eyes filled with endless pain.

Emperor Wu Su couldn’t help but sigh internally. ’She still can’t open her heart to me.’

He thought of something. Time was short, so he decided to give her a strong dose of medicine.

"Only where there is love can there be hate. Do you understand, Ah Wu?"

Her heart flinched as if scalded the moment she met his gaze.

Love was hard to speak of, as was hate, but his eyes were filled with an emotion he could not bear to part with.

In the end, Ji Qingwu fled from the Diligent Governance Hall in a blind panic, but she retained enough sense to remember to bring Jiu Jiu home with her.

’I can’t leave my treasure behind in the palace.’

「In Wutong Garden.」

The towering Wutong tree’s canopy blotted out a patch of the sky, its glossy, jade-green leaves clustered at the tips of slender branches.

Between the treetops, one could faintly make out flower buds, still a tender green.

Ji Qingwu sat at the stone table beneath the tree, staring at the distant eaves.

Lan Zhi gathered the sun-dried herbs into a cloth bag and asked with concern, "Fifth Missy, you’ve been sitting in that same position all morning, and you’ve sighed over a hundred times. Did you run into some trouble yesterday?"

Ji Qingwu nodded emphatically. "It is. It’s too difficult."

Lan Zhi said, "Mr. Duan already delivered the business contract for the restaurant. What are you still worried about?" The handmaiden couldn’t think of anything else that would cause her missy such distress.

When Ji Qingwu heard "business contract," she thought of the green jade ring, and then of how Emperor Wu Su had said he would be happy only when she was happy.

’But she wasn’t happy right now.’

’No matter how many thousands of times she tried to run away, Emperor Wu Su always found her weak spot.’

’Jiu Jiu and Yuan Heng were her Achilles’ heel.’

Ji Qingwu covered her face. Through the gaps between her fingers, she could see the branches and leaves swaying in the wind, so free and full of life.

’For him to fluster her again and again like this...’

’No, she couldn’t let herself continue on in this state of chaos.’

’At the very least, she shouldn’t be the only one in turmoil...’

Ji Qingwu suddenly stood up and stared intently at Lan Zhi.

Lan Zhi was startled by the intense light shining in her eyes. "Fifth Missy, why are you looking at me like that?"

She raised her voice. "Lan Zhi, do my hair and makeup!"

’It’s already afternoon, and we’ve already had lunch,’ Lan Zhi thought, a little confused. ’Why would Fifth Missy, who normally pays no mind to her appearance, suddenly want to get all dressed up?’

Ji Qingwu sat before her vanity, a full array of rouge, powders, hairpins, and rings spread out before her.

With a face full of excitement, Lan Zhi picked up the powder box.

’She possessed such great skill, but the Fifth Missy disliked heavy makeup. This was finally her chance to put her talents on full display.’

Ji Qingwu stopped her hand. "Wait a moment."

Lan Zhi pouted and said urgently, "Fifth Missy, didn’t we agree you’d let me do your hair and makeup?"

Ji Qingwu looked at her reflection in the bronze mirror and came up with an excuse.

"I was sitting under the tree for too long and got a little sweaty. I’d like to bathe first. Go and prepare some hot water."

Lan Zhi obeyed and went to prepare the hot water. She knew the Fifth Missy’s preferences, so after laying out the bath beans, scented soap, a long towel, and a change of clothes, she left the room.

Ji Qingwu undid her robes and stepped into the bath.

The clear water reflected her image. She reached out a pale finger, stirring the surface and shattering her own reflection.

「About half an hour later.」

Lan Zhi, waiting outside the bathing chamber, heard the splash of water as she got out of the bath and came in to attend to her.

Ji Qingwu had her back to her and was draping an inner robe over her shoulders. Lan Zhi moved around to her front, intending to tie the sash for her.

But the moment she saw her face, Lan Zhi froze on the spot, her outstretched arm refusing to move.

"Fifth Missy..."

Ji Qingwu tied the sash herself and asked with a smile, "What’s wrong?"

Her words flowed like pearls, utterly pleasant to the ear. It was still the voice Lan Zhi was familiar with.

She swallowed hard. The Fifth Missy’s appearance was exactly as the storybooks described—

The bearing of a Goddess, revealing her divine form with a shy allure, her thin robes veiled in hazy moonlight.