Chapter 229: Chapter 103: Five Demon Forms, Chaos in the Capital, Heir Arrives, Thunderous Chants and the Demonic Swallowing of Zen

Yan Fangbai asked, "Isn’t it good?"

After the battle at the East Sea, the relationship between the father and son improved significantly. Normally, Yan Fangbai wouldn’t be standing here talking to the Prime Minister, discussing matters, but now he’s willing to stand by the Prime Minister’s side.

The Prime Minister also happily taught him things that Yan Fangbai couldn’t figure out on his own.

The Prime Minister shook the letter and, smiling, asked, "What do you see?"

Yan Fangbai pondered for a moment, then said, "In the battle with the Drought Demon, the Grand General underestimated the demons, leading to a major defeat, with both his troops and reputation suffering greatly. This is the Sovereign’s opportunity to rise.

Zhao Chengji is the Sovereign in name but a puppet in reality, and now it’s his time to turn the tide."

The Prime Minister said, "And what about Wang Baxian?"

Yan Fangbai said, "Ultimately, Zhao Chengji was elevated to Sovereign by the Wang family, so if Wang Baxian wins this time, Zhao Chengji will have no complaints.

However, if Wang Baxian loses, this old general might seize the opportunity to retreat, firstly to protect the Wang family and secondly to avoid bigger conflicts with the Sovereign."

After saying this, Yan Fangbai asked, "Is that correct?"

The Prime Minister shook his head, saying, "You forgot that Zhao Chengji’s eldest son is not the one from Queen Wang, but from Princess Consort Liu.

Princess Consort Liu was supposed to become queen but was overtaken by the Wang family and directly robbed of it.

Now, if Zhao Chengji wants to regain power, he would certainly need the help of the Liu family.

The Liu family is usually no match for the Wang family, but Wang Baxian’s major defeat severely damaged his strength, whereas the Liu family’s influence in the Ministry of War remains unaffected.

The Sovereign harbors resentment, the Liu family has an opportunity, and Princess Consort Liu’s son has the legitimacy.

The Wang family... can’t retreat."

Yan Fangbai said, "The Liu family usually follows the Wang family’s lead, even Princess Consort Liu herself proposed making the Wang family woman the queen when they entered the palace."

The Prime Minister said, "That’s like a wolf, understanding forbearance. Now, the timing they waited for has arrived."

Yan Fangbai said, "Father, what do you think will happen?"

The Prime Minister pondered for a while and said, "If the Wang family hasn’t gone mad, they would imprison the Sovereign until the Queen’s child is born. If it’s a boy, that would be ideal. If it’s a girl, the Wang family... might still adopt one from elsewhere."

Yan Fangbai said in astonishment, "How dare they!"

The Prime Minister said, "They have no choice but to dare.

Speaking of which, those two princesses of Prince Qing are about to give birth soon, perhaps on the same day as the Queen.

Bai’Er, do you know where Prince Qing has gone recently?

I haven’t seen him for a long time."

Yan Fangbai said, "The aftermath of the Three Demon Forms has just erupted, Brother Xuan seeks to suppress the Heart Demon through anonymity.

Normally, he sends letters back, although it’s unclear how he sends them.

Brother Xuan has an unfathomable fortune."

Thinking about it, he spoke about Li Xuan giving him the ’Immortal’s Picture,’ then said, "That picture indeed works effectively, I’ve been observing and immersing myself in it frequently these days. The impact of the Demon Forms on me is gradually fading."

"Such a thing happened..."

The Prime Minister was momentarily stunned and then sighed, "I guess that child of Prince Qing received a shock from the Demon Buddha."

Others might not know, but how could the Prime Minister and Yan Fangbai not know... The ’Buddha Mother’ of Xinci Temple was once Prince Qing’s concubine.

In the eyes of others, a concubine gone is just gone, but Prince Qing values affection and loyalty deeply, he couldn’t possibly think that way.

This is one reason.

As for the second reason, it’s also related to a woman.

The relationship between the abbot of Xinci Temple and Prince Qing is almost universally known.

The Demon Buddha took over Xinci Temple, so the abbot naturally became the Demon Buddha’s abbot.

To some extent, Prince Qing and the Demon Buddha have great enmity.

The Prime Minister sighed and then said, "Bai’Er, take good care of Prince Qing’s Mansion, don’t let any petty villains harm Prince Qing’s family."

Yan Fangbai said, "Brother Xuan’s conduct is admirable, his family is like my family too, I won’t let anything happen to the Li family."

The Prime Minister said, "I heard that the child in the womb of Prince Qing’s wife, surnamed Tian, might be a stillborn. Seek out some renowned doctors to diagnose her."

Yan Fangbai said, "I’ve already sent people over, but all those quack doctors said it’s a stillborn, yet I could faintly feel the child is still alive, only its breath is weak.

They prescribed medication to protect the fetus, and then told me..."

His voice suddenly changed to a man’s tone: "Third Miss, even if the princess’s child isn’t a stillborn, it is sickly, if born, it’ll be either disabled or retarded."

Yan Fangbai said, "I asked him what to do, he only said it’s best to abort the fetus. The Tian family refuses. Recently, I’ve been seeking out the best supplements to send to Prince Qing’s Mansion."

...

In the distance, Li Xuan was also silently listening.

He had always known about Sister Yuan’s situation.

But as Yan Fangbai said, that fetus is indeed just a step away from being a ’stillborn.’

So he prays for peace for Sister Yuan and the fetus from time to time, which is why Yan Fangbai said it’s ’still alive.’

Otherwise, Sister Yuan might truly face ’stillborn’ in her womb.

Li Xuan only has these two seeds; emotionally and logically, he needs to find a way to protect that child.

As for why the fetus is like this?

Li Xuan believes it’s his problem; after all, when he and Sister Yuan were together, his constitution was already very high. Strong seeds in a normal land often produce some issues.

Now, he just hopes Sister Yuan can be safe.

But what surprises him is that the child in Princess Zhao Qingxue’s womb is very healthy, even moving frequently, with the mansion’s doctor saying, "The frequency of this fetal movement has surpassed that of any pregnant woman she’s ever seen."

This made Li Xuan recall the appearance of Little Princess on the bed before, and he couldn’t help but laugh.

One is lively; the other is like a stillborn...