Cultivation Simulator: Starting From The Empress' Palace

Bianliang.

Chen Mansion.

Since Chen Mo led the army on an expedition, this grand mansion has not lacked attention from everyone, and even those who spied in the past have increased significantly.

However, with the Xiao Family’s protection, no one dared to offend the masters within the Chen Mansion.

Backyard.

In the past, everyone respected Yi Yao as the master of the inner residence.

But after Zhao Jiangning moved in, Chen Mo explained the misunderstanding to the women. With her identity as Empress and now officially being Chen Mo’s concubine, she was respected as the lady of the inner residence.

Later, Luo Zhen, Xu Miaozhen, and Ye Wanqiu also moved in.

The backyard became lively.

Today was the day everyone got formally acquainted.

”...I am Zhao Jiangning. You can just call me Jiang Ning from now on.” Zhao Jiangning initially intended to refer to herself as ”this palace” to display the Empress’s majesty, but considering how they would be living together closely, using ”I” seemed to be more cordial.

”Yi Yao, Yao as in the beautiful jade.” Yi Yao also made herself appear more approachable.

”...Lianyi...” Lianyi lowered her stature, after all, she came from a brothel, her status lowly, and now in this mansion, there were Noble Consort and daughters of the Xiao Family, making her feel even more inferior.

Then there were Chun Lan, Xia Lan, and the others.

Seeing Qiu Lan and Dong Lan, Luo Zhen and others from the second residence were quite surprised.

Twins!

Twin births are extremely rare, let alone such good-looking twins, which made them even more exceptional.

Where did the master find such a pair of twins?

”Hello sisters, you can just call me Luo Zhen, Zhen as in the lofty beauty that stands for generations.” Luo Zhen gently bowed in greeting.

Lianyi suddenly gasped: ”Luo Zhen? Could you be the number one beauty of Nanyang, Luo Zhen?”

As a courtesan groomed by the Qinyun Pavilion, Lianyi had quite an understanding of the beauties of the world.

”The number one beauty of Nanyang?” Yi Yao and others had already felt Luo Zhen was somewhat ethereal; hearing this, they scrutinized Luo Zhen more closely, guessing she must have been brought back by the master from Nanyang last time.

Luo Zhen nodded shyly and modestly said, ”People love to spread rumors, I can’t compare to you sisters.”

”Luo Zhen, you’re too modest, beauty recognized by everyone is indeed true beauty,” Yi Yao said.

Luo Zhen blushed and said no more.

Next was Xu Miaozhen.

After she introduced herself, the other ladies all looked at her chest with envious eyes.

Zhao Jiangning’s mind inexplicably thought of Noble Consort Hu.

”I wonder who between the two of them is larger...” Zhao Jiangning murmured quietly to herself.

However, Xu Miaozhen didn’t take this as a good thing, feeling the gaze of the others only made her want to hide in embarrassment.

When Ye Wanqiu introduced herself.

Zhao Jiangning couldn’t help but say, ”Miss Wanqiu, have we met before?”

Zhao Jiangning always felt Wanqiu seemed familiar.

Ye Wanqiu quickly replied, ”N-no, maybe I just resemble someone you know.”

In fact, the moment she saw Zhao Jiangning, Ye Wanqiu was very flustered, afraid she would be recognized.

But thinking about how she was always in the harem and since her father’s consorts were numerous, and she hadn’t met Zhao Jiangning, she thought she couldn’t be recognized, so she quickly calmed down.

”Is that so?” Zhao Jiangning was a bit skeptical, increasingly feeling she had seen her somewhere, just couldn’t recall at the moment.

This is why she didn’t connect it to Zhao Ji’s harem; otherwise, she might have remembered something.

To prevent Zhao Jiangning from thinking further, Ye Wanqiu quickly praised the hairpin on Yi Yao’s head: ”This hairpin is so beautiful!”

Yi Yao took off the hairpin but didn’t let Ye Wanqiu see it clearly, saying with a tone of pride, ”This was given to me by the lord.”

”The lord gave me a piece of jade as well.” Out of personal fondness, Luo Zhen also took out the jade piece given to her by Chen Mo from her bosom and showed it off a little.

Once this started, Ye Wanqiu, Xu Miaozhen, Chun Lan, and others also took out the gifts given to them by Chen Mo.

Yi Yao, who started the boasting, felt a bit awkward; she hadn’t expected everyone to have something, so she quickly added, ”This was given to me on the bridal chamber night, it holds a special meaning.”

The lord told her it was passed down from his mother for the future daughter-in-law, and giving it to her now meant the lord favored her more.

”This jade holds special meaning for me too,” Luo Zhen said, knowing this was left by the lord’s mother, making its significance extraordinary.

Unfortunately, the lord didn’t let her say, for fear of jealousy from the other sisters, which would be bad for the lord.

Seeing everyone showing off, Zhao Jiangning also took out the jade pendant Chen Mo gave her.

Yi Yao was tempted to reveal the hairpin’s significance, seeing everyone talking about special meanings, but held back, fearing it would disrupt the relationship between the lord and them. After hesitating for a while, she didn’t say anything, feeling quite stifled from holding back.

However, due to this little interlude, Zhao Jiangning didn’t dwell on the familiarity she felt with Wanqiu anymore.

...

Yong’an Palace.

”Your Highness, a message came from her side that there is no sign of the Red Sun Bell in the Chen Mansion, it seems Chen Mo carries it with him.”

Hu Mei’Er, lounging lazily on the bed, looked at the blurred black shadow kneeling behind the screen and said, ”How’s the situation with Shi Si?”

”Reporting to Your Highness, Lord Shi Si has already sent people to contact those in Jizhou, but they no longer wish to cooperate with us. Even though Lord Shi Si proposed enticing conditions, those in Jizhou still refused.” The black shadow said respectfully.

”It seems he still harbors a grudge over his son’s death. Such a person can achieve nothing. Tell Shi Si to contact him again, saying we can avenge his son,” Hu Mei’Er said solemnly.

”Understood.”

”By the way, I’ve heard the Wu Family in Jiangnan wants to take Chen Mo as their son-in-law, is this true?”

”After inquiries, it is true; it’s the Wu Family’s daughter, Wu Xin’Er, a Fourth Grade Martial Artist,” the black shadow replied.

”A nineteen-year-old First Grade Martial Artist, with such talent, no wonder the Wu Family wants to tie him. It’s a pity he’s not aligned with us, otherwise...” Hu Mei’Er’s eyes flickered with thoughts unknown, then she said, ”The alliance between the Wu Family and Chen Mo absolutely cannot happen, we must find a way to sabotage it.”

The black shadow listened quietly.

”The Wu Family is in Jiangnan, thousands of miles from the Capital. Since they intend to match the two, they must be sending Wu Xin’Er over.” Hu Mei’Er contemplated and then said, ”Have your people block the road from Jiangnan to Bianliang, if you find a trace of the Wu Family, eliminate them.”

”Your Highness, this...” the black shadow hesitated. Wu Xin’Er is the Wu Family’s daughter and highly valued due to her talent. If she were to die, the Wu Family would surely pursue the matter relentlessly.

As if knowing her thoughts, Hu Mei’Er continued, ”It’s better than letting the Wu Family ally with him.”