Chapter 534: Chapter 438: What Do They Want?

"I’m surprised to see you have the time to visit me today, Fairy Jiang. Is something the matter?"

Xiao Mo was somewhat surprised to see National Master Jiang sitting before him.

Usually, Xiao Mo was the one who went to the National Preceptor’s Mansion to discuss the Sword Dao with her.

Or, when he was cultivating on the Wendao Platform, she would sometimes come and spar with him.

But for Jiang Qingyi to visit his personal chambers of her own accord was quite rare.

"It’s nothing, really."

The hem of Jiang Qingyi’s dress brushed against the bench as she sat down before Xiao Mo, her back perfectly straight. She gave him a fleeting, indifferent glance.

"I just came to see how Your Majesty was faring. After all, you’re a man in your prime, and the two new Imperial Consorts are national beauties. I was worried you might indulge yourself to death."

"You jest, Fairy Jiang." Xiao Mo smiled wryly. "Far from overindulging, I was so drunk last night I passed out. Actually slept quite well."

"Passed out? Heh..." Jiang Qingyi gave Xiao Mo a look full of hidden meaning and sneered. "Don’t tell me Your Majesty actually believes you just got drunk and passed out?"

Xiao Mo looked directly into her eyes, his expression growing serious. "I don’t quite understand what you mean, Fairy Jiang."

"You don’t?" The corners of Jiang Qingyi’s mouth lifted into a slight smile. "Are you telling me you haven’t had any suspicions about your two consorts? Do you really believe they’re just ordinary women?"

"..."

Xiao Mo was speechless for a moment.

’Of course I have my doubts, but I don’t have any proof.’

’Besides, when I think back on my time with them, they always seemed perfectly normal.’

But now that Jiang Qingyi had stated it so bluntly, the doubt in his heart grew.

"Does Fairy Jiang know what happened last night?" Xiao Mo asked.

"I do." Jiang Qingyi’s reply was crisp and direct.

"Very well, I won’t beat around the bush with you." Jiang Qingyi looked up at Xiao Mo. "Neither the daughter of the Yan Clan nor the Eldest Princess of the Qin Kingdom are ordinary women. To put it in terms of the Mortal World, they are both Immortals, and their Realms are quite high."

"How high?" Xiao Mo asked.

Jiang Qingyi took a sip of tea. "On par with me."

Hearing Jiang Qingyi’s answer, Xiao Mo’s brow furrowed, and he fell into deep thought.

’I’m not exactly sure what Jiang Qingyi’s Realm is. I’ve asked her before, but she never told me.’

’But from my time with her, I know her Realm can’t be low.’

’Not to mention she’s an Inner Sect Disciple of the First Sword Sect, appointed by her Sect to be the National Master of an entire Dynasty.’

’So, in my opinion, Fairy Jiang has to be at least at the Dragon Gate Realm.’

’That means the young lady from the Yan Family and the Eldest Princess of Qin are both at the Dragon Gate Realm or higher.’

"I have many doubts. I wonder if you would be willing to answer them, Fairy?" Xiao Mo asked.

"Ask what you want. Whether I answer is my business." Jiang Qingyi set down her teacup and looked at him calmly.

"What are their true identities?"

Xiao Mo asked seriously. ’Two cultivators from the Middle Three Realms have infiltrated my harem. This is no small matter.’

’I’m worried they aren’t actually the daughter of the Yan Clan and the Eldest Princess of Qin.’

’I’m worried my intended brides were swapped with impostors.’

Jiang Qingyi chose her words with care. "The Yan Ruxue in the Imperial Palace is indeed the daughter of the Yan Clan, and Qin Mujiu is indeed the Eldest Princess of Qin. That much is true. However, their identities don’t end there."

"However, I’ve made an agreement with the two of them, so I cannot tell you."

"You can rest assured, Your Majesty. Though those two women are hiding things from you, they will absolutely never harm you."

Xiao Mo asked again, "This agreement you made with them... did it include their permission for you to tell me all this?"

Jiang Qingyi neither confirmed nor denied it.

’Based on my understanding of her,’ Xiao Mo thought, ’if Fairy Jiang doesn’t deny something, it’s a tacit admission.’

Xiao Mo’s brow furrowed, and he rubbed his fingers together. "What is their goal? Is there something in this Imperial Palace that they want?"

The moment Xiao Mo finished speaking, Jiang Qingyi stared directly at him, her eyes brimming with a knowing, teasing light.

"Fairy Jiang?" Xiao Mo asked, confused.

"I cannot answer that question for Your Majesty either."

With that, Jiang Qingyi stood up.

"That’s enough questions for now. In short, you can just continue to interact with them as you normally would. There’s no need to worry. There are many things beyond your current consideration. What you should be focused on now is reaching Foundation Establishment in one month."

"Furthermore, it’s not out of the question for you to spend the night at their residences in the future. It’s just... heh..."

Jiang Qingyi let out a cold laugh, planted her hands on the table, and leaned in toward Xiao Mo.

"It’s just that intimate matters between a man and a woman will likely be impossible for the time being. But that’s for the best. Before you reach the Dragon Gate Realm, cultivating without losing your Primordial Yang will allow you to progress twice as fast with half the effort."

"Or is it..." Jiang Qingyi leaned closer, her gaze locked on his, "...that you can’t be intimate with them, and having two stunning beauties around is making your heart itch with unbearable longing?"

"You jest, Fairy Jiang," Xiao Mo replied playfully. "To say I’m tempted... perhaps a little. But to say it’s unbearable would be an exaggeration."

"Hmph! Men!"

Jiang Qingyi straightened her slender back, picked up her longsword, and left the room through the window.

’She certainly comes and goes abruptly.’

Watching the direction Jiang Qingyi had left, Xiao Mo shook his head with a wry smile.

Xiao Mo thought back on everything Jiang Qingyi had just said.

He then recalled his past memories with Yan Ruxue, and Qin Mujiu’s bright, cheerful smile.

’Did they get close to me just for something here in the Zhou Royal Palace?’

’But what could there possibly be in the Zhou Royal Palace that would catch their eye?’

’Whatever. I’m not going to think about it anymore.’

Finally, Xiao Mo shook his head, casting aside his thoughts.

’The priority right now is still to improve my Realm and strength. If I’m not strong enough, I’ll always be at the mercy of others. Once my Realm is higher, the truth behind most of these matters will reveal itself.’

Having cleared his thoughts, Xiao Mo had a Palace Maid come in and help him change his clothes.

Today was the second day after his wedding. Xiao Mo had to take his two new Consorts to serve tea to the Empress Dowager.

And just as Xiao Mo finished changing and stepped out of Yangxin Hall,

Consort Xue and Consort Mu were already standing on either side of the palace entrance, waiting for him.

"We pay our respects to Your Majesty. We trust you are well."

Yan Ruxue and Qin Mujiu curtsied and said softly.

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