Cultivation Simulator: Starting From The Empress' Palace-Chapter 295 - 293 Training

"Master, what do you think His Majesty means by this? Why on earth would he want them to be stationed outside the city?"

"Master, could this have something to do with the Grand Commandant's serious illness? Now there's talk in the military that the Grand Commandant won't hold out, and the Commander of the Palace Guard Department might be replaced."

Five miles outside Bianliang City, on a vacant lot, the army was setting up camp. Several Fire Qilin Army commanders gathered around Chen Mo, speculating about the Emperor's intentions. Because they all trusted each other, the conversation was quite open.

If not, even discussing the Grand Commandant could lead to accusations of insubordination.

Chen Mo was deep in thought.

Xiao Yunqi's influence in the Imperial Court was deeply rooted. As the head of the Xiao Family, one of the seven great noble families, and having marital ties to another noble family, Huangfu Hao, he controlled the Infantry Department of the Three Ministries of the Imperial Guard. He was also a First Grade Martial Artist and held the position of Grand Commandant.

The current Empress was his biological daughter.

His power was unmatched, and he dominated the entire court.

Because the Xiao Family's power was so great and intertwined, its influence even seemed to surpass that of the Zhao Imperial Family. Even Zhao Ji felt apprehensive, so soon after ascending the throne, he supported Prime Minister Cai Si and Grand Commandant Gao Qiu to counterbalance Xiao Yunqi.

Thus, knowing that Gao Fen didn't meet the requirements for a prince consort, the Emperor still arranged a marriage between Zhao Jiangning and Gao Fen to ensure the Gao Family's loyalty.

Therefore, in this situation, if Xiao Yunqi fell, the entire Xiao Family and those colluding with them would all go to hell.

Because, for the Emperor, the Xiao Family no longer had a reason to exist.

Chen Mo figured this out through his simulations, and he had long since made plans.

However, the situation changed too quickly, and Chen Mo used his simulation today to explore the reason for Xiao Yunqi's grave illness, not knowing Zhao Ji's intention by moving them out of the city.

Or it might be as Gao Zheng and others said, that Zhao Ji knows Xiao Yunqi is about to fall and is preemptively setting things in place to prevent the Xiao Family from going berserk when the time comes.

Chen Mo wasn't overly worried.

Zhao Ji didn't know if Xiao Yunqi was gravely ill, so he had to prepare in advance.

But Chen Mo knew.

Moreover, in several simulations, Zhao Ji ended up under house arrest, with the advantage on their side.

However, the plan to incorporate Haiqing Lake bandits had to be put on hold.

...

At the Xiao Mansion.

Xiao Yunqi was the first to learn of the decree to station the troops outside the city, and he even instructed the army not to resist and to follow orders.

At this moment, he stood in the pavilion on the lake in the backyard, his face rosy and chest puffed up, showing no signs of the previous bedridden state, on the brink of death.

"It seems she was right. His Majesty has long been wary of my Xiao Family, ready to strike at any chance..."

Xiao Yunqi muttered to himself.

Although the army being moved out of the city somewhat constrained Xiao Yunqi's movements, it instead excited him.

This move also meant that Zhao Ji believed he was terminally ill.

The odds of succeeding increased a few more points.

...

But for Chun Lan, this matter was far less important than being whipped tonight.

These past two days, she had been running between the Chen Mansion and Zhao Jiangning, delivering gifts from Chen Mo and helping to matchmake.

Today, upon returning to the mansion, Qiu Lan told her that the master planned to whip her tonight.

Upon inquiry, she learned that Qiu Lan and the others had sold her out.

"Qian'Er, you're going to get me killed," Chun Lan scolded Qiu Lan and added, "Didn't I tell you not to tell others?

Tonight I'm doomed for sure."

She whimpered softly.

"Sister Chun Lan, don't cry. Maybe the master is joking again. Didn't the master say you wouldn't be able to get up in the morning last time? But nothing happened then," Dong Lan chimed in; obviously, Chun Lan had confided a lot in them.

"But this time, I feel the master is serious." Chun Lan already sensed the impending pain.

Qiu Lan took responsibility and said, "If the master really wants to hit you, I'll... I'll take your place. After all, it was my fault."

Hearing this, Chun Lan felt embarrassed and said, "Qian'Er, don't say that. I share the responsibility..."

She hadn't finished her sentence.

"Fei'Er, I hear Chun Lan is back. Did you find the whip I asked for?" A voice sounded; it was Chen Mo.

Chun Lan's face changed.

Hearing this, Qiu Lan immediately ran off, completely forgetting her earlier promise to help Chun Lan.

"Not... not yet." Dong Lan walked out of the house and replied, "Master, there... there aren't any whips in the mansion."

"No?" Chen Mo furrowed his brows, then pinched his chin and said, "Go to my room and bring the riding crop from the table."

"...Right."

Chun Lan, far away, heard this and was so scared her legs gave out. She sat on the ground and started crying.

Hearing her cries, Chen Mo acted like he just noticed her and said, "Oh, Chun Lan, you're here."

Chun Lan quickly grabbed Chen Mo's robe, tearfully pleading, "Master, I was wrong. I won't dare again. Please, master, spare me..."

"No, a real man doesn't go back on his word," Chen Mo replied.

Seeing Chen Mo was serious, Chun Lan's face turned pale.

Soon, Dong Lan brought the riding crop, but instead of handing it directly to Chen Mo, she said, "Master, please spare... Sister Chun Lan this time."

"Alright." Chen Mo took the riding crop from Dong Lan's hand and said, "Fei'Er, you can take the punishment for her."

Dong Lan hurriedly ran away.

Chen Mo bent down like picking up a child, lifted Chun Lan, and carried her into the room, then tossed her onto the bed.

Chen Mo folded the riding crop, then with a sharp pull, a crisp sound echoed in the room, terrifying Chun Lan into trembling.

"Lie down," Chen Mo said to Chun Lan, closing the door.

"Ma-Master..." Chun Lan still tried to plead, but seeing Chen Mo frown, she quickly lay down, trembling, with her back to Chen Mo.

"Smack!" Chen Mo slapped Chun Lan's bottom and said, "Do you still dare?"

Without waiting for Chun Lan to answer, he cracked the riding crop on the floor, making a loud noise.

Of course, Chen Mo wouldn't actually whip his woman; he just wanted to scare Chun Lan a bit, feeling that he'd spoiled her recently.

"I... I don't dare..." Chun Lan was already scared stiff.

"That's more like it." Chen Mo lifted her skirt, gave her bottom another pat, and then rubbed it, saying, "How is Prince De Ning doing?"

"...The gifts you sent her, master, she accepted them all..." Chun Lan sighed in relief, realizing the master just wanted to frighten her.

But Dong Lan and the others didn't know that.

Hearing the sounds from the room, they were all frightened.