Reborn as the Crippled King's Beloved-Chapter 506: The Man Whose Lineage Was Cut Off Suddenly Has Descendants

Chapter 506: Chapter 506: The Man Whose Lineage Was Cut Off Suddenly Has Descendants

Wang Yingluo became increasingly pleased with Fu Rong.

This was normal, as Fu Rong had always been by her side. People like Lou Zixi and Manager Chai greatly admired her, not to mention the Emperor’s treasure of her. All this was observed by Fu Rong and the others.

Realizing her own uniqueness, they genuinely believed in her power, her abilities, admired her, and revered her.

Different from others, Fu Rong was smarter. She catered to her preferences, and her tongue was particularly sharp.

It was no wonder that Brother Yan had carefully selected her.

Apart from Eunuch Li, whose loyalty to the Empress was still unclear, other eunuchs and palace maids were very reliable.

Kunning Palace.

Jun Yuyan, who should have been in the military camp, was now laying on Murong Jiu’s couch.

The mighty Emperor, disguised as an eunuch, returned to the palace quietly with the protection of a guard, and would likely have to leave the palace before the rooster crowed tomorrow morning.

Murong Jiu didn’t know what he was troubling himself over.

"I finally understand the strangeness of her village."

Jun Yuyan suddenly said.

"Hmm? What’s strange about it? Isn’t it just a secluded little village?"

"This village is too closed and backward, but such villages are not unheard of in Great Yan. Wang Yingluo had passed through many such villages during military expeditions. Xiaoxi Village is peculiar, though, too quiet. Looking back, I realized that I hardly saw other women. Wang Yingluo said the women in their village were always embroidering at home, but that doesn’t justify not stepping outside at all."

Murong Jiu nodded, "Indeed, embroidery is bad for the eyes. Usually, women talk and embroider under the shade during the day. If they were always indoors, they’d ruin their eyesight."

"Exactly my point."

"So why bring this up all of a sudden?"

"Isn’t Wang Yingluo unwilling to undergo the physical examination? I remembered some villages, due to being isolated, have difficulty marrying outside the community, and incidents of inbreeding are not uncommon. Given her age and that she is still not betrothed, it’s possible..."

Jun Yuyan did not continue.

But Murong Jiu understood the implications of his words.

Such isolated communities, already prioritizing males over females, tend to have more males than females, naturally leading to disgraceful occurrences.

This wasn’t malicious conjecture. In fact, not only in the territories of Great Yan, many countries faced similar issues, and they were not rare occurrences.

Murong Jiu had already ordered an investigation into Xiaoxi Village.

In this village, there were half as many more men than women. The women of the village did not marry out, whereas the men could take wives from outside. Chang Chonghai, who was sent there, found many infant skeletons in the back mountains, mostly deformed, a condition usually prevalent among close relatives.

Considering Wang Yingluo held special abilities, she might not have been affected.

But her strong resistance at the time could very likely mean she was afraid to undergo the examination.

Such an experience was pitiable.

Murong Jiu also sympathized with the women in that village who faced such injustice.

They could not resist.

Perhaps those women who had tried to resist had already turned into mere bones.

"If she does not want the examination, let it be. I’ll instruct the old nanny not to bring this up again."

Murong Jiu said.

As for Jun Yuyan, he was indifferent, since whatever happened with Wang Yingluo did not concern him at all.

The few old nannies were too rigid; once this matter was over, he would let them retire and enjoy their later years at home.

Neither had ever thought of embarrassing Wang Yingluo over this issue.

However, Wang Yingluo seemed to care a great deal, as if she worried that the nannies might find fault with her. She began to learn the rules especially diligently, making it impossible for others to pick on her.

After acting compliant all day, as soon as the nanny left, Wang Yingluo had Fu Rong summon Eunuch Li.

"Fu Rong, you leave first."

Hearing this, Fu Rong withdrew.

Then only she and Eunuch Li were left in the room.

Wang Yingluo toyed with a pendant in her hand, swinging it back and forth.

Eunuch Li bent his waist and said, "May I know what matter the lady has to instruct this servant about?"

"Eunuch, indeed, I have an important matter to entrust to you, but I am not sure whether I can trust you."

Eunuch Li hastily replied, "I am as loyal to you as I am to His Majesty, with absolutely no second thoughts."

"Oh? Is that so?"

Wang Yingluo relaxed. She continued playing with the pendant, and Eunuch Li’s gaze followed it as it moved.

"How many people do you have in your family, Eunuch?"

"There’s been no one for a long time."

"Being of advanced age and with no one at home, why keep so much silver? Isn’t it already enough for your retirement?"

An old eunuch, without offspring, having lived in the palace for decades, suddenly got involved in the harem’s struggles as he aged—it was normal for Wang Yingluo to be suspicious.

Eunuch Li’s eyes dimmed slightly, filled with hesitation.

Wang Yingluo swayed the pendant in her hand again, her tone gentle, "Eunuch, you surely know that only I can provide what you want. If you don’t speak out, how can I help you?"

"Before entering the palace, I had a childhood sweetheart. We were forced apart. If it hadn’t been utterly unavoidable, who would wish to end their lineage and become an eunuch? The night before I entered the palace, she lost her purity to me, and for years afterward, there was no news."

Wang Yingluo narrowed her eyes.

"Recently, during the Empress’s coronation ceremony, when the wives of the court officials entered the palace to pay their respects, I recognized her at a glance. Today, she is actually the main wife of a Fifth Rank official, surrounded by many children. I was happy for her, but unexpectedly, she cried and secretly handed me a letter."

In Eunuch Li’s description, Madame Lin, despite her seemingly enviable position, did not have a good life.

Madame Lin came from a humble background; not long after the two of them were intimate, she got pregnant. Fearing her family would find out and drown her, she quickly and straightforwardly married a poor scholar, Scholar Zhen.

At that time, Scholar Zhen did not know that his wife’s child was not his own. Madame Lin toiled hard, had an "early" delivery of her eldest son, and the couple lived in harmony for over a decade, eventually having five children.

Scholar Zhen gradually climbed the ranks, earned official recognition, and was posted away for many years, only recently being promoted and transferred to the Capital City, now also over fifty years old.

A Fifth Rank official in the Capital City is no minor official indeed.

Upon becoming an official’s wife, having endured hardship, Madame Lin was supposed to be enjoying her blessings. But as soon as a man gains a bit of capability, he takes concubines. He had already taken a beautiful concubine while away on posting, a young and beautiful woman adept at instigating trouble, who later gave birth to three sons.

This concubine also came from a humble background, but was from a family of minor officials; literate in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting—not claiming excellence in them all, but indeed she added elegance to his life.

This made the main wife appear ignorant and vulgar by contrast.

Furthermore, with that concubine ambitious and having three clever sons, unwilling to be inferior to others, she even had her servants spread rumors that the main wife’s eldest son did not resemble his father and was not his own.

Initially, it was just rumors, but the wife felt uneasy.

Because, indeed, the eldest son was not Old Master Zhen’s.