Chapter 178: Hold On, Imperial Advisor! I, the Emperor, Have Recovered 15

Chapter 178: Wait, Imperial Preceptor! I've Recovered 15

"That's not too difficult to arrange, but have you truly made up your mind? This is your only chance."

"I'm certain."

"Re-binding character data:"

"Name: Lin Huaiqing, Gender: Male, Height: 179cm, Weight: 68kg, Identity: Sovereign of the Dayue Dynasty, Cultivation: Foundation Establishment (Early Stage), Spiritual Root: Supreme Wood Spiritual Root, Spiritual Energy Value: 15"

Listening to the system's electronic voice, Lin Huaiqing didn't feel any change in his body. His spiritual energy value had only increased by 10 compared to before.

"Don't worry! This system won't screw you over. If you don't believe me, unleash a spiritual energy blast at that screen and test its power."

Lin Huaiqing was skeptical, but relying on his memory, he hurled a spiritual energy blast at the newly replaced screen from the Imperial Household Department.

Almost in an instant, a faint green light shot from his fingertips, striking the center of the brand-new jade screen over ten meters away with precision.

A tremendous crash rang out as the screen shattered into pieces, exploding apart.

"Holy crap! That's quite powerful!"

"This spiritual energy value only shows your current energy; as you cultivate later, it will increase."

"Can you detect Qin Hanyue's current spiritual energy value?"

"Name: Qin Hanyue, Spiritual Energy Value: 314159"

"What?! Over three hundred thousand? How long will it take me to catch up to that?"

"The host's cultivation speed has also been enhanced by the system. Currently, your cultivation speed is twice Qin Hanyue's original rate. This cheat code is already pretty generous."

Qin Hanyue was a once-in-a-thousand-years genius in the cultivation world; his cultivation speed was already several times faster than ordinary people.

And his speed was twice Qin Hanyue's—by that measure, this cheat code should be quite formidable.

Besides, he didn't truly need to defeat Qin Hanyue, only to escape from his grasp.

Nor was this a spur-of-the-moment decision. Since the original host hadn't fallen in power struggles but was killed by Qin Hanyue, it meant he had to possess the strength to contend with him.

"Your Majesty, it's getting late. Would Your Majesty like to choose a companion for the night?"

Yan Weiquan entered carrying a tray and knelt before him. On the tray lay six nameplates neatly arranged.

They were Consort De, Consort Xian, Concubine Yan, and three newly arrived concubine candidates who had yet to serve the emperor and thus had no titles.

He had just quarreled with Qin Hanyue, and he doubted Qin Hanyue would come tonight. He couldn't put off the bed service any longer—it had been two months since the last time—so he randomly picked Consort De's plaque.

After all, he had to serve someone eventually; picking someone familiar and experienced was better than an inexperienced newcomer.

Before long, the Phoenix Grace Carriage delivered Consort De, freshly bathed, to his bed.

This was also a rule the original host had established: he never stayed overnight in consorts' palaces, and even for bed service, they were brought to his bedchamber.

Consort De, being an old hand, naturally knew nothing would happen tonight, so she wore only the plainest sleepwear beneath the covers.

Even though they were an old married couple, they were just two people under the covers, talking.

Consort De was a clever woman. If he didn't bring something up, she wouldn't ask. Her father was one of the few court elders who sided with the emperor's faction.

Though his official rank was only second-grade, he was still someone Lin Huaiqing trusted.

The original host had even planned to make Consort De the Empress, but she didn't fight or scheme for it, and because Zhao Ge obstructed it, the idea was eventually abandoned.

"Your Majesty has been sighing a lot lately—is something troubling you?"

Lin Huaiqing, probing her, replied vaguely:

"Isn't it because of these new women in the palace? Consort De, have you heard any gossip in the harem?"

"I haven't heard any such rumors. However, the newly arrived Concubine Yan, though Your Majesty has given her a title, you should visit her soon."

"It's exactly because of Concubine Yan that I can't sleep at night. Consort De, you've attended me for years and know me best—do you have a way to solve my biggest worry?"

"Hmm..." Even the usually sharp Consort De thought for a moment.

She had a plan, but she wasn't sure if she should speak up.

Serving a king is like sleeping with a tiger; she didn't know if she ought to offer counsel.

She had married the Seventh Prince when she was young, believing he was different from other princes—never touching women and staying pure.

But only after marrying him did she realize that Lin Huaiqing wasn't avoiding women—he just couldn't do it.

Marrying a man like this had pros and cons. The upside was that there were no other women in the house competing for his favor.

The downside was that she would never know her husband's love, nor bear children.

Yet she never worried about food, clothes, or luxuries in the mansion, and now she was Consort De, revered by all. All of this was because of Lin Huaiqing's favor.

No matter what, in court politics, she was on Lin Huaiqing's side. As a couple, they shared glory and ruin together.

So, she should still help Lin Huaiqing get through this.

If Concubine Yan found out the emperor's secret, Lin Huaiqing's throne would be in danger, and she wouldn't fare well either.

"If Your Majesty is troubled by this, I do have a risky plan, but I'm not sure if Your Majesty would approve."

"Go ahead and say it."

"I think..."

Consort De leaned in and whispered to Lin Huaiqing, and they plotted quietly for a while. Lin Huaiqing couldn't help but admire her cunning.

This plan really killed two birds with one stone: on one hand, he could prove himself to the court; on the other, he could eliminate the spies Zhao Ge had planted in the palace.

"Excellent! It's settled! Consort De, you're truly my strategist. Once this is done, you'll be richly rewarded."

Though he couldn't give women happiness, he could give them plenty of money!

"Should I have Physician Pei come for a routine checkup tomorrow? What does Your Majesty think?"

Consort De's idea was to bribe Physician Pei to fake it, but Lin Huaiqing thought it wasn't secure enough. With so many in the Imperial Medical Bureau, who knew if one of them was Zhao Ge's man.

If it were exposed, he could use Consort De's fake pregnancy as a shield, but he didn't want her to suffer harm for helping him.

Moreover, with Zhao Ge's methods, he couldn't protect Consort De if things went wrong.

"Let's not rush this. The day after tomorrow! The day after tomorrow, I'll summon you for bed service again. Wait for my word."

"Yes, this concubine understands."

When Lin Huaiqing woke up, Consort De had already left. He immediately summoned Xiao Xuan.

"Xiao Xuan! Go carry out a task for me."

"At your command, Your Majesty!"

"In the cultivation world, there is a pill that, when taken by a woman, makes her pulse and physical symptoms indistinguishable from pregnancy. Even the most experienced physicians cannot tell the difference. I've forgotten its exact name. I command you to leave for the cultivation world at once and return with it before dusk the day after tomorrow—do not fail!"