SGT CH154: Giving the Shadow Guard a Pregnancy Fruit

The chief eunuch brought the pregnancy fruit and presented it with his head bowed.

Mousse lifted the bright yellow silk cloth on the tray, revealing a bright red fruit underneath.

It was this fruit, smaller than a fist, that could nurture life.

Mousse’s feelings about the pregnancy fruit were very complicated.

His birth came from a pregnancy fruit.

The old emperor relied on pregnancy fruits to raise Gu, causing a reign of terror inside and outside the palace. Most of the princes lost their lives, and countless people died directly or indirectly because of it.

And now, he was going to use such a fruit on Shadow One.

“Your Majesty?”

Seeing His Majesty not moving for a long time, Li Defu called out in confusion.

“It’s nothing,” Mousse took the pregnancy fruit and said, “You may leave.”

Li Defu bowed and retreated.

Once again, he was the only one left in the hall, and… Shadow One waiting on the bed in the inner chamber.

Mousse returned with the pregnancy fruit.

It was different after all.

He would only have a child with Shadow One, and he wouldn’t let the tragedy repeat itself.

As soon as he stepped into the inner chamber, he saw Shadow One on the bed looking over eagerly.

Mousse laughed and handed him the pregnancy fruit.

But when Shadow One reached out to take it, he used some force to hold onto the fruit.

No matter how anxious Shadow One was, he couldn’t possibly snatch it by force, so he looked up at His Majesty anxiously.

“Shadow One, have you really thought it through? Pregnancy and childbirth are not easy tasks.”

Mousse thought of his mother-consort who passed away when he was born.

Retreat rose in his heart.

His mother-consort was schemed against, frightened, and lost her footing.

At that time, she was already seven months pregnant.

The old saying goes “seven survive, eight don’t.” Mousse, a premature baby of only seven months, actually survived.

But his mother-consort passed away just like that.

If he had to bear the risk of losing Shadow One for the sake of an heir, Mousse would rather not have children.

Meeting the Emperor’s eyes, Shadow One vaguely understood the Emperor’s thoughts.

The death of his master’s mother-consort after childbirth left a deep impact on his master.

His master had not been close to people since childhood. As an adult, compared to the palace maids and female officials in the palace, he preferred to accept a tough man like him as an enlightener, and was always unwilling to marry a wife or take concubines. This was also the reason.

Precisely because he had personally experienced the pain of losing his mother, his master absolutely did not want his child to lose their mother as soon as they were born.

“Please rest assured, Your Majesty. My body is strong. I will definitely be able to give birth to the imperial heir smoothly and take good care of the princes and princesses as they grow up.”

Shadow One truly felt that compared to those delicate people who would make His Majesty worry, a martial artist with a strong body and tough physique like him was more suitable for pregnancy and childbirth.

Mousse believed Shadow One was in good health.

But…

“Princes and princesses…”

Mousse’s face darkened, “How many do you want to have?”

Only then did Shadow One realize he had accidentally spoken his thoughts out loud.

Would His Majesty think he was too greedy?

Shadow One was anxious, but dared not hide it.

“If Your Majesty is willing to grant me favor, naturally… the more the better.”

Shadow One lowered his head and answered.

“The more the better?”

Mousse was exasperated by him, pushed his forehead, and said sternly:

“Just this one, don’t think about anything else.”

Saying that, Mousse handed the pregnancy fruit to him.

Oh…

Shadow One was slightly disappointed, but turned to joy after taking the pregnancy fruit.

Being able to have one child with his master’s bloodline was already excellent.

This was something he hadn’t dared to dream of before.

Afraid his master would change his mind again, Shadow One quickly ate the pregnancy fruit.

“Don’t rush, no one is fighting you for it, don’t choke.”

Seeing Shadow One eat in a hurry, Mousse was worried.

He bent down and sat by the bed, reached out to hug Shadow One, and gently stroked his back.

Hearing this, Shadow One slowed down his movements a little, only taking huge bites when His Majesty wasn’t looking, finishing the entire fruit cleanly in a few breaths.

When His Majesty looked over, Shadow One put his empty hands behind his back, pulled the corners of his mouth, and revealed a slightly stiff but expectant smile.

“Your Majesty, it’s done.”

Mousse pressed his stomach, only feeling warmth, and the abs felt very good to the touch.

Mousse leaned closer, covering him, and whispered in his ear:

“If I go in hard, will it push out the pregnancy fruit you just ate?”

Shadow One’s eyes widened instantly.

He grabbed Mousse’s robes in panic, begging mournfully: “Please be gentle, Your Majesty.”

“Gentle with what? Speak clearly.”

Mousse forced him to continue.

“Enter me gently.”

Shadow One realized how dissolute these words were only after saying them, and fell silent abruptly.

Only a pair of eyes continued to look pleadingly at the Emperor on top of him.

Mousse continued to tease him, “Aren’t you physically strong? What? Can’t handle a heavier force?”

Shadow One was always single-minded and couldn’t distinguish between joking teasing and real anger.

Seeing his master doubt his endurance, he could only say: “I can handle it, no matter how heavy.”

“Then do you still want it gentle?” Mousse pressed.

Shadow One paused, lowered his eyes and whispered:

“No, no need. Please enjoy yourself, Your Majesty.”

He was confused. How could he let his master accommodate him?

His master just needed to enjoy himself. How to keep the pregnancy fruit in his belly was his business.

“Then I will enjoy favoring you to my heart’s content.”

Mousse chuckled softly in Shadow One’s ear, his hands exploring Shadow One’s strong and beautiful body.

Shadow One’s ears grew hot from his master’s laughter.

He only held his breath and opened himself up following his master’s movements.

Of course, Mousse couldn’t really toss Shadow One around recklessly.

And he didn’t need to toss him recklessly. Just a sudden deep thrust was enough to scare Shadow One into clinging to him in panic.

Especially interesting.

Mousse bullied Shadow One all afternoon, tidied up simply, had dinner in Shadow One’s palace, and then continued to take Shadow One to bed, touching and hugging him.

“Shadow One, do you think there’s a child in here? If it didn’t take, this pregnancy fruit will become invalid. The next pregnancy fruit won’t ripen for another half year.”

Mousse stroked Shadow One’s full belly, pretending to be worried to trick him.

Shadow One didn’t know much about pregnancy fruits and was easily deceived, worry rising in his heart.

Although His Majesty had irrigated him a lot, what if he just didn’t conceive?

“Your Majesty,” Shadow One gritted his teeth slightly, speaking with difficulty: “Could you favor me one more time?”

One more time, the probability of success would be higher, right?

“I’ve been plowing all afternoon.”

Mousse lay still. When Shadow One showed a desolate expression, he said:

“If you want it, come get it yourself.”

Shadow One’s eyes lit up instantly.

Saying a quick “Thank you, Your Majesty,” he burrowed under the quilt, striving to get it himself.

In the end, they tossed until midnight before finally resting.

Mousse was completely satisfied and extremely sleepy, sleeping until dawn.

When he woke up and reached out, he found the space beside him empty?

Mousse sat up blankly, opened his eyes and looked around, seeing Shadow One, already fully dressed, walking in from outside.

“Is Your Majesty getting up? I will serve you to change clothes.”

Shadow One came to the bedside and bent down to serve.

“What did you do early in the morning?”

Mousse yawned and asked.

“Morning exercise, saw the imperial physician for pulse diagnosis, made breakfast for Your Majesty.”

Shadow One listed them one by one.

Mousse: “…”

He deliberately tossed Shadow One for so long yesterday, but Shadow One acted as if nothing happened early in the morning, going for morning exercise and martial arts practice.

Clearly, when he was favored last night, he looked like he couldn’t bear it and was about to collapse from the thrusts, yet he turned around and went for morning exercise.

Look at that spirit, as if he could beat down two hundred imperial guards.

This recovery ability was impressive.

“Wait, saw the imperial physician for pulse diagnosis?”

Mousse was startled, hurriedly pulled Shadow One over to look him up and down, asking nervously:

“What happened? Did an old injury flare up? Or did I overdo it last night and… break you?”

Shadow One shook his head and said:

“My body is fine. I just wanted to check if I was pregnant, but the imperial physician said it would take about two months to confirm.”

Shadow One sighed slightly with regret as he spoke.

It wasn’t that he didn’t know it couldn’t be confirmed immediately, he was just too excited and desperate for an answer.

Mousse: “…”

Speechless.

“Just put your heart back in your stomach, there will be one.” Mousse said.

Even the old Emperor in that ghostly state could produce a dozen children in a month.

He focused all his energy on Shadow One alone; there was no reason it wouldn’t work.

If this didn’t result in a pregnancy, he would have people dig up the sacred tree by the roots overnight and burn it clean.

However, Shadow One knowing to call the imperial physician was a good thing.

If Shadow One was still a shadow guard, or his “dog,” even if he was seriously injured and dying, he would never take the initiative to find a doctor.

At least, after becoming his consort, Shadow One knew how to exercise the power in his hands.

He knew, but didn’t seem to know fully.

“Since when did my beloved consort need to make breakfast personally? Are all the people in the Imperial Kitchen dead?”

Mousse asked in confusion.

Shadow One didn’t notice the term of endearment the Emperor used for him.

He thought the Emperor said “Consort Ai” (Ai Fei – a pun on ‘beloved consort’ and Shadow One’s surname ‘Ai’).

Although the Emperor habitually called him “Shadow One,” the name written in the conferment document was “Ai Ke.”

He should be Consort Ai.

Shadow One replied: “I heard that consorts throughout history would seek favor by personally making soup for the Emperor.”

And this happened to be something Shadow One knew how to do.

Originally he didn’t know much.

But having taken care of the First Prince back then, cooking for the First Prince for many years, he gradually learned.

Shadow One answered seriously, but there was actually only one meaning in his words.

—I want to please you, I want you to like me.

Mousse couldn’t help but be moved by this.

“Alright, let me taste your cooking. I haven’t… eaten the food you made for a long time either.”

Very nostalgic.

However, there was one thing to clarify.

“You don’t need to be too honest and actually make everything yourself. Just give instructions, or watch them make it from the side.”

Only he, the Emperor, would teach a consort how to do superficial work in the matter of vying for favor, right?

Mainly because Shadow One was really single-minded. If he didn’t tell him, he would really cook every dish himself.

Today was different from the past.

Back in the First Prince’s palace, the two of them could eat happily with just two dishes.

Now that he was Emperor, a meal usually involved dozens of dishes.

Even though Mousse was an Emperor who didn’t care much for food and deliberately ordered the servants to reduce the number of dishes, there were still a dozen dishes per meal.

Cooking them one by one, how long would that take?

He asked Shadow One to be his beloved consort, not his cook.

“Thank you for your guidance, Your Majesty. I understand.”

Shadow One actually wanted to do everything himself.

But he didn’t dare to compare his cooking skills with the imperial chefs in the palace.

He couldn’t possibly not let his master eat the delicacies made by the imperial chefs and only eat his stuff, right?

Although every time he made food, his master would eat it cleanly to support him.

But that was only because there was no choice at the time.

Shadow One still had some self-knowledge about his own cooking skills.

Edible, yes, and absolutely non-toxic, wouldn’t cause a stomach ache. As for anything else…

Whether it was delicious or could win favor depended purely on how many points His Majesty was willing to give him based on their past affection.

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