Cultivation Simulator: Starting From The Empress' Palace

The rewards were indeed generous.

But except for commanding ten thousand troops, all other rewards could only be bestowed upon returning to the Capital.

Moreover, the ”Thousand Gold” was not actual gold.

It was brass.

The term ”gold” was merely used to sound pleasant.

...

The imperial decree had already been issued, so Chen Mo naturally had to accept it. Otherwise, it would be seen as defying the decree, giving the Emperor a reason to target him.

As for whether Xiao Yunqi would actually grant the ten thousand troops, Chen Mo wasn’t sure.

Regarding the simulation, it was overly simple; there were some matters that weren’t included in it at all.

”My lord, congratulations on your promotion?” Luo Zhen, who had been in the Luo Mansion, knew as soon as the decree was delivered, and came happily to welcome him.

Chen Mo had never told her about his true identity or his relations with the Imperial Court.

Therefore, when Luo Zhen found out that Chen Mo could command ten thousand strong troops by himself, she genuinely felt happy for him, and there was also a sense of sharing his success.

After all, commanding ten thousand strong troops equated to a private army. What did that mean?

Even in the Capital, who would dare to show any disrespect to a Military Commander commanding ten thousand strong troops? Even the highest Commander would have to weigh their actions.

”Then, in the future, you will be the wife of a Military Commander!”

Not minding the gazes of Xu Miaozhen and Xiaocui behind Luo Zhen, Chen Mo wrapped his arm around Luo Zhen’s waist and, smiling, walked into the dwelling.

Although Luo Zhen was his woman, it was still something that couldn’t be publicly acknowledged.

But once it was out in the open, the only one who could be publicly acknowledged would be Luo Zhen.

After all, Ye Wanqiu and Xiao Yunxi’s identities, regardless of how their future with Chen Mo developed, could only remain in the shadows unless their identities changed.

Upon entering the dwelling, what met his eyes was white rice already laid out on the long table, along with a bowl of wild vegetables and a portion of pickles.

There was not a bit of meat.

It was notable that even Chen Mo could only eat this, so one could imagine what the commoners had to eat.

Seeing Chen Mo frown, Luo Zhen, thinking he was unsatisfied with the food, quickly explained, ”This is all that is currently in the kitchen. However, I have already sent people to the countryside to hunt for some wild game. By tomorrow, my lord should be able to have some meat.”

Chen Mo pulled Luo Zhen closer and almost whispered into her ear:

”Haven’t I been eating meat these past few days?”

Luo Zhen was first stunned, then she understood, her neck and face blushing as she said, ”My lord, you’re terrible; Miaozhen and the others are still here, you know.”

Being experienced, Xiaocui immediately understood the implication, tugged at Xu Miaozhen’s sleeve, and the two prepared to leave.

But Chen Mo called them back, ”Haven’t eaten yet? Come join us.”

Xiaocui and Xu Miaozhen remained still.

Although Chen Mo and Luo Zhen treated them well,

they understood the hierarchy.

There was no way for a master and servants to sit and eat together.

Luo Zhen’s eyes flickered, she escaped from Chen Mo’s embrace, took Xiaocui and Xu Miaozhen’s hands, and the three of them knelt down across from Chen Mo and said:

”What did I tell you before? No matter what my lord says, you must follow it.”

”Understood.”

They complied but appeared quite reserved.

During the meal, both kept their heads down, not daring to look at Chen Mo.

The conditions among the common folk were simple, not to mention the ravaged Nanyang, which lacked spices, making the wild vegetables nearly inedible.

Chen Mo had to rely on the pickles to force down a bowl of rice.

But Xiaocui and Xu Miaozhen were not as choosy.

During the drought in Nanyang,

they went from two meals a day to one, and later to one every three days, and that was only watery porridge.

To be able to eat rice now was sheer happiness.

After the meal, the rest of the time did not require them to stay and serve.

Lying on the bed, Xiaocui nostalgically said, ”This place is practically the Immortal Realm. Not only can we eat three meals of rice a day, but there’s also less work to do, just washing clothes, chatting with the lady, and still receiving silver coins every day...”

A faint smile appeared on Xu Miaozhen’s face too.

Though she didn’t say it, the life she was experiencing now felt like a dream.

But then Xiaocui’s next words darkened Xu Miaozhen’s expression: ”It’s just a shame. I heard the lady say that the cleanup work in Nanyang is nearly finished, and they will soon return to the Capital. At that time, we will have to go back to Lujia Tun.

At that point, there will be all sorts of farm work, taking care of children, doing house chores, sigh...”

If there was a choice, who wouldn’t want a better life?

But Xiaocui had no choice.

However, Xu Miaozhen did.

Hearing Xiaocui sigh,

Xu Miaozhen suddenly remembered the guidance Gao Zheng gave her yesterday.

There was one thing she understood.

If she returned to Lujia Tun, her life would be worse than Xiaocui’s.

At least Xiaocui had children and a man to rely on.

But she was a widow.

That night, she couldn’t sleep.

...

On the other side,

Watching Luo Zhen, who was already asleep beside him, Chen Mo couldn’t help but rub his forehead.

He felt that since becoming a Second-Grade Martial Artist, apart from increased power, he had also become more vigorous in other aspects.

One Luo Zhen was not enough to handle him.

Chen Mo put on his clothes, got out of bed, picked up the letter beside him, and left the dwelling.

This letter was written by Luo Zhen at Chen Mo’s behest.

The content of the letter was to warn Huangfu Hao of assassins.

Chen Mo planned to have Gao Zheng send someone to deliver it to Nanyang City.

It was already past midnight.

The Luo Mansion was silent, and the candles had been extinguished.

A night breeze came, clearing Chen Mo’s mind a little.

As for the darkness, it posed no challenge to him at all.

”A ghost!”

Suddenly, Chen Mo heard a sharp scream.

”Miaozhen...”

Chen Mo moved swiftly in the direction of the voice, leaping in quick flashes.

In the corridor, a lantern had fallen to the ground, and by the light it cast,

in the corner, Xu Miaozhen’s body was curled up, clutching her head, trembling with fear, constantly whispering for it not to come near.

Suddenly, a hand tapped Xu Miaozhen on the shoulder.

”A ghost!”

Xu Miaozhen was startled and fainted straight away.

Chen Mo: ”...”

Pinching her philtrum, Chen Mo revived Xu Miaozhen.

The moment Xu Miaozhen opened her eyes, she shrieked, ”There’s a ghost!” and immediately buried herself into Chen Mo’s embrace, exclaiming, ”My lord, there’s...a ghost, a ghost!”

At this moment, she paid no heed to gender propriety at all.

”Where?” Chen Mo didn’t doubt Xu Miaozhen’s words because he had seen it once before. He had scared it away, thinking it would have left by now, given that a day had passed.

Xu Miaozhen opened her eyes, pointing behind Chen Mo: ”Just... just now, the ghost was... was hanging upside down on the roof eaves.”