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

He simply said that there was a ritual that required Madam Zhen to make sexual intercourse with him, and he wanted to gain something from this ritual, but he was not yet sure whether the ritual was worth Madam Zhen's sacrifice.

When Madam Zhen heard Chu Mingkong's words, she blinked in surprise.

The night air in the Kunlun Mountains was slightly cool, and tranquility descended upon the courtyard; no one spoke for a long time.

"Mingkong, I might have been misheard by the sound of the wind. Could you please repeat it?"

The night wind in the mountains isn't strong enough to get your ears wet.

Chu Mingkong's lips twitched: "There is a concept that may or may not be important, and it requires Madam Zhen's... help. Madam Zhen, do you remember what Rong'er mentioned about the early tradition of honoring the mother in the Yueqi Empire when you came here? That's what it is, which is why I've been hesitant to bring it up with you."

Madam Zhen was once again stunned and lost in thought. She lowered her head, not daring to look up at the moon, for fear that the moonlight would reveal the rosy blush on her face.

Previously, their relationship was only maintained through Yongzhen's identity, a lingering, unbreakable bond. But now, Mingkong has directly said he wants to do "that" with her...

Is this just an excuse, or is it really true? Should I agree to it? If I agree openly, how will I explain it to Yongzhen? I'm Yongzhen's mother...

Although Yongzhen is sensible and considerate, she's not as docile and obedient as Jinyu, so she would definitely find it difficult to accept. But if she refuses, then Mingkong...

Seeing Madam Zhen's flustered reaction, Chu Mingkong thought to himself, "Just as I thought, this matter is really hard to say."

The Moon Worship Cult is facing certain death, but they have the advantage of a simple ritual to enter the divine kingdom. The Moon Worship Cult will have an easier time later on, but the first hurdle is as difficult as climbing to heaven!

Chu Mingkong quickly explained:

"I know this matter is unreliable and has many difficulties, which is why I find it hard to explain to Madam Zhen. Moreover, the requirements for the ceremony of honoring the mother are not low. The 'mother' must have outstanding talent and status, and the other party must truly respect and love this 'mother' from the bottom of their heart. If there is even the slightest discord, it will all be for nothing, a complete waste of effort, and it will also cause Madam Zhen to lose her reputation."

When Madam Zhen heard the anxiety in his explanation, she remembered that Yongzhen had mentioned earlier that two groups of envoys from the Crescent Moon Kingdom had visited. Since then, Mingkong had been hesitant and had even disappeared for most of the day, only to reappear late at night.

Thinking about it this way, Chu Mingkong wasn't just making up some random things to fool her; he genuinely had this need. But he made it sound so casual and didn't explain how important it was, so he definitely didn't want to put pressure on her.

The voluptuous and elegant woman calmed down considerably and asked, "If I don't agree, Mingkong, what do you plan to do?"

“Let’s look for another way… If that doesn’t work either, then we’ll give up on this. It’s not something we can’t do, it’s just closer to the plan I’ve come up with right now.” Chu Mingkong frankly shrugged.

Madam Zhen, however, became perceptive and pressed Chu Mingkong for answers: "Other methods? What other methods?"

This vigilance was not unfounded. When Rong'er introduced the Yueqi Empire's "respect for the mother" tradition in that carriage, besides her, another elder of Mingkong, Gu Jungui, was also present!

If things don't work out with her, Mingkong might go and ask Madam Gu...

As expected, Madam Zhen saw the embarrassed look on Chu Mingkong's face and said, "This other method, is it Madam Gu?"

"Ah."

Chu Mingkong had no choice but to nod. Madam Zhen had already guessed the name; any further attempt to conceal it would be self-deception.

"Although Aunt Gu does not have the rare physique of Madam Zhen, nor the majestic status of a hundred birds paying homage to the phoenix, she is a very dear elder in my heart, and perhaps she can meet the requirements of the ceremony."

Moreover, if we're really talking about "expensive," Aunt Gu is quite remarkable. Although she missed the best starting stage of cultivation, her cultivation progress is still very good. She doesn't have any rare physique to enhance her; she simply has a high affinity for the five elements of spiritual energy.

Upon hearing that Madam Gu was still present, Madam Zhen became inexplicably anxious. She pursed her lips, no longer suppressing the confusion that had been lingering in her heart for so long, and suddenly asked in a low voice, "...Mingkong, I have a question for you, and you are not allowed to lie!"

"Don't lie."

"You... do you already know the true identity of 'Eternal'?"

This time, it was Chu Mingkong's turn to remain silent. He exhaled a sigh of relief, looked at the cunning moon in the sky, and nodded.

"At the time, I was afraid that Madam Zhen would not be able to accept it, so I continued to pretend to be confused."

So I recognized them a long time ago!

Madam Zhen recalled that one early morning, she wondered if she had given herself away because she seemed to have overslept. But Mingkong looked like he had overslept, so she was relieved that everything was fine and he hadn't noticed.

"You only discovered it when you peeked at it early in the morning?"

"No." Chu Mingkong shook his head: "Although I was confused at first by the soul swap between Madam Zhen and Yongzhen, after spending some time together, I can still feel the difference between you. Your personalities are different. I really liked the 'Yongzhen' when I gave her the pendant. Even if you secretly swap souls again, I will definitely be able to tell who is who."

That might be a bit shameless, but Chu Mingkong wasn't really confident in his judgments outside of combat. What truly confirmed his guess was the filial piety ledger...

The transferors are different people, how could it not be confirmed?

In her initial panic, Madam Zhen calmed down considerably after hearing Chu Mingkong's heartfelt words.

I recognized him based on how I felt when we spent time together...

He can tell me apart from Yongzhen!

Madam Zhen was actually a little unwilling at the time. She had indeed forgotten who she was in a daze. But she never thought that everything she had done, the handsome man she had chosen, would benefit Yongzhen. Only now did she realize that Chu Mingkong had known who was who all along!

There is definitely some resentment, but more resentment comes from him not saying it sooner.

Madam Zhen turned her face away, both pleased and embarrassed:

"Ahem... Since you, Mingkong, know about the mistakes you made back then, then my broken and withered body is not worth pitying. If you want to try that ritual, I'll go with you."

Chu Mingkong boldly embraced her. The graceful and beautiful woman's body trembled slightly in his arms, perhaps because the night was too cold, or perhaps because of her panic.

“Madam Zhen, what are you saying? What do you mean by withered flowers and fallen willows? In my eyes, you are a beautiful peony of unparalleled beauty. Although I used those high-sounding words when I took you out of the capital, my true intention was to possess you and keep you by my side for the rest of my life, to take care of you and cherish you!”

Chapter 239 Yongzhen sneezed

Madam Zhen's cheeks burned. Although she was captivated by Chu Mingkong's words, a trace of worry and unease remained: "It's not that I don't want to accompany you to the ceremony, it's just that Yongzhen... Yongzhen isn't Jinyu..."

Chu Mingkong couldn't say he wasn't troubled by this matter at all. Pei Mi and Jin Yu were at odds, while Jin Yu was eager for the three of them to be together. As for Yongzhen... he didn't know how to explain it to her.

"Let's take it one step at a time. The ceremony of the Defeat Moon Cult is in a few days. At this critical juncture, we can only keep it from Yongzhen for now. After we've dealt with things, I'll confess. Madam Zhen, don't worry. Just say that you were not in your right mind at the time and thought you were Yongzhen. I recognized you, but I was still bewitched and continued. Madam Zhen, don't worry that Yongzhen will blame you later."

"You... should take it one step at a time, you can't rely on yourself entirely."

"Alright, we don't have a solution for Yongzhen yet. We'll think about it later. It's really not right to keep it a secret this time, but I'm afraid that if Yongzhen finds out, she'll run away in anger as soon as I enter the Lunar Eclipse Kingdom. How can I handle both of us at once? Just act as usual, Madam Zhen."

"Um......"

After Madam Zhen finished speaking softly, she realized that Chu Mingkong was holding her so tightly, as if afraid that she would escape. If he exerted any more force, she might not even be able to breathe.

She used various identities to be intimate with Chu Mingkong in the past. At first, she was "Yongzhen", and later she used a puppet. But now she was embracing him so intimately in her true form, right in the courtyard.

The thrill of those secret rendezvous nights surged through her mind, and the sight and recognition of her true self with Chu Mingkong filled her with a trembling, forbidden excitement that made her heart race wildly, almost to the point of disorientation.

"Mingkong, you're holding me too tightly..." Madam Zhen said with a slight reproach, finding an excuse to cover up her flustered and nervous heart.

But Chu Mingkong's arms were still wrapped tightly around her, so tightly that Madam Zhen's ample bosom was squeezed out of shape in his embrace.

"Let me hold you tighter for now. I was always afraid that if Madam Zhen found out that I recognized you as 'Yongzhen' in those nights, she would be so ashamed that she would break up with us. I feel like this is not real."

"What's unreal about it... It's not like I'm a pretty and charming young girl like Jin Yu. I'm already a bit older. I was worried that Ming Kong would also find me unappealing, since I've been intimate with her so many times."

It can only be said that the world here is indeed a bit radical in its treatment of women's age. Seventeen or eighteen-year-old men can still be called young men, but seventeen or eighteen-year-old women are basically married and have started their own families. By the time they reach thirty, when their feminine charm is at its peak, they all feel like old women.

“In my eyes, you are all equally precious. I am very greedy. I want to possess everything that catches my eye and that I like, just like a child in the marketplace who, even when he has not finished eating the snacks in his mouth, always tries to hide more.”

Madam Zhen was not good with sweet talk. Although she was delighted by his words, she was too embarrassed to continue the conversation for the time being. Her rosy cheeks pressed against the man's broad chest, and she returned to the matter of the ceremony:

"Do we still need to go to Madam Gu for the ritual of the Defeat Moon Cult?"

I guess we don't need to anymore...

Chu Mingkong paused, then said with difficulty, "I guess we still need to."

Madam Zhen asked, puzzled, "Why?"

Chu Mingkong carefully considered his words, fearing he might say something inappropriate, and slowly explained:

"The 'honoring the mother' ceremony requires both 'closeness' and 'nobility.' In my heart, Madam Zhen is certainly very close to me, but the rules are not set by me, but are customs passed down from the Yueqi Empire. I can't say for sure that Madam Zhen is acceptable."

If we bring Madam Zhen there, but the ceremony doesn't recognize her closeness to me, wouldn't we be unable to enter the divine realm, and Madam Zhen's efforts be in vain?

It won't cost you anything if Mingkong and I put in a little effort...

However, Madam Zhen understood Chu Mingkong's reasoning. Since she hadn't set the rules herself, she could only do her best to prepare. For the time being, not being able to enter the so-called Lunar Eclipse Kingdom was the biggest loss.

"Have you thought about how to talk to Madam Gu? Madam Gu has watched you grow up. Can she accept this?"

"I don't know either," Chu Mingkong said bitterly.

Some relationships are harder to talk about the more you value them, and when the relationship itself carries a sense of taboo, it becomes even harder to express.

The current relationship is worth cherishing, but if you confess your feelings and then fail, you risk losing even that relationship.

"Mingkong, when do you plan to speak with Madam Gu?"

"Let's do it tomorrow. Although there are still a few days until the lunar eclipse, we can't wait until the last day to talk about this." Chu Mingkong made a decisive decision, but he was still a little unsure how to face Aunt Gu tomorrow.

Madam Zhen's gaze seemed hesitant, but then she made up her mind:

“Mingkong, I will accompany you to see Madam Gu. Just tell her that I will meet the requirements of the ceremony and will no longer need her. This will give her a safeguard and ensure that we don’t necessarily have to go all the way.”

"If my Aunt Gu were to ask you, Madam Zhen, how did you agree to my excessive request? How would you answer?" Chu Mingkong smiled.

"Just say it's an important plan to get you into the Lunar Eclipse Kingdom," Madam Zhen reluctantly offered a reason.

Chu Mingkong immediately pressed on, "So, when the time comes, will Madam Zhen be willing to have my Aunt Gu watching you and me do 'that'?"

Madam Zhen was finally overcome with shame. The memory of being so engrossed in her secret rendezvous late at night was unbearable. She couldn't imagine another woman seeing her like that. Her body twisted in embarrassment, her heart pounded, and she could only shake her head, unable to answer.

Seeing Madam Zhen's expression, Chu Mingkong couldn't help but kiss her hot, red, smooth face. If it weren't for Aunt Gu's matter tomorrow and the waning of her postpartum period a few days later that were swirling in his mind, Chu Mingkong really wanted to get closer and more intimate with Madam Zhen after so long.

If he involuntarily showed signs of distraction during the process, and Madam Zhen saw it, it would make her feel bad.

Chu Mingkong felt that he had been holding this elegant and voluptuous beauty for a long time, and reluctantly let go. Madam Zhen, who had just felt tight, felt unsatisfied when she let go, as she had not yet enjoyed the warmth that was hard to find again.

The cool night breeze seemed to be trying to drive Madam Zhen back to her normal body temperature with the difference in temperature.

"Then shall I escort Madam Zhen back to her room to rest? I'll come to visit you again tomorrow." Although Chu Mingkong had just let go of Madam Zhen, he now took her hand back.

The cool breeze soothed Madam Zhen's inner turmoil, helping her recover from the helplessness of her earlier confession. She tightly grasped Chu Mingkong's hand.

“Mingkong, Yongzhen isn’t here tonight, so stay and keep me company… If you shrink, we can be more intimate. That way, I might be able to say that I’ve held you when you were little many times, and the Moonfall Ceremony will be recognized immediately.”

Since Madam Zhen has said so, how could Chu Mingkong refuse?

"Okay, then let's hope this ceremony isn't too difficult or demanding."

"And... all those things I did with Yongzhen's body before, Mingkong, you were thinking about Yongzhen's image all along. Now I have to do them back with my own body."

Chu Mingkong thought this was a good idea, but he didn't expect Madam Zhen to care about it.

"Ah."

“Mingkong, you should say ‘I’ll listen to Madam Zhen,’ instead you always said ‘I’ll listen to Yongzhen…”

"Madam Zhen remembers everything too clearly. Alright, we'll do as Madam Zhen says. So, tonight, shall we first become smaller and get closer, or shall we first reminisce about the past?"