Cultivation Simulator: Starting From The Empress' Palace-Chapter 416 - 414 Odd Stones

The reason Zhao Jiangning felt familiar yet couldn’t recall was due to an event two years ago for Empress Xiao Yunxi’s birthday (who is now the Empress Dowager) where the entire harem, including concubines, participated.

As an Empress, Zhao Jiangning, who had a good relationship with the Empress, naturally attended as well.

At the birthday event, Zhao Jiangning had fleeting encounters with Consort Yu and Consort Jing, but the impressions weren’t particularly deep, which is why she couldn’t recall immediately.

But now, upon suddenly remembering, Zhao Jiangning was utterly shocked.

She hadn’t expected that Consort Jing didn’t die in the great fire; instead, she became the old master’s woman and was taken out of the palace by him.

Consort Jing, being a consort of her father, was an elder to Zhao Jiangning; in civilian terms, she would have to address her as ’little mother.’

Yet now, they’re actually calling each other sisters.

Then there’s Consort Yu.

All of the Emperor’s concubines should be in the Imperial Palace under strict guard, not allowed to leave.

But looking at Consort Yu, she not only left the palace but has clearly been away for quite a while, judging from her attire.

This reminded Zhao Jiangning of something else.

Back during the coup, many consorts from the palace went missing.

Could Consort Yu be one of them?

"Your Highness, Your Highness..." Seeing that Zhao Jiangning wasn’t understanding, Luo Zhen called out to her twice.

Xu Miaozhen even tugged at Zhao Jiangning’s clothes: "Your Highness, what’s wrong? Are you feeling uncomfortable?"

"Ah... I’m fine, nothing’s wrong. Let’s go." Zhao Jiangning forced a few awkward smiles and said.

Luo Zhen and Xu Miaozhen, although feeling somewhat puzzled, went along.

Zhao Jiangning now somewhat understood Yi Yao’s feelings at that time.

But fortunately, she didn’t have much interaction or deep friendship with Consort Jing back at the Imperial Palace.

Therefore, even knowing about this matter, Zhao Jiangning felt she could still accept it.

After all, she had accepted the matters regarding Fujin and had adapted.

...

Meanwhile.

The news that Chen Hong and Chen Mo were actually the same person was once again spreading from Bianliang.

Additionally, there was the matter of Chen Hong and Huangfu Hao becoming sworn brothers.

But for Xiao Yunqi, he became aware that Chen Mo once recruited the top ten martial exam candidates at Hongfu Restaurant.

Considering the Wu Family’s marital ties and Huangfu Hao becoming sworn brothers with him, Xiao Yunqi felt a deep sense of apprehension.

However, before anything else, he needed to confirm whether Chen Hong and Chen Mo were indeed the same person.

If they were the same, then he wouldn’t need to be this apprehensive.

Because if they were the same person, then with the binding of the Feather Nirvana Heart Scripture, Xiao Yunqi could completely control Chen Mo.

"Someone, come!" Xiao Yunqi summoned the head steward of the Xiao Mansion.

"Master."

"Send someone to the palace and tell the Empress Dowager that the madam misses her."

"Yes."

...

It was almost dark when Chen Mo finally returned to the mansion with Jiang Ruoqing and Yi Yao.

To bring Jiang Ruoqing back to the Chen Mansion, Chen Mo had exhausted all efforts and hadn’t rested all day.

His waist was sore with fatigue.

Jiang Ruoqing and Yi Yao’s cheeks were flushed, and they dared not look at each other.

It was utterly embarrassing.

Typically, they wouldn’t even dare to think of such actions, considering them unthinkable and too shameful.

Yet, despite the shame, they somehow completed it.

At this moment, they felt their legs were weak, and upon returning to the mansion, they instinctively lowered their heads, for fear of being discovered by Luo Zhen and others.

But the more they tried to avoid it, the more it happened.

Luo Zhen and others were informed by their subordinates that the master had returned, so they all went rushing outside.

When Jiang Ruoqing and Yi Yao reached the backyard, they ran into Luo Zhen and the others.

"Yaoyao姐 (Sister Yaoyao)."

"Ruoqing姐 (Sister Ruoqing)."

Luo Zhen and the others simply greeted them with kindness.

But when Jiang Ruoqing and Yi Yao heard it, they felt even more embarrassed, as if they wanted to vanish on the spot.

After a few awkward laughs, Yi Yao quickly changed the topic: "Uh... I need to water the flowers I tend to today; let me go do that first."

"Yaoyao, I will... accompany you as a teacher."

With that, the two women hurriedly left.

"Ahem... why did you all come out?" Chen Mo lightly coughed a few times, feeling a bit embarrassed himself.

"Master, where have you been? We didn’t see you all day, and we missed you," Luo Zhen approached, blushing, trying to lean into Chen Mo.

"Chirp chirp..." But Xiao Jiu beat her to it, darting past and leaping into Chen Mo’s embrace.

Due to Xiao Jiu’s size, that leap even made Chen Mo stagger a bit. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

"Xiao Jiu, you’ve grown a lot again; I can hardly hold you," Chen Mo said while stroking Xiao Jiu’s head, cradling him like a large dog.

Xiao Jiu squinted its eyes, wrapping its tail around Chen Mo’s back, hugging him as well.

After playing for a while, Chen Mo set Xiao Jiu down.

Xiao Jiu chattered at Chen Mo and started circling around him.

"You have something to give me?" Chen Mo understood its gesture.

Xiao Jiu nodded, gesturing with its paw for Chen Mo to wait a moment, then it quickly ran off.

A short while later, Xiao Jiu returned with a package in its mouth.

Chen Mo opened the package, finding inside three stones of various sizes, each about the size of an adult’s fist, appearing ordinary.

"What is this?" Chen Mo first used the Celestial Eye to look, finding them no different from ordinary stones.

However, since Xiao Jiu was a Qingqiu Spirit Fox, it certainly wouldn’t gift ordinary stones.

Chen Mo then activated the Ancient Heavy Pupils, finally discovering something peculiar.

Inside the stones, there were traces of blood, emitting a faint energy.

It seemed as if the blood of a person or animal had stained the stones, seeping inside them.

But for the blood to penetrate the hard stone’s interior, it indicated that this was no ordinary blood.

"Master, is there something unusual?" Luo Zhen curiously inquired.

"Inside these stones is blood, but the energy is too weak to be of any use to me," Chen Mo said.

Just as he spoke, Xiao Jiu chattered rapidly, hopping a few times in front of Chen Mo, then under the gaze of the women present, spat out a silver-white flame from its mouth.

This made the women jump in surprise.

A fox... that could actually breathe fire...

"Xiao Jiu... you can even... breathe fire," Chun Lan stammered in disbelief.

Chen Mo was equally surprised, as he felt the temperature of the silver-white flame was exceedingly high.

"Xiao Jiu, are you suggesting I use fire to burn these stones?" Chen Mo asked.

Xiao Jiu nodded.

Chen Mo was about to act immediately but halted when he saw Su Mu arrive. He pocketed the three stones, stooped down, and rubbed Xiao Jiu’s head: "I really like this gift."

Xiao Jiu’s face broke into a furry, adorable smile.

"Master, you’ve returned?" Su Mu approached to greet Chen Mo.

Luo Zhen and the other women also warmly greeted Su Mu, creating a harmonious scene.