You Have to Have Children!

Chapter 40: You Need to Have a Child!

The next day, in the Hall of Wives.

The Empress asked in a tone as if chatting about daily life, "How is Jin'er doing?"

The palace maid Chunhua replied, "She returned to the Liu manor to rest yesterday."

"Was she injured at all?"

"Not injured in the slightest."

The Empress smiled faintly.

I knew it. That useless man wouldn't dare lay a hand on her!

Then, the Empress stood up and said, "Chunhua, let's go. We're going to see the Emperor."

The Emperor must have been thoroughly tormented by Jin'er yesterday. I can't waste this good opportunity. I'll press my advantage!

Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Chu Lu frowned as he looked at the proud Empress, wondering if Liu Jin'er couldn't keep up the pretense for even a day.

"Your Majesty, what brings you here today?" Chu Lu inquired.

"I am here to advise His Majesty to take in more consorts and produce an imperial heir as soon as possible," the Empress declared.

After reviewing the situation in the palace over the past two days, the Empress understood that the crux of the problem was the lack of a Crown Prince.

This hadn't been an issue before, as Xu Liniang was simply too incompetent to pose any threat to her.

But now, with Chu Lu in charge, the threat was considerable.

And the simplest way to eliminate this threat permanently was to replace him. Have a child, then establish a young heir. This would render the old Emperor Xu Liniang useless. Even if she were secretly poisoned, few would care.

Chu Lu instantly understood her intentions.

A mocking cold smile touched his lips.

In a more normal world, this plan would be completely useless to Chu Lu.

After all, pregnancy took ten months, and having a child took far too long.

He would recover from his injuries in at most two months.

But this all-female world was different.

Although Chu Lu still hadn't figured out how people had children in this world, he had secretly examined Xu Liniang's organs. They were no different from those of an ordinary woman, inside and out. He had also asked Xu Liniang for details, but she refused to say anything.

However, there was one thing he was clear about.

That was in this world.

Therefore, Chu Lu stated directly, "The lack of an heir is indeed a major issue that needs to be resolved quickly. However, my injuries have not yet healed, and I am still young, so there is no need to rush. We will discuss it after my injuries have healed."

"What's wrong with your injuries not being healed? This isn't strenuous labor," the Empress said. "His Majesty only needs to lie there, and the consorts will handle the rest. Besides, one cannot be careless just because one is young. The more imperial children, the better."

"My mind is made up, Empress. There is no need to say more."

"That won't do, Your Majesty. You are not having children for yourself alone, but for all the people, for the stability of the realm! As long as Dayan has no Crown Prince, it will not be at peace! How can you bear to see the court collapse because you refuse to have children!?"

"I can," Chu Lu replied.

Hearing this, the Empress's expression grew colder. She said sinisterly, "Your Majesty, could it be that you are... incapable? If so, I've heard the Imperial Physicians have some suitable pills. I can try to procure some for you."

Chu Lu's brow furrowed, and Xu Liniang in his mind was also enraged.

Xu Liniang was angry at being suspected of being incapable.

Chu Lu, on the other hand, realized that this woman would not give up easily.

"I am very capable," Chu Lu said, deciding to counterattack. "I agree with what the Empress said. It is indeed time to have a Crown Prince quickly. Since that is the case, the Empress shall come to the Hall of Mental Cultivation tonight."

"Eh?" The Empress was taken aback. "Me?"

"Of course, you," Chu Lu said. "If the first child is born by the Empress, it will be the legitimate eldest daughter, which would be most suitable for the Crown Prince, wouldn't it?"

"B-but..." The Empress was caught off guard and somewhat bewildered. She hadn't expected their relationship to be so terrible that he would still dare to ask her to serve him.

Could he even go through with it?

"But what? Does the Empress not wish to?" Chu Lu sneered. "The Empress is not having children for herself alone, but for all the people, for the stability of the realm! As long as Dayan has no Crown Prince, it will not be at peace! How can the Empress bear to see the court collapse because you refuse to have children!?"

The Empress's face instantly flushed red.

He's actually using my own words against me!?

"His Majesty is absolutely right, but this humble consort is old and faded. I would only dampen His Majesty's spirits. It would be better to let Consort Xian, whom His Majesty favors most, handle it," the Empress demurred.

She had no intention of sleeping with Chu Lu, leaving no room for Xu Liniang.

Chu Lu's eyes narrowed. "Empress, could it be that you are... incapable? If so, I've heard the Imperial Physicians have some suitable pills. I can try to procure some for you."

The Empress took a deep breath, enraged. She finally understood that Chu Lu had no intention of agreeing; he was just looking for an excuse to mock her.

So, she slammed the table angrily and declared, "Enough. I have no more words for you. Today, you will have a child, whether you want to or not!"

"Heh." Chu Lu scoffed at the Empress's threat.

"The Emperor is in my body... no, in any case, I don't believe you can force me to do this kind of thing."

"Empress, feel free to make your move. I'd like to see how you plan to make me give birth when I'm not going to," Chu Lu said.

The Empress gave her a deep look and said, "Your Majesty, don't regret this!"

With that, she stood up abruptly, flicked her sleeves, and said, "Chunhua, let's go."

After the Empress left, Xu Liniang said with a worried expression, "Chu Lu, be careful!"

"Got it," Chu Lu replied, though he didn't know what he needed to be careful about.

However, by the evening, he understood.

Feeling the intense heat rising from his lower abdomen, his mind filled with chaotic thoughts, and a beautiful concubine lying by his bed.

Chu Lu thought to himself, So it's a drugging and honey trap, huh?

Unfortunately, this wasn't a wuxia world, and Chu Lu wasn't a wuxia character. He circulated his cultivation technique, quickly dissolving the drug's effects.

As for the concubine sent by the Empress, she was the previously mentioned Consort Xian. Judging by her appearance alone, she was indeed very beautiful, no wonder Xu Liniang was so captivated by her.

Of course, Chu Lu had no intention of acting on it.

But just as he was about to pretend not to see and fall asleep, Xu Liniang's determined voice echoed in his mind.

"Chu Lu, you have to do it!"

"Huh?"

"If you don't, the Empress definitely won't let this go. We still need to buy time. So, instead of constantly resisting and forcing the Empress to use more radical methods, it's better to compromise here," Xu Liniang said. "It's okay, it's not that easy to get pregnant. And if you stop in time, the chances are even lower."

"I absolutely won't do it!"

"It's alright, Chu Lu, you don't need to worry about me." Xu Liniang's tears flowed freely as she gritted her teeth, "I understand, this is for the greater good, this is a necessary sacrifice. And it's my body! This doesn't count as being cheated on! This doesn't count as being cheated on! This doesn't count as being cheated on!!!"

Chu Lu: "..."

"No, you clearly don't understand. I really don't want to do this. And don't waste my time with any more nonsense. I'm going to sleep." Chu Lu buried his head and fell asleep.