Free Web NovelChapter 752: Chapter 746-747: Return to the Capital, Good News Received
"Husband, you still haven’t taken her out for morning exercise." Xiao Yunxi protested.
"It’s getting late, we should get going, or Mi’Er and the others will start urging you, you wouldn’t want them to know you’re staying with Madam Xiao and the others, right?" Chen Mo said.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yunxi quickly released Madam Gan, feeling a bit disappointed for not giving her a lesson, and coldly snorted, "Consider yourself lucky."
"Humph." Madam Gan also snorted in response, but felt a bit disappointed too, as she actually hoped Chen Mo would take her for morning exercise.
...
Xiao Yunxi specifically returned to her room before heading towards the first floor of the tower ship.
"Good morning."
Wu Mi and the others were having breakfast, and seeing Xiao Yunxi coming over to greet them, they responded with smiles.
"Where is the husband? Which sister served him last night?" Xiao Yunxi, with an Oscar-worthy act, casually sat down.
As soon as she spoke, Wu Mi and the others didn’t react much, but Xia Zhining looked at her with a peculiar gaze and directly exposed, "Don’t you know that part?"
"What am I supposed to know?" Xiao Yunxi continued to act.
"You probably weren’t in your room last night, right?" Xia Zhiqing said.
Xiao Yunxi was about to say more, but Xiao Ya tugged on her dress and whispered, "Auntie, stop saying it, we all know you went to visit Madam Xiao last night and didn’t return."
The tower ship is just this big, and at night most of the women’s hearts were focused on Chen Mo, so just a little inquiry in the morning would reveal what happened.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yunxi’s face flushed red, wishing she could bury her head under the table, utterly embarrassed.
Seeing Xiao Yunxi’s state, Xia Zhining thought to herself, "If Prince Huai provoked him, that’s really unfortunate."
...
After breakfast, the fleet set off towards Huai State on the other side of the river.
At noon, having landed, the local County Magistrate got the message well in advance and had arranged a cavalry team, so without any hindrance, they boarded the carriage heading towards Tianchuan.
By the end of August, they arrived at the Western River Land.
The convoy stopped.
Chen Mo accompanied Chu Juan to the Li Family Ancestral Mansion and met Madam Hui, Chu Juan’s mother.
Upon meeting Madam Hui and realizing Chen Mo was not deceiving her, Chu Juan hugged Madam Hui and cried tears of joy.
Chen Mo did not disturb them and let the mother and daughter talk alone.
Chen Mo accompanied Chu Juan at the Li Family Ancestral Mansion for a day before leaving.
Chu Juan wanted to take Madam Hui to the Capital to provide for her, but Madam Hui refused, saying she lived well here and intended to spend the rest of her days here, suggesting that Chu Juan could visit whenever she missed her.
Seeing this, Chu Juan could only give up on persuading her further.
Before leaving, Chu Juan left a Youthful Appearance Pill for Madam Hui, as instructed by Chen Mo.
...
After reuniting with the convoy, Chen Mo took Liang Xue to the Liang Family to recognize their ancestors and restore the family.
The Liang Family, subdued by iron will, heard Chen Mo was coming and had a group of elders welcome him ten miles out, treating Chen Mo as an honored guest.
When Chen Mo took Liang Xue as a wife, it was not officially acknowledged.
Now was the perfect time for Liang Xue to recognize her roots and complete the formal process of taking her as a concubine.
Everything from witnesses, marriage documents, to clan registry entries were completed meticulously.
After spending a day at the Liang Family, Chen Mo left with Liang Xue.
Rejoining the convoy, Chen Mo accompanied Ning Wan to the Ning Family.
When the Ning Family learned of Yu State’s "fall" and Ning Wan’s capture, for reputation’s sake, they publicly claimed Ning Wan had died and even removed her from the family registry.
Though disappointed with the family, ultimately, Ning Wan considered it her roots, and given the chance, she still wished to visit.
...
September 10th.
The convoy arrived at Tianchuan.
Sun Meng, with the Personal Guard Battalion, escorted Chen Mo’s family members to Wei’s Mansion in the city, while Chen Mo left the convoy and took the top scorers of the court examination to the palace for an audience.
Dong—
Dong—
Dong—
...
The bell tolled nine times.
Not only did it resonate throughout the Imperial Palace but also across one hundred and eighty-six districts of Tianchuan City, causing commoners, princes, and dukes to look towards the palace.
This treatment was reserved for someone of the highest rank and who hadn’t entered the palace for a while, showing Your Majesty’s regard for this person.
The Yong’an Emperor, seated squarely on the Throne in the center of Taihe Palace, dressed in a Dragon Robe, had his gaze fixed outside the hall, where gradually a black dot became a human figure.
It was a strikingly handsome face, seemingly harmless, not one to be ruthless, yet the Yong’an Emperor felt a chill within.
King of Nanping County, Wang Chufeng, was deemed a traitor due to his refusal to submit to Chen Mo, and was directly escorted to the Capital and executed a while ago.
The decree was forced upon Yong’an Emperor by the ministers.
Though Yong’an Emperor was a puppet, he understood Chufeng’s genuine loyalty to the Imperial Family and his efforts to protect the Chu Clan dynasty.
Chen Mo, hand resting on the hilt, walked straight to the center of Taihe Palace, arriving below the throne, standing tall with a salute. "I, Chen Mo, pay homage to the Emperor, long live the Emperor."
Wielding swords in the palace and not bowing in court was his right, so Chen Mo was not disrespectful to Yong’an Emperor.
"You... are exempted from the salute." Yong’an Emperor lifted his hand and said, "I heard that King Wei returned to the capital this time, bringing with him the top scorers from the court examination for me and the Great Song, the nation’s backbone."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Chen Mo nodded slightly, then said, "They are waiting outside the hall for Your Majesty’s summons."
"Then... let them in quickly." Yong’an Emperor said.
Chen Mo nodded to the eunuch standing next to Yong’an Emperor.
Soon, a loud voice echoed.
"Summon the newly qualified scholars into the hall."
"Summon, newly qualified scholars into the hall!"
Outside Taihe Palace, below the white stone steps, the newly qualified scholars, dressed appropriately, suppressed their excitement as they steadily ascended the steps. freēwebnovel.com
In fact, at this moment, they were not yet true scholars.
Only when they met the Emperor and received the scholar title, the recognition of scholars, and the acknowledgment of peers, would they be regarded as true scholars.
In their hearts, Jinluan Hall was a solemn place not to be desecrated, so upon entering Taihe Palace, they dared not look around, and walked with heads bowed to the center of the hall, under the direction of the guiding eunuch, they paid homage to Emperor Yong’an.
While saluting, they wished to bow at ninety degrees, fearing to make any mistakes.
Even after Yong’an Emperor said they were exempted from the salute, they dared not lift their heads, though they glanced around with their peripheral vision.
Since it was not a regular meeting, there were few people in Jinluan Hall.
They quickly noticed the seated Chen Mo, and the weapon at his waist.
Though aware Chen Mo had the right, actually seeing it was still shocking, especially since this was Jinluan Hall.
Next, they realized Yong’an Emperor consulted Chen Mo for advice on every decision, granting approval only after his nod.
Moreover, when speaking to Chen Mo, Yong’an Emperor’s tone was gentle.
At this moment, they discovered the Emperor was just like anyone else.
They also understood more clearly the extent of Chen Mo’s power.
Following this, Sun City, Guo Ning, and Wang Haosheng were granted the scholar title.
The second class received scholar recognition.
The third class received peer recognition.
Their assignments and positions would be announced at tomorrow’s court meeting.
Thus, today’s audience for Sun City, Guo Ning, and the others was concluded.
After leaving Taihe Palace, Chen Mo proceeded to Han Yuan Hall to discuss with Geng Songfu the arrangement for Sun City, Guo Ning, and the others.
Before reaching Han Yuan Hall, a figure Chen Mo deeply missed appeared in his sight.
"Ru Yan." If not for others nearby, Chen Mo would’ve embraced her immediately.
Yue Ruyan, however, gave Chen Mo a signal, and he instantly understood, following her to a discreet corner unseen by others.
Before Chen Mo could express how much he missed Yue Ruyan, she spoke gravely, "Husband, the Empress Dowager is pregnant."
Chen Mo: "..."
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