(1 month later)
Three concubines have become pregnant, and there is already a three months old prince.
And since all the kids are the children made by both the Emperor and Empress, there isn't a problem regarding their legitimacy.
Perhaps this method has been used in the past, but to people's knowledge, it is unusual, and never done before.
Some people even say that the Empress is not performing her duties, and there are some rumours that she herself can't get pregnant.
A mulla from a considerably well established mosque told the court about this concerning matter that has been circulating.
He was someone close to the Empress Dowager, and the mother of the current Empress, and mother-in-law of the current Emperor, Noor Jahan. That's why he was able to present this thought in the court without the fear of his head flying.
"And it goes against islam."
He said, feeling proud of himself.
Noor Jahan, the previous Empress, has been given the ministry of advisory, and is now openly sitting in the court, instead of being behind a curtain behind Jahangir to express her opinions.
It can be said that, the current Empress really got her good looks from her mother. Who, despite reaching her 50s, looked charming.
The Emperor, Shahryar glared at the mulla, for daring to question his wife, but I just smiled and put my hand on his shoulder, calming him down.
"Let me handle this."
He nodded, and I turned to the mulla.
"Tell me, why is it against islam?"
"Relationships between women are haram."
"I see. Then, I know that alcohol is also haram?"
"Yes it is."
"Then why does your son consume it?"
He was shocked. He didn't know about this!
Well, he really can't know about what isn't true.
"I-I didn't know about it, your Majesty! I will discipline him!"
I shook my head.
"Islam can't be forced on people. And people like you can't be the ones who tell people how to practice islam, when you can't even handle your own son.
Mughal Empire is going to change drastically during Shahryar the Great's reign. And we can't have hypocrites like you, who follow the laws of a barbarian resource-less desert instead of our home, our country, the resourceful India.
Muhammad's life was of struggle in a barbaric Arabia, with barely any resource. That's why, his life can only be emulated in Arabia. Not in India, which has been the richest, and most resourceful, and progressive country from the very beginning of civilization.
Since even you, the highest authority in the most influential mosque aren't even able to discipline your own son, I can't, in good faith, let people like you teach children.
I see every kid in the Indian Continent and beyond as my own kid. And their education and well-being is my responsibility.
And... you are right. I can't have children in my womb."
Suddenly, everyone stood up from their seats, shocked beyond comprehension.
"Mihr!?"
Mother was the one who was the most shocked. She had been bugging me to have children for so long.
"Yes. The Goddess appeared in my dreams, angered at me, her Saintess, whom she granted with intellect and knowledge, worshipping a Devil. An Arabian desert barbarian Satan who manipulated the minds of the scribes of Muhammad, the then saint of the Goddess.
I have been cursed by her to not be able to produce children in my own womb until I fight the Satanic, fake story of Muhammad that the Arabs used for their conquest.
How can the Saint of the all-knowing, omnipotent, omnipresent God not been able to read and write? Even after being granted knowledge by her?"
The court was silent, and looking at the Emperor, he just kept a straight face.
In the court, mother is undeniably the most powerful. And mother is a somewhat religious person, but is able to cast it aside for her own benefits. Just like majority of the rulers in the world.
She is both power-hungry, and a loving mother. And her power in the Empire is now dependent on me, the Empress.
If her daughter is at a disadvantage, she will be willing to completely abandon any religion, and accept any other.
"T-then, can the curse be lifted!?"
She asked my hysterically.
Got her. She believed me.
I nodded.
"The Goddess has told me how to lift the curse.
She has always interacted with humans from time to time through messengers, but those messengers always left the spreading of her message to other people. Churches, scribes of Muhammad, all manipulated the message according to their agenda.
After the Veds, Valmiki Ramayan, and Mahabharat, all messages and stories have been manipulated in some way or other.
Now, as the Saintess of the Goddess, I must spread her message, without any falsification and manipulation. Make a temple, and store the records as she tells.
Then only I myself will be able to get pregnant. I can't afford to be careless like the previous messengers in the spreading of her message."
I told them the full story.
Mother asked me, "Why didn't you tell this until now?"
"Because I am not just a Saintess. I am the Empress, responsible for my citizens.
Our neighbours, many of whom are fanatics for their falsified religion, will surely attack us, thinking that I am committing blasphemy, when I am trying to save them.
And it is my people who will suffer, so I had thought that maybe it is better to keep things as it is.
But, my husband showed me the right path after I told him about the situation.
I not only has the responsibility to the people of my Empire, but the whole world. To the future generations.
A mother's job is to not only physically protect her children, but also to discipline them and to show them the right path. To not let them stray from good and prevent them from being manipulated by the evil.
I have made up my mind. I will do both of my duties, as the Saintess, and the Empress.
And as a gift, the Goddess told me the method to permanently get rid of Small Pox from the world."
This was a statement that shook everyone present. Small Pox has been around as long as probably humanity itself, or even before.
It is like Covid Ultra Pro Max, Ultimate edition. The fatality rate is extremely high, and the only reason humanity isn't on the verge of extinction because of it is because the world isn't a very connected place right now.
While copulation, which is a bit like vaccination except that Small Pox infected skin is directly used, and rest is left in god's hands, there isn't a way to prevent it.
And copulation probably worked in ancient times better because the variant in India was less dangerous than the other parts of the world, but now, it isn't the case anymore, with people around the world having assimilated here.
There must be a reason as to why Cows are considered divine, since their CowPox defended people against the virus, but Indian CowPox is no longer able to defend against the deadlier variants.
That's why, the cows from the harshest environment, of diseases, and poverty, i.e. Europe, developed a greater resistance.
Heh. I was able to import cows from England ages ago under the guise of gifting it to my Hindu maid.
And the vaccine that I have made, it works. Atleast none of the 100 people I tested it on have contacted the disease despite punishing them to live with infected people. Well, some developed fever, but not the actual SmallPox.
I looked at Shehryar, who gave me the confidence that we can afford offending the fanatics of our Empire and our neighbours.
This will even give us a valid excuse to attack them after they attack us.
With our superior grenades, we will be at an advantage.
"Secret Service and such... it will take a lot of time. And we will probably loose our weaponry advantage by then.
Religion is the best way to concentrate power into your hands.
And, you are my Goddess. I want everyone to worship you."
He is so sweet...
He convinced me. To start my own religion.
Mihr Dharm. The sun that will burn away the darkness that are the religions that are harmful.
And well, I am already pregnant. So there is no chance of my claims getting invalidated.