Cultivation Begins with Caring for Sister-in-law

Chapter 681 - 676-677: Reunion with the Empress Dowager

The sacrificial burial system in Central State was abolished in the previous dynasty, and naturally, Great Song did not reinstate it.The former Emperor was indulgent in wine and women, having dozens of concubines in the harem, not to mention the nobles, liangren, and talented individuals, which amounted to nearly two hundred people.

Although the intrigue within the harem caused some of the concubines to suffer casualties, when the former Emperor passed, there were still more than 170 people remaining.

After Emperor Xuanhe, Chu Nan, ascended the throne, he initially had some authority and held a grand selection of concubines nationwide, recruiting more than a hundred beauties into the palace.

All these nobles needed palace maids and eunuchs to attend to them, which led the Imperial Palace into a state of saturation.

After Emperor Xuanhe was deposed and Emperor Yong’an took the throne, as the Emperor, he found the women in the harem almost entirely belonged to his father and grandfather, leaving only a few for himself, mixed in the Imperial Palace, causing Emperor Yong’an to feel uneasy.

Furthermore, as the Emperor, he naturally had to select his own concubines, which meant the harem needed space.

Thus, Emperor Yong’an sought out Empress Dowager Liang Ji, wanting to disperse some of the former Emperor’s concubines and Supreme Emperor’s concubines.

The primary concern was Emperor Yong’an’s worry about Chen Mo targeting the former Emperor and Supreme Emperor’s concubines, which would disgrace the Imperial Family.

After all, Chen Mo’s reputation for being lustful and coveting other men’s wives was known throughout the land.

These concubines were mostly wives of others.

Although Emperor Yong’an dared not oppose Chen Mo, he wanted to preserve the dignity of the Imperial Family to some extent.

Moreover, Emperor Yong’an had already informed the Supreme Emperor, who had agreed.

Empress Dowager Liang Ji agreed to help Emperor Yong’an for this reason.

Even if she had personally fallen and compromised herself to Chen Mo, she was still a nation’s Empress Dowager and wanted to maintain some dignity for the Imperial Family, perhaps easing some of the guilt in her heart.

Although Liang Ji wasn’t dressed in the Dragon Robe as she did last time, which was less stimulating, her splendidly luxurious palace skirt was still exceedingly captivating.

"How does the Empress Dowager plan to handle this?"

Chen Mo did not know the thoughts of Liang Ji and Emperor Yong’an, and even if he did, he wouldn’t care.

He only chose women selectively, not just picking any attractive one he sees.

As he spoke, Chen Mo tugged Liang Ji’s collar slightly to both sides, leaned close, and rolled himself in her ample bosom.

Liang Ji immediately let out a muffled sound, her pitch uncontrollably rising, which made her hurriedly raise her hand to cover her mouth and suppress the sound coming from it. Once she adapted, she said, "This... it’s broad daylight."

"What’s the difference in this? Just draw the curtains," Chen Mo said indistinctly while eating fruit, "You talk."

Liang Ji: "..."

She looked annoyed at the young man in her arms and helplessly gently cradled his head, starting to speak.

"Didn’t King Wei ask Your Majesty to summon the Vassal Kings into the capital? The meaning of my mourning family is that some concubines in this harem are the birth mothers of those Vassal Kings. Once these Vassal Kings enter the capital, allow them to follow their sons and reside in the fief.

And release those harem women without children back to their homes. Those below the rank of consort can be allowed to remarry." The more Liang Ji spoke, the redder her face became.

"This... I have no objections, though my say doesn’t count. It still needs the agreement from Your Majesty, Supreme Emperor, and the Imperial Family." Chen Mo, raising his head, looked at her eyes already filled with spring waters, and said.

Of course, he wouldn’t have any objections, and he even wholeheartedly agreed.

After all, with so many mouths in the harem, they’re all spending money, and they’re not engaged in production. Dispersing them from the palace can save a lot of money.

Furthermore, those women below the rank of consort can be bestowed on his subordinates.

"Your Majesty and... the Supreme Emperor have already agreed, and with the harem of Your Majesty now dwindling, a selection of concubines is needed soon, so it becomes necessary to vacate some space in the Imperial Palace. As for the Imperial Family, hasn’t King Wei forgotten that during his time in Luonan, almost all of the influential Imperial Family were murdered by the traitorous Lu Sheng?" Liang Ji said.

"Then let it be so."

Chen Mo lifted his head, pinching Liang Ji’s crystal-clear and glossy chin. Her clothes were half off, with the palace skirt slipping from her shoulders down to her elbows, revealing smooth, fair shoulders and those two rounds of Ying Yue.

Seeing the young man’s burning gaze fixed on herself, Liang Ji felt extremely uncomfortable, wanting to pull up the palace skirt but found him saying, "I want the Empress Dowager to kiss me."

Upon hearing this, Liang Ji stared at Chen Mo in a daze.

Did this man know what he was saying?

"If the Empress Dowager doesn’t kiss me, I won’t leave Shoukang Palace today."

Chen Mo released Liang Ji and fell back, lying directly on the bed filled with the fragrance of the Empress Dowager, extending his hand, saying, "Empress Dowager, I’m gonna count to five."

"One." Each time Chen Mo counted a number, he bent one finger.

"You... scoundrel." Liang Ji, not being a young girl, naturally understood Chen Mo’s intentions. He wanted to use this to train her.

"Two." After pausing for a moment, Chen Mo continued with "Three," then consecutively bending two fingers.

"To be honest, I haven’t tried sleeping overnight in the harem, I can give it a shot today," Chen Mo said.

Liang Ji’s eyes darted at the Python Robe youth, involuntarily recalling that night in Luonan.

The entire night without any rest.

"Four," Chen Mo said.

"You’re a plague." Liang Ji let out a soft snort, took a deep breath, then raised her hand to remove the hairpin from her head, allowing her black locks, free from the hairpin’s restraint, to cascade over her shoulders, covering much of her snowy skin. She tucked some of the strands away from her cheeks behind her ears, sitting by the bed, one hand supporting the bed frame, and the other placed on Chen Mo’s shoulder, gradually leaning towards Chen Mo.