Offspring

Looking at the woman lowering her brow and bowing her head before him, Xu Yuan could not help chuckling. Even though he had seen it many times, there was no denying that Xiao Bai was exceptionally adept at leveraging the advantages of her own body. Even in a respectful curtsey, subtle adjustments in her posture showed off her soft curves to perfection. Xu Yuan was willing to dub it a mastercraft. Aside from Xiao Bai, he had only ever seen such an artful talent on a handful of other women. The star courtesans of top-tier pure courtesan houses. Even when they merely sat demurely and placidly at a low table pouring you a cup of fragrant tea, the subtle grace in the lift of their hands could pluck at your heartstrings. Xiao Bai, however, was likely a cut above those courtesans. After all, this little green tea maiden was entirely self-taught, whereas those courtesans were artificially trained. Of course, even they fell a bit short when compared to a certain succubus surnamed Su. Humiliating as it was to admit, even if Su Jinxuan just stood straight without making a single gesture, bewitching allure welled from the depths of her being, leaving anyone who laid eyes upon her helpless to restrain themselves. With these thoughts drifting through his mind, Xu Yuan exhaled gently. "You certainly know how to calculate your odds. A bit surprising, but still roughly within expectations." Saying this, Xu Yuan looked at Xiao Bai with a glint of amusement in his eyes and asked softly, "Haven't you been doing this all along, though? Bringing it up so formally today—are you lacking confidence in yourself?" From their first encounter in the underground palace to Huizhou County, Xiao Bai had relentlessly sought every chance to advance herself right under the noses of Li Qingyan and Tianyan, giving him every opening to make a move. Bai Muxi hesitated for a moment, her serene voice faint as a mosquito's hum: "The maidens by Young Master's side are all of noble birth. Such peerless women of their generation possess unyielding pride; the jealousy in their hearts would surely not permit another to attend you. Were Muxi to come between you, I fear..." "Stop." Xu Yuan cut off her green-tea prattle, shot her a glance, and chuckled. "All right, that's enough, I won't press. But you'd best cut down on trying to sow discord like that in the future." Hearing this, an expectant gleam appeared in Bai Muxi's eyes. "Then... Young Master, you agree?" "......" Xu Yuan did not answer immediately. He narrowed his eyes, running a scrutinizing gaze over Bai Muxi. Under his inspection, Bai Muxi straightened naturally. Her loose, pale-purple unlined robe draped close along the curve of her bust. Seeing this, Xu Yuan rolled his eyes. "It's not as if I haven't seen them. No need to show off your arsenal here. I'm thinking about other matters." *Arsenal?* Beneath her purple veil, Bai Muxi pressed her red lips together slightly, an unusual flush tinting her fair skin. Customs in the underground palace did not treat intercourse between men and women as taboo; whenever the population permitted, they would even hold grand birth rites. Yet the underground palace was ultimately a desperate wasteland. Coupling was never for pleasure, but for the continuation of their race, governed by extremely strict rituals and moral codes. As the Chief Arbiter, Bai Muxi had never undergone any of that. Facing the man to whom she intended to offer herself, hearing such blunt words did not make her overtly bashful, but an ambiguous, tantalizing sentiment still crept through her. Xu Yuan paid no mind to Xiao Bai's inner thoughts, for his own mind was stirred by rather strange feelings. If he agreed to Bai Muxi, speaking in practical terms, this would probably be his first true political marriage in the strictest sense. His betrothal to the chest-bound princess was actually ambiguous. Though an engagement existed, their elders had merely set a stage for him and Li Qingyan. While the betrothal would not be annulled, how they lived their lives after the grand wedding depended entirely on their own wishes; whether they became inseparable or lived separate lives carried no rigid requirements. Bai Muxi's proposition, however, made Xu Yuan feel uneasy. A transaction of interests purely for the sake of bearing children triggered an instinctive aversion in his heart. Toward Xiao Bai personally, Xu Yuan harbored no aversion whatsoever. On the journey back to the capital from the Northern Border, had it not been for his meager cultivation and his fear that halfway through the deed he might suddenly notice an extra pair of eyes watching by the bedside, an official cadre like him could hardly have withstood tests from such Biluochun green tea. Yet stripping the relationship completely bare like this gave him pause. Still, that hesitation vanished in a flash. Xu Yuan realized he was being overly sentimental. He had to do it. Because this was a guarantee for both sides. Offspring carried on bloodlines and served as the linchpin holding alliances together. To the remnants of the underground palace, Xu Yuan was the fated savior who had rescued them from the Blood Nest, while the Chief Arbiter was the god's worldly proxy. A child born of the two would be the divine child prophesied in the religion of the underground palace. With this child, the Prime Minister's Manor would possess absolute, legitimate rule over this fanatical, religious populace. This zealous people would become a razor-sharp blade for the Prime Minister's Manor—one that would never turn against its master. And for the crypt remnants, the birth of this divine child, bearing the direct lineage of the Prime Minister's Manor, would grant them a measure of safety, preventing them from being cast aside like spent bows once the quarry was hunted. So long as an heir was born, it would be a win-win situation. With that settled in his mind, Xu Yuan uttered four words softly: "All right. I agree." Bai Muxi's bright eyes widened at once, but before she could speak, Xu Yuan's voice came again: "Just not right now." Bai Muxi blinked, and Xu Yuan gave a light chuckle. "With your intelligence, you should understand why. Even though an eldest son born to a concubine holds no legitimate right of inheritance, under Great Yan's succession system, it would still breed endless trouble." With that, Xu Yuan raised a hand and firmly pinched the space between his brows. Even though it was hard to breach his composure these days, he was already sensing an oncoming headache. If everything went smoothly, several decades from now the maternal clan's faction would grow terrifyingly powerful. While his old man lived, none of it mattered. But once the old man passed away, with his own current capacity, he would never be able to hold down those maternal relatives. If those offspring harbored a strong thirst for power, they would probably tear one another to shreds. Of course, nothing was set in stone. People changed. In just over two years, he himself had changed enormously. Decades down the line, he might turn into someone unrecognizable even to himself. Leave future worries to the future self. For now, it was enough to manage the present. His sprawling thoughts reined back in, Xu Yuan asked softly, "Xiao Bai, can you accept this condition?" Bai Muxi nodded, her eyes rippling like emerald water. "What Young Master says, Muxi will naturally obey. However..." As she spoke, she looked away, wrapping one arm across her chest and holding her fair arm. After a few seconds of silence, her red lips parted beneath the purple veil: "...Before that, may Muxi practice a bit?" "......" Xu Yuan fell into a brief silence. The chest-bound princess was fighting up in the Northern Border, the washboard saintess was nowhere to be found, and the big block of ice had been forcibly taken away by Ran Jianli right after New Year's Day, remaining completely out of contact. If that old woman Lou Ji didn't spoil his fun, the Prime Minister's Manor should be safe tonight... His thoughts darting, Xu Yuan shook his head and said in a low voice, "We'll discuss this later. Come with me first to settle the arrangements for your clan." Hearing that, Bai Muxi watched the silhouette of his back as he walked upstairs, her bright eyes showing a touch of desolate disappointment. But immediately afterward, a voice transmitted through intent-soul resonated within her heart: *Tonight... remember not to go out.* After a brief pause, the voice added: *The weather is rather chilly around the Spring Festival. Since we happen to be at the Tian'an Chamber of Commerce, I might as well get you some clothes. Hm... that Chief Arbiter veil-dress you wore before was quite nice. Buy something similar, and pair it with silk stockings.*