Chapter 43: Are You Going to Sneak a Peek at the Empress Sleeping?

Hanxiao Palace.

Around the imperial bedchamber lay a meticulously designed landscape garden.

In the courtyard's center stood an artificial lake, its waters clear to the bottom, dotted with a few water lilies, occasionally pierced by golden carp darting through, stirring ripples.

Along the shore, stacked rockeries rose in jagged peaks, with streams trickling between the stones, forming tiny waterfalls.

At the lake's heart sat an elegant pavilion, its double eaves and layered arches adorned with pale blue tassels; faintly visible within were two shadowy figures.

Yu Youhan wore a purple iris-length gown, a coiled gold hairpin adorning her hair, seated on a platform suspended over the water; the taut fabric traced a half-curve around her form, her toes gently stirring the lake, drawing small fish to swirl around her.

She appeared less domineering than usual, her cheeks flushed like spring peach blossoms.

Chen Mo stood beside her, silently admiring the exquisite "little fish eating feet" scene.

"You mean you went to the entertainment quarter to visit courtesans—and got attacked by a ghost cultivator?" Yu Youhan's voice rang clear as pearls dropping on jade.

Visiting courtesans? I visited loneliness…

Chen Mo sighed inwardly and said, "That man called himself You Dao Ren, from the Shigui Sect. The Soul-Calling Banner was his treasure; three years ago, Qin Wuxiang stole it. Hearing Qin Wuxiang died at my hands, he came chasing after me."

"But with the Essence of Vitality and the divine power bestowed by Her Majesty, dealing with that ghost cultivator was effortless."

Yu Youhan nodded slightly.

When she had granted Chen Mo that talisman, it was to protect him.

Ghost cultivators focus on refining the soul and nurturing spirits, leaving their own bodies frail. Chen Mo possessed the Soul-Seizing Divine Art—this fifth-rank Ghost Envoy stood no chance.

"The Shigui Sect has long been destroyed. This You Dao Ren likely stumbled upon some chance opportunity—no need to fear retaliation."

"But your soul…"

Yu Youhan turned her head; a strand of black hair fell, her eyes—like star-filled seas—glanced at him.

Chen Mo gave a bitter smile. "Ate too much. Got bloated."

Swallowing over a hundred fierce ghosts' soul energy caused his soul to surge violently; the most obvious effect was his senses becoming extraordinarily sharp—he could detect even the faintest sounds within a hundred zhang, and his reaction speed skyrocketed—

The problem was here.

His reaction was too fast, but his body lagged half a beat—like a high-ping warrior.

"You only cultivate the body, not the soul. Your Purple Palace and Spirit Platform remain unopened. Swallowing too much soul energy is like building a castle in the air—minor consequence: mental confusion; major consequence: soul damage, Spirit Platform collapse. In short…"

"Vegetable person?"

"Hm?"

Yu Youhan frowned. "What is a vegetable person?"

Chen Mo thought a moment. "Like a plant—unable to move, senses gone, unaware, unfeeling…"

Yu Youhan nodded. "That term fits well. Hmm. If you'd been unlucky, you'd already be a vegetable person."

"… "

Chen Mo hadn't expected he nearly turned into a tree. He frowned. "This divine art has side effects?"

Yu Youhan's jade-like toes stirred the little fish—clearly understanding his implication. She coldly said, "It's like eating. When full, you stop. Normal people feel their Spirit Platform swell after swallowing a few fierce ghosts and can't go further. Who would swallow a hundred in a row? Do I really need to tell you this?"

Chen Mo looked slightly embarrassed.

That You Dao Ren had his chest wide open—like a buffet—and couldn't control himself.

Besides the "lag," he hadn't felt "overfull" at all.

"Enough."

Yu Youhan shook her head.

Chen Mo suddenly levitated, flying uncontrollably before her. She extended a slender, jade-like finger and lightly touched his forehead.

Darkness instantly swallowed his vision, plunging him into boundless void.

Here seemed the end of the universe—no time, no space, no up or down, only pure nothingness.

"This… is my Spirit Platform?" Chen Mo realized.

Boom—

As if thunder cracked, a faint light ignited in the void.

The light stretched endlessly, forming a thin line that split the universe like the opening of heaven and earth.

Boom boom boom—

The entire Spirit Platform trembled; clear energy rose, turbid energy sank, gradually becoming sharply distinct.

Chaotic soul energy swirled like a star river, coalescing into a golden miniature figure, nearly transparent, seated cross-legged like a meditating monk.

Though his face was blurred, it was unmistakably Chen Mo.

The bloated, swollen sensation vanished. His spiritual awareness became refined and full. Without opening his eyes, everything around him came into view.

The water ripples stirred by fish at the lake's bottom, the fluttering hems of palace attendants' robes, the silkworm moths chewing leaves on the ginkgo tree far away…

Chen Mo sank into this mysterious sensation. His spiritual awareness drifted past palace after palace, unknowingly arriving before a lavish imperial carriage. Crimson doors bore nine rows of golden nails; above the lintel, silver-hooked iron-stroke characters read "Yangxin Palace."

"Impudent!"

Suddenly, a roar exploded in his ears!

Immediately, a vast torrent of soul energy crushed down like a mountain falling—intent on grinding him to dust!

"Hmph."

A cold snort echoed.

The once-ferocious spiritual force froze instantly, then withdrew without hesitation, as if nothing had happened.

Chen Mo retracted his spiritual awareness, his face slightly pale.

That roar had stunned him instantly—he couldn't dodge. Had Her Majesty not intervened, he would have suffered grave injury!

"I just opened your Purple Palace and condensed your spiritual awareness—and you're already rushing to die?"

Yu Youhan was speechless.

It was noon; after lunch, the Empress rested in Yangxin Palace, and his actions were no different from boldly storming into the Empress's bedroom.

Seeking death, old man?

Chen Mo knew he had nearly caused trouble; he chuckled awkwardly: "The feeling was too strange—I couldn't control myself."

Yu Youhan spoke coolly: "The water in the palace runs deeper than you imagine. Stay out of places other than Hansiao Palace. As for the Soul Refining technique, you're not ready yet. Talk about it when you're about to break through Fifth Rank."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Chen Mo bowed deeply.

Fifth Rank Pure Yang Realm—concentrating spiritual intent to form a Martial Soul. He was curious: what would he form?

"By the way, there's a strange case in the city lately…"

Chen Mo gave a brief report on the Bai Ta Street murder.

Yu Youhan showed not the slightest interest: "Ducheng is a den of mingling dragons and fish; a few minor demons slipping in is normal. Let the Empress worry about it—you have no business meddling."

"I do have something for you to do…"

…

Yangxin Palace.

Outside the high walls, Eunuch Jin wiped sweat from his brow.

Just now, he sensed a probing spiritual intent and thought a Ruan Xiaoxiao had intruded into the palace grounds—he was about to obliterate it when an overwhelmingly powerful pressure followed.

If he hadn't run fast enough, he'd be dead…

Who else but that woman would dare act so recklessly inside the palace?

"This is where the Empress rests—not some secret stronghold. Is Yu Imperial Consort planning to spy on the Empress while she sleeps?"

Eunuch Jin's aged face was full of confusion.