Once the Empress had this thought, it surged like a rising tide, unstoppable.

Having a son would eliminate her worries for the future.

At this moment, she couldn’t help but think of the Goddess of Fertility. Then she laughed at her absurd notion.

No matter how efficacious the Goddess of Fertility might be, at her age, how could she possibly conceive?

She hadn’t had any signs of pregnancy since giving birth to Fuqing. It was purely an issue with her own body. After all, the Emperor was a man of routine. Over the years, regardless of how many young and beautiful concubines there were in the harem, he always spent at least the first and fifteenth day of each month in her chambers.

In previous years, they still engaged in marital relations, and it was only recently that their nights together became purely for sleeping.

The Empress reflected on her years with Emperor Jingming. She couldn’t say she had no regrets.

The Emperor had shown her much favor, yet she had only borne Fuqing – perhaps this was simply fate.

The Empress’s heart gradually grew cold.

If she couldn’t conceive, where would a son come from? Surely worshipping the Bodhisattva of Fertility wouldn’t make one fall from the sky?

Fall from the sky – the Empress suddenly froze, as if struck by a thought, her heart beginning to race.

Perhaps one could fall from the sky!

She had no sons of her own, so why couldn’t she adopt a prince as her own?

Yes, even if the Empress Dowager knew of this idea, she couldn’t object. After all, this was exactly what the Empress Dowager had done years ago.

It was by being adopted by the Empress Dowager that the Emperor had risen from an ordinary prince to ascend to his current position.

With this idea in mind, the Empress could no longer contain herself. It could be said that the conversation she had overheard between two palace maids earlier that day had broken through her mental barriers, allowing this notion to fully crystallize.

The Empress usually appeared to be a peaceful person who avoided conflicts, but in reality, she didn’t contend simply because there was nothing to contend for. Now that she had made a decision, things were different.

Before the next day arrived, a small shrine had been set up in Kunning Palace, dedicated to the Goddess of Fertility.

Emperor Jingming had been feeling quite guilty these past few days and had been visiting Kunning Palace more frequently.

“Where is the Empress?” After dealing with some government affairs that had piled up during the New Year period, Emperor Jingming came to Kunning Palace. Not seeing the Empress at a glance, he asked her attendants.

The palace maid hurriedly replied, “Your Majesty, the Empress is praying to Buddha.”

“Praying to Buddha?” Emperor Jingming was stunned. “Where is the Empress praying? To which Buddha?”

The palace maid responded, “The Empress had a small shrine prepared. She seems to be praying to… the Goddess of Fertility…”

Emperor Jingming thought he had misheard. He said to the palace maid, “Lead me to the Empress.”

The palace maid respectfully led the way, bringing Emperor Jingming to the small shrine.

The shrine was set up in a side hall, a quiet place.

Emperor Jingming stood outside the door, faintly smelling a light sandalwood incense.

He didn’t enter but waited outside.

About a quarter of an hour later, the Empress emerged. Seeing Emperor Jingming, she was startled for a moment before quickly paying her respects.

Emperor Jingming reached out to support the Empress, asking curiously, “I heard from the palace maid that you were praying?”

“Yes.”

“To which Bodhisattva?” Although he already knew the answer from the palace maid, Emperor Jingming still couldn’t believe it.

The Empress replied frankly, “The Goddess of Fertility.”

“Cough cough-” A fit of coughing erupted, choking Emperor Jingming until his eyes watered. After a while, he recovered and said, “Didn’t you not want to pray before? Why have you changed your mind?”

The Empress lowered her gaze, her face slightly flushed, “I’ve been thinking it over and feel that Your Majesty’s words make sense. If I pray to the Bodhisattva regularly, even if I can’t ask for anything else, can’t I at least pray for a child-“

“Cough cough cough!” Emperor Jingming’s coughing became more urgent, almost choking him.

He hadn’t meant for the Empress to pray for a child! They were an old married couple now, and even if the Empress was willing, he was… powerless.

No, he couldn’t let the Empress indulge in daydreams.

“Empress, I think praying for other things is fine, but isn’t praying for a child a bit too demanding of the Bodhisattva?”

The Empress’s face darkened, “Is Your Majesty saying I can no longer bear children?”

As she said this, the Empress’s eyelashes trembled, and a tear fell.

Emperor Jingming was immediately at a loss.

Crying, making a scene, threatening suicide – this wasn’t like the Empress’s usual behavior.

But thinking of Princess Fuqing’s ordeal, Emperor Jingming felt guilty: It seems the Empress has been deeply affected by Fuqing’s situation. It’s best not to provoke her further.

As an emperor, he didn’t have much experience in comforting women. Emperor Jingming could only say stiffly, “That’s not what I meant. If the Empress likes to pray to the Goddess of Fertility, then pray. Who knows, with sincere faith, it might work.”

The Empress dried her tears, wiped the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief, and smiled brightly, “That’s what I think too.”

There was no way he could stay in Kunning Palace. Emperor Jingming found an excuse and quickly fled.

For several days after that, he didn’t dare visit Kunning Palace, until the Empress sent someone to invite him.

Of course, Emperor Jingming wouldn’t refuse the Empress’s invitation. Thinking that after these few days, the usually steady and dignified Empress should have adjusted her mood, he leisurely came to Kunning Palace.

The Empress was still in the small shrine.

Emperor Jingming patiently waited, and it wasn’t long before the Empress came out.

The imperial couple sat down, holding cups of hot tea, and began to chat.

“Your Majesty, has the person behind Fuqing’s troubles been found?”

Emperor Jingming hesitated, raising his hand to rub his nose.

Did the Empress not know how to make conversation anymore? If there had been any progress, wouldn’t he have said so already, instead of avoiding the Empress’s tears for several days?

To put it bluntly, he still felt guilty.

After a moment of awkward silence, Emperor Jingming smiled sheepishly, “We’re still investigating. Empress, please don’t be anxious.”

The Empress sighed softly, “If it were me in danger, I wouldn’t have any reason to urge Your Majesty. But it’s Fuqing who’s in danger. These past few days, every time I close my eyes, I see the scene from that Lantern Festival night. I can’t sleep at all…”

The faint scent of sandalwood from the Empress surrounded him as if he were in a temple. Without much thought, Emperor Jingming comforted her, “If you feel uneasy, why don’t you follow the Seventh Prince’s wife’s example and pray more to the Bodhisattva?”

Praying to the Bodhisattva for peace of mind would prevent overthinking. Most women were like this.

As Emperor Jingming was thinking this, he saw the Empress’s expression turn hesitant.

“What’s wrong?”

The Empress lowered her gaze, staring at her neatly trimmed nails, and said softly, “To be honest with Your Majesty, I had a dream last night-“

Emperor Jingming’s eyelid suddenly twitched, and he had the urge to get up and leave immediately.

Seeing that Emperor Jingming didn’t respond, the Empress looked at him.

Emperor Jingming had no choice but to ask, “What did the Empress dream about?”

The Empress revealed a faint smile, “It’s quite strange. Last night, the Goddess of Fertility appeared in my dream and gave me a hint.”

“A hint?”

“Yes, perhaps taking pity on my years of childlessness, the Goddess of Fertility said that the love from raising a child is no less than the love from bearing one and that adopting a son would be just the same.”

Emperor Jingming was dumbfounded. After a while, he finally found his voice, “Empress, do you mean-“

The Empress smiled, “The Goddess of Fertility has shown her divine power, guiding me out of my confusion. Your Majesty, I want to adopt one of the princes as my own. What do you think?”

Emperor Jingming: “…”

He must have been possessed when he encouraged the Empress to pray to the Bodhisattva a few days ago. He wondered if it was too late to tear down the small shrine now.