Chapter 665: Chapter 660: Liang Ji: The Liang Family Can Only Rely on Her Now

Shoukang Palace.

Dressed in a plain-colored dress, makeup removed and the phoenix crown taken off, Liang Ji, who was preparing to sweep the couch for the guest, raised her beautiful eyebrows slightly when she heard the palace maid’s report and said softly, "He... really said that?"

"Empress Dowager, this is the exact wording from Duke An," the palace maid said.

While Liang Ji frowned slightly, she also breathed a sigh of relief, but was immediately inexplicably annoyed. Ever since she was young, no one ever refused her enthusiastic invitations.

Even though she was no longer young, she was still very confident in her charm and clearly understood that the identity of "Empress Dowager" was high above ordinary people, making them afraid of offending her, but for men who held power now, it only added excitement.

Moreover, Chen Mo’s reputation as a womanizer was known throughout the world; she never thought she would be rejected.

She sighed deeply in her heart, the imperial power was truly on the decline.

After all, it was her decree, the decree of the Empress Dowager, and Chen Mo was just a subject, yet he did not give face at all and directly refused.

And the Liang Family, just days ago, the family sent a letter saying that the wealthy merchants and gentry who usually flattered them were now distancing themselves from the family.

The most outrageous was a noble family that had a marital alliance with the Liang Family; they even divorced the Liang Family girl and sent her back to the family.

If Third Uncle (Liang Xuan) were still here, and father hadn’t...

How could they dare to do this?

Liang Ji looked at that elegant and beautiful face in the copper mirror, showing a hint of self-mockery; now all the family’s hopes rested upon her.

...

Under the same night sky.

Xiangyang, Duke An’s Mansion, in the main hall.

Several young girls in local traditional clothing, adorned with splendid and luxurious headpieces, were speaking. Though they dressed richly, a trace of fear and embarrassment showed in their expressions because, at the feet of the young girl in front of them, lay a white tiger with distinctive eyes.

The young girl was Yang Qingqing, who had come from the Shu Residence.

Although Shu Residence was quite far from Linzhou, it should not have taken this long; she should have arrived last month, not only now.

The reason was that Yang Qingqing was resistant to the marriage but could not go against her father. So, she procrastinated on the way, dragging on when possible, and if it weren’t for the guards traveling with her, who were also sent by her father to supervise her, urging her continuously, it might have taken another month or two.

Even so, she should have reached Duke An’s Mansion during the day, yet she dragged her arrival until night, aiming to leave a deep impression in front of Chen Mo’s wives and concubines, making them dislike her, to complain to Chen Mo, hoping Chen Mo would also dislike her, and best of all, throw her into the "Cold Palace."

Yang Qingqing’s idea was simple, since the marriage couldn’t be refused, they should not interact in the future, living separately. She intended to be a small invisible presence in Duke An’s Mansion, with a slight thought of rebelling against her father.

Thus, when facing Wu Mi and the women who came out to greet her at such an hour, Yang Qingqing did not have her tiger mount avoid them, but deliberately rode the white tiger in front of the women. Crucially, she had not even put a collar on the tiger.

Afterward, she did not let anyone take the white tiger away to be locked separately but directly led it into Duke An’s Mansion and into the main hall, with the excuse that Dabai was her best friend and she considered Dabai her family, wanting to eat and sleep together.

Facing Wu Mi and the others who wore gentle expressions, Yang Qingqing’s first words were, "Where is my room? I am tired and need to rest."

This caused even the usually mild-tempered Wu Mi and Han Anniang to frown, not to mention the other girls.

It’s as if Yang Qingqing didn’t see their expressions and said coldly, "What’s the matter? You guys received the letter, right? You haven’t even prepared my room?"

Wu Mi pursed her red lips, thinking that Yang Qingqing was a "new bride," she did not lose her temper, and continued politely directing a personal maid to take Yang Qingqing to her resting place.

"By the way, if you need to find me, just call from outside, don’t come in without permission. If you disturb Dabai and it gets hurt, don’t blame me for not warning you," Yang Qingqing added one last sentence when leaving.

If Xia Zhining weren’t absent, she would have probably "quarreled" with Yang Qingqing on the spot.

Even so, after Yang Qingqing left, Xiao Yunxi was the first to speak, her voice icy, "It’s really someone from a small place, no manners at all."

To the Jiangnan Xiao Family, Shu Residence indeed seemed remote, like a little village.

"Erlang has married an ancestor this time!" Han Anniang was a bit worried, fearing that the originally tranquil inner courtyard would turn chaotic with Yang Qingqing’s arrival.

"And she said don’t enter privately. She’s new yet has the audacity to say such words; she’s the outsider here, isn’t she? This person is truly annoying," Yi Shiyin’s lively eyes showed slight disgust.

This sentence was unanimously agreed upon by all the women.

Xiao Ya spoke, "Should we tell Brother Mo about this, Ms. Mi?"

"No need for now," Wu Mi sighed and said, "The situation at the front lines is still uncertain, there’s no need to bother my husband with such small matters."

Speaking of which, Wu Mi changed the subject, glancing around the ladies, and asked, "Where’s Xue’Er?"

"It seems like Sister Xue’Er received a letter from her family today, and she’s been out of sorts ever since," Xia Zhiqing replied.

"Family?" Wu Mi mused, having a vague idea of what it could be.

...

Luonan.

At the Prime Minister’s Mansion, in a perfectly intact guest room, this was where Chen Mo and the others settled down.

After freshening up, between the curtains of the bed.

Yue Ruyan’s delicate and straight legs separated slightly beneath her skirt, instinctively drawing together a moment later, but still unable to close completely. Her beautiful eyes misted over slightly as she looked back and said with a trembling voice, "Slow... down."

"What a pity that hot spring was all ruined by the Soul Devouring Array. Just now, when leaving the Imperial Palace, I was thinking of taking a couple’s bath with you," Chen Mo said roughly, slowing his movements, then attempted to hug Xia Zhining next to him, only to be pushed away by her.

"Such a good opportunity, the Empress Dowager invited you, why didn’t you go? This way, you would complete the Imperial Family’s three generations: old, middle-aged, and young," Xia Zhining said.

"Cough-cough..."

Hearing this, Chen Mo started coughing, wondering about the absurdity of spanning three generations of old, middle-aged, and young.

Zhining was speaking more and more "openly" now.

After slapping Xia Zhining’s perky butt, Chen Mo continued, "What nonsense are you spouting in the middle of the night? If I went to Shoukang Palace, how bad would the impact be?"

Besides, he was in the capital to support the king. With so many eyes in the Imperial Palace, and tonight being so rushed, it was impossible to guard every aspect closely. If he went to Shoukang Palace to keep the appointment, even if nothing happened, rumors of all kinds would likely arise the next day.

Like sleeping in the palace and causing chaos in the court.

Such rumors didn’t even occur when Xu Guozhong and Lu Sheng were in power, and he certainly didn’t want to carry this infamy.

Moreover, he knew why the Empress Dowager was seeking him out.

"Are you still afraid of that?" Xia Zhining playfully looked at Chen Mo. "Wasn’t the Former Empress, Princess Consort Huai, and Princess Zhaoqing handled by you quite smoothly?

Besides, it was the Empress Dowager who took the initiative to invite you. She isn’t afraid; why are you scared?"

"Zhining, you’re really getting more and more outrageous with your words."

Chen Mo pulled Xia Zhining to his side, sheathed the sword, and under Yue Ruyan’s resentful gaze, Chen Mo began cultivating with Xia Zhining.

The beauty let out a soft hum, her milky white skin, under the orange-yellow light, turned a charming rose-red hue, her smooth, flawless shoulders resembling jade stones slightly shrugged, and after getting accustomed, the beauty turned her head and said, "Did I guess your thoughts, and now you’re exasperated?"

But the only response Xia Zhining got was the scorching heat radiating through her body.

She gritted her teeth and said, "You... bastard ..."

Was this man really trying to push her to the brink...

Yue Ruyan didn’t want to say anything anymore; she even thought that Xia Zhining did it on purpose.

At such a stage, yet she let Xia Zhining go ahead.

Chen Mo naturally didn’t forget Yue Ruyan, gently tilting her shoulder for a kiss.

Moments later, their lips parted, and Chen Mo used Dali’s Ultimate Skill, then asked, "Zhining, Ruyan, did you see Madam Hui when you entered the city just now?"

No matter what, Madam Hui is Chu Juan’s mother, and now that Prince Huai is gone, Chen Mo can’t let anything happen to Madam Hui, leaving Chu Juan without both parents.

"What, have you completed three out of four of Prince Huai’s back courtyard, and now you want to complete it?" Xia Zhining sneered.

"I’m serious with you." Chen Mo’s expression turned serious. He may be a bit lecherous, but not to the extent of targeting Madam Hui. He continued, "Believe it or not, I have never touched her."

Madam Xiao once told him that Madam Hui was in Chongzhou at a mansion Prince Chong arranged for Prince Huai.

But when he arrived in Chongzhou, Chen Mo didn’t find any trace of Madam Hui, assuming that Prince Chong had taken her to Luonan.

Seeing Chen Mo’s stern tone, Xia Zhining slightly restrained herself and said, "No, but with today’s chaos and the earthquake that happened, finding someone is too difficult. We’ll have to wait until tomorrow."

Yue Ruyan also shook her head and then said, "There’s no word from Prince Chong, and the whereabouts of Lu Sheng’s family are also unknown. Maybe they left together with Prince Chong or the family members of Lu Sheng."

"It’s not impossible," Chen Mo thought aloud.