Chương 445: Everyone is Pregnant

Mi Zhen and Gan Mei were so moved that they hugged each other, tears streaming down their faces.

"Sister Zhen'er, we're pregnant! We're really pregnant!"

"Yes! We're pregnant! We have a child now!"

Yin Ying, Feng Yu, and Cai Wan were also excited. Some wiped away tears, some clutched their stomachs and laughed foolishly, and some held Liu Ce's hand and refused to let go.

Liu Ce was overjoyed to see this.

Zhen Jiang smiled and said, "Our backyard is going to be lively again."

Zhang Ning nodded and said, "That's right. Eleven children are already quite a handful. If we have sixteen more, our manor could open a school."

Zhen Mi smiled and said, "Opening a school is a good idea; it would save us the trouble of hiring a teacher."

The women burst into laughter.

Liu Ce stood in the middle of the flower hall, looking at the ladies in the room, each one touching her belly with a smile on her face, and he felt extremely happy.

Sixteen wives and sixteen children.

Adding to the eleven already there, that makes twenty-seven.

Twenty-seven!

Liu Ce silently did some mental calculations: How much does it cost to raise a child from birth to adulthood, including food, drink, toileting, education, and martial arts training? How much would it cost to raise twenty-seven children?

Forget it, I don't want to.

Anyway, he has plenty of money.

He walked up to He Lian, gently took her hand, and whispered:

"Thanks for your hard work."

He Lian shook her head and said with a smile, "It's not hard work. Being able to give birth to your child is the happiest thing in my life."

Liu Ce felt a warmth in his heart and lowered his head to kiss her forehead.

He then walked up to Mi Zhen and Gan Mei, and took their hands:

"You two should also take good care of yourselves and not overwork yourselves."

Mi Zhen blushed and nodded, saying, "Yes, my husband, don't worry."

Ganmei nodded obediently and said, "I will take good care of myself."

Liu Ce then spoke to each of the other wives in turn.

Then, he hugged each of the ladies in turn, kissed each of them on the forehead, and said with a smile:

"Thank you for your hard work. From today onwards, take good care of yourselves. Eat and drink whatever you want, don't be stingy. I'll have Hua Tuo and Zhang Zhongjing stay at your residence to treat your health whenever needed."

Zhang Ning chuckled and teased, "Husband, are you raising us like piglets?"

Liu Ce laughed and said, "Little pigs are so good. They can eat and sleep well, and the babies they give birth to are chubby and healthy."

The ladies burst into laughter.

Zhen Jiang laughed and said, "Husband, you're going to be very busy now. Sixteen children, plus the previous eleven, that makes a total of twenty-seven! Coming home at night will be like going to kindergarten."

Liu Ce laughed heartily and said, "Kindergarten it is! The more children I, Liu Ce, have, the better!"

Cai Yan smiled and shook her head, then took Liu Ce's hand and said softly:

"My husband, you must take care of yourself. You're busy with official duties during the day... don't overwork yourself."

Liu Ce patted her hand: "Don't worry, your husband is made of iron!"

Everyone laughed again.

......

The news caused a sensation throughout Luoyang.

Prince Liu Ce of Yan had sixteen wives, all of whom were pregnant at the same time!

When Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Xun Yu, and the others heard the news, they looked at each other in bewilderment, and then they all laughed.

"My lord's fertility... is truly remarkable." Guo Jia waved his feather fan, his smile carrying a profound meaning.

Fang Xuanling stroked his beard and laughed, "Many sons bring many blessings; this is a great blessing. With a worthy successor, the Han dynasty is secure."

Du Ruhui nodded and said, "That's right. Now those who were still thinking of causing trouble have even less of a chance."

Dian Wei and Xu Chu looked at each other, both seeing the same message in each other's eyes: they had to work harder.

Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu, who were in Gongdelin, remained silent for a long time after hearing that all of Liu Ce's wives were pregnant.

Yuan Shao sighed and said, "Sixteen... at the same time... are they even human?"

Yuan Shu gritted his teeth: "Stop talking... I don't want to hear it..."

The guard next to him suppressed a laugh and walked over with the steamed buns in his hand.

"Dinner's ready."

Looking at the bowl of cornbread, Yuan Shu recalled Liu Ce's days of living in luxury with a multitude of wives and concubines, and almost burst into tears.

When will this ever end...?

...

In the evening, the back garden of the Prince of Yan's mansion was brightly lit and decorated, with three large tables set up.

Civil and military officials were also invited.

Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Xun Yu, Guo Jia, Xi Zhicai and others sat at one table, Li Jing, Zhao Yun, Lü Bu, Qi Jiguang and others sat at another table, and the families of the generals sat at yet another table.

Liu Ce, holding a wine glass, stood in the middle and said with a smile:

"Ladies and gentlemen, I have called you here today to announce some very exciting news!"

Everyone turned to look at him.

Liu Ce cleared his throat and said, word by word:

"Actually, you all already know, that's right, all sixteen of my wives are pregnant!"

After he finished speaking, the entire room fell silent for a second.

immediately......

"Whoosh..."

Applause, cheers, and shouts of approval filled the air.

Fang Xuanling was the first to stand up, cupping his hands in greeting, and said, "Congratulations, my lord! Congratulations, my lord! This is a momentous occasion! Your family's prosperity ensures the continuation of the Han dynasty!"

Du Ruhui also rose and said, "Our lord is truly blessed; congratulations!"

Guo Jia, waving his feather fan, laughed and said, "My lord's efficiency is truly impressive... I admire you greatly!"

Xi Zhicai smiled and cupped his hands in greeting, saying, "Congratulations, my lord."

Military generals were more direct.

Lu Bu slammed his hand on the table: "My lord is truly remarkable! I admire you!"

Zhao Yun smiled and raised his cup: "Congratulations, elder brother!"

Chang Yuchun shouted in a loud voice, "My lord! Sixteen! Impressive! This humble general toasts you!"

Li Wenzhong also raised his glass politely: "Congratulations, my lord."

Liu Ce laughed heartily, raised his glass, and said, "Come on, let's all have a drink! To the peace of this world, to our families, to our unborn children... Cheers!"

Everyone responded in unison and drank it all in one gulp.

......

Night fell, and the banquet ended.

Liu Ce stood under the porch in the backyard, looking at the starry sky, and let out a long sigh of relief.

Behind me, the sounds of the ladies chatting and laughing could still be heard from inside the hall.

...

AD 191, October.

After the autumn harvest, Luoyang is a sea of golden wheat fields as far as the eye can see.

When the wind blows, the wheat fields ripple, and the air is filled with the aroma of freshly ground white flour buns.

That fragrance wasn't just a faint wisp; it was an intense, overwhelming aroma of harvest, a blend of earthy scents and the smell of sunshine. One whiff of it could add three years to your life.

And then there's the smell; it gives you peace of mind—with food in your belly and soldiers in your hands, the world is yours.

Busy figures and hearty laughter could be heard everywhere—on the ridges of the fields, on the drying grounds, and under the old locust tree at the village entrance.

On this day, the weather was perfect; the sky was cloudless, and the sun shone warmly in the sky, making everyone feel comfortable.