I became the demon of the female devil

Chapter 390 The Empress Baby Takes a Bath! "Little thief, let's elope!"

Chu Yanli snapped out of her daze, quickly stepped forward, and carefully examined the group. She confirmed that they were indeed barbarians, and that their numbers were exactly the same as the batch hidden on the merchant ship.

"How did you do that?" she asked curiously.

The Xuanjia Guards and state soldiers conducted a thorough search of the city, but found no clues. They were about to give up when Chen Mo brought them all back without missing a single one!
Chen Mo said in a serious tone, "Actually, the reason is very simple. Now all the city gates have been sealed off. If you want to leave the city, you can either go by water or underground..."

"You mean, the other side dug the tunnel in advance?" Chu Yanli frowned. "But Bailu City is so big, how could they accurately find the tunnel entrance?"

Chen Mo said with a smile, "Don't forget, their purpose is not only to transport barbarian slaves, but also to 'process' them with the Heart-Eating Gu. In order to facilitate their actions, this tunnel will inevitably pass through the Purple Cloud Temple."

"Through careful observation, I discovered that there happened to be a moat connecting the north and south, passing right by the foot of Ziyun Mountain. So I followed the moat and sure enough, I found something..."

Actually, he was shooting the dart first and then drawing the target.

Qi Ye acted cautiously and meticulously, using anti-magic stones to shield the tunnel entrances and exits, relying solely on the mechanical structure to prevent any clues from being detected.

The reason they were able to pinpoint its location so accurately was entirely due to the Empress's immense strength; she used her divine sense to cover an area of ​​hundreds of miles outside White Egret City, catching anyone who dared to peek out...

Chen Mo said this not to seek credit, but because the powerful families had extensive connections and far-reaching influence. After discussing it with the Empress, they felt it was not advisable to expose Qi Ye's identity too early, otherwise it might alert the enemy.

Anyway, since it's controlled by the Heart-Eating Gu, it can be used as a nail planted in the Qi family, which might be of great use at a critical moment.

This is far more valuable than killing Qi Ye.

"As expected of my little thief, I knew it! There's no case in the world he can't solve." The Empress looked at Chen Mo with delight, her jade cheeks flushed, and she looked proud of him.

"And who's behind this?" Chu Yanli pressed. "Have you caught him?"

Chen Mo shook his head and said, "That guy is very alert. He slipped away as soon as he sensed the movement."

"Ran?"

Chu Yanli frowned, looking somewhat worried.

Although the enemy's plan was thwarted this time, the situation is still not optimistic. A complete chain of interests has now been formed from the Southern Frontier to the Central Plains, and Bailu City is just one node in it.

Once this storm passes, it could come back at any time, and then we might not be so lucky.

Just as her thoughts were swirling, Chen Mo took out a letter from his sleeve and said, "By the way, that person left in such a hurry that he didn't have time to clean up his hands and feet. I found this at his residence, which may be useful to Your Highness."

"Oh? What?"

Chu Yanli reached out and took it, unfolded it, and was immediately stunned.

This was a list containing dozens of names, all of whom were officials involved in the barbarian slave case!

This also included several important officials from the Jingzhao Prefecture and the Military Command, and specified the delivery dates for each batch, as well as the amount of bribes and embezzlement committed by these individuals!

It is extremely detailed!
"Good! Well done! Just when I was about to fall asleep, this is a perfect opportunity!"

Chu Yanli's expression was full of surprise, her eyes sparkling with delight. "Chen Mo, you are truly my lucky star!"

She was almost certain that the list was real, because the officials from Bailucheng listed on it were exactly the same as those from last night's interrogation!
"With this, we can uproot the entire chain of interests!"

"While we may not be able to completely eliminate future troubles, at least we won't have to worry about barbarian slaves flowing into the capital for the next three years!"

The Empress took the list and glanced at it, her expression thoughtful. She said, "This matter should be handled sooner rather than later. If they receive the news and flee at the first sign of trouble, it will be difficult to deal with... Li'er, I don't trust the others. I can only entrust this to you personally. Arrest these people first!"

"If anyone dares to resist, you can handle it yourself."

"Alright, I will set off today."

Chu Yanli nodded in agreement.

Then, as if remembering something, she hesitated and said, "But if I leave, who will protect you?"

The Empress shook her head and said, "The Gu God Cult has been destroyed, and the mastermind behind it has also escaped. Bailu City is very safe now. Besides, I have Lady Sun and Attendant Zhong by my side, so there won't be any problems."

Chu Yanli said in a low voice, "What if Consort Yu comes looking for us again?"

The Empress rolled her eyes at her and said irritably, "That day in the sedan chair, Yu Youhan slapped you against the wall so hard you couldn't be pried off... If she really wanted to kill me, what use would you be here? You'd just be another corpse."

"..."

Chu Yanli's lips twitched slightly.

It may sound harsh, but it's the truth.

She doesn't need to deal with ordinary enemies, but she can't deal with extraordinary enemies either...

"Besides, Chen Mo is here, so Yu Youhan wouldn't dare to do anything to me." The Empress waved her hand and said, "Alright, it's settled then. You should prepare and set off as soon as possible."

After saying that, he pulled Chen Mo towards the inner courtyard.

Recalling the commotion she heard outside the door that day, Chu Yanli's expression became somewhat unnatural.

"I almost forgot, this guy has already scored two goals in one shot."

"I really don't know how he managed to get these two mortal enemies to lower themselves and share a husband..."

"But then again, aside from being a bit lecherous, he is indeed the most outstanding man I have ever met."

During this trip to Southern Xinjiang, Chu Yanli truly witnessed Chen Mo's abilities.

On their very first day in Bailu City, they discovered the slave trade and identified key figures Tang Xingbang and Hua Yinglan.

The next day, she found the location of the Gu God Sect, ventured deep into the territory alone, killed four Grandmasters, and saved hundreds of lives in the temple... Just when she was about to give up, she brought back the group of missing barbarian slaves and also obtained the list of people involved in the case.

It can be said that the success of this operation was almost entirely due to his efforts!
"It's such a pity that such talent cannot be used by the Great Yuan..."

Watching Chen Mo's departing figure, a complex emotion flashed across Chu Yanli's eyes.

Don't be fooled by his current role serving the court; that's only because of his status. If the Empress is truly determined to relinquish her position as Crown Prince, given his personality, he might actually quit.

Originally, she wanted to use her status as the prince consort to keep Chen Mo by her side, but now it seems that he doesn't have that intention at all.

Moreover, it's impossible for Consort Yu and the Empress to agree to this.

"If you can't beat them, join them. If I make it a fait accompli..."

A thought flashed through Chu Yanli's mind, then she shook her head vigorously, a blush creeping onto her cheeks, and whispered, "What am I thinking? This is just too absurd..."

But for some reason, my heart kept pounding.

……

……

Chen Mo followed the Empress all the way to the inner quarters.

Upon entering the bedroom and closing the door, the Empress sat in a chair, her pretty face stern, staring at him without uttering a word.

Chen Mo was somewhat confused and cautiously asked, "Your Highness, what's wrong?"

"Do you still respect me as Your Highness?" The Empress frowned slightly and said in a deep voice, "Why did you go to investigate the barbarians alone without even saying hello? What if there was an ambush in those tunnels?"

The Kyoto bombing left her with considerable psychological trauma.

This person behind the scenes clearly has connections with Chu Heng. If they had arranged for the Blazing Powder in advance, just waiting for Chen Mo to take the bait, the consequences would have been unimaginable!
"Don't take your good luck for granted and act recklessly. It's always better to be safe than sorry." The Empress bit her lip and said softly, "What am I supposed to do if something goes wrong with you?"

Chen Mo knew the Empress was concerned about him, and said with a smile, "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. I haven't married Your Highness yet, I can't bear to die."

"Pah, pah, pah, what do you mean by dead or alive? Don't talk nonsense."

The Empress glared at him.

Seeing the weariness in his eyes, I couldn't bear to criticize him any further.

From the moment he landed in Egret City, Chen Mo had been working non-stop, not to mention fighting against Grandmaster-level experts one after another. Even an iron man would probably be exhausted. "I'll have someone bring a tub of hot water over. You can take a nice bath and relax," the Empress said, getting up and walking towards the door.

"No need to bother, there's one right here."

Chen Mo glanced at the wooden barrel behind the screen and walked over to it.

The bucket was filled with clear water, and a few flower petals floated on the surface, with a faint, refreshing fragrance wafting through the air.

"No, this is dirty water that I used, and I haven't had time to change it yet."

"That's better."

"?"

Chen Mo took off his robe and undergarments, revealing his burly and robust body, and then stepped directly into the water.

He activated his true energy, and the water temperature rose rapidly. Soon, bursts of steam rose from the water. He sat in the tub, leaned back, placed his hands on the edge of the tub, and sighed contentedly.

"Comfortable~"

"..."

The Empress's cheeks flushed, and she muttered a curse under her breath, but there was nothing she could do about this guy.

After hesitating for a moment, she took a light step, and her long palace dress slowly slid down, draping her undergarment over the screen.

wow-

The sound of water sounded.

Then Chen Mo felt a lump of snow-white substance pressing down on his groin.

He looked up and was immediately stunned. He saw the Empress sitting astride him, her fair skin like the finest jade. Her arms were wrapped around her body, but they could not hide her plumpness. A faint blush spread from her neck to her collarbone.

"Your Highness, what are you..."

"I didn't wash it properly, can't I wash it again?" The Empress's eyes darted around, her ears turning bright red.

"Of course." Chen Mo smiled, reached out and pulled her into his arms, his fingertips gently brushing against the soft flesh of her waist.

The tingling sensation was like an electric shock, and the Queen felt a sudden panic. She instinctively grabbed the large hand that was causing the disturbance, but this caused her to lose control of the front, and in the end, she could only hide her entire body from the neck down in the water...

"Wait, wait a minute, don't do anything rash. I have important matters to ask you." The Empress trembled all over from his provocation and stammered.

Chen Mo paused for a moment, raised an eyebrow and said, "What's so mysterious about it that you have to wait until no one's around to tell me?"

The Empress patted her burning cheeks, calmed herself down, and asked, "You didn't tell Li'er the truth just now, did you? Have you already met the person behind the scenes?"

Chen Mo showed no surprise upon hearing this, and instead asked, "What makes you say that, Your Highness?"

"The other side has been planning this for so long, even placing anti-magic stones in the ship's cabins. How could you possibly find the underground tunnel so easily?" The Queen shook her head and said, "Besides, that list is far too detailed. The ink on it is still very fresh, as if it was left on purpose..."

"Your Highness is indeed incredibly meticulous," Chen Mo nodded in admiration.

The Empress pressed on, "So, who exactly is it?"

Chen Mo frankly admitted, "They are from the Qi family."

"The Qi family?"

The Empress's eyes flickered slightly. "It was them? Then why did you deliberately conceal this matter?"

"I didn't intend to keep it from Your Highness, but it's best not to let the Princess know for now. It's not that I don't trust her, but given her temper, she might ruin my plans."

Chen Mo recounted everything that had happened.

The Empress's gaze grew colder, and a layer of frost covered her bright oval face.

She initially thought the other party was only transporting barbarian slaves, but she never expected them to actually try to kill Chen Mo!

"According to Qi Ye, the Qi family has been quietly supporting Chu Heng behind the scenes. Whether it's the barbarian slaves or the red sand mine, they have their shadow behind it all, and their purpose in doing so is very simple..."

"It's all to reverse the dragon vein and integrate the dragon energy into the Qi family's bloodline."

Throughout history, no matter how powerful a dynasty was, it could not escape the cycle of order, chaos, rise and fall.

The principle that things will inevitably reverse when they reach their extremes and decline when they reach their peak is itself in line with the ultimate truth of the universe.

This applies to dynasties as well as aristocratic families.

As the only four remaining great families today, they have seen through many things after a thousand years of ups and downs.

Those families that were once powerful and famous all eventually collapsed and disappeared without exception.

That's why they call themselves the "Hidden Clan," believing that as long as they remain behind the scenes and live in seclusion, they can escape the cycle of fate and live forever.

In fact, this method is indeed effective; otherwise, the four hidden clans would not have survived to this day.

But soon, the drawbacks became apparent—

As the clan grew increasingly bloated and large, it gradually lost control. After all, not everyone was willing to hide in the shadows forever. They began to meddle in politics and seize profits without restraint, and the clan thus entered a stage of rampant growth.

The end of prosperity is inevitably decline. Driven by a sense of crisis, the head of the clan began to think of ways to reverse this situation.

The Qi family's strategy was simple—

As long as the family's fortune is tied to the general trend of heaven and earth, wouldn't it naturally break free from its constraints and shine as brightly as the sun and moon for thousands of generations?

"So the Blood Fiend Technique they developed is actually a method for refining dragon energy?"

"Digging tunnels and blasting dragon veins in Kyoto were all preparations for this step, but Chu Heng died at your hands before he could test the feasibility of this method..."

The Empress finally understood why Qi Ye hated Chen Mo so much.

Since the case of the barbarian slave, every plan the Qi family has made has been thwarted by Chen Mo.

“No, the Qi family is just a pawn. The real mastermind is the Emperor.” Chen Mo’s voice was low. “For some reason, the Emperor and the Qi family reached a deal. Although the specifics are unclear, one thing is certain…”

“I am a crucial part of this plan.”

The Empress's heart skipped a beat; in fact, she had a premonition of this.

Chen Mo stirred up such a storm in Kyoto, yet Wu Lie remained silent, which ironically speaks volumes…

"Because you have dragon energy within you?"

"possible."

Chen Mo narrowed his eyes and said, "Although Qi Ye is a direct descendant, he is only responsible for one part of the chain and does not understand many things. However, he once heard the clan elder say: 'Only by breaking the container and getting everything back on track can the clan be reborn.'"

The Queen's voice trembled. "This vessel refers to you?"

“That’s right.” Chen Mo nodded and said, “At least that’s what Qi Ye thinks. It just so happens that I came to Bailu City and ruined his plans, so he simply decided to take this opportunity to get rid of me.”

The Empress lowered her head and fell silent for a moment.

She had initially harbored a sliver of hope, believing that once Wu Lie passed away, she could break free from her constraints and elope with Chen Mo…

Little did he know, countless hands were reaching out to him from the shadows...

After a long silence, the Empress looked up at Chen Mo and said in an extremely serious tone:
"Little thief, let's elope."

Chen Mo: ∑(O_O；)?

(End of this chapter)