Cultivation Simulator: Starting From The Empress' Palace

The security at the Luo Mansion was tight, and to be able to openly bypass surveillance and reach the back courtyard without the master noticing, that person could only be the master himself.

Before Xiao Cui could finish her words, Xu Miaozhen quickly shook her head: ”No... it’s not.”

After speaking, she picked up a nearby blanket and wrapped her disheveled self tightly, avoiding eye contact.

Her reaction only confirmed Xiao Cui’s suspicion. Feeling relieved, she sat down beside her and smiled, ”Miaozhen, I haven’t even said who it is yet?”

Xu Miaozhen, feeling rather shy, saw that Xiao Cui wasn’t about to let the matter go, immediately buried her head in the blanket, playing the role of a turtle, refusing to answer Xiao Cui’s question.

Xiao Cui laid down, also not feeling sleepy, and said, ”Why are you so shy? It’s a good thing to catch the master’s eye. It’s a great opportunity to rise to power, and besides, the master is young, not an old man, young and vigorous...”

Xiao Cui whispered into Xu Miaozhen’s ear.

Xu Miaozhen, annoyed by Xiao Cui’s nagging, sat up and put on her shoes, wanting to go outside for some peace, but the moment she remembered the grim specter she had seen in the corridor, she immediately retreated back, frightened.

Seeing Xu Miaozhen return, Xiao Cui smiled and said, ”Miaozhen, do you agree with what I said? Moreover, Lu Tie is already gone, so you’re not being unfaithful. You’re still young, are you planning never to remarry for the rest of your life...”

Xu Miaozhen was kept awake by Xiao Cui’s chatter.

...

Early the next morning, Xu Miaozhen and Xiao Cui entered the residence where Chen Mo lived. Xiao Cui took the clothes that Luo Zhen and Chen Mo had changed out of to wash, Xu Miaozhen tidied up the room, and then went to the kitchen to fetch meals prepared by Yun Gu, but she kept her head down the whole time, not daring to say much to Chen Mo or even meet his gaze.

During this time, Luo Zhen asked her what was wrong, but Xu Miaozhen didn’t say, just glancing in Chen Mo’s direction.

Luo Zhen understood immediately, knowing that it was related to the master.

Although she had fallen asleep later, she could sense that Chen Mo had gone out once and then returned.

Taking advantage of the time when Chen Mo took people out for inspection,

Luo Zhen hesitated for a moment, then took a peach wood hairpin from the dressing table and handed it to Xu Miaozhen.

This was something Chen Mo had carved during his leisure time, especially for her.

Xu Miaozhen looked at the peach wood hairpin that Luo Zhen handed over, and was suddenly surprised: ”Madam, what is this?”

Luo Zhen asked Xu Miaozhen to come over, then took down her old hairpin and replaced it with the peach wood one, saying, ”This is given to you at the master’s request. He noticed your hairpin was a bit shabby, so he carved this for you but felt a little embarrassed about it, hence he asked me to give it to you.”

Xu Miaozhen’s expression froze, and she immediately kneeled in front of Luo Zhen, flustered, ”Madam, you’ve misunderstood. There is nothing between me and the master.”

Hearing this, Luo Zhen was taken aback, then laughed as she helped Xu Miaozhen up, saying, ”Miaozhen, don’t be afraid, I am not blaming you. I can see that the master is interested in you.

If you don’t mind, you can call me sister in the future, and I will call you little sister. Together, we can serve the master, and you can help share some of the burden.”

However, Xu Miaozhen wasn’t sure if Luo Zhen was serious or joking, continuing to explain endlessly, insisting that it was a misunderstanding.

But in Luo Zhen’s subsequent words, Xu Miaozhen realized that Luo Zhen intended to match her with the master.

Is she really so magnanimous?

Looking at the reflection in the copper mirror, the peach wood hairpin on her bun, Xu Miaozhen had other thoughts.

Did the master really make this especially for her?

...

”Achoo.” Outside Celestial River City, Chen Mo, riding fast on horseback, sneezed. At this moment, he was leading his troops towards Da Huang, trying to find the Vermilion Fruit.

As for today’s simulation, it was put on hold due to lacking enough funds.

Need to wait for Liu Dan and the others to bring the treasure buried on the other side of Duanbei Mountain to Celestial River City to continue the simulation.

Upon hearing Chen Mo sneeze, Gao Zheng, who had delved deep into the art of flattery, said, ”Master, did you catch a cold last night? Should we call a military doctor to take a look?”

In the army of the Great Song Dynasty, every camp was equipped with a military doctor.

”Nonsense, my health isn’t so weak.” Chen Mo glared at Gao Zheng, then said, ”How’s the search for craftsmen going?”

The nitre mines are already in hand.

Sulfur mines are being sought.

Iron mines have long been under control.

As long as good craftsmen are found, research on gunpowder can be put on the agenda.

”I’ve found a few woodworkers, but no goldsmith yet.”

Gao Zheng said.

Woodworkers are engaged in wood processing, divided into wheel, chariot, bow, house, carpenter, vehicle, and zither crafts.

Goldsmiths are engaged in metal smelting and processing, divided into founding, metallurgy, smelting, smithing, forging, and casting crafts.

What Chen Mo needed was the ”metallurgy” craft, specializing in making weapons like halberds and spears.

”How did you go about the search?” Chen Mo frowned.

”I asked the common people,” Gao Zheng replied.

Hearing this, were it not for him being on horseback, Chen Mo would have kicked him: ”Are you out of your mind? Do common people know that? And even if they do, would they tell you?”

Weapons are controlled goods.

And craftsmen involved in making weapons are surely registered with the authorities.

Gao Zheng was not very knowledgeable in this area, so he pressed on, ”Please... Master, enlighten me!”

”Ask the previous officials, didn’t Shen Tong say he managed documents before? Ask him. Also, you can ask those remaining household troops, remember to hide your identity when you do.” Chen Mo suggested after thinking for a moment.

”Understood.”

”If you get it done right, you’ll be the Camp Commander in the future.”

”Thank you, master.”

At this moment, Gao Zheng only regretted not being a woman; otherwise, he would pledge himself no matter what.

...

Bianliang.

Xiao Mansion.

Xiao Yunqi looked at a secret letter, snorted heavily through his nose, handed the letter to his strategist beside him, then slammed the table in anger:

”Is the Sovereign trying to push this old man to the brink? First putting Wang Ze in place, and now wanting to strip this old man of military power. Is the Sovereign planning to take action against the Xiao Mansion? Despite my unwavering loyalty to the Great Song, this is the end I meet.”

If someone heard these words, they wouldn’t hesitate to spit in Xiao Yunqi’s face.

Even his trusted strategist couldn’t help but criticize him inwardly before speaking:

”Grand Commandant, calm down. After all, Chen Hong is one of us, and even if he gets ten thousand soldiers, he is ultimately under our control. It’s exactly because of the Grand Commandant that Chen Hong is who he is today, rest assured.”

”Hmph, human minds are unpredictable. Although I promoted him single-handedly, who knows if he’ll always side with this old man? If he’s a traitor and in the end bites the old man, it would be a huge loss.”