Chapter 842: Chapter 848: The Third Refusal
Based on what Sun Meng told him, Chen Mo planned to ask Yang Qingqing privately. If she spoke in front of the other women, it might affect their future interactions.
Yang Qingqing wanted to say more, but seeing Chen Mo’s gaze, she could only suppress her thoughts and leave.
After Yang Qingqing left, Chen Mo chatted with Wu Mi and the others about court matters.
Hearing their husband talk about resigning twice, the women all understood that the change of dynasty in the Great Song was not far off.
Except for those like Wu Mi, Yue Ruyan, and Han Anniang who didn’t care much for fame and wealth, the other women’s gazes on Chen Mo were somewhat dreamy.
Identity and power are the greatest allure.
After chatting with them for a while, Chen Mo headed towards Yang Qingqing’s room. Wu Mi and the others knew Chen Mo had important questions to ask and didn’t keep him.
Back in her room, Yang Qingqing hadn’t rested but had taken a bath and changed into a blue cheongsam. With her slender shoulders and waist, her demeanor seemed "strange."
This was because back at the Shu Residence, Yang Qingqing mostly wore military attire or heroic outfits, preferring not to wear gold or silver, exuding an untamed wildness.
Although her wild nature subdued under Chen Mo’s influence after arriving at Prince Wei’s Mansion, her clothing style remained local to the Shu Residence or somewhat androgynous.
The cheongsam, however, suits women with elegant and gentle dispositions.
On Yang Qingqing, the style mismatch made it hard for her to reveal her unique charm.
When Chen Mo arrived, Yang Qingqing was sitting at the vanity, slowly putting on stockings.
As Chen Mo pushed the door open, Yang Qingqing had already put on the left stocking, with the right one just below the knee. Her small foot wrapped in the stocking slightly lifted.
Catching sight of those deep black eyes, Yang Qingqing’s cheeks flushed. She quickly lowered her right foot, bringing her legs together, stood up from the vanity, and looked down, saying softly, "Husband."
Chen Mo nodded to Yang Qingqing, closed the door, picked up a stool, sat beside the vanity, and had Yang Qingqing sit down, taking her right foot in his lap and skillfully helping her with the stocking.
At that moment, Yang Qingqing hadn’t had time to apply makeup and was barefaced. Her body hadn’t been touched by Chen Mo for over half a year, causing her to shiver with a tingling sensation and a slight quiver in her gaze.
"Husband..." Yang Qingqing’s voice lingered, as she felt Chen Mo’s hand lingering on her leg, her face blushed like a blooming flower.
Although Yang Qingqing’s style didn’t match the cheongsam, the garment’s plus is that it fits the body’s curves, providing a natural and smooth silhouette, enhancing a beautiful woman’s grace and disguising flaws, making the wearer appear more beautiful.
"Are father-in-law and mother-in-law well?" Chen Mo’s hand moved from her thigh to her ankle, gently massaging her foot, saying: "Relax, your foot is so tense."
How could Yang Qingqing relax, barely resisting the urge to lean against Chen Mo, softly saying: "Thanks for your concern, husband. They are both well."
"That’s good. Say, since you’ve been married for over a year, I’ve been too busy to visit them, not even knowing what they look like..." Chen Mo said, lifting his gaze to her delicate, flushed face, applying slight pressure with his hand: "Now that I’m not busy, it’s time to visit them at the Shu Residence."
"Ah... no..."
Panicked, Yang Qingqing rose abruptly, her right foot gripped by Chen Mo causing her to stumble left.
Chen Mo released her foot, caught her by the waist with a gentle tug, and she landed in his lap, her arms naturally wrapping around his neck, her hair slightly askew.
Ignoring the situation, Yang Qingqing hurriedly said, "Husband, don’t. Father has already decided and agreed to the court’s recruitment."
"Oh, really."
The hem of Yang Qingqing’s blue cheongsam was very short and slit almost to the thigh, and another advantage was that it had no underlining...
Feeling Chen Mo’s presence, Yang Qingqing trembled, her body growing soft in his embrace, her cheeks reddening like the sunset, eyes reflecting a mix of shame and annoyance.
Holding Yang Qingqing’s chin, Chen Mo lifted her face to look at him, lightly saying, "But I heard that your father kept you under house arrest, not wanting you to return."
"No, I was just reluctant to leave my parents, so I stayed a bit longer at home."
"Looks like I misunderstood," Chen Mo leaned in to capture her lips, parting them without much desire, raised an eyebrow, curiously saying, "Why is it sweet?"
"I applied some lip balm; I made this rouge myself and added some honey," Yang Qingqing shyly replied.
"Not bad, like having a snack." Chen Mo leaned in again, savoring it.
Yang Qingqing’s water-bright eyes gleamed, lightly pressing her lips together, exhaling softly.
Chen Mo rested his forehead against hers, eyes locked: "Qingqing, how did you persuade your father to agree, any conditions attached?"
"..."
Yang Qingqing remained silent for a moment, wanting to turn her head to avoid him, but Chen Mo wouldn’t let her escape.
Yang Qingqing whispered, "Father asked me to bring a few words to you, husband."
"What words?"
"Father said that the court can take in the army, but he must be the one to serve as the governor of the Shu Residence."
"What a clever plan he has." Chen Mo squinted his eyes and let out a cold laugh.
The Shu Residence is already Yang Xian’s stronghold, with all the troops under it being members of the Shu Residence. If he becomes the governor, it would be no different from not having the troops under the court’s control.
Unless he moves the Vine Armor Army to the capital or somewhere else.
But in that case, the Vine Armor Army would surely be unwilling, because their wives and children are all at the Shu Residence. Moving them from their homeland might lead to unrest.
If they are not moved, Yang Xian could mobilize them at any time.
Hearing Chen Mo’s cold laugh, Yang Qingqing raised her beautiful Yu Yan, biting her lower lip and said, "Father says he isn’t trying to forcibly take the governor’s position of the Shu Residence, but for me, for our child."
"Our child?"
"Father says, when I have a child, once the child grows up, he should take the position of Shu Residence governor."
Saying this, Yang Qingqing looked somewhat uncertainly into Chen Mo’s eyes, "Husband, if I have a child, you won’t mistreat our child, will you?"
Back then, Father told her, King Wei would soon become Emperor.
He has so many women, and already has several children, only to have more in the future.
Yet the world is but so big, not enough for all his children to inherit.
Thus, Yang Xian wanted to help his grandchild secure a position first.
After hearing this, Chen Mo was pensive, wondering if Yang Xian was playing the family card.
Seeing her husband silent, Yang Qingqing lowered her eyebrows, feeling somewhat upset, because father had told her to use this to test his value for her.
Chen Mo noticed Yang Qingqing’s change in mood, he lightly sighed and said, "It is impossible for him to become governor of the Shu Residence."
Upon hearing this, Yang Qingqing felt a pang in her heart, biting her lips almost to breaking point, feeling extremely aggrieved, turning her head away in annoyance.
Chen Mo turned her head back straight, saying, "But I can promise him, and also promise you, in the future, our child, if a boy, I will confer him as King of Shu, stationed in Hongdu. If a girl, half of the tax revenue from Hongdu will go to her private estate."
"Really?" Yang Qingqing raised her snow-white face, looking at Chen Mo in bewilderment.
For a boy to be conferred as a king is not surprising.
But for a girl to receive half of Hongdu’s tax revenue, Hongdu being a major county of Shu Residence, is indeed a great honor.
"Qingqing, if you don’t believe, I can write it down formally, imprint it with my hand seal, then in black and white, it can’t be false."
"No need, husband, I trust you."
Chen Mo leaned forward, pressing his lips against Yang Qingqing’s, saying, "This is also my bottom line. If father-in-law still does not agree, then I will have to visit him personally.
At that time, Qingqing, you can’t blame me."
Yang Qingqing nodded, "I will explain it well to him in the letter."
"Alright."
The fragrance from Yang Qingqing’s hair wafted through Chen Mo’s nostrils, as he gently wrapped his hands around her slender waist, softly patting her back.
Yang Qingqing was initially puzzled, but under Chen Mo’s gaze, realized what he meant, and got up to lean on the dressing table.
...
Half an hour later, when Chen Mo returned to the back residence hall, Wu Mi approached him and smiled, saying, "Husband, the decree of abdication has arrived again."
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