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

However, Shangguan Rong was not good at expressing her feelings, and it was too difficult to get her to say anything sweet or affectionate. Her initiative to change back into a dress was already a silent expression of closeness, but now that Chu Mingkong had suddenly said he wouldn't wear a dress anymore, she didn't know what to do next.

Chu Mingkong had no intention of standing there dumbfounded with her. With the beautiful woman's body in front of him, he took the initiative to hug Shangguan Rong. Her jade-like body, which had seemed to be in a standoff and resisting momentarily, slowly softened and leaned into his arms.

This means that she would never take the initiative, but if Chu Mingkong took the initiative, she would not refuse.

Chu Mingkong sat down in front of the dressing table with Shangguan Rong in his arms. When Shangguan Rong looked up, she saw herself in the mirror, her heart being held by his hand. She turned her face away shyly, refusing to look at the mirror.

"Let's sit somewhere else..."

"Why don't you sit here for a bit? Let's talk about some more private and sensitive issues."

"Speak." Shangguan Rong pursed her cherry lips, her willow eyebrows trembling from time to time.

"What do you think of the Emperor's recent arrangements in the capital? Has he really woken up?"

"...?"

When Shangguan Rong heard him mention things like private and sensitive matters, she thought it was...

"do not know!"

Sensing a hint of anger in her tone, Chu Mingkong was afraid that Shangguan Rong would think he was deliberately making fun of her, so he decided not to put on airs anymore.

Having not been close to Shangguan Rong for a long time, Chu Mingkong was itching to get to know her... to discuss the drawbacks of the eight-legged essay in literature and to examine her scholarship.

Let's continue with the old approach, handling both personal and professional matters simultaneously without neglecting either.

“Rong’er, I heard about a health-preserving exercise method from some barefoot doctors, called ‘Steel Lifting Exercise,’ which is very beneficial to the body. This exercise is extremely simple; it only requires tightening, squeezing, and lifting!”

After listening to his detailed description, Shangguan Rong found it all awkward and strange. Pulling up her hips and contracting her buttocks? What kind of exercise could that possibly provide?

While she was distracted in thought, Chu Mingkong seized the opportunity to enter. Shangguan Rong immediately frowned and let out a muffled groan, but a sense of satisfaction welled up inside her.

"Rong'er, now practice this health-preserving exercise method. Contract and lift your qi, and I'll check if your contraction is correct."

"You bastard... I knew you were up to no good..."

Shangguan Rong bit her lip and scolded him playfully, but her body followed the man's cunning intentions.

With personal matters underway, important business could not be neglected either. Chu Mingkong inquired about various matters, ranging from the distant Xiling to the marriage alliance with Yongzhen, the emperor's awakening, and the arrangements made by the Cui family.

Chu Mingkong had already considered many of these matters, but he wanted to hear Shangguan Rong's opinion, perhaps she had a better solution?

In the past, Shangguan Rong, who was often "backstabbed" by Chu Mingkong, would definitely have been able to spare the time to think about him. But after not seeing each other for so long, her mind was completely muddled by this long-awaited encounter, filled with his toughness and tenderness.

"Give it to me first... we'll talk about other things later." Her voice was so low it seemed to be squeezed out of her throat, and her face was so low she dared not look at herself in the mirror.

"If you don't want to look in the mirror, look at me."

Chu Mingkong turned her around and embraced her from the front, pouring out the deep longing he had accumulated for her.

......

Chu Mingkong wanted to stay with her and let her rest a little longer, but he didn't know if Shangguan Rong had also entered a sage mode, or if she was trying to cover up her loss of composure. After she caught her breath, she started talking non-stop about all sorts of arrangements.

“Mingkong, your idea is good. If you don’t want any worries, you should let the Cui family leave the capital. But the Cui family’s main business has been rooted in the capital for many years. If you don’t want it to be destroyed, then take those people you value to Xiling first. As long as they don’t fall into the hands of the royal family, everything is negotiable.”

"As for the emperor's awakening, I think it's true. Jinyu mentioned that she went to pay her respects to the emperor, but was refused. Later, she secretly went over and heard the sounds of rituals in the emperor's bedroom. In short, you don't need to investigate whether he has awakened or not. With so many arrangements made, even if he hasn't awakened, you should assume he has."

Now that the possibility of internal plots against you in Xiling has been eliminated, that leaves only the royal family. You should be extra cautious about your clandestine return; I have a feeling they have some ulterior motive regarding you.”

"The matter of Princess Yongzhen's marriage is a move that I have never been able to understand. The power of the Crescent Moon Kingdom is in dire need of sending a princess to a marriage alliance. Does the emperor really want to win over a power that is on the verge of collapse and in imminent danger as an ally? Compared to the princess's marriage, I think it would be more reliable for the emperor to use the former Empress Dowager Zhen to curry favor with Emperor Xuanzong, but it would still be a rebellious and heinous act."

"Mingkong, you just mentioned that you want to use the marriage alliance with Yongzhen as a pretext to gain a foothold in the New Moon Kingdom and secure a way out for Xiling? This is indeed a reckless but ingenious idea. Although it would secure Xiling as a rear base, Xiling does need a way out. Otherwise, if the royal family concentrates its forces to deal with Xiling, it will be a real problem."

Chu Mingkong listened to her talk for a long time, then nodded and said:

"Hmm, Rong'er, are you trying to cover up your embarrassment by changing the subject and talking so much in one go?"

"..." Shangguan Rong's complexion had returned to normal, but it immediately turned a vibrant red. She glared at Chu Mingkong and said, "...Shut up!"

Chapter Twenty-Three: Reduction of Sentence

Sword Profound Holy Land.

Venerable Wenxin's eldest disciple, Shanhe Su, arrived at the summit. He respectfully looked at the middle-aged man standing at the edge of the cliff, bowed, and asked:

"Master, I have a question that I do not understand and hope to receive an explanation."

Recently, not only those within the sect, but also many sects outside have been puzzled by the actions of the Sword Profound Sect.

For the sake of a woman, he went to a secular dynasty and acted so recklessly, which is shameful and makes him a laughing stock.

Shanhe Su was puzzled by this matter. Although the Sword Profound Sect did not prohibit Daoist partners from becoming Daoist partners, it was strange that Venerable Wenxin would suddenly emerge from seclusion, improve his cultivation, and then unexpectedly go to the Heavenly Pole Empire to ask for a former empress dowager.

Shanhe Su remained noncommittal about his master's actions, acknowledging that the senior had his own considerations and that it was not something he could casually comment on, but he still harbored some doubts.

fortunately,

This former empress dowager had already been deposed during the reign of the previous emperor. Otherwise, according to the established social ethics, if she had retained her status as empress dowager, even the emperor would not have been able to touch her, let alone ask for her. At that time, the only possible solution would probably be to secretly take her away.

But how is such behavior any different from that of evil demons and heretics?

Before his disciple could speak, Venerable Wenxin knew what he wanted to ask. He waved his hand, indicating that his eldest disciple didn't need to maintain the bowing posture.

"Alright, it's understandable that you have doubts. This is something from my younger days..."

You should know my background. In my youth, I was arrogant and competed with my elder brother for a woman's heart. At that time, I thought that talent and spiritual resonance were more important than anything else. But after failing, I realized that only strength can win someone's heart.

The resentment and humiliation in my heart have sustained me to this day. My elder brother has passed away, but I am still here. The grudges of the past no longer hold much significance.

But alas... the failures of my youth have become a lingering resentment in my heart, the very motivation that once sustained me as a teacher, now an obstacle to my further progress.

Upon hearing this, Shanhe Su already knew the answer. Outsiders who heard the recent news all assumed that Venerable Wenxin couldn't let go of his lover from his youth, but in reality, his master was going to use his own hands to kill that woman to break through his mental barrier and resolve his obsession.

However... if it were to use the sword in hand to fight against the opponent, defeat them and remove their mental obstacles, Shanhe Su felt that there would be no problem. But now the woman is a woman with little combat power. At most, she has cultivated a mental technique for protection, but she has no combat skills at all.

Can killing such a weak woman really remove the mental block?

Moreover, isn't this behavior tantamount to bullying a weak woman? Is this something a righteous person should do? But if they don't do it, wouldn't they be abandoning their own path of cultivation?

"You may leave now. Let the rumors outside go on as they may," said Venerable Wenxin.

"Yes."

After leaving Venerable Wenxin's cave, Shanhe Su pondered his master's words.

"Without power in hand, one cannot defend any great path. This was my master's realization when he was young. When my cultivation was still shallow, I was also robbed of my opportunities, but I could only suffer in silence."

Now, for the sake of his own path to enlightenment, Master is forced to take action against a weak woman. Is this considered an evil act of bullying the weak?

Shan Hesu remained silent and hesitant, but when he looked at the ant he had accidentally stepped on while walking absentmindedly, he suddenly realized what had happened.

"No, it doesn't. Cultivating beyond the world is worlds apart from ordinary people. Killing a woman to break through the obstacles to the Great Dao in one's heart is no different from accidentally stepping on an ant. Since stepping on an ant to walk is not considered evil, then eliminating a mortal woman to walk the Great Dao is also not considered evil!"

"However, Master's actions are easily misunderstood and criticized by those with ulterior motives, which is detrimental to Master's reputation... Master has been kind to me, and I must eliminate this threat for him. I will abduct the person in secret and hand him over to Master. In this way, those pointless voices will not bother my Master!"

------------

Chu Mingkong's sharp tongue made Shangguan Rong lose face and angered her. She tried to coax him for a long time but he ignored her and only showed her the back of his head.

Left with no other choice, Chu Mingkong had to say:

"Rong'er, since you like showing your back to me so much, then I'll go in one more time?"

Upon hearing this, despite her reluctance, Shangguan Rong obediently turned around to face him, glaring at this excessive man with a stern face.

Shangguan Rong had heard many stories of quarrels between men and women. Many of the male and female students in the academy were already married, and she could often hear them talking about their bedroom affairs in private. But she had never heard of anyone like Chu Mingkong, who was "threatened" to make up by a woman.

"It was my fault just now. I just thought your attempt to hide it was cute, so I said a few words. Calm down, I'll just keep it from you from now on and I'll never tell anyone!"

Shangguan Rong had mixed feelings. Sometimes she felt embarrassed because she wanted others not to notice, and sometimes she vaguely felt that others had noticed. But as long as others didn't say anything, she could comfort herself that she hadn't been discovered. But now that Chu Mingkong said this, she felt that she was very stupid to try to cover up her own ignorance in the future, and that she had exposed her naivety to him for nothing.

...The more I think about it, the more depressed I get.

"I'm punishing you by forbidding you from touching my back for a month!" Shangguan Rong retorted sharply. "I was just analyzing the situation for you, and you still haven't made any serious attempts to flirt with me. If you don't agree, I won't forgive you."

Chu Mingkong pondered that "behind her" probably didn't refer to touching her back, but rather meant not using the front door but the back door...?

You're not allowed to touch it for a month, but at least it doesn't mean you're never allowed to touch it again.

"If I manage to cheer you up afterwards, Rong'er, will you reduce my sentence by a few days?"

Chu Mingkong held her waist and asked. Because his hand was on her lower waist, Shangguan Rong's waist trembled, as if she was afraid that his hand would go down and do something inappropriate.

"Is it a crime to not let you touch my back for a month?" Shangguan Rong asked with a stern face, truly possessing the domineering temperament of a private tutor questioning a student.

"Isn't it because I'm captivated by Rong'er's 'The Garden of Flowers'? I can't get it for a day without it, and it's Rong'er's punishment that makes me feel this tormented." Chu Mingkong sighed repeatedly, as if he had lost a treasure.

The acting was both stupid and exaggerated, but Shangguan Rong felt much better. Even a woman like her couldn't help but enjoy hearing her lover's flattering words.

She kept her lips pursed, but this time it was to prevent him from seeing her barely suppressed smile. Shangguan Rong said in a serious tone:

"...one day less."

Her saying this about "reducing her sentence" is tantamount to admitting that he had made her a little happier.

"Does this mean I'll be able to touch it in twenty-nine days?" Chu Mingkong asked seriously.

"I'll consider letting you touch me, but it's not a certainty!" the woman emphasized.

Chu Mingkong chuckled and nodded to indicate that he understood.

The fluctuations of spiritual energy emanating from the paper note disrupted the brief calm. Chu Mingkong got up and picked up the paper note; Yongzhen had sent a message.

Someone is attempting to break into the princess's residence!

Chapter Twenty-Four: There's a Traitor Inside!

Upon seeing this news, Chu Mingkong was so angry that his fists clenched.

Given the current atmosphere between him and Shangguan Rong, perhaps a few more words of coaxing could lead to a reduced sentence.

-1, -1, -1...

After a while, he can stir her up again, being affectionate and continuing to enjoy the feelings in each other's body heat in the cultivated atmosphere.

Why did this have to happen at this time?

Or, we could make Shangguan Rong invisible and let her experience what it's like to be the Princess of Chu in the Abyss.