Although Xu Xing was still in the Storing Truth Realm, his constitution was close to Innate. The Evergreen Qi he possessed already had some of the power of Innate True Qi. Furthermore, his Evergreen Body was an Innate constitution. The Evergreen Qi refined from this body, though not yet capable of extending lifespans or performing miracles, could easily nourish Shi Yuyan’s depleted body.
Moreover, the reason Shi Yuyan had been on the brink of death was her will to die. If I die, Xu Xing will receive good treatment from Lady Wu and the Marquis Mansion. Thus, she had been forcing herself toward death. However, if Xu Xing treated Shi Yuyan and gave her hope, her will to die would not be so strong. With the nourishment of the Evergreen Qi, her survival was quite likely.
「Shooting Sun Marquis Mansion. Yuhua Studio.」
Shi Yuyan stared in astonishment at the azure True Qi flowing from her child’s body. Under the influence of this True Qi, her vitality was reawakened and restored. Even the long-dormant and depleted Ancient Blood of Dream Tapir within her showed signs of stirring.
"An Innate Saint?" she murmured. "No wonder those people intentionally intercepted me when Mom was pregnant with you, trying to eliminate you." Her voice softened. "They didn’t want you to be born."
Shi Yuyan affectionately stroked the baby in the swaddling clothes.
In that short moment, her withered hair fell away, and three thousand strands of black hair cascaded over her shoulders once more. Simultaneously, her sallow, darkened skin regained its jade-like luster, emitting a soft, radiant glow.
A small Silver Meng Shadow slowly materialized behind her.
If the Shooting Sun Marchioness saw this, she would be astounded. Shi Yuyan, whom she had marginalized and who had willingly humbled herself, was actually a powerhouse at the Totem Realm!
A Warrior of the Totem Realm, by choosing to serve the Imperial Court in the Great Jiang Dynasty, could be enfeoffed at least as a county marquis! It was worth noting that Shooting Sun Marquis Wuyi himself was currently only a county marquis, fictitiously enfeoffed with Shooting Sun County.
Moreover, women with profound cultivation were even rarer under the sky. Whether they entered the palace to become a divine concubine or joined the army, such paths were vastly superior to remaining a mere concubine in the small Shooting Sun Marquis Mansion, referring to herself as a servant.
The Evergreen Qi stimulated the awakening of the bloodline within her body? Xu Xing mused, somewhat uncertain. He had initially assumed Shi Yuyan was an ordinary woman. After all, based on his observations over the past three months, her behavior seemed no different from that of any common woman: she slept, ate, drank, and did embroidery.
"Xing Er, since you were born an Innate Saint..." Shi Yuyan’s extraordinary aura gradually receded. "Then the Shooting Sun Marquis Mansion is no longer suitable for you. If your constitution is exposed, you will certainly provoke Lady Wu’s jealousy, and your life will be in danger. Your father, the Marquis, is a ruthless man..."
She held her baby in her arms, her resolve firm.
If my child were born with a weak constitution, making it difficult to achieve much in martial arts, then considering Lady Wu’s pride, she would likely keep her promise. She would maintain her stance as the main wife and grant him the normal treatment due to an illegitimate son. But my son was born an Innate Saint. One born an Innate Saint is destined for great achievements and fortune. Even if "Wu Xing" is not favored by Shooting Sun Marquis Wuyi, his talent alone is enough to threaten the position of the Marquis Mansion’s legitimate heir. Once I die, the fate of "Wu Xing" is all too predictable.
I must get him out of the Marquis Mansion...
Shi Yuyan paced inside the house, her expression fraught with anxiety.
Five months ago, to evade those hunting her, she had no choice but to seek refuge at the Shooting Sun Marquis Mansion, entering as a concubine. The prestige of Shooting Sun Marquis Wuyi had indeed deterred her pursuers. At the time, she had also hoped to allow her unborn child to acknowledge his ancestry. But entering the Marquis Mansion was like falling into a vast sea; easy to enter, yet exceedingly difficult to leave.
Setting aside her enemies outside, Shooting Sun Marquis Wuyi himself would not easily permit her to leave. Wu Yi adhered strictly to Confucian principles, believing that for a woman to show her face in public was unchaste. Given that she was his concubine, the consequences of her leaving the Marquis Mansion without permission were unimaginable.
Xing Er, for your sake... Mom has no other choice but to accept this disgrace.
Having pondered late into the night, Shi Yuyan finally stopped pacing, a resigned sigh escaping her lips. She had thought long and hard, only to realize that with her current power, she could not possibly persuade Shooting Sun Marquis Wuyi to allow her to leave the Marquis Mansion and live elsewhere.
Previously, without Lady Wu’s consent, she had only managed to get a little Yellow Wild Rhinoceros milk for the baby by begging an old granny in the kitchens. And when Huang Zhu learned of this, she had rushed to Yuhua Studio to reprimand her. Throughout this entire period, Wu Yi had not even shown his face.
Shi Yuyan clenched her silver teeth, took out a Brocade Carp Jade Pendant, and crushed it. With a light CRACK, the jade pendant shattered, dissolving into specks of white light before vanishing.
Even four months ago, when facing a life-or-death crisis, she had not considered asking Kou Chun for help even once. But now, she had no alternative. Wu Yi was unwilling to acknowledge her son, leaving her with no other recourse but to seek assistance from her old friend, Kou Chun.
Back when she was Yun Ying, still unmarried, Kou Chun had greatly admired her. Yet, she had chosen Wu Yi, who at the time was merely a Flower Explorer, a Commoner Scholar...
However, before Shi Yuyan could await Kou Chun’s arrival, another uninvited guest barged into Yuhua Studio.
"Shi Yuyan," Huang Zhu’s voice preceded her as she walked from the studio entrance to the inner room, her lips smacking as she spoke incessantly. "The New Year is almost here! Where is your Rivers and Mountains Map? How is it that you’ve completed less than sixty percent? Are you deliberately trying to delay Lady Wu’s important affairs? This is a gift for the Empress Dowager! If the Empress Dowager doesn’t receive this tribute... our Marquis Mansion’s future..."