CH47; Queen Is Evil

Sensing Zhang Lian's sharp gaze."Y-your Highness," Minister Hu thought for a movement and said in a respectful tone, "I don't think there will be many issues since you intend to accept them as concubines.

"We could just ask them directly. You are very beautiful and you are also the queen. Why would they decline?"

Zhang Lian raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. Her face stayed calm, but her eyes grew serious. "Tell me, Minister Hu," she said, her voice now colder, "do you even know their ages?

Zhnag Lian continued, "In a few months, the third-placed boy will take his spiritual root test. Is it really possible that he will not go into the Cultivation world, if he finds out he has spiritual roots and stays here to have babies, giving up on immortality?"

Minister Hu blinked and thought about what Zhang Lian said. Thoughts flew through his thoughts, but nothing came to mind. With a sigh he said, "Your Highness, it appears that there is no simple solution to that," feeling nervous.

After hearing this, Zhang Lian smiled and leaned back in her chair, saying, "Let's put that aside for now."

"Minister Hu," Zhang Lian said in a calm yet firm voice, "how many concubines and wives do you have?" And how many children there are?"

With her fingers lightly tapping on the arm of her chair and her eyes focused on him as she waited for his response.

Minister Hu felt both proud and embarrassed. With a timid smile, he straightened his posture and said Clearing his throat, "hem", he replied,

No, Your Highness, not too many. Merely ten concubines and two wives & I have four children and the majority of my concubines are currently pregnant too." He tried to sound confident as he smiled.

With pride, he continued, "I'm following your policies to have many children, your highness."

With a nod, Zhang Lian asked. "And your age?" Minister Hu felt confused all of a sudden.

"Your Highness, I'm 35," he replied.

But inside he was thinking, Why is she asking such private questions? Is she interested in me? feeling excited & Confused.

Zhang Lian placed her elbows on the table as she leaned forward a little. Cold words came out of her mouth.

"At this rate, Minister Hu, you'll likely die in about 25 years if you keep living the way you do."

The expression on Minister Hu's face changed. "Your Highness," he continued, trying not to show his fear with a weak laugh, "well, we all die sooner or later."

Zhang Lian smiled on his lips. Her voice was gentle and seductive as she replied, "But I know how to extend your life."

Minister Hu's surprised and his eyes grew wider. He sat up more straight, curiosity replacing away all of his earlier anxiety.

His voice trembled with excitement as he questioned, "Is there really a way, Your Highness?" His hands had been trembling earlier, but now they were tightly holding the edge of the table as he waited for her answer.

With a sparkle in her eyes and a mysterious look, Zhang Lian nodded slowly. "There it is," she leaned back in her chair and remarked quietly. "But it will require you to do many things for me."

With a heart beating rapidly, Minister Hu leaned forward, wanting to hear more. His round face lit up with eagerness to hear a way to increase his lifespan.

"As long as it's possible, Your Highness, I'll do whatever you ask," he said, but he was nervous, though his eyes were filled with hope.

Zhang Lian's smile widened slightly, though it was cold and calculating. "Good," she said softly. "Now tell me, did you find any girls while searching for these children?"

The sudden change in subject caused Minister Hu to blink in surprise. He nodded hastily saying, "Yes, Your Highness," he responded, his voice growing more steady.

"But we decided not to pursue them. If they become cultivators, they might kill us for forcing them into marriage," he added, his voice faltering a little.

With a mischievous smile on her lips, Zhang Lian raised an eyebrow. "So, you force women who don't have spiritual roots?" she asked, her tone was cold.

Minister Hu's expression darkened with worry. "No, Your Highness!" he replied in a hurry. "Never would I do that! All of them voluntarily married me."

His hands trembled a little under the pressure of the queen's stare.

Zhang Lian relaxed back in her chair, her amusement shining in her eyes. "But I heard you forced a 13-year-old girl to marry you," she added, her tone suddenly become very serious.

Minister Hu's face became completely colorless. Leaping to his feet, he almost fell his chair in his hurry to bow down in front of her. He fell to his knees, his chubby body trembling.

With a trembling voice, he pleaded, "Please, Your Highness!" "I'll never do it again!" His forehead touched the stone floor as he bowed low and pressed his hands to the ground.

Zhang Lian observed him, seeing his fat body kneeling on the ground felt to funny. She, crossed her legs gracefully, and her lips formed a evil smile.

Cat said, "nya this fatty looks so funny laughingly."

Zhnag Lian ignored the cat & said to minister hu gently, "Don't worry about it." "As long as you behave yourself and follow my orders from now on, not only will your lifespan increase, but you'll also gain more power in the kingdom."

After a brief pause, Zhang lian said, laughing softly, "Now return to your chair. You look ridiculous." Minister Hu looked up at her, still nervous.

His heart pounded as he rose slowly to his feet, moving awkwardly, he sat back down. His hands trembled on the table, unwilling to look her in the eyes.

What does queen want from me, I thought she was kind and Easy going, but she is more than that, he sighed wondering, who revealed this information? His thoughts racing through his head.

Zhang Lian's smile vanished as her demeanor hardened. "Minister Hu, are you aware that there are methods to extend one's life in the world of cultivation?" she said calmly.

I've seen families migrate to cities with cultivator. Their children also brought things that made their elderly parents seem young again when they returned." Obviously it's all fake information, but how will someone find out.

Minister Hu's eyes grew wide as comprehending finally said. "So... you want me to have talented children, Your Highness?"

Slowly, Zhang Lian nodded. Indeed. Minister Hu, it's not just you. In order to extend my life, I also need talented children & i also have one technique which can increase lifespan & strength, but."

Cat interrupted and asking her in confusion, "Nya, you have that kind of technique?"

Hearing Cat speak, Zhang Lian chose to ignore it so as not to appear as if she was talking to herself in front of Minister Hu.

The cat's wings shook in irritation at Zhang Lian's silent response. The small creature moved in place, its tail wrapped restlessly and its orange eyes blinking impatiently. Cat, understanding the situation, remained silent for the time being despite its frustration.

As Zhang Lian looked at Minister Hu was also looking at her, trying to take in what she had just said.

It was exciting to think that one may live longer and become stronger together. His heart raced with eagerness, to know what after the but.

It took him a time to speak, with a tone that was both excited and hesitant. "Your Highness, you made reference to a method, but you ended there. Why? Is there anything more I should know? "

With her icy blue eyes locked on his, Zhang Lian moved in her chair. She gave a small sigh and answered. With a calm voice, "I do have the technique."

"However, you can't use it at this time. not even I can. The consequences of such a technique would be too great for our kingdom to bear."

Minister Hu listened to every word carefully as the queen spoke, and his eyes grew wide. He leaned forward in his seat and asked, "When will the kingdom be ready?" with eagerness.

With a lower voice now, Zhang Lian answered, "It will take time." Maybe five years, maybe ten years. When the kingdom has lots of people, I will be able to apply the technique without risk. And I might even share it with you one day, Minister Hu, if you follow my orders properly."

Minister Hu's heart raced. He didn't care if this technique might not be good or even evil. Gaining strength and living a longer life were what was important. It's not like those cultivators had given him anything.

He thought, Why should it matter how I gain power? " He lowered his head and spoke, "I will serve you faithfully, Your Highness," with a hint of greed in his voice. I'll comply with whatever you ask."

Zhang Lian nodded slightly, obviously happy with his answer. "Good," she said. "But first, there are more immediate concerns we need to talk about."

Minister Hu straightened his back and waited for her next words. "What are they, Your Highness?"

"I want a lot of kids," Zhang Lian said, her gaze narrowing as she spoke directly to him.

She continued, "I want to have kids of my own with spiritual roots. When they grow into strong cultivators, they might come back and might also give us resources to extend our lives."

She took a moment to let her words settle. "Let's begin with that for now. Do you wish to have children with those girls whose details you obtained and who you believe may have cultivating talent?"

Minister Hu gave a rapid nod, his thoughts racing with all the possibilities. He was trying to understand the queen's plan.

"Of course, Your Highness," he shouted, his excitement nearly taking his breath away. But then fear set in, and he hesitated. "But what if they say no?"

"What happens if these girls grow up becoming powerful cultivators and eventually return to take revenge from forcing them into marriage?"

Zhang Lian sat back in her chair, her red lips giving a danger as her expression darkened. "This is where my solution comes in," she replied, her tone becoming colder.

With excitement in his heart, Minister Hu leaned in closer. He questioned, "What is your solution, Your Highness?"

Zhang Lian smiled more. "It's easy," she stated coldly. "You need to make sure that they never take the spiritual root test. Keep them out of the public eye forever."

"They won't even know that they possess the ability to become cultivators if they never took the test. And the kids they have won't know who their real moms are once they have kids."

She stopped, then spoke again, her tone even more harsh. "You can tell the kids who give birth that their mother passed away while giving birth. In addition, even better, replace their offspring with your concubines'."

"As for the concubine's kids, either kill them or throw them in the orphanage, it depends on how kind you are."

When Cat heard this, it smiled and added, "Nya, you're too manipulative and evil."

However, Zhnag Lian only smiled and continued to observe Minister Hu's reaction.

Minister Hu's horrified, his eyes grew wider as he thought about her strategy. Is this actually what the kind & innocent queen he had thought suggesting? He thought about what the queen said.

Removing a mother's right to know her kid, exchanging babies, and even thinking of killing defenseless innocent kid's were all cruel. And yet, for all its cruelty, the strategy made logic.

It would increase his chances to live longer, not to mention gaining more power and having fun with more women he licked his lips. And how would he say no, if it meant living a longer life?

After giving him a close look, Zhang Lian explained, "That's why I've given you control over the city guards," in a strong yet kind tone. "Watch the guards over the course of the following month to see who is trustworthy enough to assist you with this task."

"If you want the plan to work, you will require a lot of trustworthy people to work for you."

"But take caution—this should be kept a very secret." She leaned forward, and her gaze was intense. Additionally, you are only allowed to have one woman every year, and she cannot have a good background."

"Finally, if anyone finds out, you will die a terrible death, I will personally give the order to kill you both if you disclose this information to anybody else. .

Minister Hu's expression darkened as her words sank into his mind. His words were, "Don't worry, Your Highness," said gently. "I'll handle everything perfectly. Nobody is going to know about it."

He was thinking, "What have I gotten myself into?" as he thought about this.