Chapter 124 Drunk?

Chen Mo initially wanted to go to Jingru Palace.

But he was delayed by Zhao Fujin.

Well.

Couldn’t go.

Chen Mo could only return to Weiyang Palace.

Then he headed towards Xiao Yunxi’s bedchamber.

Xiao Yunxi hadn’t summoned him.

It was Chen Mo who went on his own initiative.

Finally got a hold on things today.

Must strike while the iron is hot, making Xiao Yunxi think of him even in her dreams.

Chen Mo still took some wine with him.

There’s a saying that goes.

It’s only in drunkenness that true feelings are revealed.

Alcohol gives courage to the strong.

Chen Mo took not fruit wine, but high-proof white spirit.

The Great Song Dynasty indeed had high-proof spirits, but only some military generals liked to drink it because it was too harsh on the throat, not welcomed by the Imperial Family, let alone in the Harem.

So this type of spirit was usually kept in the kitchen for use as cooking wine to remove fishy odors and enhance flavor.

Chen Mo also prepared some snacks, which he placed in a lunchbox.

However, upon arriving outside the bedchamber, he was stopped by Xiao Qing’Er.

"The Empress hasn’t summoned you. What are you doing here so late?"

"I made some snacks for the Empress." Chen Mo lifted the lunchbox in his hand, having placed the wine inside it, and cupped his hands, saying, "Could I trouble Miss Qing’Er to report this?"

"No need, you can go in." Xiao Qing’Er merely asked as usual.

As for reporting?

Previously, the Empress had specifically instructed her that whenever Chen Hong came, he could be let in without prior notification.

Moreover, the food he made didn’t need to be tested for poison or anything.

It could be said that the trust in him is absolute.

Treated as a confidant indeed.

Therefore, since reporting to the Empress would result in the same outcome, there was no need to make it redundant.

Also, this was something the Empress had instructed before.

Xiao Qing’Er was not derelict in her duties.

...

Because of what happened during the day.

Plus, the monthly issue hadn’t completely passed, so Xiao Yunxi was not sleepy at all at this moment.

Cai’Er had already been sent to rest by her.

In the vast bedchamber, she was the only one present.

And unable to sleep, how could she pass the time?

Handle the harem’s affairs?

She had no mind for it.

Embroidery?

Xiao Yunxi knew it before getting married, but since entering the palace and becoming the mistress of the harem not long thereafter, she hadn’t touched embroidery.

After ten years, the skill had become rusty.

Read?

Even reading was not something Xiao Yunxi was in the mood for.

So amidst her wild thoughts.

Xiao Yunxi rummaged from the wardrobe the clothes she wore before entering the palace.

Then she put them on.

Aside from her height increasing a bit, and her figure becoming more ample, Xiao Yunxi’s body hadn’t changed significantly.

Furthermore, since her clothes back then were slightly loose.

So she could still wear them, although they seemed a bit tight.

But the body’s curvature was perfectly displayed.

Looking at herself in the copper mirror, Xiao Yunxi touched her face, feeling as if she had really returned to her younger days.

After hesitating for a while.

Xiao Yunxi sat down beside the Phoenix Bed and pulled out the black stockings Chen Mo had given her from beneath the pillow, and slowly put them on.

Once both black stockings were on her legs,

the bead curtain was suddenly lifted, the sound reaching Xiao Yunxi’s ears.

Xiao Yunxi’s complexion changed, pulling her legs onto the bed, covering them with the quilt. Just as she was about to scold, she noticed it was Chen Mo, her cheeks suddenly reddened like an apple, saying, "Why did you come?"

Chen Mo lifted the lunchbox in his hand: "So late, you must be hungry? I’ve brought you some food."

"I’m not hungry, you leave." Xiao Yunxi shouted, tugging the quilt higher to cover her entire body.

Chen Mo said nothing, placing the lunchbox on the long table, then turned to leave.

Xiao Yunxi paused.

Really leaving?

A sense of reluctance unexpectedly sprouted in her heart.

But what she didn’t expect was that Chen Mo didn’t actually leave.

He went to close the windows.

After closing the windows, he returned again.

Holding the lunchbox, he sat beside the bed, then moved over a small table onto the bed, placing the lunchbox on it.

Then he opened the lunchbox, took out all the food and wine inside, and said, "Since it’s all here, might as well eat some."

The Phoenix Bed was large, so there was no worry about the small table being crowded on the bed.

Then, Chen Mo handed the bowl, chopsticks, and wine cup to Xiao Yunxi.

Pouring himself a cup first, just as he was about to pour one for Xiao Yunxi, Chen Mo suddenly recalled that her monthly issue wouldn’t end until tomorrow, and drinking now wouldn’t be good for her body.

This was where Chen Mo made a mistake.

He pulled back the hand pouring the wine.

Then lifted the cup before himself, tilted his head back, and downed it in one gulp, also showing Xiao Yunxi the empty cup.

Xiao Yunxi raised an eyebrow, unsure of its meaning.

"I forgot that your monthly issue hasn’t passed, my fault, I’ll punish myself with three drinks first."

Saying this, Chen Mo poured and drank two more cups in quick succession.

With three shots of strong liquor consumed, and no food to cushion it, Chen Mo was slightly overwhelmed by the heat and could hardly speak, suppressing the alcohol before saying, "This is what real liquor is, invigorating... tsk tsk..."

Seeing Chen Mo remember such a detail, warmth unexpectedly filled Xiao Yunxi’s heart, and she didn’t ask Chen Mo to leave, pouring herself a cup: "It’s almost over, a little won’t hurt."

However, after saying this, Xiao Yunxi realized her words had issues.

As if signaling something to Chen Mo.

She quickly turned her head away and took a sip of the strong wine to cover her emotions.

"Here, have some food." Chen Mo placed some small dishes in Xiao Yunxi’s bowl, then began chatting with her about today’s events.

Xiao Yunxi, with her head lowered, quietly ate while listening.

Acting as a listener.

After finishing the story, Chen Mo began telling Xiao Yunxi another tale.

Seeing he’d made no moves on her, Xiao Yunxi started gradually letting down her guard.

As the cup emptied, Xiao Yunxi intended to pour another.

But Chen Mo moved the wine jug away, saying, "I told you to drink just some, don’t be greedy, once your monthly issue passes, I’ll have a good drink with you."

Xiao Yunxi squinted, obeying.

Chen Mo continued with his stories.

While drinking the wine.

After three rounds of drinks.

Chen Mo, unsure if truly drunk or feigning, suddenly fell heavily into Xiao Yunxi’s lap.

Xiao Yunxi was startled; it was then she realized Chen Mo had somehow, without her noticing, slipped off his shoes and gotten onto her Phoenix Bed. She raised a hand to push at his shoulder:

"Get up, stop pretending."

Chen Mo did get up but immediately looped his arm around Xiao Yunxi’s neck, leaning on her:

"Yunxi, are you wearing them?"

Saying this, he flipped off the quilt draped over Xiao Yunxi.

Upon seeing the beautiful legs wrapped in stockings, Chen Mo’s eyes immediately fixed on them: "Yunxi, I absolutely love you, you really wore them..."

Xiao Yunxi at this moment wished she could dig a hole and bury her head in it, promptly pushing Chen Mo off with force.

The small table on the bed was also knocked over.

Luckily, most of the stuff on it had already been eaten by Chen Mo.

None of it fell onto the bed.