Chapter 312: Empress Dowager: It would be great if I could have a child too!
Li Mo opened the door and walked out, then carefully turned back to close the door.
When he turned back again, he couldn’t help but burp.
A rich smell of milk instantly filled his mouth and nose.
Jing Ni had an excellent physique, recovering well; though she had just given birth, she had already stockpiled enough nourishment for little Yan Er.
However, little Yan Er was still small and couldn’t eat that much.
Then the father would have to share the burden.
After returning, Li Mo didn’t stay idle either; he just accompanied the mother and daughter on a peaceful day after Jing Ni had just given birth.
From the next day, things became busy again.
The production of explosives was extremely covert.
Each process was carried out separately.
The craftsmen making the explosives didn’t even know what they were creating.
Aside from a few, Li Mo was not confident enough to entrust this kind of thing to anyone else.
If an outsider were to learn the formula for the explosives, it would pose a huge threat.
This thing cannot be understood by common logic.
With enough quantity, a single person could even blow up the entire royal palace.
Although the State of Wei had already been conquered, there was still the hard bone of the State of Chu to gnaw on.
In terms of national strength and area, the State of Chu ranked among the top of the original seven states.
Therefore, it was urgent to produce more explosives to send to the front lines.
In the Qin State, there was Wang Jian; in the Zhao State, there was Li Mu; and in the Chu State, there was Xiang Yan.
Xiang Yan, a general of Chu, had many achievements and was beloved by the soldiers; the people of Chu were fond of him.
His prestige was extremely high both in the Chu army and in the hearts of the people.
Wang Jian was currently struggling to delay the Chu army with two hundred thousand troops.
Even with the additional troops led by Wang Ben and Li Xin, they might not be a match for the State of Chu.
It wasn’t that Wang Jian was not capable; it was that the State of Chu was just too strong.
In historical records, Ying Zheng once asked Li Xin how many troops were needed to attack Chu.
Li Xin shamelessly boasted that a maximum of two hundred thousand would be sufficient.
Ying Zheng then asked Wang Jian how many troops were needed to attack Chu.
Wang Jian replied that sixty thousand were absolutely necessary.
Sixty thousand was already the entirety of the Qin’s military strength at that time.
Ying Zheng said at that time: “General Wang is getting old!”
Afterwards, he believed Li Xin’s bold words and let him lead troops to attack the State of Chu.
But the result was that the Chu army killed seven of the Qin army’s officers, and Li Xin returned in defeat.
Not only was Xiang Yan a famous general of the State of Chu, but he also had a grandson, the Western Chu overlord Xiang Yu.
However, calculating the time now, this Western Chu overlord had not yet been born.
Before they realized it, another month had passed.
Winter had already arrived.
The last leaf on the treetop fluttered down with the piercing cold wind.
Little Yan Er had just eaten and was sleeping soundly, wrapped in thick swaddling.
While Jing Ni was taking Little Yan Er out to bask in the sun in the courtyard, a benevolent smile on the face of the Jing Ni suddenly froze, and her sharp gaze turned towards Little Yan Er.
A withered leaf fell on L’s head and was swept away.
At this moment, a silver needle flashed through the air.
It struck the leaf accurately, sending it flying.
The leaf was pinned to the ground by the silver needle, its tail still gently trembling.
“Rong Er has such a skillful technique.”
Jing Ni’s gaze softened once again as she turned to look at Duanmu Rong, who had just acted.
Duanmu Rong rarely showed a smile; she crouched down next to the leaf to retrieve the silver needle.
“It’s nothing compared to Madam.”
While she did possess some self-defense techniques, they were only sufficient for self-preservation.
In a real confrontation with a true expert, these skills would be rendered useless.
For example, someone like Jing Ni.
Even during her pregnancy, she was not someone Duanmu Rong could match.
As they were chatting, suddenly a maid rushed over in a hurry.
“Madam, Madam, someone has come from the palace.”
Little Yan Er, who had been sleeping, seemed disturbed by the maid’s voice, his chubby little hands flailing in the air.
Jing Ni quickly bent down and gently patted the quilt, and Little Yan Er immediately quieted down.
He slowly lowered his hands and continued to sleep soundly.
“I’m sorry, Madam, I’m sorry, Madam.”
Seeing that she had almost woken the little master, the maid repeatedly apologized, appearing anxious.
She wasn’t speaking loudly, and Jing Ni had no intention of blaming her.
Duanmu Rong quietly asked, “Why has someone come from the palace? Are they looking for Mr. Li?”
“It should be, since the war in Chu is pressing; they probably came to urge my husband about those explosives.”
Jing Ni tucked in Little Yan Er’s blanket and then looked up at the maid, saying, “Tell them that the master is not here and they should go to the Military Machine Office.”
The Military Machine Office was specifically established for the development of gunpowder, and Li Mo had been busy there lately.
However, the maid did not respond but shook her head, saying, “They’re not here to find the master.”
After saying this, she looked at the sleeping Little Yan Er and softly added, “They said they came to see the young miss.”
At this, both Jing Ni and Duanmu Rong were stunned.
They exchanged glances and saw surprise on each other’s faces.
Suddenly, Jing Ni slapped her forehead.
“It’s the Empress Dowager!”
Only two people in the palace had a relationship with Li Mo.
One was King Ying Zheng of Qin, and the other was the Empress Dowager.
It was impossible for Ying Zheng to come specifically for little Yan Er.
So it could only be the Empress Dowager.
In the reception hall, a graceful figure sat with poise.
Her pure white hands gently moved the lid of the cup, and a hint of arrogance in her brows and eyes gave her a unique charm.
This was a mature woman.
Every gesture emanated alluring charm.
“I have met the Empress Dowager.”
Jing Ni entered the hall cradling a swaddled bundle and saw Zhao Ji sitting alone there.
“No need for formalities, quickly let me see the child,”
Zhao Ji set down her tea cup and opened her arms towards Jing Ni eagerly.
Jing Ni did not refuse and handed the swaddled bundle to her.
As Zhao Ji looked at the peacefully sleeping Yan Er, a kind smile appeared on her face.
“So adorable, this little appearance truly makes one feel tender.”
She had long reached an age overflowing with maternal love.
Having a son, though not her own.
At that time, Ying Zheng was already at the age of running around.
Seeing little Yan Er’s nose and mouth resembling Li Mo’s, Zhao Ji could no longer suppress her maternal instincts.
If only she could also have one of her own!
If not for hearing Ying Zheng mention this earlier today, she wouldn’t even have known that Li Mo’s child had been born.
A hundred unhappy thoughts filled Zhao Ji’s heart.
Even Ying Zheng knew, but she didn’t.
Did he consider her an outsider?
No matter, I will make myself one of them.
She looked up at Jing Ni while holding the child and said, “This child has a fate with me, I wish to adopt her as my goddaughter. Lady Li, you have no objections, right?”
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