Upon arriving at Weiyang Palace, Cai’Er was waiting outside. As soon as she saw Chen Mo approaching, she wanted to go inside to report, but Chen Mo signaled her to be silent.

"Is the Empress Dowager inside?" Chen Mo asked softly.

Seeing Cai’Er nod, he was about to step inside, but she stopped him and whispered, "The Empress Dowager is bathing inside. Please wait a moment, Prince."

"Bathing?" Chen Mo’s eyes lit up; how perfect.

Moreover, Yunxi had chosen this time to bathe rather than any other. What could this mean? Chen Mo was still pondering it, smiling faintly, "I know, you can leave now."

"But... but."

"Don’t worry. If the Empress Dowager gets upset, just say it was I who instructed you."

With that, Chen Mo strode inside.

Cai’Er was anxious and embarrassed, wanting to follow him yet fearing to witness something improper. She paced back and forth outside for quite some time before finally biting her lip and leaving.

The rumors circulating in the town had to be true.

...

Chen Mo did not witness a beauty coming out of the bath, which left him somewhat disappointed. Upon entering, he found Xiao Yunxi sitting at the dressing table, meticulously dressing herself.

It seemed she heard a noise, and when she glanced up to see Chen Mo, her eyes first filled with a hint of surprise, followed by bashfulness and annoyance as she chided him, "You rogue, coming in unannounced; Cai’Er knew I was bathing. You barged in like this, of course she misunderstood."

Xiao Yunxi wore a magnificent palace gown with a high open neckline, draped in a sheer white gauze that faintly revealed a white gleam. Her chide caused a slight undulating, and her snow-white skin complemented her jet-black, still slightly wet hair, exuding allure.

Chen Mo’s heart itched as he moved directly behind her, placing his hands on her shoulders, taking the comb from her hand, and smoothing her long hair with a soft chuckle, "Nowadays, who doesn’t know about our affair? But no one dare speaks about it in our presence. If Cai’Er misunderstood, she must have done so long ago."

Glaring at Chen Mo in the copper mirror, Xiao Yunxi continued applying her makeup, remarking, "That’s true, but we should still be mindful of our reputation."

Hearing this, Chen Mo couldn’t help but feel amused.

I returned to the capital and you summoned me here, bathing in your quarters, and now telling me to mind the reputation.

How bizarre this sounds.

But outwardly he merely nodded lightly.

Once her hair was combed, he used True Qi to blow it dry and then twist it into a high bun.

Chen Mo was naturally taller than Xiao Yunxi, and now standing while she was seated meant he could see down her neckline into a chasm, making him feel heated.

Xiao Yunxi noticed Chen Mo wasn’t speaking and was about to discuss Jiangnan matters. But then she saw a large hand slide down her neckline, capturing...

Her body went rigid, instinctively leaning slightly forward, her face flushed red as she slapped Chen Mo’s hand, chiding, "You’re crazy, hands all over the moment you returned."

Chen Mo was unfazed, bringing his face close to her ear, gazing at her lovely visage in the copper mirror, pecking her cheek lightly as he whispered, "Don’t you yearn for me too, Yunxi?"

Xiao Yunxi’s physique had softened sevenfold, yet she stubbornly replied, "I... I don’t."

"If not, why bathe during the day?"

"I was sweating."

"And still wearing stockings." Chen Mo glanced at her gorgeous legs wrapped in black silk, his mind conjuring a phrase.

That damn year.

With deft hands, Chen Mo produced a necklace, adorned with a fine pearl as large as a pigeon egg, and even more precious for its teardrop shape.

This necklace, naturally something Chen Mo procured from the Nan Zhou Treasure Vault, was exquisitely beautiful. He specifically took it from his bag before entering the palace.

Chen Mo gently placed it around Xiao Yunxi’s slender snow-white neck, speaking tenderly, "Do you like it?"

With this series of moves from Chen Mo, what woman could resist? Her body softened into his embrace, exhaling orchid fragrance, "You always know how to sweet-talk me, such a rogue."

She finished with a light slap to Chen Mo’s chest.

"You demon." Unable to hold back any longer, Chen Mo scooped up Xiao Yunxi and headed toward the bed.

But just then, Cai’Er’s voice sounded from outside the hall, "Empress Dowager, Your Majesty is here."

Upon hearing this, the two in the bedroom were startled. Chen Mo hurriedly set Xiao Yunxi down, but her body had gone limp, causing her to topple sideways upon being released.

Chen Mo was ever solicitous of beauty, and he supported her to sit at the dressing table.

This whole debacle left no time for tidying up.

Footsteps already echoed outside; Zhao Chong came inside, "Mother, I heard... Prince Zhen Nan is here too."

Zhao Chong’s expression briefly froze.

Chen Mo managed his expression well, respectfully addressing him, "Your Majesty."

"What’s Prince Zhen Nan doing in the Empress Dowager’s bedroom?"

Zhao Chong glanced at the bath barrel in the bedroom, still steaming, indicating his mother had just finished bathing. He peered at his mother’s neckline, noticing slight wrinkles, most tellingly her flushed face, and given his Cyan Rainbow True Eye ability, he saw the flicker of panic in her eyes.

Before Chen Mo could answer, Xiao Yunxi interjected, "Prince Zhen Nan brought a precious gift to present to me specially."

Zhao Chong noticed the necklace on Xiao Yunxi’s neck, his thoughts racing for a while before he smiled, "So that’s it, such a beautiful pearl; Prince Zhen Nan is thoughtful indeed."

"The Empress Dowager has always shown me kindness and support, so it is only right for me to do this," Chen Mo said.

"I’ve told you before, Prince Zhen Nan, there’s no need to be so courteous, but he doesn’t listen and insists on honoring me."

"..."

The two harmonized, but Zhao Chong was no fool. He had long suspected them. Now seeing this, it seemed exactly that.

Looking at the man before him, only a year or two older than himself, Zhao Chong’s expression was quite complex, yet he could only maintain a smile, "I heard Prince Zhen Nan discovered the Nan Zhou Kingdom’s treasure in Jiangnan?"

"Replying to Your Majesty, indeed it happened. I have instructed my men to transport all the treasure to the Capital, enriching the National Treasury," Chen Mo said.

"Prince Zhen Nan truly is a national pillar, deserving of reward." Zhao Chong rewarded Chen Mo with some gold and silver, then commented, "I heard the Nan Zhou Treasure included a Foundation Establishment Pill?"

"There indeed is one."

"What about that Foundation Establishment Pill?" Zhao Chong’s eyes kindled with heat; given his mother’s connection with him, if he asked him directly, wouldn’t he feel obligated to hand it over...

Xiao Yunxi’s brows furrowed slightly.

"Returning to Your Majesty, the Foundation Establishment Pill has languished in the Treasure Vault for centuries; its potency has long been lost." Chen Mo had no intention of giving him the pill.

"Then..."

"Your Majesty, since you have business with the Empress Dowager, I shall take my leave." Not waiting for Zhao Chong to finish, Chen Mo proactively announced his departure and left the bedroom before Zhao Chong could respond.