Chapter 10: Entering the Palace—A Lady's Fortune Won Through Peril!

"Your Highness."

A female official entered the palace and said with bowed head, "It has been thoroughly investigated. That courtesan was indeed a remnant of the Moon Huang Sect—she infiltrated the Music Bureau a year ago."

"The Tianlin Guard searched the city day and night but found no trace of her, so she must have already fled Tiandu City."

"As for the box sent by Lady Chen, the residue inside was a Heart-Devouring Gu…"

"Heh."

Yu Youhan gave a cold laugh. "Mixing with the Gu God Cult—Ji Lianxing really is going backward the longer she lives."

The female official was somewhat puzzled.

Since Gu Manzhi had fled, why leave this thing behind?

The box was even stamped with a waning moon emblem, as if afraid others wouldn't know her identity.

Yu Youhan spoke up. "That Chen Mo…"

Catching the hint, the female official said, "I heard that after gravely wounding Gu Manzhi, Chen Mo's vital energy was also greatly depleted. He's been recuperating at the residence these past few days."

Yu Youhan nodded. "He pulled out a hidden agent—meritorious service deserves reward."

The female official said, "Lady Chen has stated that sharing Her Highness's burdens is simply her duty, and she requires no reward."

"She may not want it, but this palace cannot withhold it."

Yu Youhan said coolly.

Clear rewards and punishments, grace and authority wielded together—that is the way to command subordinates.

Not to mention the Chen family is still her right and left arm; for useful people, she has never been stingy with gifts.

"Since He Yuzhi wants no reward, then have Chen Mo come to the palace."

"Yes."

The female official bowed and withdrew.

……

The Chen Residence.

In the dining hall, the table was laden with dishes, the aroma wafting thick.

Shen Zhixia buried her head in her food, her chopsticks nearly a blur.

Originally she'd wanted to leave after her fight with Chen Mo, but Chen Zhuo happened to return and insisted she stay for the meal.

Although Shen Zhixia always had a good appetite, she wouldn't normally be so ill-mannered before elders.

But thinking of what had just happened, her heart was in turmoil, sitting on pins and needles—she could only use eating to cover her guilty conscience.

"Eat more. If it's not enough, I'll have the kitchen add more dishes."

Chen Zhuo said with a smile.

The steward had already told him the general course of events.

A house can be rebuilt, pills can be refined anew, but if a daughter-in-law runs off, it would be hard to find one so satisfactory!

"Mo'er, you actually broke through to Rank 6?"

Even with the facts before her eyes, He Yuzhi still found it hard to believe.

What did a Rank-6 cultivator at twenty years old mean?

Enough to place him in the top ten of the Green Cloud Ranking—a top-tier prodigy!

First the sword technique reached Great Completion, then the realm broke through—one surprise after another, giving her an unreal feeling.

"As the saying goes, no destruction, no establishment. That life-and-death battle benefited me greatly and gave me a deeper comprehension of the Cultivation Technique."

"Combined with Steward Fu's help, I only managed this breakthrough by luck."

At this point, Chen Mo's words paused, and he said with a smile at the corner of his mouth, "Oh, and I must also thank Young Lady Shen for helping me unblock my qi and blood and expelling the residual medicinal potency…"

"Cough cough!"

Shen Zhixia nearly choked, her little face flushing red.

"I-I'm full. Please continue…"

Saying so, she put down her bowl and chopsticks and fled in disarray.

He Yuzhi watched her retreating back and shook her head. "This Miss is fine in every way, except her skin is too thin."

Chen Zhuo gave a cold laugh. "Is it possible this unfilial son's skin is just too thick?"

Chen Mo: "…"

This man seemed unable to go a day without taking a jab at him…

At this moment, the steward Chen Fu hurried in. "Master, Madam, someone has come from the palace!"

"Hm?"

None of them dared slight it. They rose, left the dining hall, and went to the main gate.

A purple palanquin stopped before the Chen Residence's gate, and a female official in white robes stood with hands at her sides.

Seeing Chen Mo come out, the female official reached out and lifted the curtain.

"Young Master Chen, Her Highness requests your presence."

"Her Highness wants to see me?"

Chen Mo's heart skipped a beat.

It's finally here!

He drew a deep breath, lifted his leg, and stepped into the palanquin.

The female official turned and left. The palanquin rose into the air on its own, following behind her, as if shrinking the earth to inches—in a blink it was gone.

"Her Highness summoning Mo'er to the palace should be to reward him, but…"

He Yuzhi's brows knit tightly.

This aligned with her original thoughts.

But for some reason, she felt a deep unease, a faint premonition of something wrong.

……

The palanquin glided swiftly and steadily toward the imperial palace.

Chen Mo sat on the soft chair, rapidly recalling the plot in his mind:

The Great Yuan dynasty had lasted seven hundred and fifty years.

Emperor Wulie was plagued by a chronic illness, his lifespan nearly spent.

The Crown Prince was still young, incapable of managing state affairs.

At present, southern barbarians invaded the borders, northern demons lurked and coveted, the Three Saints held separate dominions, sects proliferated, and strange, bizarre phenomena ran rampant.

The Great Yuan faced internal strife and external threats, its fate precarious.

At this moment of national turmoil, Empress Jiang Yuchan stepped forward and announced she would rule from behind the curtain, assisting the Crown Prince in overseeing state affairs.

Simultaneously, Imperial Concubine Yu Youhan emerged unexpectedly.

With her first move, she revealed terrifying power, crushing major sects with iron fists and bringing most factions under her control.

Through intimidation or bribery, she won over ministers, allied with allies and purged rivals.

In just two years, she stood equal to the "Empress Faction"!

Due to her ruthless and brutal methods, she was called the "Great Yuan's Huodou," a name that could silence crying children at night!

……

The Chen family were concubine faction loyalists.

Chen Mo was Yu Concubine's lackey.

"This time I escaped disaster, but it won't be the last."

"Since I've become the villain, I'll commit fully—cling tight to the Concubine's leg!"

"With the Concubine's strength and my knowledge of the plot… the advantage is mine!"

Chen Mo's gaze hardened.

At that moment, the palanquin stopped; a cold female official's voice rang out:

"Arrived."

He stepped down from the palanquin.

Before him stood a palace with vermilion roofs and turquoise tiles, exuding extreme luxury; above the gate hung a black plaque with golden characters.

Hanxiao Palace!

In his past life, Chen Mo had tormented "Yu Youhan" hundreds of times; now he must truly face this female demon.

To say he wasn't nervous would be a lie.

After all, games can be replayed, but life only comes once.

"Fortune favors the bold…"

Chen Mo stepped into the hall.

The interior was dimly lit; through the curtains, he saw a figure seated on the phoenix throne, clad in a deep crimson brocade robe embroidered with golden dragon motifs.

Her face glowed like the rosy clouds of morning, her lips held shards of jade; seven-tailed phoenix hairpins bound her black tresses, and a dot of cinnabar adorned her right temple.

Noble, coldly beautiful, radiating overwhelming pressure.

In stark contrast, beneath the robe lay a pair of delicate, porcelain-pink bare feet.

"Servant Chen Mo pays homage to Your Majesty."

Chen Mo dared not glance again, bowing his head in reverence.

"A sixth-rank martial cultivator? Your talent is impressive. Speak—what reward do you seek?"

"A Cultivation Technique? Or a martial art?"

Yu Youhan spoke coolly, her voice slightly deeper than an ordinary woman's.

Direct, no wasted words.

"Your servant desires…"

Seen through at a glance, Chen Mo's awe deepened; he prepared to deliver his rehearsed answer.

Suddenly, a line of prompt text flashed before his eyes:

【Hidden Event Triggered: "Jade Chains Deep Palace · Spring Tints the Phoenix Bed".】

Chen Mo: "????"

Boom!

Boundless pressure surged forth; the air inside the hall nearly solidified!

Chen Mo's body lifted uncontrollably, suddenly appearing before Yu Youhan—her phoenix eyes sharp as blades, locked onto him with deadly intensity!

"You!"