Cultivation Begins with Caring for Sister-in-law

The reason Xia Zhining would kick is because the first time Chen Mo made her bow her head, he used such a tone, and Chen Mo used the same trick on Ning Wan as well, which certainly deserved a fierce kick.

Seeing the young Marquis, who usually holds the power of life and death over hundreds of thousands, clinging to her like a child and acting spoiled, Ning Wan felt goosebumps all over, her beautiful face blushing with a layer of pink rouge. She complained, "Do you... have to humiliate me like this?"

"How is this humiliation? We love each other, it's simply a matter of pleasure between a virtuous couple."

Chen Mo didn't know why, if it was about beauty, the Xia Sisters surpassed Ning Wan by a notch, and in terms of broad-mindedness, there was Han Anniang to compare, and Ning Wan wasn't some virgin maiden, she had been married before. Yet the charming aura she exuded was utterly captivating to him.

Especially the joy of holding that plump, soft body in his arms, whether with her or An Niang.

Or even with Xue'Er.

Add to that the coquettish annoyance and slight anger of Ning Wan's resistance, Chen Mo felt as if his soul was shooting straight up to the top of his head.

"Who's in love with you..."

Ning Wan felt a surge of annoyance, clearly it was you, this bad guy, who kept pressing step by step.

"Good Aunt Ning, just agree with me this once, at worst, later I'll serve you in return." Chen Mo lowered his head, kissing Ning Wan's lips while whispering intimately.

Chen Mo's words seemed to resonate with Ning Wan's heart. Looking at the young man's burning gaze, she knew that if she couldn't agree with him this once, she wouldn't think of leaving this study today.

Ning Wan's face flushed red, clutching the hem of her clothes, she said, "Only... just this once."

"Alright." Chen Mo agreed quickly, remembering that Zhi Ning had said the same before.

Ning Wan took a deep breath, seeing Chen Mo staring at her all the while, she hurriedly said, "You... don't always look at me."

"Who told Aunt Ning to be so beautiful." Chen Mo's little mouth seemed to be smeared with honey.

Ning Wan rolled her eyes at Chen Mo, raised her hand to tuck a strand of loose hair behind her ear, with this movement, the gentle temperament of a married woman spread, and on her fair, lustrous earlobe, the silver earring shone brightly.

However, this kind of embarrassing thing she had never done before, and with Liang Song, it was just the simplest form of intimacy, really not knowing where to start.

She raised her eyes slightly wanting to ask, but saw that the young man's gaze never left her, emotions upheaving inside, her beautiful face slightly pausing, her Liu Mei furrowing, her brilliant eyes inadvertently showing a hint of anger, "I told you not to always look at me, I'm... I'm not doing it anymore."

This made Chen Mo anxious: "No, Aunt Ning, didn't we agree already?"

"Don't call me Aunt Ning."

"Alright."

"Don't look at me."

"Alright."

"I... I don't know how."

"Alright... No, I'll teach you."

...

In the afternoon, the sky turned cloudy, a gentle breeze blew through the backyard, Han Anniang greeted Yi Shiyin, Xia Sisters, Liang Xue, and Nangong Ru to enjoy the lotus flowers by the pond.

July is the peak time for lotus blooms, all the lotus flowers in the pond were in full bloom.

The blooming period of lotus flowers is 3 to 4 days, with a few double-petaled flowers blooming for 10 to 13 days, and the latest by the end of July, these lotuses would wither.

Actually, there wasn't much to admire; these lotuses had been seen more than once, mainly it was too hot to go anywhere, seeing the sun not as scorching, Han Anniang called everyone out to chat.

In the absence of Chen Mo's marriage, Han Anniang played the role of the legitimate wife in the backyard.

She stood with Yi Shiyin, watching Xia Zhining nearby feeding the fish in the pond, softly said, "Zhining sister, do you know what Erlang has been busy with lately?"

"Didn't he tell Sister Han?" Xia Zhining was taken aback.

Han Anniang shook her head, "I didn't ask. I generally don't question men's affairs, but I'm a bit curious, so I wanted to ask you."

Xia Zhining also shook her head, "I don't know either, lately it seems like he's been going to Liang Xue sister's place."

As the words fell, Liang Xue, who was staring at the lotus flowers in a daze, her beautiful face instantly blushed, quickly spreading to the roots of her ears.

These days, Mo Lang was indeed very infatuated with her, as if wanting to start... from head to toe.

"I... I don't know either." Liang Xue said softly.

"In Fengzhou and Longyou, wars have erupted, especially in Fengzhou, where Huai King's Navy's warships are heading to Qingzhou. Husband should be busy with that," Nangong Ru said.

Among the women in the backyard now, it should be Nangong Ru having the most informed news, because Nangong Ru has her maternal family as a backing, her sister-in-law from the Ma Clan lives in Longmen County, occasionally coming to visit and talk.

Upon hearing this, Han Anniang and the other women's gaze all turned towards Nangong Ru.

Honestly, although Han Anniang and the others had "joined the household" earlier than Nangong Ru, they didn't dare to act superior in front of Nangong Ru. After all, Nangong Ru had her maternal family's support, even Chen Mo had to show some respect.

And they, either their families were destroyed, or their familial power was weak, and the Liang Family hadn't even acknowledged Liang Xue's marriage with Chen Mo to this day.

Fortunately, Nangong Ru didn't use her maternal family's influence to dominate the backyard.

"Doesn't that mean there will be another war?" Han Anniang didn't understand much, so when she said this, her voice wasn't very loud. It had only been peaceful for a short time.

Xia Zhiqing continued the conversation: "Mo Lang is now recuperating and rejuvenating, and unless it's absolutely necessary, he won't go to war with anyone. Besides, he's signed a non-aggression pact with Prince Huai, so this war shouldn't happen."

"It would be best to never go to war. Every time there is a war, many people die. Last time when I hadn't yet come over from Qingzhou, that Aunt Li who sold lotus roots on the street was very heartbroken, because her son had joined the Divine Brave Guard, and he was killed in battle when they campaigned against Yu State." Yi Shiyin lamented.

"There's no war without casualties. In these chaotic times, Prime Minister Xu Guozhong holds sway over the court, and ambitious individuals rise across the land. Few are willing to heed the Emperor's orders anymore. He occupies the Three States of land, and even if he doesn't want to ignite a war, others won't let him have peace."

Xia Zhining, who is well-read in military books, already sees the world's matters quite clearly. This land, like in the current chaotic times, has already been unified more than once in the past.

Seeing the atmosphere become somewhat gloomy, Han Anniang, unable to discuss this topic, quickly changed the subject: "It's just as well that there's no sun out now, let's go out for a stroll."

"Sure." Yi Shiyin, who is naturally lively and loves to play.

The group headed outside.

When they went out to play, it seemed they needed to inform Chen Mo, and then Chen Mo needed to dispatch a team of personal soldiers to escort them.

It wasn't about appearances, but mainly a safety issue.

Seeing Chen Mo wasn't in the main hall, the group headed to the study.

In the corridor outside the study, Sun Meng, clad in armor, with a horizontal saber hanging at his waist, had his large hand resting on the hilt. His stature was imposing, looking somewhat majestic like a door guardian.

But upon seeing Han Anniang and the others approaching, Sun Meng suddenly panicked and quickly stopped them, saying, "The Marquis is in the study discussing matters with someone; if the ladies have any matters, you can tell me."

Han Anniang nodded slightly to Sun Meng, then softly said, "It's not really anything important, it's just..."

"Ugh..."

Before Han Anniang could finish her sentence, a figure rushed out from the study, grabbed a pillar in the corridor, and started retching as if trying to vomit out her very guts.

Han Anniang: "..."

The women: "..."

Sun Meng: "..."

"Aunt Ning, why are you here, what's happened to you?" Liang Xue's face changed slightly, and she quickly trotted over to support Ning Wan, gently patting her on the back.

Liang Xue noticed Ning Wan's hair was a bit disheveled, and her makeup seemed a bit smudged too.

Ning Wan took a moment to recover, then, looking at the women in the corridor, hastily turned her back to them, quickly tidied herself up, turned back, and said:

"I discussed some matters about the restaurant with the Marquis; perhaps I've caught a cold recently, so... If there's nothing else, I'll be going first."

Ning Wan herself didn't know what she was saying, having just been tormented by Chen Mo and then caught by Liang Xue and the others; she just wanted to leave quickly.

After saying this, she broke free from Liang Xue and left hurriedly.

Liang Xue: "..."

Xia Zhining watched Ning Wan's rapidly retreating figure, her eyes flashing slightly. Although she didn't know exactly what had happened, she could vaguely guess something, and silently cursed Chen Mo in her heart: "This bastard, even in broad daylight..."

Han Anniang didn't understand as much as Xia Zhining, but from Ning Wan's reaction, she understood that something must have happened before.

As the women exchanged puzzled glances, Chen Mo walked out of the study, looking as if nothing had happened, surprised: "Anniang, why are you here, is something wrong?"

"Erlang, just now you and Ning Wan..." Han Anniang frowned slightly.

"You're talking about Aunt Ning, right? She just came to talk about the restaurant. I'm not sure what happened; perhaps she wasn't feeling well, so she left."

"Oh." Although Han Anniang felt something was off, she didn't make any blind guesses, and gently said, "Erlang, my sisters and I want to go out for a stroll."

Chen Mo looked at Sun Meng: "Sun Meng."

"Present."

"Take a team and go with them."

"Yes."

While strolling, Han Anniang and Xia Zhiqing seemed to have the same thought, conveniently buying some medicinal herbs, leaving Liang Xue and the others puzzled, thinking perhaps Han Anniang also wasn't feeling well.

...

On August 1st.

Chen Mo met Wu Changlin, who had rushed from Linzhou.

Through the information Zuo Lianglun told him, he learned that Wu Changlin was already in his forties, but on meeting him, he looked quite young, like someone in his early thirties.

Dressed in a blue brocade robe, with a matching belt at his waist, the whole person looked like a gentle and refined young nobleman, but the "1027" red number on his forehead told Chen Mo that this person was also a Fourth-Grade Martial Artist.

The Wu Family's genes were excellent; Wu Changlin was also handsome, leaving a good impression upon first sight.

Chen Mo received him in the main hall, showed him respect, and cupped his hands: "The Young Clan Leader Wu has come from afar; I have failed to welcome you properly, please forgive me."