Cultivation Simulator: Starting From The Empress' Palace

When Chen Mo returned to the Chen Mansion.

Su Mu had already become part of Yi Yao’s circle, and Yi Yao even began calling Su Mu ”sister”.

This was because after confirming that Su Mu was sent by Gao Zheng, and Chen Mo accepted her as a warming maid.

Yi Yao’s thoughts were simple: Su Mu had a good appearance and a gentle nature. Now that she’s become the master’s warming maid, it’s only a matter of time before she becomes a concubine.

Moreover, she had prepared breakfast early for Yi Yao and Chun Lan, and her attitude of flattery and humility made Yi Yao feel some goodwill towards her, prompting her to draw closer.

Seeing them as close as sisters, Chen Mo raised an eyebrow, feeling more that Su Mu had entered the mansion with a purpose.

But outwardly...

”I didn’t expect you all to get along so quickly. I was originally planning to have Yaoyao take good care of Su Mu.”

Chen Mo raised his hand, and Yi Yao willingly leaned into his arms. Chen Mo then cupped her pure and charming face with his hand and gently pinched her cheeks.

Even though they had been ”married” for many days, Yi Yao’s face still reddened in front of the other women when intimate gestures were made, and she said, ”Sister Su Mu has a good nature and will surely serve the master well in the future?”

Su Mu appropriately showed a bit of shyness on her face.

Chun Lan, however, brought up the inappropriate topic, saying, ”Master, where were you last night?”

Before Chen Mo could answer, Yi Yao took over the conversation: ”Chun Lan, didn’t you need to make some pastries?”

”Pastries, no...” Chun Lan was puzzled at first, but seeing Yi Yao’s glance, she quickly stopped the topic, gave Chen Mo a look, and left swiftly.

Yi Yao then grabbed Chen Mo’s arm and changed the subject, saying: ”Master, take a walk with me.”

Yi Yao wasn’t stupid; she knew Chen Mo had kept mistresses outside.

At first, she was puzzled.

She didn’t mind how many women he had, so why didn’t he let those ”mistresses” into the mansion?

Lately, she realized perhaps those women had very special statuses and couldn’t be seen in public.

Remembering what Chun Lan had told her.

Prince De Ning and the connections were not ordinary either.

...

Although the Chen Mansion wasn’t as grand as the Hong Mansion or the Prime Minister’s Mansion, it was still quite large, and its layout resembled that of a park.

It was still early morning, and the sun hadn’t yet shone on Bianliang.

A handsome young man in a white robe walked closely with a girl in a green dress, creating a warm and gentle scene.

Yi Yao walked slowly, talking about trivial matters.

Discussing whose music in Bianliang City was more pleasing and asking Chen Mo if he had heard it.

Noting how the oranges over there weren’t sour, but sweet, saying that if the master tried them, he would surely like them.

Chen Mo replied that he had tried them.

Yi Yao would then say: ”Right, doesn’t master also find them delicious?”

This type of chatter reminded Chen Mo of his first date in his previous life.

Lacking any experience, he made some idle small talk to avoid awkward silence, sometimes awkwardly repeating similar phrases, not knowing exactly what to talk about.

Despite this, his girlfriend smiled throughout, not letting her smile fade.

Eventually, not knowing what else to say, he held his girlfriend’s hand, kissed her, and flirted until she fled blushing when things got out of hand.

That was the end of their first date.

Every time he recalled this scene, Chen Mo would cringe at the memory.

Thus hearing these words, Chen Mo thought, perhaps Yi Yao now was acting just like he did back then.

He stopped walking, pulled Yi Yao into his embrace, and lifted her chin.

Yi Yao seemed quite afraid: ”Master... don’t... not here!”

Chen Mo leaned down as if savoring something exquisitely delicious, giving Yi Yao’s lips a hard, passionate kiss, before recounting last night’s events.

Of course, he only spoke about Jiang Ruoqing, Luo Zhen, Xu Miaozhen, and Wanqiu.

He did not tell Yi Yao about Wanqiu’s true identity.

Upon hearing this, Yi Yao seemed quite pleased. The master telling her these things meant he trusted her, truly regarded her as his woman.

”In the future, if there’s an opportunity, I’ll take you for a trip to Jiangnan. They say the beauty of Jiangnan far exceeds that of Bianliang, though it can’t match Bianliang’s luxury.”

”I also heard from my master that Jiangnan is a beautiful place, a land of fish and rice, beloved by scholars and literati, but now Jiangnan is also in turmoil, and who knows when it will end.” Yi Yao lamented.

Chen Mo pinched her face: ”Speaking of your master, last time I mentioned bringing your master to the mansion, how did she respond?”

”Master refused; she’s someone who enjoys tranquility, and with so many people in the mansion, she probably wouldn’t like it. However, when you said you’d like to meet her, master didn’t refuse, but at the time she mentioned she would be traveling far, and it’s uncertain whether she’s returned now,” Yi Yao said.

”When she returns, let me know. I want to thank her in person for teaching such an exceptional disciple.”

”Master, you... you tease...”

...

Xiao Yunqi took advantage of the coup to eliminate his rivals, removing a significant number of officials, reducing the number by nearly a third. Some ministers who prided themselves on being upright refused to attend court as a protest against Xiao Yunqi’s ’treason.’

As a result, Xiao Yunqi issued a decree stating that officials who did not attend the morning court session by the specified time would be dismissed.

So today’s morning court was delayed.

”Your Majesty, the designated time has already passed.” The eunuch beside Zhao Chong whispered to him.

The specified time was set by Xiao Yunqi.

Looking at the sparse presence in the court hall, Zhao Chong felt a wave of melancholy, feeling that his time as Emperor lacked dignity, with less than half the officials present at the morning court.

He cleared his throat and looked at Xiao Yunqi, who was sitting in a chair with a longsword by his side, and asked: ”Lord An Yang, what should be done with the ministers who have not attended without reason?”

Xiao Yunqi did not respond immediately but gave a signal to Duan Shi, who had been reinstated, to step forward and declare loudly: ”Your Majesty, these individuals disregard the laws of the court and disrespect Your Majesty; how can they continue in their positions? I propose that those absent without reason be demoted to commoners.”

”I second this motion,” Prime Minister Hu Sheng stepped forward.

”I second this motion,” echoed Xiao Teng and Chen Mo, stepping forward and bowing.

Subsequently, Xiao Yunqi nodded as well.

Zhao Chong was shaken. This move would remove nearly half the officials from the court, but he had no choice but to approve!

After this matter was settled, Hu Sheng stepped forward again and said: ”Your Majesty, last night, Right historian Liu unexpectedly passed away from an ailment…”

This news caused the ministers to exchange glances.

Those who knew the details understood that Right historian Liu had recorded Xiao Yunqi’s actions of eliminating traitors and purging the court as a seizure of power.

Zhao Ji’s abdication was documented by Right historian Liu as being held captive.

Xiao Yunqi had demanded he change it, even threatening his life, but Liu refused to alter any records, resulting in his death.