Cultivation Begins with Caring for Sister-in-law-Chapter 444: Xu Ying’s Desire

Xia Zhiqing laid her weak and exhausted sister on the bed, then turned back to look at Chen Mo, who was sitting at the guest table drinking tea. Her face flushed as she said, "Husband, you must be tired."

He had been carrying her for almost half an hour.

Then she took a handkerchief and came over to help Chen Mo wipe the sweat from his forehead.

"Sister, I’m the one who’s clearly exhausted, why do you care about that idiot?" Zhi Ning pouted when she saw her sister’s actions.

Xia Zhiqing’s face flushed even more. Ever since she gave birth to her husband’s child, her sister was no longer as important as him in her heart.

If she were to rank them in her heart.

The child was obviously first, then her husband, and her sister.

"Zhi Ning, get some rest quickly," Xia Zhiqing said as she turned back. While helping Chen Mo wipe his forehead, she added, "Don’t fool around like this again in the future."

"It’s alright, Zhi Ning isn’t that heavy, and I’m an Upper-Grade Martial Artist, it’s nothing," Chen Mo said as he grasped Xia Zhiqing’s wrist, "Zhiqing, help me clean up a bit."

Upon hearing this, Xia Zhiqing’s delicate body softened. Her straight and elegant nose gently hummed. Having watched the competition for so long, her eyes were already seductive like silk.

She spat lightly and patted Chen Mo’s shoulder. She slowly squatted down without saying much.

"You’re just pampering him," Zhi Ning said, turning her body as she saw what was happening.

The reason why she felt so averse to Chen Mo taking in more women.

Part of it was jealousy.

But mostly it was because the more women there were, the less time Chen Mo had to spend with her.

Plus, Chen Mo had to deal with military affairs and cultivation every day.

By the end of the day, how much time did he have to spend with her?

Lastly, she hoped to gain more of Chen Mo’s attention by acting this way.

...

Meanwhile, at the Copper Sparrow Garden.

Inside an independent courtyard room.

Xu Ying was obviously freshly washed and dressed, wearing a long golden dress. Her figure was graceful, like a willow swaying in the wind, much like a peony just beginning to bloom. Her eyebrows and eyes were like a painting, conveying elegance with a hint of demureness. The luxurious golden dress accentuated her figure even more alluringly.

With the backdrop of glittering gems, her appearance was even more enchanting and captivating.

She sat by the window, which was open, offering a view of the entrance to the courtyard. Her elbows rested on the table behind the window, her hands cupping her cheeks, her soft bangs framing her face, revealing a flower-shaped hair ornament and conveying a sultry allure.

As the sky grew darker and the person she wanted to see still hadn’t arrived, Xu Ying’s eyes showed a hint of disappointment.

Just then, a figure appeared at the entrance of the courtyard.

Without seeing clearly who it was, Xu Ying hurriedly closed the window and rushed to sit on the bed.

Soon, the door was knocked.

Xu Ying’s heart raced, but what sounded was the voice of her maid: "Noble, it’s almost midnight, and I saw your courtyard lights are still on. Is there anything you need?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Ying’s anxious and expectant expression suddenly froze. So, it was already midnight?

"No, I just couldn’t sleep. You can go rest," Xu Ying said.

"Understood." With that, the maid was about to leave but then turned back, saying, "I live just next door to your courtyard, Noble. If you need anything, just call out."

"Alright."

Hearing Xu Ying’s response, the maid finally left.

After the maid left, Xu Ying’s cheeks flushed as red as a sunset cloud.

It turned out, during the day, Chen Mo had people arrange for them to stay in the Copper Sparrow Garden. But he gave special treatment to her and Princess Zhaoqing with private courtyards and personal maids, while the other Female Musicians only got rooms without courtyards or maids. This special treatment made Xu Ying mistakenly think that Chen Mo had already taken a liking to her and Princess Zhaoqing and would come over tonight to take action.

Due to the stir of desire in her heart during the day, Xu Ying had bathed and dressed up, hoping to win Chen Mo’s favor when he came.

But unexpectedly, Chen Mo did not come at all that night.

Everything was just her imagination.

She cupped her cheeks, red as an apple, feeling intensely embarrassed. Such proactive contact felt like the start of a downfall, as if she were standing on the edge of a cliff.

...

Contrasted with Xu Ying’s anticipation.

Princess Zhaoqing, Chu Ran, kept her doors and windows shut tight, even though she knew it wouldn’t stop an Upper-Grade Martial Artist. She still moved a table to block the door as added protection.

Even in bed, she stayed clothed.

It seemed these actions brought her some sense of security.

She dared not close her eyes or sleep, her eyes fixing intently on the door, anxious and restless.

...

On May 15th.

The Jin Xia army annexed the entire Youzhou, fortified the city walls of Bing City, used it as a supply point for the Eastern Army, and built granaries with looted food to support the army’s future supplies.

The Eastern Army numbered 80,000 troops; Tie Muer left 30,000 to defend Bing City and led the remaining 50,000 troops southward.

In less than five days, they seized over ten cities.

The next target was the Northern Land.

Zhen Ding County, which borders the Northern Land.

In the government office, Tie Muer sat at the head of the table, in front of him lay the seized map of the Northern Land.

On the lower left and right sides, the right side held the Jin Xia army officers and staff officers.

The left side housed the surrendered Song generals and officials.

In the courtroom, knelt a middle-aged man wearing official robes. He was the County Magistrate of Zhen Ding County, and to save his life, he spared no detail in revealing the situation of the Northern Land to Tie Muer.

"So you’re saying the Northern Land has already been ravaged by the Celestial Master Army, it’s in chaos, the people are suffering, and only Qingzhou is in decent shape?" Tie Muer summarized the County Magistrate’s words from Zhen Ding County.

The County Magistrate nodded, "The current lord of Qingzhou is the widely renowned Marquis of Pingting County. He rose to power in Qing, Yu, Lin, and Huai Four States at just around twenty. His talents and strategies surpass even Prince Huai. He himself is an Upper-Grade Martial Artist and commands an army of 200,000."

Upon hearing this.

The Jin Xia general sitting on the right couldn’t help but laugh, "Around twenty? An Upper-Grade Martial Artist? And commanding 200,000 troops, people say the Song are known for exaggerating; it’s indeed true."

Even Tie Muer found it hard to contain his laughter.

The County Magistrate’s words seemed highly unrealistic.

A twenty-year-old Upper-Grade Martial Artist, who would believe that?

"I would not dare deceive you, Generals. This is true, it’s spread all over the land. Generals, if you don’t believe, you can send someone to the Northern Land to verify this," the County Magistrate of Zhen Ding County hurriedly said.

"I will surely verify what you said, and if you dare deceive me, be wary of your life," Tie Muer sternly warned.

"I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare."

"Alright, you may go."

"Thank you, General."

After the County Magistrate of Zhen Ding County left, Tie Muer glanced at everyone below, "What do you all think?"