The Living Yama, Chen Mo, and the Imperial Concubine's Jade Feet (Two-in-One Chapter, Please Keep Reading!)

The atmosphere in the hall was dead silent.

Yan Peizhi stared in astonishment, his eyes full of confusion.

In Great Yuan, "Barbarian Race" was practically a taboo phrase.

Back then, demons and monsters had run rampant, strange creatures had wreaked havoc, and the realm had been thrown into turmoil.

The Barbarians of the south had seized the opportunity to invade. The border defenses had collapsed, and the flames of war had once spread all the way to Qing Province!

They had burned, slaughtered, and looted as they pleased. The people had suffered terribly, and corpses had floated in rivers of blood for a thousand miles—it had been a vision straight out of hell!

At this critical moment, the Three Sacred Sects had intervened, driving out the demons and monsters and restoring peace to the realm. From then on, they had firmly established the unshakable status of the Three Sages.

Afterward, the Eldest Princess had attained the Dao through martial prowess. Carrying the nation's most prized treasure, the Heavenly Edict Seal, she had personally led her troops to suppress the southern Barbarians.

She had slaughtered her way through a thousand miles, slain over ten thousand Barbarians, and built a mountain of their heads!

To this day, the Eldest Princess remained in the Southern Frontier, guarding the realm!

It could be said that Great Yuan and the Barbarians were sworn enemies, locked in a feud that would end only with one side's destruction!

"Your Highness, why would you say such a thing?"

"I despise the Barbarians to the depths of my soul. I would gladly devour their flesh. How could I ever collude with them?"

Yan Peizhi spoke with heartfelt sincerity. Then, as if something had occurred to him, he suddenly understood. "It must be because this old subject's thorough investigation into corruption at the Ministry of Revenue has touched certain people's interests. That's why they're trying to frame me like this. Your Highness, please don't believe the slander of others!"

"Frame you?"

Behind the screen, the Imperial Empress chuckled softly, her tone cool and distant. "But how is it that this widow has heard your own nephew was raising Barbarian slaves and trading with them in secret? He was caught red-handed, and is now locked up in the Imperial Prison."

Boom!

As if struck by five bolts of thunder, Yan Peizhi's pupils contracted violently!

He knew nothing about this matter, but since the Imperial Empress had said it herself, it surely wasn't a joke!

"That little bastard!"

As collateral members of the Yan Family, Yan Liang and Yan Xun had often abused his name to exploit their authority for personal gain.

Yan Peizhi had turned a blind eye to it. After all, he still needed them to keep tabs on the Heavenly Qilin Guard.

But he had never imagined the two of them would be so bold as to get involved with the Barbarians!

And at a time like this!

"This old subject knew nothing of this. I beg Your Highness to investigate clearly!"

Yan Peizhi steadied himself and spoke in a low voice.

"Lord Yan, are you sure you could withstand an investigation?"

The Imperial Empress spoke calmly.

"I..."

Yan Peizhi was at a loss for words.

That was right. Could he withstand an investigation?

He had been an official for many years and risen to a high position. Who could guarantee that his own hands were clean?

He knew the Imperial Prison's methods better than anyone... Just like in the Ministry of Revenue corruption case, the three directors had implicated five ministers. How many more people could Yan Liang and Yan Xun implicate?

No one cared about the process. Only the result mattered!

He could easily imagine that if he dared to pursue the matter any further, the Consort Faction would retaliate with all its might!

But he had already handed the confession to the Imperial Empress. He couldn't exactly admit that he'd fabricated evidence...

Yan Peizhi was caught between a rock and a hard place, as if he were being roasted over a fire. Beads of sweat the size of beans trickled down his forehead.

The Imperial Empress seemed to see right through his thoughts. Her voice turned cold.

"The evidence of corruption is conclusive."

"As for the other ministers implicated in the case... this widow believes the testimony is far-fetched and insufficient to convict them."

"Why don't you go back and interrogate the three of them properly, Lord Yan? Find out whether they made false accusations to implicate others and lessen their own punishment."

Swish!

The testimony was thrown from behind the screen, fluttering down to the floor.

"This humble servant obeys Your Majesty's decree."

Yan Peizhi shuddered and bowed deeply.

The Imperial Empress's meaning was clear: the bigger picture came first!

If he wanted to keep his official hat, this case had to end here!

"This widow is tired. You may leave."

The Imperial Empress spoke coolly.

"This humble servant takes his leave."

Yan Peizhi picked up the testimony and withdrew with a bow, his figure looking somewhat dejected.

He had thought he was playing a winning hand, but an unexpected complication had thrown everything off. After this, his standing in the Imperial Empress's eyes would surely plummet.

He never would have expected the boomerang to come back so quickly...

"Yan Peizhi was too impatient. He wanted to use a small stake to win big, but he underestimated Yu Youhan."

The Imperial Empress sighed softly.

"Your Highness, the timing is far too convenient. It happened just last night... Does Imperial Concubine Yu really have such good luck?"

Beside her, the old eunuch in a python robe asked doubtfully.

"It's not good luck. She has capable people around her."

"Chen Mo... Look into him."

The Imperial Empress mused.

"Yes."

The old eunuch acknowledged her order.

The Heavenly Qilin Guard's Imperial Prison.

The cells lay deep underground, cold and damp, untouched by sunlight.

The place was guarded with extreme strictness and shrouded by a Magic-Breaking Array. Neither True Essence nor spells worked there.

Inside a cell, Yan Liang wore a prison uniform. Iron chains pierced his shoulder blades and hoisted him high, making him look like a slab of cured meat left to dry.

"Why?"

Yan Liang racked his brains but couldn't figure it out.

He had always been cautious. Even when delivering the goods, he had handled it personally and never trusted it to anyone else.

How had he suddenly been exposed?

Chen Mo had seemed to know what was coming, sitting in wait for him to walk right into the trap...

"My lord."

A guard's voice came from outside the cell.

Footsteps drew nearer, and a tall, straight-backed figure entered.

"Flag Chief Yan, we meet again."

"Chen Mo!!"

Looking at that handsome face, Yan Liang's eyes blazed with fury. His hatred had reached its limit, a resentment no amount of water from the three rivers and five lakes could wash away!

A guard carried over a chair and set it six feet in front of Yan Liang.

Chen Mo smoothed his clothes and sat down, crossing one leg over the other as he savored Yan Liang's twisted expression.

"You set me up!"

"You've been scheming against me from start to finish!"

Yan Liang shouted himself hoarse.

Chen Mo picked at his ear. "Flag Chief Yan, you're being too loud. You might disturb the inmate next door..."

As soon as he finished speaking, a guard beside him raised an iron rod and slammed it into Yan Liang's mouth!

Bang!

Bang! Bang!

Blood gushed from Yan Liang's mouth and nose, and his teeth scattered across the floor.

"Don't litter."

Chen Mo frowned.

The guard understood his meaning. He picked up the teeth from the ground, stuffed them into Yan Liang's mouth, and forced them down with the iron rod!

"Mmph! Mmph!"

Yan Liang glared at Chen Mo, wishing he could devour him alive.

Chen Mo remained perfectly composed.

He knew that if he fell into Yan Liang's hands, his own fate would be a hundred times more miserable.

"Don't rush. This is just an appetizer."

Chen Mo snapped his fingers.

Two guards carried in dozens of torture implements and set them out one by one in front of Yan Liang.

Finger clamps, files, branding irons, the Iron Lotus... Dried blood stained them, sending a chill through anyone who looked.

There was also a large earthenware urn.

"Flag Chief Yan must know the methods used by our Magistrate Office inside out. The old punishments—crushing fingers, cutting out tongues, breaking spines, piercing hearts... I won't bother listing them all."

"What I especially want to introduce today is a new method I invented: Please Sir Enter the Urn."

Chen Mo patted the large urn, smiling. "First, build a fire underneath and heat the urn. Then shove the prisoner inside. Let his flesh cook until it's sizzling and dripping with oil, then pull him out while he's still hot... Hey, guess what? The man comes out, but his skin stays behind in the urn."

Hiss!

The guards exchanged glances, chills running down their spines.

Was this lord the living Yama or what...

Yan Liang's face turned deathly pale, and cold sweat soaked through his prison uniform.

A psychopath!

An absolute psychopath!

In Yan Liang's eyes, Chen Mo seemed just like a demon!

"Since Flag Chief Yan refuses to confess, there's nothing I can do. Someone, invite Flag Chief Yan into the urn!"

"Yes!"

Two guards stepped forward.

"Wait!"

Yan Liang swallowed, his voice trembling. "You haven't even asked me anything. How do you know I refuse to confess?"

Chen Mo froze, then looked at the guards. "Didn't I just ask him?"

The guard shook his head. "My lord, you didn't."

"Look at me, forgetting things already."

"I was so busy doing experiments that I forgot to follow the procedure."

"Ahem. Flag Chief Yan, if there's anything you want to confess, go ahead."

Chen Mo straightened his posture and asked at his leisure.

Yan Liang hesitated.

Raising Barbarian slaves could be a serious offense, or a minor one.

If the investigation went deep enough to implicate those high-ranking officials and nobles, he might not even know how he died!

But in his current state, it seemed he had no choice...

Just then, Chen Mo said casually, "Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. Your younger brother has already confessed everything. He said you did it all, and he was only acting under your coercion, with no other choice."

"Impossible!"

"Yan Xun would never do that!"

Yan Liang declared.

Chen Mo smiled, rose, and walked over to him. In a low voice, he said, "He also said your backer was Prince Yu..."

Yan Liang was struck as if by lightning. His whole being seemed to lose its soul.

Chen Mo said nothing, quietly watching him.

After a long while, Yan Liang's voice came out hoarse. "Can you guarantee I'll live?"

Chen Mo shrugged. "That depends on you."

Yan Liang's head drooped weakly. He said:

"I have a ledger that records every transaction."

"Besides that, I secretly recorded the transactions with an Image Recording Stone, just in case."

"The things are hidden at..."

Half an incense stick later.

Chen Mo walked out of the cell with his hands behind his back.

The guards looked at him with admiration.

He hadn't even needed to use torture before the man confessed. Someone like him would be wasted if he didn't stay in the Imperial Prison!

"My lord, should we interrogate the other two as well?"

"No need."

Chen Mo spoke calmly. "Also, untie Yan Liang later."

The guard scratched his head.

Had his lord suddenly taken pity on him?

Then Chen Mo continued, "After that, put him in the same cell as Yan Xun."

"..."

It really was that living King of Hell!

The jailers could already imagine the two of them alone together in the same room...

As for that Bamboo Hat Man.

Chen Mo had long known who was behind him.

There were only a handful of people in all of Heaven Capital City who could order a sixth-rank Occultist around.

But he had no desire to wade into that mess.

He knew when to quit while he was ahead. He'd claim the credit he was owed, and the rest had nothing to do with him.

"Time to go shake the Noble Consort down for some coin!"

Cold Firmament Palace.

On the terrace, Yu Youhan stood by the railing, gazing at the majestic imperial city, her eyes deep and unfathomable.

She had been in a foul mood lately.

The Imperial Empress Faction had been closing in at every turn, and the court had suffered one crushing blow after another.

And she herself was under someone else's thumb. She had even made such a disgraceful spectacle of herself in front of a man...

"Whew."

Yu Youhan breathed in and out, circulating the Heart-Clearing Mantra to grind her stray thoughts to dust.

Yet when she saw the "Red String" wrapped around her wrist, the calm she had just regained was stirred up all over again.

"Damn Inner Demon..."

"Your Highness."

Just then, Xu Qingyi hurried over. "I have urgent business to report!"

Yu Youhan sighed silently.

What urgent business could there be at a time like this? It had to be the Ministry of Revenue corruption case.

She already knew what to expect.

"Yan Peizhi won't back down. He'll cling to this case until the bitter end. How many people did it implicate in the end?"

"It didn't implicate anyone."

The female official reported with ringing conviction, "Not only that, Yan Peizhi also agreed to let the Three Judicial Offices get involved and hear the case together!"

"Hmm?"

Yu Youhan arched a brow, her expression startled.

The Imperial Empress had no reason to let such a good opportunity slip by... unless she had no choice.

"You must have something else to report, don't you?"

"Your Highness sees all."

A smile glimmered in Xu Qingyi's eyes. "Last night, the Water Bureau of the Heavenly Qilin Guard cracked a case involving the 'keeping of Barbarian Slaves.' They caught the culprit red-handed with all the evidence, and the suspect was Yan Peizhi's own nephew!"

"Keeping Barbarian Slaves?"

Yu Youhan froze, then the corners of her mouth curled up. "Looks like the Imperial Empress is the one with a headache now... The Water Bureau's centurion is Shen Shuchou, isn't she? Well done. She deserves a reward!"

This was a godsend!

Not only had it resolved the crisis, it had turned the tables on the Imperial Empress!

Xu Qingyi's expression grew a little strange. She shook her head. "This case was led by Flag Chief Chen of the Water Bureau. He gathered the intelligence and planned the operation—all of it was his work alone."

The moment she said this, the room fell silent.

A moment later, Yu Youhan's startled voice rang out:

"Chen Mo?!"

Chen Mo stood before Ganqing Gate.

With the Purple Luan Token on him, he could enter and leave the Imperial Palace freely.

But to enter the Inner Court, he still had to notify someone separately. After all, hundreds of women from the imperial harem lived there.

"What a waste."

Chen Mo shook his head to himself.

The Emperor was practically on his last legs, so naturally he had neither the inclination nor the strength. These consorts were left to languish alone in their chambers—there were probably cobwebs growing by now.

But look at it another way: if the Emperor never visited the harem, wasn't that a free pass to do whatever he wanted?

Maybe they held wild parties every day...

Just then, Xu Qingyi approached in a white robe, her features delicate and serene.

"Chief Xu."

Chen Mo waved in greeting.

Xu Qingyi said nothing. She lifted her chin, motioning for him to follow.

The two passed through Ganqing Gate and headed toward Cold Firmament Palace.

On the way, Chen Mo asked, "Chief Xu, does Her Highness know about what happened last night?"

Xu Qingyi remained silent.

Chen Mo asked again, "How is Her Highness feeling today?"

Xu Qingyi still didn't respond.

Chen Mo frowned. "Are you still angry about what happened last time, Chief Xu?"

Xu Qingyi glanced at him and finally spoke, her voice cold. "Flag Chief Chen certainly concerns himself with everything. What does my mood have to do with you?"

"That's not right, Chief Xu."

Chen Mo stopped and said solemnly, "Though we've only met a few times, we're still acquaintances. And as a gentleman who respects women, how could I let you stew in anger all by yourself?"

Xu Qingyi's expression had just softened a little when he pulled out the Purple Luan Token and thrust it right in front of her.

"I order you not to be angry."

"..."

Xu Qingyi's fair cheeks quickly flushed red. She clenched her teeth and glared fiercely at Chen Mo!

This man...

He was absolutely insufferable!

When they reached the entrance to Cold Firmament Palace, Xu Qingyi hurried off without looking back.

She was afraid that if she stayed with this man a moment longer, she'd be unable to stop herself from slapping him to death!

Looking at the shadowy palace doors, Chen Mo's heart beat a little faster.

He drew a deep breath and stepped into the main hall.

Passing through the curtains, he saw Yu Youhan reclining on a Noble Consort's couch.

Her plain robes couldn't conceal her shapely waist.

The hem of her dress was a little short, revealing her snow-white, delicate calves and a pair of jade feet as exquisitely carved as ornaments.

Her ankles were long and slender, her toes translucent as pearls, soft and pale—so tempting that one couldn't help wanting to hold them in one's hands and toy with them.

"Had your fill?"

Her clear, cool voice rang out.

Chen Mo hurriedly tore his gaze away and lowered his head, not daring to look again.

"Come here."

Yu Youhan said.

Chen Mo stepped closer. Yu Youhan drew in her legs, making room.

"Sit."

"This subordinate wouldn't dare."

"I said sit, so sit."

"..."

Chen Mo hesitated for a moment, then gingerly sat down on the Noble Consort's couch.

He perched on just half his backside, his spine ramrod straight, his eyes fixed straight ahead.

Seeing how tense he was, Yu Youhan found it strangely amusing. She stretched out her legs and rested her jade feet on his thigh.

Her red lips parted:

"Massage my feet."

Chen Mo: "???"