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

Chapter 43 Sister: Was my account hacked?

Xiao Yunhan had to admit that her seclusion this time had lasted a little longer than she had expected.

Originally, I could have finished my seclusion in one or two months, but later I had some inspiration and enlightenment, so I stayed in seclusion for a longer period of time. But I don’t think it was too long, right?

It should only have been three or four months, right? She's been in seclusion for three or four months, haven't the changes in the outside world been a bit too great...?

The younger brother, Chu Mingkong, courted death by returning to the tiger's den. Not only did he enter and leave the palace twice, but he also killed the emperor.

Xiao Yunhan only had this feeling about the changing situation when she first learned about the Crescent Moon Kingdom. Given the rapid pace of change there, her learning speed about its historical evolution might not be able to keep up with the pace of change.

“You haven’t been in seclusion for very long, less than a year.”

Shen Xuejun's calm and composed tone gradually soothed Xiao Yunhan's heart.

Her master was a serious person who rarely smiled. When she was with her, she found that her attitude towards people was not as unapproachable as it seemed. However, Shen Xuejun's personality of not joking with people was also true.

"So much has happened, how is Mingkong doing now..." After asking her brother, Xiao Yunhan added, "And Xiling too."

"Fortunately, he has controlled the Abyss Injury and even used it for his own purposes. Xiling is also doing well, so you can rest assured."

"That's good. I originally intended to go into seclusion for another month or two to increase my confidence in my strength. That way, even if Mingkong were to stage a coup at the palace, the Heavenly Extreme Royal Family could handle it no matter how many sects they asked for help. I didn't expect Mingkong to have already taken care of all this himself..."

Xiao Yunhan was afraid that her master would add at the end that all of this happened XX years ago—Mingkong lived a peaceful and good life in his later years, but before he passed away, he was still thinking about seeing his elder sister one last time.

Such lame jokes among cultivators are not uncommon; the reason they are lame jokes is that they have actually happened...

Shen Xuejun said, "Your timing for coming out of seclusion is perfect. In a few days, there will be a once-in-a-century auction in the East China Sea, which will start in the next couple of days. We can time it so we can go there and catch the mid-event feast."

"I will follow Master's instructions, but I would like to visit my family." Xiao Yunhan's family, especially his younger brother, was the one he was referring to.

“Okay…” Shen Xuejun was about to say something when the spiritual energy fluctuations from the paper interrupted her.

The busty beauty remembered that Yunhan's note was still with her, so she took it out and quietly erased the traces of past communications from Yunhan's note.

“This is a ‘paper note,’ a communication tool that Mingkong had Tianya Tower put together. It can be used as a form of correspondence where you can write and reply instantly.” After giving a brief introduction, Shen Xuejun glanced at the message Mingkong had sent and added, “It’s quite a coincidence that Mingkong is asking about you, whether you have come out of seclusion yet.”

Xiao Yunhan moved closer to Shen Xuejun to get a better look at the message her brother had sent in the note. The two beautiful women with snow-white hair stood intimately together. Even though their expressions were indifferent and without smiles, their beauty still made the surroundings feel like spring was in full bloom.

Both the people and the scenery are absolutely stunning!

Xiao Yunhan murmured, "This was written by Mingkong. His handwriting has improved; it used to be very ugly."

At the same time.

Xiling.

Chu Mingkong remained lying in the room, looking as listless as ever, waiting for his master's wife's reply.

"That's strange. Why haven't they replied yet? Could it be that my master's wife has also gone into seclusion?" He wondered.

But on second thought, it's also a good thing.

After being reminded by the Moon River Goddess, Chu Mingkong now felt somewhat suspicious of Shen Xuejun. It wasn't so much that he doubted her, but he was increasingly unable to figure out what her plans were behind that cold face.

A sophisticated saying goes: Every gift that fate bestows has a price tag attached.

Chu Mingkong drank his master's wife's milk; who knows what price he'll have to pay in the future.

It's so heavy!

So if my master's wife is in seclusion now, and I don't have to face her for the time being, it might actually be a good thing.

The two little ones rubbing against him suddenly reacted when they heard the word "mother".

"What kind of mother is Master's wife?" Yuehe Maomao asked, her mouth still full of food, her soft and tender cheeks moving like a little hamster.

Although she didn't know the difference between so many titles like "aunt," "concubine," and "sister-in-law," she knew very well that "mother" meant mother, so she was curious about the "teacher's wife" that her father had just mentioned.

Jiao'er, who couldn't speak much yet, reacted most strongly to the word "mother." The little girl nestled in Chu Mingkong's arms and softly called out "mother" a few times, as if she was missing her.

Chu Ming sighed, unable to think of a good way to explain, so he simply hugged and kissed them to distract the two little ones.

They had only kissed a few times when a message arrived on the paper. Chu Mingkong thought it was from Shen Xuejun, but when he saw that it was from Xiao Yunhan, he was stunned.

When the paper was first delivered to Wenqing Pavilion, Yunhan had not yet gone into seclusion. He chatted with Yunhan a few times, and a long time has passed in the blink of an eye!

[Xiao Yunhan: Mingkong, how are you in Xiling? What are you busy with these days?]

[Chu Mingkong: Very well. There was some ghostly activity at the border between Xiling and Jin, and I've been dealing with it for the past few days. But I'm still mostly resting, having only recently returned from the Crescent Moon Kingdom... Also, Yunhan, our communication via paper notes is fine as casual conversation; it doesn't need to be as formal as letters. This isn't the first time you've used paper notes. Does coming out of seclusion mean you've become distant from me?]

Xiao Yunhan was slightly surprised. She hadn't expected that this thing could actually write and reply instantly. Tianya Tower had really come up with a convenient new product.

only......

This was clearly her first time using it; she had just received it from Shen Xuejun. Why would Mingkong tell her, "This isn't your first time using it either?"

Shen Xuejun, standing to the side, said nonchalantly:

"Mingkong must have misremembered. There's no need to worry about it. After this note is developed, he will send it to each of the female relatives so that he can keep track of the situation in Xiling after returning to the capital."

Now that so much time has passed, perhaps I've confused you with someone else.

"I see." Xiao Yunhan nodded.

Although it was understandable, Xiao Yunhan still felt uncomfortable listening to it. Surely a cultivator's memory wasn't so bad that they could forget things?

[Xiao Yunhan: I just came out of seclusion and learned about your situation from my master. I didn't expect so much to have happened during my seclusion. I'll head back to Xiling in a bit.]

[Chu Mingkong: I've been missing you, Yunhan. I didn't expect you to have just emerged from seclusion. Please come back soon; my two bouncy little daughters also want to see you.]

“…?” Xiao Yunhan was stunned again.

Youngest daughter?

She calculated the time required for ten months of pregnancy, and also calculated the time of Chu Mingkong's various schedules. Where did he find the time to have two daughters?

"Master, did I really only go into seclusion for a few months?"

Chapter 44 Xiao Zhi: What should I do if my daughter comes back?

My sister is coming back, and I really miss her.

However, just as Madam Zhen didn't know how to explain her relationship with Yongzhen, Chu Mingkong was facing a similar problem... How could he explain his relationship with his mother to Yunhan?

Since there's no good opportunity to explain right now, all we can do is keep it a secret!

Concealing something requires communication!

My elder sister Yunhan is coming from Wenqing Pavilion, which will take at least several days. If we hurry, she should be back in the next couple of nights. I need to tell Mother Consort Zhi'er in advance!

Chu Mingkong touched the two little girls' cheeks and asked, "Shall we go play at Mother's place? At Tianya Tower?"

Jiao'er couldn't understand, and kept babbling something. Chu Mingkong didn't know how to respond to Jiao'er, since he couldn't understand either, so he could only respond with his own babbling.

From an outsider's perspective, the two, one big and one small, would probably be having a heated discussion, but Chu Mingkong himself felt that he was just talking about nothing.

Meanwhile, Yuehe Cat, who was also lying next to Chu Mingkong, looked at her father with a puzzled and serious expression, wondering why he and Jiao'er were talking about things she couldn't understand!

Am I being isolated?

Chu Mingkong noticed his beloved daughter's silent gaze and quickly turned around to ask her a few questions: "Do you want to go outside to play?"

"No." Yuehe Maomao glanced in Fengying's direction, indicating that she wanted to stick close to Fengying's mother. "What was Father talking to Jiao'er about just now?"

"I don't know what I'm saying, I'm just shouting along with my feelings," Chu Mingkong said frankly.

It might be a bit childish for a little kid like a cat, but it's just right for an adult like him!

"...?" The cat girl suspected that her father had some serious mental illness.

Chu Mingkong didn't want the two little girls to be separated for the time being, so he decided to treat them as companions. Since Maomao didn't want to go out with him, he wouldn't bring Jiao'er along either. He would let the little girls play together.

"An older sister will be coming back to meet you in a couple of days. I'll go tell the concubines about it first, and then come over to play with you later."

After leaving the two little ones' encirclement, Chu Mingkong informed Feng Ying and the others, and hurried towards Tianya Tower.

Consort Zhi'er and Consort Wanhua were naturally dealing with official documents, but as things gradually stabilized in Xiling, their workload decreased considerably.

What used to be a mountain of work is now less than half a mountain, and that's only after two or three days of accumulated work. It's much easier for the two of them to handle, and they can chat while working without worrying that a few words of conversation will prevent them from finishing their work on time.

Chu Mingkong walked into the City Lord's Pavilion and looked at the two mature beauties, each with their own unique charm, sitting side by side in front of the desk. They were chatting and resting, their pink arms supporting their cheeks and their full breasts resting on the desk to reduce the burden on their shoulders.

In the elegant hall filled with the aroma of tea, the bright and soft light perfectly accentuated the nobility and beauty of the two mature women. Although they were simply sitting leisurely, they still exuded an unattainable aura and a sense of distance. All their beauty and radiance were like white lotuses blooming on a snowy mountain, pure and untouched by dust, visible but untouchable.

The maids serving in the city lord's pavilion felt this especially deeply.

However, there are always people who can easily break through such a distance.

As Chu Mingkong approached them, the two beautiful noblewomen's smiles were tender and affectionate, and the subtle sense of distance between them melted away in an instant.

After the maids were told to leave, Chu Mingkong squeezed between his two mothers and sat down.

"Do you have a lot to do? Do you want me to help you out?" Chu Mingkong asked, first inquiring about their current tasks.

Xiao Zhi and Wan Hua, who were sitting next to the desk just moments ago, have now been moved to sit on either side of Chu Mingkong.

Wan Hua pointed to the remaining memorials on the desk: "Not many. If we store these memorials, it will take about four days to equal the amount we had before."

Are you going to stockpile four days' worth of work, and then have to endure another crazy Thursday...?

Chu Mingkong quickly flipped through the memorials, which mostly contained economic matters, rather than reports of someone causing trouble and needing to be taught a lesson.

This indirectly shows the current stability of Xiling.

Xiao Zhi added, "Actually, there were quite a few ghostly incidents a few days ago, but fortunately the Wei family has returned now, so this part of the work can be shared. Now it's a bit like returning to the original Xiling. Tianya Tower can easily manage the affairs of Xiling, and there's no need for anyone to actually sit in the City Lord's Pavilion."

When the Wei family was in Xiling, they helped the government with its affairs, which could be seen as an extension of their military power. They were indispensable in handling various difficult and complicated matters.

Now that the Wei family has returned, no matter how many ghosts or spirits haunt the place during yin hours or peak yin days, the Wei family can share the burden, and the pressure on Tianya Tower will be reduced by several times.

After a brief discussion of business, Xiao Zhi asked curiously, "Why didn't you play with those two little girls today?"

"I only came here after I'd had enough of them. Next time I'll coax them over so that both of you mothers can have some fun too~" Chu Mingkong said jokingly, then his tone returned to seriousness: "And there's something I need to tell Mother Zhi'er."

Wan Hua observed Chu Mingkong's expression, and after a brief moment of thought, guessed, "It's most likely that Yun Han is coming back."

Chu Mingkong never doubted the wisdom of Wan Hua's mother, but he still couldn't help but ask, "How could she have guessed that?"

“These things aren’t just guesses. You specifically emphasized talking to Zhi’er, and there was no hint of joking on your face, which means it’s not a small matter, and it’s closely related to Zhi’er. Does Zhi’er have any special private matters now? It’s only her eldest daughter, Yunhan.”