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

Chu Mingkong was confused. Why was he taking out his undergarment?

Yongzhen came over with a bellyband, smiled gently, and covered his face with it, tying the rope around his ears.

"Can I ask you why you're covering my face with a bellyband?"

“Blindfolded~” Yongzhen explained, “Good quality bellybands have the effect of blocking others’ perception, especially to prevent those lecherous men who use their skills for crooked purposes.”

A good quality bellyband is not easily see-through. The fabrics used by wealthy families are somewhat translucent, but if a bellyband is translucent, wouldn't that mean people can see through it?

Therefore, when it comes to blindfolding, the bellyband is actually quite effective. In addition, some bellybands are similar to veils, which can block perception and prevent others from cheating by using their senses.

However, it didn't work on Chu Mingkong. I won't bother mentioning titles like Sword Immortal or Gun Immortal. Could someone of his level really be trapped by a bellyband and have his senses blocked?

But if Yongzhen wants to play this way, then Chu Mingkong will just go along with it.

"From now on, we'll meet like this. You're not allowed to sense me, or I'll get angry."

"I'll listen to you."

"You're not allowed to touch me anywhere else, only I can touch you."

"What if I run into you? There's always bound to be unexpected situations, right?" Chu Mingkong became increasingly curious.

"We can't afford any accidents!" Yongzhen was very serious, but she also had to admit the possibility Chu Mingkong mentioned. "How about I tie your hands up again?"

So, Yongzhen, you like playing this kind of game!

Restricted play?

Since you're so pretty, I might as well play along.

Yongzhen smiled as she watched Chu Mingkong sit obediently with his face covered by her bellyband.

After tonight, until the next soul exchange, she can only use her original "Madam Zhen" body to move around.

By trapping Mingkong's eyes in this way, even if we use our own bodies, we should be able to at least see him and have a chat.

If he avoids contact with the real Yongzhen for a while, he should be able to hold out until the next soul exchange!

"Yongzhen, is that alright? I've taken the bellyband off, okay?"

"No!" Yongzhen pressed his hand down. "From now on, only I can help you get it. You can't touch it, understand? That's the rule."

"I won't touch it, I'll definitely follow the rules."

"So you're not thinking of going to cause trouble for the princes again tonight, are you? Do you have time to come see me?"

"I never intended to cause them any trouble; they came to me of their own accord. But since Yongzhen came looking for me, I'm naturally available. What time tonight?"

"At midnight, go to the empty room next to your mother's room, cover your eyes with your bellyband and go in. I'll be waiting for you inside."

"Is this really necessary?" Chu Mingkong's doubts deepened.

Yongzhen wasn't the kind of girl who was pretentious; she had been willing to give him Nana (a type of noodle) generously before.

Yongzhen pursed her lips and sighed inwardly: Mingkong really should be given a reason, otherwise it would be too strange and unreasonable to meet like this.

She took Chu Mingkong's hands and guided him to untie the belt of her dress, then reached inside the collar, her hands caressing her warm, fragrant shoulders. With a swift movement, the dress fell loosely to the ground. Next came her close-fitting bodice, and then her underpants.

Those hands led him to explore all the clothes on the woman's body.

Yongzhen suddenly knelt down in front of Chu Mingkong, her fallen dress cushioning her pale knees, and her smooth hands grasped Chu Mingkong's...

chirp——

Chu Mingkong felt Yongzhen kiss him, a kiss with a slight suction and a warm, tender breath.

"Mingkong, I'm shy, so I want to cover your eyes. Do you think that's necessary?"

Yongzhen spoke up, her tone filled with dissatisfaction, her displeasure at Chu Mingkong's excessive doubts and distrust.

Chu Mingkong sincerely apologized: "Yongzhen, I'm sorry. If you have any other requests in the future, please feel free to ask."

Chapter Sixty-Seven: The Silence Ball

Blindfolds are indeed terrifying things, whether they're placed over a woman's eyes or a man's.

Chu Mingkong suppressed his senses, trying his best not to let his keen mental power imprint everything in the room into his mind. However, relying only on his hearing and the sensation in his lower body, the image of Yongzhen still uncontrollably appeared in Chu Mingkong's mind, a picture drawn from his imagination.

The girl's pink knees rested on her dress, her beautifully curved calves extending from her knees as a fulcrum. Her fair skin was as soft and delicate as mutton fat jade, and her bare feet were arched forward, the balls of her feet pressing on the ground with an exquisite curve. Her soft autumn eyes held charm and tenderness, sparkling in the light streaming through the window. Her cherry-red lips, adorned with lipstick, contained Chu Mingkong's willfulness and audacity with infinite gentleness.

The complete darkness made Chu Mingkong, amidst his reverie, also prompt him to question himself. During these few days of rest, his mind had been at ease, but Niu Niu hadn't stopped. Chu Mingkong's mind was conversing with Niu Niu, telling it, "Niu Niu, you're tired." But Niu Niu had its own will, saying, "I'm not tired. We're all leaders. I have my own thoughts. Don't think for me."

Chu Mingkong reached out and stroked Yongzhen's cheek. The originally smooth lines of her face had sunken slightly as she inhaled. What Chu Mingkong felt more was the bone structure; her facial bones were exceptionally beautiful.

“Yongzhen... I don’t doubt our relationship! I just find it unbelievable. The royal family has arranged several girls for me, but I didn’t expect that you, with the highest status, would be the most enthusiastic towards me.”

While Shangguan Rong's relationship with him is now very good, it was quite so-so before. This was largely due to Chu Mingkong, who didn't trust others and was naturally unwilling to open his heart to accept them. Of course, Shangguan Rong's temper at the time also played a part.

Yongzhen seemed a little tired. After she let go, she breathed heavily and gently stroked Chu Mingkong's head.

"Then what do you want to ask, Mingkong?"

"It's nothing, I just wanted to know what you think, Yongzhen, and what your opinion of me is. Why are you being so nice to me?"

"It wasn't you, Mingkong, who first revealed your feelings to me, saying I was beautiful, wanting to get close to me, and even giving me a precious pendant. My reasons are the same: Mingkong, you're pleasing to my eye, and your personality matches my preferences. You're so good that I feel you shouldn't be Yongzhen..."

"Ok?"

"I mean, it's not someone as reclusive as me who should know them."

"That's true. If it weren't for the Empress's decree, I wouldn't have had the chance to meet Yongzhen."

"So the reason we get along well is because we clicked. Mingkong, please don't ask these questions anymore, okay?"

"it is good."

"Then you just need to listen to me. For the next period of time, you have to come to me blindfolded and don't ask anything. We'll meet normally again after some time. Only on this matter, Mingkong, you have to listen to me, otherwise we won't be able to continue our relationship."

To make Chu Mingkong listen more attentively, Yongzhen gently nibbled at him with her silver teeth. How could Chu Mingkong refuse? Seeing him nod, Yongzhen kissed back the spot she had lightly bitten. Although she barely used any force when she nibbled, she was exceptionally gentle when she kissed and coaxed him, as if worried about actually hurting him.

What a ruthless threat. Chu Mingkong thought to himself.

His hand gently supported the back of Yongzhen's head, helping her to exert her strength.

After an unknown amount of time, the tranquility of the room was broken by a knock on the door. Madam Zhen's voice came from outside:

"Yongzhen, are you asleep?"

Yongzhen looked flustered, and Chu Mingkong was also flustered. His heart was pounding even harder than when he sneaked into the palace. He had been careless and had not guarded his little brother properly.

......

In the midst of the chaos, Chu Mingkong helped Yongzhen wash her face and put her clothes on. Before he could even get dressed himself, he had already slipped out of the room through the window, his movements becoming increasingly practiced.

Even if the belt isn't fastened properly and all three legs move together, it doesn't affect the dashing and unrestrained way he jumps out of the window.

There's a growing feeling that he's becoming more and more like the neighbor next door. If he ever needs to change his name discreetly in the future, Chu Mingkong thinks he can temporarily borrow the surname Wang and call himself "Neighbor Wang".

He didn't go far. To leave at a time like this, leaving Yongzhen alone in the room to face it, would feel somewhat inhuman and guilty.

Chu Mingkong habitually took out the Dust-Free Talisman, but silently put it back.

These items are becoming increasingly rare, and they can't be redeemed in the Filial Piety Mall yet. Before Yun Nongyu returns, try to use them sparingly, be thrifty, and save them for use in the palace.

While eavesdropping on what was happening inside the house, Chu Mingkong pulled up his pants and muttered to himself:

"Holy crap, my little brother, how come Yongzhen has kissed you all over with lipstick marks...?"

in the room.

Yongzhen's pretty face was wet. She lowered her head, opened the door, and went back to the washbasin to continue washing her face. She carefully wiped her eyelashes with a towel, feeling a little sticky.

So this stuff is really hard to clean.

Madam Zhen glanced around the room and caught a faint... scent of photinia? Inexperienced, she couldn't be sure what the scent was, but she felt it wasn't very pleasant.

"Yongzhen, why did you open the door so late?"

Yongzhen felt guilty, but his tone was steady, and he said with a hint of weariness:

"I felt unwell after my walk and wanted to lie down for a while, but I accidentally fell asleep. If you hadn't called me just now, I probably would have been fast asleep."

"It seems you haven't been feeling well lately. You don't even have the energy for a walk. You need to get more rest."

After wiping her face, Yongzhen went to the bronze mirror and carefully checked herself to make sure there was nothing else she hadn't done properly. Only after confirming that everything was clean did she put the towel away with peace of mind.

"Yes, what did Mother want to see me about?"

Finding no clues, Madam Zhen's beautiful eyes returned to Yongzhen. She smiled gently and shook her head, saying:

"It's nothing special, I just noticed you looked tired, so I came to check on you."

"Don't worry, Mother, I'll be fine after a rest."

"Okay, then I'll go out first. Make sure to close the windows when you go to sleep, and be careful not to catch a cold from the wind."

Hearing Madam Zhen close the door, Chu Mingkong breathed a sigh of relief for Yongzhen, who had thought they had been exposed.

I was panicked just now and didn't mean to wash Yongzhen's face.

Chu Mingkong will not go back into the house to meet Yongzhen now, because once they meet, it will be difficult for him to leave.

Judging by the time, he should go report to Madam Zhen soon. He should first see what the red gift is and then take it to her.

Before unwrapping the gifts, he glanced at the filial piety donation ledger again. During his chat with Yongzhen, he had received several more donations from Madam Zhen, though not many.

"That's really strange. What if I go to give Madam Zhen a gift later, and Yongzhen ends up giving me a gift instead?" He couldn't help but find it amusing.

Chu Mingkong silently prayed for a while, then opened the red-quality gift box, and a rather strangely shaped crystal ball appeared.

[It can be placed in the mouth to silence speech and also to nourish the soul.]

Chu Mingkong: "..."

Chapter Sixty-Eight: Yongzhen's Filial Piety? (37/43)

It's going to be hard to get even a normal gift from this...

But it's acceptable, isn't it? There's no such toy as a mouth ball in this world yet. At least Chu Mingkong, who has been immersed in so many folk tales and unofficial histories, has never heard of such a toy.