"She’s that strong?" Zhao Jiangning widened her eyes.

"Cough, cough." Chen Mo gave a dry cough.

"Who is it, exactly?" Ye Wanqiu was also curious.

In her heart, she thought, "Could it be Consort Yu?"

Ye Wanqiu knew about the time when Chen Mo took advantage of Consort Yu.

She also heard that Consort Yu’s brother wanted to follow Chen Mo.

In this case, it really could be Consort Yu.

But how could Chen Mo admit this? He quickly said, "Alright, alright, stop guessing. I’m going back to my room to rest."

"Chun Lan, give me a hand."

Luo Zhen and the others didn’t stop him; indeed, he needed a good rest.

"I’ll go brew some medicine to boost master’s health," Chun Lan said, taking the prescription the doctor had given.

"I’ll get some ingredients for a hearty meal," Luo Zhen headed to the kitchen.

Though they spoke casually, they were quite concerned about Chen Mo.

On the way to help Chen Mo back to his room, Chun Lan told him about Su Mu’s disappearance.

She said that Su Mu had not been seen all day yesterday, and even after checking her room this morning, she was still missing.

Hearing this, Chen Mo speculated that Su Mu had likely not gotten what she wanted at Chen Mansion. Fearing exposure, Su Mu probably withdrew.

"It’s okay, don’t worry about it," Chen Mo dismissed the matter lightly.

...

Before leaving the Capital for his appointment in Nanyang, Chen Mo had to notify Xiao Yunqi in advance.

Chen Mo went personally.

On the surface, Xiao Yunqi expressed reluctance to let Chen Mo go.

But after Chen Mo left the Xiao Mansion,

Feng Ji said, "Master, you’re just letting him go like this, without making him leave his family behind?"

You see, it was common practice for generals holding military power to leave their families in the Capital when going to a new post.

"No need," Xiao Yunqi shook his head.

"But..." Feng Ji wanted to say that after Chen Mo truly left the Capital, they would have nothing to control him with anymore. However, Xiao Yunqi interrupted him.

"Rest assured, I make my own decisions." Before proving that Chen Mo was indeed Chen Hong, Xiao Yunqi would not have let Chen Mo go off to his post so easily, but now that he was sure, those considerations became irrelevant, instead ensuring greater loyalty from Chen Mo.

...

The news of Chen Mo’s departure to Nanyang for his new post also reached Hu Mei’Er’s ears.

The former assassin Butterfly Dance, now emerged from Su Mu’s identity, came to Hu Mei’Er’s side and asked, "Your Highness, do you need us to intercept and kill them?"

"Are you confident in being able to kill Chen Mo and obtain the Red Sun Bell?" Hu Mei’Er asked back.

Butterfly Dance shook her head, then asked, "Your Highness, do we really have to find the Red Sun Bell to make a move against him?"

"Of course not." If that were the case, they would be led by the nose by Chen Mo. Hu Mei’Er curved her lips into a charming smile and said, "Watch, though I don’t know when that old fox will deal with Chen Mo, I believe the day is not far away.

At that time, I’ll make him willingly hand over the Red Sun Bell."

"By the way, even if we don’t intercept them, send someone to closely follow them. I want to know their every move."

"Yes."

...

Nanyang County is three to four hundred li from the Capital, neither too close nor too far.

If one rushed, they could reach it in about a day.

But with Chen Mo taking his entire household and packing various odds and ends, and with the current chaotic times, it might take three to four days.

Thus, it wasn’t a matter of just leaving; it required preparation. All movable property in the Capital had to be taken along.

Upon learning Chen Mo was going to his post in Nanyang, many officials, hoping to curry favor, sent small gifts his way.

This world is neither just black nor white.

Chen Mo couldn’t discern whether he was black or white.

Instead, he accepted all the gifts sent to him.

To make the journey more comfortable and to avoid traveling on horseback the whole way, Chen Mo sent someone to buy a larger carriage.

When he departed, he intended to sit in the carriage, holding a beauty, eating grapes, and leisurely enjoying the scenery along the way. How delightful.

However, thinking about comfort, he had to consider the bumps along the way.

For instance, should the horses pulling the carriage be replaced? Should the wooden wheels be wrapped with something to absorb shocks?

Chen Mo wasn’t going to handle these things personally; he delegated them to his subordinates.

...

"Hey, be careful with that vase crafted personally by Master Qing Yan Zi, it’s very valuable. If you break it, even selling you wouldn’t cover a fraction of its value."

"And you there, these are calligraphies handwritten by the Grand Ancestor of the previous dynasty, be cautious."

Chun Lan, with her hands on her hips, directed the servants to pack the valuable items from the mansion.

"Ah... what kind of bow is this, it’s so heavy," a servant attempted to take the bow from the wall but found it incredibly heavy and couldn’t lift it.

Seeing this, Chun Lan was startled and quickly stopped him: "Don’t touch that, it’s the war bow master captured on the battlefield.

Go away, we don’t need you here." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

...

"Chun Lan, how’s the packing going?" The hands-off manager Chen Mo occasionally came by to check on the progress.

"Almost done, master, but that bow on the wall is too heavy; even two people can’t lift it..." Chun Lan pointed to the bow on the study wall.

"I’ll take care of the bow myself," Chen Mo said.

This bow was the Flood Dragon Tendon Bow Chen Mo captured from King Yan on the battlefield, a treasure of the Celestial Tier.

At the time, King Yan fled in a hurry, and the heavy Flood Dragon Tendon Bow slowed him down, allowing Chen Mo’s men to capture it along with King Yan’s personal soldiers.

Not wanting Li Yang and Feng Ji to find out, Chen Mo had it hidden away, not reporting it, and thus it became his personal possession.

Besides the bow, there were also three Bone Arrows.

Adding in the one shot into the city wall that day, Chen Mo now possessed four.

...

Ninety-sixth day of the great upheaval.

In the afternoon, Chen Mo and his group had finished packing and were ready to leave.

Chen Mo let Luo Zhen and the others go ahead, intending to catch up later.

For today was also the day Huangfu Hao was returning.

The two were sworn brothers; leaving without a word would feel inappropriate.

Even though Huangfu Hao still didn’t know that Chen Mo was Chen Hong.

As dusk approached,

Huangfu Hao returned to the Capital with his troops.

However, the welcome he received was nothing like the grand scene when Chen Mo returned, where His Majesty, the Empress Dowager, and all the civil and military officials came out to greet him.

...

Three-quarters past the hour of Xushi.

In the first-class private room of Hongfu Tavern.

When Huangfu Hao opened the door to the private room and saw that familiar face, it was hard for him to believe, and he hoarsely cried out, "Brother Hong?"

At the time of Chen Hong’s alleged murder, he had been in Western Shu and was out of the loop. It wasn’t until he was almost at the Capital that he heard the news and learned that Chen Hong supposedly had a twin brother.

After making his report at the palace, he received a secret letter inviting him to the first-class private room at the Hongfu Tavern in the west of the city.

The letter was signed by Chen Hong at the end.

"Brother, you’re here?" Chen Mo looked up with a smile and then invited Huangfu Hao to sit, saying, "Brother, you haven’t had red-cooked pork, mapo tofu, or Buddha Jumps Over the Wall yet; please try them."

Chen Mo dished a little into a bowl and handed it to Huangfu Hao: "Come on, Brother, try some."

But Huangfu Hao had no appetite at that moment. He had too many questions for Chen Mo, saying, "Brother Hong, weren’t you murdered? How is it... could the rumors be true that Chen Hong and Chen Mo are the same person?"

Chen Mo nodded. At this point, he had no need to hide the truth from Huangfu Hao, saying, "There were reasons for it back then."

"Then..."

"Brother, no rush, let’s talk while we eat," Chen Mo said with a smile.

Hearing this, Huangfu Hao had to suppress his curiosity a bit.

He never expected that after such a short time in Western Shu, the Capital would undergo such changes.

After taking a bite of food, barely drinking any wine, Huangfu Hao couldn’t hold back any longer and asked more questions.

This time, Chen Mo answered Huangfu Hao’s questions simply, although some details were withheld.

ps: Two-in-one Chapter.