SFL Chapter 58

As someone who’s been through it, the Prime Minister’s husband understands all too well.

“When you’re young, you seek coolness for a moment’s pleasure, but giving birth later will be excruciatingly painful,” he said, covering Mo Ziqing’s small belly with a warm, cozy blanket.

Mo Ziqing’s beautiful eyes instinctively squinted in comfort, like a charming fox spirit, exuding a lazy allure that even his own father, the Prime Minister’s husband, had to admit was a ‘calamity.’

Seeing his son like this, the Prime Minister’s husband unceremoniously slapped Mo Ziqing on the buttocks, correcting his posture, and said, “My son, you are to be the Queen’s consort in the future. How can you be so ungraceful?”

Those who knew him understood he was the future Queen’s consort, but those who didn’t might think he was a fox spirit escaping from some harem.

Naturally, the Prime Minister’s husband did not want his son to be so ungraceful.

“Father, maybe Her Majesty likes me this way,” Mo Ziqing said nonchalantly, yawning lightly.

The Prime Minister’s husband’s eyebrows twitched, “How could Her Majesty like you like this? Her Majesty values our Prime Minister’s house for its teachings.”

Mo Ziqing secretly rolled his eyes at this. No matter how well he was taught, it couldn’t compete with his love-struck nature.

Though initially, Feng Yuan did value the Prime Minister’s house for its teachings, thinking that the eldest son of the Prime Minister’s family could be a suitable Consort to the ruler and a model for all men in the kingdom.

But later, Feng Yuan fell head over heels for Mo Ziqing at first sight.

Currently, Mo Ziqing was in the Prime Minister’s household, having not even met Feng Yuan yet, so it was impossible for Feng Yuan to be smitten.

Mo Ziqing was curious to see if Feng Yuan would also fall for him at first sight; he couldn’t believe he could be worse than the original.

With the mindset of competing like a proud peacock, Mo Ziqing began to cooperate with the various remedies his father had prepared for him.

There were beauty treatments for whitening, acne removal, fragrances, and remedies to help men with smooth deliveries and quick postpartum recovery—his father had prepared everything.

“Father, you’re so good to me,” Mo Ziqing sweetly said while embracing the thoughtful gifts.

“As long as you know! You’ve always made me worry since you were little. Now that you’re about to get married, how could I not help you?” the Prime Minister’s husband said, feeling a mix of sadness and tenderness, tears welling up as he held Mo Ziqing.

In contrast, Mo Ziqing, the soon-to-be groom, seemed carefree, confidently stating that once he was settled in the palace, he would summon his father to visit him every day.

Hearing this, the Prime Minister’s husband found it both funny and infuriating, wiping away his tears. “Stop talking nonsense! Do you think the palace is our own home?”

In a way, it was Mo Ziqing’s home. He was the King, the rightful male head of the palace.

Once he realized this, the Prime Minister’s husband playfully tapped Mo Ziqing on the forehead and said, “You need to be more careful in the palace. Although there’s no one in the Queen’s harem right now, don’t let your guard down. You need to win Her Majesty’s heart during this time and try to have a child quickly; only then will you truly establish your position.”

“Don’t be polite with any palace attendants trying to get close to you. If they see your soft-heartedness, they’ll take advantage of it,” he advised, using examples from the Prime Minister’s household to teach Mo Ziqing.

Mo Ziqing nodded in agreement. Wasn’t that how the female leads often acted? Unable to refuse, their soft nature allowed men to charm them with tears, leading them to agree to anything.

When it came to outside temptations, women were one thing, but as a man, he had to be cautious too.

He couldn’t help but wonder in the original story, once the original host became the King, whose methods were stronger—his own or the female lead’s speed in bringing people into the palace?

“Alright, I’ve taught you everything you need to know. Before you enter the palace, spend some more time with your friends,” the Prime Minister’s husband said.

With that, Mo Ziqing’s activities were extended beyond the estate.

As the “most beautiful man in the capital,” the original host wasn’t just a pretty face; he was well-educated and knowledgeable.

However, since the original had little opportunity to use that knowledge, Mo Ziqing had no intention of using it either. In the days leading up to the banquet, he focused on taking care of his appearance while casually reading a novel.

“Brother,” his younger sister, Mo Ziyan, approached him, her gaze landing on the book in his hands with an expression of disapproval.

Mo Ziqing was unfazed. He reached down to ruffle her hair, only to be shocked when his hand came away greasy. “How long has it been since you washed your hair?”

“Uh, maybe three or four days? What’s wrong with that?” Mo Ziyan replied, taken aback by his reaction.

“As a girl… ahem, as a young lady, how can you not be clean? We have servants at home; you don’t need to do it yourself! Hurry back and wash up before coming here,” he admonished. Mo Ziqing was used to the meticulous grooming of other girls, so he found it hard to tolerate his sister’s untidiness.

The “messy” Mo Ziyan was left bewildered as Mo Ziqing sent her back to wash up. Once she realized what was happening, she quickly protested, “Brother, I came to take you out for fun!”

As the pillar of the family, it was natural for her to accompany the men when they went out.

“If we’re going out, you need to be even cleaner,” Mo Ziqing replied.

In the end, Mo Ziyan was forced to wash up because Mo Ziqing refused to take her out otherwise.

How had the roles reversed so suddenly? It was supposed to be her taking her brother out to enjoy himself.

“Achoo, achoo!” Mo Ziyan sneezed, covering her nose. Mo Ziqing held her steady, ready to help her get dressed up.

Watching her brother bustling around, coordinating outfits and jewelry, and styling her hair into an extravagant look adorned with pearls and gems, Mo Ziyan couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed. Seeing her reflection in the mirror—looking more masculine than a man—she finally broke down in tears.

“Brother, I don’t want to go out.”

“No way! You can’t waste my efforts! Besides, it wouldn’t be convenient for me to go out without you,” Mo Ziqing said, leading his sister, who was also dressed extravagantly. He took her along to the banquet.

Despite her continuous sobbing, Mo Ziqing remained resolute. “Brother, everyone will laugh at me like this!”

“Of course not! My little sister is so beautiful and adorable; they’ll be envious!” Mo Ziqing reassured her.

“Really?” Mo Ziyan felt a bit more convinced by his certainty.

“Look at how lovely these clothes and accessories are. You should wear them more often; otherwise, they’ll just gather dust in the corner.”

The hairstyles and clothing of women in Feng Country weren’t much different from the outside world, but due to their ruggedness, they often neglected such things, leaving them to the men over time.

Items like stockings, high heels, and skirts originally belonged to men.

Mo Ziyan had never been this exquisite before, but she reassured herself that these were her things, just worn a little more beautifully.

When they arrived at the plum garden for the gathering, the sight of the siblings immediately attracted numerous gazes.

Many men still in the pavilion quickly scanned Mo Ziqing’s attire and accessories from head to toe, feeling as if they were being overshadowed.

Although Mo Ziqing had always been capable, he had never made them feel so pressured before. Many men found themselves puzzled by this.

Unbeknownst to them, Mo Ziqing’s eyes swept over the crowd and spotted several men likely to enter the female lead’s harem.

The only standard for the men in the female lead’s harem was looks; family background and status didn’t matter.

The men who usually competed with Mo Ziqing in charm were certainly not lacking in appearance, making them prime candidates for the female lead’s affection.

With a subtle lift of his brow, Mo Ziqing suppressed them all, asserting his position.

Crack!

In a private room on the second floor, Feng Yuning accidentally shattered the glass in her hand, her gaze intense as her hand instinctively went to her heart, which was racing wildly.

“Sister, do you know that young man? He’s so handsome! I want him to be my husband!” she exclaimed, realizing the meaning of the saying, ‘In the six palaces, the beauties lose their color.’

Before he arrived, the elegant hall was filled with blooming flowers; after he showed up, it felt as if only he was in bloom.

Feng Yuning’s eyes sparkled as she eagerly inquired about Mo Ziqing’s identity, but Feng Yuan didn’t know much more than her. However, she felt a twinge of curiosity about the person who could make her sister lose her composure, so she glanced out the window.

And in that instant, she was captivated.

As Mo Ziqing looked back, Feng Yuan could see her reflection in the stunning boy’s eyes, as if he was gazing right at her.

For the first time in her life, she truly absorbed the features of a young man, imprinting his image deep within her heart.

With her keen eyesight, she could clearly make out his flawless, jade-like skin and his extraordinary beauty. Coupled with his exquisite accessories, his hair flowing gently and his robe billowing, he seemed almost unreal.

【Ding! Target Strategy: Feng Yuan.

Current favorability level towards host: 100%.】

“Got it,” Mo Ziqing averted his gaze first, maintaining an unruffled demeanor as he continued to engage in the gathering, treating Feng Yuan like just another stranger.

This left Feng Yuan feeling a wave of disappointment, but as she watched him mingle, a surge of joy filled her heart.

He was real! Not a celestial being!

He was here among mortals!

“Go, bring me all the information on that young man,” Feng Yuan quickly instructed once she regained her composure.

Feng Yuning happily hugged her arm, saying, “Thank you, sister!”

Feng Yuan furrowed her brows and said to Feng Yuning, “Yuning, you need to focus.”

“Sister, I’ve never met someone I truly liked before,” Feng Yuning replied excitedly, just as she was about to announce her intention to pursue Mo Ziqing. But before Feng Yuan could reach for the documents, Feng Yuning snatched them up.

—Mo Ziqing, the most beautiful man in the capital, eldest son of the Prime Minister, the Queen’s designated King…

Feng Yuning read the words ‘designated King’ but was slow to process the information, her mind taking a moment to convert that term to “male consort.”

That young man was the designated male consort?

He was already engaged! And to her sister!

He was her future brother-in-law!!!