Unable to refuse her, Su Mo thought for a moment before speaking, "The harem is empty now, and I feel exceptionally lonely. I want my elder brother, Su Yu, to accompany me... and other young gentlemen from noble families with both good character and looks..."
Before he could finish, Qiao Ci subtly rolled her eyes, lifting her gaze slightly. "Is it to accompany you or me? I heard your father entered the palace. He told you these things, didn't he?"
"Su Yu used to bully you so much. If you don't seek revenge, you can tolerate him sharing the same wife as you? When did I know you were so generous? And other young gentlemen with good character and looks, what, have you grown tired of me, fallen out of love, and now you're pushing me onto others?"
Qiao Ci rarely used "朕" (zhen - the imperial 'I') with him. He knew she was angry, but he also felt wronged.
Su Mo's eyes turned red from the string of questions, as if he would cry at any moment. "But... but it's been over a year, and we haven't had any children of our own... Perhaps it's my body's..."
"So, you want to treat me like livestock, just grabbing a few males to mate with?" Qiao Ci looked directly at him.
"How can you insult yourself like that?" Su Mo, forgetting his grievance, glanced at her cautiously.
"Heh, didn't you start it?"
"I... I didn't. You are the Emperor, it's normal to have three thousand beautiful men; now..."
"Stop! Stop, stop, stop! I can barely handle one, why would I want so many men? To torment me?" Qiao Ci exclaimed helplessly.
"But, but you are the Empress, you need to continue the bloodline, you need a legitimate heir, I... I don't seem to be able to..."
"It's not that you can't, it's that I can't, I can't give birth."
The little system had already told her that in mission worlds, she wouldn't get pregnant.
"Don't say such foolish things, you are healthy, you can give birth..." Su Mo knew Qiao Ci was comforting him, but he wouldn't allow her to slander herself like this.
"I really can't."
"Don't talk nonsense, it must be my problem..."
"I'm telling the truth, Big Brother, I really can't give birth, the conditions just don't allow it."
Seeing him about to argue further, Qiao Ci simply fabricated a lie. "Actually, before, Xiao Ren poisoned my food extensively to deal with me. These poisons didn't kill me; instead, they refined my internal energy. Simple pulse diagnosis couldn't detect my physical condition. Alas, I might never have children in this lifetime. You... if you like children, I can let you go, and you can live a normal life marrying and having children..."
Su Mo was utterly shocked. He looked at Qiao Ci with heartache. As she continued to say more outlandish things, he directly reached out, wrapped his arms around her waist, and hugged her tightly. "Silly girl, apart from our child, I want no one else's. Why didn't you tell me sooner? You've borne so much alone..."
Inwardly, he lamented that it would have been better if he had brought his body to this foreign world; his body could give birth, and he could have helped her.
The big hug was here!
Qiao Ci was smug.
This guy seemed to be possessed by an actor. "I was afraid if I told you earlier, you wouldn't want to be my Imperial Consort... after all, you men value heirs highly..."
"No, I don't care. As long as it's you, as long as I'm with you, whether we have children or not is unimportant to me." Su Mo, in turn, began to comfort Qiao Ci.
Qiao Ci, getting into her acting role, tried to make her voice sound a little choked. "Then, you'd still push me towards other men... let other men humiliate me..."
Su Mo felt extremely guilty. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I won't, I'll never push you to anyone else again. From now on, I will protect you, and I will strive to become stronger..."
That night, Su Mo was exceptionally obedient. If Qiao Ci showed the slightest discomfort, he dared not move...
Qiao Ci, who had always been defeated, had a small victory today!
The next day, Qiao Ci went to court with high spirits and severely admonished the officials.
Seeing that the Empress truly had no such intentions, everyone could only cease their efforts for the time being. At most, their young men would have to wait a few more years; they didn't believe the Empress would cling to just one person forever.
Since the Empress ascended the throne, the progress of the Mo Kingdom in policy, economy, and agriculture had been evident. Observing the increasingly powerful Mo Kingdom, the monarchs of neighboring countries felt uneasy. Some monarchs, knowing that Mo was ruled by a woman, and a very beautiful one at that, harbored restless thoughts.
This year, Imperial Consort Su Mo turned twenty. The Empress enthusiastically held a grand capping ceremony for him, and neighboring countries sent envoys to congratulate him.
Guests were to be treated as guests, especially those offering blessings and gifts to her beloved treasure. Qiao Ci issued a decree that they should all be treated with courtesy.
After the capping ceremony, during the palace banquet.
After exchanging pleasantries with everyone, Qiao Ci sat upright, solemnly watching the court performers.
Su Mo knew she disliked such occasions the most. Fearing she would be bored, he, under the cover of the table, offered his well-articulated fingers for her to play with.
Usually, she loved to hold his hand and fidget with it, and sometimes she would even kiss it. Perhaps it could relieve her boredom.
Qiao Ci: "..."
She really couldn't do anything about him; he was so clingy.
Then, her expression unchanged and her heart calm, she began to fidget with his fair and slender hand, occasionally lowering her head to count the slightly protruding veins on his hand...
Those present could see their private little actions. Mo Kingdom officials were already accustomed to it. Their Empress was good in every aspect, except she doted on her Imperial Consort too much. For example, any good item among the tribute would be saved for the Imperial Consort, and in front of outsiders, she was even more attentive to him, treating him like a porcelain doll, truly holding him in her mouth for fear he would melt and cradling him in her hands for fear he would break. The Empress's doting affection for her Imperial Consort even made those who were chauvinistic and rigid men envious.
However, this was a formal occasion. To still indulge the Imperial Consort's small gestures, if it gave foreign countries the impression that the Mo Empress was indulging in her beauty, it would be bad.
The Second Prince of Cang Kingdom, Cang Yixuan, had infiltrated among the envoys while hiding his identity. The moment he saw Empress Qiao Ci, he was captivated. Such a radiant yet charming woman, who also occupied a high position, gave him a desire to conquer!
Of course, not a few people present shared his thoughts.
"Long live the Empress. I am the Nanan Princess of the Cang Kingdom. As a woman, I have long admired you." At this moment, a charmingly pretty woman wearing a red gauze dress stood up. Although she was speaking to Qiao Ci, her gaze never left Su Mo.
Qiao Ci, hearing someone speaking to her, had to put down her actions and looked up with dissatisfaction.
She had noticed this woman from the beginning. Seeing her Imperial Consort, her drool was about to flow down. Tsk tsk tsk, did she think she was dead?
Good heavens! Her gaze still hadn't shifted.
Qiao Ci raised an eyebrow, signaling her to continue.
"You are a role model for us women, and meeting you today is truly as impressive as the rumors. Nanan has specially presented ten handsome men of various appearances, hoping the Empress will accept them with a smile." Nanan Princess clapped her hands, and ten tall and robust men walked in from outside the hall. In terms of demeanor and appearance, they were not even one-tenth as good as Su Mo.
However, they looked very powerful! Look at their muscular bodies, broad backs and strong waists, and coarse body hair...