Cultivation Simulator: Starting From The Empress' Palace

Chapter 121: 121. When the bamboo exists, the Great Song exists. When the bamboo perishes, the Great Song perishes.

Chen Mo was taken aback.

Turning his head, he saw Zhao Fujin holding a handkerchief to wipe his mouth.

Seeing his gaze, Zhao Fujin blushed slightly and said, ”Your mouth is all greasy, and you didn’t even bother to wipe it.”

Chen Mo smiled knowingly and said, ”Then wipe it again; it’s not clean yet.”

”Where?”

”Here.”

...

This scene fell into the eyes of Zhao Jiangning, and it seemed like a romantic scene between a talented man and a beautiful woman.

However, thinking about Chen Mo’s presence, Zhao Jiangning dismissed the thought.

She even thought that she should talk to Fujin about it later.

After all, Chen Hong is a eunuch.

She didn’t want Fujin to sink deeper into this.

The gap in identity could be bridged.

But the physical defect is not so easily remedied.

...

However, today there was no time for Zhao Jiangning to talk about it.

As night fell, Zhao Jiangning had to leave the palace and return home.

Chen Mo and Zhao Fujin were headed to the Shenxiao Temple.

Zhao Jiangning couldn’t speak to Zhao Fujin in front of Chen Mo.

She could only plan to discuss it tomorrow.

...

Chen Mo and Zhao Fujin accompanied each other to Shenxiao Temple.

But as they reached the edge of the bamboo grove, they both sensed something was wrong.

Outside, there were many Imperial Guards on duty, and hidden in the shadows were elite palace guards. The entire Celestial Forest Garden was sealed off.

”What’s going on?” Zhao Fujin asked a general.

A general lowered his voice before Zhao Fujin and said, ”A lot of bamboo inside died suddenly, and the Emperor is investigating the reason...”

”What, the bamboo died?” Zhao Fujin’s expression changed.

The general nodded, ”Many have died.”

”Who is there?” Right at this moment, Wei Xian came out from inside.

”Reporting to Chief Wei, it’s Princess Fuma who has arrived,” the general reported.

Wei Xian walked over, greeted Zhao Fujin, and glanced at Chen Hong beside Zhao Fujin. Finding him unfamiliar, he asked, ”Your Highness, who is this?”

”He is Chen Hong from my mother’s palace. He has had the fortune of being noticed by my teacher and comes to Shenxiao Temple every night to study. The teacher guides him,” Zhao Fujin said softly.

”Oh, so it’s you. I’ve heard about you,” Wei Xian suddenly realized. He knew about Chen Hong and had seen him from a distance, but the change of clothes had prevented Wei Xian from recognizing him.

He looked at Chen Hong, his tone somewhat envious.

The Great Song Dynasty has millions of people, but only a few dozen First Grade experts.

Yet each of them is a cornerstone of the Imperial Court, holding a very high status.

To be noticed by a First Grade expert and receive guidance every night, it’s like having a master.

Not to mention, the State Preceptor is the most outstanding among these First Grade experts.

The people who receive her guidance, aside from the current Emperor, number only three.

Two of them died during the Buddhist extermination event, leaving only Princess Fuma.

Now there is Chen Hong.

”Servant Chen Hong, greets Chief Wei,” Chen Mo cupped his hands.

Wei Xian flicked his duster and said politely, ”I wouldn’t dare.”

One is a eunuch serving the Empress at Weiyang Palace.

Another is a high-ranking eunuch serving the Emperor.

Recently, the Emperor’s attitude toward the Empress was something Wei Xian had noticed. As the Emperor’s confidant, Wei Xian naturally acted according to the Emperor’s preferences. So after a few polite words, he turned his gaze to Zhao Fujin and said:

”Your Highness, you can’t cultivate at Shenxiao Temple tonight. The State Preceptor is discussing matters with the Emperor and cannot be disturbed.”

”Is it serious?” Zhao Fujin asked.

Wei Xian fell silent.

”I understand,” Zhao Fujin said, turning to Chen Mo, ”Chen Hong, let’s go.”

Chen Mo nodded.

Following behind Zhao Fujin.

Once they were outside the boundary of the Celestial Forest Garden.

Only then did Chen Mo speak up, ”Senior Sister, what on earth happened? It’s just some bamboo dying, why is the Emperor so concerned?”

”It’s a long story...” Zhao Fujin wasn’t in a good mood but forced herself to perk up and said, ”Since we have a rare night off, let’s go to my chamber, we can chat while drinking.”

”It’s so late, isn’t that inappropriate?”

Chen Mo didn’t want to go. He thought if he had the time, wouldn’t it be better to cuddle Ye Wanqiu or Xiao Yunxi and enjoy some steamed buns?

”You... already refused me once,” Zhao Fujin looked at Chen Mo with a tender gaze.

”Then... just a drink.”

”That’s more like it.”

...

Zhao Fujin was still unmarried, and being alone with a man in her chamber at night could indeed raise rumors, even if the man was a eunuch.

So Zhao Fujin first returned to her palace, sent Ling’Er and the others to rest, and then allowed Chen Mo to enter.

With the doors and windows closed, the quiet chamber was left with only the two of them.

Though calling it drinking, what Zhao Fujin brought out was fruit wine.

Fruit wine with a low alcohol content.

It was almost like drinking juice, but very popular with the Imperial Family.

If Xiao Yunxi wanted to drink, it was always this kind of fruit wine.

On the bamboo mat, the two sat across a long table.

Chen Mo’s expression was relaxed, his gaze roaming over Zhao Fujin.

At this moment, Zhao Fujin sat side-saddle on the ground; her figure was graceful but, being a young girl, not fully developed. In terms of figure, she couldn’t compare to Xiao Yunxi or Ye Wanqiu.

But she excelled in appearance.

Arched eyebrows, apricot eyes, skin white as jade.

Among the women Chen Mo had seen, in terms of looks alone, none surpassed Zhao Fujin.

Especially her cherry pink lips, under the candlelight, they were tender and smooth, with a kind of glistening texture, much like freshly washed cherries, quite inviting.

”Do I... have something dirty on my face?” feeling Chen Mo’s somewhat intense gaze, Zhao Fujin lifted her eyes and asked.

Ever since he had taken her first kiss,

A strange feeling had taken root in Zhao Fujin’s heart.

After spending a few days together, Zhao Fujin found herself thinking of him more and more.

Chen Mo shook his head, a smile curling his lips, he moved closer, lifting a strand of Zhao Fujin’s hair and said, ”It’s just a bit messy.”

”Stop!” Zhao Fujin slapped Chen Mo’s hand away, complaining, ”You’re asking for trouble.”

Chen Mo retracted his hand, poured fruit wine for both himself and Zhao Fujin, then picked up a piece of pastry, took a bite, and said, ”Senior Sister, can you tell me about the bamboo now?”

”Junior Brother, have you heard of Han Er?” Zhao Fujin asked.

”I know, the last descendant of the Ghost Valley lineage.”

Since that day, when even the Lian Family General didn’t know who it was, Chen Mo had crammed a lot of knowledge, and he was clear about many famous figures from the past and present.

”The bamboo in Shenxiao Temple was planted by Han Er at the time, and he left a saying behind, that these bamboo are linked to the National Fortune of the Great Song. If the bamboo lives, Song lives; if the bamboo dies, Song dies.”

As Zhao Fujin spoke, her expression became solemn, as after all, it concerned the Zhao Family’s dynasty.