Cultivation Simulator: Starting From The Empress' Palace

On the training field, Chen Mo was in the spotlight. The giant cauldron weighing four thousand jin seemed like a mere toy in his hands.

”Bravo—”

The enthusiastic cheers were like ocean waves, overpowering the sound of drums and gongs on the training field.

”Indeed, if the Deputy Commander’s skills are this fierce, how lacking can his brother be?”

”This feat must be near the level of a Fourth Grade Martial Artist, wouldn’t you say?”

Everyone was dumbfounded.

After finishing his demonstration, Chen Mo left.

Inside a tent, ”Chen Hong” walked in. Inside was a man dressed in a green robe, whose height and appearance were almost identical to ”Chen Hong’s,” drinking a mouthful of strong liquor.

”Chen Hong” knelt on one knee before Chen Mo, respectfully saying, ”My lord.”

”You did well,” Chen Mo said softly.

”It’s all thanks to your guidance, my lord.”

Chen Hong rubbed his face vigorously, and after a moment, a refined face appeared before Chen Mo.

This man was a master of disguise from the Jianghu that Chen Mo had hired, named Thousand Faces. Although he wasn’t very powerful, his disguise skills were exceptional, so Chen Mo had him impersonate Chen Hong and brought him to the Infantry Department’s training ground.

Firstly, to prove that he had the strength to participate in the martial arts exam.

Secondly, to deliberately appear together before everyone to dispel certain doubts.

Of course, with close observation, one could detect discrepancies with Thousand Faces.

Firstly, there was a height difference.

Secondly, the temperament and voice were somewhat different.

And the aura was off.

If they were someone close to Chen Mo, they would definitely notice.

So beforehand, Chen Mo had both Gao Zheng and Xu Dabeng transferred.

And he ensured that all attention was focused on himself, thus reducing the attention on Thousand Faces.

He also instructed Thousand Faces to speak as little as possible.

Finally, there were no innate martial artists on the entire training field. With Chen Mo’s authority in the military, naturally, no one dared to sense Thousand Faces, even if they tried, without Thousand Faces revealing his aura, with their strength, they wouldn’t discern anything.

Therefore, everything proceeded perfectly.

But Chen Mo didn’t dare let Thousand Faces impersonate for too long.

If any of his subordinates asked Thousand Faces to perform up close, their cover would be blown.

”This is your reward.” Chen Mo took out a gold ingot from his pocket.

”Thank you, my lord.” Thousand Faces quickly reached out to accept it.

At that moment, as he reached out, he was suddenly locked in place. When he looked bewildered, Chen Mo’s elbow rammed into his chest. His mouth instinctively opened in pain, and Chen Mo flicked a red pill into his mouth.

Thousand Faces instinctively tried to spit it out, but Chen Mo grabbed his jaw, forcing him to raise his head.

The pill slipped down his throat.

Only then did Chen Mo release him.

Thousand Faces slumped to the ground, retching: ”What... did you make me swallow?”

”A poison pill. Every seven days, you must take an antidote, or you will die. And I am the only one with the antidote,” Chen Mo said.

”Wh... why? I just... just helped you...” Thousand Faces was smart; halfway through, he realized something and quickly kowtowed: ”My... my lord, rest assured, I am quite tight-lipped and will certainly keep today’s event a secret and not tell anyone. My lord, I beg you, please give me the antidote. I don’t even want the gold ingot...”

His head knocked the ground with a thudding sound.

Chen Mo promptly stopped him: ”I won’t take your life; if you break your forehead, I will take your life now...”

Upon hearing this, Thousand Faces immediately stopped kowtowing.

Chen Mo tossed the gold ingot to him, saying, ”Rest assured, this poison pill is just a precaution. As long as you work properly for me, everything will be fine. After this matter is settled, I will let you go...”

Thousand Faces immediately looked crestfallen, his face showing utter despair.

He didn’t believe Chen Mo’s words at all.

He feared that after this matter concluded, it would mark his end, wouldn’t it?

He ought never have greedily agreed to his offer in the first place.

”I am a man of my word. When I say I will let you go, I will indeed let you go. Even if you don’t want to leave, I will reward you with a high position and great wealth.” Chen Mo then produced a green pill: ”I will give you a single-dose antidote first.”

Thousand Faces looked at Chen Mo’s handsome face, feeling a chill. Truly, one cannot judge a book by its cover. Looking at the green pill in Chen Mo’s hand, Thousand Faces asked, ”I won’t have to keep taking these antidotes forever, will I?”

”Of course not. To be precise, this isn’t a true antidote but a medicine to alleviate the poison’s effects. Once the matter is over, I will provide a complete remedy for the poison,” Chen Mo reassured Thousand Faces.

Thousand Faces slightly relaxed, but still felt unsettled, planning to see a doctor once he left.

”During this time, if you have any requests, just tell me, and I’ll try my best to fulfill them.”

Saying this, Chen Mo headed out of the tent. Just as he was about to leave, he paused and turned back: ”Moreover, without my permission, if you dare masquerade as me and cause trouble in Bianliang, I will not let you off lightly.”

”Understood.”

...

Back at the Chen Mansion, Chen Mo had a few words with the guards and his woman.

In case this Thousand Faces dared to overstep and try to steal his nest, it would be problematic.

Furthermore, Chen Mo obtained an expert in surveillance from Quan Qiyang, to secretly follow Thousand Faces.

...

The happenings on the training field.

Within just an afternoon, the news spread throughout Bianliang City.

It was reported with much exaggeration.

The weight had grown from the initial four thousand jin to ten thousand jin.

A ten-thousand-jin cauldron was something only an Innate Martial Artist could handle.

...

Meanwhile, Chen Mo, under ”Chen Hong’s” identity, entered the palace.

The Eastern Palace Empress Dowager summoned him.

And Xiao Yunxi could summon him directly, thanks to Chen Hong’s younger brother.

Because all of Bianliang now knew that Chen Hong was a eunuch, and his brother was the real man.

The previous rumors that Chen Hong was a Fake Eunuch were all false.

And Chen Mo also openly rode a carriage to the palace.

What’s more, it was a carriage pulled by four horses.

In matters like this, the Great Song was particular.

The saying goes that the Son of Heaven rides six, feudal lords five, ministers four, doctors three, scholars two, and commoners one.

Although Chen Mo’s official position didn’t reach the level of a minister, he enjoyed ministerial treatment.

The carriage traveled to the outer Imperial City, and after disembarking, he entered the Imperial City on a palanquin.

Inside Weiyang Palace.

When someone went to summon Chen Mo, Xiao Yunxi had already begun to bathe and change clothes.

When Chen Mo entered the Imperial City, Xiao Yunxi had already bathed and was sitting at her dressing table, attentively adorning herself.

Although Xiao Yunxi had been around, she and the Emperor lacked even a hint of wedded intimacy, treating each other with the utmost respect.

If there was no estrangement between the two, it was fine, but once estranged and encountering someone like Chen Mo, who was smooth-talking, best understood daughters’ hearts, and spoke sweet nothings effortlessly, it was too easy to be charmed and completely devoted.