Cultivation Begins with Caring for Sister-in-law-Chapter 440: The Marquis of Pingting County Loves Married Women

Chapter 440: Chapter 440: The Marquis of Pingting County Loves Married Women

May 1st.

Under Chen Mo’s diligent efforts, Wu Mi and Han Anniang became pregnant.

Upon learning of her pregnancy, Han Anniang felt as if she had tasted honey, her heart sweet and joyful.

She even went to the Daoist temple that day to fulfill her vow.

Month before, to conceive a child, Han Anniang visited the Daoist temple in Xiangyang City and prayed to the Celestial Venerable. Now that she was pregnant, she immediately believed the Celestial Venerable had manifested.

Yi Shiyin, Xia Zhining, and Nangong Ru originally didn’t believe in this, but seeing Han Anniang’s demeanor, they also went to pray to the Celestial Venerable the next day.

Upon hearing the news, Chen Mo was somewhat amused and bewildered.

Afternoon of May 3rd.

The weather was clear.

In the courtyard, Chen Mo rarely had the leisure time to spend with his two children.

Chen Nuo and Chen You were just over three months old, not fussy at all, either eating or sleeping, very easy to care for.

While caring for the children, Chen Mo also had the time to work on some carpentry, planning to make some rocking chairs based on his memories from his previous life.

"Zhiqing has recovered so well." Xiao Yunxi came over with Zheng’Er and casually found a topic to talk about, watching Xia Zhiqing sunbathing on the chair.

After all, Xiao Yunxi was the Former Princess Consort Huai and in her thirties, more than ten years older than Xia Zhiqing. Even now as Chen Mo’s concubine, she couldn’t possibly address Xia Zhiqing as sister.

However, age has its advantages; more experience in handling matters, and the best way to build relationships is by initiating common topics.

If Xia Zhining heard Xiao Yunxi’s slightly condescending way of addressing "Zhiqing," she certainly would have shown a bad face, but Xia Zhiqing was different. She didn’t care much for this sister-brother distinction, especially after having two children, her mindset was more relaxed.

She smiled, "Thanks to Sister Mi’Er, if it weren’t for her remedy, I wouldn’t have recovered so well."

Then she greeted Xiao Zheng: "Zheng’Er."

"Quickly call her godmother," Xiao Yunxi instructed.

Xiao Zheng obediently called Xia Zhiqing godmother and then addressed Chen Mo as foster father.

In front of the children, both Chen Mo and Xia Zhiqing sweetly responded.

Xia Zhiqing said, "Zheng’Er is already two years old, isn’t he?"

"Almost two and a half."

"That’s great, already able to run, walk, and call out mother."

"What’s great, when Youyou and Nu’Er reach this age, you’ll know how difficult it is." Xiao Yunxi patted Xiao Zheng’s head, this age is when kids are the most annoying and disliked.

And you still have to endure for two or three more years, just thinking of it gives a headache.

"No matter how difficult, they are still our own children." Xia Zhiqing said with a smile.

"That’s true." Xiao Yunxi sat down beside Xia Zhiqing and looked at Chen Mo, "What are you working on?"

"Making rocking chairs for the children," Chen Mo replied.

"Rocking chairs?"

"You can think of it as a toy for children," Chen Mo explained.

Xiao Yunxi acknowledged with a nod.

At this moment, Xia Zhiqing laughed and said, "Zhi Ning is back."

Xia Zhining was responsible for the Vermilion Bird Guard and was quite busy throughout the day.

Chen Mo looked up casually and asked, "How is the cannon production going?"

But Xia Zhining did not answer Chen Mo’s question; instead, she approached with a sarcastic tone, "Is our Marquis Mansion going to have a few more sisters?"

Chen Mo: "..."

"Zhi Ning, what do you mean by this?" Xia Zhiqing was puzzled.

"There’s news from the palace about gifting this scoundrel several female musicians..."

Xia Zhining was speaking, but Xiao Yunxi knew the topic was sensitive, so she called the maid to take Xiao Zheng aside.

Xiao Yunxi curiously asked, "Why would the palace award musicians to the Marquis without any reason?"

Xiao Yunxi knew that any rewards from the palace had a reason.

"Xu Guozhong was killed by his own Grand General Lu Sheng, and the Emperor issued a decree of abdication, passing the throne to the King of Qi," Xia Zhining said.

"What?!"

Chen Mo, Xiao Yunxi, and Xia Zhiqing were all astonished, their eyes widening.

"Xu Guozhong is dead?" Chen Mo was somewhat surprised.

"This is what the Inspector Guard reported back, I was about to inform you when I bumped into them, so I’m passing on the information," Xia Zhining said.

"Wasn’t Xu Guozhong the adopted father of Lu Sheng? This is patricide..." Xia Zhiqing was also extremely shocked. Though Great Song did not rule by filial piety, it still valued it highly, as it was considered the foremost of all virtues.

Even if it’s an adopted father, it’s still a father.

Killing one’s father is something that would be condemned by everyone.

"This makes sense then. With such a major event happening in Luonan, Lu Sheng certainly wants to stabilize the situation quickly; now gifting musicians to the Marquis is likely a sign of goodwill." Xiao Yunxi was surprised at first, but then realized.

"If that’s the case, then it’s just a few female musicians, Zhi Ning, you don’t need to react like this," Xia Zhiqing spoke up for Chen Mo.

"Sis, do you know the identities of these musicians?" Xia Zhining snorted.

"What identities?"

"Two of them have special identities, one is the Former Empress, and the other is Xu Guozhong’s eldest daughter-in-law," Xia Zhining explained.

"Former Empress?" Xiao Yunxi showed a startling expression: "Empress Liang?"

"Empress Liang is now esteemed as the Empress Dowager, she is Xu Guozhong’s daughter, Empress Xu," Xia Zhining said.

"Empress Xu, that’s still..." Xiao Yunxi was somewhat taken aback, even if Lu Sheng comes to power wanting to eliminate Xu Guozhong’s people, Empress Xu is still part of the Imperial Family. Such identities, even if given as musicians to someone else, how can the Imperial Family maintain face?

Chen Mo was utterly dumbfounded.

What does Lu Sheng mean by giving me a Former Empress?

You call this goodwill?

"If I remember correctly, Xu Guozhong’s eldest daughter-in-law is a princess, right?" Xia Zhiqing ventured.

"Yes, she is a princess, also the former Emperor’s daughter, titled as Princess Zhaoqing, the Emperor’s sister, but now she’s the sister of the former Emperor." Xiao Yunxi said, being quite informed on the matter.

Given Xu Guozhong’s influence, getting his eldest son to marry a princess was not difficult.

"A Former Empress and Princess Zhaoqing, this is just..." Xiao Yunxi didn’t know what to say.

Xia Zhining crossed her arms and coldly looked at Chen Mo.

"Why are you looking at me, what does this have to do with me, it’s not like I asked for it, I’m still confused." Chen Mo was indeed baffled, but anyone would be in this situation.

"Don’t tell me you’re not tempted," Xia Zhining understood Chen Mo too well and said, "Now there’s rumor spreading in Luonan that the Marquis of Pingting County is fond of married women, and this time the palace’s gifted musicians are all married women..."

As she said this, Xia Zhining glanced at Xiao Yunxi.

"Why... are you looking at me?" Xiao Yunxi felt awkward being looked at, extremely uncomfortable, but couldn’t help cursing Chen Mo in her heart.

"Slander, this is sheer slander." Chen Mo immediately proclaimed his innocence, "Whoever spread such a rumor, if I discover who it is, they won’t get away."