Chapter 231: Chapter 103: Five Demon Forms, Royal Capital in Chaos, Heir Arrives, Thunderous Chant as Demon Devours Zen

However, reality is often more cruel than fate.

A flash of a blade appeared, and the young man’s head flew off.

The horse carried the headless body galloping onward, then the body toppled, falling into the undergrowth.

The killer slowly walked over, continuing to destroy the evidence...

...

...

In September, the Prime Minister also received the news, saying that demons were causing havoc, the Liu family was annihilated, and the late king’s eldest son disappeared that night, whereabouts unknown. They are now searching everywhere for him.

Yan Fujing rubbed his forehead, looked at the "Yellow-robed Beauty" delivering the information, and sighed: "What is the Wang family doing!"

After saying this, he thought for a moment and added, "This absolutely isn’t the work of Wang Baxian.

That old kid and I have battled all our lives, such a stupid and disastrous thing he truly wouldn’t do.

Demons causing havoc? Covering one’s ears while stealing a bell, who would be fooled by that?

The rain comes quickly and goes quickly, such a foundation is unstable."

The Prime Minister muttered, cursing: "What awful things have they done!"

Yan Fangbai added, "But besides Wang Baxian, who else can command such a grand scheme?"

Yan Fujing shook his head, indicating he either didn’t know or didn’t wish to guess, just casually saying: "Whoever it is, by the end of the year it will surely be revealed.

This winter, whoever sends their messenger to Xinci Temple to offer incense to the Buddha is the one plotting."

Immediately, he changed the subject and said, "Fangbai, make sure to block the news outside Xiongshan County, Zhao Qingxue mustn’t find out her elder brother is dead. It’s a critical time for her delivery now, we can’t let her get emotional, affecting the birth."

Yan Fangbai nodded solemnly, "Won’t affect Brother Xuan’s offspring."

...

...

Autumn.

Though all things are withering, and yellow leaves dance in the sky, Prince Qing’s Mansion, however, is blessed with double joy!

The young Li Zhili, displaying the elegant demeanor of a scholar, rode a great horse back from Cyan Wood Province, merely fourteen years old, yet already excelling in the autumn exams.

Though he’s lacking compared to his extraordinary and dominant elder brother, he truly is a favored son of heaven.

This is the first joy.

The other joy comes from one of the bedrooms in the eastern residence of Prince Qing’s Mansion.

The clear, powerful crying of a newborn broke the silence there.

Yet the midwife cradling the child dared not loudly announce the joy.

Slumped in bed, covered in sweat and extremely weak, Zhao Qingxue softly asked: "Is it a boy or girl?"

Only then did the midwife react, squeezing out a jubilant smile: "Congratulations, Princess Consort, it’s a girl."

Zhao Qingxue rejoiced and said, "Let me see..."

The midwife brought the baby to her.

Zhao Qingxue took one look, seeing the girl’s eyes tightly shut, yet as if sensing her gaze, the tender eyelids slightly lifted, revealing a glimpse of light, then actually opened.

Those eyes were distinctly black and white, clear as the purest stream, the darkest night.

Unable to hold back, Zhao Qingxue affectionately exclaimed: "Oh, my little darling."

Soon enough, the little girl was wrapped up and handed to the Madam. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

Madam had already recited countless scriptures and burnt innumerable incense for this child.

At this moment, gazing at the girl, her eyes were full of doting love, though she scolded: "Prince Qing, really! Your own child is born, yet you aren’t back, what on earth keeps you busy?"

Beside her, Tian Yuan, still heavily pregnant, gently comforted, "Mother-in-law, don’t get angry, my husband’s cultivation technique is difficult to practice, it’s already extremely not easy for him."

Madam sighed, but didn’t pursue it further, only glancing at Zhao Qingxue and asking: "Qingxue, did Prince Qing discuss the child’s name with you?"

Zhao Qingxue, struggling and about to speak, was gently interrupted by Tian Yuan who said, "Sister, rest," then addressed the Madam: "My husband mentioned in letters to us sisters, if the child is a boy, he would be named Li Jin, for ’progress’.

If a girl, then Li Jing, for ’tranquility’.

Prince Qing said, a simple name is best."

Madam laughed, "Simple it is..."

And with that, she lovingly cradled the newborn girl, softly saying, "Little darling, from now on you shall be called Li Jing."

Then, she gently rubbed the baby’s swaddle with her cheek, and called: "Xiaojing, Xiaojing..."

The baby lifted her eyes, sweeping around the surroundings with her distinctly black and white, beautiful eyes, as if calmly inspecting who and what were around. Then she shut them again, softly exhaling, seemingly reassured, before bursting into cries once more.

Madam chuckled, "Xiaojing is hungry."

Li Xuan gazed at this harmonious scene, feeling utterly delighted.

For the safety of his loved ones, he couldn’t return to the mansion, but at this moment, the birth of his daughter let him wholly feel the sentiment of being a father.

From afar, he looked at the baby girl’s clean face, his heart naturally swelling with an immense, doting love.

...

The leaves all fell in late autumn.

Tian Yuan remained with her belly swollen.

That fetus just wouldn’t move.

Tian Yuan, caressing her belly, said: "Xiaojin, don’t rush, take your time..."

Her face bore the gentleness of a mother.

As for why she believed it was a son, she merely felt the little one’s frame was too large, surely not a girl’s.

Meanwhile, Zhao Qingxue held the baby, joyfully playing, seemingly having forgotten Prince Qing once the child was born.

Xinci Temple, too, welcomed a patron from the capital.

The patron spent lavishly, then reverently addressed the abbot of Xinci Temple, "I am Wang Changchun, brother to the Empress Dowager, here today on her behalf to pay respects to the Buddha, also seeking to enter monastic life... Abbot, please grant my wish."

Jing Miao, having experienced much, has also matured by now. Moreover, in the past, she would often sit before the Buddha at night, intently listening to the teachings, thus being very attuned to the Buddha’s thoughts.