Cultivation Simulator: Starting From The Empress' Palace

Chapter 89: 89 Xiao Qing’Er

Of course, Chen Mo had no idea about going to the Guard Infantry Department, so he took a trip to the Xiao Family’s establishment.

The Xiao Family’s establishment was their business within the Imperial Palace and also a method to communicate with the Empress. If there was something the Empress wanted to eat or use, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs didn’t have it or she didn’t want to trouble them, the Xiao Family’s establishment could provide it with just a word.

Xiao Yunxi had indeed arranged everything well. Just as Chen Mo entered the Xiao Family’s establishment, before he could speak, a figure in a guard’s uniform approached him and said, ”Are you Eunuch Chen?”

Upon hearing this, Chen Mo raised an eyebrow, thinking, a woman?

The woman was dressed as a guard, with a delicate and beautiful face, but she wore a look of indifference. Her chest was flat; if it weren’t for her voice and the absence of an Adam’s apple or beard, Chen Mo would have thought she was a beautiful man.

Chen Mo nodded but still asked, ”A woman?”

The woman nodded and said in a cold voice, ”I am Xiao Qing’Er, a Household General of the Xiao Family, responsible for taking you to the Guard Infantry Department.”

Chen Mo scratched his head, his knowledge limited, not knowing what a Household General was. It seemed he needed to study more when he had the chance. However, since Xiao Yunxi had arranged for her to come, she was clearly a trusted person.

Chen Mo straightened his back and said, ”Lead the way.”

Xiao Qing’Er nodded and then led the way ahead.

The harem was accessible only to women, eunuchs, and a few permitted men.

Any other man who entered the harem, if discovered, would be charged with grave disrespect.

Even the Xiao Family was no exception.

Therefore, it wasn’t surprising that Xiao Yunxi arranged for Xiao Qing’Er to come in.

...

The Guard Infantry Department was not in the Imperial City but in the southern part of Bianliang City, where several large camps had been built, housing both the Soldier and Infantry Department and the Cavalry Department.

Before going there, Xiao Qing’Er took Chen Mo to change his clothes; a eunuch’s robes were far too conspicuous.

”Miss Qing’Er, how is it?” Chen Mo did a spin in front of Xiao Qing’Er.

A set of crescent white brocade robes fit snugly, his figure tall and slender, moving with ease, like orchids and jade trees, radiant and graceful, indescribably noble and elegant, like poetry or painting.

Xiao Qing’Er was slightly taken aback seeing Chen Mo like this.

He, a eunuch, wearing brocade clothes, had the demeanor of a royal scion.

Good-looking people usually have privileges, and Xiao Qing’Er couldn’t help but feel a bit of goodwill towards him, speaking in a less cold manner.

But what happened next made the impression of Chen Mo in her mind revert to how it was before.

Because of the distance, if they walked, it would take some time, so Xiao Qing’Er took Chen Mo to the Xiao Family’s stables.

When Xiao Qing’Er handed the reins of a white horse to Chen Mo.

Chen Mo smiled awkwardly and said, ”My riding skills aren’t very good. In Bianliang, amidst the royalty and nobility with people coming and going, if the horse gets spooked, I’m afraid it will cause trouble for the Empress.”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Qing’Er furrowed her brow, stared at Chen Mo for a long while, then took back the white horse, swiftly mounted a black horse, came to Chen Mo, and said, ”Get on!”

”Miss Qing’Er, excuse me.”

Chen Mo hesitated briefly, then cupped his hands toward Xiao Qing’Er, and with a swift motion, mounted the black horse, his body close to Xiao Qing’Er’s back.

Xiao Qing’Er’s body stiffened slightly, her lips pale, somewhat losing their color, her thin lips pursed as she tugged the reins:

”Giddy-up!”

Immediately, the black horse galloped forward excitedly.

Xiao Qing’Er had not given any warning beforehand, and the sudden gallop almost caused Chen Mo to fall backward. As he was about to fall off the horse, he quickly wrapped his arms around Xiao Qing’Er’s waist: ”Miss Qing’Er, slow down.”

Feeling her waist being held, Xiao Qing’Er had the urge to throw Chen Mo off the horse, but then she remembered he was favored by the Empress, so she restrained herself, though a sliver of disgust grew in her heart, ”Hold on tight.”

With that, she increased the speed slightly.

Chen Mo obeyed and held on tightly to Xiao Qing’Er’s waist.

To be honest, although Xiao Qing’Er was beautiful, holding her was uncomfortable.

Her body was hard, and when they ran on the horse, their bodies collided painfully.

Too thin.

As Chen Mo would say in his past life, she was a skeletal beauty.

She seemed to have no meat, and Chen Mo did not like this type.

Therefore, the anger Chen Mo felt in his heart didn’t subside during the trip.

When Xiao Qing’Er brought him to the main camp, Chen Mo couldn’t help but ask, ”Miss Qing’Er, are you a picky eater?”

Xiao Qing’Er was about to leave when she heard these words, her eyebrows raised, eyes filled with confusion, seemingly wondering why he asked this.

Chen Mo kindly reminded her, ”Miss Qing’Er, don’t be picky. I feel you are malnourished.”

Saying this, he walked toward the camp ahead.

Xiao Qing’Er watched Chen Mo’s back in a daze for a moment, still unable to comprehend what Chen Mo meant by that.

...

Just as Chen Mo arrived at the front of the camp, he was stopped by the personal guards of the general inside.

”Who are you? No idlers allowed inside.”

The people within the Imperial Guard mostly came from families with military prestige, or they inherited positions from their fathers, securing a stable position within the guard, all from generations of nobility.

Furthermore, the Imperial Guard was generally not deployed for external battles, so over time, their arrogance grew due to their idleness.

And a personal guard was even one of the general’s confidants, so even when facing someone like Chen Mo who looked like a noble, they maintained a high-handed tone.

Chen Mo frowned slightly and respectfully said toward the camp, ”I am Chen Hong, by order of the Empress, here to seek an audience with Commander Xiao. This is the Empress’s decree.”

Chen Mo handed the Empress’s edict to one of the personal guards.

Hearing that it was the Empress’s instruction, the guard finally shed his arrogant demeanor, took the edict, and went into the camp.

”Commander, someone from the Empress has arrived.”

Saying that, the guard handed the Empress’s decree to the Song Army general inside the camp who was flipping through the roster.

As the second-in-command of the Infantry Department, Xiao Teng took a look, frowning and saying, ”My sister really knows how to cause trouble for me. He’s a eunuch, and I’m directly assigning him as Captain. Isn’t this absurd?”

Even though Xiao Teng had also gotten his position as Deputy Commander through favoritism, he still disliked those who used connections.

However, since it was the Empress’s instruction, even if it was from his sister, he had to comply.

”Assign him to the East Camp of the Fourth Camp,” Xiao Teng said.

The camp was divided into five sections: East, West, South, North, and Central.

Hearing this, the guard hesitated and said, ”Commander, the people in the East Camp are tough characters. As someone arranged by the Empress, sending him there might not be appropriate.”

”What’s wrong with that? If he can’t handle it, tell him to leave.”