CHAPTER 364: CHAPTER 159: SECOND DUAL CULTIVATION! JI HONGXIU’S SILVER... DAO PATTERN! (6K)_2

"I heard that Lady Lin is also quite the heroine, if Zhixia is willing, making friends wouldn’t be a problem."

What displeased Shen Xiong was that group of powerful ministers from the Six Ministries. In his heart, he actually had considerable admiration for the Empress.

As a woman ruling from behind a veil, managing state affairs, and balancing the nation, her capabilities and temperament rivaled those of any sage king in history.

Unfortunately, the court’s entrenched maladies had reached a terminal stage, relying solely on balance was akin to prolonging inevitable death...

A chaotic world requires drastic measures, severe illnesses require strong medicine!

Does the Empress have such boldness?

"Zhixia hasn’t even passed the door yet, and she’s always running to the Chen Mansion. The marriage contract was torn by that boy Chen Mo; outsiders will inevitably gossip. If we can obtain an imperial marriage decree, it would make things legitimate."

"The Empress definitely won’t agree easily. If the Lin Family can mediate, there might still be some hope..."

"Hmm, this should be reported to the Empress first..."

Shen Xiong’s thoughts were tumultuous.

...

Within the inner chambers of the Shen Residence.

The boudoir was simply and elegantly furnished, with bamboo blinds hung by the window and a huanghuali desk placed beneath.

A figure in moon white stood at the table, lifting her sleeve with her left hand to reveal a jade-like white wrist, while her slender fingers held a bamboo brush sketching on a piece of xuan paper.

In the midst of the brushstrokes, a tall and upright figure leapt off the paper.

Broad shoulders, narrow waist, tiger steps even beneath his robe his strong muscles were perceptible, a masculine aura was exuded.

Such a heroic body, yet the face was painted extremely sloppily: eyes not aligned, a mouth tilted to the ear, drool flowing down the corner, looking like a goofy idiot.

At this moment, Shen Zhixia came over, holding a pig’s trotter, her small mouth greasy with oil.

Upon seeing the portrait on the table, she paused slightly and then couldn’t help but laugh, "Daoist, how did you make Brother Chen Mo look like this?"

Ling Ningzhi paused, "Who said I was painting Chen Mo?"

Shen Zhixia gnawed on the pig’s trotter, her small mouth shiny with oil, and said, "The appearance may not match, but the physique is very accurate, even the muscle lines are identical. I have felt them myself..."

"..."

Ling Ningzhi’s face flushed a bit.

The two had arranged to meet for a small gathering today, and she came to the Shen Residence after leaving the Sky Scale Guard.

Shen Zhixia shouted she wanted to see her paint, and after picking up the brush, she inadvertently sketched according to the mischievous image from last night on her mind.

Halfway through, realizing something was wrong, she intentionally drew the face crooked, but it was recognized anyway.

Shen Zhixia poked Ling Ningzhi’s waist’s soft flesh, smiling as she said, "In the past, Daoist’s paintings were all of aerial landscapes, why are you drawing men today? Could it be you’ve taken a mortal interest?"

Ling Ningzhi felt guilty, brushed off her oily little hand, and snorted coldly, "It’s just something I painted specifically for you to see. How could I, a humble Daoist, know what’s on your mind?"

Shen Zhixia covered her mouth with a light laugh, "Actually, it’s quite good. If only the expression were more serious, now it looks like some lecherous demon."

"Because he is indeed a big lecherous demon!"

Ling Ningzhi secretly muttered, thinking of what she saw in the Government Office earlier in the morning, she spat in her heart.

Looking at Shen Zhixia’s pure and innocent appearance, she hesitated for a moment before asking, "Chen Mo has so many female confidants, don’t you care at all?"

Shen Zhixia tilted her head to think, then said, "I used to care a lot, but since the Martial Arts Examination, I completely let it go."

"As long as Brother has a place in his heart for me and can stay peacefully by my side, that’s enough."

"In this world, men come in two types. One is like kites in spring from the medicinal grove, requiring a tight grip on the string; a bit of slack and the wind flutters them away. The other is the seafaring falcon that breaks through frost clouds. If tethered by a chain, it would break their spirit instead."

Listening to this philosophy, Ling Ningzhi was momentarily stunned.

Unexpectedly, although she appeared so innocent and lively, her thoughts were so astute...

"Daoist."

"Hmm?"

"What do you think of Brother Chen Mo?"

"...Hmm?!"

Ling Ningzhi’s expression froze, her tone panicked, "W-why are you asking me that?"

Could their relationship have been discovered?!

Shen Zhixia put down the pig’s trotter, said seriously, "Now the winds are rising in Jiu Zhou; Brother is at the center of the storm. The court, sects, even the Demon Clan have taken notice of him. I can only help so much."

"But Daoist is different."

"Daoist’s strength surpasses mine and you’re the chief of Tianshu Pavilion, a position of great distinction. If Brother faces danger in the future, I hope Daoist will lend a hand out of past friendship."

Ling Ningzhi first breathed a sigh of relief, then frowned, "Why say it so formally...not to mention you and I are close friends, Mr. Chen saved my life, if there’s danger, I certainly won’t hesitate to help."

"With Daoist saying this, I’m relieved."

Shen Zhixia reached out to embrace Ling Ningzhi’s waist, resting her cheek against her bosom, murmured, "Daoist, let’s be lifelong best friends~"

"Mm."

Ling Ningzhi’s cheeks turned slightly red, she gently agreed.

"Since Zhixia doesn’t mind Chen Mo having many women, then I suppose I could also..."

"Pah, where is your mind wandering..."

But in this way, the guilt in her heart was somewhat alleviated.

As for helping Chen Mo in times of danger...hunting down the Ten Great Demons should be quite perilous, right...

While she was lost in thought, a sudden tingle ran across her back.

Shen Zhixia rubbed her on the buttocks, lifted her head, and said with a mischievous smile, "Daoist, you have a great figure, as people say, ’wide hips for good childbirth,’ Daoist could definitely give birth to eight at a time!"