Chapter 58: The Lady

Xu Qingyi simply could not understand.

Only a few days have passed, and Chen Mo has already solved both major cases?

Could this guy really be a genius at solving cases?

"It happened like this…"

Chen Mo recounted the entire sequence of events, starting from his encounter with Lin Jingzhu at Zuiyue Pavilion.

Naturally, he omitted any details involving Gu Manzhi.

"In the end, it was just luck—I happened to catch them off guard."

"And I never expected these two cases were actually one and the same…"

Yu Youhan shook her head.

There may have been luck involved, but one must also have the ability to seize the opportunity.

If not for that final blow from beyond the heavens that sealed everything, others might already be dead in the wilderness.

"The Zhou Fu commander has been imprisoned in the Imperial Prison and can be interrogated at any time," Chen Mo said.

Yu Youhan sneered, "With these images in hand, whether he confesses or not no longer matters."

She duplicated the footage onto another memory stone and handed it to Xu Qingyi, "Don't delay—this hour, the officials haven't yet arrived at Fengtian Gate. Give this to Yunhe; he'll know what to do."

"Also, notify the others to proceed as planned."

"Yes."

Xu Qingyi nodded and left swiftly.

…

"Illegally mining Red Sand, colluding with demonic clans?"

"Without backing from someone powerful, the Zhou family would never have dared this."

Yu Youhan leaned back in her wicker chair, shifting her posture; the hem of her skirt stirred, revealing glimpses of tender, smooth, pale legs.

Chen Mo didn't know where to look.

"By the way, I captured the demonic clan's soul—it should know the inner details."

"But the demonic aura might trigger the great array…"

"No matter."

Yu Youhan waved her hand, and a shimmering light sealed off the entire terrace.

Chen Mo released Jue Mi's soul.

Suddenly bathed in light again, the three-tailed fox was disoriented.

Seeing the unfamiliar surroundings, its first instinct was to scatter its soul and flee.

But as it turned, it saw a woman of breathtaking beauty, her emerald-green eyes gazing at it with quiet intensity.

Instantly, a chilling dread surged—its spirit felt as if it would freeze into ice!

Its demonic instincts screamed: this woman was unfathomable, a being beyond its comprehension!

Merely one glance stripped it of all courage to escape.

"Three tails? Qiuqiu sent this trash?" Yu Youhan frowned.

Jue Mi shivered, forcing a nervous laugh, "Your Reverence, ask anything you wish—I, this humble demon, will answer without reservation."

"No need. I'll see for myself."

Yu Youhan reached out, seized the soul, and crushed it with a sharp crack!

Countless streams of light surged into her mind-sea; her phoenix eyes shimmered with starlight.

She swiftly purged the cluttered memories, projecting images one by one into the void.

Forced soul-searching yielded incomplete memories, but guaranteed absolute truth.

"So it's the Yu Wang Fu?"

"Indeed, connected to the heir…"

Watching the floating images, Chen Mo's gaze flickered.

He had not guessed wrong—the man behind the Zhou family was none other than Yu Wang's heir, Chu Heng.

They were illegally mining Red Sand to produce Flamepowder, to destroy the Eight Directions Cleansing Demon Array!

The Eight Directions Cleansing Demon Array covered the entire Ducheng, jointly constructed by Wuwang Temple and the imperial court; the Ministry of Works official named Lin Huai was one of the officers involved in its original construction.

"They want to force Lin Huai to reveal the array's core…"

"The array's construction materials include 'Demon-Nullifying Stone,' extremely hard and immune to spells—only explosives can destroy it…"

"After breaking the array, they'll let demonic clans enter the city, possess officials, and replace them…"

Chen Mo's back grew slightly cold.

Damn, this wasn't in the original plot!

The game did have demonic invasion content, but that only appeared in Chapter Four—according to the timeline, we're still not even done with Chapter One…

Butterfly effect?

Or a shift in the worldline?

Yu Youhan shook her head, "The Eight Directions Cleansing Demon Array isn't that fragile—it won't be destroyed, only temporarily weakened."

"For a soul to perfectly merge with a body, it takes at least five days; during that time, demonic aura cannot be fully concealed."

"Once that period passes, using the so-called 'Demon-Subduing Jade' to suppress it—even if the array is repaired, it won't detect the anomaly."

Perfect fusion takes five days?

But I seemed to do it in just minutes…

Chen Mo rubbed his nose—could I be naturally gifted?

"So put together, Yan Liang raising barbarian slaves was also at Chu Heng's behest, to corrode the officials in court."

"After leaving evidence, he used threats and bribes to forcibly bind them to his war chariot."

"Zhou Jingan must have been the same… that's why he became Chu Heng's tool."

"No wonder he's been watching me in secret — he doesn't know how much evidence I hold, and once the secret is exposed, it won't hold any deterrent power anymore…"

Chen Mo couldn't help but click his tongue.

This heir is far too bold and greedy — isn't he afraid of backlash from the demon race?

"The two-faction layout is already set, the interests are basically fixed. If he doesn't do this, he won't even qualify to sit at the table."

"Although giving Jiang Yuchan some trouble isn't bad, this filthy demon-race stuff — this Palace really doesn't like it."

A piercing killing intent flashed through her jade-green eyes.

But Yu Youhan quickly restrained her aura, looked at Chen Mo, and her gaze softened a touch.

"You did very well this time. What reward would you like?"

"Reward?"

Chen Mo didn't pledge loyalty as usual, but seriously considered it.

He had agreed to help Gu Manzhi obtain the "Azure Void Seal," and it wasn't entirely an empty promise.

First, this thing posed no threat to Her Highness — after all, if she could destroy it once, she could destroy it a second time.

On the other hand, it was also to keep the Huang Sect steady.

Before obtaining the "Azure Void Seal," the Huang Sect wouldn't make any more moves against the Chen family, and would instead obediently cooperate with him.

So the treasure could be given, but not immediately.

Moreover, to ask Her Highness for this thing, he needed a proper reason. If she discovered his secret dealings with Gu Manzhi, his life would likely be in danger…

Chen Mo's thoughts tangled, and he sank into contemplation, his eyes losing focus.

And Yu Youhan followed his gaze and looked down…

Is he staring at my feet?

And he's mesmerized?

"Again?!"

Yu Youhan's brow darkened.

The previous "desensitization training" had severely shaken her confidence.

Time and again showing such a wretched look in front of this dog of a servant — it really damaged her image.

But he had rendered great service this time, so refusing outright didn't seem quite appropriate either…

Yu Youhan hesitated a moment, sighed helplessly, and extended her jade feet before Chen Mo.

"I really can't do anything with you. Here."

?

Chen Mo's face was blank with confusion.

I didn't say I wanted that reward?

Yu Youhan turned her head away and snorted coldly: "What are you pretending to be so proper about? If you don't want it, there won't be any more in the future!"

"…"

Chen Mo thought for a moment, then said cautiously: "This subordinate has a small gift I'd like to give Her Highness. It would be even better if Her Highness could wear it…"

"A gift?"

Yu Youhan was slightly taken aback.

Over the years, others either feared her like snakes and scorpions, or revered her like ghosts and gods — no one had ever given her a gift.

After all, such an act was already somewhat "intimate."

"What is it?"

"To be precise, it's a pair of socks, custom-made for Her Highness at the Brocade Workshop."

Chen Mo pulled a black object, thin as a cicada's wing, from his mustard seed bag.

Yu Youhan: (⊙ˍ⊙)