I became the demon of the female devil

Chapter 356 Empress: The First Wife of the Chen Family, the Most Capable Should Take the Position! I Want to Compete for the Post!
? !
Ling Ningzhi was startled by the sudden shout.

Turning her head, she saw a black-clad constable glaring angrily at her.

Even though he was wearing a straw hat and a mask, you could still feel his resentful gaze.

"Uh……"

Ye Zi'e didn't react for a moment.

The Empress hasn't even spoken yet, what are you, a mere servant, shouting about?
As a subordinate, telling your boss to shut up? Did you not wake up properly this morning and can't tell the difference between a king and a queen?
Li Yuan noticed the strange looks from those around her and realized her blunder. Her face flushed red, and she stammered, "I-I'm sorry, I was just worried that we would miss our trip because it was getting late. I spoke carelessly and please punish me, sir."

"..."

Chen Mo certainly wouldn't actually punish her. He cleared his throat and said, "Ahem, that's true. We need to arrive in Jinyang Prefecture before this evening, so time is quite tight. It was my oversight."

Ling Ningzhi frowned slightly, sensing that Chen Mo's attitude was not quite right.

He carefully examined the constable, a look of sudden realization flashing across his eyes.

So it was her?

No wonder it smells so sour...

These two are traveling together to southern Xinjiang, and they certainly won't be idle along the way. Who knows what outrageous things they might do? You can't even tolerate me just for having a little taste in food? Aren't you being a bit too petty?
Although Ling Ningzhi was somewhat displeased, she did not want to embarrass Chen Mo in public.

He took out a miniature wooden boat from his sleeve and handed it to him, saying, "Take this flying boat; it will make traveling much easier and save you from getting covered in dust..."

"Okay." Chen Mo nodded and accepted it without being polite.

The Qilin Pavilion also has flying boats that can be used for long-distance travel, but neither their speed nor their comfort can compare to the "Cloud and Mist Magic Boat" crafted by the Tian Shu Pavilion.

In this way, not only can a lot of time be saved for rest and recuperation, but also the energy can be conserved to ensure that one is in good condition to deal with possible dangers and accidents.

"but……"

Ling Ningzhi glanced at Li Yuan and whispered in his ear, "You're not allowed to do anything reckless on the flying boat."

"..."

Chen Mo's lips twitched. So Fairy Qingxuan had already figured it out?

"Alright, I won't delay your business. Be careful on the road. I'll wait for your news." Ling Ningzhi took a step back, put her hands behind her back, and said charmingly, "I'll give you a surprise when we meet next time."

This again?

Chen Mo raised an eyebrow slightly, "So, Daoist Master, you've learned to whet people's appetites now, haven't you? Well, I'll have to collect some interest first..."

He reached out and embraced her slender waist, pulling her back into his arms, and lowered his head to kiss her lips.

They only released him after several breaths.

"Well--"

Ling Ningzhi's eyes were hazy, her cheeks flushed, and her breasts heaved, while the two "servants" beside her were practically grinding their teeth to powder.

"gone."

Chen Mo infused his true essence into the wooden carving, raised his hand and tossed it, and it swelled in the wind, transforming into a giant flying boat suspended in mid-air.

After everyone boarded the ship in turn, accompanied by a surge of primordial energy, the flying boat soared into the sky, transforming into a streak of light and heading south.

Ling Ningzhi looked up at the distant sky, remaining motionless like a statue until the black dot completely disappeared into the distance.

……

……

Southern suburbs.

The makeshift relief stations are being dismantled one after another.

Since the damaged houses in the city have been basically repaired, the people have moved into their new homes one after another, but many people still stay here and spontaneously assist the Ministry of Works in repairing the ancestral hall.

Laborers and porters brought stones in carts, civil engineers buried themselves in laying bricks and tiles, women brought dry food and hot dishes from home, and children ran around serving water and wiping sweat from the workers.

The scene was bustling with activity.

The scene of the miraculous rain that brought the dead back to life is deeply etched in everyone's memory.

The people's thoughts are always the simplest and most basic. They don't understand what faith is. They support whoever is good to them. It's that simple!
At the critical moment of life and death, it was not a god or Buddha who saved people, but Lord Chen of the Tianlin Guard!
Then it is fitting to build a temple to worship them, so that the incense may continue to burn for generations to come!

Yu Hongyin stood not far away, watching this scene with a blank stare in her eyes, seemingly lost in thought.

A small flying boat docked nearby. Qiao Tong leaped down and came to her side, saying, "Holy Maiden, it's getting late. We should set off."

They had stayed in Kyoto for too long, and the sect had sent messages urging them to return as soon as possible.

Today is the deadline. If we don't leave now, the sect leader will probably come looking for us in person!

"Okay, I understand." Yu Hongyin nodded.

Qiao Tong hesitated slightly, then tentatively said, "Holy Maiden, are we really leaving like this without saying goodbye to Lord Chen? After all... who knows when we'll be able to come to the capital again..."

She meant to say that the two of them might not have another chance to meet.

After all, as the chief successor of the Netherworld Sect, it's impossible for them to run to the capital every few days. Moreover, these are turbulent times, with so many direct disciples dying. Their master wouldn't allow them to take that risk again.

“There’s no need.” Yu Hongyin shook her head and said, “Chen Mo has just been promoted to commander and is very busy. Let’s not bother him. Besides, we’ve only met by chance and aren’t even friends. What’s the point of telling him?”

Upon hearing this, Qiao Tong frowned.

"Back in the Southern Frontier, we went through thick and thin together. Lord Chen also helped us uphold justice and brought the real culprit who harmed the disciples of the Netherworld Sect to justice. How can you say that we met by chance?"

"Besides, not only did you two bathe together, you also played with Lord Chen's... um!"

Yu Hongyin quickly covered her mouth, her pretty face flushed red, and said in embarrassment and anger, "What nonsense are you talking about! Who, who played with that?!"

"Um!"

Qiao Tong rolled her eyes, her meaning clear—

Whether you played it or not, you know the truth in your heart!

Thinking about what happened last time, Yu Hongyin wished she could disappear into a crack in the ground.

When she touched the red totem on Chen Mo's body, a powerful force rushed into her sea of ​​consciousness, knocking her unconscious.

In a daze, I saw the strange sight of the sun and moon shining together in the sky and a purple dragon soaring into the air.

When I woke up again, I was holding...

"I told you, it was just an accident," Yu Hongyin said guiltily. "Lord Chen and Ling Ningzhi are a loving couple. What right do I have to interfere? I'd better not make a fool of myself."

Qiao Tong blinked, and could roughly guess what the saintess was thinking.

In terms of both status and strength, Ling Ningzhi was far superior to her. At the same time, she was the number one beauty on the Rouge Ranking, so perfect that there was not a single flaw to be found.

Moreover, it was evident from their previous encounter with the Blood Demon in the Southern Frontier that she was willing to disregard her own safety and share life and death for Chen Mo, a deep affection that was truly touching.

In contrast, Yu Hongyin and Chen Mo did not have such a deep bond.

Furthermore, being caught red-handed by Ling Ningzhi made him feel somewhat inferior and ashamed.

"call--"

Qiao Tong pried the hand covering her mouth away, took a breath, and said, "I don't think the Holy Maiden needs to belittle herself. Besides Ling Ningzhi, Lord Chen also has other girls around him, doesn't he? We may not be the best, but we're not the worst either."

"Moreover, Lord Chen possesses the sect's most precious treasure and has cultivated the 'Taiyin Reverse Time Technique,' so he is of the same lineage as you. He should be calling you 'Senior Sister.'"

"Even if we cultivate together in the future, it will be twice as effective with half the effort!"

"Pah, what nonsense! It's getting more and more outrageous!"

Yu Hongyin spat, her face turning even redder.

The relationship between the two is not at that level at all. Besides, that guy is very fierce. Just looking at him is scary enough. If they really wanted to cultivate together, he would probably lose his life before his cultivation level even increased!

"Wait a minute..."

Yu Hongyin suddenly realized something, glanced at Qiao Tong, and pondered, "You've been acting a bit strange lately, constantly urging me to go see Chen Mo. What are you up to? You don't mean you want to become a concubine, do you?"

Qiao Tong's eyes darted around, and she stammered, "N-no, I don't understand what the Holy Maiden is saying... Let's hurry up and set off, or we won't make it to the sect today..."

After saying that, he turned and ran, stepping onto the flying boat with a "clattering" sound.

Watching that flustered figure, Yu Hongyin narrowed her eyes and let out a soft snort.

"I knew you were hiding something. You were trying to use me as a cover-up. Do you really think I'm stupid..."

However, Qiao Tong was right about one thing: after leaving Kyoto this time, it would indeed be difficult for her and Chen Mo to have another chance to meet.

Thinking about this makes me feel a kind of inexplicable sense of loss.

"Holy Maiden, it's time to go!" Qiao Tong's voice came from afar.

"coming."

Yu Hongyin took one last look at the shrine that was being built, took a deep breath, suppressed the surging emotions in her heart, and walked towards the flying boat.

"Duckweed drifts on the flowing water, we still gaze upon the Milky Way together; today we part ways at different paths, tomorrow we may meet again amidst mountains..."

Who can predict the future?

However, Yu Hongyin did not expect that she would meet Chen Mo again soon, and the way they met would be far beyond her expectations...

…… ……

Star Observation Deck.

On the thirty-third floor, a figure in bright yellow sat gracefully in the pavilion.

Outside the pavilion, Qi Chengze stood with his hands at his sides, his expression respectful yet tinged with confusion.

The Empress, being of noble birth, rarely leaves the palace. Why is she here so early this morning?
And the fact that he wasn't given any prior notice caught him completely off guard...

Could it be about the princess finding a husband?

"Lord Qi," the Empress said.

"Your subject is here," Qi Chengze replied hastily.

"I've heard that you've been getting quite close to Commander Chen of the Tianlin Guard lately?" the Empress said calmly.

?

Qi Chengze was slightly taken aback, not expecting the Empress to ask this question.

He must have heard something from the Princess, but he had no intention of hiding it anyway. He said frankly, "Lord Chen is exceptionally talented, and we are destined to meet. So I passed on the divination techniques to him. We are not master and disciple, but we are teaching each other. I would say we are both teacher and friend."

"I see. So he came to the Observatory yesterday to ask you about cultivation issues?" the Empress asked.

“That’s right.” Qi Chengze nodded and said, “I also helped him calculate the fortune of his trip south.”

The Empress's heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively sat up straight. "What was the result?"

"It's all very confusing and hard to see clearly," Qi Chengze said hesitantly. "However, this old minister has not sensed any ominous signs, so it should be considered to be going smoothly."

Hearing his hesitant tone, the Empress's expression hardened slightly. "During the last grand ceremony, Lord Qi also said it would be auspicious, but the entire ancestral temple, along with the southern district, was destroyed. It hasn't recovered yet..."

"If you say that the fate of the nation is unpredictable, I can understand that. But how come you can't even predict such a small matter now?"

"You're not trying to fool me, are you?"

"..."

Qi Chengze's face flushed slightly, and he said awkwardly, "Your Highness misunderstands. It's not that this old minister is not attentive, but rather that Lord Chen's fate is rather special and truly unpredictable..."

The Empress frowned even more deeply.

Her purpose in coming here was to have Qi Chengze calculate whether Chen Mo would encounter any danger on his trip to the Southern Frontier. After all, they were thousands of miles apart, and given his previous painful experience, she was genuinely worried.

Surprisingly, even the Grand Master of Divination, Jian Zheng, couldn't figure it out.

Is Chen Mo's fate special, or is someone deliberately shielding him from the secrets of heaven?
Thinking of this, she became increasingly uneasy and asked, "Has the Tianlin Guard already set off?"

"Judging from the timing, it should be about time. Let this old minister take a look..." Qi Chengze raised his hand and waved his sleeve, and the surrounding clouds and mist gathered, forming a bright mirror that reflected the scene in the city.

The scene kept changing, finally settling on the sky above the south of the city.

"found it."

Qi Chengze clenched his fingers together, closing the distance between them.

Upon seeing the scene before him, his expression stiffened slightly.

Near the south gate, Chen Mo was passionately kissing a Taoist nun in white. The two were so engrossed in their love that they didn't care about the stares of others.

"Isn't this the Ling family girl?"

"She usually seems quite cold, but she's like a completely different person in front of this kid..."

The Empress watched this scene expressionlessly until Chen Mo and his men left on a flying boat. Only then did she turn her gaze away and say indifferently, "Commander Chen is quite popular with women."

“Indeed.” Qi Chengze didn’t think much of it and stroked his beard as he said, “Yesterday, the Princess asked me to predict her marriage prospects. There were more than ten threads of love alone. She also said she wanted to see who her future wife, Lady Chen, would be…”

The Empress's eyelids twitched. "You've finally figured this out?"

"No, not really." Qi Chengze shook his head and said, "But I did see some clues. In any case, the other party's identity is definitely not simple."

The Empress remained silent for a moment, then stood up and said, “Two things. First, the city has been in turmoil recently, and everything is in need of rebuilding. As for the Princess’s marriage proposal, there is no need to rush it. We must choose an auspicious day.”

"Secondly, the Gu God Cult has wreaked havoc on the world and caused great harm. We must wipe them out completely this time. I order you to perform divination every three days, and report back to the emperor no matter what the result is."

"Your subject obeys the decree," Qi Chengze replied, bowing his head.

"Go back to the palace."

"Farewell to Your Highness."

Qi Chengze escorted the Empress away from the observatory, his brows furrowed and his eyes filled with confusion as he watched the departing imperial carriage.

So Your Highness came to the Star Gazing Platform just for this?

A simple decree would suffice, or he could simply be summoned to the palace; there would be no need for a special trip.
"Something feels off..."

The imperial palanquin flew smoothly towards the palace. Inside, the empress leaned back on her phoenix chair, rubbing her temples with her slender fingers.

Upon learning the results of the divination, her worries only intensified, but she couldn't very well call Chen Mo back now...

dong dong——

She pondered for a moment, then raised her hand and knocked on the window frame.

A voice came from outside: "What are your orders, Your Highness?"

The Empress said, "Have Zhong Lihe prepare to depart for the Southern Frontier immediately. He will secretly cooperate with Chen Mo. If there is no danger, he need not reveal his identity. If anything happens, he should send a message immediately."

"Yes, this servant will arrange it immediately," said Lady Sun.

"besides……"

The Empress thought of something and added, "Have Madam Chen come to the palace. It's been a long time since I've seen her, and I'd like to catch up with her."

"Yes." Lady Sun turned and left.

"More than ten strands of love? Is this little thief buying them wholesale?" The Empress bit her lip lightly, a hint of resentment in her expression, and muttered softly, "I'll see who can become the first wife of the Chen family!"

……

……

The cloud-shrouded Dharma boat silently swept across the sky.

When the group first boarded the ship, they felt quite novel, as such a luxurious airship, resembling a palace in the sky, was a rare sight. After wandering around for a while, once the novelty wore off, they returned to their respective rooms.

in the bedroom.

Chen Mo sat in a chair with his arms crossed, a half-smile on his face.

The fire brigade officer stood before him, head bowed, like a schoolchild who had made a mistake.

"Well, you're getting bolder and bolder, aren't you? You've even learned to deceive your superiors and subordinates, haven't you?" Chen Mo sneered, "I told you to send a trusted confidant with me to the Southern Frontier, but you've sent yourself instead?"

"Am I not considered your confidant, sir?" Li Yuan asked cautiously.

"..."

Chen Mo said irritably, "So you've learned to talk back, huh? Then let me ask you, who's in charge of the affairs of the yamen?"

“Qiu Longgang is meticulous and more adept at handling official business than I am, and with Li Kui, the Deputy Commander, assisting him, there shouldn’t be any problems.” Li Yuan gripped the hem of her clothes and said in a low voice, “I know it’s not appropriate for me to come along so rashly, but I’m really worried…”

At first, Chen Mo would take her with him when he went out to handle cases, but as the gap between their cultivation levels gradually widened, she slowly became a role similar to a "logistics clerk," spending her days calculating expenses and reviewing and approving documents.

Li Yuan herself was not opposed to this. For her, as long as she could help Chen Mo share his burdens, she would be willing to do anything.

The problem is that Chen Mo's cases are becoming increasingly dangerous, with each one fraught with peril, and she can't offer any help. She can only wait anxiously for news at the yamen, a truly agonizing experience.

"Compared to you, my strength is naturally inferior, but looking at the entire Fire Division, there are very few who are stronger than me."

"It's better to take the lead yourself than to have others follow along."

"Even if it's not of much use, it would be good if it could take care of the adults' daily needs..."

Li Yuan said softly.

Hearing this, Chen Mo sighed. How could he bear to blame her?

She reached out and pulled Li Baihu into her arms, pressing his round buttocks against her lap. She reached out and scratched his delicate nose, amused, and said, "Then you should at least try to disguise it properly. At least wrap your chest up a bit. This is a bit too obvious, isn't it?"

Li Yuan's cheeks flushed red as she stammered, "I tried to hold on, but I couldn't."

"..."

Chen Mo compared them and found that it was true. Although the little tiger was not as wealthy as Ling Ningzhi, it was not far off. No matter how much it tried to hide it, it still had a well-developed chest.

"And just now, you and Chief Ling were kissing... I really couldn't help myself, please forgive me, sir," Li Yuan said softly.

Chen Mo said sternly, "You know you've done something wrong? Tell me, how should I punish you?"

Li Yuan hesitated for a moment, then got up and leaned on the table, a blush spreading from her cheeks to her ears.

"Anyway, the journey is long, and adults have plenty of time."

"You may punish me or beat me, it's entirely up to you..."

(End of this chapter)