The winter night was serene, and snowflakes began to fall over Bianliang.

On the rooftop of a house within the Chen Mansion, a black shadow lay motionless, so still that no one could sense his presence, allowing the dancing snowflakes to settle on him as if the surrounding cold was something he could not feel.

If not for the eyes that remained open and the brows that lightly moved, anyone would have thought he was already dead.

At this moment, his sharp gaze was fixed intently on the backyard of the Chen Mansion.

"Master, would... would you like this maid to stay and serve you?" The delicate maid asked Chen Mo with a shy, soft voice and bashful eyes.

"No need, you can go rest." Chen Mo declined the maid’s offer and stepped inside.

The maid sighed, looking at the house for a while before leaving.

Shortly thereafter, the lights inside the house were extinguished.

The distant black shadow on the rooftop watched Chen Mo enter the house for some time, and after confirming no one was entering or leaving, silently departed.

Soon after the shadow left, Chen Mo, who was pretending to sleep on the bed, opened his eyes and murmured, "Finally gone..."

...

Meanwhile, at Weiyang Palace.

Midnight.

Outside the bedroom, Xiao Yunxi stood with her sword held behind her back, wearing only a thin red dress in the snowy weather.

Her majestic, voluptuous figure was covered with glittering frost, like the Queen of an icy world.

Her dignified yet mature face bore a trace of worry and yearning.

Two feet away, Xiao Qing’Er approached with a shawl and draped it over Xiao Yunxi’s shoulders, softly said, "Empress Dowager, it’s freezing cold, be mindful of your health, it’s already midnight, let’s return inside and rest..."

Xiao Yunxi shook her head, stepped back slightly from Xiao Qing’Er, and thrust her longsword behind her, scattering True Qi, instantly cutting off the tops of the well-tended flowers and plants in the distance.

"That heartless scoundrel, he’s been away from Bianliang for almost two months, he might have forgotten about me completely, and it’s been a few days since he arrived in the Capital, he didn’t even enter the palace, let alone send a letter..." Xiao Yunxi, as if a resentful woman in the palace, vented her frustrations like this.

"So you were missing him..." Xiao Qing’Er lightly bit her lower lip, and inexplicably thought of the words Chen Mo said to her when he left; she looked down, clearly seeing her own toes.

She tried hard to eat, but couldn’t gain any weight.

If he saw her, he would probably tease her again.

Seeing Xiao Qing’Er remain silent, Xiao Yunxi scolded, "After all, you gave him your body, don’t you miss him at all?"

Xiao Qing’Er stayed silent.

This matter was not her wish either.

And such embarrassing words, after just that one night of pleasure, were too embarrassing to speak out.

"Qing’Er, are you still mad at me?" Xiao Yunxi sheathed her sword, standing and looking at Xiao Qing’Er.

Xiao Qing’Er quickly shook her head, "No, Empress Dowager, I’m not, everything Empress Dowager... has done is a blessing for me."

"If it’s a blessing, then give me a smile." Xiao Yunxi came over, pinched Xiao Qing’Er’s face, and said, "I’ve decided, tomorrow I’ll leave the palace to find that bastard, and let him pamper you well..."

Hearing this, Xiao Qing’Er couldn’t help it, a blush appeared on her face, "Empress Dowager, please don’t tease me."

"I’m not teasing." Xiao Yunxi walked behind Xiao Qing’Er, giving a light slap on her rear, "Don’t think I don’t know your little schemes, you’ve been drinking the Zither Heart Grass tea these days..."

Zither Heart Grass, an herb for beauty and wellness, also has a certain enhancing... effect.

Seeing her little secret exposed, Xiao Qing’Er’s face turned beet red, wishing she could dig a hole and hide in it, utterly embarrassed.

Xiao Yunxi slowly said, "Qing’Er, it shows that you don’t usually read books, Zither Heart Grass while having that effect, needs to be paired with massage techniques, otherwise, no matter how much you drink, it’s useless."

"Ah?" Xiao Qing’Er was now both embarrassed and regretful.

"It’s okay, from today onwards, you can ask Cai’Er to help you." Xiao Yunxi chuckled, "Don’t worry, besides me and you, Cai’Er will not let a fourth person know."

"What’s something that can’t be known to a fourth person?" 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Suddenly, a voice sounded, surprising and delighting both women.

This voice, Xiao Yunxi was especially familiar with.

In the darkness, Chen Mo first used perception to sense his surroundings, and after confirming that only Xiao Yunxi and Xiao Qing’Er were present, he stepped out.

Before entering the palace, Chen Mo had specially changed into the white robe that Xiao Yunxi had given him at the beginning.

Chen Mo was inherently handsome, with distinct, chiseled features, under his sword-like brows were deep starry eyes full of affection, easily disarming anyone.

He walked over slowly, with a mesmerizing smile at the corner of his lips.

He then embraced the standing Xiao Qing’Er, his large hand exploring her body, sighing, "I initially thought, Qing’Er, you would give me some surprises."

At these words, Xiao Qing’Er pushed him away in a huff of humiliation.

"Long time no see, Yunxi." Xiao Qing’Er was already his own, so Chen Mo didn’t mind her presence, opened his arms, and moved towards Xiao Yunxi to hug her.

But Xiao Yunxi deftly avoided him, letting out a cold snort, "You remembered to find me, I thought you were enjoying yourself in Nanyang, and forgot about me."

Xiao Yunxi also had her little temper, how dare he not come to see her first when entering the Capital, humph...