Chapter 395: Chapter 168: The Empress’s Reward! Empress: Shameless little thief, no kissing!
Tiandu City.
The eastern sky was tinged with the pale white of dawn, the dim morning light shifting from ink to dark blue, like a veil draping over the Imperial Palace, with faint ethereal light shimmering on the glazed tiles of the palace eaves.
Soft footsteps echoed in the corridors, palace attendants carrying toiletries and meals as they silently moved within the halls.
Frozen Sky Palace.
Xu Qingyi hugged her knees, sitting on the stone steps in front of the hall.
She had been sitting there all night, her hair adorned with cold dew, her gaze hollow and bewildered.
Mr. Chen died?
The one who always loved to scare her with his token, gave her embarrassing gifts, and constantly bullied her in every way... just died like that?
"Impossible."
"Good people don’t live long, but scourges last for a millennium. He wouldn’t just... just..."
Xu Qingyi bit her lip, silently comforting herself, yet unable to hide her inner unease and panic.
But, what if?
Though Chen Mo was very gifted, he was just too young, and his cultivation was merely at Fifth Rank.
The Southern Border is a frontier with cultists and monsters lurking, far less peaceful than Central State, and those fiends harbor great hatred for the court. Being a Deputy Thousand Households of the Sky Scale Guard might turn into a death sentence...
Xu Qingyi gently caressed the bone bracelet on her wrist, murmuring to herself: "You’ll come back, right? I haven’t even settled the score for all the bullying yet."
At that moment, a palace servant approached and said, "Director Xu, the Empress wants to see you."
"The Empress has returned?"
Xu Qingyi snapped back to her senses, then got up and quickly walked into the hall.
Inside the hall, Yu Youhan sat on the Phoenix Throne, her face slightly somber, looking as if her mood was very bad.
Xu Qingyi saw this and her heart sank to the bottom.
"Empress..."
"Bai Lingchuan died in the Southern Border, the position of Fire Department Thousand Households is vacant, have Ye Zi’e and Yun He ready, we must not let the Empress’s people interfere," Yu Youhan said coldly.
"Bai Lingchuan is dead?!"
Xu Qingyi exclaimed in surprise, "Empress, what exactly happened?"
Yu Youhan concisely stated, "Bai Lingchuan colluded with the Blood Demon, intending to harm Chen Mo, but ended up being refined by the Blood Demon, dying on the spot."
"Blood Demon? The Blood Demon ranked seventh on the Heavenly Demon List?" Xu Qingyi’s pupils contracted.
The information was overwhelming!
Bai Lingchuan, an Imperial Official, secretly associated with the notorious Blood Demon just to plot against Chen Mo?
The Blood Demon had long caused havoc and was at least Third Rank in power, combined with a Fourth-Level Peak Martial Artist; with such a well-planned trap, how could Chen Mo possibly survive?
Tears misted in Xu Qingyi’s eyes, her delicate hands clenched her clothes, trembling as she asked, "Then what about Mr. Chen... how is he now?"
Yu Youhan’s expression turned a bit unnatural, dismissively snorted, "You better ask him yourself."
?
Xu Qingyi was momentarily stunned.
Suddenly, a familiar voice came from behind her: "Empress, these clothes don’t fit well, is there something larger... hmm? Director Xu, you’re here too?"
Xu Qingyi’s body stiffened as she slowly turned to look.
Through her blurry vision, she saw Chen Mo walk out from inside, wearing only a pair of trousers, his muscular chest bare, cheerfully waving at her:
"Long time no see, Director Xu."
"Mr. Chen..."
Xu Qingyi’s lips moved, disbelief swirling within her.
Looking at that vibrant and handsome face, she felt an unreal dreamlike sensation.
"So you didn’t die?"
"Well said, I’m the child of fortune, who can outlive me?"
"..."
At that moment, Chen Mo noticed Xu Qingyi’s red-rimmed eyes and asked curiously, "Director Xu, did you cry? Was it because of me?"
Xu Qingyi hurriedly turned away, rubbed her eyes, and whispered softly: "No, sand blew into my eyes..."
"Oh."
Knowing her sensitivity, Chen Mo didn’t ask further.
Then Yu Youhan spoke: "Qingyi, you can leave now and help Chen Mo find appropriate clothing."
"Yes."
Xu Qingyi responded and retreated.
Her white dress fluttered as she walked, her steps swift, like a butterfly dancing among flowers.
Yu Youhan glanced at Chen Mo and said quietly, "Director Xu, with her cold personality, even lost her composure for you. Mr. Chen truly is charming."
Chen Mo naturally caught her insinuation, shook his head and said, "I and Director Xu are good friends, concern among friends is normal, right?"
Yu Youhan snorted, "Then you certainly have many ’friends’!"
"Indeed I have many friends, but Empress, you’ll always be the only one."
Chen Mo moved forward, crouched down, and lifted her snow-white exquisite feet, beginning a top-level indulgence.
"Ah, nothing’s as good as these feet, I’ve longed for this taste for so long."
"..."
Yu Youhan’s cheeks blushed, she spat under her breath.
This dog-like lackey, his skin is too thick, he can say anything!
Feeling the tingling from the large hand pressing her foot, she adjusted her position and lazily reclined in the chair, smiled coldly:
"Haha, you speak beautifully."
"Do you know how the Empress reacted upon learning of your predicament?"
"She rushed in with disheveled hair, clothes askew, not even wearing shoes, came to ask me for help... After all these years battling with Jiang Yuchan, I’ve never seen her lose her composure like this."
At this, her aquamarine eyes narrowed as she spoke grimly: "Didn’t you say your relationship with the Empress is just a charade? This performance was too earnest!"
?
Chen Mo froze at her words.
The always dignified Empress actually lost her composure because of him?
Recalling that day in the carriage in front of the Lin Residence, the Empress’s mysterious gaze full of longing, he couldn’t help but feel a little dazed.