Chapter 18: What a Truly Refreshing Foot Massage

A foot massage?

Looking at the jade-like feet resting on his lap, Chen Mo was momentarily stunned.

Could this be the reward the Imperial Consort was giving him?

So moved... yet he dared not move at all!

Seeing he hadn't moved for a long time, Yu Youhan raised an eyebrow, "Why aren't you massaging?"

Could this dog of a servant think Her Highness's feet are dirty?

Chen Mo was silent for a moment, then said cautiously, "Won't Her Highness shout 'indecent' the moment my hands touch them, and then have a group of guards rush in to hack me into pieces?"

"..."

Yu Youhan said indifferently, "If I wanted to kill you, would I need to go to such great lengths?"

Hmm, that seemed to make some sense.

Hearing this, Chen Mo no longer hesitated and reached out to grasp those bare feet.

They felt snowy, smooth, and tender to the touch, soft as if boneless; the toes were translucent and crystal-clear, like carvings of jade and powder.

The Imperial Consort’s jade body was flawless and unstained by dust; her feet were without a trace of dirt and even emitted a faint, fragrant scent.

It made one unable to resist wanting to...

Hiss!

Chen Mo promptly cast aside his distracting thoughts.

A person cannot, or at least, for the moment, should not!

Yu Youhan’s body trembled, and she forcibly suppressed the urge to kick him away.

Ever since the incident last time, she had been thinking about how to get rid of the Red Silk.

The Red Silk first took physical form because of Chen Mo, and it was also because of him that it was unlocked; if she wanted to completely break free from its shackles, she would likely have to start with this fellow.

This contact was an attempt.

However, she soon regretted it.

Chen Mo held her feet in his palms as if they were treasures, pressing the soles and lightly scraping the spaces between her toes...

At the same time, a burning sensation flared at her wrists, and a throbbing from the depths of her soul surged forth, accompanied by a numb, tingling, and itchy sensation in the soles of her feet, making Yu Youhan unable to stop a soft moan from escaping her lips.

"Mmm~"

"Your Highness?"

Chen Mo was startled and looked up, wondering if he had misheard.

Yu Youhan turned her head, her lips slightly parted:

"Continue."

"Yes."

This time, Chen Mo put in even more effort, kneading with his palms and pushing with his fingers, using all the techniques he had learned from technicians in his past life.

Yu Youhan’s breathing became slightly disordered.

She silently circulated the Heart-Clearing Mantra, struggling to suppress her distracting thoughts, but the sensations coming from her body became increasingly clear.

To divert her attention, she asked, "The case of Yan Xun, was that handled by you?"

Chen Mo kneaded her jade feet and nodded, "Your subordinate discovered that Yan Xun was secretly raising barbarian slaves, so I provoked him slightly, and he really took the bait... The other side also had a sixth-rank warlock; it was thanks to Battalion Commander Shen taking action that we didn't let the thieves escape."

Yu Youhan nodded.

This operation had come at just the right time.

Not only did it stop the losses in time and force Yan Peizhi to concede, but if used well, it could also be turned against the Empress!

"Yan Xun is just a small character, not worth mentioning; the important thing is who else can be implicated behind him..."

"Your subordinate has already investigated clearly."

Chen Mo took three items out from his robes.

They were: a signed confession, a thick account book, and a pitch-black round stone engraved with complex patterns.

Yu Youhan was slightly stunned, "This is..."

"Yan Liang has already confessed."

"This account book records all the transaction details, including the channels for transporting barbarian slaves into the city."

"As for this Image-Recording Stone..."

Chen Mo said with a smile, "Your Highness will know once you have seen it."

The Image-Recording Stone was a magic treasure crafted by an artificer; as long as true qi was poured into it, it could automatically record the surrounding scenes.

Yu Youhan picked up the round stone with skepticism, her consciousness sinking into it, and images appeared before her eyes.

Soon, her expression became serious.

After watching all the images, she took a deep breath, a bright light flashing in her eyes.

The value of this thing was immense!

If all the officials and nobles involved were exposed, it would likely cause an earthquake in the officialdom of Great Yuan!

"What a huge surprise!"

"I wonder what the Empress will think when she sees this?"

A cold sneer curled the corners of Yu Youhan's lips.

However, she did not intend to expose it immediately; a trump card is only most intimidating when held in one's hand.

In this confrontation, the Empress's faction had been completely defeated!

And the greatest contributor...

Yu Youhan looked at Chen Mo, her gaze complex.

Although this dog of a servant made her feel so wretched and sometimes she wished she could kill him on the spot... she had to admit that as a subordinate, he was indeed very useful.

"What reward do you want this time?"

Yu Youhan asked.

Having learned from the last experience, Chen Mo’s expression was solemn, appearing completely loyal and devoted.

"Serving Your Highness is my honor; I seek no reward!"

Yu Youhan snorted coldly, "You are quite slick."

Not as slick as Your Highness's feet, though...

Chen Mo happily massaged her little feet.

Yu Youhan extended her slender hand, and a cyan elixir appeared out of thin air, a refreshing fragrance permeating the air.

"Open your mouth."

Chen Mo opened his mouth as instructed.

Yu Youhan flicked her finger, and the elixir entered his mouth, instantly turning into a hot current that traveled through his entire body.

A surge of vigorous vitality exploded within him, repairing all the hidden injuries left behind from his past cultivation, and his true qi circulated even more smoothly!

His blood and qi surged like a dragon, and his physical strength increased by more than one level!

And Chen Mo had only absorbed less than ten percent before reaching his limit; the remaining vital energy was all hidden within his acupoints.

"This is the Nine-Turn Cyan Origin Elixir; it contains life essence and can make flesh grow on white bones."

"After this matter, you will likely become a thorn in the side of the enemy faction and will inevitably be targeted in secret; this may save your life at a critical moment."

Although Yu Youhan spoke lightly, Chen Mo could realize the preciousness of this elixir.

He said solemnly:

"Thank you for your grace, Your Highness."

Yu Youhan’s expression was cold, "Just make sure you stay alive for me."

Before the shackles were undone, she was truly afraid that this fellow would lose his life...

"I wonder if this life essence can be applied to external objects?"

Chen Mo sensed the acupoints in his body while massaging her jade feet.

After trying several times, he actually succeeded in drawing out a wisp.

He infused this wisp of essence into his fingertips...

Yu Youhan’s expression changed abruptly!

The numbing sensation she could barely endure just moments ago was instantly magnified several times over; at her wrists, the Red Silk burned hot, and a violent throbbing engulfed her like a tidal wave!

She straightened her legs, her arches tensed, her ten toes curled, and her body trembled slightly.

"Your Highness?"

Chen Mo was stunned.

"Get out."

Yu Youhan regained her composure and kicked him out of the main hall.

Afterward, she leaned weakly against her chair, her phoenix eyes misty, a crimson flush spreading from her jade cheeks to her neck.

"Damn it, to actually... that damned dog of a servant!"

"Someone come, I wish to bathe!"

Outside the main hall.

Chen Mo was a bit confused.

It was being massaged so well, why did she throw him out again?

The Empress's reaction just now, it seemed like...

"No, it must have been an illusion."

"It was just a foot massage, it shouldn't be that exaggerated."

Chen Mo shook his head.

At this moment, a familiar figure passed by in the distance.

"Chief Inspector Xu?"

The figure in white froze upon hearing the voice.

Chen Mo walked up to her and said with a smile, "We meet again. Are you still angry with me, Chief Inspector Xu?"

Xu Qingyi’s mouth twitched, and her voice sounded as if it were squeezed through her teeth, "Not angry, not angry at all."

"Right, about the matter I asked you to help look into last time..."

"You mean that disciple of the Kui Star Sect named Ye Xiao?"

"I sent someone to the Kui Star Sect, but there is no such person. Are you sure you didn't remember the name wrong?"

Xu Qingyi said with a puzzled expression.

"No such person?"

Chen Mo was stunned.