Chapter 682: Chapter 676-677: Reunion with the Empress Dowager (Part 2)

As their faces gradually drew closer, a strand of Liang Ji’s hair hung down on Chen Mo’s face, tickling him.

Chen Mo could clearly smell the fragrance from Liang Ji’s hair and the scent of rouge on her body. The aroma wasn’t strong, very pleasant, giving an advanced feeling.

"Why so slow, could it be the Empress Dowager doesn’t even know how to kiss?" Chen Mo laughed.

"Of course I do, what do you take me for... a little girl?" Liang Ji said angrily.

Soon, a hint of sweetness came from Chen Mo’s lips, causing him to instinctively lick, like petal-flavored jelly.

At this moment, Liang Ji’s eyes widened a bit and was about to lift her head, but Chen Mo held her head firmly.

Their faces were pressed together like this, Liang Ji’s black hair hung down like a curtain, covering the scene of them kissing.

No one knew how long they kissed, but Liang Ji felt she was almost out of breath, continuously patting Chen Mo’s shoulder, her face flushed red.

However, Chen Mo, as if testing her limits, held her head tighter instead.

Almost three minutes later, Chen Mo finally let her go.

"Huff huff..."

Liang Ji gasped for air, breathing in the fresh air. During those last few minutes, she seemed to have walked through the gates of death, her gaze still slightly unfocused.

After a while, she looked at Chen Mo, who was mischievously staring at her, and said angrily, "Was that fun?"

"Yes."

"Go to hell."

Liang Ji raised her hand to slap Chen Mo’s face.

But naturally, she didn’t succeed, as Chen Mo grabbed her hand.

It seemed like all women were like this, hitting people in this way when angry.

"Let go." Liang Ji bit her lips, angrily.

"You offered your hand yourself, and now you want me to let go."

Instead of letting go, Chen Mo held her wrist closer, then took her fingers and lightly... on those slightly lustrous fingertips.

Liang Ji, who was originally angry, now blushed like rosy clouds, crimson like fire.

This reminded her of when she was little, her mother told her the love story between her and her father.

Her father and mother were childhood sweethearts, playing together since young.

One time, they were playing in the garden, and her mother fancied a flower, so she went to pick it, but ended up being pricked by the thorns, causing her to cry since she was still a child.

Her father, upon seeing this, took her mother’s injured finger, placed it in his mouth, gently sucking on the wound, while tenderly speaking comforting words.

From that moment on, her mother liked her father and remembered this well.

Though it was a small thing, love often happens in the little things.

Liang Ji wasn’t sure why she thought of her parents’ story at this time.

Unlike her parents, although what Chen Mo did seemed like teasing, Liang Ji didn’t dislike it at all; instead, she felt a different sensation inside.

Thinking about when she was with that person, he never did such an embarrassing thing.

Chen Mo released Liang Ji’s hand, suddenly got up, pushed her down, pressing her under him, held her in his arms, and leaned forward, capturing those two lustrous petals.

Liang Ji moaned softly, her already flushed face now adorned with a crimson blush. Strangely, after the earlier events, she had no resistance or hesitations, instead lowering her long lashes, fully cooperating with the young man’s advances.

It wasn’t until her skirt was lifted by Chen Mo did Liang Ji finally react, but by then it was too late.

Liang Ji moaned, ultimately wrapping her arms around his neck, and they kissed, losing themselves.

...

On the other side.

Empress Zhao didn’t always accompany Emperor Yong’an. Although somewhat fond of him, after his reminder last time, she avoided seeking him during the day, afraid of running into Chen Mo.

However, due to the many concubines in the harem, Empress Zhao had nowhere to go, and with Emperor Yong’an’s several other concubines with whom she was already too familiar, there was nothing to talk about when staying together.

Bored and restless, she headed towards Shoukang Palace, intending to chat with Liang Ji.

Due to the frequent replacement of eunuchs and palace maids in the Imperial Palace, the already isolated Empress Zhao became even more cut off.

Moreover, with matters concerning Chen Mo, the palace maids and eunuchs of the harem naturally wouldn’t tell Empress Zhao that Chen Mo was currently in Shoukang Palace.

Empress Zhao went straight to the outside of Shoukang Palace, and just as she was about to have a palace maid announce her presence.

A figure walked straight out from the Empress Dowager’s bedroom, looking smug and content.

That person, wearing a Python Robe, was none other than Chen Mo.

Seeing Chen Mo, Empress Zhao immediately turned to leave.

But Chen Mo also saw Empress Zhao, his expression froze.

However, if he acted secretive, it would only seem suspicious, so Chen Mo directly greeted Empress Zhao, "Empress?"

Hearing Chen Mo’s words, for Empress Zhao to pretend she hadn’t heard would be too conspicuous.

Turning around with a smile, Empress Zhao said, "So it’s Prince Wei."

Chen Mo walked over and bowed to Empress Zhao, "Your subject greets the Empress."

Empress Zhao, in a light gold palace skirt, had skin as white as spring snow. When facing Chen Mo, her eyebrows slightly lowered, and her eyes dropped, avoiding his gaze, showing a graceful and noble aura.

As the current Empress, unlike former Empress Liang Ji and Xu Ying, while Liang Ji and Xu Ying were beautiful women, Empress Zhao was more like a young woman in the prime of her youth, looking youthful and slender without appearing voluptuous.

Moreover, Empress Zhao lacked Liang Ji and Xu Ying’s poise and couldn’t look directly at Chen Mo.

"Prince Wei... no need for formalities," Empress Zhao said.

"Is the Empress here to see the Empress Dowager?" Chen Mo asked.

"Mm." Empress Zhao gave a light affirmation.

Chen Mo said, "The Empress Dowager is inside, she was just discussing the handling of affairs of concubines with me."

Empress Zhao gave another light affirmation, but inside she grew increasingly nervous.

Why is he telling this to me?

Why isn’t he leaving?

Though curious why Chen Mo was there, Empress Zhao dared not ask, only wanting for Chen Mo to leave quickly, avoiding being alone with him.

Empress Zhao already had a bit of social anxiety, and Chen Mo was a "Powerful Minister" who made people fearful, the current Regent King. Empress Zhao was afraid of him deep down.

As for Chen Mo, the reason he rambled on to Empress Zhao was to buy time for Liang Ji, giving her time to tidy up.

After chatting about this and that for a while, when it seemed enough time had passed, Chen Mo took his leave from Empress Zhao.

When Chen Mo left, Empress Zhao finally breathed a sigh of relief, puzzled as to why he asked her such things.

He even asked why her father hadn’t taken the official post in court.

But Empress Zhao dared not let her father enter the court.

The court’s been so chaotic, with Xu Guozhong, then Lu Sheng, and now Chen Mo.

Ministers in court have died batch after batch, like it cost nothing.

Empress Zhao didn’t want her father to end the same way.

...

Inside the bedroom.

"Empress Dowager, the Empress is here," the palace maid reported.

At this moment, Liang Ji had already tidied up, and the windows were opened to let the air in.

"This subject greets the Empress Dowager," Empress Zhao bowed to the Empress Dowager.

"The Empress is here, no need for formality, please sit," Liang Ji smiled.

"Though I am the Empress, I’m still quite inexperienced in handling harem affairs. I’ll need to trouble the Empress Dowager for some time," Empress Zhao sat down, glanced at Liang Ji, then slightly lowered her head, a hint of doubt in her eyes.

The Empress Dowager’s complexion was remarkably rosy.

...

Outside the harem.

Sun Meng came up, reporting on Lu Sheng’s family’s situation: "Prince, after our scouts have tracked them the entire way, Lu Sheng and King Chong’s families have indeed fled to Xiliang. The scouts have already entered Xiliang to track their whereabouts, Prince, should we send troops to Xiliang to eliminate future threats permanently?"

Chen Mo’s eyes narrowed slightly, saying, "For such matters, keep it discreet, too many people going will alert them. First find out their exact location in Xiliang, then we’ll talk."

"Understood."