Inside the sleeping chamber, a single lamp flickered dimly.

Chen Mo sat by the bedside, feeling awkward as he looked at Xiao Qing’Er standing stiffly beside him.

By then, the effects of the alcohol were gradually wearing off, and his consciousness had cleared up.

Chen Mo couldn’t help but want to slap himself for making such a mistake.

Due to being drunk and that reason, Chen Mo hadn’t, as usual, used Celestial Perception to be aware of his surroundings, thereby allowing Xiao Qing’Er to break in and witness the scene.

But there was no use regretting; what happened had happened, and he had to face it and deal with it.

Xiao Yunxi, having held a high position for so many years, had seen all kinds of situations. Despite the sheer embarrassment of it all, Xiao Yunxi swiftly calmed down, looked at Xiao Qing’Er, and said, "Qing’Er, since you saw this matter, I won’t hide it from you. Chen Mo and I..."

Xiao Yunxi briefly explained her relationship with Chen Mo to Xiao Qing’Er.

Realizing it wasn’t Chen Mo bullying the Empress Dowager unilaterally, Xiao Qing’Er understood what she needed to do. Though the matter seemed unbelievably baffling, it had happened right before her eyes.

It turned out the rumors outside were not baseless. Xiao Qing’Er assured, "Empress Dowager, rest assured, I will keep what happened tonight to myself."

Xiao Yunxi trusted these words.

Although Xiao Qing’Er was not of the Xiao Family’s bloodline, she grew up in the Xiao Family, living and being fostered by them, instilled with a loyalty to the Xiao Family and even trained as an atypical Death Warrior by them.

This was why Xiao Yunxi had her called into the palace to serve as her personal guard.

Xiao Yunxi looked into Xiao Qing’Er’s eyes and asked, "Qing’Er, how old are you?"

"Replying to the Empress Dowager, I am seventeen."

"Seventeen?" Xiao Yunxi murmured, then mused to herself, "At this age, you should be married already."

Xiao Qing’Er’s expression changed, thinking the Empress Dowager intended to marry her off because of tonight’s incident.

She immediately knelt, kowtowed, and pleaded, "Empress Dowager, a thousand wrongs are all my fault. You may scold or punish me, but please don’t arrange a marriage for me. I still wish to serve you well."

"I can’t bear to see you accompany me to a lonely old age." With a sigh, Xiao Yunxi suddenly asked, "Qing’Er, what do you think of Chen Mo?"

Xiao Qing’Er was stunned.

Chen Mo was also taken aback.

Knowing Chen Mo’s relationship with the Empress Dowager, how could Xiao Qing’Er dare to say anything bad about him? She hurriedly replied, "He... is very good."

"That’s good," Xiao Yunxi nodded, then looked at Chen Mo, smiling, "General Chen Mo, I bestow Qing’Er to you. You must treat her well."

Xiao Qing’Er’s face changed: "Empress Dowager, I..."

"What, you don’t want to?" Xiao Yunxi raised an eyebrow.

She trusted Xiao Qing’Er, and this move was just an extra precaution.

Moreover, she didn’t really want Xiao Qing’Er to marry someone else because Qing’Er knew too many of her secrets.

She had long considered marrying Qing’Er to Chen Mo in her heart.

Certainly, as a concubine.

Seeing the Empress Dowager’s knitted brows, Xiao Qing’Er realized she was angered and dared not disobey, trembling as she said, "I am willing... willing."

"Yunxi, you..." Chen Mo was also taken aback, never expecting Xiao Yunqi to give her to him.

Xiao Yunxi, as a matter of course, said, "She is mine, and I am yours, so isn’t she yours too? Besides, I don’t want anything to happen to her. Would you really want me to bestow her to someone else?"

Chen Mo: "..."

Xiao Yunxi gave him a sideways glance, then told Qing’Er, "Get up."

Xiao Qing’Er slowly stood up.

"Come over," Xiao Yunxi beckoned again.

Xiao Qing’Er obediently went over.

As Xiao Qing’Er approached, Xiao Yunxi raised her hand to cup her chin, looking at her delicate face, and softly said, "Although I’ve given you to him, I won’t have you follow him now — you will stay by my side to serve me..."

Xiao Qing’Er hadn’t grasped the meaning behind Xiao Yunxi’s words yet.

Xiao Yunxi instructed her to go serve Chen Mo.

Even someone as cool as her blushed at this moment, and she looked at Xiao Yunxi: "Empress Dowager, I... I don’t know how."

"..."

Stunned for a few seconds, Xiao Yunxi took a deep breath and said, "Watch, I will teach you."

Soon after, Xiao Qing’Er’s eyes widened.

"Alright, it’s your turn," Xiao Yunxi said back to Xiao Qing’Er.

Xiao Qing’Er imitated Xiao Yunxi, slowly crawling over.

...

Xiao Qing’Er’s frame was too slender.

Even after all this time, she hadn’t gained much weight. Chen Mo dared not be too vigorous, fearing she’d fall apart, but even so, Xiao Qing’Er still couldn’t handle the favor and fainted.

But speaking of looks alone, Xiao Qing’Er was a top contender among all of Chen Mo’s women.

Seeing Xiao Qing’Er asleep, Xiao Yunxi glared at Chen Mo with some reproach: "Qing’Er was a first-timer, didn’t you know to be more gentle?"

In the face of Xiao Yunxi’s reproachful look, Chen Mo had nothing to say.

You’re well aware of my capabilities.

He had already tried to be as gentle as he could.

Seeing him silent, Xiao Yunxi chided him again and then settled into his arms, her delicate hand twirling Qing’Er’s hair around her fingers.

"Now that Qing’Er is your woman, it’s better; in the future, we... we won’t have to avoid her anymore, making things easier," Xiao Yunxi said softly.

Chen Mo: "..."

He realized that her words were becoming increasingly bold.

After thinking about it for a moment, Chen Mo held Xiao Yunxi’s fragrant shoulder, not eager to leave, and slowly said, "It has been several days since the Imperial Court appointed me as State Governor. I can’t stay in the Capital much longer, and I plan to depart for Nanyang the day after tomorrow to take up my post."

"That’s good too; once you assume the position of State Governor, you can truly control your destiny directly."

Xiao Yunxi traced circles on Chen Mo’s chest with her fingers. Despite her words, she was deeply reluctant.

Once he left, she truly didn’t know when they would meet again.

Given her status, she couldn’t leave with Chen Mo.

Chen Mo lowered his head to kiss her forehead, comforting, "One day, we will be able to spend our lives together."

Xiao Yunxi nodded, as if remembering something, and said, "The other day my father summoned you, actually intending for me to activate the Feather Nirvana Heart Scripture to confirm if you are Chen Hong; I... I couldn’t do it, so..."

Before she could finish, Chen Mo covered her mouth with his hand, saying, "I understand, and you didn’t activate it."

"But... but... If I had waited any longer, I might’ve... I’m really... sorry." Xiao Yunxi failed to finish, burying her face in Chen Mo’s embrace, apologizing to him.

"Silly, I didn’t blame you, and didn’t you already apologize before," Chen Mo teased, tracing his finger along the bridge of her nose, smiling.