"Your Majesty, I request permission to lead the troops to attack Jin Xia and avenge this blood feud," Wu Yanqing stepped forward and requested.
"Your Majesty, I am willing to accompany Duke Wu," Xiao Jing said.
"I understand the sentiments of you both, but I have summoned you here for another important matter," Chen Mo said.
"We await Your Majesty’s command," Wu Yanqing and Xiao Jing said in unison.
Chen Mo gently tapped the desk with his fingers, carefully considering, then said in a deep voice, "Wu Yanqing."
"I am here."
"I command you to lead one thousand Divine Brave Guards and immediately head to Longyou to oversee. You will have full command of the garrison in Longyou," Chen Mo ordered.
Initially, Shuofei County in Yu State had nearly 30,000 garrison troops. After Jin Xia retreated from Longyou, these 30,000 troops naturally took back Longyou and stationed there.
Chen Mo worried that when the army attacked the Jin Xia Barbarians, Jin Xia might think of opening the situation from Longyou, so he sent Wu Yanqing to oversee there.
Yue Ruyan is now pregnant, so Chen Mo could not possibly let her lead the troops.
"Understood." Wu Yanqing paused for a moment but quickly understood the situation and agreed.
Xiao Jing looked at Chen Mo with anticipation, clearly wanting to ask, "What about me?"
"Xiao Jing," Chen Mo looked at Xiao Jing.
"I am here."
"I command you to stay in the Capital, awaiting orders from the Empress and Elder Geng," Chen Mo said.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Jing was utterly shocked.
He understood that with Duke Wu going to Longyou, Lady Zhuangfei (Yue Ruyan) is pregnant, and he is to stay in the Capital, then His Majesty is planning to personally lead the army on a campaign.
Moreover, His Majesty asked Elder Geng and the Empress to restrain him. Even if His Majesty does not personally lead the campaign, he would not dare act recklessly, for he had no other intentions.
His daughter was bearing His Majesty’s child.
Xiao Ya is also His Majesty’s consort.
The status of the Xiao Family is now exalted enough, truly bound to the Great Wei.
"I shall obey," Xiao Jing said.
...
After Wu Yanqing and Xiao Jing left, Chen Mo called in Geng Songfu and appointed him as Regent.
With Jin Xia so restless and unpredictable, Chen Mo was determined to personally lead troops to pacify Jin Xia.
...
Weiyang Palace.
The hall was spacious and bright. Wu Mi sat behind a long table, doing needlework while chatting continuously with Han Anniang.
Xia Zhining and Xia Zhiqing were also present, their heads adorned with jewels, shimmering under the sunlight streaming through the window, their jade-like faces radiant, holding a baby in their arms, Xia Zhining’s daughters, Chen Li and Chen Xin, looking at everyone with smiles, occasionally chiming in with a few words.
Yi Shiyin sat beside Wu Mi, her neckline slightly exposed, feeding her daughter, Chen Nian Mo, in front of everyone.
Listening to Han Anniang speak about Chen Mo, Yi Shiyin immediately joined the conversation, "In which sister’s palace is His Majesty now?"
Han Anniang shook her head, while Wu Mi smiled faintly and said, "Sister Zhuangfei is pregnant, so His Majesty frequently goes to the Observatory nowadays."
"Hmm," Xia Zhining snorted lightly and continued, "The new generation surpasses the old. We old ones are probably forgotten by His Majesty."
After giving birth, Xia Zhining felt her desires were more intense than before, and Chen Mo hadn’t been visiting her and her sister’s palace as often these days. With her personality, she was too shy to seek intimacy, which inevitably left her with a bit of resentment.
"I wondered why I’ve been yawning all day, turns out someone outside was complaining about me, and it’s Zhining," Chen Mo quickly walked into the inner hall.
"Your Majesty..."
Wu Mi and the others’ faces lit up with joy, and a chorus of soft, sweet voices erupted.
Even Chen Li and Chen Xin were giggling.
However, both children were not yet a year old and couldn’t speak.
"What’s the occasion today? An Niang and Xiaolu are both here." Chen Mo leisurely walked forward, found an embroidered stool, sat down, and then reached out to the child in Xia Zhining’s arms: "Xiaolizhi, let your father hold you."
"This is Xin’er, the one in my sister’s arms is Xiaolizhi. Truly, the new generation surpasses the old, you can’t even recognize your own daughters."
If Xia Zhining had a bit of resentment before, now she was truly angry, for even their two daughters could be mistaken.
Chen Mo was embarrassed, as Chen Li and Chen Xin were twins, only half a year old, making them difficult to distinguish. But still, as their father, he could not recognize his own daughters, which was his fault.
Chen Mo slapped his own mouth and took Chen Xin from Xia Zhining, playfully saying, "It’s all father’s fault. Xin’er, forgive your father, won’t you? If Xin’er doesn’t speak, that means she agrees. Xin’er is so good, come, give a kiss."
Xia Zhining gave Chen Mo a side-eye as soon as she heard this.
Wu Mi also added on the side, "It’s not any special day; the weather is nice today. The place they stay is close to Weiyang Palace, so I had people bring them over to sit and chat."
Chen Mo nodded. After holding Chen Xin, he took Chen Li from Xia Zhiqing and said, "These two sisters are too alike, and they’re so young now, truly hard to tell apart. We should make two Longevity Locks, inscribe their names on them, and let them wear them for easy recognition."
"Not recognizing your own daughters, and you have the nerve to say that," Xia Zhining hasn’t cooled her temper.
"I’ve already instructed someone to prepare them," Xia Zhiqing had already arranged it. Frankly, if not reminded by her sister, she too found it challenging to tell them apart.
"Are Nu’er and the others still in lessons?" Chen Mo inquired.
Xia Zhiqing, Wu Mi, and Han Anniang nodded.
"Where was husband just now?" Xiaolu had just finished feeding the child, her ample bosom slightly flushed. She pulled her collar and looked up at Chen Mo, eyes brimming with moisture.