We said we would experience life, fairy, how did you become real?

As a result, no one passes by the open space around Xianxin Palace anymore.

"Is Your Majesty satisfied with this place?" Wei Xun asked obsequiously from the side.

"Hmm." Xiao Mo nodded. "I am very satisfied."

"From today onwards, I will be cultivating here. No one is allowed to enter this place without my permission, understand?" Xiao Mo said coldly.

"Old slave knows."

Xiao Mo waved his hand: "Go wait outside."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Wei Xun bowed, walked out of the square, and ordered the gate to be closed.

"Clang."

The door was closed tightly.

Xiao Mo picked up a peach wood sword from the shelf and began practicing the first move of the Grass Character Sword Technique.

When a cultivator first begins their practice, the most important thing is to guide spiritual energy into their body, thereby opening up their spiritual meridians and advancing to the first level of Qi Refining.

A highly gifted cultivator can reach the first level of Qi Refining in just one hour.

Ordinary cultivators typically take one to three days to cultivate Qi.

Those with lower qualifications usually only need one month.

The reason why Jiang Qingyi spent several months without reaching the first level of Qi Refining was because of the missing sword bone.

She was born with a missing bone, which made her congenitally deficient and unable to properly absorb spiritual energy into her body.

But after Xiao Mo sculpted a fake bone for her.

Even if this bone wasn't a sword bone, it still made up for her congenital deficiencies.

After that, her cultivation speed was extremely fast, and she could travel a thousand miles a day.

Xiao Mo felt that although his physical constitution was not excellent, it was still barely average.

"I will strive to embark on the path of spiritual practice within two days."

Meanwhile, at the residence of the Minister of Rites.

The old palace maid, Huang Shangyi, opened her mouth and called out to the woman in front of her, "Alright."

The woman walked forward with light and steady steps, small and slow, just as described by the phrase "lotus steps moving lightly." She walked with her body upright and her eyes straight ahead.

"stand."

As Huang Shangyi called out again, the woman stopped in her tracks, her posture upright, her chin slightly tucked in, her hands clasped in front of her, right hand on top and left hand on the bottom. Her demeanor was dignified and serene, like a beautiful sculpture standing there without the slightest sway.

"Sit down," Huang Shangyi called out again.

The woman sat down on the chair next to her, with her buttocks only on the front half of the chair, her back straight, her legs together and placed diagonally, her feet together or slightly tucked under her skirt, and her hands naturally folded on her lap.

Looking at the woman in front of her, Huang Shangyi nodded, very satisfied.

Huang Shangyi was instructed by the Empress Dowager to come and train this most talented woman in the Zhou Kingdom in court etiquette.

Huang Shangyi was initially a little worried.

Since this talented woman would be entering the palace in just a few days, the time she had to learn etiquette was truly short.

However, Huang Shangyi discovered that her worries were unnecessary.

It can only be said that the Yan family is indeed a prominent clan, as they regularly teach women court etiquette in preparation for entering the palace.

Now all I need to do is correct her slightly.

Most importantly, her every move exuded a subtle air of authority.

I heard that someone in the imperial court advised that Yan Ruxue of the Yan clan was not fit to be the Empress of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

If a woman like this cannot be empress, then who can?

"What are the rules regarding facial appearance within the palace?" Lady Huang asked.

"One must remain gentle and calm, never showing joy or anger. One must always maintain dignity and composure, and must not laugh loudly, make noise, cry, or show anger," Yan Ruxue replied.

"How's your eye for detail?"

"You must keep your eyes down or looking straight ahead. You must not look around, glance sideways, or look directly at the emperor or empress dowager. When conversing, you must maintain a respectful posture with your eyes down," Yan Ruxue replied again.

"Hmm." Huang Shangyi nodded. "Miss has no major problems with court etiquette, but she needs to practice more and unconsciously integrate court etiquette into her daily life."

"You've worked hard, Consort Huang. Please have a cup of tea before you go." Yan Ruxue nodded and instructed the maid beside her, "Serve Consort Huang tea."

"Thank you, Miss." Lady Huang was indeed a little thirsty.

An old palace maid sat on a stone bench, drinking cool tea. When she looked up, she saw the talented Lady Yan sitting beside her, gently wiping a gold ring with a piece of silk.

Ever since she arrived at the Yan residence, she has seen this woman take out that gold ring and polish it every day.

The brocade box containing the ring was somewhat rotten.

After finishing her tea, Huang Shangyi left the Yan residence, escorted by Yan Ruxue's personal maid.

"Miss Xiaochun, is there anything special about Miss's ring?" Huang Shangyi asked curiously.

"I don't know." Xiaochun shook her head. "Miss wipes that ring gently every day, and the brocade box hasn't been changed in all these years. I once asked Miss what was so special about this ring."

"What did the young lady say?"

"The young lady said she was waiting for someone to put it on her."

Chapter 48 No, I can't sleep.

A book for all ages, Shiqiao Village.

Early in the morning, as Xiaoqing opened the door, a gust of cold wind blew in.

The girl instinctively shrank her fair neck into her clothes and wrapped them tighter around herself.

It's only early November, but the morning breeze is already starting to feel a bit biting.

This winter seems to have arrived earlier than usual.

Xiaoqing turned around and looked at her sister lying on the bed.

My older sister was still curled up in bed, sleeping.

"Sister, wake up, sister!"

Xiaoqing walked to the bedside and gently pushed her sister's shoulder.

"Mmm," Bai Ruxue responded lazily, but her eyes remained closed as she buried her head in the blanket.

"Sister, aren't you going to the market? If you don't go soon, there won't be any vegetables left."

Xiaoqing was actually quite puzzled as well.

For some reason, my sister seems to be sleeping even more this winter.

Although hibernation is in the nature of snakes.

But my sister's cultivation level is already quite high; logically speaking, she shouldn't be sleepy so early.

I'm not even sleepy yet.

"Sister, are you alright?" Xiaoqing asked worriedly. "Did something go wrong with your cultivation again?"

"It's alright, Xiaoqing, I'm just a little sleepy. I'll get up right away."

With her strong will, Bai Ruxue sat up in bed, a strand of hair brushing against her cheek and curling around her heaving chest.

Although my sister sat up in bed, she was swaying and didn't even open her eyes, as if she would lie back down at any moment.

Xiaoqing pulled off the blanket covering her sister.

A blast of cold air filled the blankets, causing Bai Ruxue's delicate body to tremble.

This time, the woman was truly awake.

As usual, the two sisters went to the market in Huangcun to buy vegetables, then went home to clean the yard, hang out the clothes to dry, and prepare the ingredients and start a fire to cook.

If there's nothing else to do, Bai Ruxue will bring Xiao Mo tea and water and massage his shoulders.

Although Bai Ruxue usually does some things.

However, Xiaoqing noticed that since Brother Xiao came back that time, her sister and Brother Xiao seemed to have become closer. Her sister's eyes were gentler when she looked at Brother Xiao, with an indescribable tenderness.

Before we knew it, it was December.

As the weather grew colder, Bai Ruxue became increasingly sleepy.

In fact, Bai Ruxue didn't know what was wrong with her. She just felt very sleepy, something she hadn't experienced in the previous two years.

As the Lunar New Year approaches, every household is busy preparing for the holiday.

Especially the Xiao Mo family.

In previous years, the village chief would write Spring Festival couplets for the villagers, but this year, Shiqiao Village produced a top scholar in the imperial examination, and everyone hoped that Xiao Mo could help write some so that their families could benefit from the literary atmosphere.

Xiao Mo naturally did not refuse.

I grew up eating food from everyone in the village, so what's wrong with writing some Spring Festival couplets?

However, the villagers didn't take it for nothing; they would give Xiao Mo things like chicken, duck, fish, and meat. Xiao Mo declined several times, but he really couldn't resist the village aunties and grandmas.

"Ru Xue, are you alright?"

That day, when Xiao Mo was writing Spring Festival couplets in the courtyard, he saw Bai Ruxue, who was mending clothes, dozing off. Her head was nodding off like a chick pecking at rice.

Those beautiful peach blossom eyes seemed to be closing.

"what?"

Upon hearing Xiao Mo's voice, Bai Ruxue shuddered and instantly snapped back to reality.

"No, it's nothing," Bai Ruxue shook her head. "Ah! Your blue robe! How did I sew it like this?"

Xiao Mo smiled and said, "It's okay if the clothes aren't sewn properly. You look so sleepy, just make sure you don't prick your hand. Ru Xue, go and get some sleep."

"No, no." Bai Ruxue shook her head. "The New Year is in eight days. I have a lot of things to do. I'm not sleepy."

As she spoke, Bai Ruxue glanced at the sky and said, "It's almost noon already."

Bai Ruxue quickly put the clothes on the table and ran into the kitchen: "Xiao Mo, I'm going to the kitchen to cook first. I'll sew your clothes back on this afternoon."

Looking at the woman's back, Xiao Mo felt a little puzzled.

He knew snakes needed to hibernate, but Xiaoqing was in good spirits and had gone to collect eggs with Aunt Wang in the morning.

Why is it that Ru Xue, who has a higher level of cultivation, is not in a good state?

In the kitchen, Bai Ruxue washed her face repeatedly.

Water droplets slid slowly down the woman's smooth cheeks.

Looking at her reflection in the water tank, the woman frowned slightly: "What's wrong with me these days?"

Last year, I would feel sleepy and hibernate in mid-January, and then wake up after sleeping for half a month.

But it's only December now!

"No, I can't sleep."

Bai Ruxue patted her face hard.

She had a feeling that this hibernation might be different from the previous ones.

Although Bai Ruxue didn't know how things were different, the woman felt very uneasy.

"Just get through this winter! Once spring comes, I won't feel sleepy anymore!"

Bai Ruxue clenched her little fists to cheer herself up.

"Next spring, when Xiao Mo returns from the imperial examination, he will marry me."

In the days that followed, whenever Bai Ruxue felt sleepy, she would chew a mouthful of red chili pepper.

Although she dislikes spicy food, just one bite makes her feel energized.

The 26th day of the twelfth lunar month is only three days away from the Lunar New Year.