Cold Palace.

Liang Ji sat on the Hu Bed, her complexion not looking very good.

Since being deposed by the Emperor, under the coercion of Xu Guozhong, she had also been confined to the Cold Palace, and her daily necessities and attendants were reduced again and again.

Beside her was a palace maid sent by Xu Guozhong.

Even though she was confined to the Cold Palace, Xu Guozhong still didn't trust her.

Xu Guozhong resented the Liang Family deeply; if it weren't for the blood-stained letter from the Emperor that Liang Mu took out, he wouldn't have fallen to this point.

At this moment, the palace maid informed Liang Ji of Liang Xuan being killed by Chen Mo.

Liang Ji called Liang Xuan her third uncle.

Strictly speaking, Chen Mo should address Liang Ji as aunt.

...

Jing County.

After retreating from Qingzhou, Prince Huai concentrated all his forces in this small county town, which was also the border between Huai State and Fengzhou.

In Prince Huai's original thought, if negotiations with Chen Mo didn't work out, he would directly confront Chen Mo.

As it turned out, negotiations indeed didn't work.

In the military tent, over a dozen staff officers surrounded Prince Huai.

After Diwu Fusheng finished talking about his meeting with Liu Ji at Wuguan and the content of the negotiations.

Some were silent, their brows tightly furrowed.

Some kept drinking tea to conceal their inner excitement.

Some were quite dissatisfied, yet helpless.

Xiao Quan suddenly erupted, "It's too much to bear, Prince, now while Chen Thief hasn't completely taken control of Huai State, and the people's hearts are still with us, let's confront him directly. We have more troops, while Chen Mo only has his own strength. Our hope of victory is still considerable, and we can rescue the Princess Consort and the Crown Prince."

However, while Xiao Quan was willing, others were not necessarily so.

Members of the Li Family, Xiao Family, and Gan Family immediately objected.

Since Chen Mo released Madam Hui, Madam Xiao, Madam Gan, and their children, the three families had a chance to compete for the position of Crown Prince, which is why they were unwilling to risk fighting to rescue Princess Consort Huai and Xiao Zheng.

It could be said that Liu Ji's plan was an open strategy; once spoken, it could sow discord. The factions under Prince Huai's command, for their own interests, would still act this way even knowing it was a plot.

At this time, a military general from the Li Family said, "Naturally we must rescue the Princess Consort and the Young Master, but the current situation does not favor us, so there's no rush. We can first rescue the three Madams and the eldest young master. When the situation in Longyou is settled, and King Chong can lend a hand, it won't be too late to rescue the Princess Consort and Young Master then."

Once his words fell, a general from the Xiao Family quickly added, "General Li is right. As long as you, Prince, and the army are here, Chen Thief won't dare to do anything to the Princess Consort and the Young Master."

The military general from the Gan Family agreed.

Xiao Quan immediately started to insult the three, "Don't think I don't know what you're thinking. I tell you, don't even think about it, as long as the Xiao Family is here, you can forget about the position of Crown Prince."

"Xiao Quan, what nonsense are you spouting."

"Right, what Crown Prince position? We're doing this for the Princess Consort's sake."

"..."

"Enough." Listening to them arguing one by one, Prince Huai angrily shouted, "Am I not troubled enough?"

Only then did they quiet down.

Prince Huai looked at Diwu Fusheng, rubbing his brows, "Fusheng, what do you think?"

After a moment of contemplation, just as Diwu Fusheng was about to answer, hurried footsteps sounded outside the tent.

A small soldier rushed in frantically, "Prince, it's not good, enemy troops have attacked Huainan, the Grand General was no match and has retreated, and they are now on their way back to Jing County."

"Report..." Just as the soldier finished speaking, a scout quickly ran in, "Prince, urgent report, our scouts have detected significant military activity near the Shu Residence border."

Diwu Fusheng swallowed the words he was about to say; he originally advised Prince Huai to fight.

After all, the demands Chen Mo made were too humiliating.

The military tent fell into silence.

After a moment of silence, the military generals from the Li Family, Xiao Family, and Gan Family, who had quieted down earlier, once again advised Prince Huai to bear with it.

And said that they would pool together the one million taels of silver for compensation.

As for Qingzhou, since they had already retreated, giving it back was no problem.

Prince Huai was already troubled enough, and hearing about the military activity on the Shu Residence border, fearing it might be Yang Xian's forces, he had no choice but to bear with it.

He comforted himself in his heart, at least Shou'Er and the others returned, even if something happened to Yunxi and Zheng'Er, Prince Huai's Mansion wouldn't be left without successors.

Prince Huai, with a face full of pain, said, "A gentleman takes revenge, even if it takes ten years, this account, I will remember. Fusheng, I trouble you to go again."

"As you command." Said Diwu Fusheng.

Xiao Quan wanted to say something more, but seeing Prince Huai had made up his mind, he could only keep silent.

However, he left the military tent that day and went back to the Xiao Family, to report the situation there to his family.

...

Wuguan.

Inside the room, the curtain was drawn, and within, wave-like fragrances swirled.

Chen Mo vented his hatred for Prince Huai entirely onto Madam Xiao and Madam Gan.

Ever since Prince Huai saw the ugly, filthy state in which Xiao Yunxi gave birth, not only had his interest in Xiao Yunxi diminished, but also in matters of intimacy, his interest had significantly waned, and even when occasionally interested, his energy was much reduced.

And Madam Xiao and Madam Gan were at a vigorous age, even if they didn't say it openly, they carried some resentment in their hearts.

Now, having been physically involved with Chen Mo twice in a row, the two Madams even started to 'like' Chen Mo.

Madam Xiao, who was currently compensating for Chen Mo's absence, seemingly felt something, hurriedly crawled towards the head of the bed, her words filled with resistance.

But Chen Mo embraced Madam Xiao's voluptuous waist, wanting to give her a child.

Madam Xiao lay weakly on the bed, a teardrop sliding down from the corner of her eye, murmuring in her heart, "Prince, I'm sorry to you."

Chen Mo did not favor one over the other, also attending to Madam Gan.

Shortly thereafter, Chen Mo, with a beauty in each arm, said, "Rest assured, I, the Marquis, will keep my word and definitely send you back."

...

Chen Mo did not stay overnight at the "detention" residence, after leaving Madam Xiao's courtyard, a figure emerged from behind a column.

Xiao Yunxi looked towards Madam Xiao's courtyard, her eyebrows furrowing deeply.

If she remembered correctly, Chen Mo had been in Madam Xiao's courtyard for a full hour.

What had happened was self-evident.

This made her feel uneasy.

What actually made her more uneasy was that so many days had passed, yet Chen Mo had not sought her out even once.

This unknown fear pervaded her heart.

At that moment, she felt a tingling soreness in her chest again, combined with her current state, Xiao Yunxi suddenly felt overwhelming shame.

She quickly returned to her room, thankfully Xiao Zheng was still asleep.

With no screen in the room, she could only get on the bed, draw the curtain down, and unbutton her collar.

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