Chen Mo originally planned to sleep directly with Xiaolu and An Niang tonight, but thinking that during the New Year, they naturally needed to celebrate properly, especially since the Xia sisters had already made their intentions clear. Everyone should be together, none missing.

He parted the bead curtain and walked into the inner room. The candlelight inside hadn't been extinguished. Chen Mo looked at the nearly burnt-out candle on the table and then shifted his gaze to the couch.

In the dim light, he could vaguely see the outlines under the quilt. Although the sisters looked quite similar, Chen Mo could immediately tell who was the elder sister and who was the younger.

Winter was quite cold. Xia Zhiqing lay on her side facing inward, hugging Xia Zhining, who lay on her side facing outward, tightly wrapped in the quilt, with only their two exquisite faces showing.

The embroidered shoes were neatly placed under the bed, with black and white sets folded on the side table.

Chen Mo stood by the bed, carefully observing for a moment. Suddenly, a naughty idea sprang into his mind. Without waking the sisters, he undressed and slipped into the quilt.

If it were like before, the slightest breeze would have awakened the two sisters.

But the comfort brought by Pingting County, the sense of security from Chen Mo, and the fact that this was the Yi Family Courtyard, made the sisters much more at ease. They also had a little wine, so they slept rather soundly after falling into a dream.

Xia Zhiqing dreamt of Chen Mo. Recently, whenever she dreamt, there was always an image of Chen Mo, dreaming of riding horses with her sister and Chen Mo, touring Qingzhou, and finally finding a mountain forest in Nanyang.

They built a wooden house, planted a few acres of field, where Chen Mo worked the land. She played the qin and composed songs, cooked meals, while her sister practiced swordplay and looked after the children. Life was leisurely and joyful, with a sweet smile on her lips.

But soon the scene changed. Suddenly she found herself on a bed, unclothed, embraced by Chen Mo, with burning eyes, and her sister sleeping beside her.

Xia Zhiqing pressed her lips together, cheeks tinged with panic and... excitement, yet she dared not make a noise, wanting to refuse but welcoming Chen Mo.

Chen Mo turned to her ear and whispered to her to not move.

Outside the dream.

Chen Mo took a small breath, confirming for the third time that Zhiqing hadn't really woken up, thinking to himself how cooperative she was even while asleep, and proceeded to untie the lotus bellyband...

Holding the sleeping Xia Zhiqing, and looking at Xia Zhining who was facing him but also asleep, Chen Mo felt a sudden inexplicable thrill inside.

At the same time, Xia Zhiqing felt the dream was too real, so real that she could feel the subtle and meticulous sensations, as if stepping on floating clouds.

Her eyelashes trembled slightly, and she slowly opened her eyes, first seeing her sister close at hand, but soon sensing something amiss, about to scream, when her mouth was covered.

"Zhiqing, it's me." Chen Mo whispered into her ear.

Xia Zhiqing's eyes widened suddenly, but she calmed down and gripped the quilt corners tightly, whispering like a mosquito: "Mo Lang, why did you come? Don't mess around, Zhining is right beside me."

Chen Mo moved his hand from Xia Zhiqing's mouth, caressing her cheek and said: "I missed you, Zhiqing. Zhining is sleeping soundly; if you don't move, she won't wake up. Good girl..."

"You..."

Xia Zhiqing's face flushed red, yet she dared not make a big move, secretly glancing at Zhining, pushing Chen Mo out.

"Be good, don't move."

"I... I can't..."

Ultimately, Xia Zhiqing couldn't resist Chen Mo, resigning in half reluctance. Her heart was about to leap out, only able to grasp the quilt corner in her mouth, leaning into Chen Mo's embrace, staring at Zhining's eyes, fearing to wake her, and whispered: "How about I go out with you?"

"It's so cold outside in this big winter."

Chen Mo turned Xia Zhiqing's head, kissing her affectionately.

Xia Zhiqing's eyes welled up with tears, feeling both nervous and slightly excited, hoping her sister wouldn't wake up.

...

Time slipped by, and the candle in the room went out. The whooshing sound of the cold wind blowing past outside was audible in the stillness.

Xia Zhining was indeed sleeping quite deeply; she hadn't woken yet.

Xia Zhiqing gently lifted the quilt, releasing the warmth inside, then nudged Chen Mo with her elbow: "Alright, you should go back..."

"I'll be staying here tonight."

Chen Mo took a few breaths, releasing Xia Zhiqing, sat up, and moved to embrace Xia Zhining inside.

Xia Zhiqing, still in a bellyband, was stunned at this sight, her face full of shame and annoyance. Afraid to wake her sister, she whispered: "What are you trying to do, hurry and leave!"

"Since I'm already here, I can't favor one over the other. With the New Year, I should at least enjoy a good year."

Upon hearing this, Xia Zhiqing's face reddened, eyeing him with shame as she slapped Chen Mo's shoulder: "Mo Lang, how can you be like this, Zhining... she's asleep."

"Weren't you asleep just now?" Chen Mo chuckled.

Xia Zhiqing: "..."

But thinking that Zhining had already agreed to be his woman, and after agreeing, they hadn't been with Mo Lang together...

With this thought, Xia Zhiqing said no more: "I... saw nothing."

Then she closed her eyes and fell asleep.

This way, Zhining would think she was unaware, so even if blame came later, it wouldn't fall on her.

And indeed it was so.

When Xia Zhining woke up, her reaction was similar to Xia Zhiqing's; she was startled, but after seeing it was Chen Mo, she sighed with relief, pinching Chen Mo's thigh:

"You unscrupulous fool, gone mad or what..."

Having a sister beside is one thing, but the point is that they were both asleep and this scoundrel still acted recklessly.

This is simply...too much.

Then, like Xia Zhiqing, she used her elbow to push Chen Mo.

"Don't move, otherwise you'll wake up Zhiqing." Chen Mo's tone was deliberately colder, because at this moment Xia Zhiqing was pretending to be asleep.

Xia Zhiqing's eyelashes subtly fluttered, and her grip on the bedsheet tightened a bit.

Fortunately, the candles in the room were already extinguished, shrouding everything in darkness, so Xia Zhining didn't notice; however, her actions did become gentler as she grabbed Chen Mo's arm and bit down: "You shameless bastard."

Of course, Chen Mo wouldn't silently endure; instead, he transferred the pain she brought to him in another way.

"Bastard..." Xia Zhining clenched her teeth in anger.

The words sounded like that, but for some reason, Xia Zhining felt like she would never tire of being with him.

Xia Zhining didn't know how she fell asleep; perhaps because she was simply too exhausted. When she opened her eyes again, it was already daylight.

...

"Steamed buns..."

"Dumplings..."

"Selling honeycomb briquettes..."

On a winter morning, the fog was dense, and the weather remained bleak, but at least it had stopped snowing. More vendors and people appeared on the streets, with bustling activity. Those not carrying anything kept their hands snugly inside their sleeves.

The morning food stalls steamed with warmth, blending with the fog to create a thick, smoky atmosphere.

Xia Zhiqing also woke up; she initially wanted to get up stealthily to relieve herself. However, seeing that Xia Zhining had opened her eyes, she promptly spoke first: "Zhining, why did you take off your clothes...and who's that man...Mo Lang, when did you come, and what happened last night?!"

Xia Zhiqing's eyes widened as she pointed at Xia Zhining and Chen Mo, who was embracing Xia Zhining from behind, still asleep.

Upon hearing this, Xia Zhining was initially dazed for a moment, then she looked down, noticing her bare shoulders and collarbone. Her bellyband had disappeared, and beneath her long, cloud-like hair, there was a mischievous hand hidden.

Xia Zhining's face instantly turned red, especially when facing her sister's astonished expression. Suddenly, she felt the panic of being caught in the act, sat up quickly, wrapped herself in the bedding, and prepared to slap Chen Mo's face.

But as she was about to slap him, Xia Zhining suddenly stopped, biting her lip and pinching Chen Mo's nose.

Once Chen Mo woke up, she finally slapped him.

Naturally, this slap was blocked by Chen Mo.

"You bastard, when did you come? How dare you sneak up on me while I was sleeping...shameless..." she said as she used her other hand to slap him again.

Predictably, it was again caught by Chen Mo.

Xia Zhiqing's eyes widened.

She thought she was shameless enough, but didn't expect her sister to be an even better actor.

Even at this moment, Xia Zhining was still pretending not to know, if it hadn't been for her waking up before, she almost would have believed her.

Chen Mo's mouth twitched slightly.

Foolish woman, stop pretending, your sister knows everything.

But of course, he couldn't say this directly, so he silently cooperated with Xia Zhining's one-person show.

"Sis, it's all this bastard's fault, and I...don't know anything." Xia Zhining said through gritted teeth.

"Mo Lang, you've gone too far; how could you do this?" Xia Zhiqing was also guilty, so she pretended to cooperate.

Chen Mo was utterly shameless; he admitted his mistakes without changing his ways, rather he turned over, lay between the sisters, spread his arms, pulled them both into his embrace, and kissed each one's cheek, saying with a smile:

"We didn't have enough fun last night, now that we're all awake, let's get lively."

"Bastard."

"...Mo Lang, don't..."

...

Li Yunzhang, Hu Qiang, and Wei Qing returned on New Year's Day.

They set out on the eighth day to Song Niu's territory, looking for Song Niu's assets, and only just came back now.

The heavy snow delayed them; the roads were difficult to traverse.

Upon learning of their return, Chen Mo rushed to the Government Office immediately.

"How was it, did you find their assets?" Chen Mo looked expectantly at Li Yunzhang and the others.

Li Yunzhang shook his head, and Hu Qiang said, "County Magistrate...Marshal Chen, Song Niu has no assets at all. We found out that upon learning he'd be attacking Fengzhou, he spent everything the day before the expedition, intending to loot in Fengzhou; who knew this would happen."

Hu Qiang wasn't aware Chen Mo had changed his title, but Sun Meng next to him reminded him to correct his wording.

Chen Mo furrowed his brows: "So it was a wasted trip."

"It wasn't entirely wasted." Wei Qing stepped in, saying, "After the Qingzhou Army was defeated, many of the troops dispersed, with most hiding in the mountains. This winter, they've all come out, and we recruited them—over seven hundred people."

"Besides the Qingzhou Army, we also brought the folks from Song Niu's territory along."

ps: Well, let's move past the household matters first.

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