Chen Mo followed Eunuch Jin towards the grand hall.
Thoughts fluttered in his mind, and he finally remembered why this palace seemed familiar.
Previously, when Her Majesty the Consort was soul shaping him, his Divine Sense scattered and he found himself at the entrance of this palace.
At that time, he almost got pulverized to ash...
Suddenly, Eunuch Jin spoke up, "Hundred Households Chen, is the tool I gave you easy to use?"
?
Chen Mo glanced down subconsciously.
That’s not right, Eunuch, you have tools too?
Then he realized, the other party was referring to the Broken Jade Blade, and he nodded, "It is useful. Without this blade’s assistance, it would have likely been difficult to slay the Demon Creature."
"Speaking of which, I should thank Eunuch Jin for the blade."
Chen Mo was speaking sincerely.
The last strike that killed Jue Mi was infused with all his True Yuan; had he used a regular weapon, it probably would have shattered before even striking.
Moreover, the Broken Jade Blade had an additional amplifying effect on Sword Qi, allowing him to exert one hundred and twenty percent of his combat strength.
Using it felt like an extension of his hand—it was truly a fine blade.
Eunuch Jin smiled, his expression a bit nostalgic, "I used to wield a blade too. This Broken Jade Blade has been with me for many years; it has cut down several Grandmasters..."
Cut down Grandmasters?
And several?
Listening to his casual tone, Chen Mo was taken aback.
Ninth-Level Martial Artist, only those who stepped into the Third-Level of the Celestial Human Realm were qualified to be called Grandmasters.
Whether there were even a handful of Grandmasters in all of Tiandu City was uncertain, yet Eunuch Jin had killed several?
Although he knew this old eunuch was strong, he didn’t realize how powerful he actually was... The only one in the palace who could have a hold over him was probably Her Majesty the Consort.
"Such a precious weapon, yet Eunuch you gifted it to me..." Chen Mo hesitated.
Eunuch Jin casually said, "I no longer need it now. Rather than letting it go to waste, it is better to choose a worthy owner... I observed your strike slaying the demon, and you are worthy of it."
Chen Mo was silent.
He couldn’t argue; that strike was truly dashing.
Eunuch Jin, with his hands behind his back, said clearly, "A treasured blade can only shine in the hands of the right owner. In the hands of a mediocre person, it might not even be as useful as a stick for stoking fires."
"The blade lacks choice, but a person has it."
"Choosing the right person, taking the right path, doing the right thing, only then can you have a smooth journey ahead..."
As they spoke, the two had arrived at the entrance of the grand hall.
A Palace Servant hurriedly came to meet them, "Mr. Chen, please come with me."
Eunuch Jin stopped and did not appear to be entering, gesturing with his hand: "Hundred Households Chen, after you."
"Thank you, Eunuch."
Chen Mo bowed with his hands clasped, stepped over the threshold, and walked through the long corridor carpeted with fine soft rugs towards the inner hall.
Watching his departing figure, Eunuch Jin sighed silently.
"This is the first time an outsider has ever entered Yangxin Palace, isn’t it?"
"How much of Her Highness the Empress’s intentions he grasps, I wonder..."
...
Chen Mo, following the Palace Servant, walked through the corridors.
Passing curtains adorned with pearls and jade, they arrived inside the inner hall.
Sunlight filtered through the lattice windows, and the White Jade flooring gleamed with a soft luster. Every piece of furniture in sight was crafted from Golden Thread Spiritwood and a range of rare treasures from All Over the World were displayed on the shelves against the walls.
Behind a colored glass screen sat a figure, somewhat indistinct.
"I am Chen Mo, paying respects to Her Majesty the Empress."
Chen Mo bowed deeply.
"Pfft..."
A light laugh seemed to come from behind the screen.
Chen Mo was puzzled; was there something wrong with the way he kowtowed?
Moments later, a clear voice said, "Rise."
?
That voice sounded strangely familiar.
"Lin Jingzhu?"
Chen Mo ventured.
A pretty face peered out from behind the screen, the smile playful, "Mr. Chen is really too polite, paying respect with a kowtow upon meeting."
"..."
Chen Mo, confused, asked, "What are you doing here?"
Lin Jingzhu shrugged, "Of course, I’m here to receive rewards for my contributions to solving the case. I’ve also worked hard."
"So you’re impersonating the Empress here, taking advantage of me?" Chen Mo stood up, rather irritated.
"You didn’t ask; you just kneeled when you arrived. What could I do?... If it’s really necessary, I could kowtow back."
Lin Jingzhu maintained her usual carefree manner.
Without saying anything further, she slid directly into a kneel in front of Chen Mo.
However, the White Jade flooring was too slippery, and unable to control the distance, her cheek smashed right into Chen Mo’s leg.
Tap tap tap—
At that moment, footsteps approached.
A figure dressed in a Palace Gown entered the inner hall.
"Jingzhu..."
Lin Jingzhu had been unable to restrain herself, eating enthusiastically with an uninhibited manner.
Her Majesty the Empress glanced at her fondly, "As if you’ve ever been polite before."
Then looking towards Chen Mo, who was yet to touch his chopsticks, "What’s wrong, doesn’t it suit your palate?"
"I am just a bit overwhelmed by this honor."
Chen Mo showed an extremely cautious demeanor.
Her Majesty the Empress shook her head, "Compared to the merits you have accomplished, this meal is nothing. There’s no need to be so restrained."
"Yes."
Chen Mo then picked up the Silver Chopsticks.
Although he felt there should be no problem, out of caution, he only picked up dishes that Lin Jingzhu had eaten.
The minds of royals are difficult to fathom, and with the current fierce political struggles within the capital, he was in the very center of the whirlwind. He needed to tread carefully until he could understand Her Majesty the Empress’s intentions.
As the meal progressed, a Palace Servant came in with a food tray.
On the tray were three soup bowls, placed before each person.
In addition to beast meat, many Spiritual Materials were added, making the broth thick and emanating a faint scent of herbs.
"This is the ’Spiritual Rhinoceros Heavenly Dew Soup’ that I had the Imperial Chef specially prepare," Her Majesty the Empress explained as if reciting treasures from her home. "Made with Spiritual Rhinoceros Bone and a variety of Spiritual Materials, it nourishes Qi-Blood and enriches the Essence and marrow, greatly beneficial to Martial Artists."
Chen Mo’s brow furrowed slightly.
His pupils began to emit a gold flicker, and the soup bowl glowed with various colors indicative of the various medicinal properties.
After confirming there were no anomalies, he allowed himself to relax.
"Chen Mo..."
Suddenly, Her Majesty the Empress called his name.
Chen Mo looked up, his expression turning rigid.
He saw Her Majesty the Empress’s scarlet Palace Gown begin to grow transparent, revealing beneath baby-soft skin, with two large white mounds wrapped in a red bellyband, stretching the silk fabric embroidered with a Golden Phoenix high above.
Below her waist, her slender figure contrasted with the white mounds, like heavy fruit hanging upon a tender branch.
"Wait, how can I see Her Majesty’s body?!"
"My Divine Skills don’t include x-ray vision... Could it be, Her Majesty’s Palace Gown is a Magical Treasure?!"
In just a moment of distraction, his Soul Power drained rapidly, leaving him completely depleted!
This is bad!
Not only a Magical Treasure, but an exceptionally high Grade one at that!
Chen Mo’s consciousness grew blurry, blood trickling from his nose as his head slammed onto the table with a "thud".
He fell into complete unconsciousness.
Her Majesty the Empress: "..."
Lin Jingzhu: "..."

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