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

Although in some fantasies the phrase "having many wives and concubines" carries a beautiful and romantic connotation, the status of a concubine was actually quite miserable. Although they were considered wives, they were worlds apart in reality, with their status only slightly higher than that of a maid.

Chu Mingkong didn't want the girls he liked to be burdened with such unpleasant reputations.

He turned the question back on Jin Yu, whispering, but loud enough for Pei Mi to hear:

"Jinyu, let me ask you this: how do you plan to place your mother in the queue? Or are you going to not put her in the queue at all?"

"Can Mother join too?" Jin Yu asked in surprise, confirming in a low voice.

"No way!" Pei Mi objected firmly. "Night is night, and day is day. Mingkong, there's nothing we can do about what happens at night, but during the day you have to treat me properly as Jinyu's mother, your mother-in-law!"

Night is night, and day is day. These were Jin Yu's words last night. Some indulgence and sentimentality are best left to the chaotic, unknown depths of night. If this relationship were to be brought into the daytime, it would be utterly shameful!

What will Princess Chu and the others think of her then? As Chu Mingkong's adoptive mother, Princess Chu would be a generation older than Pei Mi for no reason, and she would have to treat Princess Chu as her mother along with Chu Mingkong!

Jin Yu was scolded by Pei Mi, stuck her tongue out at Chu Mingkong, and then hugged him tightly again.

"I'm fine with anything, I'll follow Chu Lang's arrangements."

......

After having breakfast with Jin Yu and Pei Mi, Chu Mingkong went to visit Aunt Gu and Yong Zhen, and sat down for a chat.

He went there intending only to say hello in the morning, but after walking around for a bit, chatting with everyone, it was already noon before he knew it...

By the time he arrived at Master Zuo Qiuchi's place, she had already started taking a nap!

"Why are you bothering me on such a nice, snowy noon? Why aren't you sleeping?" Zuo Qiuchi said, holding the even more upset Yun Nongyu in a depressed mood. He then warned her, "Let me make this clear: there's no water for you here. If you're thirsty, go outside and grab a handful of snow."

"There might have been a big yellow dog urinating in the snow."

"That's because I was worried your flavors would be too monotonous!"

Yun Nongyu had no idea what profound meaning the word "drink water" meant. She was just thirsty and looking for some tea, which she had in her room. She could also use this opportunity to go back to her room.

She then said, "Your Highness, I just brewed some hot tea in my room not long ago, it shouldn't be cold yet. Let me take you there..."

Zuo Qiuchi stopped him, saying, "No, no, no, don't give it to him! I'll protect you!"

Yun Nongyu: "...?"

Chu Mingkong was afraid that his master might accidentally reveal the truth, which would be embarrassing. He didn't linger on the topic and instead said:

"Master Yun, tonight I plan to enjoy the moon and snow with the ladies. What do you think of the weather tonight?"

"good."

Yun Nongyu casually replied that checking the weather was a very simple operation.

"Okay, then I'll go visit Maomao and see if she'd like to come over tonight."

......

Upon arriving at the residence where the cats were being housed, Chu Mingkong suddenly felt exhausted. He hadn't expected that simply trying to make a good first impression on his daughter would cause so many complications.

During their morning chat, Chu Mingkong explained the situation to the women who were unaware of Maomao's identity and also mentioned their moon-viewing plans for tonight.

It turns out that the sisters-in-law had similar concerns and worries, mainly because his behavior of taking the girl to Qingxin Mansion and settling her in alone was too suspicious. Fortunately, his explanation came not too late.

Otherwise, if everyone wanted to play a "father-daughter" game like Jin Yu, Chu Mingkong would be completely bored.

Entering the boudoir, Fengying sat on the bed, leaning against the headboard, with a somewhat spirited young girl nestled in her arms. In her hand, Fengying held a "children's book" she had bought at the bookstore, which she read to Maomao as a bedtime story.

The young girl, Yuehe tide, had a beautiful figure, but her expression still held the naivety and innocence of a child who was unaware of the ways of the world.

The expression on Feng Ying's face as she held the girl was one that Chu Mingkong had never seen before.

Fengying's appearance and figure are exceptional, coupled with his teasing personality.

Without any derogatory connotation, Feng Ying is the ideal lover in a man's heart—elusive and unpredictable, sometimes disappearing like the wind, and then, when he misses her on lonely nights, she might silently reappear, her jade-like feet treading on his heartstrings, both elegant and alluring. In this respect, Feng Ying probably perfectly embodies Chu Mingkong's imagination of that kind of enchanting romance. However, in the eyes of ordinary women, such a woman would likely be the kind of woman who seduces men, breaks up families, and causes wives and children to be separated.

However, saying such extreme things is also a way of praising her.

Even so, Fengying, who was holding the little girl cat, revealed a gentle and tender expression, just like a virtuous wife and loving mother.

Chu Mingkong found it fascinating, and his positive impression of Feng Ying was enhanced once again.

“Your father is here. Let him tell you a story. He’s a storyteller.” Feng Ying casually tossed the storybook into Chu Mingkong’s hand.

Chu Mingkong flipped through it briefly, and the content was roughly the same as "Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio," but there were still some differences compared to "Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio."

This is not to say that the monster stories written here are not good, but "Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio" is a work that stood out and circulated in its time. It is a work of the best in itself. Compared with these that can be bought anywhere in Xiling, it is naturally superior.

"This story is written from the perspective of an ordinary person who doesn't cultivate, right? Won't the cat find it strange that it's afraid of even a small monster?"

Yuehexi shook her head, resting her head on Fengying's soft breasts, her little arms wrapped around her: "No, the story said from the beginning that the protagonist is a mortal."

"Wow, that's quite honest. Let me tell you something..."

Chu Mingkong pondered which story from "Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio" would be suitable as children's reading material. But as he thought about it, he realized he couldn't remember. The stories he read were all for communicating with teachers, young women, and beautiful aunties, so he must have looked for stories with romantic elements, like those about fox spirits.

"How about I tell you a story... about how your father fought the White Stock Demon three times?"

"No, it takes three rounds to fight a skeleton demon, it's too tedious," the girl complained crisply.

Chu Mingkong was a little hurt. This was the first time someone had dismissed his story. He could only comfort himself by saying that his daughter knew how powerful he was and therefore immediately recognized the obvious illogicality of the "Three Battles with the White Bone Demon" tale.

If you have something to complain about, don't blame the cat.

Chu Mingkong couldn't think of anything to say for a moment, so he honestly picked up the children's literature that Feng Ying had given him and started telling him stories.

After reciting several chapters, Chu Mingkong took the cat from Feng Ying's arms and asked:

"Kitty, is everything going to change tonight?"

"Mmm." Yue Hexi nodded in Chu Mingkong's arms, leaning lazily against his chest.

Perhaps it was because he felt sleepy in the afternoon, but Chu Mingkong thought that the cat's lazy appearance might be quite compatible with his master.

"Would you mind meeting the elders you'll be living with from now on tonight? Let's set up a small campsite, pitch tents, light a campfire, look at the moon and the snow, and also wait to see what you'll look like at other times."

"I don't mind... but there has to be food," the girl added.

Chu Mingkong gently stroked her face with a smile: "What would the kitty like to eat, fruit or something else?"

"I want to try them all."

Great, this "I want it all" attitude is just like me!

"What if a cat finds itself eating something it doesn't like and that tastes bad?"

After careful consideration, the girl glanced at Feng Ying as if asking a question, and finally looked up at Chu Mingkong and said, "Here, have some."

This heartless little darling...

"Feng Ying, did you corrupt my daughter?"

Chapter Seven: Daughter Exchange

Although the camping trip to enjoy the moon and snow was initially planned to be held at Qingxin Mansion, after much consideration, it was ultimately chosen to be held at the mansion with a lake.

Yes, it's the mansion where Chu Mingkong first pounded medicine for Zhi'er during the martial arts competition in Tianya City. That mansion is quite spacious.

Large areas along the lake can be used for setting up campfires, and looking at the frozen lake surface is perhaps a unique and beautiful sight.

It's hard to tell what season it is now. The wind and snow that came from the Crescent Moon Kingdom came abruptly, leaving a trail of frost and snow everywhere. It doesn't matter what season it is anymore; just treat it as winter.

Such a cold season is not really suitable for camping, but given the physical condition of a cultivator, it doesn't really matter.

The main task tonight is to let Yue Hexi get to know the elders, but judging from Chu Mingkong's observation of his daughter, this girl is not afraid of strangers, but she is quiet and not proactive, and just sticks to her familiar parents.

Unlike those pistachio-like little kids who go around calling out to their elders, they won't.

That won't do!

Fortunately, Chu Mingkong still managed to devise a plan for his daughter. Little Cat Cat liked to eat, so Chu Mingkong took out a bunch of fruits and roasted meats, sorted them into plates, and placed them next to the seats of the various women, leaving not a single plate for Cat Cat.

Hey!

If the little girl wants to eat, she should go to each of the older sisters and ask for it. That would be considered the cat taking the initiative to greet the elders.

......

After a while, night finally fell.

Although Chu Mingkong said he could come later, they could just stay out of their own activities until they were ready to go to sleep. They were actually waiting until almost midnight to see the cat grow bigger and smaller, so there was no rush to come over.

Not long after dinner, Chu Mingkong used his familiar timekeeping method to calculate that it was around 8 p.m. when everyone at the campsite had arrived.

The two consorts, who had originally agreed with Chu Mingkong to visit late at night, arrived early as well. Xiao Zhi looked at the residence her son had chosen, glancing at him from time to time, wondering if this was some kind of hint from him.

The camping trip started ahead of schedule under these circumstances.

The cat girl looked around and saw that everyone had food on their plates, but her plate was as clean as the moon in the sky.

Beside her, her unscrupulous father was eating roasted chicken legs with gusto, the aroma filling the air. At that time, the cat had only eaten some fruits and vegetables and the main dishes in her three regular meals, and had never tasted roasted chicken legs before.

The aroma made her mouth water slightly as she smelled it. She stared longingly at Chu Mingkong, hoping he would give her some to eat.

then,

Cat then saw her father stuff the chicken leg into his mouth, and when it came out, only a bare bone remained, not even a trace of meat was left.

"..." The cat girl's expression was somewhat blank.

Feng Ying inwardly cursed Chu Mingkong's shamelessness. He wanted Maomao to greet the elders directly, but he simply did it; instead, he ate in front of her, making her crave food...

"Go ask the elders for food, and remember to say thank you." Feng Ying pointed to the full plates. "Don't be shy, try a little of everything, and give me the ones you like. Give the ones you don't like to your dad."

The cat got excited as soon as it heard that and immediately went to the elders to ask for food.

Those women who were meeting the cat for the first time were puzzled by how big the girl was. In the Tianji Empire, she was old enough to be Chu Mingkong's wife without any problem, and her age was even just right.

It's impossible not to feel strange when you're suddenly told that this is Chu Mingkong's daughter, and his own daughter at that.

However, seeing the girl's fresh curiosity about everything and her undisguised naiveté, even though she looked like a young woman only slightly shorter than Wei Qingning, everyone quickly believed her.

Gu Jun Gui had already met and greeted Maomao beforehand while he was in the carriage. He then affectionately invited her to his side and gently hugged her.

"Come on, try this chili sauce. Take a little bit of meat and try a bite. Don't take too much, or you'll cry from the spiciness."

As soon as the cat heard this, she knew what to do. She first dipped her own piece of meat in chili sauce and tried it. She found it was okay, but hesitated because she thought that if it was so delicious, it might benefit her father.

But she still trusted Aunt Gu's experience and guidance.