Qingzhou, Pingting County Government Office, in the rear courtyard chamber.

On a winter night, the howling cold wind lifted the lantern under the corridor eaves, casting a dim circle of light and shadow.

Inside the chamber, a single lamp flickered like a bean, as the two sisters sat facing each other, with a wooden basin placed between them, filled with hot water, their four snow-white tender feet closely pressed together.

Under Xia Zhiqing's delicate eyebrows, her starry eyes sparkled, her jade complexion faintly blushing, yet she paid no mind to her sister's playful teasing with her snow-white feet, constantly recalling the words on the note.

"When will you give me a gift?"

Xia Zhiqing felt overwhelmingly shy; no one asks for gifts in such a manner.

Despite this, she mostly pondered over what kind of gift to give Chen Mo.

Everything in her hand were things only women would use, clearly unsuitable for giving to a man.

The only suitable item was the jade flute in her hand, but this jade flute held great significance to her, and she felt that he did not have a particular appreciation for such things.

Giving him the jade flute would be like playing music to a bull.

"Sister, what's wrong?" Xia Zhining stepped on her sister's foot, knowingly asking.

"??"

"What's wrong?" Xia Zhiqing responded a bit slowly.

"I've noticed since midday, you've been out of sorts, are you feeling unwell?" Xia Zhining asked with concern.

"Yes... Yes, I have a slight headache." Xia Zhiqing replied, going along with it.

Seeing her sister lie with such skill, Xia Zhining felt a wave of complex emotions, it seemed that the two sisters were playing into that rascal's hand in the end.

If that rascal saw her sister like this, he'd certainly be quite pleased.

Who knows what that rascal is up to right now?

...

Inside the mountain stronghold.

In Chen Family's Master Bedroom.

The surging waves crashing against the shore, rolling up thousands of piles of snow.

"Xiaolu... don't look... don't look." Han Anniang turned her radiant face like the sunset, her eyes like autumn water misting, looking towards Yi Shiyin.

Though familiarity breeds comfort, these days Han Anniang was mostly with Yi Shiyin, but to be stared at by her innocent and spirited big eyes, she still felt a bit embarrassed.

Yi Shiyin glanced twice, spotting the rather spectacular scenery, especially noticing her husband's keen interest in sightseeing, felt somewhat jealous, subconsciously straightened her chest, compared a bit, and sighed deeply.

No comparison, there's simply no comparison.

Han Anniang was ultimately outmatched, her strength and stamina lacking, yielding, allowing Yi Shiyin to continue the struggle.

Chen Mo gently wrapped his arms around Xiaolu, whispered in her crystal-like yellow earlobe, "We've been back for so long and haven't visited father-in-law yet. Let's pick a time tomorrow, Xiaolu accompany me once."

Yi Shiyin: "...Mm."

With a trailing sound.

Han Anniang took a moment, watching the two embrace, her heart rippling with waves, her gentle brows showing some playful annoyance, "Xiaolu, we can't keep spoiling uncle in the future."

Yi Shiyin was already too dizzy to respond to Han Anniang, she was feeling quite fuzzy at the moment.

Chen Mo faced Yi Shiyin in an embrace, then gently took Han Anniang's delicate hand, looked at the ring on it, the ring he gifted since returning, glanced at her vibrant face, and softly said:

"Sister-in-law, you should get a title. I know you dislike extravagance, I'll forgo the formal concubine ceremony, and have the government office register you into my household record."

A formal concubine needs legal registration at the government office, though concubine paperwork resembles a purchase agreement more than a marriage contract.

But now, the Pingting County Government Office belonged to him, he could certainly draw up a high-standard concubine document for Han Anniang.

Upon hearing this, Han Anniang's face, gradually losing its blush, became flushed again, wanting to refuse, but Chen Mo straightforwardly said: "It's decided, if you refuse, sister-in-law, I'm going to be upset."

Han Anniang blushed with a hint of redness, "Mm," shy voice, "Listen... to uncle."

"Sister Han, it's time to call him husband." Yi Shiyin added.

"Xiaolu, you..." Han Anniang's heart fluttered with embarrassment.

Chen Mo also became serious, said, "Indeed, it's time for a change. But at times like this, I prefer calling you sister-in-law."

"Uncle, can't you be a bit more proper?" Han Anniang said with playful annoyance.

"Come, call me husband." Chen Mo teased her delicate finger.

"...Hus...band." Han Anniang said hurriedly with her head down, heart racing.

"An Niang." Chen Mo called her by her nickname.

"Hey." Han Anniang's face blushed, her voice trembled.

"Congratulations Sister Han on consummating with your husband." Yi Shiyin added again.

Han Anniang, shyly, slapped Xiaolu's bottom.

...

It wasn't until midnight that Chen Mo lay there with his arms around two people, Yi Shiyin clutching Chen Mo's hand, using her teeth to trim his nails, while Han Anniang traced circles on his chest with her fingers, speaking about the Xia sisters.

"...Erlang, the end of the year is approaching, isn't it? Since both Xia sisters are your women, why not invite them to have the New Year's Eve dinner together?"

Han Anniang was still a bit embarrassed to call Chen Mo husband, but calling him uncle seemed inappropriate, so she opted for Erlang.

This Erlang reminded Chen Mo of the scene from a Great Tang historical drama where Guanyin Bi called Li Shimin.

Chen Mo nodded: "Whatever An Niang says."

It seems the plan needs to be hastened.

...

December 25th, morning.

As usual, after shooting arrows, Chen Mo arrived at the Government Office, when Chunhong hurriedly came over, handing Chen Mo an embroidered Peace Talisman, with the character "Mo" on it.

"Master, this is from Lady Xia," Chunhong said.

Chen Mo looked at the Peace Blessing in his hand. Although it was just a trinket, it had been only over a day since he asked Xia Zhiqing for more.

This meant she had completed it in a day, and seeing the exquisite character "Mo" on the talisman, Chen Mo envisioned her hiding from her sister while crafting it.

Chen Mo whispered a few words in Chunhong's ear.

...

Backyard side chamber.

Xia Zhining practiced swordplay while Xia Zhiqing was embroidering. When making the Peace Talisman, she didn't avoid Xia Zhining, claiming it was for her.

Yet when it was time for completion, Xia Zhiqing deliberately didn't embroider her sister's name. Instead, she took advantage of Xia Zhining's absence to stitch the character "Mo," and then in the morning, did it again. When Xia Zhining asked, she said the previous embroidery was bad and had been discarded.

At that moment, the chamber door was knocked, and Chunhong's voice sounded outside: "Miss Xia, the master wants to see you."

Xia Zhining stopped her swordplay and asked: "What's the matter?"

"The master didn't say."

"Sister, I'll go and see." Xia Zhining put down her sword, drank some tea, and left.

Seeing her sister leave, Xia Zhiqing paused her actions, gently clutching the embroidery in her hand, with a delicate, unnatural expression appearing on Wen Ning's beautiful face.

"Why is he looking for Zhining?"

...

Not long after.

The side chamber door was suddenly opened by someone. Normally, people knocked before entering. So Xia Zhiqing assumed her sister had returned, calling out Zhining while looking up, only to find Chen Mo. Her movements were slightly flustered, a mix of tension and a hint of excitement arose: "It's you?!"

The young man was clad in a profound robe, his brows bold and arched slightly, like a lion on the prairie, exuding masculine vigor.

After a long time apart, the youth had shed some of his innocence, gaining maturity and a hint of weathered presence.

Now as old friends reunited, memories of passionate moments and the gifts the young man sent a few days ago came flooding back.

Xia Zhiqing's heart was filled with inexplicable nervousness.

"Zhiqing, am I interrupting?" Chen Mo shut the door, stepping forward.

Inside the chamber, there was a warm stove and two braziers, as warm as spring, so Xia Zhiqing wasn't dressed heavily. She wore a blue dress, exuding Wen Ning's grace, her skin porcelain white, surrounded by a faint rose fragrance.

This scent, Chen Mo was very familiar with, it was the rose perfume from the fragrance factory.

"No... no." Xia Zhiqing hurriedly responded, then invited the young man to sit, pouring him hot water from the copper pot on the stove, followed by picking some tea leaves from a wooden box beside it to put in his cup.

"Didn't you... need to see Zhining about something? Why come here? Where's Zhining?" Xia Zhiqing asked three questions in succession.

"Can't you tell? I came specifically for you, she's already been sent away by me," Chen Mo said.

Xia Zhiqing's delicate body trembled.

The next moment, Chen Mo stood up, moved towards Xia Zhiqing, sitting beside her.

Xia Zhiqing's heart pounded fiercely, and just as she was about to pull away, she felt her delicate hand fall into the young man's palm. She instinctively tried to pull away, whispering: "You... don't do this."

"Zhiqing, I miss you so much." Chen Mo gazed at the jade bracelet on Xia Zhiqing's wrist, then lifted his gaze to meet hers with affection.

As soon as these words were spoken, Xia Zhiqing, lightly struggling, momentarily froze, her cheeks turning rosy red amidst the porcelain-like complexion, and after a brief daze, attempted again to free herself from Chen Mo's grip, and said angrily: "Don't... call me Zhiqing, there's nothing between us anymore, I... my sister and I, don't owe you anything."

"Is that so?"

Chen Mo reached out and embraced Xia Zhiqing's waist, pulling her close, then retrieved that Peace Blessing from his pocket, saying: "Then how do you explain this?"

"This is... something you asked for, and don't you remember what you said the other day?" Xia Zhiqing lowered her head, not daring to meet Chen Mo's eyes, trying once more to escape his hold.

"I haven't forgotten, I intended to cut ties and forget about you, but I can't. In the military, whenever your sister appeared before me, it reminded me of you.

It's like I've been poisoned, loving you deeply, only because of my longing for you, wanting to see you again. That's what pushed me to survive on the battlefield."

As he spoke, Chen Mo placed Xia Zhiqing's hand on his chest, saying: "Zhiqing, can you feel it? This heart beats passionately for you."

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