Through the two half-opened floor-length lattice doors, a figure in a plain long dress stood by the railing. The breeze lifted the hem of the skirt, revealing calves more delicate than silk, resembling a callia flower swaying in the wind.
"Your servant greets the Empress." Chen Mo bowed and said.
Yu Youhan had her back to him, seemingly oblivious.
Chen Mo hesitated slightly, then stepped forward to her side.
He glanced at her stunning profile, then followed her gaze to look into the distance, capturing almost the entire Imperial Palace.
The vermillion palace walls stretched endlessly, dividing the palace from the outside world. The glazed tiles shimred with brilliant colors under the sunlight, and the layers of palatial complexes extended forward along the central axis, with flying eaves, interlinked brackets, painted beams, and carved structures.
Only from this angle can one truly feel the grandeur and weight of Imperial Power.
Chen Mo didn’t speak either, just stood quietly beside her.
After a long ti, Yu Youhan spoke softly, "Do you think the Imperial Palace is beautiful?"
Chen Mo nodded and said, "It’s beautiful."
Yu Youhan asked again, "Would you be willing to live here for your entire life?"
Chen Mo shook his head and said, "I would not."
"Why?" Yu Youhan raised an eyebrow and asked.
Chen Mo smiled and replied, "I am a worldly man, and although the palace is full of luxurious clothing and abundant jade, it is too desolate, lacking so warmth of life... In my eyes, it is rely a beautifully decorated gilded cage."
Yu Youhan glanced at him, "Are you implying that I am a caged bird?"
Chen Mo hastily replied, "The Empress misunderstood, I absolutely did not an that. The Empress is a Qingluan soaring the skies, just temporarily resting here."
Seeing his frightened look, a hint of a smile flashed in Yu Youhan’s eyes, but she remained expressionless and said, "If I am a Qingluan, then what is the Empress?"
"..."
Chen Mo’s throat moved slightly, and he whispered, "The Empress holds a noble status, she should be considered a phoenix..."
Yu Youhan’s azure eyes stared fixedly at him, "Then which do you think is better, Qingluan or phoenix?"
"Of course, Qingluan!" Chen Mo answered without hesitation, "I like Qingluan the most!"
"..."
Yu Youhan turned her elegant head away and snorted coldly, "Who said I need your liking? I don’t care at all."
"Hm?"
Chen Mo hadn’t responded yet when he saw Her Majesty the Consort turned and sat on the rattan chair, legs crossed, extending an exquisite foot to him.
"Why are you still standing there?" Seeing no action from him, Yu Youhan frowned.
Chen Mo snapped out of it, squatted down, and held the exquisite foot in his hand, carefully saying, "The Empress is not angry?"
"Why should I be angry?" Yu Youhan replied with a calm tone, showing no signs of emotion.
Chen Mo said, "Then why did the Empress send Households Commander Ye to the border?"
"It’s my prerogative, do you have a say?" Yu Youhan retorted coldly.
"..."
Indeed, still angry!
Chen Mo hesitated for a mont, then stood up and sat beside the Empress.
He lifted her slender legs, placed them on his knee, and gently massaged her calves.
Yu Youhan’s body trembled slightly, and a faint blush appeared on her cheeks, "What are you doing?"
Chen Mo smiled and said, "It’s easier this way..."
This rattan chair was spacious enough for one person, but cramped with two.
The Empress was sitting sideways, her long dress outlining a graceful curve, the arc visible along her bent knee, and through the thin white skirt, one could feel the sleekness and delicacy.
"Your servant entered the palace this ti with matters to report to the Empress." Chen Mo said while massaging her calves.
"What matters?"
Seeing he didn’t overstep, Yu Youhan gradually relaxed her body, curling up on the chair like a lazy Persian cat.
"The Imperial College has opened a new division, with a large influx of sect disciples into the city. Today is their first day of lessons..."
Chen Mo recounted the events briefly, only omitting the Empress’s "secret inspection."
Yu Youhan narrowed her eyes and coldly snorted, "Recently, sects have indeed been restless, so reprimand might be good."
First, the Moon Brilliance Sect secretly targeted Chen Mo, then the Netherworld Sect almost cost Chen Mo his life, and the Tianshu Pavilion Daoist Venerable eyed Chen Mo covetously... They will all be accounted for, sooner or later!
Chen Mo hesitated, then spoke cautiously.
Yu Youhan noticed and said, "Speak your mind."
Chen Mo cleared his throat and said, "It’s actually nothing... During the Southern Border expedition, I acquired the Netherworld Sect’s supre treasure, the ’Erosion Light Hourglass,’ extrely mystical. I’ve heard the Moon Brilliance Sect has a supre treasure, the ’Azure Darkness Seal,’ which is equally exceptional. Shouldn’t it be in the Empress’s possession?"
"Azure Darkness Seal?"
Yu Youhan thought for a mont and said, "Seems there is such a thing, why?"
Chen Mo asked tentatively, "May I borrow this magical treasure?"
Ever since eting Ji Lianxing, he’s been pondering this matter.
He and the Moon Brilliance Sect are at odds, and Gu Manzhi is caught in the middle, feeling overwheld. Although things can be stretched for now, exposure is inevitable.
Instead of delay, might as well take initiative and use the Azure Darkness Seal as leverage to secure Gu Manzhi’s freedom!
Even at its peak, the Empress could obliterate the Moon Brilliance Sect, so even if Ji Lianxing acquires this treasure, it shouldn’t cause much trouble.
But the problem is...
If the Empress pursues this matter, the consequences could be dire!
Moreover, even if she temporarily lends him such a treasure, it will undoubtedly be reclaid.
Thus, he intends to probe the Empress’s inclinations first...
Yu Youhan questioned, "What do you need it for?"
Chen Mo pulled out two jade scrolls from his Suru Bag and explained, "The cultivation technique I practice is called the Mixed Elent Skill. It’s divided into three volus, but I only possess two volus, which prevents the technique from reaching optimal efficacy."
"I’ve heard the Azure Darkness Seal can deduce manifold techniques. I wish to use it to complete my cultivation thod."
This excuse was preditated, seemingly flawless.
Yu Youhan examined the jade scrolls, scanning them with Divine Sense, and nodded, "Indeed, part is missing. I have several heaven-ranked martial cultivators’ techniques you could switch to, if you’d like?"
Chen Mo forced a smile, "This Mixed Elent Skill suits well, and I’ve practiced it for so long; abruptly switching might hinder my cultivation."
"Hm, makes sense."
Yu Youhan extended her slender hand into the void.
Monts later, she retrieved a sky-blue, age-worn seal from thin air and handed it to Chen Mo, "Here, take it. No need to return it to ."
?
Chen Mo was startled, "Empress, you’re giving the Azure Darkness Seal... just like this?"
Yu Youhan showed a matter-of-fact expression, "Since you want it, I’m giving it to you. Any problem with that?"
"Though the effect of the Azure Darkness Seal needs validation, don’t expect too much. After deducing the technique, verify its feasibility to avoid deviation."
"For any issues, co to ..."
Yu Youhan spoke, only to find Chen Mo silent, staring at her.
"Why are you looking at like that? Is there a flower on my face?"
"Empress..."
"Hm?"
"Your servant... really likes the Empress."
"Hm??"
...
...
ps: I recomnd a book "My Lady, Capital’s Renowned Detective, I Am the First Demon," authored by the reincarnation of the Heavenly Demon, feel free to savor it.
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