The Imperial Empress's Methods! Her Highness Smells So Good... (Combined Chapter)

"...No sooner said than done, Qin Wuxiang shook her body and revealed her true form: a World-Shaking Fierce Demon standing five hundred feet tall, with eight heads and sixteen arms!"

"Each head was as large as a house! With one stomp, the four city gates trembled! With one breath, she overturned the entire county government office!"

Jade Pot Pavilion.

The teahouse was packed, with crowds even spilling out from the entrance.

Some street vendors had abandoned their stalls, their aprons still tied around their waists, as they stood on tiptoe to peer inside.

On a stage in the center of the hall, a storyteller sporting a handlebar mustache held court with a silver tongue:

"In contrast, Flag Chief Chen remained calm, his hands steady. He let out a cold sneer: 'Had Heaven not birthed me, Chen Jinyan, the path of the blade would be an eternal night! Come, blade!'"

"That strike was breathtaking through the ages, enough to put even celestial immortals to shame!"

"That strike spanned the horizon, forcing all things to bow their heads..."

Thwack!

The gavel slammed down.

The storyteller lifted his teacup to moisten his throat.

"To know what happened next, pray listen to the next installment."

The audience was hooked, and being cut off right at the climax left them feeling incredibly frustrated.

"Finish the story, will you?"

"You old man, you're just trying to keep us on the hook, aren't you?"

"How utterly shameless!"

"Cliffhanger addicts deserve to lose their families!"

Facing the chorus of curses, the storyteller stroked his mustache, eyes half-closed, turning a deaf ear to the clamor.

If he lacked even this much mental fortitude, how could he call himself a storyteller?

In their line of work, the tea money was only a pittance; the real profit came from tips.

First, tell a segment for free to whet the audience's appetite, then stop abruptly just as everyone was getting worked up...

Want to keep listening?

That depended on whether the tips were generous enough.

Earning money was nothing to be ashamed of!

Clang!

Just then, a flash of silver dropped from the second floor, landing on the stage and rolling to the storyteller's feet.

The storyteller looked down, his eyes lighting up instantly.

Whoa, fifty taels of Longheng Treasure Silver!

To be so lavish, this must be a wealthy patron. Today was his lucky day!

The storyteller bent down, picked up the silver, tucked it into his sleeve, and said with a smile: "Since you wish to hear more, sir, I shall continue. Picking up where we left off..."

"No need. Just answer two questions for me."

A slightly raspy voice drifted down from the upper floor: "Are you certain Qin Wuxiang is dead?"

The storyteller nodded. "That is a certainty. The news has spread throughout the city, and the Heavenly Demon Ranking has been updated; the Tenth Heavenly Demon, Qin Wuxiang, has been officially struck from the list!"

The Heavenly Demon Ranking was always public, and anyone could consult the relevant intelligence.

Whether a wandering swordsman or a sect disciple, anyone who arrested or executed a demon on the list and delivered them to the Capital Yamen would receive a handsome reward once the identity was verified!

Since Qin Wuxiang had been removed, it meant the imperial court had verified her death.

The person upstairs was silent for a moment before asking again: "The second question... who is this Flag Chief Chen?"

The storyteller was taken aback, then realized, "You must be from out of town, sir? There aren't many families in Heaven Capital City surnamed Chen."

"The one who slew Qin Wuxiang is the son of the Censor, a Flag Chief of the Heavenly Qilin Guard, named Chen Mo, courtesy name Jinyan."

"I hear he is a sixth-rank Mortal Shedding Realm warrior with strength comparable to the Ten Prodigies, though the Azure Cloud Ranking hasn't been updated yet, so no one can say for sure..."

"Is there anything else you would like to know, sir? I can throw in a few extra questions for free."

The storyteller was extremely enthusiastic.

He thought that if he could keep this patron happy, a casual tip of a few dozen taels would allow him to retire for a few years!

He waited for a long while, but there was no response.

Just as he began to feel puzzled, he suddenly heard dissatisfied shouts from the audience below:

"Who are you talking to? Are you going to keep telling the story or not?"

"Talking to myself?"

The storyteller jolted awake and hurriedly reached into his sleeve.

The treasure silver that had felt so heavy just a moment ago now held no weight at all. When he squeezed it, it crumpled—it was nothing but a paper ingot used for funeral offerings!

"You scoundrel!"

"To think you would swindle this old man with ghost money, I'll go your mother's..."

The storyteller failed to catch his breath, his face turning a sickly purple before his neck went limp and he collapsed onto the stage.

"Ah!"

"Someone's dead!"

A flurry of cries erupted, throwing the teahouse into complete chaos as people scrambled and overturned tables in their panic.

Outside the door, a figure shrouded in a black robe walked slowly into the distance.

A thin mist seemed to veil their face, making it impossible to see them clearly.

"Chen Mo..."

Chen Estate.

In the training room, Chen Mo sat cross-legged with his attribute panel displayed before him:

Name: Chen Mo

Title: Fierce Ghost Buster

Realm: Rank 6 Mortal Shedding Realm · Origin Return Realm

Cultivation Method: Primordial Body Forging Art · Great Completion

Martial Arts:

Blazing Flame Eight Slashes · Great Completion

Azure Dragon in Sleeve · Entry (55/200)

Wind-Thunder Leap · Minor Completion (0/100)

Divine Ability:

Soul Absorption · Primary (1/0)

True Spirit: 151

His trip to Tongling County had been quite fruitful.

Beyond the True Spirit, title, and divine ability, the battle against the Faceless Demon had granted him a deeper insight into the way of the blade.

"Restrain the aura, hide the blade within."

"The moment I unleashed the strike, infusing it with my life essence caused some sort of mutation..."

Recalling the Azure Dragon Blade Intent that had roared like a living creature, Chen Mo felt as if he had brushed against something, yet whenever he tried to grasp it, it vanished like flowers in a mirror or the moon in the water.

"Is this Dao Rhyme?"

"It's a pity, it seems I'm still a little short..."

"My realm isn't high enough yet, so there's no need to trouble myself."

Chen Mo did not dwell on the frustration.

Enlightenment required opportunity.

Moreover, for him, even if he couldn't comprehend it, as long as his True Spirit was maxed out, he could reach the state of Great Completion all the same.

"Merely touching a sliver of Dao Rhyme has already benefited me immensely."

"My progress in Azure Dragon in Sleeve increased by nearly 50 points; I don't know how many days of bitter practice that would have taken."

If Chen Mo wished, he could immediately elevate Azure Dragon in Sleeve to "Proficient."

But there was no need.

"The higher the level of a martial art, the harder it is to improve. It's a waste to use True Spirit early on; I can just hack at a few people and it will go up on its own."

"Besides, I need to keep some True Spirit in reserve for emergencies."

That night, while tracking the Rat Bride, if the remaining True Spirit hadn't been just enough to upgrade Wind-Thunder Leap, he might not have actually caught that monster.

If the Rat Bride had chosen a different target and transformed into a Fierce Baleful entity, the outcome would have been unpredictable.

"Aside from that, there is also the divine ability bestowed upon me by Her Highness..."

Divine abilities could also be upgraded, but only by using Dao Rhyme Crystals.

That stuff was much harder to come by than True Spirit.

"Right, I haven't opened the favorability reward yet."

Chen Mo felt a stir in his heart, and prompt text appeared before his eyes:

["Li Yuan" favorability has reached the threshold, first-stage reward unlocked.]

[Obtained special item: Dao Rhyme Crystal.]

"That feels better."

Chen Mo's lips curled upward.

Although the process had been a bit absurd, the outcome was quite satisfactory...

Knock, knock, knock.

Just then, the room door was rapped, and the voice of the steward, A-Fu, drifted in from outside:

"Young Master, someone from the palace has arrived."

"Oh?"

Chen Mo arched a brow. "Could it be Chief Xu coming to find me?"

He walked out of the room and into the courtyard. He saw the members of the Chen Estate gathered there, but standing before them was not Xu Qingyi; it was an elderly eunuch with graying temples.

He wore a blue satin-sleeved robe embroidered with sea and cliff patterns, suns, mountains, and flowing clouds, with golden python patterns stitched onto his sleeves and chest.

Seeing Chen Mo approach, the old eunuch looked him over and exclaimed in admiration, "This servant has long heard that Flag Chief Chen was a man of impressive stature, but seeing you today, you truly are fresh, handsome, and refined—a perfect, polished jade of a man."

The rapid-fire flattery caught Chen Mo off guard.

You're so good at using idioms, are you planning to take a postgraduate entrance exam?

Chen Zhuo glanced at him and spoke up, "This is Eunuch Jin Wu, the Grand Superintendent of the Inner Palace and concurrently the Imperial Guard Commander."

Chen Mo understood in a heartbeat.

So, he was a man of the Imperial Empress.

Jin Wu? Might as well just call him Eunuch Sunshine.

Chen Mo secretly sneered, then cupped his hands and said, "So it is Eunuch Jin. I have long admired your name."

Eunuch Jin smiled and said, "Flag Chief Chen has just cracked the Barbarian Slave Case and even slain the Tenth Heavenly Demon, saving the people of Tongling County from dire straits. Your meritorious deeds are truly illustrious, and your contributions are as vast as the mountains!"

Chen Zhuo looked at Chen Mo, his expression complex.

Regarding the previous Ministry of Revenue embezzlement case, the Ministry of Justice had planned it for a long time, catching the Consort Faction off guard. By the time they reacted, it had already been turned into an ironclad case.

He had thought there was no room for a comeback and that they would have to grit their teeth and swallow the secret loss.

Yet, Chen Mo had reversed the situation and even dragged the Yan Family into the mess!

Now, he had even slain the Tenth Heavenly Demon—it was unprecedented!

This brat... he really has given me too many surprises.

After the pleasantries, Chen Mo asked, "I wonder what brings you here, Eunuch?"

"Look at this brain of mine; I was so busy chatting that I nearly forgot the main business."

"Ahem, Flag Chief Chen Mo of the Heavenly Qilin Guard, receive the decree."

Eunuch Jin held his hands out as if supporting something, and a brilliant golden scroll appeared out of thin air.

As the scroll slowly unfurled, a light as intense as a scorching sun flared forth, its majestic pressure so great that one dared not look directly at it!

"By order of the Eastern Palace: Hereby, a loyal and upright official, possessing both virtue and talent, has repeatedly rendered meritorious service and stands as a pillar of the nation."

"He is specially promoted to Centurion of the Heavenly Qilin Guard, and granted five pieces of Spirit Marrow, ten Golden Pills, ten bolts of Thousand-Weave Cloud Brocade, five hundred taels of gold, and jewelry..."

As Eunuch Jin's voice trailed off, several royal guards in armor with yellow silk ribbons tied at their collars walked in from outside, carrying chests radiating with the luster of jewels and bolts of brocade into the courtyard.

"Centurion?"

Chen Mo's brows furrowed slightly.

Even with his merit in slaying the demon, such rewards were arguably too generous.

"Eunuch Jin, given this subordinate's age and seniority, I fear I am not qualified for the position of Centurion. Furthermore, Centurion Shen is still..."

Eunuch Jin smiled and said, "This servant knows what Flag Chief Chen is thinking. Currently, there are no vacancies for a Centurion in the Heavenly Qilin Guard. Flag Chief Chen is merely a candidate awaiting appointment, enjoying the salary of a Centurion until a position opens up for a formal promotion."

"Besides that, Her Majesty the Imperial Empress has one more item to bestow upon the Flag Chief, though it is not written on this edict."

Eunuch Jin pulled a token from his robes.

It was entirely golden, with an openwork pattern of a Singing Phoenix Facing the Sun carved into its face, every detail rendered with vivid, lifelike precision.

Chen Mo was stunned. "This is..."

Eunuch Jin said, "This is the Flying Phoenix Token. With this token, you may enter and leave the Imperial Palace freely."

"In the future, if the Flag Chief has urgent matters, you may go directly to Zhaohua Palace to report to Her Majesty in person."

As soon as these words were spoken, the air turned deathly silent!

Chen Zhuo remained expressionless, but his hands, hidden within his sleeves, were clenched tight!

A mere Flag Chief, going to Zhaohua Palace... to report to the Imperial Empress in person?

What kind of joke was this!

"Flag Chief Chen?"

Seeing Chen Mo remain unresponsive, Eunuch Jin raised an eyebrow slightly.

"This subordinate thanks Her Highness for her grace."

Chen Mo fell silent for a moment before reaching out to receive the token and the imperial decree.

Eunuch Jin nodded in satisfaction, then seemed to recall something and asked, "That's right, this humble one has heard that Flag Chief Chen is most skilled with the blade and possesses profound attainments in the way of the sword?"

Chen Mo shook his head and said, "It is but a superficial understanding, nothing worth mentioning. Eunuch, you flatter me."

"Flag Chief, there is no need for such humility. To be able to slay the Tenth Heavenly Demon while at the Ji Grade, your blade technique must have reached perfection."

"This humble one happens to have a little trinket that would suit Flag Chief Chen quite well..."

Eunuch Jin reached out his right hand, appearing to grasp at something in the empty air.

As his palm moved slowly, a resonant metallic chime rang out, and a blade appeared out of thin air, inch by inch!

The blade was straight, narrow, and long, cast entirely from a translucent green material like jade. The spine of the blade was etched with fractured ice patterns, and even from a distance, one could feel a bone-chilling cold!

A fine blade!

Chen Mo's eyes lit up; he could tell at a glance that this item was extraordinary.

"This blade is called the Jade Shatterer. I have no use for it, so I shall gift it to Flag Chief Chen."

Eunuch Jin handed the long blade to Chen Mo.

Upon hearing the name, Chen Mo's pupils suddenly constricted!

"This is too valuable; this subordinate cannot accept it..."

Eunuch Jin smiled brightly, his words carrying a hidden meaning: "A precious blade chooses its master, just as a wise bird chooses the tree it perches upon. In my view, this blade and Flag Chief Chen are a perfect match, so do not refuse."

"I still have trivial matters to attend to in the palace, so I cannot stay long."

"Everyone, please stay where you are."

With that, he turned and left without waiting for Chen Mo to refuse.

The courtyard returned to silence.

"Even if slaying the Heavenly Demon is a meritorious act, it shouldn't warrant such a grand display, with the Head Eunuch of the Imperial Palace personally delivering the decree?"

"It seems like a generous reward, but in reality, it is inconsequential."

Chen Mo sneered.

The position of Hundred-Man Commander was merely an empty title with no real power.

The Flying Phoenix Token was only useful for entering and exiting the Imperial Palace; it held no meaning for him.

As for that Jade Shatterer blade...

The name said it all!

"The Imperial Empress is seizing the opportunity to stir up trouble; she is clearly trying to sow discord."

"If this matter reaches the ears of Her Highness, she will inevitably grow suspicious. The seeds of doubt have already been sown; we need only wait for them to take root and sprout. It might even affect the entire Chen Family..."

"Yet, it is impossible to refuse. This is an open, daylight conspiracy."

Chen Zhuo's expression was grim.

At this moment, he saw Chen Mo stand up and walk toward the door.

Chen Zhuo asked, "Where are you going?"

Chen Mo replied without looking back, "To the palace, to see Her Highness!"

You want to drive a wedge between Her Highness and me?

In your dreams!

Ganqing Gate.

Xu Qingyi looked at Chen Mo and frowned. "Aren't you visiting a bit too often?"

The frequency with which this man entered the palace was absurd; no one had ever been granted an audience with Her Highness so frequently.

Did he think the inner palace was his own home?

"Something has happened..."

Chen Mo sighed.

Xu Qingyi couldn't help but ask, "What happened?"

Chen Mo said with a helpless expression, "I've been targeted by the Imperial Empress. Now, I'm like a thong—I can only survive in the cracks."

"..."

Xu Qingyi asked in confusion, "What is a thong?"

Chen Mo glanced at her. "I'll give you one when there's an opportunity in the future."

Looking at Xu Qingyi's cold and aloof expression, he couldn't help but imagine what lay beneath those impeccable white robes, specifically a thong...

Ahem, my mind is wandering.

"I couldn't care less."

Xu Qingyi let out a cold harrumph.

I always get the feeling this guy is up to no good.

Arriving before the gates of the Cold Night Palace, Chen Mo took two steps back and, under Xu Qingyi's bewildered and shocked gaze, slid across the floor on his knees into the main hall.

"Your Highness!"

"This subordinate has an urgent matter to rep—"

A fair, jade-like foot stepped onto his face, cutting off the rest of his words.

Yu Youhan sat upon the Phoenix Throne, her legs crossed, creating a luscious curve as she pressed her temples and said, "So noisy. Can you not let this palace have a moment of peace?"

"Mmph! Mmph!"

Chen Mo blinked his eyes.

"What did you say..."

Suddenly, Yu Youhan's expression shifted. "Shut up, you are not allowed to lick!"