[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal":3,"chapter-investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-chapter-108":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Investing in the Reborn Empress, She Actually Calls Me ‘Husband’",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},596868,846,"Chapter 108: Big Brother Li Doesnt Want Me Anymore New Punishment Unveiled","investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-chapter-108",108,"\u003Cp>Descending the stairs, Li Mo reached the entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hotpot restaurant had reopened for business.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything seemed unchanged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zuo Qiuyang was still in the kitchen, but behind the counter, the owner had been replaced by Mei Yun, while a group of young helpers bustled about the shop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Chulong, her frail frame draped in an oversized linen robe, weaved through the dining area with a tray in hand. Despite the cloth covering her eyes, she moved with effortless grace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The robe was one Li Mo had worn when he was the owner. She had washed it clean but couldn’t bear to throw it away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without even turning around, Jiang Chulong knew who had come downstairs. She timidly scurried over, wiping her hands on her apron.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Big Brother Li...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You seem happy working here?\" Li Mo couldn’t help but chuckle at her demeanor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But for someone like the little Princess Jiang, it somehow made sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mmm... yes... very happy,\" Jiang Chulong nodded earnestly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Useless things... are just... just trash.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now... I can help Big Brother Li...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo: \"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What kind of corporate-level understanding was this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do things that make you happy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But... helping Big Brother Li... makes me happy...\" Jiang Chulong tilted her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo sighed. \"Then I’ll leave this shop in your care.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Chulong stiffened abruptly, the smile vanishing from her delicate face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Big Brother Li... are you going back?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo nodded, exhaling with a hint of nostalgia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You have the hotpot shop now—no worries about food or shelter.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"With Aunt Mei by your side, you won’t have to fear bad people either.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’d say my work here is done.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had once considered taking Jiang Chulong back to the Qingyuan Sect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But given her identity, staying in the city was the wiser choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, there was still Mei Yun—this little aunt was still being hunted by the Sky Patrol Guards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Strangely, though, the manhunt seemed more bark than bite.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After much deliberation, Li Mo had decided to entrust the hotpot shop to them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was probably the best arrangement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Li Mo was feeling a sense of accomplishment—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Chulong’s face paled, her voice trembling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Big Brother Li... are you abandoning me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Huh?\" Li Mo froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"From now on... will Big Brother Li... never come to see me again?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Chulong seemed to lose her soul, the cloth over her eyes darkening with dampness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Little Princess Jiang, your whole vibe just changed!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What??\" Li Mo was utterly bewildered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had a place to live, a secure future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shouldn’t she be overjoyed?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why was she crying now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A princess reduced to running a hotpot shop as a kitchen helper—sure, it was a fall from grace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it was still better than before, wasn’t it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The logic of Little Princess Jiang’s mind was as unfathomable as Ying Bing’s mood swings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo decided women were harder to understand than swords.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Big Brother Li... please don’t abandon me... I...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Chulong was trying hard to hold back, but her tears flowed like a broken faucet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo: \"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t done anything wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So why did he feel like guilt was drowning him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The surrounding diners were already shooting him looks that screamed \"you monster.\" If he didn’t calm her down soon, someone might actually step up to \"deliver justice.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regular customers all assumed Jiang Chulong was the previous owner’s daughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’ve misunderstood. That’s not what I meant.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"R-really?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My hotpot recipe is a family heirloom. I’ve entrusted something so precious to you. I’ll be back periodically to check on the business, okay?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank you... Big Brother Li... you’re the best.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Chulong’s tears turned to a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Also, keep training. When you reach the Inner Breath realm, I’ll give you a gift.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo helplessly patted her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mmm!\" Jiang Chulong nodded eagerly. \"I... I’ve opened twelve meridians... I’ll work hard.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s just... the martial arts I’ll practice next... I haven’t decided yet.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had been practicing a self-created martial art.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As her temporary \"Heavenly Venerable\" teacher, Li Mo had given it a provisional name: Wild Grass Sword Scripture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By continuously assimilating other sword techniques and refining them, she could grow stronger indefinitely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once I’m back in the mountains, I’ll need to gather more sword manuals to feed her progress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo mused silently before adding softly,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don’t rush. Haste makes waste.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mmm, mmm!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Go on now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo ruffled her hair again, and only then did Jiang Chulong reluctantly return to the kitchen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The promise of a gift had lightened her steps considerably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mei Yun, watching from the counter, sighed quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Chulong can live an ordinary life from now on, that would be the best outcome...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wasn’t that what His Majesty had schemed for all along?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>---\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Little Princess Jiang pacified, Li Mo pondered on the carriage ride back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What sword manual should I get for her?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With my current contribution points, I can access the sixth floor of the library a few times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Speaking of which, why hasn’t Ice Block shown up yet?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of recent events, Li Mo rubbed his temples.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ying Bing was his biggest patron.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why did it feel like their relationship had reset overnight?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Glancing beside him, he saw Shang Wu sprawled out in deep sleep, limbs splayed gracelessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least Master is easy to understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His beautiful master only needed wine and naps to stay happy. But Ying Bing’s thoughts? Far more complicated...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before long, Ying Bing boarded the carriage as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The vehicle began moving, heading toward the Qingyuan Sect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence filled the journey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ying Bing kept her eyes downcast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo had no idea what to say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stay quiet, and you don’t talk much either~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>---\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By evening, they arrived at Autumn Water Pavilion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo ducked into the kitchen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There’s truth in the saying—no place is better than home, even if it’s a humble one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back in familiar surroundings, Ying Bing felt an inexplicable serenity settle over her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially with the sounds of cooking drifting from the kitchen and that figure bustling about.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her mind, so prone to replaying the morning’s incident, finally quieted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That outfit...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And just a door between us...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only when her emotions had stabilized did she finally check the system’s notification.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What’s the next punishment for the defeated?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The penalty had been decided earlier—she just hadn’t looked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Punishment for the Defeated: Confirmed]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Condition]: \"Bathe with the one who defeated you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Requirement]: \"Wear the lingerie set provided by the system.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ying Bing: \"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each punishment is worse than the last.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And those so-called \"rating rewards\"—how are they rewards at all?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the disciples of her past life, the ones who revered her as the Celestial Phoenix Empress—the woman who demanded severance of all earthly ties—learned she was sharing a bath with a man...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They’d probably stab themselves on the spot, convinced it was a nightmare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is going to be the death of me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An image involuntarily surfaced in Ying Bing's mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bathtub in the Autumn Water Pavilion wasn't particularly large—if two people were in it, they'd undoubtedly be pressed against each other...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Little Bing, your tea.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shang Wu raised an eyebrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was something off about Little Bing today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmm?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ying Bing looked down to find the tea had already overflowed, soaking the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you alright?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just lost in thought.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ying Bing shook her head, banishing the mental image.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as she didn't lose, $2he punishment might as well not exist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then... there was no need to dwell on it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>",1256,"2026-05-30T17:19:00.269Z","2026-06-01T04:31:46.889Z",1,"novelbin.me","8b939fc6672c4b3b2b6d31d3d6268128c9bde8ad21864154b942369537e8b911","investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-chapter-109","investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-chapter-107",737,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Finvesting-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-cover.jpg"]