Chapter 17: The Living Hell-Lord Chen Mo, the Empress

The hall was deathly silent.

Yan Peizhi's face was stunned, his eyes filled with confusion.

"Barbarians" was a taboo word in the Great Yuan.

Back then, demons and monsters ravaged the world, grotesques ran rampant, and the land trembled in chaos.

The southern barbarians took advantage, invading and breaching the borders; the fires of war once reached Qingzhou!

They burned, slaughtered, and looted without restraint; the people suffered, blood flowed for a thousand li, corpses floated everywhere, as if painted from hell itself!

At this moment of national crisis, the Three Sacred Sects intervened, driving out the demons and grotesques, restoring clarity to heaven and earth, and forever cementing their unshakable status.

Afterwards, the Princess Imperial, through martial prowess, carried the state's sacred artifact, the "Edict of Heaven Seal," and personally led troops to suppress the southern barbarians.

She slaughtered a thousand li, beheaded over ten thousand barbarians, and built a pyramid of skulls!

To this day, the Princess Imperial remains in the southern frontier, guarding the nation's soil!

One could say, the enmity between the Great Yuan and the barbarians runs deep as the sea—death or no peace!

"Why would Your Highness say such a thing?"

"This old minister detests the barbarians with all his heart—he would rather devour their flesh alive—how could he possibly collude with them?"

Yan Peizhi spoke with earnest sincerity, then suddenly realized something and exclaimed, "It must be that my thorough investigation into the Ministry of Revenue's corruption case touched certain people's interests, so they're framing me! Your Highness, do not believe their slander!"

"Framing?"

Behind the screen, the Empress let out a light laugh, her tone cold and distant, "Yet how is it that I've heard your nephew has been keeping barbarian slaves and secretly trading with them—caught red-handed, now imprisoned in the Imperial Prison?"

Boom!

As if struck by five thunderbolts, Yan Peizhi's pupils dilated in shock!

He knew nothing of this—but since the Empress spoke it herself, it could not be a lie!

"That bastard!"

As distant blood relatives of the Yan clan, Yan Liang and Yan Xun had long abused his name to enrich themselves.

Yan Peizhi had turned a blind eye, for he still needed them to monitor the movements of the Tianlin Guard.

But he never imagined they'd dare so much as to link themselves with the barbarians!

And at this very moment!

"This old minister knew nothing of it—I beg Your Highness to investigate!"

Yan Peizhi steadied his composure and spoke firmly.

"Commandant Yan, are you certain you can withstand an investigation?"

The Empress said coolly.

"Your servant…"

Yan Peizhi fell silent.

Indeed—could he withstand an investigation?

After years in office, holding high rank—who could guarantee their hands were clean?

He knew better than anyone what the Imperial Prison could do… just like the Ministry of Revenue corruption case, where those three clerks implicated five ministers—how many more could Yan Liang and Yan Xun implicate?

No one cared about the process—the outcome was all that mattered!

He could foresee that if he pressed further, he would face a ferocious retaliation from the Consort's faction!

But the confession had already been delivered to the Empress—he couldn't admit he'd forged testimony…

Yan Peizhi was now trapped, caught between rock and hard place, sweat the size of beans rolling down his forehead.

The Empress seemed to read his thoughts, and said coldly:

"The crime of embezzlement is proven beyond doubt."

"As for the other ministers involved… I believe this confession is forced and insufficient to establish guilt."

"Why don't you return and re-examine it carefully—see if those three men are merely fabricating accusations to reduce their own punishment?"

Swish!

The confession was thrown from behind the screen, fluttering down to the floor.

"Your servant obeys."

Yan Peizhi trembled violently, bowing deeply to the ground.

The Empress's meaning was clear: the greater good must come first!

To preserve his official cap, this case must end here!

"I am weary. Withdraw."

The Empress said coldly.

"Your servant takes his leave."

Yan Peizhi picked up the confession, bowed low, and retreated, his figure looking disheveled.

It had been a masterstroke—yet unforeseen complications arose; after this, his standing in the Empress's eyes would surely plummet.

He never imagined the boomerang would return so swiftly…

…

"Yan Peizhi was too eager—he tried to gamble small for great, and underestimates Yu Youhan."

The Empress sighed softly.

"Your Highness, this timing is too convenient—right last night… is Consort Yu so lucky?"

The old eunuch in the python robe asked skeptically.

"Not luck—it's because she has capable people beside her."

"Chen Mo… investigate him."

The Empress murmured.

"Yes."

The old eunuch responded.

……

Tianlin Guard, the Imperial Prison.

The cell was buried deep underground, cold and damp, never seeing the light of day.

The place was guarded with extreme strictness, and shrouded in a magic-breaking formation, rendering both true essence and spells completely useless.

In the cell, Yan Liang wore a prisoner's uniform, his shoulder blades pierced by iron chains, hung up high like a slab of drying cured meat.

"Why?"

Yan Liang racked his brains and still could not figure it out.

He had always acted with great caution, personally handling even deliveries, never entrusting them to others.

Why had he suddenly been exposed?

Chen Mo seemed to know everything in advance, sitting and waiting for him to walk into the net…

"My lord."

At this moment, the voice of a jailer outside the cell.

Footsteps drew from far to near, and a tall, upright figure walked into the cell.

"Commander Yan, we meet again."

"Chen Mo!!"

Looking at that handsome face, Yan Liang's eyes spewed fire, the hatred in his heart reaching its peak, impossible to wash away even with all the waters of three rivers and five lakes!

The jailer brought a chair and placed it six feet in front of Yan Liang.

Chen Mo gathered his robes and sat down, crossing one leg over the other, admiring his contorted expression.

"You schemed against me!"

"From start to finish, it was you scheming against me!"

Yan Liang said hoarsely.

Chen Mo picked at his ear and said, "Commander Yan's voice is too loud—it would be bad to disturb the fellow prisoners next door…"

The moment his words fell, a jailer nearby raised an iron rod and viciously struck Yan Liang across the mouth!

Bang!

Bang! Bang!

Blood spurted from Yan Liang's mouth and nose, his teeth scattering across the floor.

"Don't litter."

Chen Mo frowned.

The jailer caught the drift, grabbed the teeth from the ground, stuffed them into Yan Liang's mouth, and rammed them down with the iron rod!

"Mmph—mmph!"

Yan Liang glared fixedly at Chen Mo, wishing he could devour him alive and flay him raw.

Chen Mo remained perfectly composed.

He knew clearly in his heart that if he had fallen into the other's hands, the outcome would likely be a hundred times more miserable than this.

"Don't rush—this is only the appetizer."

Chen Mo snapped his fingers.

Two jailers carried in several dozen kinds of torture instruments, laying them out one by one before Yan Liang.

Finger-crushers, files, branding irons, iron lotus… all still stained with dried blood, sending chills down the spine.

Besides these, there was also a large earthen urn.

"As for our Lin Siya's methods, Commander Yan must surely know them inside out—old tricks like finger-pressing, tongue-severing, spine-breaking, heart-stabbing… I won't go on at length about those."

"What I'm focusing on introducing this time is a new invention of mine: 'Kindly Enter the Urn.'"

Chen Mo patted the large urn and said with a smile, "First stack firewood at the bottom, heat the urn up, then stuff the prisoner inside—the skin and flesh get scalded cooked, sizzling with oil, and while it's still hot, give a pull… hey, guess what? The person comes out, but the skin stays in the urn."

Hiss!

The jailers exchanged glances, cold air rising in their hearts.

This lord must be the living King of Hell…

Yan Liang's face went deathly pale, cold sweat soaking through his prison uniform.

A pervert!

What a pervert!

At this moment, in his eyes, Chen Mo was simply like a demon!

"Since Commander Yan is unwilling to confess, I have no choice. Men, invite Commander Yan into the urn!"

"Yes!"

Two jailers stepped forward.

"Wait!"

Yan Liang swallowed hard and said in a trembling voice, "You haven't even asked yet—how do you know I'm unwilling to confess?"

Chen Mo was taken aback, looked at the jailer, and said, "Didn't I just ask?"

The jailer shook his head. "My lord, you didn't ask."

"Look at this brain of mine."

"So busy with the experiment, I forgot to go through the procedure."

"Ahem, Commander Yan, if there's anything you want to confess, speak up yourself."

Chen Mo straightened his posture and asked unhurriedly.

Yan Liang hesitated for a moment.

Keeping barbarian slaves — this matter could be big or small.

If investigated thoroughly, it would drag in those high officials and noble lords; he'd probably die without even knowing how!

But given his current situation, it seemed he had no choice either…

Just then, Chen Mo said casually, "Oh right, almost forgot to tell you — your younger brother has already confessed everything, saying all of it was your doing, that he was only coerced by you, forced against his will."

"Impossible!"

"Yan Xun would never do that!"

Yan Liang said decisively.

Chen Mo smiled, rose, walked to his side, and said in a low voice, "He also said that the one behind you both is none other than Prince Yu…"

Hearing this, Yan Liang was struck as if by lightning, his whole person seeming to have lost his soul.

Chen Mo said nothing, watching him quietly.

After a long while, Yan Liang's voice was hoarse: "Can you guarantee I stay alive?"

Chen Mo shrugged. "That depends on you."

Yan Liang weakly lowered his head and said:

"I have an account book that records every transaction."

"Besides that, I also secretly used a shadow-recording stone to record the transactions, just in case."

"The thing is hidden at…"

Half an incense stick's time later.

Chen Mo walked out of the cell with his hands behind his back.

The jailers looked at him with faces full of admiration.

Didn't even need to use torture and he confessed — what a talent, it'd be a shame not to keep him in the Imperial Prison!

"My lord, shall we interrogate the other two as well?"

"No need."

Chen Mo said lightly, "Also, untie Yan Liang in a bit."

The jailer scratched his head.

Is my lord showing mercy?

Immediately after, they heard Chen Mo say, "Then put him in the same cell as Yan Xun."

"…"

Sure enough, he's still that Living King of Hell!

The jailers could already picture the scene of the two in the same room…

……

As for that man in the bamboo hat.

Chen Mo had long known who was behind him.

Someone who could dispatch a sixth-rank sorcerer as a errand boy — there weren't many in all of Tiandu City.

But he didn't want to wade into those murky waters.

Quit while you're ahead, too much is as bad as too little — take the merit that's rightfully his, and the rest had nothing to do with him.

"Off to farm gold coins from the Lady!"

……

Hanxiao Palace.

On the terrace, Yu Youhan stood leaning against the railing, gazing at the magnificent Imperial City, her eyes deep and distant.

Recently, her mood had been very poor.

The Empress's faction was pressing step by step, suffering blow after blow in court.

And she herself was constrained by others, even showing such an unsightly state before a man…

"Hoo."

Yu Youhan regulated her breathing, the Purifying Heart Incantation circulating, grinding the stray thoughts to dust.

However, when she saw the "red cord" wrapped around her wrist, the calm that had just settled was stirred into ripples once more.

"Damn heart demon…"

"My Lady."

At this moment, Xu Qingyi hurried over. "Your subordinate has an urgent report!"

Yu Youhan sighed silently.

At a time like this, what urgent matter could there be? Nothing but the Ministry of Revenue embezzlement case.

Regarding this, she already had an answer in her heart.

"Yan Peizhi wouldn't back down, he'd definitely cling to it tooth and nail — in the end, how many people got dragged in?"

"Not a single person was dragged in."

The female official said in a ringing voice, "Not only that, Yan Peizhi even agreed to let the Three Judicial Offices intervene in the case and try it jointly!"

"Hmm?"

Yu Youhan's moth-like brows lifted slightly, her expression startled.

Such a good opportunity — the Empress had no reason to let it go… unless there was a reason she couldn't avoid.

"You must have other matters to report, don't you?"

"Your Majesty's insight is as sharp as a mirror."

Xu Qingyi smiled and said, "Last night, the Gui Shui Division of the Tianlin Guard cracked a case of 'raising barbarian slaves'—caught red-handed with both suspect and evidence. The suspect is Yan Peizhi's own nephew!"

"Raising barbarian slaves?"

Yu Youhan paused, then a smile curled her lips. "It seems the Empress is the one with headaches now... The Company Commander of the Gui Shui Division is Shen Shuochou, right? Well done—deserves reward!"

It's like rain from heaven!

Not only did it resolve the crisis, but it also turned the tables on the Empress!

Xu Qingyi's expression turned peculiar. She shook her head. "This case was led by Chen Mo, the Platoon Leader of the Gui Shui Division. He obtained the intelligence and planned the operation entirely on his own."

At these words, the atmosphere fell instantly silent.

After a moment, Yu Youhan's voice, tinged with surprise, broke the stillness:

"Chen Mo?!"

Chen Mo stood before Qianqing Gate.

With the Purple Phoenix Token, he could enter and leave the palace freely.

But to enter the Inner Court, he still needed prior notification—after all, hundreds of imperial consorts lived here.

"What a waste."

Chen Mo silently shook his head.

The Emperor was nearly dead—he had neither will nor strength. Left alone, these concubines would surely be gathering spiderwebs by now.

But on the other hand, if the Emperor never came to the Inner Court, couldn't they do whatever they pleased?

Maybe they held silver parties every day...

At that moment, Xu Qingyi, clad in white robes with delicate features, approached.

"Chief Xu."

Chen Mo waved to greet her.

Xu Qingyi said nothing, merely tilted her chin slightly, signaling him to follow.

The two entered Qianqing Gate and headed toward Hanshao Palace.

Along the way, Chen Mo asked, "Chief Xu, did Her Majesty learn about last night's affair?"

Xu Qingyi remained silent.

Chen Mo asked again, "How is Her Majesty's mood today?"

Xu Qingyi still did not answer.

Chen Mo frowned. "Are you still angry about what happened last time?"

Xu Qingyi glanced at him, then spoke coldly: "Chief Chen, you're managing too much. How I feel is none of your business."

"That's not right, Chief Xu."

Chen Mo stopped walking, solemnly stating, "Though we've only met a few times, we're acquainted. And as a gentleman who respects women, how could I let you stew in silence alone?"

Just as Xu Qingyi's expression softened slightly, he pulled out the Purple Phoenix Token and thrust it before her face.

"I order you not to be angry."

"..."

Xu Qingyi's Bai Xi face flushed crimson instantly. She clenched her teeth, glaring furiously at Chen Mo!

This man...

He was utterly detestable!

Arriving at the gates of Hanshao Palace, Xu Qingyi walked away without looking back.

She feared if she stayed with this man another moment, she'd be tempted to slap him dead.

Gazing at the dark, deep palace doors, Chen Mo's heartbeat quickened slightly.

He took a deep breath and stepped into the hall.

Through the curtains, he saw Yu Youhan reclining on a concubine's chair.

Her plain everyday robes could not conceal her graceful, curvaceous figure.

The hem of her robe was slightly short, revealing snow-white, delicate calves and a pair of exquisitely sculpted feet.

Her ankles were long and slender; her toes, translucent as pearls, pale and tender—inviting one to take them in hand and play with them.

"Have you seen enough?"

A clear, cool voice rang out.

Chen Mo hastily averted his gaze, bowing his head and daring not to look again.

"Come closer."

Yu Youhan said.

Chen Mo stepped forward. Yu Youhan drew her legs up, making room.

"Sit."

"Your servant dares not."

"I told you to sit—sit."

"..."

Chen Mo hesitated a moment, then sat cautiously on the concubine's chair.

He sat only on the edge, back straight as a rod, eyes fixed straight ahead.

Watching his nervous look, Yu Youhan found it inexplicably amusing, and she stretched her legs straight, resting her jade feet on top of his thigh.

Zhu Chun parted slightly:

"Massage my feet."

Chen Mo: "???"