Chapter 18: What a Thoroughly Satisfying Foot Treatment

A foot massage?

Gazing at the jade feet resting on his lap, Chen Mo was momentarily dazed.

Could this be the reward the Consort gave him?

Touched… he absolutely didn't dare to move!

Seeing him make no move for a long while, Yu Youhan raised a brow. "Why aren't you massaging?"

Does this dog of a servant think this Palace's feet are filthy?

After a moment of silence, Chen Mo said cautiously, "It's not that the moment this subordinate's hands touch them, Your Ladyship will shout 'molestation,' and then a group of guards will rush in and chop me into eight pieces, right?"

"…"

Yu Youhan said coolly, "If this Palace wanted to kill you, would I need to go through such an elaborate scheme?"

Mm, that does sound reasonable.

Hearing this, Chen Mo no longer hesitated. He reached out and took hold of those bare feet.

They were smooth as snow, tender and fine, soft as if boneless; the toes were crystalline and translucent, as if carved from pink jade.

The Noble Consort's jade body was immaculate, unstained by dust; her feet bore not a trace of filth, and even emanated a faint, sweet fragrance.

It made one unable to resist wanting to…

Hiss!

Chen Mo swiftly banished the stray thoughts.

A man cannot—at least, for now, should not!

Yu Youhan's body trembled, forcibly suppressing the urge to kick him flying.

Since the incident last time, she had been pondering how to break free from the Crimson Silk.

The Crimson Silk had first taken solid form because of Chen Mo, and had been unraveled because of him as well; to completely break free of its shackles, she would likely have to start with this fellow.

This contact was a trial.

But she soon came to regret it.

Chen Mo cradled her feet in his palms as if they were treasures, pressing the soles, gently scraping the toe hollows…

At the same time, a burning heat flared at her wrist; a tremor from the depths of her soul welled up, and along with the tingling numbness and itchiness on her soles, Yu Youhan couldn't help but let out a soft moan.

"Mm~"

"Your Ladyship?"

Chen Mo was startled. He looked up, wondering if he'd been hearing things.

Yu Youhan turned her head slightly, her lips parting:

"Continue."

"Yes."

This time Chen Mo applied himself with even greater effort, kneading with his palms and pressing with his fingers, putting every technique he'd learned from the masseurs in his past life to use.

Yu Youhan's breathing grew slightly uneven.

Silently circulating the Purifying Heart Incantation, she strove to suppress the stray thoughts, but the sensations from her body only grew clearer.

To divert her attention, she asked aloud, "The Yan Xun case—was that your doing?"

Chen Mo kneaded the jade feet as he nodded. "This subordinate discovered Yan Xun secretly raising barbarian slaves in hiding, so I gave him a little prod, and he actually took the bait… The other side also had a sixth-rank sorcerer; thanks to Captain Shen's intervention, the criminals weren't allowed to escape."

Yu Youhan nodded.

This operation had come at just the right moment.

Not only had it cut losses in time and forced Yan Peizhi to back down, but if handled well, it could also turn the tables on the Empress!

"Yan Xun is only a minor player, not worth mentioning. What matters is what other people can be dragged out from behind him…"

"This subordinate has already investigated everything clearly."

Chen Mo produced three items from his bosom.

They were: a signed confession, a thick ledger, and a jet-black round stone engraved with intricate patterns.

Yu Youhan was slightly taken aback. "This is…"

"Yan Liang has already confessed."

"This ledger records every transaction, including the channels used to smuggle barbarian slaves into the city."

"As for this image-recording stone…"

Chen Mo said with a smile, "Your Ladyship will know once you've seen it."

An image-recording stone is a magical artifact forged by artifact-refiners; once true essence is channeled into it, it automatically captures the surrounding scenery.

Yu Youhan picked up the round stone half in doubt, sinking her spirit into it; image after image appeared before her eyes.

Soon, her expression grew solemn.

After viewing all the images, she took a deep breath, a bright gleam flashing through her eyes.

The value of this thing was immense!

The officials and noble houses involved—if all of it were exposed, it would likely trigger an earthquake in the Dayuan officialdom!

"What a magnificent surprise!"

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

A cold smile curled at the corner of Yu Youhan's lips.

But she did not intend to expose it immediately; a royal flush is most intimidating only when clutched in the hand.

In this clash, the Empress's faction had suffered a complete defeat!

And the greatest contributor…

Yu Youhan looked at Chen Mo, her gaze complex.

Although this dog of a servant had left her in such a sorry state, and sometimes she wished she could kill him on the spot... she had to admit, as a subordinate, he really was very useful.

"What reward do you want this time?"

Yu Youhan asked.

Drawing on last time's experience, Chen Mo's expression turned solemn, the very picture of loyal devotion.

"Serving Your Ladyship is this subordinate's honor — I seek no reward whatsoever!"

Yu Youhan gave a cold snort. "You're quite the smooth talker."

No matter how smooth-talking, he's still not as smooth as Your Ladyship's feet...

Chen Mo blissfully kneaded her little feet.

Yu Youhan extended a slender hand, and a cyan-colored pill materialized out of thin air, a heart-penetrating fragrance filling the air.

"Open your mouth."

Chen Mo obediently opened his mouth.

With a flick of Yu Youhan's finger, the pill entered his mouth, instantly transforming into a stream of heat that coursed through his entire body.

A surge of vigorous vitality exploded within him; the hidden injuries left from past cultivation were all healed, and his true essence circulated far more smoothly!

His qi and blood surged like a dragon, and his physical body's strength rose by more than a single tier!

Yet Chen Mo had absorbed less than one-tenth before reaching his limit; the remaining vital energy was stored entirely within his acupoints.

"This is a Nine-Turn Cyan Essence Pill, containing life essence within it — it can grow flesh upon bare bone."

"After this matter, you'll likely become a thorn in the enemy's side, a splinter in their flesh — they won't be able to avoid targeting you in secret. This may preserve your life at a critical moment."

Although Yu Youhan spoke as if it were a trivial matter, Chen Mo could still sense just how precious this pill was.

He said in a solemn tone:

"Thank you, Your Ladyship, for your gracious gift."

Yu Youhan's expression was cold. "Just stay alive properly for this Palace, and that will be enough."

Before loosening his restraints, she had truly feared this fellow might lose his little life...

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

Chen Mo pressed her jade feet while sensing the acupoints within his body.

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

He channeled this wisp of essence into his fingertip...

Yu Youhan's face changed abruptly!

The tingling numbness she had barely been able to endure was instantly amplified several times over; at her wrist, the red silk burned hot, and an intense throbbing overwhelmed her like a tidal wave!

Her legs stretched straight, the arches of her feet tensed, her ten toes curled, and her body trembled slightly.

"Your Ladyship?"

Chen Mo was stunned.

"Get lost."

Yu Youhan came back to her senses and kicked him out of the great hall with one foot.

She then slumped weakly against the chair, her phoenix eyes misty with moisture, a rosy flush spreading from her jade-like cheeks down to her neck.

"Damnable... it happened again... that wretched dog of a servant!"

"Someone come — this Palace wishes to bathe!"

Outside the great hall.

Chen Mo was somewhat baffled.

He had clearly been massaging her just fine — how did he end up thrown out again?

Her Ladyship's reaction just now seemed like...

"No way, it must be an illusion."

"It's just a foot massage — it couldn't be that exaggerated."

Chen Mo shook his head.

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

"Sister Xu?"

The white-robed figure stiffened at the sound.

Chen Mo walked up to her and said with a smile, "We meet again. Is Sister Xu still angry with me?"

Xu Qingyi's lips twitched, her voice seemingly squeezed through clenched teeth. "Not angry at all. Not one bit angry."

"Oh right, about the matter I asked you to look into last time..."

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

"I sent people to the Kuixing Sect, and there's no such person at all. Are you sure you didn't get the name wrong?"

Xu Qingyi said with a puzzled expression.

"No such person?"

Chen Mo was stunned.