Cultivation Begins with Caring for Sister-in-law-Chapter 425: The Patriarch Wants the Marquis and His Cousin to Have Their Own Child as Soon as Possible
Pingting Marquis’s Mansion Hall.
"Young Master Xiao Quan, we meet again."
Chen Mo approached the hall and said to the maid, "Serve tea to Young Master Xiao."
"Yes." The maid withdrew.
Chen Mo sat down at the head seat, looking at the man who had just removed his cloak, draped in a fox fur brocade robe, and chuckled, "Young Master Xiao Quan, now that you’re here, has Patriarch Xiao made up his mind?"
Xiao Quan pretended to ponder for a moment, then said, "Marquis, you know that the Xiao family is the leader among the Noble Clans in Jiangnan. To suddenly rely on someone else would make us the laughingstock of the world, abandon our dignity, diminish our prestige in Jiangnan, and fail to set an example for the Noble Clans there. Even if we pledge allegiance to the Marquis, I fear we wouldn’t be of much assistance in Jiangnan affairs..."
Chen Mo narrowed his eyes slightly. Having experienced so much in recent years, he had developed the ability to read between the lines, and from Xiao Quan’s words, he discerned that the Xiao family wanted to negotiate terms with him.
A Noble Family is indeed a Noble Family, even in the current situation, they never forget to secure their own interests.
"Young Master Xiao, please have some tea." At this moment, the maid brought up hot tea, poured a cup for Xiao Quan, then poured another for Chen Mo, and bowed as she withdrew.
Chen Mo sipped the hot tea and then said, "Young Master Xiao Quan, from now on we’ll be family. Whatever demands Patriarch Xiao has for you to convey, just say them directly. No need for these roundabout ways."
Seeing that Chen Mo already understood the implication, Xiao Quan didn’t hide anything, and said sternly, "The Patriarch said, Marquis, if you want the Xiao family to help you control Jiangnan, it is possible, but you must agree to the Patriarch’s few conditions.
First, the Marquis must publicly announce marrying my cousin, give her a proper title, and the betrothal gifts must be according to the standards of a Prince."
"No problem." Chen Mo agreed to this request without even thinking, knowing that the Xiao family wanted to save face. After all, without this set process, no matter what you call it, it’s just an affair.
As for the betrothal gifts at the level of a Prince, at that time, Jiangnan would be Xiao Yunxi’s dowry, so he wouldn’t lose out.
Seeing Chen Mo agree so readily, Xiao Quan breathed a slight sigh of relief and proposed the second condition: "After the Xiao family assists the Marquis in controlling Jiangnan, the Marquis must petition the Court to pardon the entire Xiao family’s crimes and restore the official positions of our clansmen in the Court."
Chen Mo knew the Xiao family was making minor calculations, this was to restore the Xiao family’s legal correctness. After considering it for a while, he said, "I cannot guarantee that, but I will submit a memorial to the Emperor and do my best."
After all, his relationship with Xu Guozhong was a bit delicate, one of mutual exploitation, so he couldn’t guarantee this point.
"The Patriarch said that as long as the Marquis petitions, Xu Guozhong will agree." Said Xiao Quan.
Chen Mo nodded, then asked, "Any other requirements?"
"Third, after the Marquis controls Jiangnan, there will be no extra taxes imposed on Jiangnan, no unjust killing of Jiangnan people, and no surveying of Jiangnan lands." Xiao Quan said.
Xiao Quan knew that whenever Chen Mo seized a territory, he would have his men measure the lands for distribution.
Upon hearing this, Chen Mo’s eyes narrowed slightly. Never surveying Jiangnan lands, he knew, was the foundation of such Noble Clans in Jiangnan.
The hall was silent for a while.
Xiao Quan sipped his tea to conceal his inner nervousness.
Chen Mo smiled, then said with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes, "Fine."
Throughout history, many after-the-fact retributions have occurred.
For now, he could agree,
all matters could be adaptive and flexible.
Seeing Chen Mo agree, Xiao Quan let out a long sigh of relief and smiled, saying, "The last request, it’s not really a request, but the Patriarch hopes the Marquis and my cousin can have a child of their own soon."
The cousin is already over thirty, her beauty won’t last many more years.
Now Chen Mo likes her, in Xiao Quan’s view, it’s nothing more than wanting to retaliate against Prince Huai and seek that temporary pleasure. Later, it might turn cold when said so.
Only a child is eternal.
As for Chu Zheng, after all, he doesn’t have the surname Chen, someone else’s child cannot be taken as one’s own child.
Hearing this, Chen Mo chuckled a few times, then said, "It will happen."
"Since the Marquis agrees, then I shall return to report." Xiao Quan said.
"Wait, in two days it’s New Year’s. Young Master Xiao Quan can stay in Linzhou to celebrate the New Year before going back. Yunxi also has something to say to Young Master Xiao Quan." Chen Mo said.
Xiao Quan thought for a moment, "Very well. Then I shall trouble you."
...
New Year was only two days away.
The entire mansion was busy with a grand cleanup, decorating with festive items.
Chu Zheng, already two years old, was being led by Xiao Yunxi to walk around the courtyard.
Chu Zheng could walk, even run, though he would occasionally fall.
Seeing Chen Mo arrive, Xiao Yunxi promptly told Chu Zheng, "Zheng’Er, quickly call him godfather."
Upon entering the courtyard and hearing this, Chen Mo’s face instantly turned black, as "godfather" was not a good term in his heart.
However, Chu Zheng listened to Xiao Yunxi obediently and adorably called Chen Mo, "Godfather."
In front of the child, Chen Mo said nothing, instead crouching to take Chu Zheng in his arms, saying he was really good before putting him down, then said to Xiao Yunxi, "I have something to tell you."
Xiao Yunxi blushed, clearly thinking Chen Mo was going to tease her again, handed Chu Zheng to Aunt Lian.
And indeed, as expected, as soon as the two entered the room and closed the door,
Chen Mo pressed Xiao Yunxi against the wall directly, the amorous atmosphere spreading in the air, followed by their lips meeting.
It was December, the weather already turned cold.
Xiao Yunxi no longer wore skirts, instead wearing a luxurious brocade robe. Since she wore more clothes, the touch wasn’t very nice, Chen Mo understandingly said, "Didn’t I tell you to wear the silk socks I gave you? You’re so disobedient."
"I... wore it." Xiao Yunxi tilted her head back, allowing Chen Mo to better kiss her fragrant neck.
Chen Mo lifted one of Xiao Yunxi’s beautiful legs, pressed one hand behind her to squeeze between the wall and the millstone, wanting to see the material inside the brocade robe.
Xiao Yunxi indeed wore stockings, but also pants outside them.
"From now on, when you wear these silk socks, you’re not to wear pants over them."
Chen Mo turned Xiao Yunxi around to face the wall to contemplate her actions.
Xiao Yunxi pressed her face against the wall, her cheeks about to be flattened.
Her face turned red: "That’s too embarrassing, what if someone sees?"
"You can wear a quilted skirt, with a hem so long, it will cover everything, and I’m not telling you to wear it on the street, just in the mansion, the backyard is full of women, what are you afraid of?"
"But even the maids might gossip, won’t they?"
"Gossip about what, it’s not like you’re bare-legged." With that, Chen Mo helped Xiao Yunxi remove the disguise, finally revealing the stockings underneath.
The black stockings were thin, unable to fully obscure his sight, providing a tantalizingly vague effect, full of temptation.
