Chapter 812 - 902 Arrived in Great Zhou
Chen Mo was telling the truth.
Because the space ornaments he prepared for each of the women were all different.
There were necklaces, rings, earrings, bracelets, bead strings, jade hairpins, and more.
He made sure every woman received a unique gift.
If he’d given them the same thing, sooner or later they’d get angry, accusing him of lacking sincerity.
Yue Yuxi’s skin was fair as snow, and this necklace really suited her.
Chen Mo’s words made her much happier.
Chen Mo stroked Yue Yuxi’s golden hair and asked, "So, what was the reason you all marched out just now?"
Yue Yuxi shifted into a comfortable position, lying in Chen Mo’s arms. "Of course, I went to reclaim my Loulan."
Turned out, those two hundred thousand troops were borrowed from Xiao Yunxi by Yue Yuxi.
After all, Yue Yuxi once served as queen of Loulan; there was no way she’d help another country invade her homeland.
She borrowed the army to wipe out the Jin Family and other great clans of Loulan—she wanted back her throne.
Once she became queen of Loulan again, she would make an alliance with Xiao Yunxi, become sister nations, open trade, and cooperate for mutual benefit.
Of course, she won this great war.
She’d borrowed Great Zhou’s elite troops, plus lots of cannons and fire bottle bombs—if she couldn’t win, it’d be a miracle.
Chen Mo nodded with a smile; this was the best outcome, saving him the trouble of dealing with it when he returned.
After that, Chen Mo taught her how to recognize ownership of the space ornament.
Then he introduced her to everything inside.
"This is a Foundation Establishment Pill. Yuxi, you’re already a First Grade Martial Artist; as long as you take this pill, you’ll easily get through the Celestial Tribulation and step into the Foundation Establishment Realm."
"This one is a Longevity Pill—it’ll add sixty years to your life, but you can only take one; more won’t work. Here’s a Youthful Appearance Pill: as the name suggests, it keeps you young forever, never aging. The rest are some materials to boost your cultivation, and a thousand low grade spirit stones."
As Chen Mo finished, Yue Yuxi could already imagine some of the power of the Immortal Cultivation Realm.
One pill to gain sixty years of life—truly astonishing.
...
Great Zhou, the Capital, Prince Zhen Nan’s Mansion.
Though Chen Mo had retired from military service, the authority of the Zhen Nan Prince’s Mansion in the capital remained unrivaled.
From the rear courtyard of the mansion, you could faintly hear children’s playful shouts.
Looking past the tall walls, you’d see three children tumbling and chasing each other in the courtyard, giggling non-stop.
One little girl, with her hair in a ponytail, sweet-featured and adorable, was riding on a plump orange tabby cat.
"Giddy-up! Rice Ball, let’s go!" The girl grabbed the tabby’s head, trying to make it get up, not just lie on the ground.
But Rice Ball only lifted its head lazily, unmoved, basking in the sun.
But the little masters were just too much; soon, another kid was riding on it, and yet another was petting its head, making it impossible to sleep peacefully.
Rice Ball had no choice but to stand up and walk compliantly for a few steps.
"Good Rice Ball." The little girl fed the tabby some dried fish.
On the bamboo chairs in the yard sat Ye Wanqiu, Luo Zhen, Wu Xin’Er, and Zhao Jiangning, playing mahjong, their gazes constantly wandering to the kids to make sure no mishaps occurred.
"Six Circle." Luo Zhen drew the East Wind and played a six circle tile.
"Pung." Wu Xin’Er said, "I heard the Empress is planning to pass on the throne, and rumor has it she’s giving it to Xiao Chong."
Xiao Chong, originally called Zhao Chong, changed his name after Xiao Yunxi ascended the throne and became Xiao Chong.
"Xiao Chong is Her Majesty’s biological son, so it’s only natural for the succession to go to him," Ye Wanqiu continued, then turned her head and scolded, "Rice Ball, slow down—don’t let Zixi fall!"
"It’s natural, sure, but I worry those veteran ministers who fought beside the lord—like Minister Li, Minister Zhang, and Minister Gao—won’t be pleased," Wu Xin’Er said. "Father wants Zining to inherit."
Chen Zining, Chen Mo and Zhao Jiangning’s son.
He carries both the Zhao family and Chen Mo’s blood, making him the best candidate for inheritance. Those ministers wouldn’t object.
"Zining’s only five; what kind of emperor could he be?" Zhao Jiangning played a tile and said, "And besides, Zining is the lord’s son—he’ll definitely go with his father eventually, and wouldn’t care about worldly power."
"Chow." Luo Zhen made a chow from Zhao Jiangning’s tile, pouted, and said, "It’s been five years... wonder when the lord will come home. I miss him so much."
"Me too. When he left, Zining wasn’t even born, and now look at Zining, so big already." Zhao Jiangning gazed at Chen Zining playing with Rice Ball, her eyes full of tenderness.
"You’re lucky—son and daughter both. And me, left all alone." Wu Xin’Er said, tinged with jealousy.
"Sigh." The four women exchanged glances and sighed together.
"Madam, these are strawberries from the Imperial Palace." Just then, Qing Lan, Xia Lan, Qiu Lan, and Dong Lan arrived, each carrying a small bamboo basket filled with luscious, fresh strawberries.
Chen Zining, Chen Zixi, and Chen Ziqing—the three little gluttons—heard the word "strawberries," stopped pestering Rice Ball, and rushed over. "Aunt Chun, Aunt Xia... we want strawberries!"
"Alright, alright, there’s plenty." Chun Lan patted their heads, her face full of elder-like affection.
"Chun Lan, save some for Miaozhen and Yaoyao too, don’t let them eat it all." Wu Xin’Er reminded.
"Understood."
...
In one of the capital’s pharmacies, crowds jostled in year-round. Some were getting medicine, but many came just to catch a glimpse of the boss lady’s beauty.
Soon, an elegant and graceful woman in a dress came out from the back. Though her attire was modest and nothing revealing, the way she walked, swaying slightly, still stirred up desire in many, making some think her quite flirtatious.
Yet none dared to get handsy with her.
Once, some rich young master said a few filthy words to her, and the next day, he ended up dead on the street.
The young man’s family had connections but didn’t dare bring charges. No government investigation came for the woman, either.
This beautiful woman was Ji Xi’Er, once the Empress Dowager of the Western Palace.
After Chen Mo left, she moved out of Prince Zhen Nan’s Mansion and opened this pharmacy in the western part of the city.
Her status in the prince’s mansion had been awkward.
This lifestyle might be plain, but Ji Xi’Er managed to forget her past through it and find peace.
Suddenly, a commotion came from outside the pharmacy.
The people inside were drawn to look outside.
"What’s that?"
"Whoa, why is there a ship in the sky?"
"What a huge ship! Look, Immortals!"
"The Immortals are coming down from the ship!"