Cultivation Begins with Caring for Sister-in-law

Chapter 858: Chapter 863, Chapter 864: Conferring the Title of Consort (2)

He was clad in a bright yellow Dragon Robe, adorned with a crown of tassels, his face firm, and his demeanor imposing.

However, Chen Mo didn’t particularly like the yellow Dragon Robe; he instructed Jia Yin to change it to black, but since it was only the second day, it certainly couldn’t be done so quickly.

"Then I should feel very honored," Nalan Yiren said in a clear voice.

"Not at all. It’s an honor for me that Miss Nalan can become the State Preceptor of Great Wei." Chen Mo said as he walked.

Nalan Yiren was dressed in a green satin vest with braid trim, a sleeveless and collarless short top. The braid trim was made of brocade folded into thin strips on the vest’s edges, and underneath was a blue cloak, revealing a waist as slender as a water snake, graceful and elegant.

Nalan Yiren noticed Chen Mo’s appraising gaze but said nothing, merely commented, "Weren’t you going to take me to the place where I’ll stay? This direction doesn’t seem right."

Nalan Yiren noticed that this direction was clearly heading towards the Harem.

"That’s right, this is the direction," Chen Mo stated earnestly, hands behind his back.

"I...I only agreed to be the State Preceptor of Great Wei, not one of your Harem’s concubines. If you dare lay a hand on me, I...I’ll make you suffer,"

It seemed she thought of something else, and Nalan Yiren gave Chen Mo a sideways glare.

Chen Mo smiled but said nothing.

Before long, Chen Mo led Nalan Yiren to a pavilion.

"The Observatory," Nalan Yiren looked at the plaque above and then at Chen Mo, "What is this place?"

"Isn’t it written on the plaque? It’s a place to watch stars at night, near the rear garden and not far from my bedchamber. Most importantly, it’s on the edge of this backyard, offering privacy and quietness, perfect for you,"

Chen Mo said, not giving Nalan Yiren the chance to refuse, as he held her cool, icy white hand, leading her towards the Observatory.

Nalan Yiren’s body trembled slightly, and before she could react, she was pulled into the pavilion by Chen Mo.

Just as she was about to angrily pull her hand away, Chen Mo had already released her hand, interrupting her spell, and said, "Quick, take a look. Do you like it?"

Following Chen Mo’s gaze, Nalan Yiren looked in the indicated direction and was momentarily stunned.

The walls around her were all covered with green vines, blooming with flowers of extraordinarily vivid colors, while pots of plants adorned the corners of the room.

Nalan Yiren immediately recognized these were all poisonous flowers and herbs, clearly not native to the Great Song.

Nalan Yiren looked at Chen Mo in astonishment.

"The previous dynasty traded with Baiyue, and there are quite a few Baiyue merchants in the Capital. I had these things bought from them, hoping to give you a sense of your homeland and a feeling of belonging here," Chen Mo said with a smile.

Nalan Yiren just looked at Chen Mo, saying nothing.

"Come, I’ll show you the second floor," Chen Mo said, heading up the staircase beside them.

As soon as they reached the second floor, a faint musty smell assailed their noses, accompanied by a hissing, buzzing sound.

The second floor was almost entirely filled with bamboo cages containing snakes and scorpions, among other venomous creatures.

"I noticed you didn’t bring much with you this time, so I had people catch some poisonous snakes and scorpions for your research," Chen Mo said with a smile, "Once I leave, you can release them. I’m sure you’ll be able to handle them."

Nalan Yiren’s eyes flickered, staring silently at Chen Mo.

"What’s the matter? Touched by my gesture and want to pledge yourself to me?" Seeing her silence, Chen Mo teased.

Nalan Yiren was speechless, even tempted to hit him. "Do you want your lips swollen again?" she retorted.

"Hey, don’t be angry, I’m just kidding," Chen Mo said with an awkward smile, waving his hand. He shifted the topic, "Let me show you the place upstairs, the view there is great. At night, you can see the stars and even the lights of a large part of the Harem."

With that, he quickly moved up the stairs.

Nalan Yiren watched his retreating figure with a slight smile at the corner of her lips.

To be honest, seeing the things on the first and second floors warmed her heart, allowing her to feel Chen Mo’s earnest efforts.

And this ambiguous, vague feeling was exactly what she desired.

The third floor’s items were simple.

Just a bed, a dressing table, and a stool.

A skylight in the ceiling with a built-in mechanism to open it.

It also had a balcony.

"Take a look around, if there’s anything you feel is missing, just let me know," Chen Mo said after glancing around.

"I can’t think of anything at the moment. I’ll let you know if I do later."

"Alright, I’ll arrange for two people to be with you. If you need anything, just tell them."

Since she said that, Chen Mo knew she was satisfied with the place he arranged for her.

"Thank you," Nalan Yiren said.

"So, how do you plan to thank me?"

Chen Mo leaned in.

Nalan Yiren’s expression turned cold, and as she raised her hand, a whirlwind of colorful smoke appeared in her palm.

Chen Mo took a step back.

Nalan Yiren then retracted the colorful smoke.

But just as she did, Chen Mo swiftly approached, wrapping an arm around her slender waist and leaned in for a kiss.

"Mmph..."

Nalan Yiren’s eyes widened, the familiar sensation engulfing her mouth shocked her slightly.

When she came to her senses and prepared to teach Chen Mo a lesson like last time, he had already withdrawn, quickly heading downstairs, leaving only a parting remark: "Next time remember to put on lip balm, or it won’t have any taste."

Remembering the lesson from last time, Chen Mo didn’t overstep his bounds, quickly leaving after the kiss.

Nalan Yiren was so angry that she stomped her foot, her usually pale face now a rosy red.

...

That evening, Chen Mo went to Shoukang Palace.

On a summer night, the full moon was as bright as silver, its rays permeating through the windows, illuminating the red lacquered long table in the chamber.

Behind the screen in the inner hall, Xiaochen Qin sat in a wooden basin, his small hands stirring the warm water, laughing gleefully.

Some splashes landed on Liang Ji, who was bathing him, causing her to feign annoyance, "Qin’Er, be good and don’t move, or Mother will get angry."

A baby of just a few months old, clueless as expected, continued to splash and play gleefully.

Just then, a Palace Maid entered, stopping behind the screen, "Miss, Your Majesty has arrived."

This Palace Maid was naturally from the Liang Family.

"If he’s here, he’s here. Does he expect me to go out to greet him?" Liang Ji was irritated.

"As soon as I came in, I heard you upset. What have I done to provoke you?"

"Your Majesty."

"You may leave,"

"Yes,"

Chen Mo circled around the screen, appearing before Liang Ji.

Liang Ji snorted coldly, ignoring him, as she lifted the freshly-bathed Xiaochen Qin out from the basin, placed him on the carpet beside them, and began to dry him with a towel.

"Qin’Er, come here, let Father hold you." Seeing Liang Ji ignoring him, Chen Mo squatted down, intending to hold Qin Er.

Liang Ji swatted Chen Mo’s hand away, "Don’t touch my son."

Chen Mo: "..."

After drying him off, Liang Ji wrapped Qin Er in a small quilt, then called for the wet nurse, whom Chen Mo had arranged to be sent to the palace some time ago, from the outer hall, asking her to take Qin Er away to feed.

Seeing the child taken away, Chen Mo embraced Liang Ji around the waist and said, "Yuoyu, what’s the matter with you this time?"

Liang Ji offered slight resistance, but if truly angry, she wouldn’t have allowed a moment alone with Chen Mo. Playfully, she said, "What do you mean by this? You’ve made your concubines from the previous residence into consorts and even the ladies of the Copper Sparrow Platform have become consorts. I have at least given you a son, and in return, I’ve received nothing.

Does your current status as Emperor mean I am to follow you without any recognition?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Mo understood that this was the cause of her anger.

He slapped her on her rounded rear end and said, "Why are you in such a rush? It’s only been a day, there are things I have yet to arrange. I won’t mistreat you."