Beauties in Simulation Cross over into Reality

Xiao Mo and Qin Siyao walked along the streets of the Imperial City.

Their looks were so striking that every passerby would stop and stare, unable to resist a second glance—especially at Qin Siyao, whose beauty was otherworldly.

Neither Xiao Mo nor Qin Siyao paid it much mind.

Still, Xiao Mo hadn’t expected this. Nearly seven years had passed, and the little girl who had just been in her budding years was now all grown up, so slender and graceful.

A girl changes so much as she grows up.

The old saying was certainly true.

Qin Siyao, for her part, was even more surprised. The little boy from all those years ago had only been as tall as she was. In fact, she had even been half a head taller than him back then.

But now, she barely reached his shoulder!

She had to tilt her head up just to look at him.

“What is it?”

Xiao Mo asked, noticing Qin Siyao had been looking up at him the whole time.

“It’s nothing.” Qin Siyao shook her head. “I just feel like you’ve gotten so tall, Xiao Mo… I was definitely taller than you before…”

“That was when we were children. This is now. Of course it’s different,” Xiao Mo said with a smile.

“Oh.” Qin Siyao nodded, not dwelling on it.

She thought Xiao Mo was just fine the way he was now.

Besides, in her eyes, even though Xiao Mo had grown much taller, the person he was hadn’t changed at all.

The two walked and talked, though it was mostly Qin Siyao recounting her experiences over the years. She spoke of the difficulties she faced with her father the emperor and mother the empress, how she had studied the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and how she eventually left the Imperial Palace to establish her own residence.

Xiao Mo listened attentively by her side, nodding from time to time.

Only when Qin Siyao asked about his life in the army would Xiao Mo offer a few words in response.

Although they hadn’t seen each other in nearly seven years,

their dynamic was just as it had been seven years ago—

She was always talking.

And he was always listening.

The only difference was that the little boy and little girl from back then were now adults of marriageable age.

Before long, Xiao Mo and Qin Siyao returned to the Xiao Mansion.

Xiao Mo led Qin Siyao directly to the rear courtyard of the Xiao Mansion.

The closer he got to the courtyard where his mother lived, the faster his steps became.

Qin Siyao fell silent, simply accompanying him quietly.

When Xiao Mo reached the entrance of the courtyard where he had grown up, he took in the familiar sights and the familiar aroma of cooking food. His mind grew hazy; it felt as if he had never left.

A moment later, the maid, Cuicui, emerged from the kitchen carrying dishes. When she saw a man standing at the entrance, her eyes widened slightly in surprise, and she looked at him with curiosity.

She felt he looked familiar, but she couldn’t quite place him.

“Aunt Cui, I’m back,” Xiao Mo said slowly.

“Young Master? Is it really you?” Cuicui’s eyes lit up. She quickly turned and shouted toward the kitchen, “Madam, the Young Master is back! The Young Master is back…”

As Cuicui’s voice faded, a woman hurried out of the kitchen, wiping her hands.

Looking at his mother, who was nearly forty, Xiao Mo stared blankly. It was as if time had not left a single trace on her face.

It was as if she hadn’t changed at all from the day he left.

Zhou Ruoxi walked over to her son. Looking up at the child who was now taller than her, her eyes misted over. She clutched her sleeves tightly, her gaze never leaving Xiao Mo for a second.

For this mother, the child she had yearned for day and night was finally home. It all felt like a dream, so wonderfully unreal.

“Mother… I’m back…” Xiao Mo said slowly, looking at her.

“Mm,” Zhou Ruoxi nodded, tears welling in her eyes as she gently caressed her son’s cheek. “You’ve gotten thinner…”

“I haven’t.” Xiao Mo smiled. “I’ve just grown taller, so it looks like I have.”

“Young Master, Madam guessed you would come back here the moment you returned to the city. She woke up very early to prepare a welcome feast for you. Please, hurry and eat,” Cuicui said happily.

“Alright.”

Xiao Mo agreed and sat down on a stone stool with his mother and Qin Siyao.

Xiao Mo ate the food his mother had cooked. It tasted just like it always had, unchanged. It didn’t need to change.

“Slow down. Anyone would think they don’t feed you enough in the army.” Zhou Ruoxi sat beside him, continuously refilling his bowl with rice.

“The food in the army is nowhere near as good as yours, Mother,” Xiao Mo chuckled. “Why aren’t you eating?”

“I will.” Zhou Ruoxi ladled a bowl of soup for him. “But I’d rather watch you eat, Mo’er.”

“Then I’ll eat more,” Xiao Mo said with a grin, digging into his food like a little kid.

An incense stick’s time later, Xiao Mo had eaten his fill. Zhou Ruoxi brewed a pot of tea for him and asked how his years in the army had been.

To put his mother’s mind at ease, Xiao Mo naturally said things were fine. He didn’t mention the times he was nearly trained to death in the barracks, or the times he almost became another soldier’s meritorious kill on the battlefield.

Just as Xiao Mo was catching up with his mother, Eunuch Li from the palace arrived outside the courtyard.

Eunuch Li was slightly taken aback to see the Princess there as well, but he paid it no mind, pretending not to have noticed her.

“Zhou Ruoxi of the Xiao Mansion, receive the decree.”

Eunuch Li cleared his throat and called out in a nasally, grating voice.

“This servant receives the decree.” Zhou Ruoxi knelt on one knee, and Xiao Mo and the others bowed as well.

“Zhou Ruoxi, Third Mistress of the Xiao Mansion, has raised a hero, a pillar of the state. To commend her virtuous example, it is fitting she be greatly honored.

By this Holy Decree, you are named a First-Grade Imperial Decree Lady and bestowed the Jade Crown of the Di Lu Clan. May you continue to be a model of virtue, long enjoy this abundant grace, bring everlasting glory to your noble station, and be blessed with a long life.”

“Your servant, Zhou Ruoxi, accepts this decree.”

Zhou Ruoxi accepted the Holy Decree.

“Congratulations, Madam. From this day forward, your status in the Xiao Mansion will be equal to that of the First Mistress,” Eunuch Li said with a smile.

“Thank you, Eunuch Li.” Zhou Ruoxi gave Cuicui a meaningful glance.

Cuicui immediately understood, took out some gold, and secretly slipped it to Eunuch Li.

“Very well. This one shall return to report. There is no need to see me out, Madam. With your new status, this one is truly not worthy of such courtesy.”

“Take care, Eunuch.”

Zhou Ruoxi still insisted on walking him a few steps before watching him depart.

Xiao Mo stood to the side, lost in thought.

He was, of course, happy that his mother had been named a First-Grade Imperial Decree Lady. From now on, she would no longer be a mere concubine in the Xiao Mansion; her status was now equal to that of the main wife.

And he himself was no longer the son of a concubine.

But Xiao Mo also felt that His Majesty was deliberately elevating his status, as if planning something big.

“Young Master Xiao…”

Eunuch Li had barely left when another Maid walked into the courtyard.

“And you are, miss?” Xiao Mo asked.

“Reporting to the Young Master, I am a Maid from the Second Prince’s Mansion. The Second Prince sent me to ask if you are free this evening. His Highness wishes to host a welcome banquet for you.”