22: Son-in-law? He's our family's benefactor!

In truth, Mo Yingqi had attended such so-called gatherings before; back when he was at the Zhang family residence, that good half-brother of his had invited him to one once.

However, that brother had no good intentions, and Mo Yingqi had none either.

The other party mistakenly thought he could humiliate him, but I fear that man would never forget what happened that day for the rest of his life.

The Jiangsu and Zhejiang region was already quite wealthy, but compared to the capital, the scale of the gatherings there was truly far inferior.

"Good heavens, so many people..."

Mo Yingqi looked out the carriage window at the line of carriages, each decorated differently but clearly belonging to wealthy families; the scene was truly unexpected for him.

"After all, it's hosted by Mother Empress, so naturally, everyone who can come—whether they are eligible or not—wants to get involved,"

Luo Yongning said nonchalantly, while holding out a peeled sugar-roasted chestnut to Mo Yingqi's lips. "Try it, Yingqi. This shop's sugar-roasted chestnuts are the most famous in the capital, and they taste excellent."

"Thank you, Sister Yongning."

Mo Yingqi wanted to take it, but Luo Yongning looked at him with a smile, saying nothing and refusing to let go.

Mo Yingqi resigned himself to his fate and opened his mouth, letting Luo Yongning feed him.

But unexpectedly, she suddenly leaned over, lightly kissed his cheek, and then sat back with a very happy expression.

"Yongning, you've gone too far." Luo Yongan gently fanned herself with a round fan while glaring fiercely at her sister. "Yingqi, come here to your sister. Yongning is clumsy; how could she possibly take care of you?"

"I'd better not. Besides, since when does a princess take care of an Imperial Son-in-Law... but I suppose I can come over."

It wasn't that he changed his mind quickly, but rather that whenever he refused, Luo Yongan would look at him with such a sorrowful face that it seemed like he was committing a heinous sin by not listening to her.

However, as soon as he went over, Luo Yongning squeezed in.

"What are you saying, Sister? I took good care of Yingqi when we were little, didn't I?"

"Yes, yes, yes, sure, sure. Anyway, you lured Yingqi into the mountains and got chased by a wild boar; if our martial uncle hadn't come, I fear both of you would have frozen to death in a tree."

"But didn't we get a wild boar for free? Yingqi even ate a lot of the wild boar meat!"

"Is that how you calculate things? It doesn't matter if you die, but Yingqi must not come to any harm."

"You're not even pretending anymore, are you, Sister? Equal wives—do I need to remind you what 'equal wives' means?"

These two were arguing, yet they insisted on sandwiching him in the middle. Moreover, they were just like they were when they were children, pulling at him and fighting over him.

The problem was, they weren't children anymore. Even when he was ten or so, they had already grown into graceful young women, and their development was excellent.

Having not seen them for five years, these two sisters hadn't gained a bit of weight where they shouldn't have, but where they should have... it seemed they had grown even more.

Being fought over with such little regard for physical contact, Mo Yingqi felt as if he were about to... be burned to death by fire!

"I think I'll go sit on the opposite side..."

Just as Mo Yingqi was about to stand up, he was immediately pinned down by both sisters at once.

He didn't know if they were fighting over him or... taking the opportunity to get close to him, but Mo Yingqi clearly felt that his face had been kissed more than once, and not just by one person!

It felt quite like Tang Sanzang stumbling into the Spider Cave; although there weren't seven spider demons, there were two vixen spirits!

"The Two Highnesses, Imperial Son-in-Law, we are almost there. Does the Imperial Son-in-Law need to get off the carriage to switch to a horse?" Ying Hong's voice came from outside. "If you are seen by the official families later, I fear..."

"No matter. Let the Imperial Son-in-Law get off the carriage with us." Luo Yongan replied indifferently, while tightly hugging Mo Yingqi's head and letting him rest in her embrace.

"From the moment Yongning and I married one husband, our reputation was already ruined. Do I even care about such things now?"

"Please, don't do this, Sister Yongan, Sister Yongning..." Mo Yingqi struggled to get up, but fearing he might hurt them if he used force, he could only let the sisters handle him. "This isn't good for you, mmm..."

Before he could finish, Luo Yongning pressed herself completely against his face, letting him fully experience a certain memory from his infancy that he had long since forgotten.

"Alright, alright, it doesn't matter, it doesn't matter." Luo Yongning smiled happily. "We just want the whole capital to know that Yingqi is my and my sister's treasure, and no one should think of looking down on you!"

From the moment the sisters made their decision, they had long since cast these concerns to the back of their minds.

Grandmother was right: if you want something, you must obtain it, regardless of the method or means.

Therefore, they didn't care about these things at all; they even desperately wanted everyone to know—they only favored Mo Yingqi alone, regardless of his family background or his official position, simply because he was Mo Yingqi, the most important person in their hearts.

After much difficulty, they finally arrived, and the three of them tidied up their clothes, which had become disheveled from their recent fooling around.

Mo Yingqi took a deep breath. He didn't know what it was like outside, but he could roughly imagine what he would be facing.

"I suddenly regret it..."

Mo Yingqi followed behind the two. Because men and women were allowed to sit together this time, it was, after all, a gathering hosted by the Empress, so naturally, there were more female guests.

After Luo Yongan and Luo Yongning appeared, the people who had been chatting in twos and threes stopped extremely consciously, one after another making way and bowing: "Greetings, Eldest Princess, Second Princess."

"No need for formalities."

Luo Yongan and Luo Yongning didn't even look at these people, simply leading Mo Yingqi forward.

Only at this moment did Mo Yingqi truly feel what the aura of the only two Legitimate Princesses of the Daxing Dynasty should be like.

They hadn't done anything at all, just passed by with him, Ying Hong, and a group of maidservants, yet these people didn't even dare to raise their heads.

And completely different from the tenderness and consideration they showed him, the sisters were currently radiating the intimidating aura of those in power; even he felt somewhat... unable to catch his breath.

The match had already begun, and people were galloping on horseback on the polo field. On one side was a pavilion for resting and watching, and in the center was where the Empress was currently resting.

"Greetings, Mother Empress."

Yong'an and Luo Yongning first greeted Empress Shen, while Mo Yingqi hurriedly bowed: "Your Humble Servant Mo Yingqi, greets Your Majesty, the Empress."

"Good child, quickly get up, quickly get up." Empress Shen acted as if she hadn't seen her own daughters, hurriedly greeting Mo Yingqi to rise. "Yongan, Yongning, take Yingqi and sit down first. Someone, serve tea, serve refreshments."

"Mother Empress, really, my sister and I are here too!" Luo Yongning complained, but her eyes remained fixed on Mo Yingqi. "I've never seen Mother Empress be so attentive to us."

"Heh, do you want to turn your head around and look at me before saying that?" Empress Shen's tone was filled with mockery and disdain. "When I see my son-in-law, I am very happy."

Qingzhu, standing to the side, almost couldn't hold back a laugh. How could she not be happy? This wasn't just finding a satisfactory son-in-law; how was this any different from finding a saint who could suppress the madness?

Upon learning that the two sisters insisted on marrying the same man, Empress Shen, though puzzled, had guessed most of it.

She just hadn't expected that Mo Yingqi would actually arrive in the capital and even join the Pacification Bureau.

Therefore, for Empress Shen, she didn't care about anything else; as long as her two crazy daughters married Mo Yingqi, the biggest burden in her heart would be lifted.

Now, for Empress Shen, Mo Yingqi was the greatest benefactor of their whole family. Not to mention treating him well, she was burning incense, praying to Buddha, and enshrining a longevity plaque for him every single day!

"Poor son-in-law..."

Watching Mo Yingqi being pulled to his seat by the two sisters, Empress Shen couldn't help but feel a twinge of sympathy. But if anyone were to say the marriage contract should be voided, then sorry, that was impossible!

"Son-in-law, you have been wronged, but we will be at peace. Besides... in this world, it's not easy to find two wives who love you so much... you should be thanking us!"

Thinking of this, Empress Shen looked at Mo Yingqi and found him even more pleasing to the eye, but unfortunately, someone just had to come and disgust her at this very moment.

A maidservant walked over, first bowed, and then whispered a few words to Qingzhu.

Qingzhu's brows tightened, then she waved her hand, and then softly said to Empress Shen: "Your Majesty, the Marchioness of Anding, accompanied by the Young Marquis Xu Fengzhang, requests an audience with Your Majesty."

"Tsk, how annoying." Empress Shen frowned with some displeasure. "Fine, I have to deal with her sooner or later. Let the mother and son come over."