Cultivation Simulator: Starting From The Empress' Palace

The silver moon hung in the sky.

On the official road outside Qinyang County, Wu Xin’Er, still disguised as a man, rode on a black horse, wearing a conical hat. She took a sip of the strong liquor she bought in Qinyang County and gazed at the stars in the sky with a vague sense of sentimentality.

There are actually people in this world who don’t want to marry the legitimate daughter of the Wu Family.

Although Wu Xin’Er didn’t show it at the time, she did feel a sort of inexplicable disappointment, so she bought a pot of liquor, intending to drown her sorrows in it.

”He Lao, do you think he truly doesn’t want to marry me, or is he pretending and planning some sort of ’push and pull’ strategy?” Wu Xin’Er couldn’t help but ask.

”Miss, this old servant has served the Wu Family for so many years, always alone, how would I know such things?” The scruffy old man shook his head with a smile and said, ”Miss, don’t take it to heart, you are young and beautiful, so many talented young men from Jiangnan admire you. If Chen Mo isn’t interested, it’s his loss.”

Though said like this, for Wu Xin’Er, who had been pampered since childhood and had never experienced rejection, Chen Mo’s indifferent attitude was somewhat unsettling.

At this thought, Wu Xin’Er couldn’t help but express her anger: ”Uncle is also to blame, arranging the marriage without discussing it thoroughly, making me suffer such embarrassment. Does he expect me to just give myself to him for free...”

The scruffy old man said nothing in response, only suggested, ”Miss, it’s so late, are you sure you don’t want to stay in Qinyang County for the night and leave in the morning?”

Wu Xin’Er shook her head: ”I don’t want to stay in Qinyang County for even another moment. Isn’t there a post station ahead? Let’s rest there tonight.”

”Yes.”

...

Bianliang.

Yong’an Palace.

It was already deep into the night.

Hu Mei’Er loved long baths, almost staying in the tub until the water cooled before emerging.

Soaking in the petal-filled water, Hu Mei’Er poured hot water over her ample bosom, a pride that made men feverish and women envious, yet Hu Mei’Er found it a burden.

It interfered too much in daily life.

Moreover, upon meeting people, their glances would flit in that direction, making Hu Mei’Er quite annoyed, and walking was an exhausting task.

Suddenly, a shadow appeared behind the screen, accompanied by a female voice: ”A message from ahead, there’s no trace of Wu Xin’Er.”

”Splash...” Hu Mei’Er raised her hand, sending a cascade of water, saying, ”How could that be? Based on the timing, she should be arriving around these days. Could it be you missed her?”

”Your Highness, every path leading to the Capital is monitored by our people, and indeed, no trace of Wu Xin’Er was found.”

”Could something have delayed her?” Hu Mei’Er furrowed her eyebrows slightly, then continued, ”Let it be, how about the letter to King Yan?”

”Upon receiving the information, we immediately sent someone. By this time, he should have received it.”

”Good, with these thirty thousand reinforcements, we’ll attack from both sides. Even if Chen Mo survives, he will be severely defeated. Only when that old fox is injured will it be most beneficial for us.” Hu Mei’Er’s lips curled slightly into a relieved smile.

...

Chen Mansion.

In a spacious room in the backyard, it was already late at night, yet it remained brightly lit.

In the room, a square table was placed in the center, covered with a soft rug and more than a hundred small bamboo tiles.

These past few days, Ye Wanqiu and Yi Yao reached a bottleneck in their relationship, so Ye Wanqiu took out the mahjong set Chen Mo had made for her, planning to strengthen their bond through playing mahjong.

Once taught the rules, the women got hooked, playing around the clock.

Chen Mo also warned them not to leave when he left, so playing mahjong was an excellent way to relieve boredom.

Chun Lan, Qiu Lan, Xia Lan, and Dong Lan wore light summer dresses, holding trays of fruit and snacks, their eyes glued to the gameplay on the table.

Su Mu and Bu Qingping busied themselves with pouring tea and serving refreshments.

The little Spirit Fox, Xiao Jiu, used the orange cat Rice Ball as a toy, kneading it with her paws.

Ye Wanqiu, Yi Yao, Xu Miaozhen, and Luo Zhen sat around the table, competing fiercely, their expressions varied.

Xu Miaozhen donned a green dress; whether due to Lianyi huddling beside her, her body constitution, or having lost too much, she kept sweating. She unbuttoned two of her collar buttons for ventilation, showing a glimpse of round scenery.

Though somewhat disheveled, it was an all-women gathering, so no one commented.

”Nine circles,” Xu Miaozhen played a tile.

”Pong.”

”Win.”

”Win.”

Yi Yao, Ye Wanqiu, and Luo Zhen almost said simultaneously.

Xu Miaozhen’s tile cost her two households.

”Hehe, pay up, pay up.” Yi Yao waved her small hand at Xu Miaozhen, the silver in front of her piled like a little mountain.

”I’m not playing anymore, I’ve lost everything.” Among the four players, she was the only one losing, suspecting she was being targeted.

”Don’t, keep playing. Miaozhen Sister, your peachwood hairpin is nice. I’ll give you a hundred taels for it, how about that?” Yi Yao eyed Xu Miaozhen’s peachwood hairpin, having heard it was crafted by the master himself.

”No way...” Xu Miaozhen wasn’t falling for that trick, protecting her hairpin as she stepped off.

”I’ll take over.” Chun Lan immediately took Xu Miaozhen’s spot.

Xia Lan sighed, having been a moment too slow.

”Meow.”

Suddenly, Ye Wanqiu heard a cat’s meow, quickly looked over, and found Xiao Jiu pulling on Rice Ball’s whiskers, startling her. She rushed over: ”Xiao Jiu, don’t bully Rice Ball.”

When she turned back with Rice Ball, Zhao Jiangning had taken her place.

”Wanqiu Sister, it’s so late, you should go rest. I’ll play a couple of rounds in your stead,” Zhao Jiangning said.

Ye Wanqiu: ”...”

...

The moonlight was serene, casting over the mountains and fields.

On a flat piece of ground lay a spread robe.

On the robe lay two people, with Jiang Ruoqing held in Chen Mo’s embrace, her forehead glistening with sweat.

The two were frolicking in the forest.

A moment later, Jiang Ruoqing bit Chen Mo’s shoulder hard; she had reminded herself many times not to believe him.

But tonight, she fell for it again.

Chen Mo had brought a pot of wine and some snacks and invited her to the mountains for moon gazing. She hadn’t thought much of it at the time, finding it quite romantic, so she agreed.

However, after just a few minutes of moon gazing, he started mischief.

”Alright, I won’t dare next time.” Chen Mo stroked Jiang Ruoqing’s soft hair, kissed her cheek, and said.

”When have you not said that?” Jiang Ruoqing gave him a look.

”Didn’t you not refuse?”

”Still saying...” Jiang Ruoqing opened her mouth, pretending to be fierce.

”I’ll stop, I’ll stop. I’ll surely be careful next time.” Chen Mo laughed it off.

Jiang Ruoqing let out a cold snort, then began tidying up, mumbling: ”What’s so good about the mountains? So many mosquitoes.”