Chapter 845: Chapter 851, Chapter 852: Nalan Yiren Has Arrived
Celestial River, Prince Wei’s Mansion.
The scorching sunlight streamed through the window paper, spilling into the room to illuminate a white jade vase on a desk. The smooth surface of the vase reflected the sunlight onto the red lacquered wooden door, casting two shadows.
Chen Mo wrapped an arm around Xia Zhiqing’s waist, drawing close to her lusciously inviting lips, and gently kissed them. His hand glided to her beautiful leg, touching it briefly before moving directly to her thigh...
Xia Zhiqing’s bright eyes, as radiant as water, blinked slightly, and the ivory skin of her neck turned pink. Her swan-like neck arched slightly as her delicate arms shyly embraced Chen Mo’s neck.
After a fiery kiss, Xia Zhiqing rested her head on Chen Mo’s shoulder, her lips slightly parted, breathing softly, and then whispered softly in his ear, "Come on..."
Upon hearing this, Chen Mo immediately exhaled a warm white breath from his nose, affectionately caressing Xia Zhiqing’s blushed face, like an old horse familiar with the path, returning to a familiar place.
Xia Zhiqing let out a soft hum, her pearly teeth biting gently on her lower lip, holding Chen Mo’s neck tighter with her slender, fair hands.
No one knows how long it passed before Chen Mo picked up Xia Zhiqing and slowly moved toward the soft couch.
During this time, Xia Zhiqing’s face, as smooth as snow, turned deep red with blush, and her head, nestled on Chen Mo’s shoulder, occasionally trembled, filling her with a sense of shame and exhilaration.
Chen Mo gently placed Xia Zhiqing on the soft couch, then removed his Python Robe. As the robe fell, Chen Mo pulled apart his inner garments, revealing a robust upper body, with nine abs glistening under the sunlight.
Xia Zhiqing took this scene all in, and though it wasn’t the first time, she couldn’t help but feel a bit shy. Her delicate hand gently raised to her mouth, tilting her head to the side to conceal her shyness, she spoke, "Husband, has the time for the abdication ceremony been set?"
"Yes, on the seventh day of the next month. Lord Xu observed the celestial signs and said the day before, there will be a once-in-a-thousand-years solar eclipse, lasting the entire day." Chen Mo pinched Xia Zhiqing’s cheek, then leaned down onto her.
"A solar eclipse?" Xia Zhining, holding Chen Mo’s neck, was slightly taken aback.
Historically, a solar eclipse symbolized that something was amiss within the royal family, a sign from heaven to punish the monarch.
The people also regarded this phenomenon as a bad omen.
However, Xia Zhiqing quickly understood the intention of scheduling the abdication ceremony for the day after the solar eclipse.
Wasn’t it to affirm to the people that the Chu Clan was no longer fit to rule the world, and that the next day, when her husband accepted the abdication, it would be announced that because of his succession, the solar eclipse was resolved.
The ignorant populace would surely hold this belief firmly.
...
Though the date for the abdication ceremony was set, few were privy to its details.
Yi Qianchi happened to be one of those few.
Xiangyang, Prince Wei’s Mansion, where Xiaolu’s parents currently reside.
When Yi Shiyin accompanied Chen Mo to the Capital, the Yi Family chose not to go along and stayed in Xiangyang instead.
Since Yi Shiyin had instructed Yi Qianchi to look after Prince Wei’s Mansion, Yi Qianchi decided to move in with his family.
Of course, Yi Qianchi was mindful of boundaries and did not bring the entire Yi Family to live there. Only he, his family, and a few serving maids stayed in the front courtyard, not the back.
On this sunny day,
Yi Qianchi was playing chess under a pavilion in the mansion with the Prefect of Linzhou.
"Lord Wei, your chess skills have improved quite a bit since we last played." Yi Qianchi, holding the white pieces, looked at the board and noticed his game was nearing a deadlock.
"Haha." Wei Linchun, sitting opposite, chuckled, stroking his not-so-long beard, "Yi, after losing so many times, I should let you win at least once."
"Not necessarily; I might have a move to save this." Yi Qianchi quickly found a way to turn the tide, pinched a white piece between his fingers, placed it down, and made his move without regrets.
Instantly, the white pieces, previously in peril, came back to life.
Wei Linchun exclaimed in surprise, "That’s possible? That move was simply brilliant."
Yi Qianchi smiled.
Almost half an hour later, Wei Linchun begrudgingly laid down his white pieces, "Yi, that move was divine; you even managed to win. I admire, I admire."
"Your let." Yi Qianchi responded with a raised hand and a humble bow.
These words were not mere humility. Yi Qianchi wasn’t some inexperienced child; as the head of a clan, he could see that Wei Linchun was intentionally allowing him to win, seeking to curry favor.
He deliberately pretended not to understand.
For without the status of Prince Wei’s father-in-law, with his own strength and position, he couldn’t have come into contact with even a regional prefect, let alone call them a brother.
He didn’t want to trouble his daughter.
Even though his daughter had long been with King Wei, they still had no children, and King Wei had so many women around him. He feared his daughter might fall out of favor one day; if he, as her father, caused additional trouble, it would be even worse.
"No, no, let’s have another round. I refuse to believe I can’t win." Wei Linchun exhibited a competitive spirit.
Yi Qianchi didn’t refuse, as there was nothing else to do; chess was a way to pass the time.
The two had just reset the board when a maid from the mansion and a junior official from the Government Office walked over.
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