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

In terms of taste, the pastries that came out in exchange were definitely the best; they were all truly exquisite delicacies.

“You don’t know my body. It’s only been half a night, why should I rest? Without my mothers and concubines keeping me company on the bed, the blankets don’t even smell nice anymore. Why should I rest? I might as well sit here and keep you company.”

As they spoke, Chu Mingkong picked up a pastry and offered it to Xiao Zhi's lips. After Xiao Zhi took a bite, Chu Mingkong offered it to Wan Hua's lips, but the latter did not eat it immediately. Instead, he said:

"Mingkong, you take a bite first. Your mother wants to eat what you've already eaten."

Chu Mingkong chuckled and, following her suggestion, took a small bite first, then fed it to her. Wan Hua then ate it with satisfaction and continued to bury herself in her memorial.

After a while, Chu Mingkong started feeding the mothers of the babies again, offering pastries to Xiao Zhi's lips, just as Wan Hua had instructed last time:

"Mingkong, you eat first."

Chu Mingkong naturally did as instructed, and from then on, he would always taste a bite himself before feeding them.

The two discussed the documents to be posted during the day in great detail. There was much disagreement regarding whether to secede from the Celestial Empire or the Celestial Royal Family.

The latter statement is more thorough and clear, but it may cause unease among some people in Xiling. The former statement can avoid this problem, but it is more likely to be incomplete.

The ultimate goal of this action was not to absolve themselves of responsibility, because they had already done so long ago. It was simply to prevent the people of Xiling from providing the emperor with any more spiritual energy. Otherwise, no matter how well Xiao Zhi governed Xiling, it would ultimately be like sharpening a knife and handing it to the emperor to stab them.

If that's really the case, then they might as well run away early and let whoever wants to clean up the mess do the cleaning.

Chu Mingkong also found it difficult to make up his mind. He couldn't say whether "royal family" or "empire" was more suitable and had less negative impact, but in the end he decided on "empire".

Even if it causes unease among some people, is that more troublesome than continuing to provide the emperor with spiritual power?

Such discussions were just the tip of the iceberg; there were still many details to be discussed. Once the discussions were nearly finished, Xiao Zhi began to draft the order and arrange for people to set up the proclamation ceremony.

Just as everything was almost finished, the rooster crowed loudly to remind Tianming that dawn had broken. The long, melodious crowing faded as the two beautiful women finished their work.

Unfortunately, this was just the end of their "overtime" work; new memorials would continue to be delivered for them to process throughout the day.

Xiao Zhi and Wan Hua straightened their backs, stretched out their beautiful figures, and stretched lazily and contentedly.

Chu Mingkong looked at the two bowls with exactly two dumplings left, fed one to each person, and then it was all over.

Wan Hua glanced down at her son's crotch, chuckled softly, and affectionately flicked it, asking curiously:

"What's the significance of this? Why do the boys 'raise their heads' in the early morning? Do they want to play with their mother?"

Chu Mingkong couldn't explain this problem either. He remembered that he had looked it up before. Some people said it was the body reminding him to urinate, but others said that people with kidney deficiency would not have a morning erection. So, does that mean that if the body is weak, there is no urine at all?

He recalled that the most official explanation he found at the time was that "the cause is still unclear."

"Then let's go along with Wan Hua's suggestion," he nodded and said.

"I think he misses his mothers. They're always busy with work and rarely come back to spend time with their son."

"Do you want to touch it, or do you want to kiss it?"

"I want to go together." Chu Mingkong looked at the two of them from left to right.

I want to touch and kiss you, I want the two of us together.

Having just stretched, the two stunningly beautiful women bent down, each brushing a strand of hair behind their ear, and lowered their heads, coaxing the restless little one with utmost tenderness and maternal love...

Early morning had just begun, and before the morning had even arrived, a shocking message spread from Tianya Tower, reverberating throughout the city.

People arranged by Tianya Tower read aloud the contents of the notices and documents in various places to prevent people who were not literate from misunderstanding the meaning or missing Tianya Tower's explanation of the disaster that occurred in Xiling.

The last line of the notice was concise and to the point: The Tianji Empire is tyrannical and its crimes are too numerous to mention. Xiling has seceded from the Tianji Empire.

Amidst the sound of the messenger's hooves, the news spread rapidly from Tianya City to every corner of Xiling.

Chapter 184 The Truth Always Brings Heartache (10/38)

Chu Mingkong really wanted to spend more time with the two babies' mothers, but during the day he had to accompany Jin Yu and Pei Mi to see which house was suitable.

The properties available for selection were mostly those left behind by the Xiao family after they fled, all registered under Xiao Zhi's name. However, Xiao Chengren originally bought them under the name of the Princess of Chu to reduce trouble and secure the best possible price.

Chu Mingkong accompanied her on a tour and discovered that Zhi'er Baobao hadn't brought out the mansion she used to grind medicine. He guessed she was reluctant to part with it, fearing that Pei Mi would choose that mansion instead.

After spending most of the day looking around, Pei Mi didn't find any mansion she liked. Instead, she had Chu Mingkong buy a simple courtyard house near Qingxin Mansion.

Chu Mingkong wanted to choose the best one for her, but Pei Mi compared prices and finally chose the cheapest one, refusing to let Chu Mingkong buy the more expensive one.

He had no choice but to follow Pei Mi's wishes.

"I'll have someone renovate this courtyard for you. You can move in in a couple of days. It looks too plain right now," Chu Mingkong advised, unable to bear seeing this woman, who had only recently relinquished her status as Empress, move into such a place without any adjustment.

It's not that Chu Mingkong looks down on others for living simply; when conditions are limited, having a place to shelter from the wind and rain is already a good thing. It's just that, given his own means, Chu Mingkong truly couldn't bear to see Pei Mi living in such a humble environment.

"No need, it's fine as it is. I want to grow some flowers and plants, but you've decorated it so lavishly that I'm afraid the soil will dirty the surroundings, so I don't dare to plant anything."

Pei Mi didn't accept the gesture, but more than anything, she didn't want to incur more debt. She sensed something strange about Jin Yu; it might be her imagination, but last night, Jin Yu had been curiously asking her what it would feel like to be with Chu Mingkong and the other two...

If she owes Chu Mingkong more and more now, she won't have the confidence to rebuke Jin Yu if she ever harbors any strange thoughts in the future.

We absolutely cannot accept too much leniency from Chu Mingkong right now...

Seeing Pei Mi's evasive attitude, Chu Mingkong glanced at Jin Yu in confusion. Had this girl said something after he left last night? Why was Pei Mi avoiding him even more than when they were chatting last night?

He asked Pei Mi gently and calmly, "Then, Mother, do you know how to clean, cook, water the flowers and weed regularly?"

Jin Yu said matter-of-factly, "I can't, and of course Mother can't either!"

Pei Mi rolled her eyes at the two of them, her reproachful gaze filled with a thousand charms, and she gently scolded her daughter:

"If you can't do it, what does it have to do with me? I can learn these things myself. I'll suffer a little at first, but I'll learn them in no time."

"My physique can't compare to Mingkong's broad shoulders and powerful build, but at least I have the advantage of being a cultivator."

Chu Mingkong glanced around the small courtyard and pondered for a moment in his memory. He remembered that there used to be people here. When he was a child, he would see a family sitting in the shade and eating fruit at the entrance of this courtyard when he came out of Qingxin Mansion. The elderly and children were enjoying themselves.

The courtyard is now empty. Judging from its neglected state, it has been vacant for about a year or two. It is estimated that it was moved to another place after the turmoil in Xiling.

"Okay, then we won't hire anyone. Our family will clean it ourselves. Is that alright?"

A gentle smile appeared on Jin Yu's face, like a flower blooming brightly and beautifully in spring. She smiled and said:

"I like this 'family' idea. So, once Mingkong has finished dealing with his business, you have to give me a wedding banquet. I want to wear a wedding dress, and my mother will wear a wedding dress too!"

The matter of choosing a principal wife or a concubine requires further consideration, but a proper wedding banquet is indispensable. If it weren't for Jin Yu's last words, Chu Mingkong would have readily agreed on the spot without a second thought.

However, Jin Yu has already gotten involved with Pei Mi. If she agrees, she might offend Pei Mi; if she doesn't agree, she will offend Jin Yu.

"Jinyu, what nonsense are you spouting again!" Pei Mi's eyes widened, her face flushed with anger.

Jin Yu stuck out her tongue, then playfully hid behind Chu Mingkong as a shield, and laughed:

"I've never seen you wear your dowry before, Mother. I just wanted to see you wear it in private for me to see. What are you thinking?!"

Pei Mi was speechless.

The reason is rather far-fetched, but it's passable. They just wanted to see what it would be like to wear a red wedding dress, without breaking any taboos.

If you think it's wrong, then it's your own problem!

Chu Mingkong took the opportunity to nod in agreement:

"No problem. We'll have the best seamstresses tailor-make a wedding dress for Jinyu and her mother together."

This topic might be a bit too much for girls, but there's a caveat: it's only for girls who are already overflowing with affection.

Jin Yu's heart was filled with sweetness, and even Pei Mi couldn't bear to scold her at this moment, lest she disturb her mood.

As expected, Jin Yu's words were as startling as ever, full of "aggression" towards Pei Mi. Chu Mingkong thought she was trying to coax or plead with him, but then he heard her say:

"That night, on our wedding night, my mother also came to keep us company, wearing her wedding dress?"

"Jin! Yu!"

This time, even hiding behind Chu Mingkong was useless for Jin Yu. She was arrested by Pei Mi, who pinched her daughter's soft face, scolded her for her nonsense, and after a lecture, kicked her out of the courtyard.

Chu Mingkong wanted to pretend to be innocent and stay to continue cleaning the dust in Pei Mi's yard, acting as a hardworking and dutiful ox who only wanted to plow the fields. However, Pei Mi ruthlessly punched him and pushed him out of the yard.

The old, rustic wooden door slammed shut with a bang, the echo seemingly lingering in the quiet courtyard.

The stunningly beautiful and elegant woman leaned against the wooden door, her face flushed crimson, perhaps because she was a little excited, her heart was beating a little fast.

The resounding slam of the door seemed to echo into her heart, making it pound.

Chu Mingkong was helpless in the face of such a closed door. He used the simple formations he knew to create a layer of protection for the courtyard, and then went back to ask Daoist Yun Nongyu to help him write some talismans to put up in Pei Mi's courtyard.

"Now look what's happened, we've been kicked out by our mother. What do you think we should do now?" Chu Mingkong asked irritably.

Jin Yu thought for a moment, realizing that such time alone together was a rare treat, and she suggested:

"I want to go see the Xiling Tea House and the riverbank where the old fisherman lives. I've been wanting to come here for a long time. Mingkong, please take me there quickly!"

Coincidentally, Yongzhen, Shangguan Rong, and Wei Qingning were passing by. They were traveling together to explore the area around Qingxin Prefecture and get acquainted with the surroundings, with Wei Qingning, a local, acting as their guide.

Upon hearing Jin Yu's words, they naturally wanted to go along. Not only was Chu Mingkong there, but the two places Jin Yu mentioned also piqued the curiosity of the two women besides Wei Qingning.

Yongzhen was unable to speak, so Shangguan Rong spoke on her behalf: "Mingkong, let's go together too."

When Jin Yu was the princess of the Tianji Empire, a refined and aloof young lady, she would at least hide her emotions. But now, without the need to feign concern for the emperor's image, she has no reason to conceal her discontent.

She frowned, pouted, and said unhappily:

"I want to go with Mingkong. I'll tell you about what happened after I go!"

Goodness, Chu Mingkong thought she would say, "You can go by yourselves in private."

However, Yongzhen and Shangguan Rong did not argue with Jinyu much and directly joined the group to accompany her.

Yongzhen wrote a few words on the note. Chu Mingkong thought that Yongzhen was secretly (openly) writing a message for him to see, but it turned out that she was just using the note as paper to talk to someone else.

As soon as she finished writing, she held up the paper for Wei Qingning to see:

[Qingning, are there really so many talented people emerging from the Xiling Teahouse and the river your brother often mentioned for fishing?]

Wei Qingning had no idea what the Xiling Teahouse was all about. She had never heard Chu Mingkong mention it in the capital, but the old fisherman had mentioned it when she was a child.

She shook her head and said, "I don't know. When my brother was a child, he mentioned the old fisherman to Sister Yunhan. However, Sister Yunhan had people stake out that river for nearly two months, intending to catch the old man who had corrupted my brother. Unfortunately, they didn't manage to catch any suspicious individuals."

Upon hearing this, Jin Yu, Yong Zhen, and Shangguan Rong all turned their gazes to Chu Mingkong, hoping to get an explanation from him.

Chu Mingkong, sweating profusely under his intense gaze, stammered awkwardly as he explained:

"Well... that old fisherman is quite skilled. He probably sensed the ambush set up by Yunhan and didn't show up again."

Shangguan Rong said, "Let's go take a look at everything. First, let's stroll along the river, and then sit at the teahouse that Mingkong mentioned."