Chapter 674: Chapter 668, Chapter 669: Aren’t You Afraid I’ll Get Pregnant With Your Child?

"Soon His Majesty will also leave Luonan, these days have really been busy, I haven’t seen him rest much." Yue Ruyan said.

"I’m just afraid he might visit the Empress Dowager at night. There are too many eyes and ears in this palace, and it hasn’t been cleaned like the court, if some rumor gets out, it will harm his reputation." Xia Zhining said worriedly.

As for the likes of Xiao Yunxi and Xu Ying before, they are of no consequence.

One is already divorced.

One was deposed and relegated to servitude.

But Liang Ji is different, she is indeed recognized by the Huang Clan as the Empress Dowager.

Chen Mo has just gained power and has already gotten entangled with the Empress Dowager, it’s really quite improper.

If Chen Mo aims to ascend to that highest position, this matter will surely be recorded in history and criticized by future generations.

"There’s no need to worry about that. The city’s citizens have already moved away, and the Soldier Guards inside and outside the Imperial Palace are ours; even if someone in the palace gossips, it won’t spread." Yue Ruyan wasn’t very concerned about it.

"No, he definitely can’t resist dealing with the Empress Dowager. Before anything, we must find a way to replace the palace maids and eunuchs with our own people, then we’ll be at ease. I’ve heard, the maids around the Empress Dowager aren’t managed by the Imperial Household but are all from the Liang Family." Xia Zhining said.

"We’ll have to wait until we reach Celestial River to do that." Yue Ruyan replied.

...

Daybreak.

Liang Ji was in her residence outside the palace.

In the chamber, the two were tightly embracing, leaning against each other.

Liang Ji looked like a pile of mud, unwilling to move even a finger, visibly exhausted, with the Dragon Robe long gone.

One night, an entire night.

She hardly closed her eyes all evening.

Yet the sorrow and distress she had accumulated in her heart recently were undoubtedly swept away.

She gazed at the young man holding her, suddenly feeling a pang of fear, because she realized she couldn’t even recall her wedding night, but last night’s events were vividly etched in her memory, and she suspected she might never forget them.

She realized her years of distant courtesy with that person couldn’t compare to this rascal’s one night.

At this moment, the young man suddenly took her delicate hand and softly asked, "Yo, what are you thinking about?"

Liang Ji, playfully embarrassed, thought that those unaware of the situation might mistake them for a loving couple.

However, this person’s embrace indeed gave her unprecedented security. She replied, "With all the craziness last night, aren’t you afraid the Empress might bear your child?"

If Liang Ji were pregnant, it would definitely not be the Supreme Emperor’s.

The Supreme Emperor was demoted to King of Chenliu after being overthrown by Lu Sheng and had been in confinement. Though Chen Mo had lifted his confinement, he and Liang Ji were living separately, not in the same palace.

Currently, anyone bold enough to let the Empress Dowager become pregnant—it’s not hard to guess who it is.

"I’m not afraid." Chen Mo replied confidently, once the world is stable, he certainly plans to take that step, ascending to the highest without fear of this.

Regarding any guilt over usurpation, Chen Mo felt none.

His success was earned step by step, not gifted by the Emperor; why should he feel guilty?

If everything he achieved was due to the Emperor or given by the Imperial Family, then his usurpation would indeed be disloyal and unjust, but that wasn’t the case.

Seeing Chen Mo answer with no hesitation, Liang Ji paused, then felt slightly impressed, "If the Empress really becomes pregnant, would you... want it?"

"If it’s mine, of course, I will."

"If she’s pregnant, it certainly is yours, who else’s could it be." Hearing this, Liang Ji felt inexplicably uncomfortable and snapped.

Chen Mo gazed deeply, finally holding Liang Ji’s face, smiling, "Seems like the Empress Dowager is enchanted by me."

Upon hearing "enchanted," Liang Ji’s discomfort turned into a flicker of joy: indeed, the Empress Dowager isn’t inferior to anyone, though she merely snorted softly.

Suddenly, she felt something, her expression changed slightly, and she glanced at Chen Mo in surprise: "Are you human?"

The man was relentless; unexpectedly...

"Isn’t the Empress Dowager aware?" Chen Mo pulled Liang Ji’s chin and kissed her.

...

In the Emperor’s bedroom.

Emperor Yong’an was having breakfast with his Empress Zhao, "Empress, accompany me to Shoukang Palace later to pay respects to the Empress Dowager."

He hadn’t been there for several days.

Though Liang Ji wasn’t his biological mother, she was still the Empress Dowager, deserving of respect.

After breakfast, Emperor Yong’an took Empress Zhao to Shoukang Palace.

Though the palace maids and eunuchs there concealed Liang Ji’s absence from Emperor Yong’an, he was no fool—he knew she wasn’t at Shoukang Palace.

Yesterday, he’d heard about the Empress Dowager visiting King Wei and even leaving the palace.

It seemed she hadn’t returned for the entire night.

Emperor Yong’an was silent, gazing at the Empress Zhao, quietly asking, "Empress, do you think there’s anything between King Wei and the Empress Dowager..."

"Your Majesty, speak carefully."

Before he could finish, Empress Zhao interrupted softly, then glanced around and said, "Your Majesty, though King Wei and Lu Bandits are different, he’s ambitious; the entire palace is his. If this gets back to King Wei, it would not be good for you."

"Sigh."

Hearing this, Emperor Yong’an sighed, feeling helpless as a sovereign. Recalling the rumors about Chen Mo in the streets, he looked at his beautiful Empress, hesitated, and couldn’t help asking, "Empress, you wouldn’t... leave me, would you?"

"Your Majesty, what’s wrong? I’m your Empress; I wouldn’t leave you." Empress Zhao responded, puzzled.

"Nothing... nothing." Emperor Yong’an squeezed her hand, appearing thoughtful before advising, "From now on, unless unavoidable, don’t meet with King Wei."

"Your Majesty..." Empress Zhao hesitated, then remembered and nodded, "I understand."

...

That afternoon, Liang Ji met her father, Liang Mu, at her residence outside the palace.

Seeing her father’s weary, aged appearance, Liang Ji’s eyes reddened and filled with tears.

"Empress Dowager, I’ve brought him, I’ll take my leave." Chen Mo said.

Liang Ji nodded, feeling reassured, grateful she had served him all night.

After Chen Mo left, Liang Mu scrutinized his daughter before asking, "Yo, did he trouble you?"

Liang Ji shook her head, not daring to mention the previous night’s events, "I’m an Empress Dowager; he wouldn’t dare harm me."

"That’s good." Liang Mu saw his daughter’s radiant face and knew she wasn’t lying; if mistreated, her expression would surely reveal it.

"Father, I heard you took an arrow from him, are you alright?" Liang Ji tearfully asked.

"It’s fine, just my cultivation was ruined by him; my body’s not what it used to be. But victors and losers, I accept this fate, only worried about implicating you and our family." Liang Mu said solemnly.

"Father, rest assured, I’ve asked... His Majesty for clemency, granting you and the family pardon." Liang Ji assumed her father’s loss of cultivation was recent, believing Chen Mo had kept his promise, and she didn’t dare reveal the truth, using Emperor Yong’an as a pretext to relieve his worries.

"Silly girl, His Majesty doesn’t have that kind of power." Liang Mu thought with a wry smile, assuming Chen Mo had kept his promise to spare the Liang family. He chose not to clarify to avoid worry and instead bowed toward the window, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Thus, both believed the family’s safety was due to themselves, trusting Chen Mo’s promise.