Chapter 428: Chapter 176: Breaking Through the Empress’s Last Line of Defense! Lin Jingzhu: Where is my husband? _2
She raised her head, letting him take what he wanted.
Everything around seemed to disappear, leaving only the mingling of their breaths and the fierce pounding of their hearts.
A long time passed.
Chen Mo slowly lifted his head.
The Empress was slightly panting, her cheeks flushed like the evening glow.
In her misty eyes was a hint of reproach, along with an ineffable emotion.
"Your Highness, have you figured out what you want?" Chen Mo asked.
The Empress hesitated for a long time, her slender fingers entwined, and softly said, "Little thief, am I being very bad like this? Competing for a man with my niece..."
"It’s not Your Highness’s fault, but mine." Chen Mo touched her rosy cheek with his fingertips and said, "It’s my shamelessness, seducing Her Majesty the Empress by any means, and Your Highness is merely helpless."
"..."
If she were genuinely forced, she would have long dragged this guy to the Castration Room.
Actually, deep down, she was willing, and even secretly somewhat expecting...
But such things absolutely could not be admitted!
The Empress gave him a sideways glance and snorted coquettishly, "Indeed, you are the one forcing me, coercing me to comply. I didn’t want to kiss you at all!"
Chen Mo smiled without saying anything further.
Seemingly casually, the Empress asked, "What you said about liking me just now... is it true?"
Chen Mo nodded, "Truer than gold."
A mix of shyness and happiness flashed in the Empress’s eyes, she said, "You can say this before me, but do not mention it to anyone else, especially not to Zhu’er."
"Rest assured, Your Highness, I am very tight-lipped." Chen Mo said.
"Mm."
The Empress slightly nodded.
The atmosphere fell silent; neither spoke, yet an inexplicable feeling flowed between them.
At this point, Chen Mo thought of something and asked, "By the way, why did Your Highness assign me to be a Personal Merit Guard Yulin Lang General? The Fire Department is already short of staff, and I’m afraid I’m too busy with government duties to manage everything."
The Empress waved her hand, "It’s just a nominal position. You continue your cases, as for the Yulin Army, just keep the title."
"A court guard leader, holding a Standard Fifth Rank position, status nearly akin to households, can it be a mere idle position?" Chen Mo raised an eyebrow, somewhat puzzled, "Is there some deeper meaning to Your Highness’s arrangement?"
"Actually, it’s not as complicated as you think..."
The Empress’s face showed slight discomfort, hesitated a moment, and said, "I often summon you to the palace, inevitably causing rumors. With this identity, you can freely enter the Inner Court, even if you stay overnight at the palace, nobody will speak much of it..."
"..."
Chen Mo’s lip curled.
So, was Busty Empress using her power for personal gain all this time?
Chen Mo blinked and said, "Does Your Highness wish for me to stay in the palace?"
The Empress’s face reddened, turned her head away, and grunted, "I did not say so; stay if you wish, leave if you don’t wish. No one is forcing you."
Seeing her still stubborn, Chen Mo carried her directly towards the bed.
The Empress suddenly became tense, "What are you doing?"
Chen Mo laughed and said, "Well, since I’m here anyway, and idle, let me massage Your Highness’s acupoints for relaxation."
The Empress was somewhat moved, nodded, "Alright, but you must promise me not to misbehave."
Chen Mo said earnestly, "Rest assured, Your Highness, I’m known as an honest man in Tiandu City."
The Empress: "..."
...
...
As darkness fell, the palace lights began to glow.
Lin Jingzhu didn’t know how long she had been sleeping, her eyelashes moved slightly, and she opened her dazed eyes.
As her vision gradually focused, she found herself lying on a carved canopy bed, surrounded by sheer curtains, the air filled with the scent of calming incense.
"Is this... Yangxin Palace?"
"Where is Mr. Chen? I remember seeing him at some point..."
Lin Jingzhu struggled to sit up, her mind still somewhat muddled.
The days of sleepless and restless travel, combined with intense inner fear and worry, had pushed her body and mind to their limits.
Though her senses were cloudy, she vaguely remembered seeing Chen Mo before losing consciousness completely, and he also seemed to infuse her with a trace of Qi Blood Power.
Raising her palm, she could still seemingly feel the lingering warmth.
The chaotic thoughts made her unable to distinguish between reality and illusion.
Lin Jingzhu lifted the curtain, got up from the bed, and staggered out of the room.
"Mr. Chen?"
"Aunt?"
The sounds echoed in the hall, barren of people.
"Could it really have been an illusion?"
Lin Jingzhu’s eyes dimmed and lifeless, walked forward soullessly.
The faint hope that had just ignited was again extinguished, leaving her like a lifeless shell.
Maybe it was in the Northern Territory, where he risked being swallowed by the Demon Tree to save her; perhaps it was the intimate contact when dispelling the Chill Toxin; or maybe during the unwavering will on display at the Heavenly Human Martial Exam...
Unknown when it began, Chen Mo’s figure had been indelibly etched in her heart, unshakeable.
Earlier, she couldn’t ascertain her feelings, but upon realizing she might never see Chen Mo again, the suffocating sensation, like drowning, instantly engulfed her.
"Mr. Chen clearly promised me he would return safely, how could he not keep his word?"
Lin Jingzhu staggered through the palace corridors.
As she passed by a side room, she faintly heard something... Could it be Mr. Chen’s voice?
"Is it another illusion?"
Her expression was dull, paused, and gently pushed open the door.
...
...
"You said it was just a massage, why, why are you taking off my clothes?"
The Empress lay on the bed, her palace gown already undone, revealing her smooth, jade-like back.