Spring arrived, and a major event caused an uproar throughout the imperial city.
On that day, the top scholar married the Eighth Prince. Red silk ribbons adorned every tree in the city, and the roads were packed with a surging crowd. Thankfully, the dispatched imperial guards maintained order, preventing any chaos.
The top scholar, resplendent in red robes and exquisite attire, drew many gasps from onlookers with her unparalleled beauty.
However, as the wedding procession was halfway through, a dishevelled, wild-looking figure with unkempt hair rushed into the center of the procession.
“Nian Jiaojiao! You wretch!”
Nian Jiaojiao, seated on horseback, looked down at the approaching figure and immediately recognized Situ Mo.
The surrounding populace erupted in whispers. What was happening? A bride snatching?
Situ Mo's eyes were bloodshot, and her gaze towards Nian Jiaojiao was contorted with rage.
Just the day before, her subordinates had investigated and discovered that only three women had left the palace that day. Of those, only the newly acclaimed top scholar possessed the power to suppress her and defeat her with poetry.
She had caused Situ Mo to be imprisoned, demoted from general to commoner, and now was about to marry her beloved.
Old grievances and new hatreds had driven her to madness.
Situ Mo charged towards Nian Jiaojiao. Mid-way, she leaped into the air like a panther and threw a punch at Nian Jiaojiao.
*Whoosh—*
The explosive sound of the fist in mid-air made it impossible to ignore the power behind it.
To the astonishment of the crowd, the top scholar, the one in red, somehow produced a large saber. No, it was a butcher's knife. Close spectators could even hear her exclaim, "With a butcher's knife in hand, I can conquer the world."
Instantly, with lightning speed, the saber severed the attacker's head.
Perhaps due to the sheer speed of the blade, no one saw blood spray. They only witnessed the massive body fall stiffly to the ground, lifeless.
At that moment, the top scholar pointed her saber at the corpse and declared with a resonant voice:
"What demon dares to run amok in the Royal City!"
The crowd: ...
(Nian Jiaojiao: I was terrified at that moment...)
In the year 1158 of the Great Yue Dynasty, Situ Mo escaped from prison and attempted to assassinate the new top scholar, only to be beheaded by the scholar herself.
In the same year, in response to the encroaching demons, the Empress established Demon Extermination Bureaus in each province. The directors of these bureaus held authority superior to provincial kings, and all provincial officials were to obey their commands in the fight against demons!
Director of the Qing Province Demon Extermination Bureau: Nian Jiaojiao, the newly acclaimed top scholar.
...
Qing Province.
Nian Residence.
Nian Jiaojiao emerged from the bathing room, still damp with the lingering mist of her bath. As she entered the room, Yu Chuan was already asleep.
Sensing his steady breathing and the noticeable swell of his abdomen, Nian Jiaojiao's eyes warmed.
After getting into bed, Nian Jiaojiao had just pulled back the covers when she felt the person beside her stir restlessly.
She knelt and leaned over to look, seeing Yu Chuan with a furrowed brow and sweat beading on his forehead.
"Chuan'er, Chuan'er, what's wrong?"
Nian Jiaojiao grew anxious.
Could it be that he was going into labor?
Facing the prospect of a male giving birth for the first time, Nian Jiaojiao felt a surge of panic.
Yu Chuan opened his eyes and looked at Nian Jiaojiao.
"Wife, I'm uncomfortable."
Hearing that he was in discomfort, Nian Jiaojiao became even more flustered.
"Uncomfortable? That must mean you're going into labor."
Yu Chuan had already curled into a ball, clutching his stomach.
Without further thought, Nian Jiaojiao dashed out of the room barefoot, shouting, "Midwife! Quickly summon the midwife!"
Since it was her first time experiencing a birth in the family, Nian Jiaojiao constantly worried about the melodramatic scenarios she'd seen in dramas from her past life. Therefore, during Yu Chuan's expected due period, she had rented the adjacent courtyard and arranged for the midwife and her family to reside there.
A moment later, the midwife, carrying her tools and accompanied by a young apprentice, hurried into Yu Chuan's room.
Nian Jiaojiao wanted to observe but was politely asked to leave by the midwife.
Fortunately, perhaps due to her cultivation, Yu Chuan's labor was smooth, and none of the complications Nian Jiaojiao had feared materialized.
*Wah—wah~*
The clear cries of an infant echoed throughout the courtyard.
The other four men gathered outside the room, appearing greatly excited, and Nian Jiaojiao, a new mother, was equally thrilled.
At this moment, the midwife emerged, holding the baby, and offered congratulations to Nian Jiaojiao:
"Congratulations, Master Scholar! Congratulations, Master Scholar! You have given birth to a young son."
Nian Jiaojiao reached out to take the baby, but couldn't find a suitable posture. Just then, the voice of the midwife's apprentice came from inside the room:
"Master, hurry back inside! There's another one! Another one is coming out."
The midwife, in her haste, thrust the baby into Nian Jiaojiao's arms and then rushed back into the room.
Nian Jiaojiao remained stiff, afraid to move.
Just then, Nan Qing walked over and took the baby from Nian Jiaojiao.
Seeing his practiced movements, Nian Jiaojiao couldn't help but ask curiously:
"How do you know how to hold a baby?"
Indeed, the way he held the child was quite standard. With the infant in his arms, Nan Qing's demeanor softened, exuding an aura of a "loving father."
Nan Qing remained silent, but his gaze towards Nian Jiaojiao was filled with pride and a touch of smugness.
His entire presence conveyed:
Taking care of children is a piece of cake; there's nothing I don't know.
Meanwhile, Xuan Yi explained from the side:
"Our parents passed away early. Since I was the one who went out to find food, our second brother was responsible for looking after our third brother. Essentially, our third brother was raised by our second brother."
However, Xuan Yi omitted the fact that Nan Qing's eyesight was poor at the time, and he was young himself while also looking after Xingyun, enduring considerable hardship.
Though Xuan Yi didn't voice it, Nian Jiaojiao could imagine the difficulties.
As Nian Jiaojiao was about to speak, the midwife's voice called out from within the room.
"It's out! It's out! The second is a young lady, twins! What auspicious signs!"
Nian Jiaojiao rushed inside. Her first instinct wasn't to see the babies but to hurry to Yu Chuan's bedside.
Yu Chuan was currently drenched in sweat, his complexion somewhat pale, but he was still conscious. Nian Jiaojiao took his hand.
"You've worked hard."
Yu Chuan shook his head, indicating he wished to see the children. Nian Jiaojiao quickly instructed someone to bring the babies over.
Upon seeing her two newborns, Yu Chuan smiled with satisfaction.
"Now, the names Wife chose can be used: Nian Muxiao, Nian Lingshu..."
...
In the year 1159 of the Great Yue Dynasty, the Empress passed away.
To everyone's surprise, the throne was not inherited by King Ying or King Duan, but by King Hui, who had lived a reclusive life.
Everyone in the Nian residence breathed a sigh of relief. King Hui was Yue Ran's elder sister, and they no longer had any worries.
In the year 1160 of the Great Yue Dynasty, the demons launched a full-scale invasion. Nian Jiaojiao, who had long since broken through to the 'Imperial Object' realm, consumed a Spirit Surge Pill and advanced to the 'Hidden Spirit' realm. With the assistance of other factions, the Demon Extermination Bureau defended the people of Qing Province, greatly increasing its prestige.
...
Nian Jiaojiao returned, covered in blood. On her way back from demon extermination, she encountered some impudent bandits. Her butcher's knife had claimed a few more souls.
"Wife, the hot water is ready."
Xingyun appeared to have become considerably more composed.
In fact, apart from Nian Jiaojiao herself, her husbands who had gained combat prowess had all joined the Demon Extermination Bureau. Sometimes, Nian Jiaojiao even brought them on missions, and they all underwent tempering.
This event had now become a celebrated tale in Qing Province, and indeed throughout the entire Great Yue Dynasty.
After freshening up, Nian Jiaojiao emerged. Her six husbands were all waiting in the courtyard.
She lay back on the bamboo chair, allowing her mind to wander.
Every time she returned from battle, she eagerly awaited this moment...
Yu Chuan began to play the zither on a nearby stone stool.
Xingyun gently massaged her calves, while Xuan Yi kneaded her shoulders.
Tong Ziyao handed her a glass of juice, which Nian Jiaojiao drank before it was taken back.
Yue Ran sat beside her, her slender fingers picking purple grapes and placing them near Nian Jiaojiao's mouth.
Nan Qing set up a chessboard nearby, occasionally glancing at the woman reclining on the bamboo chair, his eyes filled with tenderness.
After eating and drinking her fill, Nian Jiaojiao drifted off to sleep with a smile.
Seeing their wife asleep on the bamboo chair with an unfading smile on her lips, the men speculated what kind of beautiful dream she might be having, and whether they were in it.
At this moment, Nian Jiaojiao's senses returned, and she found herself holding a book. The cover depicted the very scene of her lying in the courtyard, being attended to by her husbands.
What was happening?
Just as she was puzzled.
*Click—*
*Click—*
The sound of camera flashes made her look up, and she saw a throng of reporters.
"Writer Nian Jiaojiao, what inspired you to write this book?"
"Writer Nian Jiaojiao, your book 'I Have Six Handsome Husbands' is so lifelike, as if you personally experienced it. Everyone is spreading rumors that you transmigrated. Is it true?"
At this point, the reporter at the forefront thrust a microphone towards Nian Jiaojiao's mouth.
"Writer Nian Jiaojiao, what is your original intention in writing this novel?"
Nian Jiaojiao finally spoke. She looked into the camera and slowly said, "One world, one dream."