Chapter 90
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Chapter 90: Using the Emperor to Command the Lords
"I would never agree to that matter. But you were right about one thing yesterday – stopping Ji Xue from joining the team ruined your chance to take first place at the Taoist Palace. My mistake. As compensation, I’ll help you get fifth in the Southeast League Examination. Then we’ll be even!"
"……"
Mu Lin felt tricked. Instead of beating up this heartless scoundrel, Chu Lingluo actually wanted to help him.
Though she’d turned ice cold, her core kindness remained unchanged.
Truthfully, Mu Lin wanted to reject this offer. Since reconciliation seemed impossible, ending things early would be better for both.
But as a "greedy womanizer," refusing would look suspicious. Reluctantly, he agreed temporarily, planning to consult Chu Lingluo’s mother later.
So they resumed training together.
But the warm atmosphere from before had frozen solid, replaced by stiff silence.
The tension felt suffocating, but Mu Lin endured it.
"Hum…"
As their cultivation methods drew in the power of moonlight, morning slipped away.
When lunchtime came, Mu Lin opened his eyes and stood, heading for the cafeteria.
He never expected Chu Lingluo to prepare food in this situation.
Then the unbelievable happened.
Chu Lingluo had made him a spiritual meal, every ingredient perfectly prepared.
‘…Is she still clinging to hope?’
When Mu Lin looked at her oddly, her cheeks pinkened before she snapped with ice cold tones: "Don’t misunderstand. This is for the Southeast League Examination. Strengthening you means passing the exam. Then we’ll owe nothing."
Clearly, she hadn’t given up.
This confused Mu Lin – why cling to him after seeing his worst side?
"Too kind…"
Mu Lin’s thoughts revealed his blind spot.
In his past life, he’d seen countless broken relationships. Cheating lovers, marriages ending over trifles – such casual separations felt normal.
But this wasn’t modern times. Here in this feudal era, lifelong partnerships were standard.
Raised in this environment, Chu Lingluo saw Mu Lin as her destined partner. Discovering his flaws didn’t make her abandon him – she wanted to fix him instead.
Her cold words about settling debts after the exam never mentioned leaving the team.
Mu Lin’s other blind spot came from modern monogamy. He assumed infidelity meant automatic breakup. But this world followed different rules.
That phrase “What’s wrong with a man having multiple wives?” was specifically said to provoke Chu Lingluo, which was why he spoke it.
But in this era, having multiple wives wasn’t considered wrong. Instead, a girl being jealous was seen as a flaw.
Chu Lingluo’s belief in monogamy stemmed from her family background—her father had married into their household. Her mother, wanting to protect her daughter from being mistreated, had taught her these ideas.
This was why she wanted to be with Mu Lin alone.
Yet the wider world accepted multiple wives, and she couldn’t escape its influence.
After Mu Lin’s heated words yesterday, he didn’t realize Chu Lingluo had begun reflecting through her pain:
‘How did Brother Mu become like this…’
‘…But Brother Mu’s right—I’m also at fault. He only wants multiple wives…’
‘Yet to please Yan Yunyu, he wants me as a lesser wife. Unforgivable…’
This reflection made Chu Lingluo partly accept Mu Lin’s stance, believing herself mistaken.
Had Mu Lin truly argued for a harem, gentle words might’ve made her reluctantly accept it despite her hurt.
But blinded by assumptions, he never considered this. Worse, he didn’t grasp her deepest resentment lay in being demoted to concubine.
…
Oblivious, Mu Lin finished Chu Lingluo’s spiritual meal before fleeing her icy, sorrowful gaze.
His first task was retrieving the Substitute Paper Figures. Though his own figure cultivated too, he’d hidden it in his small courtyard as an extra safeguard.
“Hum…”
At his command, six Substitute Paper Figures returned to him. They brought back both the Refined magical energy and cultivation insights gained during their training.
“Rumble!”
Having used Moonlight Essence during their joint cultivation, the figures had amassed substantial energy by noon. The sudden influx strained Mu Lin’s meridians.
Fortunately, the energy shared his essence. After brief circulation, it integrated smoothly.
After redeploying six new figures to continue cultivating, Mu Lin sought Chu Lingluo’s mother in Yan Yunyu’s quarters for guidance—though Yan Yunyu had already informed her, sparing him explanations.
Standing below the noblewoman, Mu Lin wondered how she’d sever Chu Lingluo’s attachment. “Direct rejection? Or sending me to brothels…”
The unexpected came when Chu Lingluo’s mother, hearing her daughter’s refusal to relent, chose temporary inaction.
“Why…?”
Mu Lin gaped. Couldn’t she see the need for decisive action? Then he noticed the worry lining her face—and understood.
Parents cherish their children.
Chu Lingluo’s kindness and innocence made her dearly beloved. This mother’s devotion showed in her daughter’s sheltered upbringing and urgent journey here upon learning the crisis.
This was the child she’d carried for ten months. While concerned for Chu Lingluo’s future, she equally feared harming her present feelings.
Yesterday’s drama had warped Chu Lingluo’s gentle nature instantly—a transformation so alarming it stayed the mother’s hand. She feared further shocks might fracture her daughter’s heart of the Dao.
“…”
Realization dawned on Mu Lin. His expression turned peculiar—he’d gained unexpected leverage.
‘Madam, you wouldn’t want Lingluo to hate you forever if she learned the truth…’
Pe551
Thanks for the chapter 👌🏻