Chapter 57: Your Highness: This Dog of a Servant Is Actually Quite Useful (Seeking Follow-up Reads)

The east turned the color of a fish belly, and a touch of morning light spread, outlining the hazy silhouette of the towering imperial city.

Deep within the imperial palace, surrounded by vermilion walls, sat a luxurious palace hall.

Ningde Palace.

Inside the palace, the beams were carved and painted, magnificent and resplendent; the floor was paved with white jade, engraved with rivers and mountains; the walls were lined with silk and brocade, embroidered with auspicious cloud patterns in gold and silver thread.

In the inner chamber, a maid lit the octagonal palace lantern.

Behind the light gauze curtains, a graceful figure was vaguely visible.

"Your Highness, it is almost time."

Palace Attendant Sun held the ceremonial robe in both hands, bowing as she stood.

"Sigh, time for court again..."

"Just thinking of those old faces makes my heart feel stifled; I truly cannot bear to stay for even a moment..."

The Empress's voice carried displeasure and languor.

She stretched, her curves extending, her full, plump figure trembling slightly.

"..."

Palace Attendant Sun was long accustomed to such "outrageous remarks" and silently helped the Empress change.

She knew in her heart that the Empress was merely venting; in reality, she was diligent in state affairs and had not been the least bit slack for all these years.

Last night, she had reviewed memorials until late, and with the sky just brightening, she had to prepare for court again, having rested for less than two hours in between.

If not for this toil from dawn till dusk to balance the situation, the imperial court would have long since descended into chaos.

A quarter of an hour later, the cumbersome palace attire was finally donned.

The bright yellow ceremonial robe was adorned with colorful phoenix patterns, a crimson cape draped over her shoulders, a double-phoenix-and-dragon crown held up her three thousand strands of black hair, pearl and jade flowers decorated her temples, and gold-threaded pearl pendants hung from her ears.

The languid air was swept away, and every gesture exuded a compelling majesty.

"Has there been any progress on the demon clan case?" the Empress asked.

Palace Attendant Sun replied: "The Demon Suppression Division has searched the city extensively but found no traces of the demon clan. However, the deceased, Lin Huai, is somewhat special... According to the investigation, he was one of the Ministry of Works officials who assisted the 'Wuwang Temple' in setting up the array."

"Oh?"

The Empress's expression paused, as if she had thought of something.

A moment later, she continued to ask: "What about that Chen Mo of the Heavenly Qilin Guard? I ordered him to be the lead investigator for this case; after so many days, is there no movement at all?"

Palace Attendant Sun shook her head: "It is said he stays in the office all day, never stepping out, and does not seem particularly concerned about this case..."

The Empress's expression darkened slightly, and she gave a cold snort: "I have always been clear in rewards and punishments; slaying demons deserves a reward, but failing to do one's duty deserves punishment! Send word to him: if he cannot provide an explanation within the deadline, I will hold him solely responsible!"

"Yes."

Palace Attendant Sun acknowledged.

She felt vaguely strange in her heart.

There were no clues in this case, and the demon clan was skilled at concealment, so it was indeed difficult to start.

But as the person primarily responsible for the case, one should at least put on a show; yet this Company Commander Chen was too lazy to even pretend?

Arrogant due to his achievements?

Or did he have other intentions?

At this moment, the Empress had already walked out of the inner chamber; her thoughts interrupted, she hurried to follow.

Hanxiao Palace.

On the terrace, Yu Youhan sat in a rattan chair in plain casual clothes, her legs crossed, the taut skirt outlining a rounded curve.

Xu Qingyi stood by her side and said: "Your Highness, Yan Liang is still detained in the Imperial Prison, and the Gui Shui Division is under great pressure. Today at court, the Grand Court of Justice and the Ministry of Justice may join forces to launch an attack..."

The case of keeping barbarian slaves involved quite a few officials.

As long as this case remained unresolved, they would not be able to eat or sleep in peace and would inevitably apply pressure through various means.

It was already no small feat that Shen Shuchou had been able to hold out for so long.

Yu Youhan pondered slightly.

She held clear evidence of their crimes in her hands; once published, it would inevitably cause a shock throughout the court and the public.

One must strike while the iron is hot and act at the right time; acting rashly might not achieve the best results.

"How is the matter I let Chen Mo investigate going? Is there any progress?" Yu Youhan asked.

Xu Qingyi shook her head, "No news yet."

Her tone paused, and she continued: "The Zhou family privately opening a mine might just be a baseless rumor. Even if the intelligence is true, wanting to obtain evidence in just a few days is as difficult as ascending to heaven."

Yu Youhan said indifferently: "How could I not know? It was merely a spare move; I didn't hold much hope for it anyway."

After thinking for a moment, she said: "Forget it, since that is the case, then proceed as planned..."

Knock, knock, knock—

At this moment, the door was knocked, and a palace maid's voice came from outside:

"Your Highness, Chen Mo requests an audience, saying he has an urgent matter to report."

"Hmm?"

Yu Youhan's moth-like eyebrows lifted slightly, "At this hour, what is he doing entering the palace?"

Xu Qingyi muttered secretly: "Again? The sky isn't even fully bright yet; does this person really think the inner palace is his own backyard?"

Yu Youhan extended her slender jade hand and beckoned lightly.

The void rippled like water, and a figure appeared out of thin air, falling from mid-air.

?!

Chen Mo had been waiting outside the Qianqing Gate when the scene around him suddenly changed; in the blink of an eye, he was already inside the bedchamber.

At the same time, a strong sense of weightlessness washed over him.

Catching a glimpse of Yu Youhan and Xu Qingyi, he surged with wind and thunder, wanting to land gracefully.

But he forgot that he had been traveling at full speed and his depleted true qi had not yet been replenished; the lightning flashed and vanished, and he "splatted" onto the ground.

"..."

The atmosphere was deathly silent.

Chen Mo did two push-ups on the spot, then rose leisurely, cupped his hands and said: "This subordinate pays respects to Your Highness."

Xu Qingyi's mouth twitched, as if she were trying hard to suppress a laugh.

Yu Youhan glanced at him and said: "True qi exhausted, blood energy not yet dissipated; did you kill someone?"

Chen Mo nodded, "Your Highness's eyes are like torches."

"Who?"

"Ding Fire Division Company Commander, Chu Zhuo."

Xu Qingyi's pretty face stiffened upon hearing this.

Chen Mo actually killed Chu Zhuo?!

Murdering an imperial official was a grave crime, not to mention the other party was a Heavenly Qilin Guard Company Commander!

Without a justifiable reason, even the Chen family could not protect him!

No wonder he was in such a hurry to enter the palace; it turned out he was seeking the Empress's protection... But would the Empress risk universal condemnation to forcibly protect Chen Mo?

Once she did so, she would inevitably be attacked by the ministers, and the gains and losses would be completely disproportionate.

Based on her understanding of the Empress, even if she valued Chen Mo, the possibility of her saving him was almost zero!

Yu Youhan's expression remained indifferent, "The reason?"

Chen Mo presented a recording stone, "Your Highness will understand after watching."

Yu Youhan reached out to take it, and after seeing the contents, her expression became quite colorful, her phoenix eyes full of astonishment.

"You actually really..."

"Your Highness."

Xu Qingyi, who was to the side, hesitated for a moment and whispered: "Since the matter is a foregone conclusion, why not secretly send Chen Mo out of the city, have him change his name and live as a secret agent in the pugilistic world... A living person is always more useful than a dead one."

Anyway, with the Misty Rain Pavilion, there would always be a place for Chen Mo.

"..."

Facing their strange gazes, Xu Qingyi realized something seemed wrong.

Yu Youhan handed the recording stone to her, "You had better see for yourself."

Xu Qingyi took the black, round stone engraved with patterns and sank her consciousness into it.

A moment later, her cherry lips parted slightly, her face full of shock and disbelief.

"He not only found the evidence of the Zhou family's mining but also solved the demon clan case at the same time?!"

Yu Youhan looked at Chen Mo, her eyes somewhat complex.

Although this dog of a servant made her look disheveled and was truly detestable, judging from these few incidents, she had to admit—

He seemed quite useful?