Many children, many blessings: Stealing the offspring of powerful figures to cultivate immortality.

"Alright!"

Jiang Yining stood up, and because she stood up so quickly, her head swayed for a moment.

Three hands reached out at the same time, firmly supporting her arms and waist.

Ji Lingxiao grabbed her left wrist, Bai Ze wrapped his arm around her waist, and Chu Sikong grabbed her right wrist.

The three exchanged a glance, sparks flying through the air.

"Let go, all of you!"

Jiang Yining gave a low shout, and her acting skills instantly came online.

Her eyes reddened, and tears welled up instantly, making her look like a wronged wife.

"The baby has only just settled in your belly, and you're already arguing like this."

"Is this child merely a tool in your power struggle?!"

Her crying instantly threw the three grown men into a panic.

Bai Ze was the first to surrender, letting go and frantically wiping away her tears.

"Ningning, don't cry. I was wrong. My mouth was filthy. I deserve to die!"

As he spoke, he actually raised his hand and slapped himself hard across the face.

Ji Lingxiao stood frozen in place, his icy blue eyes filled with helplessness.

He handled state affairs with ease, but he had never dealt with a woman's tears.

"Don't cry."

His voice softened considerably, carrying a hint of clumsy coaxing.

"That's not what I meant... I will protect any child who is yours."

Chu Sikong immediately knelt down on one knee, hugged Jiang Yining's leg, and pressed his face against her lower abdomen.

"My dear wife, please don't be angry. You'll only hurt yourself. No matter whose child it is, I will treat it as my own."

Jiang Yining sneered inwardly. Treat him like her own son? I think you just want to be a legitimate father figure.

But this chaotic scene has finally been temporarily suppressed.

"To appease the Chu family, and also to make this child's status legitimate..."

Jiang Yining, sobbing, unleashed her trump card.

"Until the child is born, you... are not allowed to mention this again."

"I'm going to test you."

"Whoever performs the best, I'll... I'll spend a few more days with them."

This is practically treating three men as potential concubines.

But surprisingly, all three men showed expressions of deep thought.

"Okay," Ji Lingxiao was the first to agree.

"I'm sure I'll win!" Bai Ze clenched his fist.

"I'm really looking forward to it, my wife." Chu Sikong smiled gently.

Jiang Yining breathed a sigh of relief.

Finally, I can have a few days of peace and quiet.

But she forgot that this kind of balance is like building a snowman on a powder keg.

As soon as the sun came out, it all melted.

Two days later, it was Chu's mother's birthday, and with Jiang Yining pregnant, they decided to throw a big celebration.

The entire Chu household was so busy they barely had time to breathe.

Bright red lanterns hung throughout the corridors, and festive red silk stretched from the main hall all the way to the gate of the mansion.

Mother Chu sat in the main seat, looking several years younger, and couldn't stop smiling.

"Ningning, thank you for your hard work."

Chu's mother held Jiang Yining's hand and touched it again and again.

"Our Chu family has survived a great calamity and is sure to be blessed with good fortune. Now that you are pregnant, it must be Jinglan's spirit in heaven protecting us."

"Mother, don't worry, the banquet is all prepared."

After comforting Chu's mother, Jiang Yining walked out of the main hall. As soon as she turned a corner, she bumped into someone's arms.

Ji Lingxiao was dressed in a dark-colored casual outfit, which, although not as imposing as his court robes, exuded a sense of oppression.

He held in his hand a string of extremely rare blood-red Buddhist prayer beads.

"Put it on."

He pulled Jiang Yining's hand and, without saying a word, fastened the Buddhist prayer beads onto her fair wrist.

"This bead has been blessed; it can calm the mind and soothe the nerves, and it can also... ward off some messy and evil spirits."

As he said this, his eyes swept menacingly toward the shadows behind the artificial hill.

Behind the artificial hill, Bai Ze jumped out carrying a newly made wooden sword.

"You surnamed Ji, who are you calling evil?!"

His stubble was neatly shaved, clearly a deliberate act for tomorrow's birthday banquet.

"Ningning, look at the toy I made for the child!"

He handed over the wooden sword as if it were a treasure.

"Regardless of gender, practice swordsmanship first! If anyone dares to bully you two in the future, just stab them through with one sword!"

Jiang Yining looked at the exquisite wooden sword, her lips twitching.

"Sister, don't listen to them."

Chu Sikong's voice sounded from behind. He was sitting in a wheelchair, being pushed slowly by Old Zhao.

He held a guqin in his arms, and his slender fingers plucked a clear note.

"Prenatal education is very important. If you listen to those who advocate killing and fighting, your child will have a bad temper and be difficult to raise in the future."

"Let's listen to the zither and cultivate our character."

The three met again on the eve of the birthday celebration in the back garden.

"Shut up, all of you!"

Jiang Yining had a splitting headache.

"Tomorrow is Mother's birthday, and officials of all ranks from the capital will be coming."

"Of the three of you, one is the Grand Secretary, one is a general, and one is the head of the Chu family..."

"If anyone notices anything amiss, I might as well hang myself at the gate of the Chu residence!"

These words were so harsh that they successfully silenced all three men.

Jiang Yining began to arrange her troops.

"Ji Lingxiao, you are of noble status and are responsible for taking the lead. You are in charge of dealing with those officials who want to curry favor with you."

Ji Lingxiao nodded, her gentle smile as clear as the sun after a snowfall, full of tenderness.

Jiang Yining stared at him for a long time, then Bai Ze quickly tugged at her arm: "What about me?"

"General Bai, you are a military officer, responsible for patrolling the security of the mansion."

Bai Ze straightened his back: "Leave it to me, I guarantee not even a fly will be able to get in!"

"As for Sikong..."

Jiang Yining softened her tone.

"Your health isn't good, so just stay with your mother."

Chu Sikong figured he was benefiting from being a "family member," so he agreed.

The next day.

The area in front of the Chu residence was bustling with carriages and people, and the congratulatory gifts were piled up like mountains.

Officials in the capital were whispering among themselves, saying that the widow of the Chu family was very capable, able to get the Grand Secretary and the General to come and oversee things.

But under the oppressive aura of the two great gods, Ji Lingxiao and Bai Ze, no one dared to show the slightest disrespect.

"The old lady has arrived!"

A servant shouted loudly.

Jiang Yining helped Chu's mother slowly walk into the main hall.

She wore a pomegranate red dress today, which made her look radiant, and the red mole between her eyebrows shone brightly.

Ji Lingxiao sat in the first seat on the left, his gaze never leaving her.

Bai Ze, with his hand on the hilt of his sword, stood on one side of the hall, looking just like a guardian deity.

Just as everyone raised their glasses, preparing to celebrate Chu's mother's birthday, and the atmosphere reached its peak.

"Bang--!"

The gates of the Chu residence were pushed open from the outside.

The laughter and chatter came to an abrupt end.

Everyone turned to look at the doorway.

A tall figure slowly walked in.

He was followed by a woman with a delicate appearance.

The man removed his cloak, revealing a handsome face with striking features and a radiant glow.

That face...

Jiang Yining's pupils contracted sharply, and she tightened her grip on Chu's mother's hand.

Apart from having a bit more masculinity and a more murderous aura than Chu Sikong, they are almost identical.

"How could I be absent from Mother's birthday celebration?"

Chu Jinglan looked at his stunningly beautiful but horrified wife: "I'm back."