Chapter 360 - 358 High Heels

"Chen Hong" has already been buried, and at Chen Mansion, some servants are cleaning up the paper money on the ground.

This stuff has been scattered everywhere for a few days, sticking to the dirt, and it’s extremely difficult to clean. Yet the second master is pushing them hard, insisting it be done today, leaving the mansion’s servants complaining bitterly. Could it be that the brotherly love between the second master and the eldest master was just an act?

The reason they are urged to clear out the paper money quickly.

Is that Chen Hong and Chen Mo are actually the same person. For a living person to see the paper money meant for them is quite unlucky.

Now that the act is over, they naturally need to clean it up quickly.

And as for Su Mu, taking advantage of the time when Chen Mo was away for the funeral, and with not many people around in the mansion, and even fewer in the backyard, she quietly searched Chen Mansion, hoping to find the Red Sun Bell in Chen Mo’s possession.

However, after searching through most of the rooms in the backyard, she didn’t find even a shadow of the Red Sun Bell, so she headed towards Chen Mo’s room, thinking Chen Hong might have given the Red Sun Bell to his brother.

That, and Chen Hong never allowed her to come here when he was alive.

As she reached the outside of Chen Hong’s quarters, a sleek white fox was curled up on the eaves, lazily grooming its fur with its paws. Upon seeing her, it made a few gestures with its claw.

Su Mu knew this white fox; the people in the mansion all called it Xiao Jiu, and it was known for being intelligent.

"I’m... here to tidy up the second master’s room," Su Mu said simply, then wanted to go inside.

Xiao Jiu leapt down from the eaves, blocking her path, and let out a few proud barks, refusing to let Su Mu enter.

Had it been an ordinary fox, Su Mu would have slapped it away, but Xiao Jiu was intelligent and well-liked by the people in the mansion. If it were to disappear, it might cause some trouble.

Moreover, Su Mu feared it might find a way to report her actions. Not certain whether the Red Sun Bell was indeed inside, Su Mu decided it would be best not to alert them unnecessarily and left.

...

"Swish—"

In Weiyang Palace, upon hearing her mother’s words, Zhao Fujin stood up with a swish, her almond-shaped eyes glaring roundly: "What, eldest sister... to become... become a concubine for Chen Mo?"

"Chen Hong’s death, after all, has something to do with Jiang Ning. To quell Chen Mo’s anger and to comfort him, this is a necessary plan. Besides, he is a First Grade Martial Artist; being his concubine wouldn’t really demean Jiang Ning,"

Xiao Yunxi said calmly, knowing that she had put effort into this matter as well.

"Mother, you... you know that junior brother’s death is related to eldest sister, and now you’re pushing her to be Chen Mo’s concubine. Isn’t that sending her into the fire pit? What if he bullies her?"

Zhao Fujin was very agitated. Of course, she wasn’t worried about just that; if her elder sister became Chen Mo’s concubine, then what about her?

In her view, she was definitely meant to be with Chen Mo in the future.

Then how should she interact with her sister?

Moreover, if her elder sister were to become Chen Mo’s concubine, in terms of status, wouldn’t her sister have to call her elder sister in the future?

Even though Zhao Jiangning wasn’t her biological elder sister, they shared the same father, which was awkward no matter how you looked at it.

"There’s nothing to worry about; Chen Mo has promised, so you don’t need to be concerned," Xiao Yunxi looked deeply at Zhao Fujin for a while and then asked intriguingly: "Fujin, why are you so worked up about your elder sister’s matters?"

In fact, "Chen Hong’s" death had let Xiao Yunxi breathe a sigh of relief, as it meant she no longer had to worry about Fujin falling for "Chen Hong."

Yet she didn’t know that Fujin also knew Chen Hong and Chen Mo were actually the same person.

"I... I am worried about my elder sister?" Zhao Fujin felt a twinge of guilt, her tone weakening a bit before she quickly said: "Elder sister is already so pitiful, mother, can you bear to let her suffer more?"

"What suffering? You’re just speaking nonsense," Xiao Yunxi didn’t intend to discuss this any further, and immediately said: "Fujin, the Wu Family has already prepared the bride price, and in a few days, I will choose an auspicious day with Master Wu..."

"Mother, I won’t marry," Zhang Fujin interrupted before Xiao Yunxi could finish her sentence.

Since Lin Su Ya hadn’t yet met Zhao Fujin, they both didn’t know that Lin Su Ya intended to take Zhao Fujin away from Canglan Continent.

"Absurd, this marriage was arranged by your father, and I have agreed. Besides, Chang’an is a good child, the command of parents and the words of a matchmaker, it’s not up to you to make a fuss," Xiao Yunxi scolded.

Although "Chen Hong" was dead, Chen Mo was still around. If Fujin found out his identity, or fell for Chen Mo because he looked like Chen Hong, it would be troublesome.

So, having her marry was the best solution.

"I’m not marrying, you marry if you want..."

"Smack!"

Xiao Yunxi slapped Zhao Fujin across the face: "It seems I’ve been too indulgent with you lately, saying all sorts of nonsense."

Zhao Fujin clutched her stinging face, looking at Xiao Yunxi incredulously: "Mother, you... you hit me..."

...

At the Haiqing Lake Gunpowder Workshop.

Chen Mo was examining the finished high heels.

That’s right, Chen Mo had a craftsman create a pair of high heels based on the drawn diagrams.

Custom made to Xiao Yunxi’s size.

High heels weren’t difficult to make, and with the diagrams, they were completed in one or two days.

But Chen Mo didn’t specify who they were for, so the craftsman made the high heels out of wood based on the diagrams. Although they matched the drawings, no thought was given to appearance, fit, or comfort.

As a result, the high heels in Chen Mo’s hands looked like they would chafe painfully, with no consideration for aesthetics, let alone comfort.

Fortunately, Chen Mo didn’t have high expectations, nor were they meant for walking.

As long as Yunxi wears them with black silk, and then...

"Bring the Horsetail Reed."

"Yes."

Horsetail reed, also known as File Grass or Abrasive Grass, is used for polishing by the Great Song Dynasty.

This grass has joints and is coarse and rough.

Generally, it is stored dried, and soaking in warm water before use restores its stiffness, useful for polishing wooden items.

Then Chen Mo, holding the high heels and Horsetail Reed, returned to Chen Mansion.

But just as he set the items down and before he could start polishing, Xiao Yunqi sent someone to summon him.

As expected, he was ordered to lead troops to resist the Eighteen Lords’ army.

Although the matter of Zhao Ji’s escape annoyed him greatly, the most pressing issue now was the Eighteen Lords’ army.

If this so-called two million strong army were to invade Bianliang, all those involved in the uprising would face death.

To ensure Chen Mo defeats the opposing force quickly, the number of troops given changed, not the planned one hundred thousand, but two hundred thousand.

Fifty thousand cavalry and one hundred fifty thousand infantry.

Xiao Yunqi, being a cautious man, also sent a First Grade Martial Artist and two Second-Grade Martial Artists to accompany him, nominally to protect him but in reality to monitor.

After all, he wasn’t Chen Hong. Handing over two hundred thousand troops to him without supervision would make Xiao Yunqi uneasy.