Chapter 338: I Will Not Give Birth to an Heir

The courtiers were sharp-eyed! Incredibly perceptive!

After their careful observation, rigorous investigation, and detailed analysis, they came to a conclusion.

The Prime Minister had stayed overnight in the palace!

The Prime Minister and Her Majesty had a blissful union last night!

The Prime Minister... had finally climbed into the imperial bed!

Congratulations were in order! This was fantastic news! A cause for nationwide celebration!

Once this was confirmed, the atmosphere at morning court was suddenly not so grim and intimidating.

The Empress sat on the dragon throne, emanating an aura of majesty—cold and merciless. The Prime Minister stood at the head of the assembled officials, in the spot closest to Her Majesty.

They both looked perfectly normal, yet one could still sense an indescribable intimacy in the air between them.

Xiao Li was fine, completely immune to their stares. When she grew impatient, a single glance was enough to make a whole group of them cower.

But Song Junzhan couldn’t quite bear their teasing, gossipy gazes. He stood ramrod straight, his entire body stiff, so much so that when it was his turn to report, he was nervous enough to misspeak.

Sensing the atmosphere in the court ignite once more, Xiao Li’s gaze shifted, and the corner of her mouth lifted in a cold smirk. "Everyone... are you enjoying the show?"

A chill went down everyone’s spines, and all other thoughts vanished from their minds.

"We wouldn’t dare."

"Wouldn’t dare?" Xiao Li scoffed. "It seems to me you’re plenty daring. Weren’t you all making bets last night?"

"Alright, sort yourselves according to your wagers. Winners to the left, losers to the right."

The civil and military officials exchanged glances, but under the pressure of Her Majesty’s authority, they could only obediently divide themselves.

The ranks were shuffled and re-formed. The split was quite even, about half and half winners and losers.

The clever ones, sensing danger, immediately begged for mercy. "We misspoke in our cups, Your Majesty. We beg for your forgiveness."

The others quickly chimed in, "We beg for Your Majesty’s forgiveness."

Xiao Li’s glacial gaze swept over them all. ’Forgive them? Not a chance.’

"I am not so close-minded. I’ll give you a chance. You may ask three questions. Whatever you wish to ask, think it over carefully first."

’What was the point of all this guesswork and chasing rumors? They could just ask directly. It wasn’t as if she was afraid to answer.’

The courtiers were surprised, but they didn’t doubt the Empress was being truthful.

They were all seasoned ministers; no one would speak rashly. A group of them conferred for a moment before finally reaching a decision.

Tang Shuyu was the first to step forward. "May I ask, Your Majesty, when you plan to name the Prime Minister as your Imperial Consort?"

As expected of a shrewd operator personally trained by the Empress, one question covered three.

Was she going to appoint an Imperial Consort? Was she going to choose the Prime Minister? Was their relationship what it seemed?

Xiao Li didn’t mind their little ploy and answered candidly. "I will not appoint an Imperial Consort, and the harem will remain empty. You can abandon that line of thinking."

Tang Shuyu instinctively glanced at Song Junzhan’s face and saw that he remained calm, seemingly taking the news well.

"Then Your Majesty and the Prime Minister...?"

Xiao Li was unperturbed. "Is that the second question?"

’Little ploys? Anyone could play at that game. It was great fun to counter every move as it came.’

Su Ziqi stepped forward, offering a salute. "Your Majesty, this is indeed our second question. What is your relationship with the Prime Minister?"

It was a testament to Xiao Li’s open-mindedness that this crowd dared to ask about their monarch’s personal feelings.

Xiao Li glanced at Song Junzhan, who looked back at her with an expression of helplessness. He didn’t want to put Her Majesty in a difficult position, but at this moment, he was utterly unable to speak.

’Should he declare that he was willing and sought no official title? Or that he had pleaded with Her Majesty to let him share her bed?’

’Although he had shed all his inhibitions and burdens before Her Majesty, to do so in public, before the entire court, was simply too much to ask.’

"Your Majesty..." Song Junzhan began, but trailed off. ’She never should have let them ask.’

Xiao Li, however, didn’t see it as a difficult question at all. She gave him a single glance before answering with complete candor.

"It is where feelings lead; we are both willing."

Those eight words made Song Junzhan’s ears flush a crimson so deep it looked like they might bleed. His gaze locked onto Her Majesty, unwilling to part from her even for an instant. His eyes shimmered, reflecting only the noble figure seated on the dragon throne.

Xiao Li had admitted it freely, but for now, she offered no further explanation. "The third question."

Shi Mo stepped forward and asked the most crucial question, the one they were all most concerned about: "When does Your Majesty plan to bear an heir?"

The Empress was a woman, so naturally, she was the only one who could give birth. It didn’t matter if the child was a boy or a girl, as long as there was an heir.

The empire and the court were both extremely stable now. The military generals were capable, and the nation was strong and prosperous.

The nation had held together even when the Empress was in a coma for over a year, so how could it not manage while she was simply pregnant?

A pregnant Empress could still rule the country. With the Prime Minister overseeing matters, they too would do their best to ensure Her Majesty could have a peaceful and worry-free pregnancy.

This was the perfect time to have a child.

Xiao Li’s scalp tingled at the question. She knew there was no avoiding this.

However, she didn’t get angry. For such a vast empire with a host of loyal courtiers, it was only natural for them to be concerned about this.

’But as for a child... that was never going to happen.’

Xiao Li considered for a moment, then answered directly, "I will not be giving birth to an heir."

Her words sent the entire court into an uproar.

Someone immediately wondered if there was a problem with the Empress’s health.

"Has Your Majesty consulted Doctor Cen?"

If an Imperial Physician had diagnosed the Empress as unable to conceive, it would be a difficult matter indeed.

Xiao Li waved a dismissive hand. "There is no issue with my body. I simply do not wish to bear a child."

She swept her gaze over the crowd, then slowly stood up. "This is a decision I made long ago. Although I’m announcing it a little earlier than intended, it makes no difference."

"For me to rule as a woman, to purge the great aristocratic families, and to grant every scholar a fair chance—these things have already destined our era to be different."

"Look back at all the dynasties that came before. Which one of them did not fall because the previous regime grew corrupt and oppressive, because a foolish and debauched ruler lost their way, ultimately forcing the people to rebel?"

"When a dynasty is founded, its ruler dreams of it lasting for ten thousand generations. But does it ever? The first generation is strong, the second sees it flourish, the third is mediocre, and the fourth is a failure. A dynasty might last six or seven generations at best, or merely two or three at worst. The common people barely have time to struggle free from the wars of the previous dynasty’s collapse. Before they can even enjoy a few days of peace, they are caught up in the new dynasty’s cycle of rise and fall."

"When the state thrives, the people suffer; when the state falls, the people suffer. The foundation of a nation is its people. As a monarch, and as officials of the court, you must put the people first in all things."

"You all should be able to see that I am not a ruler who craves power for personal enjoyment. But can you guarantee that my children won’t be? That my descendants, generations from now, won’t be?"

"You pledged allegiance to me because of my ability, my methods, and my philosophy of governance. Therefore, the throne can be inherited, but that inheritance should not be determined by gender or bloodline. It should be taken by the most capable."

"The monarch who sits on this throne—he or she—should not be there simply because they are the child of the previous ruler. They should not, by virtue of their bloodline alone, be granted the power to decide the fate of the world."

"The throne should be a symbol. The person who occupies it must be powerful, they must be fair and just, and they must hold benevolence for all the world."

The eyes of every official burned brightly, their blood coursing with passion.

Even Song Junzhan, for a moment, forgot the love between them. As a courtier, he could only look up in awe at his monarch.

As one, all the officials fell to their knees. "Your Majesty is wise and benevolent! Your merits will echo through the ages! We, your subjects, are wholeheartedly convinced! Long live our Empress! Long, long may she reign!"