The Empress Got Pregnant at the Start-And It Was Because of Me!

[Author]

This is a slice-of-life story about the male and female leads. It's laid-back, with the occasional bit of showing off. If that's not your thing, please don't read.

I'm sorry to readers of my previous book. I hope you'll support my new one. Thank you, thank you!

He transmigrated in his own body, not into someone else's, okay?

Great Gan Dynasty, Capital City!

"Who's Chu Ning?"

Inside an inn.

A figure clad in Black Gold Armor, wearing a dragon-headed helmet and carrying a gold-inlaid saber, burst through the inn's entrance!

Countless guests stared in shock. At the sight of the armor, their faces turned pale despite themselves!

"Those are His Majesty's Dragon Guards!"

The man at their head was burly and held a draft imperial decree in his hand.

"By His Majesty's verbal order, the traitor Chu Ning is beyond forgiveness and has defied the will of Heaven. Take him back to the palace at once!"

But when he reached the words "take him back," the soldier hesitated.

If Chu Ning had defied Heaven and was beyond forgiveness, why were they supposed to invite him?

Still, it was His Majesty's order, so he had to carry it out.

"Who's Chu Ning?"

The innkeeper wasted no time selling Chu Ning out.

"S-s-sir! Chu Ning is a guest at my inn. He's resting upstairs on the second floor. I'll go get him right away..."

His face had gone white with fear. The Great Gan Dynasty's soldiers were divided into three ranks: the men in blue armor guarded the Capital City, those in black chain armor protected the palace, and the highest-ranking Black Gold Armor belonged to the imperial Dragon Guards, the Empress's personal soldiers!

Every one of them was at least at the Third Realm. They were powerful, ruthless killers!

"Chu Ning is just a guest at my inn! He has nothing to do with us!"

"No need. We'll take him ourselves!"

The guests watched in terror as the bloodthirsty Dragon Guards marched upstairs. Before long, they came back carrying a man.

"Holy crap! Who are you? I haven't even put my clothes on!"

"So the imperial soldiers can just arrest anyone they want, huh? Let me tell you, this is right under the Emperor's nose! Just you wait—I'll go to the palace tomorrow and appeal to His Majesty!"

"Save your breath. The one who sent us to fetch you, Chu Ning, is His Majesty herself!"

Chu Ning, clad only in his underwear, was dumbfounded.

He'd been sent flying by a truck in a freak accident, and he'd woken up in this world three months ago. But he'd never done anything wicked!

This was a cultivation world. What kind of trouble could a man without a shred of cultivation cause? Why would the reigning Empress send people to arrest him herself?

Could she have discovered that he was a transmigrator?

But he'd been minding his own business. He hadn't done anything!

Damn this feudal dynasty! Damn that Empress!

Chu Ning cursed loudly. He was probably going to die anyway, so what did he have to lose?

Once they'd carried him outside, the Dragon Guard at the head of the group pointed to a carriage.

"By His Majesty's imperial decree, Chu Ning is unforgivable and has defied the will of Heaven!"

Still, he added calmly, "But since His Majesty said to invite you to the palace, you'll ride there in the carriage."

Chu Ning blinked at that.

Well, at least they were treating him pretty well...

"Um, can I ask what crime I committed? How did I defy the will of Heaven?"

"I don't know."

"You're making such a big show of arresting me, but you don't even know what I'm accused of. Does that seem right?"

"Under Heaven, all land belongs to the king; within its borders, all are his subjects. What's not right about it?"

Chu Ning hesitated, then sighed.

He'd better get in on his own...

Otherwise, he'd only end up suffering more.

Still, this dynasty seemed pretty considerate. Even though he'd apparently defied the will of Heaven, they'd let him ride in a carriage.

Chu Ning climbed into the carriage, trembling with fear, and was taken straight to the imperial palace of the Great Gan Dynasty!

Deep in the imperial palace, surrounded by high walls and forbidden grounds, everything was extravagantly splendid.

Black-armored palace guards stood everywhere, gripping their sabers and keeping a close watch.

After getting out of the carriage, Chu Ning followed a maidservant-looking woman deeper into the palace.

To be honest,

This wasn't his first time in the imperial palace.

The first time had been three months ago, after he'd transmigrated to this place. He'd done something he couldn't quite remember...

When he woke up, he'd been dumped in a woodshed, then someone had taken him away.

Before they'd blindfolded him, he'd caught a glimpse of the imperial palace.

So was he about to be sentenced to death for trespassing?

As he took in the lavish sights along the way, Chu Ning tried to look at as much as he could, even though he thought he was about to die.

They stopped at a golden palace hall, and the maidservant knocked on the door.

"Your Majesty, Chu Ning is here."

A dignified yet alluring voice drifted out.

"Let him in."

"Yes."

The maidservant turned and glanced at Chu Ning. Her expression was complicated: perhaps disapproving, perhaps displeased, perhaps pitying.

"How could you come here without even putting on your clothes? It's improper..."

Chu Ning was stunned.

"Holy crap, your people were the ones who carried me straight out of bed! Did I even get a chance?"

And now she was saying something like that? Did they have no shame?

Still, Chu Ning was confused.

What terrible crime had he committed that the Empress herself had to question him?

The maidservant sighed. "Please bear with it, Mister Chu. The Dragon Guards aren't very bright when it comes to getting things done. They only follow orders. Her Majesty probably didn't realize you'd still be asleep this late in the morning. The palace can arrange some clothes for you later..."

The maidservant's attitude struck Chu Ning as odd.

He was a criminal, yet she was calling him Mister Chu?

And did that mean he wouldn't be dying today?

"My name is Xiao Bing. I'm Her Majesty's personal maidservant."

With that, she helped Chu Ning push the palace doors open.

Chu Ning was more bewildered than ever.

What was going on? Weren't they going to kill him?

What kind of trick was this?

Confused, Chu Ning entered the hall wearing nothing but his underwear.

The doors slammed shut behind him.

The palace hall was enormous, filled with all kinds of rare and precious objects. A faint, delicate fragrance lingered in the air. Facing Chu Ning stood a woman dressed in a golden Dragon Robe, her gaze fixed coldly on him.

She was stunningly beautiful, like the woman in his dream that night. But unlike the alluring woman he remembered, this one was dignified and imposing. Every movement carried an unmistakable pressure.

Even the golden Dragon Robe couldn't contain her imposing presence.

Chu Ning swallowed.

The Empress of the Great Gan Dynasty was now a powerhouse at the Sixth Realm, one of only a handful of such figures in the entire dynasty!

The woman narrowed her eyes slightly, her bearing majestic.

"Chu Ning, why don't you kneel before me?"

Everything that had happened today had come so suddenly that Chu Ning had no idea why he'd been brought to the palace, much less why he was standing before the Empress.

So at that moment, he was full of nerve.

"Hahaha!"

"I'm about to die, so what the hell would I kneel for? Besides, the only things these knees bow to are Heaven, Earth, and my parents. Why should I kneel to a dog of an Empress who arrests people for no reason?"

Chu Ning let out a loud laugh. "If you're going to kill me, then get on with it. I'm just a mortal without a shred of cultivation. I can't do anything to you, so hurry up!"

At his words, Ye Qinglian's expression shifted slightly, and a hint of disappointment appeared on her face.

"Is that truly how you see me?"

Chu Ning blinked.

What did she mean by that? What was with that tone?

But the woman's gaze quickly turned cold.

"Do you know why I summoned you to the palace today?"

Chu Ning shook his head.

He'd been fast asleep when someone carried him away. How could he possibly know?

The next moment, he saw Ye Qinglian point to her slightly rounded belly.

Chu Ning wasn't stupid. He saw it at once!

"Your Majesty, it looks like you're pregnant. About three months along, I'd guess?"

Seeing as Ye Qinglian didn't seem intent on killing him, Chu Ning decided to try his luck. He was delighted!

"Congratulations, Your Majesty, on the birth of a prince! May you live ten thousand years in peace! The Great Gan Dynasty has an heir now, Your Majesty..."

He'd only gotten halfway through his praise when Chu Ning suddenly froze.

The Empress wasn't married. She didn't even have an Emperor Consort, did she?

So this child...

Ye Qinglian sneered.

"Congratulations to you too, the child's father."

The words left Chu Ning completely dumbfounded.

Was that even Chinese? Why couldn't he understand it? How had he become...

"Do you really remember nothing? Three months ago, inside the secret realm in my imperial palace."

She spoke coldly, her gaze fixed on Chu Ning without a trace of emotion.

Her words pulled Chu Ning's thoughts straight out of confusion!

He remembered. On the day he'd transmigrated to this world, he'd been in a stone chamber!

There really had been a woman seated in the middle, apparently cultivating. Before he could see what was happening, a red aura filling the chamber had swept over him!

Then, against his will, he'd walked toward her...

When he woke up, he'd been in a woodshed. Then he'd been thrown out of the palace. But he'd had quite a bit of silver on him, enough to get by in this Immortal Dynasty for three months!

Could it be...

He stared at the Empress in shock!

"That night wasn't a dream. The woman was you!"

He'd thought he'd imagined it!

He'd never expected the woman to be the Empress of the Great Gan Dynasty!

And the Empress had gotten pregnant because of it!

As he reeled from the shock, a voice rang out in his mind.

[Biological child detected. Strongest Dad System bound!]

[This world is filled with countless dangers. A beginner's gift pack has been issued. Reward: Immortal Emperor cultivation!]

[This cultivation is provided for raising and caring for your child. Work hard to protect your child's healthy growth!]

The next second, Chu Ning felt a world-shaking change fill his body. It was as if the entire world lay within his grasp. With just a thought, he could destroy it!

His system-funded parenting allowance had arrived!

Chu Ning let out a loud "Holy crap!" Ye Qinglian's face flushed red at once!

"Who else could it have been?!"

[Realms: Spiritual Agility, Subtlety, Knowing Fate, Ascending Tower, Observing Sea, Gazing River, Void Breaking, Infinity, Celestial Phenomenon, Dao Extreme, Great Emperor, Immortal Emperor]