Cultivation Simulator: Starting From The Empress' Palace

A long white robe draped over Chen Mo’s elegant figure, its flowing lines tracing his fine posture, clearly indicating that the fabric was expensive and rare.

Beneath his dignified aura, his brows revealed an astonishing beauty. As his cultivation and status rose, Chen Mo’s charm increased significantly. His sleek eyebrows slanted upwards, like a stroke from a painting of a handsome gentleman.

Helping Chen Mo change, both Qiu Lan and Dong Lan gazed at him with dazed admiration, their eyes brimming with longing. Especially Dong Lan, she felt weak all over, leaning slightly on Chen Mo.

”Thought of it? But the master doesn’t have time to serve you now.” After tasting Dong Lan’s lip balm, which left her somewhat flustered, Chen Mo chuckled.

Even the usually shy Dong Lan playfully pushed against Chen Mo, saying, ”You...you are so annoying...”

”Haha.” Chen Mo pinched Dong Lan’s hips twice.

”Mo Lang?” Qiu Lan seemed to have discovered something. Inside the collar of Chen Mo’s robe, she found the words ”Mo Lang” stitched in red thread.

Qiu Lan noticed something unusual about this spot, which is why she looked inside.

Because the robe was white, this spot was unexpectedly red.

However, the robe maker was highly skilled. The outer surface was decorated with intricate patterns, the red hinting at a sunset, while inside were the words ”Mo Lang.”

Hearing this, Chen Mo was startled. Glancing down, he indeed saw the words ”Mo Lang.” He originally thought this robe was either made by a seamstress hired by Xiao Yunxi or bought directly; now it seemed like she had sewn it herself.

Each stitch carried with it her affection for him.

Especially the words ”Mo Lang.”

Chen Mo had revealed his true identity to Xiao Yunxi.

This was a heartfelt gift.

At that moment, he felt as if his heart was wholly occupied by Xiao Yunxi.

Yet Qiu Lan looked puzzled, ”Master, who gave you this robe and why is it embroidered with Mo Lang? Could it be a mistake?”

Mo Lang...

So familiar now.

Clearly given by a woman.

But the master is called Chen Hong.

If it was a gift from a woman, it should be called Hong Lang!

”Ahem...” Chen Mo cleared his throat and then said, ”Actually, Mo Lang is my childhood name, there’s no... no mistake.”

Upon hearing this, Qiu Lan immediately perked up. Since Mo Lang was the master’s childhood name, and she didn’t know it, but the giver of the robe did, it was obvious that the woman knew the master well, and their affection was strong.

Qiu Lan thought this way and that, suddenly recalling something Sister Chun Lan had told her, so she said, ”Master, could this robe have been given by Princess De Ning?”

Hearing this, Dong Lan also pricked up her ears.

”No.” Then, Chen Mo paused, ”Wait, who told you about Princess De Ning, was it Chun Lan?

That Chun Lan, it seems I’ve spoiled her too much. Fei’Er, fetch me a whip, tonight I’ll show her how the master handles matters.”

Dong Lan was dumbfounded.

Qiu Lan’s face also changed, realizing she had caused trouble, and hurriedly said, ”It wasn’t Sister Chun Lan...”

...

Chen Mo indeed had matters to attend to.

An envoy from King Yan entered the capital, proposing to Zhao Ji a suggestion: to use members of the royal family and high-ranking officials as State Governors, to oversee the Governors and County Prefects, consolidating power to stabilize the place.

Zhao Ji gathered ministers for a discussion.

This proposal was met with opposition from numerous ministers because it threatened their interests.

Even Xiao Teng voiced opposition.

However, the royal family members all supported it.

Zhao Ji agreed as well.

Because he now clearly felt the severe decline in imperial power, with major ministers harboring their own intentions. The State Governor system could support the royal family and strengthen local governance.

Of course, he also clearly understood the drawbacks of the State Governor system, as the excessive power could easily allow a Governor to raise an army exceeding a hundred thousand troops if they intended to rebel.

But Zhao Ji had no other options left.

With rebellions growing worse, the court no longer had the energy to suppress them, and had to rely on local forces for self-rebellion suppression.

Moreover, all royal family members shared the surname Zhao, so even in future chaos, this territory wouldn’t fall into the hands of others.

If the State Governors were loyal enough to the court, then the Great Song Dynasty would be impregnable.

Chen Mo listened quietly without expressing any opinion.

Upon hearing ”State Governor,” Chen Mo suddenly thought of Liu Yan’s plan to abolish historians and establish Governors.

If they misstep, even the floor would tremble.

Pfft, that’s off-topic.

Chen Mo didn’t understand politics much, so after the council meeting ended, he didn’t linger at the Taihe Palace, and quickly headed outside the palace.

Now that the State Governor system was agreed upon, time was of the essence, and it was time to recruit the more than two thousand rebel soldiers surrounded at Haiqing Lake.

Bianliang, Imperial Guard Camp.

This was a well-funded army, with flags waving and armor gleaming.

Since the Emperor allowed him to personally lead ten thousand elite troops, Chen Mo’s Fire Qilin Army was equipped with new armor, not old and worn, which was all thanks to Chen Mo relying on the Xiao family’s connections and spending a great deal of money to acquire.

Because of this, Chen Mo faced several reports of impeachment by censors, accusing him of harboring intentions of rebellion, but all were suppressed by Xiao Yunqi.

To win people over, Chen Mo also ensured that every soldier in the Fire Qilin Army could regularly have meat, a treatment even Xiao Yunqi’s Tiger Leap Army couldn’t match.

Moreover, he also increased their military salaries.

However, despite the good treatment, their training was quite demanding, with daily training volumes ensuring everyone worked up a sweat and honed their battle formations.

Chen Mo looked at his men with contentment and was about to personally lead them to recruit the rebel soldiers at Haiqing Lake when, in the distance, several generals wearing red armor slowly walked over.

”Chen Hong, receive the decree.” The leading general was Wang Ze, the current Commander of the Infantry Department, who held the Holy Decree aloft and spoke to Chen Mo.

”My Lord...” Gao Zheng whispered something beside him.

Chen Mo raised his hand to silence him, then bent down and cupped his hands, ”I receive the decree as your subject.”

All the generals and soldiers around, including Gao Zheng, knelt on one knee.

Wang Ze slowly read aloud the contents of the Holy Decree.

And Chen Mo only focused on one particular sentence: With immediate effect, lead the army to station outside the city.

His expression changed. The Imperial Guard was stationed in the city to defend the capital, yet now the Emperor was moving them outside the city. Could he have discovered something?

Or perhaps, as soon as Xiao Yunqi fell ill, the Emperor couldn’t wait to make a move?

”General Chen Hong, are you not going to step forward to receive the decree?” Seeing Chen Mo still in a daze after the reading, Wang Ze frowned and said.

”I receive the decree.”

After receiving the decree, Chen Mo promptly examined its contents, which bore the Jade Seal.

The seal was genuine, for when he activated the Emperor’s Divine Sealing Skill, he could absorb the national fortune from it.

Subsequently, Chen Mo learned that it wasn’t only his Fire Qilin Army being moved out of Bianliang but also Xiao Yunqi’s Tiger Leap Army, or rather, the entire Infantry Department’s forces.