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

He had originally escaped from the capital, and although he had managed to steal back the most beautiful women from the capital, his escape meant he couldn't win. How could he possibly take revenge? Especially after hearing that the emperor could easily defeat those reclusive immortal elders, he had even less hope for Chu Mingkong's revenge.

Unexpectedly, Chu Mingkong went to the imperial palace in the capital without a word and killed the emperor in front of so many people, even demolishing the palace!

The entire Xiling region was in an uproar!

Meanwhile, Chu Mingkong, who was pondering how to get closer to his daughter Maomao, was unaware of what had happened.

Just as the carriage returned to Tianya Tower and he stepped off, carrying his daughter, he suddenly heard someone shout, "Your Highness is back!"

In an instant, the streets were deserted as everyone flocked to Tianya Tower to cheer. Who remembered what kind of ridiculous reputation he had once made in the capital?

Chu Mingkong was completely dumbfounded and confused. He was almost ready to erect a protective barrier for his daughter: "Holy crap, what's going on? Have they rebelled?"

My daughter's here, give me some face!

Chapter Two: Jinyu: I can call him Dad too!

Fortunately, this situation did not cause Chu Mingkong any real trouble or distress. After a brief explanation from the elder of Tianya Tower, he understood the reason for the matter.

Chu Mingkong was eager to immediately immerse himself in his long-lost life of slacking off, but the people of Tianya City already knew about his return, so he should respond and show some respect, regardless of etiquette.

"To be honest, Elder Ding, on the way back, I was thinking about future troubles and the girls I just received. I didn't expect there would be a celebration as soon as I got back to Xiling." Chu Mingkong still found it very surprising, and this was his true feeling, not just his choice of words.

He had indeed regarded the emperor as a formidable enemy before. Chu Mingkong had relied on the power of extreme yin to cheat for so long, and when he suddenly encountered an enemy who could also use similar methods, it was impossible for him not to be cautious.

The words of the Moon River Goddess, as well as the unexpected situation he discovered under the Golden Palace, overshadowed his joy. Sorrow overwhelmed his happiness. Now, returning to Xiling, he felt the sincere enthusiasm and cheers of the people welcoming him.

He just realized that while he shouldn't be overjoyed at defeating the emperor, there was no need to be so worried that he forgot to be happy.

Elder Ding glanced at the unfamiliar young girl with Yue Qi's face, and looked at Chu Mingkong with a hint of confusion. Was this still the same prince from before? Why was he getting so close to this young girl?!

It should be normal for Chu Mingkong, at his age, to be close to girls of marriageable age, but considering his style of practically emptying the capital of beautiful women, Elder Ding felt that this was very abnormal.

It's even possible that he suffered some psychological trauma during the battle with the emperor, and thus fell in love with women of normal age again.

"Elder Ding?" Chu Mingkong was puzzled as to why he was so solemn and lost in thought.

"Oh! I was just lost in thought. I was wondering if we should hold a celebration for Your Highness. I think the people would definitely like to hear what you have to say, such as a formal announcement that the great feud with Xiling has been settled."

Chu Mingkong glanced at Yue Hexi beside him, placed his large hand on her head and stroked her soft hair, then shook his head after thinking for a moment:

"Forget it, let's just do it like before and issue an official announcement from Tianya Tower to explain the matter. The snowstorm in the Crescent Moon Kingdom has passed. If we gather the people here for some kind of celebration, they might end up with frostbite when they go back. After the fun, they'll be full of trouble and complaints."

Although I have a blood feud, it hasn't changed the lives of the common people. Let them be happy after hearing the news; that's enough. If they really want to celebrate, they should be more practical and see if they can provide winter relief or reduce taxes and corvée labor. These are up to Tianya Lou's own plans and calculations; I'm not knowledgeable in these matters and won't interfere.

"That's fine."

Elder Ding was not surprised. Chu Mingkong's successful return from the capital last time was something to celebrate, but he only asked for a public announcement.

While being overly ambitious is certainly inappropriate, celebration banquets are not inherently wrong; they are a means of establishing authority. If the elders of Tianya Tower achieve anything significant, they practically want to knock on someone's door to remind them, even when they're taking a dump.

His Highness is far too indifferent and calm when it comes to achievements.

"I have a question for you. What is this young lady's name?"

Chu Mingkong glanced at his large daughter and let her answer herself. Firstly, he was familiar with Xiling, and secondly, he wanted to see which name she preferred.

He was afraid that if he introduced the girl's nickname "Cat Cat," she would get upset.

"Yue Hexi, my current age is sixteen," the girl replied politely.

Temporary age? Elder Ding found this explanation a bit strange, but didn't delve into it further:

"This is the girl His Highness... met in the Crescent Moon Kingdom? It's rare to meet such a young person!"

"Daughter," Chu Mingkong corrected without saying a word.

"Oh, adopted daughter, isn't this kind of play a bit too much...?"

"My own daughter!" Chu Mingkong's teeth ached.

"?"

Elder Ding's smile gradually faded, and he began to express his doubts with a serious attitude.

He rubbed his hands together, unsure how to begin.

"This girl isn't much younger than Your Highness. When you were only two or three years old, you were already tilling the fields for some young lady? That's a bit early. Could you have been tricked or something?"

"Hey!"

Chu Mingkong was so exhausted that she didn't know how to explain the matter. Fortunately, her daughter, Maomao, knew that her situation was special and that the old man's doubts were normal, so she didn't say anything.

"The situation is a bit complicated, I will explain it later."

After bidding farewell to Elder Ding, Chu Mingkong was able to meet his baby's mother and Jin Yu, and he had to introduce his daughter to them with a headache.

The overreaction of everyone might make Yuehexi feel distant and alienated. Instead of taking his daughter to meet people first, he took her for a stroll around Tianya Tower.

Although Yue Hexi looks like a grown woman, she always has a serious face and a stern expression. However, she occasionally reveals her innocent and cute side. Ever since she got off the bus, she has been staring wide-eyed at her surroundings with curiosity. Even when someone passes by, she will cast a curious glance at them, as if she rarely sees so many people.

"Kitty, you just said you're sixteen for now, will that change later?"

"Mmm." The girl responded to the nickname without showing any aversion. She counted on her fair fingers, "Yes, it will. It will change in a couple of days, with the full moon as the dividing line."

A full moon night marks one month, meaning it changes once a month.

Hopefully, he can shrink a bit by then, not just by one or two years. Ideally, he should be small enough that the cat can still pee on him, otherwise it will be hard to explain. Even if he can explain it clearly, the women will need some time to accept it.

It would be better if she had just been a little girl when they first met, so that even if Yue Hexi turned back to her current age later, they would be more likely to accept it.

Chu Mingkong frankly discussed this matter with Yue Hexi, explained it to her, and finally asked:

"...It's quite rare for a cat to be able to grow big and small like this. It's not that I don't want you to meet your new family, but after you shrink for two days, I'll take you to meet the people around me. What do you think?"

"can."

Yue Hexi nodded seriously. Her personality was somewhat like Shangguan Rong's reserved and seriousness. Chu Mingkong didn't know if it was because they weren't very familiar with each other yet, and he also felt that his attitude towards her was more like taking care of a younger sister than a daughter. He just couldn't find that feeling of being close to her as a daughter.

Because Shangguan Rong was the one who named the cat, and Chu Mingkong was quite close to Shangguan Rong, he brought his daughter to Shangguan Rong for temporary care and companionship.

As for Aunt Gu and the others who returned from the Crescent Moon Kingdom, they could understand Chu Mingkong's desire to help his daughter better integrate into life in Xiling, so they helped keep it a secret for the time being and did not mention it to everyone they met.

However, this deliberate protection was misunderstood by the women who were unaware of the situation.

"Mother!"

Jin Yu rushed back to her room to find Pei Mi. It was rare to see her so flustered in Qingxin Mansion. Her breasts swayed like water.

"What happened? Why are you looking for me in such a panic?" Pei Mi wondered, wondering if something serious had happened as soon as Mingkong returned.

"Chu Lang has found a new girl, a few years younger than him. I've seen him protecting her mysteriously, taking her very seriously, and even moving her to a new mansion!"

"What did Madam Zhen say? She came back with that girl, didn't she?" Pei Mi actually knew about this in a vague way, but she didn't take it to heart.

It's not uncommon for Chu Mingkong to bring women home...

"Madam Zhen couldn't say for sure either, only revealing that the girl and Chu Lang were father and daughter, and told me not to worry about it, and that Chu Lang would explain in a couple of days."

"Since that's the case, why are you in such a hurry? Just wait a couple of days for Mingkong to explain, won't you?" Pei Mi thought that Chu Mingkong was really keeping a woman outside Qingxin Mansion, which was actually quite unusual.

Everyone knows who he is, so why hide him like this?

"Wait a minute..." The woman, whose peach-like figure was exceptionally round and ripe, finally realized what she meant: "You just said father and daughter? I saw that girl once, she's probably only a year or two younger than you, how could she be your daughter?"

"Yes! That's what I'm worried about. If they really are father and daughter, wouldn't Chu Lang have started 'farming' for others when he was only two or three years old? He's not even fully developed yet. I've also heard that the girl calls Sister Feng 'Mother,' and it seems she's her adopted daughter."

Currently, there are two people with the surname Feng in Qingxin Mansion. However, Jin Yu always addresses them as "sister-in-law" because of Chu Mingkong, and Ke Qing addresses them as "sister-in-law." Only Feng Ying addresses them as "Sister Feng."

Jin Yu had already spoken to Pei Mi to this extent, so as her mother, she naturally understood what her daughter meant... She suspected that Chu Mingkong and Feng Ying's adopted daughter had some kind of special fetish, like liking something like "father and daughter".

Jin Yu didn't really care that Chu Mingkong had other women, as long as her lover could fulfill her desires. But this new girl was far too "favored".

After Mingkong brought her back, he didn't let the girl meet or recognize anyone. He took her directly to another residence and settled her there, as if he wanted to avoid them.

If he were just bringing back an ordinary girl, why would it cause such a fuss?

Jin Yu's pretty face fell with anxiety, and she muttered, "Chu Lang likes to play this kind of game, it's not like I can't play along with him. It's just a different way of addressing him, what's the big deal? Why is he avoiding me all the time..."

Pei Mi looked at her daughter and suddenly felt a surge of anger. She clenched her fists tightly and then relaxed them.

So what did Jinyu come to discuss with her?

On the other side, Wei Qingning also noticed this unusual situation. Chu Mingkong had just returned. Although he greeted them and said "You're back," he had many things to ask Tianya Tower to handle, so he only met them briefly before going off to attend to important matters. He didn't explain many things to them in detail.

At this moment, Wei Qingning, filled with melancholy, held the note and tattled on it to her mother.

[Wei Qingning: Mother, my brother brought another girl home. She's younger than me, but they're incredibly close. What should we do?]

Chapter Three Qingning: How come she's older than me?!

Li Lu, Wei Qingning's mother, looked at the message her daughter sent and felt helpless.

The Wei family had followed Chu Mingkong's orders after he fled the capital, temporarily leading their clansmen away from the capital under the pretext of purchasing land, and had been staying outside the capital ever since.

However, they dared not go too far, for fear of missing the first news from the capital.

A few days ago, after news spread that Chu Mingkong had single-handedly entered the capital and beheaded the emperor, the Wei family was astonished, but what followed was an even greater uncertainty about what to do next.

Previously, under the leadership of the patriarch, they entered the capital to join the emperor's camp. Now that the emperor has been killed by Chu Mingkong, it's really not a good idea for them to return to the capital. Moving back to Xiling also depends on how Qingning negotiates with Chu Mingkong.

The Wei family doesn't rely entirely on connections to establish themselves; they can easily gain a foothold anywhere they go. However, they can't just settle down anywhere; after all, moving the entire clan is a time-consuming and laborious affair.

These past few days, Wei's mother had been urging her daughter to contact her as soon as she heard news of her brother. But when she finally received news from her daughter about Chu Mingkong, it was something like this.

She had no choice but to temporarily appease her daughter's anxiety, leaving delicate and dignified handwriting on the paper with her index finger in response to Wei Qingning's unease.

[Mother Wei: As the saying goes, "It's easy for a woman to pursue a man." Seeing that Mingkong has brought another girl back, there's no use in you worrying all by yourself. If you're really worried, you need to take the initiative. Mingkong probably considers you family, like a younger sister, and is afraid of being too forward, which is why he hasn't dared to get any closer.]

Wei Qingning rested her chin on her hand, looking at her mother's reply, her melancholy undiminished.

[Wei Qingning: That makes sense, but I also have some concerns. My brother has many women around him, and they're all quite large, I mean, in terms of figure.]

When Wei's mother saw the message, she thought about it for a moment. Jin Yu, Yong Zhen, Shangguan Rong, and the female assassin from the Crescent Moon Kingdom beside him, plus this young girl, it wasn't really that many people.

[Mother Wei: There are plenty of women with outstanding figures in the world, but Mingkong only knows you as a sister. Why are you worried about your figure? You should be worried that Mingkong is too familiar with you and only sees you as a sister...]

Alright, these are all your private matters. You're free to ask him directly. You and Mingkong aren't that distant, are you? Now that Mingkong is back, go and ask him in detail about things in the capital. The elders and I are still undecided about where we'll settle down.

[Wei Qingning: Okay! I'll go ask right now!]