Chapter 63: Chen Mo's Specialty is Ransacking Homes! The Empress's Intentions!

The Zhou residence.

In the bedroom, Zhou Jing'an was sweating profusely.

Creak, creak, creak—

Half a quarter of an hour later.

Zhou Jing'an shuddered violently and collapsed, limp on the bed.

The woman caught her breath, sat up, and used a silk handkerchief to wipe the sweat from him, thinking to herself:

"The Young Master seems to love this Heavenly Qilin Guard uniform so much. Every time he puts it on, he doesn't even need to take any aphrodisiacs, and his attack speed is much faster... It's just that I don't know who this 'Chen' he keeps muttering about is..."

Zhou Jing'an stroked the jade rabbit with his fingers, his eyes cold and grim.

Although they had tried their best to cover up what happened at the Drunken Moon Pavilion last time, there were many witnesses, and some rumors had still spread.

Especially the fact that he had been forced to kneel... it had already become a laughingstock in the circles of the powerful and influential!

For young masters of their status, heads could be broken and blood could flow, but face must never be lost!

"Today at court, Father will openly accuse Chen Mo of abusing imperial power and committing treason!"

"The deadline for the Demon Clan case is approaching, and there isn't a single clue. As the lead investigator, Chen Mo cannot shirk the blame!"

"With both crimes punished together, it will be enough to make him suffer!"

"This is just an appetizer. Once the grand plan is complete, the Chen family will be easily crushed. Then I'll see how I can properly deal with him!"

Thinking of the miserable sight of Chen Mo being trampled under his feet, Zhou Jing'an pulled a sickly smile and his fingers tightened violently.

"Ugh!"

The woman's expression showed slight pain.

Then she discovered something, her eyes filled with surprise, "Is the Young Master in such high spirits today?"

Zhou Jing'an flipped over, about to go for another round while the mood was hot, when a loud "bang" suddenly erupted in the courtyard, followed by a burst of noise.

Thump, thump, thump!

The bedroom door was knocked.

A servant's urgent voice sounded from outside, "Young Master, something is wrong! The Heavenly Qilin Guards have broken in!"

The black-robed woman froze. How did the Heavenly Qilin Guards really come?

Zhou Jing'an frowned.

He quickly put on his clothes and walked briskly into the courtyard.

He saw the solid wood gate shattered into pieces, and a group of figures in dark-patterned black robes pressing in like a black cloud. The Zhou residence guards were confronting them, but intimidated by their momentum, they could only retreat step by step.

The fierce reputation of the Heavenly Qilin Guards was known to everyone in the Great Yuan. There was a saying among the people: When the black robes arrive, they ransack homes and kill!

This black scale uniform was a symbol of terror among the powerful and influential!

Seeing this formation, Zhou Jing'an felt a wave of shock and suspicion.

"What is going on..."

Suddenly, he saw a familiar face in the crowd, lazily yawning.

Chen Mo?!

Liu Mang, with his tall and thin build, stood at the very front. He lightly pushed his sword hilt, revealing a glint of cold light, and said coldly: "The Heavenly Qilin Guards are handling a case. You dare to block us? Do you not want your heads anymore?"

The Zhou residence guards looked terrified and dared not make any move to resist.

At this moment, an angry voice rang out: "Chen Mo, you have a lot of nerve!"

The guards parted to both sides, and Zhou Jing'an strode over, staring fixedly at Chen Mo, "You actually dare to lead people to trespass on an official's residence. Do you really think my Zhou family is a soft persimmon?!"

Chen Mo said indifferently: "We are acting under imperial decree to investigate the Demon Clan case..."

"Bullshit, I see you are clearly settling a personal vendetta!" The veins on Zhou Jing'an's forehead throbbed wildly.

Investigating a case?

According to Chu Zhuo's reports, Chen Mo spent his days at the office doing nothing and didn't care about the case at all.

Furthermore, he had been exceptionally cautious recently and had no contact with the Demon Clan whatsoever. No matter what, they couldn't trace it back to the Zhou family!

The only possibility was that after the morning court session, the Empress had punished him, and Chen Mo, holding a grudge, was using this as an excuse to frame and retaliate!

This despicable villain!

Yet this move happened to hit his weak spot!

"You know better than I do what the crime of using public office for private revenge is."

"Leave with your men immediately, and everything can still be discussed. I can pretend nothing happened! If you make a scene, watch out for your official position!"

Zhou Jing'an said, suppressing his anger.

Even the Heavenly Qilin Guards, who had special imperial permission, could not force their way into the residence of a third-rank official without an order from the Eastern Palace!

Chen Mo shook his head and said: "Young Master Zhou, you misunderstand. I am not here to discuss anything with you."

Liu Mang stepped forward and slapped a piece of yellow paper onto Zhou Jing'an's face.

"Criminal Zhou Jing'an, suspected of illegally mining red sand and colluding with the Demon Clan, has committed the crime of treason!"

"All members of the Zhou family are to be taken into custody immediately and sent to the Imperial Prison to await trial by the Three Ministries!"

?!

Zhou Jing'an's pupils suddenly constricted!

If it were just the Demon Clan case, it might be Chen Mo framing him, but it actually mentioned illegal red sand mining?!

The yellow imperial decree before him was sharp as a knife, and it even bore the seal of the Eastern Palace. Even if he were given a hundred guts, he wouldn't dare to forge it!

Zhou Jing'an looked up abruptly and scanned his surroundings.

He did not see Zhou Li, and his heart instantly turned cold.

At this moment, Chen Mo said softly: "Don't look for him. Zhou Li has already been arrested and is waiting for you in the Imperial Prison along with Vice Minister Zhou."

Boom!

Zhou Jing'an felt as if he had been struck by lightning, his mind going blank.

The next moment, he was pressed to the ground by Liu Mang, his cheek rubbing against the bricks, his wide-open eyes filled with disbelief.

Impossible!

How did Chen Mo find out?!

"Seize them!"

"Yes!"

The bailiffs filed in, kicking open every door to make arrests.

Successive cries of alarm rang out throughout the Zhou residence. All the family members were brought to the courtyard, shackled and squatting on the ground.

Most of them still looked bewildered, not knowing what had happened.

At this moment, a guard's face flashed with ferocity, and he suddenly lashed out, striking a bailiff beside him with his palm.

Taking advantage of the bailiff dodging to the side, the guard broke free and soared into the air like a goshawk!

Want to run?

Swish—

A silver flash flickered past. The guard's legs were severed at the root, and he fell to the ground with a "thud," blood gushing out like a spring.

"Don't let him die before he confesses."

Shen Shuchou stood with his hands behind his back, his expression indifferent.

The bailiffs stepped forward to stop the bleeding, dislocated all his joints, and bound him tightly with chains.

Watching this scene, the Zhou family members' faces gradually turned pale, finally realizing the gravity of the situation.

At this time, Qin Shou ran to Chen Mo's side and whispered: "Boss, I found something..."

Chen Mo looked at Shen Shuchou nearby and cleared his throat: "If you have something to say, say it loudly. Why be so sneaky?"

The Big Boss is right here, why are you reporting to me, a small boss?

You want to eat alone in front of the leader?

You have no sense!

Qin Shou hesitated for a moment, cleared his throat, and said loudly: "Reporting to you, my lord, your subordinate discovered a secret chamber with five barbarian slaves inside, and they were all naked!"

"..."

Chen Mo was speechless and glanced at Zhou Jing'an.

Little Zhou, you play quite wild, you even got five?

It's not that I look down on you, but with your physique, aren't you afraid of being drained dry?

Feeling the slightly murderous gaze of his brother-in-law, Chen Mo said with a righteous face: "Take them all away and wait for them to be dealt with!"

Although he was quite intrigued by the plot of training barbarian slaves, he would pass on those trained by others—there was no challenge, and he didn't want to be in the same boat as Little Zhou.

The home-ransacking operation continued.

During the arrests, they encountered quite a bit of resistance, the strongest of whom was an old man whose strength was close to the fourth rank of martial arts.

But in the end, he was still nailed to the wall by Shen Shuchou with a spear.

From this, one could see the gap. The commander of the Chen residence guards, Cen Long, was a genuine fourth-rank Divine Sea Realm expert, and He Yuzhi was a martial arts grandmaster; even if a Battalion Commander of the Heavenly Qilin Guards went out, they wouldn't be able to handle them.

"This is the effect of the combination of sects and the government. No wonder the old man's backbone is so stiff in the court..."

"Sects use martial arts to violate prohibitions and govern their own territories. Once the external threats are quelled, they will definitely be liquidated by the imperial court..."

"It seems there is no small reason for the Chen family to choose to follow Imperial Consort Yu..."

Chen Mo pondered in his heart, his spiritual sense covering the entire Zhou Fu.

After his soul power had greatly increased, his perception became even more delicate and nuanced; no trickery could escape his discerning eye.

He lifted his leg and walked into the main room, arrived at the inner chamber, pointed at the west wall, and said, "Smash this wall open."

The bailiff beside him picked up a sledgehammer and swung it with all his might against the wall, but the wall only trembled slightly; it was unexpectedly sturdy.

"Let me."

Qin Shou took the hammer, channeled true qi into his hands, and with an angry shout, smashed it against the wall!

Bang! Bang! Bang!

After three full-force strikes, the wall finally collapsed, and the piled-up silver poured out like a flood!

The entire wall was hollow and had been reinforced with an array; it was stuffed full of gleaming white silver!

"Good heavens, this must be hundreds of thousands of taels, right?"

Qin Shou could not help but click his tongue.

Chen Mo shook his head and said, "You underestimate the capability of a third-rank official of the Ministry of Revenue... Come, pry open the floorboards here."

The bailiff smashed the floor tiles, and gold, silver, and jewels sparkled dazzlingly.

"There is a secret chamber under the bed in the next room..."

"Two chests of gold bars are buried under the soil of the flower bed here; be careful, there is an array..."

"There are quite a few spirit essences hidden at the bottom of the pond..."

"There is a secret compartment under the dressing table, inside is... never mind, it's a dildo..."

Chen Mo walked through Zhou Fu, with a group of bailiffs following happily behind him.

As long as he pointed his finger, he was bound to dig up treasure!

He had never had such a satisfying time raiding a house!

"Boss, don't forget, we came here mainly to search for evidence..." Qin Shou was afraid he was getting too carried away with the raiding and would delay the real business, so he couldn't help but whisper a reminder.

"I think this antique vase looks like evidence, pack it up and take it away," Chen Mo said with a wave of his hand.

"..."

Chest after chest of gold, silver, and jewels were moved into the courtyard, and the expressions of the people in Zhou Fu became even more desperate.

No matter what crimes Vice Minister Zhou had committed, these huge sums of embezzled money were enough to warrant the death penalty!

The Zhou family was finished!

Zhou Jingan's face was ashen, and he did not say a word.

On the other side, Chen Mo sent the other bailiffs away and walked into the study alone.

He arrived at the bookshelf, observed it for a while, and according to a certain sequence, pulled out the books one by one.

Boom—

With a muffled sound, the bookshelf rotated, revealing a secret compartment in the wall.

He pulled out the compartment; inside lay a black pouch quietly, embroidered with green waters and blue mountains, looking quite exquisite.

"A Sumeru Pouch?"

Chen Mo dripped a drop of fresh blood onto it, but there was no reaction.

It seemed it was an item that already had an owner.

"Hidden so secretly, there must be something important inside."

"The Empress should have a way to break it; it seems I have to make a trip to the palace. I wonder if the Empress has calmed down yet..."

Chen Mo put the Sumeru Pouch away.

Imperial Palace, Xuanqing Pool.

The entire bathing pool was located within an independent palace pavilion, built entirely of white jade, and was quite large in scale. Dragon-head fountains were set into the walls, and warm, clear spring water flowed out continuously, ensuring the pool always had fresh, circulating water.

The Empress leaned against the jade platform, her body submerged within.

In the swirling water mist, her graceful figure was vaguely visible; her neck stretched like a swan's, her collarbones were fair and exquisite, and below, two large mounds of softness pushed aside the water, their perfect curves clearly visible through the clear water.

Palace Attendant Sun knelt behind her, silently combing the Empress's dark hair with a jade sandalwood comb.

After the morning court session, the high officials of the Six Ministries gathered in Zhaohua Palace, and after another half an hour, they left one by one with dejected faces.

It was the first time she had seen the Empress so furious.

When water is too clear, there are no fish; in the officialdom, how many can remain untainted after emerging from the mud?

The Empress knew the little tricks those ministers played behind her back like the back of her hand; as long as they had ability and could get things done, she could choose to turn a blind eye.

But private mining of red sand and secret collusion with the demon race—this kind of naked act of rebellion completely touched her bottom line!

"Red sand, the demon race, and that official from the Ministry of Works... the goal should be the Eight Desolations Demon-Suppressing Array."

"But even if the great array were destroyed, what good would it do for the Zhou family?"

"Or is there someone behind the scenes directing them?"

The Empress's eyes were deep, her chest heaving.

The Zhou family had already been sent to the imperial prison; now they could only wait for the results of the joint trial by the three judicial offices.

"Besides this, there is one more thing this Empress is curious about."

"Since Chen Mo stays behind closed doors all day, how did he crack this case?"

Palace Attendant Sun pondered for a moment and said, "Recently, the city has been in a state of panic; Chen Mo might have been deliberately paralyzing the other side while secretly investigating and gathering evidence. To have such methods and strength at such a young age—if he cannot be used by Your Highness, I fear..."

The implication was self-evident.

Today's court turmoil all arose because of Chen Mo, helping the Imperial Consort's faction achieve a huge victory. If he were allowed to grow his wings, he would likely become a sharp blade for Imperial Consort Yu!

The Empress, however, shook her head and said, "The demon race involves too much and concerns the stability of the empire. Chen Mo removing a major hidden danger for the imperial court is a great merit. As for the Imperial Consort's faction using this to seize benefits, that is another matter; the two cannot be lumped together."

"But having said that, this Empress previously underestimated his capabilities."

"Such a talent is indeed worth vying for."

Palace Attendant Sun hesitated and said, "But the Chen family is firmly bound to Imperial Consort Yu, deeply rooted; I fear there is little hope of turning him..."

The Empress scooped up clear water and splashed it on her body; the water droplets followed her curves, and her skin, like mutton-fat jade, was dazzling.

"Little hope, but it's not entirely impossible... This Empress noticed that his relationship with Jingzhu seems quite good?"

"It just so happens that Jingzhu also has great merit in this case; let the two of them come to the palace."

"This Empress also wants to take a good look and see if this Chen Mo truly has three heads and six arms."