Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!

"What! Nashu, you're pregnant!"

In the Tree Snake City, the palaces were layered. Xiulote stood in the side hall of the residence, his eyes widened, looking at the prostrated "Little Fox" Nashu, extremely shocked. But when he looked at Nashu's slightly swollen abdomen, he couldn't deny the reality that once again, he was going to be a father!

"How could this be! Nashu, weren't you... unable to get pregnant?"

"Your Highness... my master... I..."

Nashu knelt on the ground, her body trembling slightly. She knew she couldn't hide it and had to face the king's choices, embracing an unpredictable fate. She bit her pale red lip, bowed her head, and answered quietly without any concealment.

"I... before serving you, the priestesses didn't strip me of my womanly abilities, they only made me take contraception Zicao juice regularly... Last autumn, when I served you, I didn't take the Zicao juice..."

At this point, Nashu's hands and feet were trembling. For some reason, when she graduated from the Temple, the priestesses didn't overfeed her with the temple medicine as they did with other shadow slaves, the poisonous Earth Mother Silver Liquid, to cause permanent sterilization. She knew the consequence of those medicines was a greatly reduced lifespan and a weakened body.

Before she served the High Priest, the High Priest's instructions were to regularly take Zicao juice to prevent her monthly cycles, maintaining contraception. The Zicao juice was extremely cooling, and taking it for too long would also cause permanent infertility. She obediently took Zicao juice for over a year until the High Priest suddenly went to the Divine Kingdom...

The chains of slavery in her heart slowly unlocked before the remarkably warm High Priest, like ice melting under the sun, and seeds sprouting in the soil. The strong female desire gradually overshadowed the inner struggle. Finally, she quietly stopped drinking Zicao juice, and three months later, her cycles resumed. The following plan was for her calculated days, during the grand map of the world, she enjoyed continuous blissful nights with the High Priest...

Chaotic thoughts flashed through Nashu's mind, making her both afraid and longing. Finally, she summoned the courage of a moth drawn to a flame, gazing at her beloved and sole High Priest, pleading out loud.

"Your Highness, I can get pregnant... I want to give you, a child!..."

"Ah! Pregnant... give me a child..."

Upon hearing this, Xiulote pressed his lips tightly, his emotions stirred. The shadow slave not being sterilized was naturally not the priestesses' oversight but surely arranged by his grandfather. Perhaps, in his grandfather's mind, he still hoped that he could continue the family lineage.

"My child!..."

At this moment, Xiulote gazed into Nashu's bright eyes, his heart tumultuous. The moth, driven by selfless dedication, flew into her beloved flame, despite fear, she still deeply longed. Only at this moment did Xiulote realize his true feelings.

"I am ultimately different from the great nobles of this era. I never truly treated Nashu as a shadow slave, a tool. I regarded her as a woman I loved, providing her with space for care and growth. The seed sprouted in the soil, slowly growing into a big tree. She slowly grew into a woman who loved me, complete and whole..."

Xiulote lowered his gaze, his thoughts gradually clarified. After a moment, he opened his eyes and asked calmly.

"Nashu, how long have you been pregnant?"

"Your Highness, I... have been pregnant... for four months..."

"Four months? Why are you only telling me now!"

"I..."

Nashu pressed her head tightly to the ground, feeling the coolness of the palace's stone bricks. She didn't know how to answer and didn't even understand why she kept delaying until now to report to the High Priest.

The palace fell into silence, after a while, Nashu repeated with a crying tone, lowly.

"Your Highness, I want to give you a child!... Just one, one of your children! Even if I die right after..."

"Nashu... Nashu..."

Xiulote closed his eyes, silent, considering the subsequent arrangements. The palace returned to silence, resembling deathly silence.

Ecatl lowered his head, staring at his toes as if trying to see flowers blooming there. He waited for a long time before asking in a low voice.

"Family Head, what should be done next?"

Xiulote paused silently, feeling a little guilty. The relationship between the Alliance and the Kingdom was currently at its most tense and sensitive. If at this time, a bastard child appeared and was known by King Aweit, it certainly wouldn't end well.

"A qualified king should differentiate between reality and desire... the Kingdom's overall situation, my responsibility..."

Upon hearing this, Ecatl raised his eyebrows, nodding. His eyes revealed a murderous intent; he glanced at the ashen-faced, trembling Nashu and nodded in response.

"Family Head, I understand... And the child?"

"The child? That's my child, the bloodline of my family..."

Xiulote murmured softly, somewhat lost. He was surprised that so quickly, he became the father of two children.

"Family Head, I understand!"

Ecatl nodded heavily, replying in a deep voice.

"Leave everything for me to handle! You act as if you know nothing..."

"Ugh, ugh..."

Nashu lay on the ground, clutching her abdomen with both hands, crying softly. After hearing the High Priest's words, her heart first felt despair, then a bit of relief. As long as she could leave behind the High Priest's bloodline, she could peacefully go to the Divine Kingdom...

"Hmm?"

Xiulote snapped back to reality, looking at the determined Nashu and the equally resolute Ecatl, his expression startled. A moment later, realizing something, he widened his eyes, shouting harshly.

"Ecatl, what do you think you understand?!"

"Um?... Family Head, weren't you saying to keep the child..."

Ecatl froze, pointing at Nashu, then made a throat-slitting gesture.

"And then, make it all disappear?... This is also the tradition of the great Alliance nobility."

"What? Bastard! Bastard!"

Xiulote's eyelid twitched as he cursed repeatedly.

"Who allows you to make such reckless guesses? Witnessed by the Chief Divine! As a King, as a man, I need to step forward, bear my responsibilities, and face all this!"

"Ah? This..."

Ecatl was stunned. He felt at a loss and asked softly.

"Then, Family Head, what about the Alliance?"

"Ecatl, protect her well! A child cannot be without a mother, and Nashu has not let me down!"

Xiulote pursed his lips and made a resolute decision in a deep voice. At this moment, he remembered the kindness of Head Warrior Bertade. The Head Warrior always understood his intentions, sometimes without needing a single word.

"Seal the news, not a hint should leak! Can you arrange for the Priestess Temple in the Kingdom?"

"Ah! Family Head, I understand!"

Ecatl nodded again. Seeing the suspicious gaze of his lord, he added an explanation.

"I will gather the most loyal family warriors to guard this place tightly, ensuring no news escapes! Once the child is born, send both of them to the temple deep within the kingdom. Southwest of Patzcuaro City, there is a temple of the Goddess of Childbirth, Tonakaxiwatel, controlled by the Holy City faction. It is secluded and remote, not open to outsiders, and is also a holy sanctuary for the Kingdom's Priestesses, the best place to protect newborns!"

"Hmm. Let's do it this way!"

Xiulote thought for a moment and nodded in agreement. Then, he turned his gaze to Nashu, who was kneeling on the ground, and spoke solemnly.

"Nashu, get up, don't kneel anymore! Don't exhaust yourself, rest and recover peacefully."

"Ah! My lord, my master, do you... do you still want me?"

Nashu's face was marked by tears, her eyes held a mix of genuine joy and unsettling fear. She had been kneeling for so long that her knees were soft, and she felt weak. Pregnancy had made her vulnerable, and despite trying several times, she couldn't rise from the ground.

"..."

Xiulote shook his head. He stepped forward cautiously and helped Nashu up. Then, he squatted down, placing his ear against Nashu's rounded belly to listen closely.

"Thump... Thump..."

All he could hear was the rapid heartbeat, which was not the child's, but Nashu's.

Listening to the heartbeat, Xiulote felt her breathing, and gradually his expression calmed. A father's joy slowly blossomed in his heart, causing the corners of his mouth to curve up instinctively. In half a year, he would have another child, whether it would be a boy or a girl was still unknown.

Xiulote listened quietly for a long time, feeling as if a river flowed within his heart. After a while, he stood up, composed himself, and instructed solemnly.

"Nashu, from now on, aside from your family warriors who protect you, you must not appear before anyone! And when the child is born, you must go with the child to the kingdom's temple to live in seclusion."

"My lord..."

Nashu bit her lip, her eyes filled with emotions she could hardly part with, and she asked softly.

"Do you... still want me?"

Xiulote raised his eyebrows, paused briefly, then nodded. After pondering slightly, he made a clear promise.

"Nashu, you are my woman, carrying my child. Hand over the work of close service and intelligence to Ecatl. You haven't failed your duties, just... temporary unsuited to be by my side. Go! Once the child is born, go to the temple and focus on raising the child. Witnessed by the Ancestor, I will not let you down!"

Nashu was momentarily stunned, lowered her fair head, and embraced the King's waist, clinging to his chest.

"Yes, Master. I will heed your words. Nashu will always belong to you... even though you belong to others forever..."

Xiulote remained silent. He lingered in the hall for half a day until Nashu lay down weary, then the King departed the hall.

"Ecatl, do not let any news leak, attracting the attention of Lake Capital City. There should be no major changes in the Personal Guard, so as not to be noticed!"

"Yes, Family Head!"

Ecatl responded loudly. Then, he hesitated slightly.

"Then, how should I explain the changes around you..."

"..."

Xiulote remained silent again. He looked up, squinting at the sky's Sun. The sunlight was blazing, falling on his face, scorching and dazzling. After a while, the King closed his eyes and spoke softly in the sunlight's radiance.

"Just say Nashu was not accustomed to the climate, fell gravely ill, is between life and death, and has already been sent back to the kingdom for emergency treatment. This message should only be leaked out a little, not loudly proclaimed."

"Yes, Family Head!"

White clouds drifted, the red sun hung low, casting the shadow of clouds over the King's palace. The pair fell into silence once more. Long after, Xiulote sighed, thinking of the lover he hadn't seen for years, his heart full of guilt.

"Does the bright Sun also have shadows? Will the pure clouds accept the Sun's shadow?..."

"Ah? Family Head, what did you say?"

"I said, the rainy season is coming, prepare for spring sowing!"

Xiulote shook his head slightly, his expression calm. Then, he made his way outside the city, towards the large camp, with the sun behind him casting a long shadow.