The Empress hesitated and said, "Don’t overthink it, I’m not letting you mess around. It’s just that if someone sees you wandering outside, it might be hard to explain..."
"All right then, I’ll come in."
"...Mm."
Chen Mo pushed open the door and walked in.
Inside the bathroom, steam swirled around, and clear water gushed from the dragon’s mouth, but the Empress’s figure was nowhere to be seen in the pool.
"Your Highness?"
"I’m here."
A pair of eyes peeked out from beside the island in the middle of the pool, darting about, not daring to look at him, and said timidly, "Just stand there, without my permission, don’t come over..."
"..."
Chen Mo tugged at the corner of his mouth, "As you wish."
The Xuanqing Pool is inscribed with an array that can block divine sense, making it impossible to perceive the internal situation from the outside.
However, while inside the bath, one is completely unaffected, and even though separated by the island, he could still clearly "see" that exquisite scene...
...
...
The Empress scooped up clear water, washing herself.
Not far away, Chen Mo could vaguely hear her slightly rapid breathing... inevitably feeling a bit nervous and embarrassed.
Fortunately, he remained fairly restrained, not taking any rash actions for the time being.
Sensing a subtle atmosphere, the Empress broke the silence, asking, "This time, having obtained ’evidence’ against Yan Peizhi, how do you plan to handle this matter?"
Chen Mo barely shifted his focus and replied, "That is also the purpose of my visit to the palace this time, to hear Your Highness’s opinion."
After all, in some aspects, Yan Peizhi is considered part of the "Empress Faction." Handling it without permission might affect the Eastern Royal Palace’s interests.
The Empress snorted coldly, saying, "After you captured Yan Linghu, Yan Peizhi did not come to see me, but went to Zhuang Jingming instead. This already shows his choice, so there’s no need for me to be lenient."
"As for how to handle it, you may decide on your own without overthinking it."
Chen Mo shook his head, saying, "The Yan Family is insignificant, the key is the Princely Heir Chu Heng. However, he covered his tracks well, making it difficult to seize concrete evidence... Now it seems, I will have to resort to extraordinary measures."
The Empress mused, "The Prince Yu Mansion and Qianji Palace have intricate connections; it may not be as simple as you think... But at this point, there’s no room for compromise, do whatever you have to do. I will clear the obstacles ahead for you."
"Thank you, Your Highness," Chen Mo earnestly said, "Your kindness, I fear I may never repay in this lifetime."
"Hmph, just know it well," the Empress remarked faintly, "If one day, there’s a fallout between me and Yu Youhan, I hope you will stand firm and not disappoint me."
"..."
The Empress seems to have said similar things...
Why do these two keep thinking about fallout, why not tear some underwear or tear some stockings?
Chen Mo knew in his heart that between the Empress and the Imperial Consort there existed irreconcilable differences. Currently, it’s a stable period, but as the plot progresses, conflict will inevitably erupt one day.
With greater power comes greater responsibility; as a supreme elite, the Daoist Venerable should bear the brunt of several wrongs without much pressure.
"This time, you did well," the Empress hesitated slightly, then softly said, "You don’t have to just stand there foolishly, come over and help me scrub my back."
"Hmm?"
Chen Mo looked confused, "Scrub your back?"
"What, you don’t want to?" the Empress lightly bit her lip, her cheeks a bit flushed.
Although Ji Hongxiu didn’t succeed this time, it gave her some sense of crisis, knowing that madwoman is capable of anything...
To deal with an opponent with no bottom line, one must surpass her in having no bottom line!
Chen Mo’s throat moved, "That’s not it..."
"Then why are you hesitating?" The Empress endured her embarrassment and said, "It’s just helping to scrub a back. If you dare to misbehave, I’ll have Eunuch Jin chop you up!"
Chen Mo responded, "I obey Your Highness..."
A rustling sound filled the air.
Followed by a "splash" as someone entered the water.
With the ripples continually spreading, one could feel Chen Mo slowly approaching...
The Empress had her back to him, her heart racing intensely, almost ready to leap out of her chest.

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