We Agreed On Experiencing Life, So Why Did You Immortals Become Real? Chapter 382: Madam, May I Call You Moer?

Once generals such as Xiao Mo returned to the capital, border battles paused for now, though all knew the epic war would soon erupt again.

Qin Kingdom's power now peaked. It had swallowed the mighty Zhei, Chu, and Yan nations, along with endless minor states nearby.

Such dominance had never appeared in all of Warring States history.

From highest lords to lowest peasants in Qin Kingdom today, unification of the world burned in every heart.

What's more, Qin stood as the prime force for realm-wide unity across the full span of Warring States eras.

The surviving Qi, Zhao, and Jin states, despite endless past quarrels big and small, now grasped exactly who menaced them most.

Thus, Qi, Zhao, and Jin readied themselves to face down Qin united.

They'd plotted to exploit Qin's frailty by launching invasions, yet Jin's devastating losses at Huaishan City's grand clash, plus later home soil upheavals from scheming lords, foiled those aims.

Qi and Zhao could only first bolster Jin's recovery, waiting till it mustered fresh armies.

Through these years, above all after Xiao Shi's final rebellion crush, Zhei posed no further threat.

Qin's kind handling of Zhei natives quelled any urge to rebel among them.

For everyday folk, simply enduring and thriving better marked ultimate joy.

Who truly savors war's havoc and disorder?

Beyond that, every land in the realm sprang from ancient Great Zhou soil.

After Zhou King's domain divisions, ages eroded rites and harmony; lords carved solo realms, spawning today's strife.

Tracing back countless ages, all hailed from the same bloodline.

Qin's top priority stayed swallowing the newly grabbed Chu and Yan territories.

Aside from posting generals to hold Chu and Yan, easing folk taxes.

Qin's lord backed obscure local clans too, sparking inner feuds in Chu and Yan for balances of power, draining spare strength for unrest.

On Xiao Mo's advice, Qin pushed the motto "once Qin territory, then Qin people" across Chu and Yan grounds.

In hardest-hit war zones, Qin rushed officials and troops for aid, mustering locals to rebuild crops jointly, customizing rules per folk plights—countless gained total tax relief for ten years straight.

Beyond this, Xiao Mo proposed drafting Chu and Yan men into service.

All purely optional, no drafts enforced.

Perks equaled those of rank-and-file Qin troops.

Former Chu and Yan fighters could bail if unwilling to stay; still, Qin's merit rewards seduced Yan and Chu masses hugely.

Since plain folk could seize fate-altering glory through exploits.

Suddenly, throngs of Chu and Yan males enlisted in Qin forces.

Qin's army swelled enormously.

These aids built true ties between Chu-Yan people and Qin.

Any plotting revolt to shatter their fine days? These masses would block it foremost, and in Shu lands, after years' toil, Li Bin and son's flood control brought massive wins.

Flood woes in Shu plunged since irrigation networks rose.

Former badlands bloomed into rich earth, yearly yields hitting staggering highs.

This fueled Qin's daring for battles ahead, and five months past Xiao Mo's capital homecoming, word hit from Xiao Manor.

Xiao Manor's lead wife, Xia Qingke, teetered on death's edge.

Though Xiao Mo seldom crossed paths with Xia Qingke, she endured as his chief aunt no matter what.

Xiao Mo swiftly dispatched sword messages to his father at the Northern Frontier and his eldest brother lingering at Tao Mountain Sect.

Upon receiving those messages, Xiao Shi and Xiao Yichuan rushed back straight to Xiao Manor.

The moment Xiao Yichuan laid eyes on his mother, this towering eight-foot-tall powerhouse on the immortal path burst into uncontrollable tears.

Xiao Yichuan grasped his mother's hand tightly, repeating over and over, "Mother, I'm sorry" and "Your child hasn't stayed by your side to perform his filial duties."

"Silly child, the cultivation path is simply like that. Your mother feels more than enough joy from your long life and the successes you've achieved. Child, why must you apologize?"

Xia Qingke softly caressed her son's hair, yet the kinder her words grew, the more fiercely Xiao Yichuan sobbed.

That very day, Xiao Shi also shared a long, private conversation with his principal wife.

To Xiao Mo, this seemed entirely ordinary.

Regardless, Xia Qingke remained Xiao Shi's first wife no matter what.

Though Xiao Shi spent years campaigning far from home and seldom returned, a thread of affection still lingered between them. Yet, what Xiao Mo hadn't foreseen was that the Xiao family's principal wife would summon him for a private talk.

"Eldest Aunt."

Stepping into the bedroom of the Xiao family's first lady, Xiao Mo offered a respectful bow.

"Frost Prince, no need for such formality—please, have a seat."

A gentle smile curved the lips of the Xiao family's principal wife as she spoke softly.

Xiao Mo gave a nod and settled onto the stool next to Xia Qingke's bed.

Gazing upon the woman in front of him, though their meetings had been few, Xiao Mo couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion in his heart.

Her life flame flickered on the verge of extinguishing. Despite the faint rosiness on her face, it marked merely the final radiant burst before life's close.

"Frost Prince..."

"Eldest Aunt, just call me Xiao Mo."

"Then, Madam, may I address you as Mo'er?" Xia Qingke smiled warmly.

Xiao Mo paused briefly, then nodded, "Of course you may."

"Mo'er..." Xia Qingke gazed at Xiao Mo, "This marks the first time I've called you this... cough cough cough..."

Xia Qingke dabbed the blood from her mouth's edge and regarded Xiao Mo with tender eyes, "You are truly extraordinary.

Born to a concubine, you rose to prince through your own merits. Now, Mo'er, your renown rivals even your father's.

I once fretted over whether my son might fail to inherit the Northern Pacification Prince title someday.

Eventually, I realized you hold no interest in this so-called 'Northern Pacification Prince' position at all, Mo'er. You have no need for it.

Rather, it was I who spent a lifetime trapped in pettiness and narrow views."

"Eldest Aunt, don't speak like that. A mother's drive to secure fortune for her children is pure instinct," Xiao Mo replied.

"True enough, but I'm not just Yichuan and Yishe's mother—I'm also Xiao Manor's principal wife. With your father away, I alone oversee the entire Xiao clan.

Thus, my thoughts couldn't focus solely on my sons; I had to consider the Xiao family too."

Xia Qingke clasped her hands together, reclining against the bed's headboard, and went on, "You and your father believe I resented you for 'causing' Yishe's death, and Yichuan thinks I fault him for failing to shield his little brother.

But none of you three understand.

You don't grasp that I've never held any of you at fault.

The one I condemn is solely myself.

Truly, the one who slew Yishe wasn't another soul, but me—his own mother.

For I knew Yichuan's heart lay not in the court, but amid the misty mountain peaks.

Thus, I poured all my hopes onto Yishe.

Did Yishe crave the Northern Pacification Prince role for himself, or did he pursue it to please me?

Without my influence, how could this 'Northern Pacification Prince' title have gripped him so obsessively, culminating in such a fatal error?

In truth, the soul who cherished the 'Northern Pacification Prince' title most... was me."