Upon hearing this news, Yanshu's mind instantly became a jumbled mess.

"What?"

"Intersex people???"

"Dongwo actually sent this to the Emperor???"

"Why would they do such a thing?!"

The system calmly replied, "Don't even mention it. The Dongwo royal family is extremely perverted, and this trend has been prevalent in recent years. Their own monarch keeps several of them. They found out that the Emperor hasn't had any children or visited the harem in the past three years, so they assumed he might be perverted like them. That's why they sent these two over."

Yanshu felt like she was about to cough up blood. What kind of assumption was this?

Come to think of it, the Emperor was quite pitiful. Just because his unreliable father had ruined him for three years, how did those Dongwo people demonize him into a pervert?

However, she had thought intersex people only existed in modern times. How were they here now?

The system explained, "As I said before, since a certain country's monarch is perverted, people below him developed a special drug to cultivate such individuals to please him."

Yanshu: "..."

Well, that was indeed very perverted.

"But the problem is, aren't they afraid the Great Liang Emperor won't be interested in this? They actually sent such people from so far away?!"

The system sighed and said, "You're still too naive. These people have undergone very professional training. Many can't resist them. Besides, even if the Emperor doesn't touch them, putting them in the harem is still a hidden danger! After all, they are essentially male."

Yanshu: "..."

Don't tell me they're planning to have these two secretly cuckold the Emperor?

Ugh... disgusting.

As one of the harem members, Yanshu couldn't help but feel goosebumps all over.

But that wasn't all. The system continued, "Moreover, these two aren't ordinary. They are experts who have undergone national combat training, with excellent martial arts skills."

Experts?

Yanshu was startled, "Don't tell me they're planning an assassination?"

The system replied, "More or less. Haven't you heard that in recent years, Dongwo has repeatedly invaded Great Liang's southeastern sea defenses? The Emperor ordered a severe counterattack, causing them many casualties, forcing them to sue for peace. Do you think they sincerely came to celebrate the Emperor's birthday this time?"

Yanshu suddenly understood.

So Dongwo's goal was to disrupt Great Liang by any means necessary.

Truly a wolf's ambition!

After cursing that certain country's monarch several times in her heart, Yanshu thought of another crucial question.

What did the Emperor plan to do with these two "beauties"?

Yuwen Lan: "???"

What could he do?

At this moment, he was furious!

— Those Dongwo people would invade the southeastern coast every warm season, so in recent years he had increased efforts to train the navy and build sea walls. Fortunately, Great Liang was ultimately stronger than that small country, so they could subdue them every time they struck.

This time, he had originally wanted to negotiate properly with them, but he never expected they would pull this trick.

Even if they were normal women, he would never accept them into his harem.

Moreover, he had just heard about this situation from Yanshu.

What?

Intersex???

Damn! How could Dongwo be so absurd, so insulting to him!!!

Yuwen Lan was naturally filled with anger that rushed to his head. For the first time in his life, he could barely conceal his emotions as he coldly said to the Dongwo attendant, "Regarding the alliance, as long as your country is sincere, Great Liang will also treat it sincerely. I don't want these people, you can take them back for your monarch to use."

As soon as these words were spoken, the hall was filled with surprise.

Whether it was the foreign guests or Great Liang's ministers, they all heard the full disdain in his words.

— This was strange! The other side had only sent beauties, and judging by their figures, they must be extremely beautiful. Not only did the Emperor not want them, but he was also angry?

Why was this?

Yanshu was also surprised. What was going on with this man? It was fine if he didn't want the beauties, but why was he angry?

Just as she was confused, she saw the Emperor speak to the palace servants, "Why haven't you escorted them out yet?"

The servants complied and led the two "beauties" out.

With the scene finally cleared, Yuwen Lan's anger had not yet subsided. He picked up a wine cup and took a drink.

Unexpectedly, he heard Yanshu's disappointed voice in his mind, "They left just like that? I didn't even get to see what they looked like..."

Yuwen Lan: "???"

The minister from the Court of State Ceremonial promptly invited everyone to raise their glasses, and ordered the singers and dancers to follow up quickly. Except for the unhappy expressions on the faces of the Dongwo envoys, the hall soon returned to its lively atmosphere.

The banquet continued merrily for two hours. As the bright moon moved westward and the hour grew late, it finally came to an end.

The Emperor and his beloved consort left their seats first, and the guests also departed from the palace.

Yuwen Lan had drunk wine tonight, and considering his beloved consort's pregnancy, he specially called for the imperial carriage.

There was no one else in the carriage. As Yuwen Lan closed his eyes to rest, he heard the girl's thoughts in his ear, "Why was he angry just now? After all, he shouldn't have known that those two were 'that kind of people', right? Could it be that he simply dislikes that Dongwo country? So he also despised those two 'beauties' along with it?"

Yuwen Lan nodded inwardly, there was indeed this factor.

Then he heard her click her tongue, "If it were from other countries, like Rouran or Gaoli, would he have accepted them?"

Yuwen Lan suddenly opened his eyes, "???"

No such thing!

Did she think those foreign countries would send beauties to Great Liang for no reason? They all had similar intentions as Dongwo!

It's just that they probably weren't as... perverted as Dongwo!

Yes, that's the word, she seemed to have used it before.

Just thinking about this matter made his anger rise again, but at this moment, he heard her speak, "Your Majesty, I have something to report to you. I hope you won't be shocked."

Yuwen Lan then said, "What is it?"

He heard her say, "Actually, those two that Dongwo intended to present to you today... were not normal women. They are both male and female. Some places call this kind... 'ladyboys'."

Yuwen Lan pretended to be surprised, "Is that so? How could Dongwo be so absurd?"

...Though this term was quite fitting.

He saw her nod and say, "Indeed it is so. Therefore, it's a good thing Your Majesty rejected them tonight. However, I wonder, if other countries were to present normal women to you, would you accept them?"

As she spoke, she stared at him with inquisitive eyes.

Yuwen Lan couldn't help but smile and said, "Do you hope I would?"

He saw her pout immediately and say, "How could that be for this humble consort to decide? Even if I didn't hope so, you might still accept them."

Yuwen Lan deliberately remained ambiguous and raised an eyebrow, saying, "Am I so cheap in your heart?"

He saw her take a deep breath and lower her eyes, saying, "This humble consort wouldn't dare."

Yuwen Lan couldn't help but reach out to pinch her chin, saying, "You clearly dare very much. If I really were to accept other women into the harem, I fear you would have cursed me as a scumbag countless times by now."

Yanshu was stunned and hurriedly said, "How could that be? Your Majesty thinks too poorly of this humble consort..."

In her heart, she thought, "He guessed quite accurately, but I'm afraid it wouldn't be as simple as just cursing him. I would write him into a novel to be morally condemned by people, then take the child and live my own life behind closed doors, never paying attention to him again! Hmph!"

Yuwen Lan: "..."

Why the "hmph"? He hadn't done anything!

He could only sigh, take her hand, and say, "Even if there were three thousand weak waters, I would only take one ladle to drink."

As his words fell, he saw her freeze.

Her eyes looked at him, thinking, "Is he... saying sweet nothings?"

Yuwen Lan smiled profoundly, thinking that it seemed sweet words should be said appropriately after all.

Look how enchanted she was.

But in the next moment, he heard her think, "Oh right, I must write a novel tomorrow, thoroughly exposing the absurd affairs of that Dongwo monarch! It's a foreign country anyway, so I don't have to worry about anyone identifying themselves! Hehe, I'm sure my readers would love to see it!"

Yuwen Lan: "???"

Weren't we talking about sweet nothings? Why did it suddenly jump to this?

And why does it have to be written into a novel!!!

He couldn't help but say, "Prenatal education is very important. After all, this is my first child. Starting tomorrow, I'll arrange for someone to read books to you, beginning with the Four Books and Five Classics."

As soon as he finished speaking, Yanshu was dumbfounded, "What? This humble consort doesn't, doesn't, doesn't want to listen..."

However, before she could finish speaking, he said in a solemn voice, "This is an imperial edict."

Yanshu: "..."

Before she could respond, he added, "It doesn't need to be much. Just listen for a quarter of an hour each day. If that's not enough, we can add some Tang poetry and Song lyrics to cultivate your temperament."

Yanshu: "..."

Good heavens, was this prenatal education for the baby or a lesson for her? Why did she have to be forced to study even when she was about to become a mother? Oh, woe is me.

Forced by imperial power, Yanshu had no choice but to obey.

So early the next morning, she found herself listening to the Director of the Imperial Academy personally reciting the "Book of Songs" to her.

The Director was very conscientious. After reciting the original text, he carefully explained it to her, afraid she might not understand something.

Yanshu forced a smile and gave the Director a wolf-hair brush as a token of gratitude.

Today was the Changning Festival, which was also the Emperor's birthday. After finishing her lesson, Yanshu quickly dressed up and accompanied the Emperor to the Cining Palace to pay respects to the Empress Dowager.

After all, as the saying goes, "A child's birthday is the mother's day of suffering." Although the Empress Dowager was not the Emperor's birth mother, she had raised him for many years and her efforts were praiseworthy.

After paying their respects, there were still ministers waiting in the front court to pay homage to the Emperor, so Yuwen Lan bid farewell to the Empress Dowager and went to the Qianming Palace.

Yanshu breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that her top-tier ally, the Empress Dowager, was indeed more approachable. Finally, she could chat with her about recent events.

The Empress Dowager had actually been waiting for her too. As soon as the Emperor left, she dismissed everyone else and asked, "I heard that last night the Dongwo envoy presented beautiful women to His Majesty, but he angrily drove them away. What exactly happened?"

Yanshu could only lie on behalf of the Emperor again, saying, "Because His Majesty is wise and brilliant, he knew in advance that those two beauties were not ordinary women. They were... people specially raised by the Dongwo royal family who could be... both male and female."

Tsk, afraid of frightening the Empress Dowager, she deliberately slowed her speech.

However, the Empress Dowager was still shocked and exclaimed, "How could this be? How could Dongwo be so outrageous and shameless? Isn't this blatantly insulting our Great Liang? They should be thrown out!"

Yanshu quickly agreed and reassured her, "Don't worry, Your Highness. His Majesty said that after the Changning Festival, he will send them back. As for other political matters, he won't compromise with them at all."

The Empress Dowager nodded and sighed, "This Dongwo has always harbored intentions to destroy our Great Liang! We must not underestimate them. It's good that His Majesty understands this."

Yanshu hastily nodded in agreement.