Chapter 42: Brother

Imperial City, Kunning Palace.

“Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations! The Empress is with child.”

The elderly Imperial Physician stood up and congratulated Li Yuhan, who was standing nearby.

“Is this really true?”

“Your Majesty, it is absolutely certain. I dare swear on my life and name.”

“Hahaha, very good, very good! Someone, reward Imperial Physician Jiang with five hundred taels of gold and a hundred acres of fertile land.”

Li Yuhan laughed openly.

Having ruled for over a decade, now at the age of thirty, he finally had his first child.

The Li family was short on heirs.

Some previous emperors had only one lineage; others had no children at all.

Li Yuhan’s biological father was a regional prince titled Yong King.

Had the Late Emperor had any children, the throne would never have passed to Li Yuhan.

Shortly after Li Yuhan ascended, ministers began urging him to establish a proper Empress and take more concubines.

He had married many concubines over the years, but even after more than ten years, there had been no news of any pregnancies in the harem.

Among all the consorts, it was Empress Yun Zhiruo and Noble Consort Ye Xiya who had accompanied Li Yuhan the longest, ever since his second year on the throne.

The Empress was understanding and considerate.

Whenever Li Yuhan was bullied or wronged by powerful ministers in court, she would gently comfort him.

“Your Majesty, rest assured, I will always stand by your side.”

Though the Empress also hailed from one of the Five Great Clans, Li Yuhan trusted her deeply.

Over the years, the Empress had subtly hinted to Li Yuhan about wanting a child, but nothing had come of it.

Li Yuhan even suspected something might be wrong with himself and felt guilty toward her.

After waiting so many years, the joyful news finally arrived.

Li Yuhan had not felt this happy in a long time.

If only he could share this news with Yu Luo—he would surely be delighted for me.

Yu Luo’s disappearance was Li Yuhan’s greatest worry.

Although they had identified a suspect—Zhang Qingyao of the Zhang family in Ningzhou—no one had yet found his whereabouts, let alone Yu Luo’s.

The Dali Court had already sent urgent riders to Ningzhou.

If Zhang Qingyao’s location remained unknown, Li Yuhan would not hesitate to bring the entire Zhang family to the capital.

After the Imperial Physician took his leave, Li Yuhan looked at the Empress leaning against the bed, exhaustion plain on her face, and felt a pang of sympathy.

He sat beside Yun Zhiruo, took her hand, and gently kissed the back of it.

“Empress, you have worked hard.”

The Empress smiled and shook her head, saying,

“I am not tired. To bear the Emperor a dragon son brings me great joy.”

“Rest well. I will come back later.”

Leaving Kunning Palace and heading back to Jiaqing Palace, Li Yuhan heard that voice nagging beside him again.

“Congratulations, Li Yuhan, fathering a child late in life—truly not easy.”

“I’m not even thirty yet. How is this ‘late’?”

Li Yuhan retorted, bantering with the person beside him.

The two eunuchs trailing behind seemed deaf and blind to their exchange, silently following Li Yuhan.

“Hahaha, what’s wrong with your expression? Planning to go easy on me because your Empress is from the Yun family? Afraid she might resent you?”

Li Yuhan turned his head away, refusing to answer.

“Hey, hey, no need to be so serious. Giving up a long-planned revenge for the sake of your beloved girl isn’t shameful. I won’t mock you.”

The man said with a cheerful smile,

“Don’t worry, brother, I understand you. The Empress will understand you too.”

“I say…”

Li Yuhan stopped walking and said coldly,

“Could you stop speaking to me while looking like my brother? You’re not him.”

“But he’s gone now, isn’t he? His fate unknown. If you don’t mind, I can be your brother.”

“Get lost, don’t disgust me. You were so arrogant to me not long ago, now suddenly this attitude—I’m not used to it. Besides, don’t you claim to be a God King of the Upper Realm? A God King calling me ‘brother’—if other God Kings or Supremes heard that, wouldn’t they laugh at you?”

“It’s okay not to be used to it now; you’ll get there eventually. Besides, God Kings are human too. I climbed up from being a mortal, and with my help, you can definitely become a God King too.”

“Maybe later. I still prefer hiding out in this remote little kingdom, living as a happy emperor all my life.”

Li Yuhan quickened his pace, trying to shake off this annoying presence.

“But are you happy now, brother?”

The man who looked exactly like Yu Luo followed closely behind.

The Emperor suddenly quickened his steps, and the palace maids and eunuchs behind felt puzzled but kept silent.

Li Yuhan snapped irritably,

“I’m very happy, why would you think otherwise? I eat well, drink well, sleep well here in the palace—who could be happier than me? I have my loving Empress, a stunning Noble Consort, and now a child on the way. You ask if I’m happy?”

“Hahahaha…”

After hearing Li Yuhan’s long speech,

“Yu Luo”

clutched his belly and laughed heartily.

“What are you laughing at? What’s so funny?”

Li Yuhan grew anxious.

“Hahaha, Li Yuhan, you don’t really believe you still have fertility, do you?”

Li Yuhan’s expression changed dramatically.

“What do you mean by that?”

“Don’t forget, I’m also stored inside your body. I know your physical condition and innate talents thoroughly. Li Yuhan, your reproductive function died long ago. It’s never coming back.”

Li Yuhan’s face turned pale, lips trembling.

“Didn’t I practice the ‘Blood Nether Technique’ you taught me? Since training that, I’ve felt completely different. My physical constitution has improved with my cultivation. That should mean my fertility is restored, right?”

“It’s useless. Your function was strangled in the cradle during your developmental period, over ten years ago. No cultivation method will help you now.”

“Developmental period… You mean it wasn’t natural… Could it be—?”

“That’s right. Your function was normal originally, but starting from when you ascended at fourteen, abnormalities appeared. And it seems you’ve never stopped taking those medicines. After all these years, not even immortals can save you. If you hadn’t practiced my technique, you probably wouldn’t even be able to get an erection now.”

The news hit Li Yuhan like a thunderbolt.

He stood frozen, face pale and trembling all over.

Seeing the Emperor stop at the entrance of his chamber without going in, a eunuch behind couldn’t help but ask,

“Your Majesty? Your Majesty?”

“Brother, have you ever considered switching careers and becoming a eunuch?”

Seeing Li Yuhan’s suffering,

“Yu Luo’s”

smile grew even brighter.

“So… whose child is the Empress carrying?”

“Who knows? Certainly not yours.”

Maybe there wasn’t a pregnancy at all.

But “Yu Luo” didn’t say this aloud.

“Why…?”

“Why treat me like this?”

Seeing Li Yuhan’s heart-wrenching expression, a trace of amusement flickered in “Yu Luo’s” eyes.

That’s it.

Just like this.

“Accept me, brother. Let those who have wronged us all pay the price.”