I became the demon of the female devil

Chapter 267 Your Majesty: I will attack in catgirl form!
Tianlin Guard, Imperial Prison.

In the dark and cramped cell, Yan Linghu sat leaning against the corner of the wall, looking much better than before.

Since Qin Shu's visit, the jailers have stopped torturing him and have been providing him with good food and drink every day, and his injuries are gradually healing.

At first, he was a little uneasy, worried that this was his last meal before his death. However, as the days passed, there was no news at all, as if Chen Mo had really forgotten about him.

“Ever since Mother came that day, Chen Mo’s attitude has changed dramatically.”

"Knowing that guy as I do, he never acts without a clear benefit. Since he's willing to let me go, he must have gotten something even better... But what can Mother give him?"

Yan Linghu was completely baffled.

Just as he was deep in thought, footsteps suddenly came from outside the door.

As the key was inserted into the lock, the cell door was pushed open, and Chen Mo, dressed in a dark-scaled official robe, walked in.

Yan Linghu's pupils contracted, and he hurriedly scrambled to his feet, standing ramrod straight against the wall. "Lord Chen, what brings you here?"

Could it be that they're going to use themselves as human test subjects again?
He was traumatized by Chen Mo's cruel torture methods...

"take it easy."

Chen Mo waved his hand and said, "I came here today to release you from prison."

?

Yan Linghu was stunned for a moment, "Let me out? Really?"

“Of course, I always keep my word. I said I'd release you in a few days, and I mean it.” Chen Mo raised an eyebrow and said, “What, hasn’t Young Master Yan had enough of being in jail?”

"Enough! Enough!"

Yan Linghu was overjoyed to see that Chen Mo didn't seem to be teasing him.

You know, entering the imperial prison is a near-death experience, and very few people manage to get out alive... He had already made the worst-case scenario plan, but he never expected happiness to come so suddenly!

"Someone, untie Young Master Yan," Chen Mo said.

A jailer came in, unlocked Yan Linghu's shackles, and removed the steel nails that had pierced his shoulder blades.

Yan Linghu stretched his shoulders, still feeling a bit unreal.

After hesitating for a moment, he cautiously asked, "Lord Chen, may I ask why? Why are you willing to let me out?"

Chen Mo said calmly, "Although Young Master Yan is involved in the case of the barbarian slaves, he has a good attitude in admitting his guilt and has provided important evidence. He has the potential to redeem himself through meritorious service... Moreover, the prison has limited cells and is only holding serious criminals. You need to make room for the brothers behind you as soon as possible."

What important evidence did I provide?
Yan Linghu scratched his head, looking bewildered.

Just then, the sound of chains scraping against the ground came from the corridor. The sound gradually approached and came to the outside of the cell.

Then two jailers escorted in a man who was wearing prison clothes, handcuffs and shackles, and whose face was covered by his loose hair.

"Oh, the newcomer is here?"

Yan Linghu's lips curled up into a gloating smile. "Let me see which unlucky fellow it is?"

He reached out and brushed aside the prisoner's hair, revealing a pale, somewhat effeminate face, with a pair of narrow eyes that were as cold and sinister as a venomous snake.

? !
"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince?!"

"How...how could it be you?!"

Yan Linghu's smile froze on his face, his eyes filled with disbelief.

He never expected that Chen Mo would actually arrest Chu Heng!

This is the heir apparent of Prince Yu!

How did this guy do it? Just based on his statements?

That was merely a pretext to exonerate him; there was no evidence whatsoever, and it shouldn't have had any impact on the Crown Prince.

Chu Heng narrowed his eyes, his tone chilling, "It's all thanks to Young Master Yan. Go back and tell your father this isn't over. I'll settle accounts with him sooner or later..."

boom!
Chen Mo punched Chu Heng hard in the stomach, and Chu Heng groaned and fell to his knees.

"What are you whispering about? Go squat in the corner with your hands behind your back." Chen Mo glanced at Yan Linghu. "Young Master Yan, are you still not leaving? Do you want to stay and be his roommate?"

"..."

Seeing the prince hunched over like a shrimp, Yan Linghu's Adam's apple bobbed, and he dared not linger any longer, hurriedly turning around and leaving the cell.

He was taken to an empty room, removed from his prison uniform, and put on a set of civilian clothes that had been prepared in advance. Then, accompanied by a jailer, he walked toward the dungeon exit.

As I walked through the heavily guarded gates and out of the dark yamen, the bright sunshine fell on my face, and I breathed in the fresh air, giving me a feeling of being in another world.

A young maid was already waiting at the door, bowing and saying, "Young master, please come with me. Madam is waiting for you."

"Ah."

Yan Linghu followed her to a sedan chair by the street, lifted the curtain, and climbed in.

Qin Shu was leaning against the window, resting his chin on his hand, staring blankly at the government office with its blue bricks and black tiles, unaware that someone had come in.

"mother?"

"Tiger?"

Qin Shu came to her senses, looked at Yan Linghu, examined him carefully to make sure he wasn't missing any limbs, and a smile flashed in her eyes: "It's good that you're out. You've lost weight these past few days. When we get back, your mother will give you a good boost."

Yan Linghu hesitated and asked, "Mother, how did you know I was being released from prison today?"

Qin Shu frowned and said, "It was Lord Chen who sent me a message, asking me to come to the yamen to pick someone up. What's wrong?"

Yan Linghu shook his head and said, "Do you know who I saw in prison? Prince Chu Heng! Chen Mo actually arrested Prince Chu and put him in the imperial prison! No matter how audacious he is, he would never dare to do this without His Majesty's decree."

"Another possibility is that it received the support of the three departments."

"Leaving aside the Censorate and the Court of Judicial Review for the moment, based on my understanding of Father, he will not easily compromise unless forced to."

He paused, then asked in a low voice, "Mother, what exactly did you do?"

Upon hearing this, Qin Shu fell silent, and the air inside the sedan chair became quiet.

After a long while, she spoke up and said, "I won't hide it from you, I did make a deal with Chen Mo... Ever since you were thrown into the imperial prison, you've been like a pawn in your father's eyes. Since he's unwilling to help, I can only use my own methods to get you out."

"Abandoned son?"

"Impossible, I am the only bloodline of the Yan family..."

Yan Linghu felt a little guilty as he spoke.

As far as he knew, his father had quite a few mistresses.

Even if you don't have any children yet, having more wouldn't be difficult...

Qin Shu said with a hint of mockery, "Your father used to need the Qin family's help, so he always treated me with respect and never dared to openly take a concubine. That's why your position as the young master of the Yan family was relatively secure."

"But ever since he got in touch with Zhuang Jingming, the Qin family has become irrelevant to him."

“He took this opportunity to weaken my position in the Yan family and gradually separate me from the Qin family… In fact, that’s exactly what he did.”

Yan Linghu was speechless for a moment.

Although he didn't understand politics, he wasn't stupid either, and he naturally knew how Yan Peizhi had climbed to his current position.

Without the support of the Qin family, a powerless scholar from Jiangnan would have been devoured by the hungry wolves in the court long ago, leaving not even bones or scraps!

But precisely because of this, the Qin family knows too much about his dirty deeds. In the past, this might have been a bond between the two families, but now that he holds a high position, it has become a crack in his body.

“Even if you manage to leave the prison alive, Yan Peizhi will not let you stay in the capital, and the Yan family business will have nothing to do with you.”

Qin Shu looked directly at him and said decisively, "Now, you have two choices: either pretend you know nothing and go back to being the young master of the Yan family, or come back to the Qin family with me. Although I can't make you rich and famous, I can at least protect you."

Yan Linghu never expected that his parents would fall out so soon after his release from prison...

Looking into those calm eyes, I suddenly felt that Qin Shu was somewhat unfamiliar to me.

Is this still the same domineering, spoiled mother I remember?

How come you seem like a completely different person in just a few days?

Yan Linghu did not answer directly, but asked, "Mother, you still haven't told me what deal you made with Chen Mo when you came to the prison that day?"

A barely perceptible blush crossed Qin Shu's cheeks, and her expression was somewhat unnatural as she said, "Ahem, let's not dwell on the past... Actually, Chen Mo is a pretty good person, a man of his word, a true man..."

"There's no fundamental conflict between you two; you could actually try to become friends..."

?

Yan Linghu looked completely bewildered.

So, throwing me into the imperial prison, subjecting me to torture, and almost chopping me up to feed the dogs isn't a contradiction?
"But I didn't expect him to have such audacity as to actually dare to attack the Prince Yu's residence."

Qin Shu gazed at the massive building outside the window, his eyes gleaming. "Knowing Chen Mo as I do, he won't let Yan Peizhi off easily. After dealing with the heir, he'll probably be heading to the Yan family next..."

"You should also be mentally prepared..."

For some reason, Yan Linghu felt that something was off, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

Or rather, I'm afraid to think about it too deeply...

……

……

Inside the cell.

Chu Heng was hoisted up by iron chains and suspended in the air.

The prison clerk asked in a low voice, "Lord Chen, how do you plan to conduct the interrogation this time?"

He had been on duty in this imperial prison and had seen his share of "big scenes," having interrogated dozens, if not hundreds, of officials. But this was his first time dealing with members of the imperial family, so he was somewhat unsure of himself...

Chen Mo said calmly, "Interrogate them however you need to. Go and bring all the weapons up here."

"Yes."

One of the jailers responded and left.

Not long after, he returned to the cell carrying a stack of torture instruments and laid them out on the long table in front of Chu Heng.

Chen Mo stepped forward, his fingertips brushing against the instruments of torture, and said, "We have quite a few ways to play here. Which one would Your Highness like to experience first?" Chu Heng scoffed, "Don't try to scare me with these things. Do you think you can do whatever you want just because you have the support of the Three Departments? Don't forget who owns this world!"

"Once I leave the imperial prison, I will immediately go to the palace to report this matter to His Majesty. Do you think you can save your life with just a death-exemption token? Not only you, but all the constables involved in this matter will be buried with you!"

"Nonsense, of course the world belongs to Heaven."

Chen Mo said, "And speaking of which, why do you think you can still get out of here alive?"

Chu Heng shook his head and said, "Do you think the Eight Deliberations policy is just for show? If you can't find evidence that I'm plotting a rebellion, then you should just release the people obediently. Do you want to imprison and kill your relatives and nobles?"

"Trapping and killing?"

"How can it be."

"As the deputy commander of the Tianlin Guard, I would never knowingly break the law."

Chen Mo leaned closer and whispered, "However, if the young master's confidants come to break him out of prison and trigger the defensive formation during their escape, and get riddled with arrows from the Demon-Slaying Crossbow... then no one will be able to trace it back to me, right?"

Chu Heng was stunned upon hearing this, "You dare..."

"Do you think I dare?" Chen Mo said with a smile, "Your Highness may have misunderstood. I have no intention of interrogating you, nor am I too lazy to look for any evidence. My goal is very simple: I just want you dead."

Chu Heng's pupils contracted, and his throat felt a little dry.

Based on his understanding of Chen Mo, this madman is truly capable of anything!
"Since we're here, let's not leave empty-handed. We still need to go through the proper procedures."

Chen Mo picked up a steel spiked club, weighed it in his hand, and said, "Young Master is too precious and delicate to withstand torture. We should proceed step by step and start with the beginner level."

"Although this is an imperial prison, we must still be mindful of humane law enforcement."

The prison warden asked curiously, "What is humanization?"

Chen Mo said in a serious tone, "We must consider the suspect's ability to cope and use the gentlest possible interrogation methods. As the saying goes, law enforcement should be compassionate, while iron rods should be forceful... Talking is useless, let me demonstrate for you."

"Strike the leg with a stick to prevent escape."

boom!
The spiked club struck Chu Heng's right leg, shattering his kneecap and turning it into something as soft as noodles.

"what……"

"Two slaps to the mouth to stop him from begging for mercy."

Just as Chu Heng was about to cry out in pain, the stick slammed into his mouth, knocking his teeth to the ground, and the sharp spikes pierced his face, leaving it a bloody mess.

"Strike hard to open the airway."

The stick, accompanied by a whistling sound, slammed into Chu Heng's chest.

With a sharp crack as his sternum shattered, his face turned deathly pale, blood gushed from his mouth, and his eyes became unfocused and lifeless.

"The stun gun restores your heartbeat."

The pulsating plasma surged into Chu Heng's heart along the rod, causing his eyes to roll back and his body to convulse violently, making a "hoarse" sound in his throat.

Chen Mo nodded in satisfaction and said, "See? He's already jumping for joy after going through this whole process, and he promises he won't have any objections."

"..."

The jailers swallowed hard.

You've already slapped my mouth raw, of course I can't offer any opinions...

That's so humane...

"Alright, I'll stop the demonstration here. You can continue. Don't keep the young master idle." Chen Mo threw down the iron rod, clapped his hands, and prepared to leave.

"My lord, please wait." The prison clerk approached cautiously and said, "Lord Chen, no matter what, this is a member of the royal family... wouldn't it be inappropriate to use torture directly?"

"What, are you scared?" Chen Mo raised an eyebrow.

Yu Dian chuckled and rubbed his hands together.

Nonsense, we don't have your powerful background. What if the prince settles scores with us later?
“People need to be flexible. If you cover his eyes with a black cloth, how can he know who hit him?” Chen Mo patted his shoulder and said, “Interrogating officials is not a skill. Opportunities to torture princes and nobles are rare.”

After saying that, he turned and left.

The jailers, gazing at the unconscious Chu Heng, began to breathe rapidly.

Torture princes and nobles?
That sounds exciting!
Chen Mo hadn't gone far when he heard muffled thuds coming from the cell, followed by excited shouts:
"Cover his eyes and ears!"

"The raised hand has height, the stick has attitude! I'm fucking a human being!"

“It’s my turn, it’s my turn!”

"..."

Chen Mo nodded secretly.

They're all veteran prison guards; they've learned to apply what they've learned to other situations...

……

……

Chen Mo left the prison and returned to the yamen, where Li Yuan quickly came to greet him.

"Lord Chen, those guards from the Prince's residence have been detained. What are your plans for dealing with them?"

"No rush, let's close it for a while first."

Since the three departments ordered the arrest, a joint trial is still required.

Chen Mo did not intend to let Chu Heng leave alive, but the necessary procedures still had to be followed. Otherwise, it would be unreasonable for someone to die so soon after being arrested.

"Yes."

Li Yuan hesitated slightly before asking, "There's something I'm curious about, but I'm not sure if I should ask..."

"You want to know about my relationship with the Princess?" Chen Mo guessed what she was thinking.

Li Yuan nodded and said, "Over the years, the Princess has been guarding the southern border and rarely returns to the capital. Why does she seem so familiar with you, sir? And she even reached out and touched...touched your chest..."

"..."

Chen Mo said helplessly, "If I told you that we had only met once, and she still wanted me to be her gigolo, would you believe me?"

?

Li Yuan was stunned for a moment, "A male favorite?!"

Although the adult is indeed very good-looking, it is a bit too outrageous to make such a request after only meeting him once!
"So, did you agree?" Li Yuan asked nervously.

"Nonsense, do I look like such a spineless person? I'm always the one who sets the rules for others, how could I be the one being set up?" Chen Mo said seriously, secretly adding in his mind: Except for the Imperial Concubine and the Empress.

"That's good."

Li Yuan breathed a sigh of relief.

Then she sensed something was off and glared at him reproachfully.

"By the way, what did the Princess say to you later? You seemed a little pale when she left."

Chen Mo sighed and said, "She asked me to go to Changning Pavilion tonight."

Upon hearing this, Li Yuan became nervous again.

Going to the imperial bedchamber tonight? Could it be that I'm going to have the master serve me in bed?

Are you going?

"You can run away from her one day, but you can't hide forever. If we don't go this time, she'll come knocking on our door again. We might as well make things clear once and for all," Chen Mo said in a deep voice.

He still couldn't quite figure out Chu Yanli's attitude.

After all, they are both members of the Chu family, and even blood relatives, aunt and niece. Do they really not care about Chu Heng's life at all?
Was Prince Yu taken away by her?
This is a good opportunity to test the waters...

However, we should also be prepared in advance, in case this crazy woman tries to force herself on a man.
"Meow~"

At this moment, the cat opened the cage and lightly jumped onto the table, its heterochromatic eyes staring straight at Chen Mo.

Chen Mo frowned slightly, sensing that its eyes were different from before, lacking that innocent and foolish quality... He seemed to have thought of something and tentatively transmitted his voice, "Your Majesty?"

The cat blinked.

"It really is!"

What are your orders?

Chen Mo asked.

The cat stretched out its little paw, pointed to itself, and then pointed to him.

Chen Mo pondered for a moment, then said thoughtfully, "You mean, you want me to take you with me to see the Princess?"

The cat nodded in agreement.

After careful consideration, Chen Mo realized that this was indeed feasible.

With this mobile "camera" around, if Chu Yanli harbors any ill intentions, the Empress will know immediately, at least ensuring her own safety.

"Okay, that's settled then."

Just then, a "whooshing" sound came from under the table.

Strange, where did this second kitten come from?

Immediately afterwards, Chen Mo shuddered, his expression stiffened slightly, and he slowly looked down.

Suddenly, Li Yuan appeared to have crawled under the table, looking up at him with eyes that seemed to be brimming with tears.

"Yuan'er, what's wrong with you...?"

"Just in case, squeeze out the ink before entering the palace... um..."

?

Chen Mo's lips twitched slightly as he sensed a strong killing intent, which sent a chill down his spine.

"Your Majesty, please don't act rashly!"

(End of this chapter)