Foot massage?
Staring at the Exquisite Feet resting on his thigh, Chen Mo was momentarily stunned.
Could this really be the reward from Her Majesty the Consort?
Moved... he dared not make a move!
Seeing him motionless for a long time, Yu Youhan raised an eyebrow, "Why don't you start?"
Does this Dog-like Lackey despise the cleanliness of my feet?
Chen Mo was silent for a moment, then cautiously said: "I fear the moment my hand touches them, Her Majesty will cry out indecency, followed by a group of guards rushing in to tear me into pieces."
"..."
Yu Youhan indifferently responded: "If I wanted to kill you, would I need to go through such trouble?"
Hmm, that seems reasonable.
With that, Chen Mo hesitated no longer and grasped her bare feet.
The touch was like snow - soft and delicate, boneless, with toes clear and translucent, seemingly carved from rosy jade.
The Imperial Consort's body was spotless, untouched by dust, her feet immaculate and even emitting a faint fragrance.
It was almost irresistible...
Hissss!
Chen Mo timely banished any inappropriate thoughts.
One must not— at least not yet!
Yu Youhan shivered, barely suppressing the urge to kick him away.
Since the last incident, she had been contemplating how to rid herself of the red silk.
Her transformation into a physical entity was due to Chen Mo and so was its unraveling; to truly break free from the bondage, it seemed necessary to start with him.
This contact was a trial.
However, she quickly regretted it.
Chen Mo treated her feet like treasures, cupping, pressing, lightly scraping across the toes...
Simultaneously, warmth surged from her wrist, a throbbing from deep within her soul accompanied by a tingling and itchy sensation at the sole, making Yu Youhan involuntarily moan.
"Mmm~"
"Empress?"
Chen Mo startled, looked up, wondering if he had imagined it.
Yu Youhan turned her face slightly, her lips parting slightly:
"Continue."
"Yes."
Chen Mo redoubled his effort, kneading and pushing with his fingers, employing all the skills learned in his previous life from a technician.
Yu Youhan's breathing grew slightly erratic.
Silently reciting the Heart Clarity Spell, she tried hard to suppress any stray thoughts, but the sensations from her body became even clearer.
To distract herself, she asked: "The case concerning Yan Xun, did you handle it?"
Chen Mo, massaging the Exquisite Feet, nodded: "Upon discovering Yan Xun secretly breeding Barbarian Slaves, I provoked him a bit, and he actually took the bait... There was also a Sixth-rank Mage on their side; thanks to Commander Shen's intervention, the criminals did not escape."
Yu Youhan nodded.
This action was well-timed.
Not only did it prevent further losses, but it also forced Yan Peizhi to concede. If used properly, it could even turn the tables on the Empress Faction!
"Yan Xun is just a small player, not worth mentioning. The important part is who else might be behind him…"
"I've already thoroughly investigated,"
Chen Mo pulled out three items from his chest.
They were: a confession bearing a seal, a thick ledger, and a black round stone engraved with complicated patterns.
Yu Youhan was slightly taken aback, "This is…"
"Yan Liang has already confessed."
"This ledger records all the transaction details, including channels for smuggling Barbarian Slaves into the city."
"And for this Image Stone…"
Chen Mo smiled and said: "Your Majesty will understand once you see."
The Image Stone, crafted by Artifact Refiners, would automatically record the surrounding scenes once True Yuan was infused.
Yu Youhan skeptically picked up the stone, her consciousness delving within, and a sequence of images appeared before her eyes.
Soon, her expression turned solemn.
After viewing all the images, she took a deep breath, a bright light flashing through her eyes.
This object's value was immense!
The officials and nobles involved—if all were to be unveiled, it could cause tremors throughout Great Yuan's officialdom!
"What a big surprise!"
"I wonder what the Empress will think when she sees this."
Yu Youhan's lips curled into a cold sneer.
But she had no intention of exposing it immediately; a trump card only holds power when tightly held in hand.
This confrontation, the Empress Faction was utterly defeated!
And the biggest contributor...
Yu Youhan looked towards Chen Mo, her eyes complex.
Although this dog-like lackey made her so embarrassed, sometimes she even wanted to kill him to feel glad... but she had to admit, as a subordinate, he was indeed very useful.
"What reward do you want this time?"
Yu Youhan asked.
With the experience from last time, Chen Mo's expression was solemn, showing absolute loyalty.
"Having the honor to serve Your Highness is the greatest reward, I ask for nothing else!"
Yu Youhan snorted coldly, "You are quite slick."
No matter how slick, not as smooth as Her Highness's feet, though...
Chen Mo joyfully massaged those delicate feet.
Yu Youhan stretched out a slender hand, and a green Alchemy Pill appeared out of thin air, the air filled with a refreshing fragrance.
"Open your mouth."
Chen Mo did as told and opened his mouth.
Yu Youhan flicked her finger, the pill entered his mouth, instantly turning into a warm flow spreading throughout his body.
A vibrant vitality burst open within, healing all hidden injuries from previous training, and True Yuan circulated more smoothly!
Qi-Blood surged like dragons, and the strength of his body rose more than just one level!
Yet, Chen Mo had absorbed less than ten percent before he reached his limit; the remaining vitality energy was hidden in his Critical Acupoints.
"This is the Nine Revolutions Green Origin Pill, containing Life Essence, capable of growing flesh from white bones."
"After this, you will likely become a thorn in our enemies' side, an inevitable target for their schemes, this might save your life at a critical moment."
Despite Yu Youhan's light tone, Chen Mo recognized the preciousness of this pill.
He solemnly said:
"Thank you, Your Highness, for your gracious gift."
Yu Youhan's expression was cold, "Just make sure you stay alive."
She really didn't want this guy dead before she could free herself...
"I wonder if this Life Essence could work on other objects?"
Chen Mo pressed on the Exquisite Feet while sensing the Critical Acupoints within his body.
After several attempts, he indeed managed to summon a trace.
He merged this trace of Essence into his fingertips...
Yu Youhan's face suddenly changed!
The bearable numb sensation she had just now was amplified several times, her wrist felt burning hot with intense throbbing that overwhelmed her like a tidal wave!
She stretched her legs straight, her arches tightened, all ten toes curled, and her body trembled slightly.
"Your Highness?"
Chen Mo was stunned.
"Get out."
Yu Youhan regained her senses and kicked him out of the great hall.
She then weakly leaned on the chair, her phoenix eyes misty and the rosy blush spreading from her cheeks to her neck.
"Damn it, this damn dog-like lackey again!"
"Someone, prepare a bath for me!"
…
Outside the great hall.
Chen Mo was somewhat confused.
He was massaging just fine, how did he get thrown out again?
The Empress's reaction just now seemed like...
"No, it must be an illusion."
"It's just a foot massage, it shouldn't be that exaggerated."
Chen Mo shook his head.
At this moment, a familiar figure passed by in the distance.
"Director Xu?"
The figure in white stiffened at the sound.
Chen Mo walked up to her, smiling, "We meet again, is Director Xu still angry at me?"
Xu Qingyi's mouth twitched, her voice as if squeezed through her teeth, "Not angry, not angry at all."
"By the way, about the matter I asked you to check last time..."
"You mean that disciple from the Kuixing Sect named Ye Xiao?"
"I sent someone to the Kuixing Sect, but there's no such person at all, are you sure you got the name right?"
Xu Qingyi looked puzzled.
"No such person?"
Chen Mo was stunned.