Chapter 425: Chapter 175: Is the Empress jealous? Nasty little thief, don’t mess around in front of Zhu’er!_3
Imperial Palace.
Inside Yangxin Palace, the Empress was pacing back and forth, her expression somewhat agitated.
"No news of Zhu’er yet?"
"Your Majesty, please calm down. We have already arranged personnel to search along the path in Golden Sun State and Tiannan State. Miss Lin has considerable strength, she should be fine," Sun Senior Palace Lady comforted.
The Empress’s brows slightly furrowed.
She knew Lin Jingzhu’s personality well. She wouldn’t rest until she turned the entire mountain upside down.
That place is a land of desolation, plagued by toxic miasma and fierce beasts rampant. If anything goes wrong, she would never forgive herself for the rest of her life!
Thud, thud, thud—
At this moment, there was a knock on the palace door.
A palace servant came in, bowed, and said:
"Your Majesty, Tributor Zhong is here, waiting outside Qianqing Gate."
The Empress waved her hand impatiently, saying, "I’m in no mood to hear his report now, let him go back first."
The palace maid hesitated for a moment and said, "Accompanying him is also Miss Lin, she seems to be in an unusual state..."
"What did you say? Zhu’er is back?"
The Empress suddenly looked up, then picked up her skirt and quickly walked out of the main hall.
Sun Senior Palace Lady hurriedly followed behind.
"Oh dear, Your Majesty, please slow down..."
...
In front of Qianqing Gate.
Zhong Lihe stood with his body stooped, hands hanging down, while Lin Jingzhu stood woodenly beside him, motionless like a wooden sculpture.
Tap, tap, tap—
Upon hearing the urgent footsteps approaching, Zhong Lihe looked up and was instantly stunned.
"Your Majesty?!"
He hurriedly knelt down to pay respects, bowing his head, "Servant pays homage to Her Majesty the Empress!"
However, the Empress directly ignored him, coming before Lin Jingzhu, and concernedly asked, "Zhu’er, where have you been these days? Your aunt was worried to death about you, do you know? Zhu’er, are you alright?"
Lin Jingzhu remained indifferent, her face expressionless, as if she were a walking dead.
The Empress felt a sudden pang in her heart.
Turning to Zhong Lihe, she inquired, "What is going on here?"
Zhong Lihe recounted the previous events in full detail, and said, "Miss Lin is not injured, but perhaps due to deep sorrow in her heart, she couldn’t accept the reality and chose to escape by herself, falling into a state similar to sensory shutdown."
"Sensory shutdown?!"
The Empress’s face changed, and she grabbed Lin Jingzhu’s shoulders, speaking urgently, "Zhu’er, Chen Mo isn’t dead at all, he returned safely several days ago... Zhu’er, did you hear that?"
Lin Jingzhu remained unresponsive, her hollow eyes without focus.
Zhong Lihe sighed softly.
Using such deception, even if it can temporarily awaken her, upon learning the truth later, she would fall into even deeper sorrow from which she would be unable to extricate herself...
It’s no different from drinking poison to quench thirst!
At this moment, his peripheral vision caught two figures, freezing his expression.
"Huh?!"
"Chen, Chen Mo?!"
...
Chen Mo followed Eunuch Jin into the Imperial Palace, heading towards the Inner Court all the way.
On the way, Chen Mo tentatively said, "Eunuch, the routine government duties are already quite busy, yet Your Majesty wants me to also serve as a palace guard, I fear I may not have enough strength..."
Eunuch Jin shook his head, saying, "This is all arranged by Her Majesty, our family is merely responsible for conveying the message. Perhaps Her Majesty sees great merit in Mr. Chen and wants to grant you an additional salary?"
Chen Mo’s brows slightly furrowed.
He always felt that the Empress’s intentions weren’t that simple.
Suddenly, he heard someone call his name.
Looking up, he saw an old man dressed in coarse cloth standing not far away, staring at him with a dazed expression.
"Huh?"
"Isn’t this the elder who sweeps the ground at the Heavenly Martial Arena?"
"Got promoted? Changed to sweeping the palace now?"
Noticing the bright yellow figure beside, Chen Mo bowed to pay his respects, "Servant pays homage to Your Majesty."
"You’re right on time," the Empress pulled him closer, saying, "Zhu’er, see who’s here? Chen Mo is right here; he’s not dead and is well alive."
"Chen Mo?"
Lin Jingzhu’s pupils trembled, looking at the man in front of her.
Her eyes were still filled with confusion, as if unable to distinguish whether this was reality or a dream.
Chen Mo frowned and asked, "What’s wrong with Lin Catcher?"
The Empress’s eyes were full of sorrow, and she somberly replied, "Zhu’er thought you were dead, unable to accept it in her heart, closing herself off from sensibility and refusing to interact with the outside world... Alas, it’s better to call Li Yuanshi over to take a look..."
"Closing off from sensibility..."
Chen Mo thought for a moment, then reached out and held Lin Jingzhu’s hand, activating his Qi Blood Power to slowly transfer it into her body.
As warmth flowed through her veins, wisps of white mist began to emerge from her body surface.
Lin Jingzhu’s hollow eyes gradually regained a glimmer of vitality.
This Qi Blood Power cannot be faked; if it can help her dispel the Chill Toxin, it proves that this isn’t an illusion—the Chen Mo before her is truly real!
Her lips slightly quivered, her voice hoarse and dry, "Mr. Chen, you... you’re not dead?"
Chen Mo pulled her icy hand and placed it on his chest, smiling while saying, "Have you ever seen a dead person’s heart beating so fast?"
Feeling the throb in her palm, Lin Jingzhu’s eyes gradually turned red, filled with dense mist.
She stepped forward, wrapped her arms around Chen Mo’s waist, tears soaking through the lapels, whispering:
"Mr. Chen, you’re alive, it’s really wonderful..."
"I thought, I thought I’d never see you again..."
Watching the tightly embraced two, the Empress’s expression was complex, unsure what thoughts crossed her mind.
Just then, Lin Jingzhu’s body softened, collapsing into Chen Mo’s arms.
"Lin Catcher, Lin Catcher?"
"Your Majesty, she seems to have fainted!"
The Empress hurriedly said, "Quick, take her to Yangxin Palace! Sun Senior Palace Lady, immediately go and call Li Yuanshi!"
"Yes!"
Sun Senior Palace Lady quickly left.
Chen Mo cradled Lin Jingzhu in his arms and followed the Empress towards Yangxin Palace.