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

"The soul-nurturing process for this doll's body is not yet complete. After the soul-cultivation is finished, I will take it out myself. Don't bother me! I will never wear this thing again!"

Chu Mingkong wanted to seize this unique opportunity to curry favor, but fearing he might anger Yongzhen, he could only nod in agreement, his face bearing the big words "regret" for Yongzhen to see, making Yongzhen both embarrassed and helpless.

However, Chu Mingkong couldn't understand why Yongzhen's doll couldn't speak. Zhen Furen's doll was the same, but when Empress Zhen descended, it could speak immediately without any problem.

Afterwards, I need to contact the system administrator for after-sales service and find out exactly what happened.

"Yongzhen, how about I tell you a story, though it's not a very good one."

“If it’s not a good story, there’s no need to tell it.” Yongzhen’s thinking was exceptionally clear and ruthless.

"...Yongzhen, please don't do this. It makes me feel very awkward."

Chu Mingkong was somewhat helpless, but he wasn't genuinely trying to tell a good story; he hadn't thought of one for the moment, and only wanted to use it as an introduction. Taking advantage of Yongzhen's inability to interrupt him, Chu Mingkong forcibly recounted the story, omitting the beginning and end:

"Once upon a time, there was a cowherd who stole the clothes of a fairy named Weaver Girl who was bathing in the river at the instigation of his old ox. Without the clothes, Weaver Girl could not fly back to heaven, and so they became husband and wife. Later, many things happened, and the people in the village were very moved when they heard about it. They all spread the love story of the cowherd and the weaver girl."

Emma: "???"

She had heard stories from Chu Mingkong and others, stories he had heard from strange and unusual places. Those stories were all pretty good, but what was this one?

The man stole the fairy's clothes, preventing her from going home, and then the two became husband and wife. Others were moved by this love story...?

From a woman's perspective, Yongzhen was angry just hearing this lewd story; she was so angry she wanted to speak up and question him, but unfortunately, she couldn't speak. She could only patiently write down her questions:

"Mingkong, what are you trying to express with this story?"

In front of Yongzhen, Chu Mingkong picked up her clothes that had fallen to the ground, amidst her questioning gaze, and put them into his storage ring. Then, he looked at her with the same serious expression as Yongzhen:

"Now that I've taken your clothes, you can't leave my room."

That guy called Niulang only stole clothes, but you, Chu Mingkong, openly robbed him, huh?

Yongzhen really wanted to give him a good beating, but Chu Mingkong picked her up, put her on the bed and hugged her. Yongzhen patted his shoulder a few times, but Chu Mingkong relied on his thick skin and didn't budge at all.

Left with no other choice, Yongzhen had to let him hug her. She never expected him to suddenly play such a trick like a child.

Under Chu Mingkong's tight embrace, Yongzhen's breasts were pressed against his firm chest, and soft, watery flesh was squeezed out from the side of her bodice.

Although there weren't many physical actions, the young woman's heart was racing. Perhaps it was the excitement from taking the beaded necklace earlier. In this simple embrace and rubbing, Yongzhen felt a different kind of flutter in her heart.

Chu Mingkong's strong physique wasn't exactly fair-skinned; in contrast, Yongzhen's jade-like arms, which were secretly wrapped around his back, were as white as snow, and her slender, pale fingers secretly wrote on his back:

"You can let it in."

She wrote in a hurry and carefully, and since she was writing with her back to Chu Mingkong, he didn't react for a moment and thought he had misread the words.

"Yongzhen, what did you just write?"

"I didn't write it!" Yongzhen replied hastily, with a hint of regret as she fled.

Seeing her attitude, Chu Mingkong confirmed that he hadn't misread the word. He dared not laugh, for that would truly ruin things. He spoke earnestly and solemnly in a low voice:

"I was just a little unclear about Princess Yongzhen's orders. Please just tell me where you want me to serve. It's only natural that Your Highness would like to spend some time with me after your long journey."

Seeing him solemnly refer to matters of the heart as an "imperial decree," Yongzhen felt a mix of amusement and exasperation. Her shyness lessened considerably, replaced by a sense of ease. This ease, however, did not cool her heart; instead, a subtle pleasure surged through her, along with an eager anticipation.

"Before." She finished writing simply, then added a few hastily written words to assert her domineering position: "Serve me!"

Chu Mingkong was stunned. It seemed that Empress Zhen, who had summoned the deity, had said something similar. It really was a case of serving the same person...

Meanwhile, in her boudoir, Madam Zhen's brows were furrowed, her mature and alluring face full of forbearance, but from time to time, soft "mmm" moans escaped from her throat.

Yongzhen had a whole day to get used to the beaded necklace and barely managed to get used to it, but Madam Zhen didn't have that time.

Overwhelmed by the shared experience, I felt so beautiful that I almost floated away like an immortal, my mind like a small boat adrift on a stormy sea, swaying and trembling as if about to fall.

......

As dawn approached, Chu Mingkong, stepping into the last vestiges of tranquil night before sunrise, carried the princess, who had already fallen into a deep sleep, back to her and her daughter's room.

In Chu Mingkong's mind, there was a reminder of the distorted filial piety that Madam Zhen had been sending to him, her junior, all night long.

Inside the room, Madam Zhen appeared to have drifted off to sleep with Yongzhen. The thin brocade quilt was slightly disheveled, and the air still held the dampness of her sweat.

He muttered to himself, "Could it be that even though Yongzhen is in control of the puppet, Madam Zhen can sense it? And it seems like Yongzhen hasn't noticed yet."

The quilt was damp from Madam Zhen's touch. Although a cultivator's body is not afraid of this dampness, it is still uncomfortable.

After Chu Mingkong properly laid Yongzhen's body down, he changed the bedding for the mother and daughter.

The moment he lifted the covers, Chu Mingkong's gaze was involuntarily drawn to Madam Zhen's impressive figure, a sudden and unexpected sight that made his breathing quicken.

He quickly changed the blankets and composed himself.

Although the mother and daughter's delicate bodies were hidden under the thin blanket, the faint blush of rouge still lingering on Madam Zhen's face made Chu Mingkong unable to resist taking a few more glances.

Confirming that Yongzhen was temporarily asleep, he hesitated and stood there for a while before finally bending down to secretly kiss Madam Zhen's lips, leaving a mark on Yongzhen's lips as well, before leaving the room.

He had just stepped out when Madam Zhen, who seemed to be fast asleep, trembled slightly, quietly opened her eyes, and looked in the direction Chu Mingkong had left, touching her lips in disbelief.

Could it be that Mingkong...?

----------

After calming himself down, Chu Mingkong found a place in the Wenqing Pavilion to bathe and cleanse himself.

Soaking in the water, my mind is blank as I think, yet my thoughts wander aimlessly.

His relationship with Madam Zhen had always been somewhat ambiguous, but the events surrounding Empress Dowager Zhen last night had stirred something within him.

Many things are fleeting; if you seize them, you'll be overjoyed; if you miss them, you'll feel regret and disappointment. But if you don't try to seize them, all you'll get is regret.

Just now, Madam Zhen probably didn't fall asleep completely like Yongzhen. The connection between the doll Yongzhen's body and her real body can never be as natural as that of the real body. If it were the real body, she probably wouldn't be able to fall asleep and rest immediately after losing consciousness.

Madam Zhen should have known that she had kissed her; this can be considered a beginning.

I haven't thought about what will happen next yet, but it has to start eventually, and that's something that can't be ignored.

In the cool, clear water, Chu Mingkong regained his senses. He briefly cleared his mind and temporarily put all his thoughts aside.

"I'll pick a time to go back to Xiling tonight or tomorrow night. I need to hurry and meet up with Yongzhen. Now I should go to my master's wife's place!"

He suddenly stood up, splashing water in his wake.

When the splashes and ripples disappeared and the water returned to its mirror-like calm, the handsome figure of the man, who had already changed his clothes, was reflected in the blue waves.

Chu Mingkong first ran to the sect leader's peak, only to find that his master's wife, Shen Xuejun, was not there. He subconsciously took out a note to ask about her whereabouts, but then suddenly remembered the lakeside cottage that his master's wife had mentioned.

He put away the note and headed towards the pavilion by the snow-covered lake.

I had just arrived at the pavilion and hadn't even had a chance to knock when my master's wife's clear, cold voice, as pure as snow, came from inside:

"Mingkong, come in."

"It really is here," Chu Mingkong replied, then pushed open the door and went inside.

"Master's wife, your disciple has come to handle sect affairs for you. Is there anything I can do to help?"

Chapter 170 I Also Have a Trump Card (16.8/18)

Spending time with Master Shen Xuejun always brings a sense of novelty, such as Chu Mingkong's suggestion to help her handle sect affairs.

Most people would decline such a request, but his master's wife was not polite at all and readily agreed to be his helper. However, Chu Mingkong was not just being polite; his master's wife's directness saved him a lot of time and effort in playing games.

There's no need for insincere formalities or polite social interactions, and not much manipulative rhetoric.

Yes or no, if he stays by his master's wife Shen Xuejun's side for too long, Chu Mingkong feels that he might become like her and find it difficult to talk to people under normal rules.

It's still a pretty scary thing to think about.

However, the room layout in this pavilion also reveals her somewhat obsessive-compulsive side.

Throughout the entire second floor, all the rooms were studies, but each room was categorized for a different purpose: one room for calligraphy and paintings, one for reading, one for music, and one for sect affairs. Chu Mingkong was quite shocked by this.

Chu Mingkong followed behind his voluptuous master's plump buttocks, curiously looking through each study room like a child, finally entering the one in charge of sect affairs, where many jade slips were placed on the desk.

Comparatively speaking, jade slips are much more convenient for storing information than memorials or bamboo slips. Chu Mingkong personally understands them as being equivalent to a portable hard drive.

However, before Chu Mingkong began to exert his labor, he still asked a question:

"Master's wife, are we going to shrink this time...?"

"Don't ask about this again. Three times is too many. You've asked many times already. Your teacher's wife hopes you can behave yourself." Shen Xuejun showed no displeasure and calmly finished speaking, then calmly took out a set of clothes for him, "I've prepared a child's outfit for you."

Chu Mingkong took the set of clothing for the boys of the Wenqing Pavilion sect, which he couldn't quite call "children's clothes" or "children's work clothes," and examined it from head to toe.

Simple and elegant, with snow patterns embroidered on the cuffs and hem, and the Wenqing Pavilion's clothing is mostly white, but this set is changed to black according to his usual style, basically tailor-made for him.

Feeling a little conflicted, Chu Mingkong still said "Thank you, Master's wife." He was pretty used to it anyway, but he was just a little surprised to see that she had prepared "children's clothes" this time.

"I'll go to the study next door to avoid you for a moment, please wait a moment, Master's wife."

"No need, just change here. Don't be shy, I've seen it all before."

Not only have I seen it, I've even eaten it... Chu Mingkong muttered to himself, then shrunk down and put on the clothes she gave him.

To be honest, they really fit quite well. The pants look a bit big, but once Chu Mingkong put them on, he felt they were just the right size. If they were made like normal boys' pants, his third leg, which hadn't shrunk properly, would actually be too tight in the crotch. But now they fit perfectly.

But then Chu Mingkong suddenly realized that his master's wife seemed to be disciplining him!

She had just told him to shrink down on his own, and now she had prepared everything for him to be comfortable after he shrank down, even taking care of the smallest details like his pants. She wanted him to feel completely at ease and then unconsciously get used to the rules set for him by his master's wife, becoming the way she wanted him to be.

Shen Xuejun didn't say anything else. She picked him up and sat down in front of the desk. Then she let the boy sit on her lap to work on the jade slips.

These jade slips weren't particularly difficult to process; to Chu Mingkong personally, it felt a bit like playing a farming game. However, since there was no option to reload a save file, he dared not let his guard down.

Sometimes the sect leader decides which disciples should go to explore important secret realms. Generally, the elders can make the decision themselves. However, if two disciples of high status want to compete for the sect mission, which involves a competition for experience and opportunities, and these two disciples belong to different elders, then the decision must be made by the sect leader.

This isn't really a big deal. It's not like going on this training trip will guarantee a great opportunity for a breakthrough. In reality, when the two of them argue, it might just be a matter of saving face.

"Both are older women in white stockings, and their conditions, cultivation levels, and needs are similar. So why would they be taught by different elders? It would be much easier to have the same teacher. The one on the left has a nicer butt, so she's probably really in need!"

After some internal deliberation, Chu Mingkong made a choice that he felt was acceptable.

There are quite a few similar cases. They all seem like trivial matters, but these are jade slips that have been screened by the elders and finally sent to Shen Xuejun. If others handle them, there may be conflicts.

Chu Mingkong was also worried that his judgment might be a bit arbitrary, but in the end, he would have to have his master's wife, Shen Xuejun, review it again, so he would just take it as a reference.

Moreover, he doesn't choose solely based on buttocks. If the information in the jade slip allows him to make a judgment, then he will naturally be more objective. But if not, he can only resort to his buttock-observation method.

"Master's wife, how did you make your choice in something that seemed like you could have chosen either of them?"

"See which option is more beneficial to the sect, then choose which side will help it the most, and if all else fails, just go with what you feel for it."