"Mmmph!"
Yan Liang glared at Chen Mo with such hatred that he wished he could devour him alive.
Chen Mo remained calm and composed.
He was well aware that if he fell into the enemy's hands, his fate would be a hundred times more miserable.
"Don't be anxious, this is just the appetizer."
Chen Mo snapped his fingers.
Two prison guards came in, carrying dozens of torture instruments and laid them out one by one in front of Yan Liang.
Tongs, files, branding irons, Iron Lotus... each still with traces of dried blood on them, sending shivers down one's spine.
Besides these, there was also a large earthen pot.
"As for the methods of our Government, General Yan must be well aware. Those old punishments like Finger Crushing Punishment, Cutting Tongue, Spinal Severing, Heart Piercing... I won't elaborate on them further."
"What I'd like to introduce to you is a new project of mine: Inviting You into the Pot."
Chen Mo patted the large pot and said with a smile, "First, we'll set up some firewood on the bottom, heat the pot, then stuff the criminal inside. The skin will cook and oil will sizzle, and then while still hot we pull... hey, guess what? When the person comes out, the skin stays in the pot."
Hiss!
The prison guards exchanged glances, feeling a chill in their hearts.
This guy must be the Living Yama...
Yan Liang's face turned deathly pale, cold sweat soaking his prison clothes.
Sick!
This is too sick!
At this moment, in his eyes, Chen Mo was simply like a demon!
"Since General Yan is unwilling to confess, there is nothing I can do. Bring him forward, and let General Yan 'enter the pot'!"
"Yes!"
Two prison guards stepped forward.
"Wait!"
Yan Liang swallowed hard, his voice trembling, "You haven't even asked yet; how do you know I won't confess?"
Chen Mo was taken aback, looked at the prison guard, "Did I not ask just now?"
The prison guard shook his head, "My lord, you did not ask."
"Look at my memory."
"Too focused on the experiment, I forgot the process."
"Cough cough, General Yan, if you have anything you wish to confess, please feel free to speak."
Chen Mo sat upright, casually inviting him to speak.
Yan Liang hesitated for a moment.
Raising a Barbarian Slave could be a major or minor issue.
If it was investigated thoroughly, those high-ranking officials involved would probably not even know how they died!
But given his current situation, it seemed he had no choice...
Just then, Chen Mo casually mentioned, "Oh right, I almost forgot to tell you, your brother has already confessed everything. He said it was all your doing, and that he was coerced by you, with no other choice."
"Impossible!"
"Yan Xun would never do such a thing!"
Yan Liang insisted.
Chen Mo smiled, stood up, walked over to him, and whispered, "He also said that the backer behind you is Prince Yu..."
Yan Liang felt as if he had been struck by lightning, completely soulless.
Chen Mo did not speak, just quietly watched him.
After a long time, Yan Liang spoke with a hoarse voice, "Can you guarantee my life?"
Chen Mo shrugged, "That depends on you."
Yan Liang, defeated, lowered his head and said:
"I have a ledger, it records all the transactions."
"Besides that, I also used an Image Stone to secretly record the process of the transactions, just in case."
"The items are hidden in..."
Half a stick of incense later.
Chen Mo walked out of the cell with his hands behind his back.
The prison guards looked at him with admiration.
He got a confession without even needing to use torture - what a talent, it would be a waste not to keep him at the Imperial Prison!
"My lord, shall we interrogate the other two as well?"
"No need."
Chen Mo said indifferently, "Also, let General Yan be unshackled later."
The prison guards scratched their heads.
Was the lord showing leniency?
And then they heard Chen Mo continue, "Then put him and Yan Xun in the same cell."
"..."
He's still the same Living Yama after all!
The guards could already picture the scene of the two in the same cell...
...
As for the man with the bamboo hat.
Chen Mo had long known who was behind him.
There weren't many in Tiandu City who could order a Sixth-rank Mage around.
But he didn't want to wade into these muddy waters.
Knowing when to stop is just as important as knowing what to take; what credits he could claim, he had claimed - the rest was no longer his concern.
"Time to hit up the Empress for gold coins!"
...
Frozen Sky Palace.
On the terrace, Yu Youhan stood by the railing, looking out at the majestic Imperial City, her eyes deep and thoughtful.
Her mood had been rather foul lately.
The Empress Faction was pressing step by step, continually suffering severe blows in court.
And she herself, constrained by others, had even shown such an ugly state before a man...
"Hu."
Yu Youhan breathed in and out, the Heart Clarity Spell circulating, grinding her stray thoughts to dust.
However, when she saw the "red string" wrapped around her wrist, her just-calmed mind stirred once more.
"Damn Heart Demon..."
"Empress."
At this moment, Xu Qingyi quickly approached, "Your subordinate has an urgent matter to report!"
Yu Youhan sighed silently.
What could be so urgent at this time? It was nothing more than the corruption case in the Ministry of Revenue.
She already had an answer in her heart.
"Yan Peizhi would never give in, would he cling to it to death and drag others into it?"
"No one was implicated."
The female officer declared confidently: "Not only that, but Yan Peizhi also agreed to let the Three Departments intervene in this case for a joint trial!"
"Hmm?"
Yu Youhan's eyebrows slightly raised, her expression one of surprise.
It was such a good opportunity, the Empress had no reason to let it go... unless there was an unavoidable reason.
"You must have something else to report, right?"
"Your wisdom shines brightly, Empress."
Xu Qingyi's eyes twinkled with laughter, "Last night, the Sky Scale Guard's Gui Water Bureau cracked a case of 'harboring a Barbarian Slave'. The culprit was caught red-handed, and it was none other than Yan Peizhi's own nephew!"
"Harboring a Barbarian Slave?"
Yu Youhan was momentarily stunned, then her lips curled up, "It seems that now it's the Empress who will have the headache... The Hundred Household Officer of the Gui Water Bureau is Shen Shuqiu, right? Well done, a reward is due!"
A timely assistance indeed!
Not only did it resolve the crisis, but it also turned the tables on the Empress Faction!
Xu Qingyi's expression was somewhat strange, shaking her head: "The case was led by Chen Mo, the General of the Gui Water Bureau. He obtained the intelligence, planned the operation, and completed it all by himself."
Upon these words, the atmosphere suddenly fell silent.
After a moment, Yu Youhan's voice, laced with a touch of surprise, rang out:
"Chen Mo?!"
...
Chen Mo stood in front of the Qianqing Gate.
With the Purple Phoenix Order in hand, he could freely enter and exit the Imperial Palace.
But to enter the Inner Court, he needed to report separately, after all, hundreds of Royal Harem Members resided here.
"What a waste of divine beauty."
Chen Mo shook his head inwardly.
This Emperor is nearly at his end, naturally lacking both the heart and strength, leaving all these concubines to live alone in their chambers, perhaps soon to be covered in cobwebs, don't you think?
But from another perspective, since the Emperor no longer visits the harem, isn't it an opportunity to do whatever he pleases?
Perhaps there's a party every day...
At this moment, the lightly-browed and clear-eyed Xu Qingyi, clad in a white robe, came over.
"Director Xu."
Chen Mo waved his hand to greet him.
Xu Qingyi did not speak, simply raised his chin, signaling him to follow.
The two of them entered the Qianqing Gate, heading towards the direction of the Frozen Sky Palace.
On the way, Chen Mo asked, "Director Xu, does the Empress know about last night's incident?"
Xu Qingyi remained silent.
Chen Mo asked again, "How is the Empress's mood today?"
Xu Qingyi still did not engage in conversation.
Chen Mo frowned and asked, "Is Director Xu still angry about what happened last time?"
Xu Qingyi glanced at him and finally spoke, her voice cold: "General Chen is quite nosy. What does my mood have to do with you?"
"Director Xu, that's not the right thing to say."
Chen Mo stopped in his tracks and said earnestly, "Although we've only met a few times, we are acquainted, and as a gentleman who respects women, how could I let you sulk alone?"
Xu Qingyi's expression softened a bit, but then he pulled out the Purple Phoenix Order and placed it in front of her face.
"I order you not to be angry."
"..."
Xu Qingyi's fair face quickly turned red, her teeth clenched tightly, and she glared at Chen Mo!
This guy...
Truly exasperating!
...
When they reached the gate of the Frozen Sky Palace, Xu Qingyi left quickly without looking back.
She feared that if she stayed any longer with this guy, she wouldn't be able to resist slapping him to death!
Watching the deep palace doors, Chen Mo's heartbeat increased slightly.
He took a deep breath and stepped into the great hall.
Passing through the curtains, he saw Yu Youhan leaning on the Consort's Seat.
Dressed in simple everyday attire, her figure remained exquisitely obvious.
The hem of her garment was slightly short, revealing her snow-white and tender calves, along with a pair of delicately sculpted, exquisite feet.
Her ankles were slender and delicate, her toes like pearls so clear and tender, irresistibly inviting one's hand to play with them.
"Have you looked enough?"
A crisp voice rang out.
Chen Mo quickly retracted his gaze, bowing his head, not daring to look any further.
"Come here."
Yu Youhan said.
Chen Mo approached, and Yu Youhan retracted her legs, making space.
"Sit down."
"I dare not."
"I told you to sit, so sit."
"..."
Chen Mo hesitated for a moment and then carefully sat on the Consort's Seat.
Only daring to rest on the edge, he sat upright, without looking around.
Observing his nervousness, Yu Youhan couldn't help feeling a touch of amusement. She straightened her legs and placed her feet on his thighs.
Her lips parted slightly:
"Massage my feet."
Chen Mo: "???"