Chapter 586: Chapter 582, Chapter 583: Xia Zhining: Oh, There’s Another New Little Sister_2

Xiao Ya gently lifted the curtain, peering at the scene outside with a slightly flushed face, thinking to herself, "Brother Mo will also be my husband from now on..."

In the carriage behind, Zhihua also lifted a corner of the curtain, looking at the scene outside with a slight sense of daze, "Is this the domain under Duke An’s governance?"

Looking at the people smiling, Zhihua’s eyes dimmed slightly as she softly murmured, "The people living here are truly blessed..."

...

"I pay my respects to Duke An," Wei Linchun led a group of officials from the Government Office forward to welcome him.

Chen Mo also saw Chen Cultivator, Geng Songfu, and Zuo Lianglun among them.

"Rise, everyone," Chen Mo knew they all had matters to discuss with him, so he promptly said, "I just got back, and I’m a bit tired; let’s talk about everything tomorrow."

Everyone exchanged glances and nodded.

"Let’s go home," Chen Mo said to Sun Meng.

The carriage headed in the direction of Duke An’s Mansion.

When Chen Mo was riding down the street and reached the central area, he reined in his horse and stopped, cupping his hands to the people on both sides, saying, "Welcome, everyone, to Xiangyang to participate in the provincial examination. I wish you good effort and success in the exams."

"Duke An!"

"Duke An!"

"Duke An!"

With Chen Mo’s encouragement, the scholars in the crowd shouted more excitedly.

Chen Mo smiled and continued on his way to Duke An’s Mansion without stopping.

Once away from the bustling street, Sun Meng rode forward and softly asked, "Marquis, should we bring Miss Zhihua back to the mansion as well?"

Chen Mo was momentarily stunned, then immediately said, "Send her to the Copper Sparrow Garden, and keep a strict watch."

"Understood."

Sun Meng nodded, turned his horse around, and instructed the others to make the arrangements.

...

Inside the carriage.

Xiao Yunxi once again explained to Xiao Ya who were the people in the mansion and their roles.

And each time she heard it, Xiao Ya felt a bit nervous.

"Xiaoya, don’t be afraid. The sisters in the mansion are all good to get along with; only..." Xiao Yunxi paused as she spoke.

"Only what?" Xiao Ya hurriedly asked.

"Only Xia Zhining tends to be jealous. Besides her sister, she is hostile to everyone and might say some sarcastic things. But she’s actually warm-hearted despite her cold exterior, not difficult to get along with," Xiao Yunxi said.

"Xia Zhining..." Xiao Ya nodded, remembering the name.

Xiao Yunxi continued, "Xiaoya, although I know your character and that you wouldn’t do such things, just in case, let me remind you that in the mansion, you can offend anyone but your Sister Anniang."

In the mansion, if she met Wu Mi, she wouldn’t call her sister often, but every encounter with Han Anniang was met with a constant "Sister Anniang."

"Why?" Xiao Ya asked curiously.

"It’s a long story. Once you’re in the mansion, you’ll understand gradually," Xiao Yunxi replied.

"Oh."

...

Soon, the carriage reached Duke An’s Mansion.

The servants and guards of the mansion, seeing the carriage stop, quickly approached to unload the items and move them inside.

Chen Mo reminded them, "These boxes are the new wife’s dowry, don’t take them to the storeroom; find an empty room and place them there separately."

"Understood."

Chen Mo dismounted, found a familiar maid, and asked, "Where are the madams?"

"Replying to the master, it’s hot outside. The madams are waiting for you in the newly built cool room," the maid answered. Chen Mo glanced at the blazing sun above and nodded.

He had said it more than once that there was no need for a group to wait outside for his return.

He turned around, and at this moment, the three women also stepped down from the carriage.

Chen Mo smiled, "Let’s go inside; you’re home now."

Chen Mo, accompanied by the three women, headed toward the cool room under the guidance of a maid.

Within Duke An’s Mansion, there was a small hill, and this hill remained in perpetual shadow. The so-called newly constructed cool room was a space carved out inside the hill.

At this moment, Wu Mi sat inside the cool room, playing Chinese chess with Xia Zhiqing.

This chess was a pastime Chen Mo had created during his leisure time, easy to pick up.

On the first day, no one was Chen Mo’s match.

Later on, Chen Mo couldn’t beat anyone.

Among the women, the best players were Wu Mi and Xia Zhiqing, followed by Nangong Ru and Liang Xue.

Wu Mi’s maid held little Chen Jia, watching the game alongside Xia Zhining, who was also with a child.

Han Anniang and Ning Wan were seated together, reviewing last month’s accounts from Fu Ze Restaurant.

Song Min and Xiaolu were playing with little Chen Zhong.

Liang Xue and Nangong Ru sat on a bamboo chair, sorting out volumes of "Three Kingdoms Stories."

Chu Juan followed Xiaolu’s maid Xiaoling, learning female crafts, sewing clothes for Chen Mo.

All their personal maids stood by, waiting for orders.

Just then, a maid entered and respectfully reported to Wu Mi, "Madam, the master is here."

Upon hearing this, the women all paused their activities, preparing to go meet him.

But Chen Mo entered first, saying, "Mi’er."

"Husband, you’re back." Wu Mi walked up to help Chen Mo remove his robe, then took the clothes handed over by a maid to dress him.

For a moment, Chen Mo felt much cooler.

"Husband."

"Brother Mo."

"Husband, I heard you were attacked in Jiangnan; are you okay?"

For a moment, the cool room was filled with the chirping of voices.

This made Xiao Ya, who had come in later, feel very uneasy and nervous.

While Chen Mo responded to them one by one, Wu Mi approached Xiao Ya and asked, "And who is this sister?"

"Quick, call Mi’Er sister," Xiao Yunxi reminded from the side.

"Sister Mi, I’m Xiao Ya." Xiao Ya seemed like a startled rabbit, her fair egg-shaped face blushed like rosy clouds.

Upon hearing and seeing her, Wu Mi immediately understood a newcomer had arrived at the mansion, said a few polite words, and then had the servants prepare a room for Xiao Ya.

"This is Anniang Sister." After greeting Wu Mi, Xiao Yunxi led Xiao Ya to Han Anniang.

Before Han Anniang had children, she would feel a slight pang of jealousy whenever newcomers arrived at the mansion. But after having Chen Zhong, she no longer cared about such matters, greeting Xiao Ya with a smile and even asking for her nickname.

"Then I’ll call you Xiaoya from now on," Han Anniang smiled.

Xiao Ya nodded gently.

"This is Yi Shiyin, you can call her Sister Xiaolu," Xiao Yunxi said.

"Sister Xiaolu."

"This is Sister Zhiqing."

"Hello, Sister Zhiqing." As Xiao Ya said this, Xia Zhining suddenly glanced at Chen Mo with a slight glare and coolly remarked, "Well, it seems the trip to Jiangnan wasn’t in vain; the mansion has a newcomer now."

With those words, Xiao Ya felt extremely embarrassed.

"Zhining," Xia Zhiqing tugged on Xia Zhining’s hand, giving her a meaningful look, then said to Xiao Ya, "Xiaoya, this is my sister Zhining, just call her Sister Zhining. She’s just like that; don’t take it to heart."

Xiao Ya mustered a smile and addressed her as Sister Zhining.

At first meeting, she was deeply impressed by Xia Zhining.

If it weren’t for the presence of the children, Chen Mo would definitely have given her a good spanking; but considering the kids, he just endured it, giving Xia Zhining a look that promised she would hear about it that night.

Afterwards, Xiao Yunxi introduced Liang Xue, Nangong Ru, and others to Xiao Ya, even including the maids in the house.

When Xiao Ya addressed Xiaolu’s maid Xiaoling as "Sister Xiaoling," the cool room fell momentarily quiet before the women covered their mouths in laughter.

Xiaoling blushed a deep red but subtly peered at Chen Mo from the corner of her eyes, clearly harboring some anticipation.

Chen Mo let the sisters chat while he played with the children.

The children were still too young to remember him clearly; it had only been a few months, but they seemed a bit estranged until Wu Mi and the others pointed him out, calling him "daddy."

Little Chen Nuo and Little Chen You were already speaking clearly.

Holding Little Chen Jia, once the women’s side settled a bit, Chen Mo smiled and asked, "While I was gone, were there any interesting happenings in Xiangyang?"

"Indeed, there were," Xiaolu was the first to speak up after Chen Mo finished, cheerfully saying, "Husband, recently in the city, there’s a poem praising you.

It says, ’Duke Mo, a graceful and charming young man, raises a toast and gazes at the blue sky, resplendent as a jade tree standing in the wind.’