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

"So, Zhi'er, what exactly are you trying to say?"

Wan Hua stared at Xiao Zhi with a stern face and a suspicious look in her eyes. She wasn't stupid; she could immediately understand the meaning behind Xiao Zhi's words. Her thoughts were a bit dangerous.

"Zhi'er, you wouldn't be thinking of dragging Yunhan down with you so that your own grandson can back you up in the future, would you?"

"..." Xiao Zhi didn't know why Wan Hua would think of that.

She stopped arguing with Xiao Zhi and went to the balcony of the pavilion to look at the scenery, using the excuse of getting some fresh air, while her mind was filled with conflicting thoughts.

Sometimes people have difficulty seeing their own thoughts clearly, and sometimes they see them clearly but are unwilling to admit it.

I know there are some things I shouldn't do, but once my mind is stirred up, it's hard to calm down.

Since Xiao Zhi discovered Pei Mi's condition in the jade pendant, she must have felt a touch of envy deep down. When that baby is born, besides Chu Mingkong's attitude towards Pei Mi becoming even more ardent, there will also be recognition of her identity.

Pei Mi quietly got pregnant with Chu Mingkong's baby. Who would dare say that Pei Mi was unsuitable?

Given Chu Mingkong's current status and prestige, his reputation for being a womanizer is of no use to him. Perhaps only Pei Mi, the former Empress, and Xiao Zhi, his adoptive mother, would pose a problem.

But once Pei Mi is pregnant, the bloodline and the continuation of the family line will surpass everything. It doesn't matter if Pei Mi stands openly beside Chu Mingkong in front of the world. Just treat it as if Xiling Kingdom has brought back a "trophy" empress from Tianji Empire.

Even if Wan Hua can do this, her relationship with Ming Kong is ultimately just a private agreement between them, unknown to outsiders and not requiring their approval.

But Xiao Zhi didn't have that ability. The thought of Pei Mi being able to walk arm in arm with Ming Kong, openly appearing by his side as his mistress and wife, was something Xiao Zhi couldn't accept...

Moreover, Xiao Zhi still hasn't figured out how to face his daughter Yun Han. If he is really pregnant, then he will really have to face Yun Han's gaze.

"Let Mingkong try it once without using his internal energy, and then I'll just consider myself unlucky and stop thinking about those things..." Xiao Zhi made up her mind and gritted her teeth.

It's rare for a single shot to hit a piece of Lantian jade.

If she does nothing now, Xiao Zhi feels that this matter will continue to weigh on her mind.

Since I wouldn't actually get pregnant anyway, I just had a one-night stand with Mingkong without using my internal energy. After that, I completely gave up on the idea and told myself that I had tried my best, but heaven just didn't give me the time of day!

Chapter 155 Grinding Ink

"My dear Zhi'er, why did you suddenly call me over?" Chu Mingkong strode into the boudoir of his beautiful mother, Xiao Zhi. He had been notified by Xiao Zhi through a note and then rushed over in a hurry.

Although they expressed their doubts, they could guess the gist of it in their hearts.

"Can't I contact you if there's nothing wrong?" Xiao Zhi retorted gently, her dignified and beautiful face as lovely as a flower, with a hopeful smile on her lips.

"Yes, yes, yes, there's no reason why I can't." Chu Mingkong smiled and admitted defeat.

Xiao Zhi walked over and pulled her son to sit beside her. The distance between mother and son was so close that they seemed almost to merge. The elegant and mature noblewoman asked:

"A lot has happened in the East China Sea. Mingkong, you haven't seemed to be in good spirits since you came back. Are you bothered by things related to cultivation?"

Am I in such a bad mental state that even my baby pheasant can tell?

Chu Mingkong thought he had disguised himself very well. The phantom pain was like the pain caused by accidentally tugging on his testicles. It came suddenly and without warning. Perhaps it was exposed unintentionally, which was indeed unavoidable.

If this topic had come up a day earlier, Chu Mingkong would definitely be struggling with how to be honest now, because the outcome would certainly have worried Xiao Zhi, a situation she couldn't help with. Fortunately, it's been resolved now... barely resolved.

"If what happened in the Abyss Trench could be considered a situation within the realm of ordinary cultivation, those cultivators would probably be overjoyed. I was indeed not feeling well a few days ago, but I'm much better now, so don't worry about me, my little pheasant."

After speaking, Chu Mingkong keenly observed that there were writing implements on the desk in the room, as well as a sheet of drawing paper. The drawing paper was still blank, but the mounting around the edges was already completed, and it was still using the mounting specifications for a painting of a lady. This was a rare item in the room of the concubine Zhi'er.

Although some wealthy businessmen enjoy indulging in refined pursuits and buy such items for decoration, Zhi'er Baobao has no such interest; she rarely engages in calligraphy and painting.

"Why is the drawing paper here? Has Baby Pheasant 'retired' from the front lines of the City Lord's Pavilion and is now entertaining herself?"

“No.” Xiao Zhi paused, then said, “I asked Rong’er about the story between you and her.”

You can't talk about how he messed around with the Crown Princess back then! Are Rong'er and Zhi'er really that close?

Chu Mingkong coughed awkwardly and asked curiously, "What did Rong'er say?"

Xiao Zhi summarized what she knew, as well as what she had heard from Wan Hua, added a little fabrication, and recounted it in detail:

"You made her wear men's robes so it would be easier to do things. Once you pull down the pants, you can see a big white buttock. Then there's the storytelling and emotional manipulation. I even painted a portrait of a lady for her, with a unique style."

"..."

Chu Mingkong's expression was strange, and he judged in his heart that this should not have come from Shangguan Rong.

Even if Shangguan Rong didn't tell Yongzhen or Jinyu about these things, it must have been Zhi'er who found out from elsewhere, and the information she found was a bit distorted.

He had at most shown his calligraphy to Rong'er, but as for his painting skills... it seems he only demonstrated his "otherworldly painting skills"—sketching—once to his sister-in-law Keqing.

Zhi'er is probably just spreading rumors, or rather, she's probably just making things up.

Chu Mingkong thought of the brushes and inkstones laid out beside him. Could it be that they wanted to get him to paint a portrait of a lady? Although there are proper portraits of ladies, in some cases, they are practically equivalent to erotic paintings of beautiful women.

"Does your little pheasant want me to paint a portrait of a lady for you?"

“That’s right. But I haven’t been going to the City Lord’s Pavilion every day lately, so I haven’t been doing my makeup much. Mingkong, could you do it for me?”

This kid is definitely a savvy one!

The elegant and mature Princess Xiao Zhi of Chu led him to the dressing table, sat down, pointed to the dressing box, and then pointed to the many palace dresses and gorgeous clothes in the wardrobe, indicating that Chu Mingkong should help her choose her makeup and clothes.

The wardrobe was filled with countless clothes. Chu Mingkong picked out a gold-embroidered silk dress that caught his eye. The fabric was soft and light, like flowing gauze. Whether it looked good or not was secondary; the key was that it was easy to put on and take off.

Makeup is a skill; it looks simple, but the finished result shows the difference in technique. Chu Mingkong's job was mostly to choose clothes, and the rest was to "point out" how she wanted Zhi'er's mother to do her makeup, and then she would do it herself.

Having completed the preparations, the stunningly beautiful princess, with her enormous breasts, pretended to be resting after a night of drinking. She lay on her side on the embroidered couch, her fragrant shoulders exposed, her slender figure alluring and sexy. Looking down her collarbone, two plump and soft mounds of flesh cascaded down her body, displaying their weight to the fullest. Her strapless dress could barely conceal the peach-pink hue of her breasts.

This side-lying position is the ultimate test of the waist and hip curves. Even a slight flatness will be exposed in this position. However, Princess Xiao Zhi of Chu's waist and hips are like the undulating snow-capped mountains. The pertness of her broad and beautiful buttocks suddenly raises the curves of her figure from her slender waist. Her plump and jade-like legs, connected to her beautiful buttocks, lie across her skirt, so smooth that they can reflect the warm color of the light.

The beautiful Queen Mother rested her head on her hand, her eyes like shimmering waves, her alluring gaze exuding confidence as she displayed her graceful and noble figure, as if silently extending an invitation.

During their eye contact, Chu Mingkong realized that painting didn't matter anymore. He didn't know how to paint ladies anyway; he just wanted to see Xiao Zhi, this beautiful and noble woman, in a different, more aesthetically pleasing way.

Xiao Zhi looked up at the man in front of her, her long eyelashes fluttering a few times. Chu Mingkong felt as if his heart was being tickled by bird feathers. The plump noblewoman was asking him with her eyes why he hadn't gone to the desk yet, but Chu Mingkong couldn't move his feet. His hand caressed the beautiful woman's snowy legs.

The soft, warm candlelight illuminated her beautiful legs, making them appear as smooth as jade. Her fragrant, tender skin sent his heart racing. Looking at those voluptuous, beautiful legs, he felt as if he were looking at a divine treasure.

"My little pheasant, drawing these maidservant pictures seems like a waste of time. Why don't we do something more important?"

Chu Mingkong placed his palm on Xiao Zhi's soft soles and gently stroked them. This simple gesture stirred excitement within Xiao Zhi, and the breath she exhaled from her delicate nose was hot, her eyes filled with a hazy, watery light.

When she saw Chu Mingkong display his heroic and masculine demeanor as a young man, his unparalleled strength and domineering presence, Xiao Zhi's heart beat even faster. Excited yet shy, before anything had even begun, her heart was already overflowing with emotion, an unstoppable tide that gurgled down from the secluded mountain path.

"Mingkong, why don't you refrain from practicing your internal energy tonight? You haven't been feeling well lately, and practicing again would be too tiring. Just relax this time..." Xiao Zhi said, barely managing to maintain her composure. She was afraid that in a little while, or even the next instant, once she was filled with emptiness, she would forget about this matter.

To prevent Chu Mingkong from acting recklessly, Xiao Zhi gently pressed her delicate pink feet against his whisk handle. Feeling that it wasn't secure enough, she gently clamped it down with her toes, completely suppressing it.

Chu Mingkong was speechless at Zhi'er's concern. How could he explain to her that exercising could actually reduce the burden on her body? But worrying about such things didn't matter now. He could always take his time and explain things slowly. He just had to agree.

"That's fine, then I won't use my internal energy."

Seeing that Zhi'er had nothing else to say, Chu Mingkong stopped delaying. Until the moment before he finished speaking, his gentle and refined demeanor seemed like a disguise and a ritual, like the oppressive atmosphere deliberately created before a storm.

When Xiao Zhi nodded slightly as the two looked at each other, her calm facade crumbled, replaced by an eager anticipation like a thirsty person meeting sweet dew.

Seeing the man suddenly pounce on her, Xiao Zhi's face was filled with a charming smile, her beauty captivating, her eyes alluring, her posture mesmerizing. Her beautiful legs intertwined to form a tight embrace, holding the wolfhound Jun'er close in her arms.

"Don't secretly use your internal energy... Oh~!" Xiao Zhi wanted to remind her again, but the sudden feeling of fullness and pressure made her pause and then raise her voice, with intonation and cadence, revealing a soft and charming feeling.

"No internal energy cultivation tonight, just a simple rest with my baby Zhi'er~" Chu Mingkong suddenly picked her up and carried her to the desk.

Since the purpose is to create a painting of ladies, grinding ink is naturally essential. A long ink stick is firmly pressed against the inkstone, which is moist and beautiful. The grinding pressure varies, and the ink in the inkstone increases, becoming more and more abundant.

Perhaps the desk legs were unsteady; even grinding ink made it wobble, the sound of water colliding crisp and loud, like a sudden downpour, and quite a bit of ink spilled out. The room was instantly filled with a fragrance as sweet as orchids and musk, a scent that was intoxicating, wafting into the nostrils and penetrating the mind, making one want to grind the ink faster.

Princess Chu felt heartbroken that her precious inkstone and ink wares had been so cruelly ruined by Chu Mingkong. Every time he ground ink on the inkstone, Princess Chu would let out a mournful cry in rhythm with him.

The mournful cry sounded strange. At first glance, it was a desperate and miserable cry, grinding against the precious inkstone, hurting her heart. But after listening for a while, it seemed to be joyful and carefree, making her heart itch with desire.

As the painting was finished, Chu Mingkong sat in a chair, with the seemingly boneless Princess Chu nestled in his arms, her body covered in fragrant sweat, her breath rapid yet slightly hazy.

The water overflowing from the lake of the heart,

It was filled with bets, many times over.

"Baby Pheasant," Chu Mingkong called out to her.

Xiao Zhi, lacking strength, replied softly and faintly, "...Hmm?"

"Look at the drawing paper on that desk, what is it?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhi moved her head and glanced back at the desk. She was immediately furious, but she had no energy to vent her resentment. So she could only pinch him before he left.

The drawing paper depicts a perfectly ripe peach, its curves rounded and smooth, with tiny water droplets around it to show how juicy the peach is.

"Throw it away quickly..."

"I'll keep this and look at it again next time~"

Chu Mingkong thought to himself that this painting was far more valuable than any famous painting. With a wave of his hand, he stored the peach painting in his storage ring.

Chapter 156 Enraged

Leaving aside the physical enhancements provided by cultivators, generally speaking, after a union of cultivation, the man will more or less enter a state of sagehood, while the woman, even if physically exhausted, will be exceptionally radiant in spirit.

Her heart was filled with water. Xiao Zhi's worries, which had been swirling all day, were finally resolved by Chu Mingkong. However, she also fell into a kind of sage-like state of thought.

Fear, worry...

She had indeed been somewhat depressed and restless due to the series of jade pendant incidents, to the point that she was so envious that she had to experience it herself, regardless of the outcome.

Now that her wish has been fulfilled, Xiao Zhi's troubled heart has been calmed, and her intelligence has regained its dominance. She has begun to worry about the consequences.

If, if...

What if I accidentally get infected?

Taking medicine to remove it is not a good idea, but giving birth would be even worse. How can we explain this to Yunhan?

At this moment, Xiao Zhi completely forgot her "willful and carefree" attitude before nightfall—it wasn't that easy to win, and she couldn't win.

Now all she wants to do is burn incense and pray that nothing bad really happens!

Even after Chu Mingkong had his fill of fun, he didn't forget to check on the women's well-being. He suddenly noticed something was wrong with Zhi'er, and gently lifted her plump thighs to straighten her body.

"What's wrong, my little pheasant? Why does your face look so different? What are you thinking about?"

"Mingkong, we didn't use our internal energy just now, did we...?" Xiao Zhi stammered, wishing she could hear Chu Mingkong say something like: