The night was as dark as ink, without stars or moon.
Heaven Capital City lay beneath a torrential downpour, and the lights in countless homes seemed dim and yellow.
Chen Mo leaned against a wall as raindrops streamed from the eaves like threads.
Once the black sedan had left, he leaped into motion, bounding across the rooftops and following Zhou Jing'an from a distance.
Though he was curious about the person inside the sedan, his keen instincts had caught a hint of danger. He didn't act rashly; completing the Empress's mission came first.
[I heard a rumor that the Zhou Family might be secretly operating a mine outside the city. Go investigate, and try to get some evidence.]
Great Yuan strictly regulated its mineral veins. All mines, whether for common metals or rare spiritual ores, were jointly controlled by the Ministry of Works and the Metallurgy Bureau. Secret mining was tantamount to treason.
If he could find even a trace of evidence, it would deal the Zhou Family a devastating blow!
What had happened today had also alerted Chen Mo that something was amiss. Whether or not it was connected to the secret mine, Zhou Jing'an was certainly plotting something.
He followed Zhou Jing'an all the way to the eastern part of the city, where he entered a large residence with three courtyards.
Standing in the shadows at the corner of an alley, Chen Mo compressed his divine sense into a thin thread. It slipped along the gaps in the wall and entered the Zhou Family residence.
Having learned from last time, he was especially cautious, ready to cut off his divine sense and flee at any moment.
Fortunately, the Zhou Mansion's security was nowhere near as tight as the Imperial Palace's, and he didn't alert any experts along the way.
He slipped deeper into the residence, evaded several powerful auras, and searched for quite some time. At last, he heard Zhou Jing'an's voice beside the window of a bedroom.
His divine sense slipped through the window lattice, and the sight before him nearly made him lose his composure.
The bed was shaking violently. Zhou Jing'an was getting busy with a woman dressed in black whose outfit looked just like the Heavenly Qilin Guard's.
"Kneel! I said get on your knees!"
"You bastard, you think you can humiliate me just because you have a gold token?"
"And now you want to write a memorial and accuse me? Go on, write it! I said write it... Write!"
Chen Mo: "..."
So this was his method of psychological victory? He was even playing at role reversal...
Chen Mo had never imagined that in this life, he would somehow end up as the "female lead."
As Zhou Jing'an's breathing grew ragged and his pace quickened, Chen Mo couldn't bear to watch any longer and withdrew from the room.
He wandered around the Zhou Mansion, memorizing the locations of several places with unusual auras, then hid in the shadows and waited patiently.
Bang!—Bang! Bang!
The Zhou Mansion remained quiet even when the third watch's gongs rang out.
Inside the bedroom, breathing came evenly. Zhou Jing'an, having "avenged himself," had fallen fast asleep.
"It looks like I won't find out anything tonight."
"With the city on edge lately, he'll be even more cautious."
"All I can do now is keep an eye on him and wait for him to slip up..."
Chen Mo withdrew his divine sense and sprang into the air. His toes touched the eaves, and he darted away like a hawk.
Music Bureau, Qingya Pavilion.
The tavern was packed with guests, while graceful dancers swayed across the floor.
A woman in a pale pink gauze dress sat onstage, her slender fingers gliding over the strings. Her music was clear and haunting, like a stream flowing through high mountains, and the audience listened in a daze.
When the song ended, they remained lost in its lingering melody, unable to come back to themselves for a long while.
Clap, clap—
At last, applause rang out and gradually grew more enthusiastic.
"Bravo! What a wonderful Spring Courtyard Moon! So moving and tender—it captures a woman's sorrowful longing to perfection!"
"My eyes started watering before I even realized it."
"Miss Yu'er's playing has improved so much!"
"Her technique must be every bit as good as Gu Manzhi's by now, surely?"
The guests showered her with praise, their compliments flowing without end.
Yu'er rose and gave a graceful curtsy, then turned and walked into the inner room.
The little maid beside her frowned. "Can't you practice properly for once? I have to control you every time, and I'm exhausted."
Yu'er looked aggrieved. "I'm just not very smart. I can't learn it~"
She could manage everyday interactions well enough, but playing the zither was far too difficult for her.
"Using up so much vitality lately has nearly worn me out."
Yu'er held out her left hand. A faint black line could be seen at her fingertip. "By my count, it's about time. The master wouldn't have forgotten about the two of us, would she?"
The little maid rolled her eyes. "Get this straight: I'm your master! I'm the one who gave you your life!"
Yu'er pouted. "But without the master's Vitality Essence, my body would have rotted away long ago..."
"..."
The little maid was furious.
Maybe it was the effect of the Vitality Essence, but this girl was growing more and more rebellious. Now she was even talking back!
She pushed open the door and entered the bedroom. Both of them froze in unison.
The window stood wide open. A man in black sat at the table, pouring himself tea as if he owned the place.
"This tea's no good. Far too low-class..."
"Master!"
Yu'er's face lit up. She dashed toward him, losing a silk slipper on the way, and threw herself barefoot into Chen Mo's arms.
Chen Mo grabbed her by the arm and tossed her out through the window.
Splash!
There was a pool right outside, and Yu'er landed in it, drenched from head to toe.
"Waah, Master, you're so mean~"
Chen Mo frowned. "How did she end up like this?"
The little maid sat across from him and shook her head. "This remnant soul might not be quite right in the head..."
As she spoke, a flash of azure light passed over her brow. Her features blurred for a moment, revealing her breathtaking face.
"Has the Heir Apparent made any moves lately?" Chen Mo asked.
Gu Manzhi nodded. "The day before yesterday, he sent someone to find Yu'er and told her to practice her charm arts, so she could keep you firmly under her thumb."
Chen Mo asked curiously, "Charm arts?"
"I took a quick look. It's basically bedroom techniques for the union of yin and yang. You don't need any foundation in cultivation; even ordinary people can practice them." Gu Manzhi's expression grew a little awkward.
She'd read through that "manual." Its various techniques were detailed to an absurd degree—Goat Against Tree, Vermilion Cave Phoenix Roam, Howling Ape Embracing Tree...
It even came with illustrations. It was completely outrageous!
"What have you been up to lately? The Heir Apparent seems to value you more than before," Gu Manzhi said.
"Lately?"
A glint passed through Chen Mo's eyes.
Could the Demon Race's business also be connected to the Heir Apparent?
Thinking of that mysterious black sedan, he pondered in silence.
"By the way, how many Paper Dolls can you control at once?" Chen Mo asked.
Gu Manzhi said, "If it's just basic information sharing, about ten. But if I need to control them precisely, two is already my limit."
She blinked. "Why? Need my help?"
Chen Mo nodded. "I'm secretly keeping an eye on someone, and I can't be in two places at once on my own."
Gu Manzhi smiled. "Why should I help you? When all is said and done, we're still enemies."
"Of course I wouldn't ask you to help for nothing. A fair trade: keep watch for me, and I'll help you get the Azure Underworld Seal back," Chen Mo said.
At those words, Gu Manzhi sprang to her feet, her almond-shaped eyes wide as her chest heaved.
"Azure Underworld Seal?!"
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