Chapter 90 – Using the Emperor to Command the Lords

“I will not agree to that matter. However, you were right about one thing yesterday—preventing Ji Xue from joining the team would hinder you from becoming the Dao Palace First. That was my mistake. As compensation, I will help you secure fifth place in the Southern Eastern Region Joint Examination. After that, we will be even!”

“…”

He had been deceived. Instead of wanting to beat up this heartless man, she was still willing to help him.

It could only be said that although Chu Lingluo had become cold, her inherently kind nature had not changed.

To be honest, Mu Lin did not want to accept such a proposal. Since there was no possibility, it would be better for both of them to part ways sooner.

However, as a “greedy and lustful” heartless scoundrel, rejecting such an offer would seem highly unreasonable.

Reluctantly, Mu Lin had no choice but to agree for now and see how Chu Lingluo’s mother would respond.

Thus, the two of them resumed cultivating together.

However, unlike the warmth of before, the atmosphere between them was now cold and stiff.

This feeling was quite oppressive, but fortunately, Mu Lin could endure it.

“Hum…”

As the cultivation method circulated, Moonlight Power was absorbed, and soon, the morning passed.

When it was time for the midday break, Mu Lin opened his eyes, stood up, and prepared to head to the cafeteria.

He did not believe that, under such circumstances, Chu Lingluo would still prepare food for him.

Then, something that left Mu Lin speechless happened.

Chu Lingluo had actually prepared a spiritual meal for him, and the ingredients were not reduced in the slightest.

‘…Has she not given up yet?’

Under Mu Lin’s strange gaze, Chu Lingluo’s face flushed slightly with embarrassment, but she soon spoke coldly, “Don’t misunderstand. This is for the Southern Eastern Region Joint Examination. Only when you become stronger can we pass the exam smoothly. Then, we can truly be even.”

It was confirmed—she had indeed not given up.

This left Mu Lin puzzled. Even after he had revealed such an ugly side of himself, why was Chu Lingluo still unwilling to let go?

“She’s too kind…”

In thinking this way, Mu Lin was actually falling into a cognitive trap.

In his previous life, he had witnessed many breakups and reconciliations between men and women. It wasn’t just infidelity during a relationship—even after marriage, some would divorce over trivial matters.

Having seen such scenes, Mu Lin believed that breakups and reconciliations were normal.

But this was not his previous life. The current social environment was not the open modern era but a feudal ancient society.

In such a world, spending a lifetime together was the norm.

Growing up in this environment, Chu Lingluo had been influenced by it. Once she acknowledged Mu Lin, she envisioned a lifelong partnership with him.

Thus, after seeing Mu Lin’s true nature, she did not think of giving up but instead sought to change his mind and bring him back to his original intentions.

This could also be seen in her words. Although she spoke coldly about helping Mu Lin secure fifth place and then being even, she never mentioned leaving the team afterward.

—There was another point where Mu Lin had fallen into a cognitive trap.

In his previous life, monogamy was the norm, so Mu Lin believed that his infidelity was an unforgivable mistake.

The phrase “What’s wrong with a man having three wives and four concubines?” was specifically said to provoke Chu Lingluo.

But in this era, a man having multiple wives and concubines was not considered a mistake. Instead, a woman being jealous was seen as a flaw.

Chu Lingluo had previously held the idea of monogamy because in her family, her father had been a live-in son-in-law. Chu Lingluo’s mother, not wanting her own daughter to suffer mistreatment, had specifically instilled this knowledge in her.

Because of this, she had imagined being together with Mu Lin alone.

However, the broader societal norm was one of multiple wives and concubines, and she too had inevitably been influenced by it.

After Mu Lin’s outburst yesterday, unbeknownst to him, Chu Lingluo had actually begun to reflect while she was grieving and in pain.

‘How could Brother Mu become like this…’

‘…But Brother Mu is right, I am also at fault. He just wants multiple wives and concubines…’

‘But to please Yan Yunyu, Brother Mu actually wants me to be the lesser wife—I will never forgive him…’

Through this reflection, Chu Lingluo had come to somewhat accept Mu Lin’s words, feeling that she was indeed at fault.

If Mu Lin had truly clashed with Chu Lingluo because he wanted to establish a harem, a few soft words of appeasement from him could have made Chu Lingluo endure her grievances and reluctantly accept the matter.

Unfortunately, hindered by his own perceptions, he had not thought of this. Moreover, he did not realize that what Chu Lingluo was most upset about now was Mu Lin’s intention to make her the lesser wife.

…

Unaware of this, Mu Lin finished the Spiritual Meal that Chu Lingluo had meticulously prepared. Then, under her icy and resentful gaze… he slipped away.

His departure was partly to retrieve the Substitute Paper Figures.

Mu Lin’s own Substitute Paper Figure was also cultivating, but to keep an extra trump card, he had placed his own Substitute Paper Figure to cultivate in his Courtyard.

“Hum…”

As Mu Lin willed it, all six Substitute Paper Figures returned to his body.

Along with them came the Mana they had diligently refined and the insights gained during the refinement process.

“Boom!”

With six Paper Figures cultivating together and using Moonlight Dew, the amount of Mana they had accumulated that morning was substantial.

Now, as this Mana surged into Mu Lin’s body, it even caused some swelling pain in his meridians.

Fortunately, the Substitute Paper Figures shared the same origin as Mu Lin, and the Mana they refined was imbued with his attributes.

After circulating it slightly, this Mana became entirely his own.

After retrieving the Paper Figures, Mana, and insights, Mu Lin released six more Substitute Paper Figures to continue cultivating. Meanwhile, he himself hurried to Yan Yunyu’s room to find Chu Lingluo’s mother, wanting to ask what to do next.

As expected, Yan Yunyu had also returned to her room and had informed Chu Lingluo’s mother about the situation.

Since someone had already told her, there was no need for Mu Lin to repeat it.

Standing below, Mu Lin pondered what method Chu Lingluo’s mother would use next to sever her daughter’s attachment.

“Will she have me directly reject her, or will she send me to visit the brothels…”

Then, something unexpected happened to the contemplating Mu Lin. Upon learning that Chu Lingluo was unwilling to give up, her mother hesitated for a moment and actually decided to maintain the status quo for the time being.

“Why…”

Upon hearing this decision, Mu Lin was utterly dumbfounded. He couldn’t quite understand—didn’t Chu Lingluo’s mother know the principle of cutting the Gordian knot?

However, when he looked up and saw the slightly worried expression on Chu Lingluo’s mother’s face, Mu Lin… gradually understood everything.

One’s own child is always the most cherished.

Obedient, adorable, kind, and sensible—such a Chu Lingluo was undoubtedly endearing.

The palace-attired young woman before him held a deep affection for Chu Lingluo.

Whether it was raising Chu Lingluo to be so pure and innocent, or traveling thousands of miles from afar upon learning the news, it all demonstrated her protective care.

After all, this was the child she had carried for ten months.

Thus, while concerned about Chu Lingluo’s future, she also cared deeply about her present feelings.

The farce that unfolded yesterday had caused Chu Lingluo’s temperament to change drastically in an instant, a sight that frightened the palace-attired young woman.

Fearing that further provocation might overwhelm Chu Lingluo, even damaging her Dao heart, she decided to temporarily halt her actions.

“…”

After piecing all this together, Mu Lin’s expression turned somewhat peculiar. He realized he possessed the ability to manipulate the situation by leveraging authority.

‘Madam, you wouldn’t want Lingluo to resent you for the rest of her life after learning the truth, would you…’

(End of Chapter)