Watching the Crown Prince leave, the Empress’s expression was complex, but she said nothing more.
The two walked along the palace path through the layers of halls back to the Yangxin Palace. No sooner had they entered the main hall than the Palace Servants hurried up to greet them.
"Your Highness, allow us to help you change your clothes."
"Hmm."
The Empress said to Chen Mo, "You go sit in the inner hall for a bit. I will co over shortly."
"Yes."
Chen Mo went to the inner hall and sat on the carved nanmu Grandmaster chair.
A mont later, Jin Shu approached with a teacup, placing it on the small table beside him, "Mr. Chen, please have so tea."
Chen Mo nodded and said, "Thank you, Sister Jin Shu."
Jin Shu’s cheeks flushed faintly, and she whispered, "Mr. Chen, please don’t tease a servant like ."
"Since we’ve known each other for a while, and I’m a few years older than you, calling you sister is not out of place." Chen Mo lifted the teacup, gently scraping the foam with the lid, and took a sip before asking seemingly casually, "By the way, you’ve been in the palace for many years. How well do you know Fan Sigui from Linqing Palace?"
Jin Shu asked curiously, "Why does Mr. Chen suddenly ask about this?"
Chen Mo replied casually, "I just happened to run into the Crown Prince and chatted a bit. I felt as though the Crown Prince seed to listen closely to what that Fan Sigui says..."
Jin Shu nodded and said, "Don’t be deceived by Fan Sigui’s young age; she’s an old hand in the palace. She was once Empress Xu’s personal maid... since Empress Xu passed away, everyone around her was dismissed from the palace, but only Fan Sigui stayed and even beca an Eastern Palace Official. She naturally has so skills..."
"She was one of Empress Xu’s people?"
Chen Mo’s eyes glead slightly, deep in thought.
Jin Shu asked, "Does Mr. Chen have any other matters?"
Chen Mo smiled and said, "No, I was just casually asking. Sister Jin Shu, you may go about your business."
"Hmm..."
Jin Shu softly acknowledged, then turned and left.
Step, step, step—
At this mont, footsteps sounded, and a graceful silhouette erged from behind the glazed screen.
It was the Empress, having changed out of her royal garb and elaborate headpiece, now wearing a light gauze long dress that perfectly outlined her graceful figure. Her long black hair was casually tied up, a golden jade Ruyi hairpin in her bun, revealing her swan-like long neck and exuding a sense of unadulterated purity.
As if instantly transford from the noble and majestic Holy Empress to a friendly neighborhood big sister.
"Sister Jin Shu?"
The Empress shot him a sidelong glance, sneering, "So affectionate with your call, is it so unbearable for you not to flirt with a girl for a mont?"
Seeing no one else around, Chen Mo wrapped his arm around her slender waist, pulling her into his embrace, smiling, "Is Your Highness perhaps jealous? Hmm? My dear sister Chan’er..."
"..."
The Empress’s oval face flushed, a tingling feeling at the nape of her neck, she rebuked in embarrassnt, "What nonsense, there’s no seniority here. I am much elder, you should call sister instead!"
Chen Mo tightened his hold, feeling the tender, silky body in his arms, said softly, "In my humble eyes, Your Highness is forever in your youthful years."
"Nonsense..."
The Empress spat softly, yet didn’t push him away.
The atmosphere quieted as if they could both hear each other’s heartbeat.
Chen Mo looked at her slightly furrowed brow and spoke up, "Your Highness seems to have sothing on your mind?"
The Empress was silent for a mont, then sighed faintly, "I am contemplating about the Crown Prince... Over the years, I’ve refrained from going to Linqing Palace, specifically to avoid involving the Crown Prince."
"But now it seems it doesn’t change anything..."
Though she had no blood relation with the Crown Prince, how could her heart remain untouched after hearing him call her ’mother’ repeatedly?
Chen Mo understood her feelings and said solemnly, "The Crown Prince may be young, but confining him even within the Eastern Palace under the guise of protection seems more like imprisonnt..."
The Empress shook her head and said, "The Emperor’s intentions are not sothing ordinary people can fathom... But what is certain is that he will not resign himself to dying on the Dragon Bed without plotting sothing in secret."
"Lv Huaiyu utilizes the Crown Prince to approach you; clearly, there are ulterior motives, perhaps related to Dragon Qi. It’s best for you to be cautious."
Chen Mo frowned, "What’s the background of this Grandmaster Lv?"
Lv Huaiyu’s life can be considered legendary.
Born in a humble family, he entered officialdom through imperial exams, progressing from county tests to the Capital City, achieving first-place honors in the palace exam, and took up a chief position at the Central Secretariat.
He then quickly showcased his prowess, ascending from chief officer, chief clerk, to Assistant Minister... climbing up the ranks over colleagues. It took him less than a decade to take the top seat at the Central Secretariat!
Though supported by the Emperor, it’s also inseparable from his ruthless thods.
He could be said to have climbed up from a blood-soaked battlefield!
"Lv Huaiyu is a staunch Royalist Faction mber; his actions can sowhat represent the Emperor’s will."
The Empress’s phoenix eyes were deep, her tone heavy, "I sent soone to find Yang Lin and have him change his testimony in court. Additionally, I let Zhuang Jingming diate. I’m ninety percent sure you’ll be cleared of guilt... But I didn’t expect Lv Huaiyu to bring out the Crown Prince."
"He... or should I say the Emperor, what exactly is he planning?"
Seeing the Empress’s grave expression, Chen Mo’s lips curved into a smile, "Isn’t Your Highness afraid of the court officials talking since you favor so much?"
The Empress rolled her eyes at him and said sarcastically, "Isn’t it all because of your reckless behavior? We were lucky this ti that Prince Yu Mansion didn’t jump in; otherwise, it wouldn’t have been so easy to get past... In the future, think before you act, don’t always cause trouble for ."
Chen Mo’s action against Chu Heng was not impulsive.
With the Flying Phoenix Order in possession, he could avoid the death penalty, and even if demoted, with the Empress as his backing, he could eventually rise again.
If Chu Heng could be eliminated, it would save a lot of trouble in the future.
It’s definitely a profitable trade-off.
But he also understood the Empress’s well-intentioned efforts and said with earnestness, "I will rember Your Highness’s teachings and will act prudently in the future."
The Empress snorted, "Don’t try to fool with pretty words. But tell carefully, what are your specific plans?"
Chen Mo thought seriously for a mont and said solemnly, "I believe we should focus ruthlessly on two key points, overco the muddy obstacles. Only through diligent and relentless effort can one beco a true pillar for Your Highness..."
?
The Empress felt sowhat confused listening.
Each word seed fine, but together they felt odd?
"Wait, hang on, where are your hands going?"
"Ahem, sorry, grabbed the wrong focus."
"..."
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