Chapter 617: 700 Luo Zhen wants children now
"Master." Zhao Jiangning directly hugged Chen Mo.
"We’re still outside." Chen Mo tugged at Zhao Jiangning’s collar and covered the gap between her bosom, saying.
Zhao Jiangning glanced around, then grabbed Chen Mo’s hand and placed it on top, shyly saying, "It’s just us, it’s okay."
"Ahem..." Wu Xin’Er couldn’t help but cough lightly.
Chen Mo was also a bit speechless.
She wasn’t like this before, how come now...
Chen Mo pinched her cheek: "You’ll be begging for mercy later."
Unexpectedly, she grabbed Luo Zhen’s hand and said, "Luo Zhen, help me tonight."
Luo Zhen: "..."
"Where are Qianyi and Ruoqing?"
Chen Mo scanned the women, with even Yue Yuxi and Ji Xi’Er among them reluctantly, but didn’t see Zhao Qianyi and Jiang Ruoqing.
"Husband, you know their personalities, they’re waiting on the ship." Wu Xin’Er said.
...
Back on the ship, Chen Mo only saw Zhao Qianyi, not Jiang Ruoqing, so he asked, "Eldest Princess, where’s Ruoqing?"
"Busy in the kitchen with Chun Lan and Moon Slave, come wash your hands, we can eat now."
There were some fruit wine and cold dishes on the long table, not many hot dishes; they were still being warmed in the kitchen.
"I’ll go check, call them over." Chen Mo headed towards the back kitchen of the ship.
The ship had four levels, so the back kitchen had plenty of space.
In the kitchen, only Jiang Ruoqing, Moon Slave, and Chun Lan were still busy.
Jiang Ruoqing, wearing a white dress, was stir-frying with a spatula.
Her figure was naturally excellent, the long dress outlining a charming silhouette.
Chen Mo raised an eyebrow, walked over directly, and lifted her white long dress...
Jiang Ruoqing seriously continued stir-frying but was startled into dropping the spatula when she turned to see it was Chen Mo, glaring at him with a slightly irritated look, a bit embarrassed: "Cooking here, stop fooling around."
"Eek—"
...
"Chun Lan, what about Master and my teacher?"
In the first-floor hall, the women waited for a while, only seeing Chun Lan and Moon Slave bringing dishes from the kitchen, Yi Yao hurriedly asked.
Moon Slave blushed and didn’t speak.
Chun Lan seemed used to it, her voice slightly low: "Still in the kitchen..."
"Still in the kitchen?" Yi Yao was initially stunned, then her cheeks turned red, and she spat: "Master is such a rascal..."
"Ugh, the dishes will get cold again." Wu Xin’Er, knowing Chen Mo’s prowess, said, "Forget it, let’s eat first without waiting for them..."
When Chen Mo and Jiang Ruoqing returned from the kitchen, everyone was almost finished eating, looking at Jiang Ruoqing with meaningful glances.
"I... I was just... making some snacks, so it took a bit longer." Jiang Ruoqing, holding a plate of snacks, was still explaining.
"Oh..." All the women drew out the sound, only a fool would believe it.
Jiang Ruoqing’s face was red enough to drip water, glaring at Chen Mo as if saying, "It’s all your fault."
Chen Mo appeared unconcerned, sat at the long table, and pulled Ji Xi’Er to his side to serve him dinner.
...
As night deepened, sounds resembling those from a brothel occasionally echoed from the ship.
...
The next day, Chen Mo left the ship, returning to the southern tour group.
After leaving the area under Bianliang’s influence, the southern tour moved intermittently.
In each county, if nothing unexpected happened, Xiao Yunxi would change into civilian clothes and lead people for inspections.
During inspections, it was inevitable to catch some corrupt officials, sentenced on the spot.
Upon arriving in a county with beautiful scenery, Xiao Yunxi would use the excuse of surveying alone with Prince Zhen Nan to stroll and play in the surroundings, with kisses and hugs naturally not lacking, but no more excessive actions occurred.
...
A month later, the southern tour finally reached Jiangnan.
Xiao Yunxi was visiting Jiangnan for the first time, inspecting around and unexpectedly discovering many injustices.
With this, there was no more time for play.
She became busy with official matters alongside the accompanying officials.
Meanwhile, Chen Mo took the women from the ship to enjoy Jiangnan.
Cao Xiyue and Wu Xin’Er acted as tour guides.
Jiangnan never experienced major unrest, and the situation stabilized again, arguably even more lively than Bianliang. At night, there was song and dance, and everywhere sounded laughter and joy.
Traces of Chen Mo and his party’s travels were left throughout Jiangnan, immersing themselves in experiencing the local culture and customs.
Many of Chen Mo’s wives and concubines were noble ladies, always confined to the deep palace and inner courtyard. This Jiangnan tour liberated their original nature, returning them to their truest selves. The smiles they showed upon seeing beautiful and playful things were also the most genuine and beautiful smiles.
Upon arriving in Jinling City, Chen Mo spent a large sum to find a renowned local painter, yet he still had portraits done of himself and his wives and concubines as mementos.
Wu Xin’Er, Yi Yao, Luo Zhen... all wanted a portrait of Chen Mo, treating it as a treasure and carefully keeping it.
Chen Mo had the painter do an extra one, to be left for Yunxi.
After enjoying Jiangnan for more than half a month, Xiao Yunxi finally finished her matters.
Chen Mo could only, using the excuse of official business, go accompany Xiao Yunxi.
The women were all aware of this and didn’t say anything.
...
After spending another month in Jiangnan,
Xiao Yunxi ended the southern tour, taking the official ship, returned to the Capital through the Grand Canal.
On Luo Zhen’s bed, Xu Miaozhen was no longer favored, rolling her eyes before falling asleep.
Luo Zhen, wearing only a thin robe, lay on the bed, holding Chen Mo’s arm, her collar buttons unfastened, revealing a hint of delicate skin below her collarbone and the edge of her undergarment. Her eyebrows were lightly furrowed, her cheeks covered in slight sweat, and she seemed to lack any strength.
She gazed at Chen Mo’s face for a long time, finally speaking: "Husband... I want a child."
She had been with Chen Mo for over two years now, and there was still no movement in her belly. She had seen the Imperial Physician, and it wasn’t her problem. Later, she also discovered it wasn’t Chen Mo’s issue.
The reason was only one, Chen Mo didn’t want or temporarily didn’t want a child, so he was deliberately controlling it.
Chen Mo was stunned, then asked, "Why do you suddenly want a child?"
"I know I don’t have much cultivation talent, unable to reach innate, ultimately just a mere mortal. In a few years, when my beauty fades, even if you don’t despise me, I will feel ashamed..." Luo Zhen’s voice was gentle, slowly expressing her concerns.
She had been with Chen Mo for over two years now, and there was still no movement in her belly. She had seen the Imperial Physician, and it wasn’t her problem. Later, she also discovered it wasn’t Chen Mo’s issue.
The reason was only one, Chen Mo didn’t want or temporarily didn’t want a child, so he was deliberately controlling it.
Chen Mo was stunned, then asked, "Why do you suddenly want a child?"
"I know I don’t have much cultivation talent, unable to reach innate, ultimately just a mere mortal. In a few years, when my beauty fades, even if you don’t despise me, I will feel ashamed..." Luo Zhen’s voice was gentle, slowly expressing her concerns.
