After becoming pregnant, the cold-hearted nobles all went mad.

"How come I didn't know that the so-called goddess was a eunuch?"

Pei Heng gripped her delicate neck, its soft touch sending chills down his spine. With just a little force, he could take her life.

Upon reflection, it's clear that the Gu worms had coexisted peacefully with him for years, and no one had ever known about them. The fact that this person could cause the Gu worms to become agitated upon arrival is highly suspicious. The man's eyes were frighteningly clear at this moment, showing no signs of his mind being affected by the Gu worms.

Shen Lingyi, however, seemed unafraid. "The palace is heavily guarded. Without disguise, it would be difficult to get close to His Majesty." Her almond-shaped eyes sparkled with affection. Pei Heng was only distracted for a moment, and she succeeded. The thin veil covering her eyes instantly obscured her vision, and the snow-white figure that had been shimmering before her eyes disappeared.

"How dare you!" Shen Lingyi tied a tight knot behind his head, giggling as she leaned closer, "There's more to come later."

The palace remained as quiet as ever. Pei Heng disliked palace servants getting close, so everyone kept to themselves, except when they were on duty, lest they incur the emperor's wrath. Thus, no one knew what erotic scene was unfolding in the Zichen Palace.

"Your Majesty...be gentle."

"That's it, do it my way." In the swaying gauze curtains, Shen Lingyi hooked her arms around the man's neck, her small hands gliding like fish across his Adam's apple, sliding into his chest and stopping, circling around him.

Having suffered from the Gu worms for many years, Pei Heng loathed being controlled by them and thus never touched a woman. He never knew that love between men and women could be so intoxicating and soul-stirring.

He couldn't even tell whether he was influenced by the Gu worm or controlled by the woman more. Subconsciously, he wanted to go along with her wishes, to make her happy, and to make her charming and graceful.

As dawn broke, the air inside the imperial tent still carried the scent of their passionate lovemaking. Shen Lingyi struggled to break free from Pei Heng's gripping hands. She had to admit, the emperor, with his vast harem, was indeed vigorous and virile; she had never been touched before, and she couldn't be more satisfied.

She stroked her slightly swollen belly, wondering if a pleasant surprise would unfold overnight. Unfortunately, time was running out for her.

The eunuchs bribed by Xu Yanqing had already knocked on the door twice. The agreement was that Shen Lingyi had to leave by the third knock, otherwise she would be in big trouble if caught. Shen Lingyi lifted the bed curtains. The man was still asleep. With his eyes closed, he no longer had the murderous aura of the previous night. His sword-like eyebrows were slightly furrowed as if he was unhappy. Just looking at him, it was impossible to imagine that he was actually the emperor.

Even the arrogant crown prince had to obediently call him "Father Emperor" when he saw him.

She took off the pearl hairpin from her hair and placed it in his palm. "Come find me obediently after you wake up." A eunuch's hushed voice came from outside the door: "Miss, we should go!"

"Okay." Shen Lingyi followed the eunuch, and after walking a few steps, she saw a carriage quietly parked at the palace gate. Looking at the sky, which had only just begun to brighten, she was truly surprised.

Could it be that Xu Yanqing had been waiting for her all night? "Your Highness, I've kept you waiting." After boarding the carriage, she subtly observed the prince. Xu Yanqing's features were indeed less expressive than usual, and there were faint dark circles under his eyes. But... what did it have to do with her? Shen Lingyi was filled with gratitude: "Thanks to Your Highness for your help. Don't worry, I will definitely repay the favor and put in a good word for you with my sister." Little did she know that Xu Yanqing was also observing her. He hadn't meant to look away, but his observation immediately revealed his true intentions.

Shen Lingyi's hair was slightly disheveled, and every smile and frown was full of captivating charm. It was clear that she had come in a hurry, as her clothes were not buttoned up properly, and a faint red mark on her exposed collarbone was extremely conspicuous. Xu Yanqing felt a surge of anger rush to his head and blurted out, "Did you really do such a shameful thing with His Majesty?!" Shen Lingyi only found him amusing, but her face remained innocent and gentle.

"What do you mean by 'unseemly'? Your Highness's words are rather hurtful. Our dynasty has always been known for its open-mindedness; it's common for men and women to pair up when they're attracted to each other. Your Majesty is in the prime of your life and is handsome; isn't it normal for me to be moved?"

"Are you allowed to have private conversations with my sister and confide in her, but I'm not allowed to have feelings for her?"

"You...you're in love with His Majesty?" Xu Yanqing was surprised. He thought she was just joking before, but he didn't expect Shen Lingyi to be serious. "Of course," Shen Lingyi lowered her head slightly, her shy and timid appearance making him even more complicated.

"Who could dislike His Majesty?"

Xu Yanqing suppressed the sour taste rising on his tongue, and although he wanted to speak several times, he ultimately gave up. Shen Lingyi had once pursued him relentlessly, and he had thought she was truly infatuated with him, and had even secretly loathed her infatuation.

He had thought that if he weren't the Crown Prince, Shen Lingyi's arrogant and domineering nature might not have made her interested in him; she was no match for Shen Tingjiao. But now that she had actually gone after someone else, he felt uneasy.

"Driver, take Miss Shen back to her residence." As soon as the carriage left the palace gates, chaos erupted inside. Pei Heng immediately ordered the palace gates locked and all palace servants who had approached the bedchamber the previous night to be investigated.

Inside the hall.

The Grand Eunuch, trembling, asked, "Your Majesty, you've checked all the palace maids and eunuchs who were on duty at the Zichen Palace last night, but you still haven't found the person you're looking for?"

Pei Heng rested his chin on his hand, staring lazily at the pearl flower in his hand, and said languidly, "Didn't I order that not even a mosquito was allowed to fly in? What have you all been doing?"

The chief eunuch knelt down with a "plop," and the rest of the people followed suit.

Pei Heng didn't even raise his eyes. Seeing the pearl hairpin reminded him of the woman from the previous night, and the things she had seduced and coaxed him into doing when he wasn't looking. For an emperor, this was an utter disgrace.

Strangely, he wasn't very angry; he only wanted to find the woman who claimed to be a "goddess." The words she had spoken the previous night flashed through his mind: "I am a goddess sent down from heaven, destined to help the human emperor."

"To carry on the will of Heaven, govern the land, care for the people, and raise the dragon's offspring."

To raise a dragon's offspring?

Pei Heng ordered: "Find someone to take this pearl hairpin and secretly go to the jewelry store to find out who bought it. Then convey my decree, ordering the palace to prepare for a selection of officials. All officials of the fourth rank or above who have a daughter of marriageable age and are not engaged should be included in the selection."

The Grand Eunuch stared wide-eyed, never expecting such a dramatic turn of events. For years, Pei Heng had been determined not to hold a selection of concubines, no matter how the court officials tried to persuade him. But today, he had suddenly changed his mind!

"This servant will go and inform the Empress Dowager immediately."

"No, I want to handle it myself." Pei Heng stopped him from running to Shou Kang Palace to report, after all, it wasn't really about selecting candidates, it was just about finding that pretentious little thing.

Wasn't she using the pretext of wanting to produce an heir for him? Then he would give her that chance and catch her like a turtle in a jar again.