[Ding. Congratulations to the Host for welcoming a new wife and concubines. Reward: Qi Refinement Scripture.] [Ding. Congratulations to the Host for welcoming a new wife and concubines. Reward: Jade Spring Art.] [Ding. The Host and his wife and concubines have formed an intimate bond. Reward: One Dragon's Breath Rifle and twenty Dragon's Breath Rifle bullets.] Wei Yuan, lost in a blissful haze, was pulled back to reality by the chime in his mind. He never would have expected such generous rewards. If he was receiving gifts like these before he even had any children, what bounties would await him once he had heirs? As Wei Yuan considered this, the system’s voice sounded again. [Ding. Rewards for the first intimate encounter with a wife or concubine are significantly more generous.] Wei Yuan’s excitement cooled into understanding. So that was it. He had mistakenly thought every encounter would be so richly rewarded. He turned his attention to his new acquisitions. [Qi Refinement Scripture: A legendary cultivation art rumored to lead to Immortality. Practice is fueled by cultivating intimacy with your wives and concubines.] [Jade Spring Art: Allows the user to heal injuries with spiritual energy. When mastered, it offers a chance to revive those on the brink of death. This technique is practiced by cultivating intimacy with your wives and concubines.] Reading the descriptions, Wei Yuan was left utterly stunned. Wasn’t this supposed to be a world of martial arts? How could cultivation techniques from the realm of immortals, like the Qi Refinement Scripture and Jade Spring Art, even exist here? Then again, if he could truly become an Immortal, what was the throne of the Great Yue Dynasty but a prize for the taking? A thrill shot through him at the thought. Wei Yuan gathered Zhou Qinghe, Zhou Qingyan, and Qin Shiyue in a joyous embrace. "You three," he declared, "are my greatest treasures!" Hearing this, the Zhou sisters’ hearts soared. They had finally become women of the Beihan Prince. Perhaps now, once they reached Hanguang City, they would no longer have to live in the shadows. It was then that Wei Yuan’s tone shifted. "By the way, my dear consort," he said, his voice soft but clear, "I have a feeling you’re not telling me everything." A jolt of fear went through Qin Shiyue. She hadn't imagined his intuition would be so sharp. Wei Yuan continued, "You are my wife now. I expect honesty from the women in my life." Just as Qin Shiyue opened her mouth to speak, Wei Yuan’s hand rested on Zhou Qinghe’s waist, then Zhou Qingyan’s. A knowing smile touched his lips. "If I’m not mistaken, you two are the daughters of Zhou Wangtian, are you not?" The blood drained from the faces of all three women. They were horrified. He had known all along. Zhou Qinghe and Zhou Qingyan scrambled out of Wei Yuan’s embrace, kneeling on the bed and bowing their heads low. "Your Highness, please forgive us! We never meant to deceive you!" "This is all our fault! Please, do not blame the consort!" Qin Shiyue’s own words died in her throat. After all, the deception had been hers. Zhou Wangtian and her father, Mu Changtian, were known as the two Two Heavenly Kings of the Great Yue Dynasty, and their families had always been close. She and the Zhou sisters were like true kin; she couldn't bear the thought of them being thrown into the Ministry of Punishments, to be used as playthings by powerful men. Seeing the sisters’ raw panic, a faint smile played on Wei Yuan’s lips. "Indeed, all three of you have wronged me." "You kept such a vital secret from your husband." "However, I am willing to give you a chance to atone for your transgression." Qin Shiyue’s tense shoulders immediately relaxed. "Your Highness," she asked, hope colouring her voice, "how can we do that?" Wei Yuan’s gaze settled on Zhou Qinghe and Zhou Qingyan. "It’s simple. You will bear me several children." In an instant, they all understood. Zhou Qinghe and Zhou Qingyan thanked him profusely. "Thank you for your mercy, Your Highness! We swear we will bear you many descendants!" "Very well," Wei Yuan said. "You two should go and rest now. Once we arrive in Hanguang City, I will formally take you as my concubines." "Yes, Prince," they said in unison. The two sisters then departed, their pained gait a clear testament to the night’s events as they slipped into the adjacent chamber. After they had gone, Qin Shiyue asked tentatively, "Prince, do you truly intend to take them in?" Though Wei Yuan was three years her junior, he was still the Prince, and she still could not gauge his true nature. Wei Yuan drew her close, wrapping his arms around her waist and whispering into her ear. "If I had no intention of keeping them, do you think I would have touched them?" The point struck Qin Shiyue with the force of a blow. He had known who the Zhou sisters were from the very beginning, yet their identity hadn't deterred him in the slightest. "My love," Wei Yuan continued, his voice low but firm, "I trust this will be the first and last time you keep such a secret from me. Do you understand?" "Yes, Prince," Qin Shiyue replied at once. "I will never hide anything from you again." Wei Yuan kissed her, his hand stroking her back. "That is what I wish to hear from my cherished consort." "And another thing," he added. "You don't need to be so cautious around me. You are the mistress of this household, after all." Though three years his senior, Qin Shiyue had been the very picture of a timid young wife these last few days, treading carefully with every word and action as if she were a guest in her own home. A blush crept up her neck. "Prince, I will do my best to adjust to my new role." "Good. And stop calling me Prince. Call me darling." "Yes… darling," Qin Shiyue whispered. "Alright. Let’s get some sleep. We leave for Hanguang City tomorrow." With that, Wei Yuan held Qin Shiyue’s warm, soft body close and drifted off to sleep. The next morning, in the grey light of dawn, the entire Jingyuan Residence was already bustling with preparations. Wei Yuan was not an early riser by nature, but their departure from the Capital today forced him from the warmth of his bed. Standing at the grand entrance to the Jingyuan Residence, he looked back at his home, a pang of melancholy in his chest. This mansion held every memory of his childhood, and those moments now flashed through his mind one after another. Leaving this time, he had no idea when he might return. Without a direct order from the Vassal Lord, he was forbidden from setting foot in the Capital. His jaw tightened with resolve. He made a silent vow to grow stronger, and to do it quickly. The day he returned to the Capital would be the day the world knelt before him. A troop of soldiers, clad in full armor and mounted on warhorses, reined in at the mansion’s entrance. The officer at their head, Li Hongyi, dismounted and immediately dropped to one knee before Wei Yuan. "General Li Hongyi, at your service, Prince. On your journey to Hanguang City to establish your fief, I will do everything in my power to ensure the safety of you and your household." As he spoke, a subtle gleam, invisible to anyone else, flickered in Wei Yuan's eyes. An information panel materialized before him. [Identity: General of the Great Yue Hu Ben Army, currently serving as temporary commander of the Great Yue Beihan Prince's Guard.] [Strength: Seventh Rank] Seeing the panel, Wei Yuan felt a flicker of surprise. So the Imperial Lineage Prosperity System could display information on men, too. That, he realized, was incredibly useful.

Chapter 5: My Wives Are My Cultivation