Who is spreading rumors that my filial piety towards them has changed?

Since they were local powerful families in Xiling, it was not surprising that they had a good relationship with the King of Xiling.

When Wei Qingning was a child, she was often sent to the Xiling Prince's Mansion to play and escape the summer heat. This was actually a kind of disguised "hostage". The Wei family expressed their goodwill to the Xiling Prince by sending their eldest daughter over before their eldest son was even born.

However, Wei Qingning was much more comfortable as a "hostage" than Chu Mingkong was at the moment. She was basically just following Chu Mingkong around and had a good relationship with him. Back then, Chu Mingkong even teased her with the name "Qingning".

However, as they grew up, although the relationship remained, they each had their own things to do, and Wei Qingning could no longer visit the Xiling Prince's Mansion for entertainment as often.

However, later, during the time when Chu Mingkong was bombed by firecrackers, the Wei family did not explain the reason and moved out of Xiling without saying a word. Wei Qingning went to the capital to join the Night Blade Division, taking the commander of the Night Blade Division as his teacher and the Crown Prince Party as his backer.

Regardless of the reason, they were already on the opposite side of Chu Mingkong.

It is not yet certain who caused the disaster in Chu Mingkong's hometown, but the party that most wants to eliminate his lineage is the Imperial Party, especially the Emperor and the Crown Prince's faction.

"Qingning doesn't know how to convince her brother, but the incident at Xiling was not the work of the Crown Prince."

If Chu Mingkong were so trusting, he wouldn't have discarded even a servant in the Prince's mansion who handled miscellaneous tasks.

Now that his search for clues had been discovered, Chu Mingkong had no choice but to leave.

However, he really couldn't figure out how Wei Qingning had discovered his whereabouts, because of the witchcraft tradition practiced by her family.

"Now I'll ask you why you're siding with the Crown Prince, and what's the deal with the Wei family? Even if you intend to sever all ties, shouldn't you at least let them know after you leave? Our family has never wronged the Wei family in the past, has it?"

Wei Qingning shook her head. The moonlight made her fair face look translucent, but it also revealed her pale complexion.

"It's inconvenient to tell my brother..."

Does this head shake indicate acceptance that the Wei family has not been mistreated, or does it mean the person doesn't want to reveal the reason?

Chu Mingkong didn't understand. Then he saw her turn around, walk out of the shadows of the alley, and stand in the light of the street lamps.

"This is the secluded courtyard where Princess Yongzhen and her mother live. Princess Jinyu and Princess Yongzhen have always had a harmonious relationship and have frequent interactions. It is not a secret meeting or conspiracy... Recently, there have been many powerful figures from various sects coming and going in the capital. The Hundred Flame Sword Tomb has also recently sent a group of inner disciples to the capital. I don't know what their purpose is. Please take care, brother."

After transmitting the message, Wei Qingning returned to Princess Jinyu's carriage to wait, seemingly unaware that anyone had been following her, and even less aware that Chu Mingkong had come.

Chu Mingkong stared at the carriage, trying to see through the girl's intentions, but he stopped thinking about it because he knew he couldn't figure it out.

The frequent comings and goings of powerful sect members she just mentioned might be aimed at him? If they wanted to kill him, the powerful figures in the capital were enough; there was no need to call for outside help.

"Forget about that for now. I need to see the situation in this courtyard myself before I can believe it. Could there be an ambush? It shouldn't be. If they were going to ambush me, they could have done it now."

After some deliberation and hesitation, Chu Mingkong still chose to sneak into the courtyard. The dark figure approached the room with the candlelight and the sound of voices coming from it, accompanied by the approaching night.

----------

In contrast to the cold, suspicious night wind outside the courtyard, the interior was a place of ease and warmth.

Princess Jinyu, who was a model of dignity, propriety, gentleness, and virtue in front of outsiders, had even thrown aside her underpants. Her delicate body was now covered only by a brocade bodice embroidered with golden phoenixes. The phoenixes were embroidered on the left and right sides, in a state of flight, which looked as if they were supporting the princess's two heavy mounds of soft flesh.

The golden phoenix has bright, lifelike eyes. It is a royal item. The golden phoenix is ​​a descendant of the phoenix and is embroidered on the princess's royal bib to show her status. Moreover, the golden phoenix will only open its eyes when the princess is a virgin; otherwise, its eyes will be closed.

"Yongzhen, ask someone to boil some water for me to take a bath, and also get me some food, noodles will do, preferably with some spice."

"What do you take this place for, an inn?"

"I just missed the food here, and besides, I brought two little darlings with me today, so you're definitely getting a good deal!"

Princess Yongzhen really didn't know where to begin praising Jinyu. In public, she acted like a proper young lady, with impeccable manners, but in private, she showed no manners at all. Before the bathtub was brought over, she stripped naked and waited there. Luckily, there were no outsiders here, or it would have been a big problem.

She picked up the underpants that Jin Yu had left on her bed, as if she were holding something dirty, and threw them into the basin where dirty clothes were kept.

"Why does it look like you're picking pickled vegetables!" Jin Yu protested, frowning.

"I don't mind that your underwear smells so pungent, and I just leave it on my bed. And you're complaining about that?"

"I don't smell slutty at all. I've cultivated myself properly, burned incense since I was little, and even inherited a natural body fragrance from my mother. Don't spread rumors about me out of thin air. If you don't believe me, come closer and smell me. This is an opportunity that others would kill for!"

Although it was in private, Princess Yongzhen was clearly much more well-behaved than Jinyu, playfully slapping Jinyu's plump, smooth, and tender pink legs:

"Close it! Be normal, you're shameless!"

Having bypassed numerous restrictions, Chu Mingkong, who was spying from outside the window, felt strange and couldn't quite process what was happening.

It seems that Jin Yu really didn't come here to meet her lover, but her behavior was even more outrageous than he had imagined. Even his master, Zuo Qiuchi, wasn't as casual as her.

However... it's quite pink.

"Tell me, what are those two treasures you just mentioned?"

Yongzhen said, as she pulled Jinyu's bodice up properly. They had been playing around for a while, and the bodice had shifted and wasn't covering half of her flesh.

As if on purpose, Jin Yu deliberately twisted her body, swaying left and right, causing the two golden phoenixes to flutter and messing up Yong Zhen's carefully arranged state. Only after being glared at by Yong Zhen did Jin Yu stop her antics.

She took out a glass bottle from her bracelet and shared it, saying, "Just now, a scoundrel begged me to give it to him, saying it was milk he had painstakingly prepared for me, Princess. I had no choice but to accept it, so I'm generously offering it to you to try. This is the first one!"

Chu Mingkong couldn't bear to look at her. This milk was clearly something you got after I slapped you. He turned around and took it to store. Next time you ask me for milk, I'll just pretend you drank it right there and then. I won't let you take it out to store.

"And the second one?"

"Your mother has found you a good match!"

Chapter Thirty-Three: Divine Skill Patterns

Having overheard this much, Chu Mingkong had already guessed who his "new girlfriend" was; it was most likely Princess Yongzhen.

But I don't really remember this princess's name. But I feel like I've heard it somewhere before... Where exactly? Oh!

I remember now, Princess Yongzhen was also a princess before. Her mother was from the Xihe clan, later changed to the Zhen clan. She was the last empress during the reign of the late emperor. At that time, the Zhen family was said to have colluded with evil sects and committed heinous acts. Some of them were executed and some were exiled. Empress Zhen pleaded for them and was implicated, and was deposed as empress. However, she still left some "imperial grace" for her daughter Yongzhen, only demoting her to a princess.

The mother and daughter then went into seclusion in a corner of the imperial city. Not long after the late emperor deposed the empress, he passed away.

However, since Empress Zhen was the late emperor's second wife in his later years, the two were considered an older man and a younger woman, as the saying goes. Therefore, this deposed empress dowager was not far from the age of the current empress, and their daughters Yongzhen and Jinyu were also of similar age. However, in terms of seniority, Jinyu would probably have to call Yongzhen "aunt"...

Because this happened a long time ago, Chu Mingkong had only heard about the gossip once in a while while having morning tea, and hadn't paid much attention to it. Now that he remembered it, he was even more confused.

"What's going on? Am I a thorn in the side of the royal family? The Queen is still letting me come into contact with such people. I thought she was just sending someone to cause me trouble. Is she trying to pity me, or is she planning to take action against this mother and daughter?"

Inside the room, Yongzhen frowned after hearing the news from Jinyu.

She had heard rumors about this prince before. When Jinyu came over in the past, she would tell her about his "great achievements" as anecdotes.

"What is your mother planning? Why did she make such a sudden decision without saying anything beforehand?" Yongzhen was quite dissatisfied, suddenly being implicated in a romantic relationship.

"Oh dear~ This isn't an arranged marriage, it's just to let you become friends. Isn't that how the second daughter of the Shangguan family is? It doesn't have any impact. If you don't intend to become close friends, just tell that little rascal Chu Mingkong."

When Jin Yu mentioned Chu Mingkong, her pert, round buttocks recalled that stinging slap, and she gritted her teeth in anger. She had never seen anyone so bold and fearless!

Yongzhen sighed helplessly, without a hint of amusement, and looked at Jinyu very seriously: "You know that I am used to simplicity and do not like to make trouble. If your mother wanted to find someone to deal with the Crown Prince, she should not have come to me."

Seeing her best friend's serious expression, Jinyu revealed a charming and coquettish side she had never shown in public, shaking Yongzhen's arm and saying very sincerely:

"Good aunt~ I really don't know what Mother is thinking. I've tried to persuade her, but it's no use! I even went to Chu Mingkong's place this evening to tell him, and that bastard rudely told me to 'get lost'!"

Yongzhen didn't believe this. Judging from the previous rumors, whether the Crown Prince of Chu was truly decadent or hiding his talents, he was cautious. How could he be so arrogant towards this popular princess?

Yongzhen spoke in a measured and unhurried manner, with a good balance of tension and relaxation:

"So all you do is call me aunt at times like this. Alright, since it's just 'making friends,' I might let him 'enjoy some peace and quiet,' but I won't cause any trouble like Shangguan Rong and that Zhang-surname wine-drinking woman did. If your mother has any thoughts of 'teaching a lesson' to this son of a different surname, she'll have to find someone else more capable. See if there's any other shrewish woman in the capital... I think you're quite good."

......I?

Jin Yu didn't even dare to think about it. That little rascal dared to be so presumptuous on their first meeting, showing her no respect whatsoever. What would happen if they spent more time together?!

However, this person doesn't seem as boring as the rumors suggest.

"I can't do it, I'm afraid the prince will feel ashamed in front of me~ By the way, Yongzhen, why do you always wrap your chest up? Don't you find it stuffy? When we were thirteen or fourteen years old, we were about the same age when we took a bath together. Now you're all bound up like a flat board. Let me see what you look like."

Jin Yu made a move to pull open Yong Zhen's clothes to see the true face of Xiangshan.

Chu Mingkong couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and watched even more intently. He didn't mean anything by it; he just wanted to find out what kind of cunning this "girlfriend" was hiding.

Unfortunately, Jinyu failed and was unable to find out the truth. After bathing at Yongzhen's place and eating a bowl of spicy noodles, Jinyu prepared to return to the palace.

"Alright, you should go back to the palace to rest now. I'm going to chat with my mother for a while and then I'm going to sleep too."

"Okay~ See you later."

Chu Mingkong was disappointed that he couldn't find the clues he wanted, but after watching the girls playing and laughing, he calmed down and once again avoided the restrictions and left the Empress Dowager's courtyard.

After confirming that Jin Yu had left, Yong Zhen untied the cloth binding her chest in front of the mirror. Her two breasts, now freed from restraint, trembled lively, and her originally flat-chested clothes were now bulging.

However, between the two fair and beautiful peaks, there is a strange and bewitching pattern, which is both red and pink, occupying the very center.

This is a secret, the secret that led to the downfall of the Zhen family, the clan of the former empress. If she didn't want to hide this mark, she wouldn't always need to wear a breast wrap.

Yongzhen stepped out of the room and glanced at the full moon in the sky. The moonlight was clear and cool, making her skin feel refreshed.

“Mother, it’s the night of the full moon again, and we have to switch bodies again for another week… But Jinyu said that the Empress has assigned a romantic relationship between a man and a woman. I can’t guess what the Empress means, but I will use your body to handle it properly.”

----------

The next day, Chu Mingkong received a message from the palace instructing him to get along well with Princess Yongzhen, keep quiet, and behave himself.

"That's strange. Before, it was all over the place, as if they were afraid no one would know. But this time they're doing it in secret. Oh well, I was just worried that my master had run away and I had nowhere to show my filial piety. Princess Yongzhen also has a mother who was once the most beautiful woman in the world. She's a high-quality elder, so I should cultivate a good relationship with her!"

Once I've accumulated enough filial piety points, I'll upgrade the filial piety system and prepare a nice gift to coax Zuo Qiuchi back. Honestly, why did she run away so suddenly? Was there some urgent matter?

Chu Mingkong still hasn't figured out the reason why his master ran away.

As usual, he mentally summoned the filial piety gift lottery interface. This time, he was lucky. He got ten gifts in a row: one red, one gold, one purple, and the rest were blue sky and white clouds.

Red is the ultimate gift of filial piety. Chu Mingkong opened the red gift—the Soul-Locking Jade Pendant (Part One).

He instinctively sensed that this object possessed an extraordinary aura, but he didn't know what it was.

"Can you give me an explanation? Judging from the shape, this red-grade jade pendant is only one piece from two halves?"

This Buddhist-like system rarely paid attention to him: "The Soul-Locking Jade Pendant is an essential item for cultivating the Longevity and Soul Transfer Technique, used to make up for the defects in the technique."

So the question is, what exactly is this "Longevity and Soul Transfer Technique"?

"Forget it, this time when I go there, I'll first send some small gifts to Empress Dowager Zhen, gradually showing my filial piety. If I send a big gift right away, she might not appreciate the small gifts later. Besides, there are a lot of people spreading rumors about me lately. It would be troublesome if someone spreads rumors that I have feelings for the Zhen family."

Chu Mingkong originally planned to send the "Blue Sky and White Clouds" blind box gift directly. Who would bother to check what blue thing they got when drawing a gacha? But he suddenly became curious about what else was inside besides the Youth Preservation Pill.

If they're all beauty-preserving pills, it would be better to remove a few bottles. Giving away so many at once might make people think he's mocking the former most beautiful woman in the world for being old and faded.

Princess Yongzhen can be offended, but this Zhen family is not!

He is a filial son.

"This is a youth-preserving pill, this is rouge, this is aromatherapy oil, this is a small handkerchief, the material is quite nice... Sure enough, they're all just practical little gadgets without any highlights. Compared to the red blind box gift, it's just a bunch of junk. I won't open the rest. I know what kind of things they are without even thinking about it. It's a pity that such a pretty box isn't used for packaging."

The blind box gift that was pulled out directly had an extremely exquisite packaging box. He even felt that the packaging of the box was more valuable than the contents of the blue gift.