Cultivation Begins with Caring for Sister-in-law

Chapter 816: Chapter 821, 822: Lin Xuelan: Yu Zhu, Good Sisters for Life_2

She thought the young lady was just going to hug her, but unexpectedly, the young lady’s hand on her waist, through the short shirt, grasped the truth.

At first, she thought it was an accident by the young lady, but then she heard the young lady’s soft voice: "Yu Zhu, you are older than me."

Yu Zhu thought she was talking about age: "Young lady just realized that now?"

Lin Xuelan didn’t expect Yu Zhu to be so unreserved, and as she spoke, her hand moved as well: "The Prince will definitely like it."

Yu Zhu then realized what the young lady was talking about, and her expression and body suddenly became a bit stiff. Her eyes flickered as she hurriedly removed the young lady’s hand, saying: "What’s good about this, it’s inconvenient when practicing martial arts."

Lin Xuelan smiled lightly, her face turning red: "Once you become a woman, you’ll understand."

"Young lady, what’s going on tonight? You’re acting strange." Yu Zhu frowned, her thoughts were very quick.

"Yu Zhu, do you want to be Little Seventeen?" Lin Xuelan turned Yu Zhu’s side-lying body over, looked into her eyes, and asked.

Yu Zhu’s eyebrows furrowed tighter: "Young lady, has someone said something to you?"

"No, no." Lin Xuelan quickly shook her head, hesitated for a moment, and explained seriously: "Yu Zhu, you’re not young anymore, two years older than me, and you’ve been with me for so many years. I don’t want you to be lonely forever. I don’t want to part with you if I marry you off; instead, let’s truly be sisters."

Seeing that the young lady was serious, Yu Zhu avoided eye contact slightly, remained silent for a while, and then said softly: "The maid is the young lady’s close servant, and has the responsibility of serving the Prince for the young lady. As long as the young lady doesn’t mind, the maid is fine with it."

"Yu Zhu, I’m not forcing you." Lin Xuelan lightly frowned: "I’m asking you, and I respect your wishes. If you don’t want to be the Prince’s woman, I’ll find you a good family separately later."

"Young lady, the maid is neither forced nor unwilling, the maid is fine with it."

Yu Zhu grew up in the Lin Family. Although Lin Xuelan treated Yu Zhu as a good friend, the Lin Family raised Yu Zhu as a loyal servant. After a long time of subtle influence, deep down, Yu Zhu’s heart bears the imprint of servitude.

She never considered whom she would marry or love. Instead, she had resolved to follow whomever the young lady would follow.

Lin Xuelan didn’t think much more, but brightened upon hearing Yu Zhu’s answer, and smiled: "Great, we’re best sisters for life."

Yu Zhu softly acknowledged.

...

Elsewhere.

After washing up, Chen Mo lay on Wu Mi’s large bed, leaning against the headboard, thinking.

Chen Jia was taken care of by the maid. Wearing a fine silk nightgown, Wu Mi laid the bedding over Chen Mo’s waist and legs, then removed her embroidered shoes, climbed to the inner side, and in front of Chen Mo, put on black silk.

Wu Mi had just finished bathing. Under the dim candlelight, the snowy scenery under her neckline was visible.

Her hands were beautiful, her fingers extremely slender. She picked up the black silk, gradually covering her beautiful legs, exuding aesthetic appeal.

Once Wu Mi had finished dressing and snuggled into the duvet, Chen Mo extended his hand to hug her, holding the soft body, his big hands skillfully stroking the black silk on her beautiful legs, he said: "I just came from Qingqing’s side, told her about her father’s matter; nowadays the Great Song can’t accommodate military factions."

Strong as the Xiao and Wu Families, their private armies are now under the Court’s control.

Wu Mi leaned in Chen Mo’s arms, nodded her head, not wanting to discuss "political matters," and diverted the topic to Empress Dowager Liang Ji.

"The Empress Dowager has settled at Liang Family, and Liang Family arranged specific people for her caretaking. People entering and leaving undergo strict scrutiny; no news will leak."

Saying this, Wu Mi took out five letters from under the pillow, handed them to Chen Mo: "Husband, these are all written by the Empress Dowager for you."

Chen Mo stroked Wu Mi’s hair and said as he opened the letters: "What did she write?"

"These are letters from the Empress Dowager to you, I haven’t read them."

"We’ve been together for years, no need for such formality, reading them shouldn’t matter."

Saying this, Chen Mo opened each of the five letters and read them in front of Wu Mi.

Based on the time of receipt, the first letter was from two months ago. Liang Ji mentioned she had just arrived at Liang Family, the journey proceeded smoothly, both she and the baby were well, assuring Chen Mo.

The second letter came a month after the first, discussing the baby’s condition.

The third came only a week after the second.

Liang Ji first discussed her situation, then asked why Chen Mo hadn’t replied, with words of complaint, urging him to respond swiftly.

The fourth and fifth letters came at increasingly shorter intervals.

Some of the content was repetitive, like a broken record.

Being a woman, Wu Mi immediately analyzed information from these letters and smiled: "Husband, the Empress Dowager is missing you and experiencing some anxiety."

Chen Mo laughed: "How can I see a palace-bound woman lamenting from these letters."

"Since the Empress Dowager is carrying your child, emotionally she’s relying on you. Moreover, she’s the Empress Dowager of Great Song, yet carrying your child; the mental pressure is quite significant, yearning for some solace from you."

"She knows I’m with her father in the Western Regions. How could I reply to her letters? Her complaints are groundless." Chen Mo said so, but internally decided he’d reply promptly and send a gift from the Western Regions tomorrow.

Wu Mi snuggled into Chen Mo’s arms further, and shifted to discuss another matter.

"Husband, it seems Your Majesty had a quarrel with Empress Zhao."

The palace was under Prince Wei’s Mansion’s surveillance, so Wu Mi was privy to some details of palace events.

"Hm?" Chen Mo raised his sword-like brows: "What happened?"

"According to information from the palace, in the past two months, Your Majesty hasn’t shared a bed or meals with Empress Zhao. Before this, Your Majesty’s relationship with Empress Zhao was very intimate." Wu Mi noted.

This distancing made it hard not to suspect a quarrel between the two.

"What’s the Imperial Physician’s opinion?" Chen Mo asked.

After all, if one of them was ill, not sharing a bed would not be surprising.

"The Imperial Physician reported both Your Majesty and Empress Zhao are in good health." Wu Mi understood Chen Mo’s inquiry.

"That’s odd."

"Husband, you didn’t get involved here, did you?" Wu Mi hesitated for a long time before asking.

Chen Mo quickly explained: "This matter truly has nothing to do with me. I warned Your Majesty before, but that issue had nothing to do with Empress Zhao and couldn’t be connected."

Wu Mi believed him; despite Chen Mo’s flirtatious nature, he was rather forthcoming with her about matters between men and women.

"Maybe there’s another reason, husband. Tomorrow, you can inquire in the palace," Wu Mi suggested.

"Forget it, it’s their marital affairs. Originally, it has nothing to do with me, if I asked, I’d likely end up blamed."

Chen Mo flipped over, holding Wu Mi pinned under him: "Let them quarrel if they want. As long as we live our days well.

Come, Mi’Er, let’s strive for a second child."

"Yes." Wu Mi responded softly.

...

The next day, at dawn, Chen Mo completed his grooming and headed to the palace.

He presented the national letter from the Yelang Kingdom to Emperor Yong’an.

The court, which had been quiet for over two months, once again stirred into commotion.

Geng Songfu was right; no matter how small, the Yelang Kingdom was still a country.

King Wei achieved a miraculous feat, making the Yelang Kingdom bow without a single soldier’s payment; it was an incredible achievement.

Chen Mo’s prestige grew even greater.

Emperor Yong’an felt the throne beneath him, like sitting on needles.

Within, he sensed the day of change in dynasty drawing closer.

It seemed he had to separate more from the Empress.

Emperor Yong’an was truly growing fearful.