I Became the Devil Queen's Heart Demon

Chapter 1363: Chapter 526: Empress or Princess, Why Choose? Only Kids Make Choices..._2

"Mr. Zhuang?" Her Majesty the Empress’s voice sounded again.

Zhuang Jingming slowly raised his head, stepped forward two steps, took a ledger from his robe, bowed, and said, "To report to Your Highness, this humble official has here an account book, recording all the Jiang Family’s misdeeds over the years—selling offices for money, openly trafficking in bribes!"

"They not only disrupt the court order, but also attempt to meddle in military affairs. There is indeed suspicion of treason. I ask Your Highness to discern clearly!"

?!

No one had been prepared for Zhuang Jingming’s move.

Everyone knew the Jiang Family and Zhuang Family had always been deeply bound together, their foundations certainly not clean. Now that he suddenly "turned coat," was he not afraid of dragging himself down with them?

Sun Senior Palace Lady stepped forward to receive the ledger and then presented it to the Empress.

The Empress skimmed through it briefly. Her willow brows instantly stood on end as she flew into a rage, raising her hand and slamming the table—

Bang!

"Consorting with powerful nobles, entangling the court, taking bribes in broad daylight, usurping authority for their own gain!"

"Relying on the so‑called name of an aristocratic clan, they dare to act so wantonly, turning the entire court into a leaking sieve. Their crimes are plain as day!"

The Empress clenched her silver teeth, her voice sinking low: "Everyone, be at ease. Even if they are of my own clan, this palace will show no leniency. I swear to pursue this matter to the very end and return a bright Heaven and Earth to Great Yuan!"

Yin Zhao’s brows furrowed even tighter.

At this point, even the dullest among them could see it clearly—Zhuang Jingming and the Empress were clearly putting on a double act, their goal being to use the aristocratic clans as the first sacrificial knife.

Previously, he had received a secret letter from the Emperor, saying that today they would eradicate the traitor Chen Mo, and that no matter what disturbance the Five Cities Military Department might hear, they must not act rashly, so as not to disrupt the grand plan to slay the traitor.

So, just who exactly was plotting rebellion?

Yin Zhao was silent for a moment, then spoke: "The Jiang Family’s crimes can be investigated slowly; whether they are involved in treason remains to be debated. However, Chen Qianhu personally killing people is an ironclad fact. Before the truth is fully revealed, he should be investigated together with the case."

The Empress’s gaze darkened. Just as she was about to refute him, a rush of hurried footsteps sounded from outside the hall.

Eunuch Jin came striding in, bowing as he said, "To report to Your Highness, this humble servant has an urgent matter to report!"

The Empress said, "Speak."

Eunuch Jin cast a subtle glance at Chen Mo and said, "In reply to Your Highness, just one hour ago, some thieves forcibly broke into the Chen Mansion. They happened to be caught on the spot by Her Highness the Princess, who seized them then and there!"

"Forced their way into the Chen Mansion?" The Empress frowned. "Who were they? What did they intend?"

Eunuch Jin replied, "The ringleader is named Wanqi Shuofeng. According to his own words, he was acting on the orders of Jiang Wangye, intending to slaughter everyone in the Chen Mansion, and to join forces with the Qi Family to encircle and kill Chen Qianhu!"

The Empress’s phoenix eyes narrowed. "And why would he want to do that?"

Eunuch Jin shook his head. "This humble servant dares not say..."

"Speak without fear. This palace grants you pardon," the Empress waved her hand.

Eunuch Jin cleared his throat and cautiously said, "According to Wanqi Shuofeng’s confession, the Jiang, Qi, and Wan Qi clans have joined forces, intending to steal the nation’s fortune and usurp the realm. Mr. Chen has repeatedly sabotaged their plans in the past. As long as this stumbling block is removed, their grand design can be achieved!"

"This is the written confession. I ask Your Highness to examine it."

He took a piece of parchment from his sleeve and handed it up.

"Hiss—"

"Usurp the realm?!"

"These bastards really were going to rebel?!"

The gathered officials all sucked in a sharp breath!

If at the beginning it had only been Chen Mo’s side of the story, then with Zhuang Jingming and the Princess testifying, it was now almost an indisputable fact!

Yin Zhao’s face changed drastically. He had just opened his mouth to speak when he was cut off by the Empress.

Her face was covered in frost, her tone like a cutting winter gale: "Since that is the case, there is nothing more to discuss. This matter ultimately involves my own kin; I should recuse myself. I will hand it over to Chen Qianhu and Princess Xuanhuang to handle together. You must see to it that they are wiped out in one fell swoop!"

"Yes!" Chen Mo cupped his hands and answered.

"If it is ultimately confirmed that the Jiang Family truly engaged in a usurping act, then without waiting for His Majesty to speak, I shall of my own accord remove myself from the position of the Central Palace’s Empress!" Having said this, the Empress rose abruptly and swept away.

Everyone present shrank their necks and fell silent like cicadas in cold weather.

Matters had blown up this far, far beyond their expectations.

Her Highness was clearly dead set on cutting down the aristocratic clans, even if it meant turning all of Great Yuan upside down!

Since Her Majesty the Empress had left, the ministers naturally did not dare linger. One after another they bowed and withdrew from the hall.

As Yin Zhao passed by Chen Mo, his steps halted. He looked up and sized him up, his gaze hard to read. "If I’m not mistaken, Mr. Chen should still only be Second Grade Heavenly Person, correct? Yet with your own strength alone, you’ve crossed a realm to slay multiple First Grades. Your skill is indeed quite impressive."

Chen Mo smiled and said, "My skills have never been small."

"Let’s hope so." Yin Zhao didn’t say anything more, just turned and left.

After everyone else had gone, Lv Huaiyu came up to Chen Mo, his tone low. "Mr. Chen, you truly are capable. Far beyond this old man’s expectations."

"Once the arrow leaves the bow, it’s hard to turn back. The victor takes all, the loser is smashed to pieces. The advice from Mr. Wei and Master Lv, I still remember it clearly to this day." Chen Mo said calmly.

"It’s good that you have that awareness. This is a road of no return: once you step on it, there is no going back. Since you’ve taken a seat at the gaming table, you naturally ought to go all in." Lv Huaiyu nodded, then hesitated for a moment and said, "I just didn’t expect that idiot Qi Kaihai would actually get himself mixed in as well..."

Chen Mo knew what the other was worried about and said mildly, "Please be at ease, Grandmaster, this matter will not implicate your esteemed wife. Even if it’s only for Miss Lv’s sake, the Princess won’t hunt them to the bitter end."

Lv Huaiyu let out a slight breath of relief, cupped his hands, and said solemnly, "My thanks, Mr. Chen."

Chen Mo returned the gesture. "Grandmaster, you flatter me."

"Also, I must remind you: this disturbance is only the beginning. What follows will definitely be an even more violent counterattack. You absolutely must not let your guard down." After saying this, Lv Huaiyu left without looking back.

The great hall quieted down, leaving only Eunuch Jin and Chen Mo.

Chen Mo stepped forward and asked, "Eunuch, how are things over at the Chen Mansion?"

"Rest easy, Mr. Chen, your honored father and madam are both perfectly fine. The Shen Family has also sent people to keep watch; nothing unexpected will happen." Eunuch Jin said with a smile.

Chen Mo bent at the waist in salute. "I’m indebted to you, Eunuch."

Eunuch Jin hurriedly reached out to help him up. "This has nothing much to do with me; it’s mainly the Princess. For these past twenty-some days she’s practically stayed at the Chen Family without taking a single step away. Even this confession was something she instructed me to bring over."

There had long been a tacit understanding between Chen Mo and Chu Yanli.

This move of slinging muck onto the great clans could be said to be a coincidence of minds.

And Chu Yanli also knew that Sikong Zuiyue was only putting on an act, so when giving Eunuch Jin instructions, she had specially singled out the Sikong family and taken them out of it.

Thinking of that woman with whom he’d once made a "butt-appointment," the corners of Chen Mo’s lips curved up in a knowing smile.

This woman is actually pretty clever~

Eunuch Jin blinked and said carefully, "Mr. Chen, there’s something I don’t know whether I should say or not..."

Chen Mo nodded. "Eunuch, please speak freely."

Eunuch Jin hesitated for a moment, then lowered his voice. "At first, I was thinking of playing matchmaker for you and the Princess. After all, only with the backing of an army and the status of an imperial in-law can you more conveniently do things for Her Majesty the Empress... But now that the situation has changed, you really need to think it through—do you actually want to become that Prince Consort or not."

"Hm?" Chen Mo froze for a moment. "Eunuch, what do you mean by that?"

"With things developed to this point, the knives are out in the open; there’s nothing left to cover up. Mr. Chen, you don’t need to keep pretending." Eunuch Jin glanced around and then sent his voice over: "Choosing the Empress or the Princess—this stands for two completely different paths. You need to think very carefully."

???

Chen Mo’s expression stiffened.

Before he could react, Eunuch Jin had already slipped away quietly, his voice still echoing at Chen Mo’s ears:

"I mean well. What I said today stays between my mouth and your ears—make sure neither of Their Highnesses finds out..."

"..."

The corner of Chen Mo’s mouth twitched.

He knew his relationship with the Empress had long shown its cracks; there was no way to hide it from the eyes of those around them. But he hadn’t expected Eunuch Jin to be this direct...

Still, what the other said wasn’t wrong. Things had already come to this; continuing to cover it up would just be self-deception.

"The Empress or the Princess..."

"Sorry, but who said this was a single-choice question?"

Chen Mo gave a faint, mocking smile and lifted his leg to head toward the inner hall.

When he entered the inner hall, he saw the Empress sitting in a chair, flipping through the list submitted by Zhuang Jingming, while Sun Senior Palace Lady stood to the side pouring tea.

Hearing footsteps, the Empress raised her head. "Chen Mo, you’re—"

Her words cut off abruptly.

Chen Mo went straight up, slipped an arm around her waist, and lifted her, settling her onto a nearby couch. Then he turned to the dumbstruck Sun Senior Palace Lady and said with a squinting smile, "Senior Palace Lady, Her Majesty and I have an important matter to discuss. Why don’t you step outside for a bit?"

Clatter—

The teapot in Sun Senior Palace Lady’s hand fell to the floor and shattered.

She snapped back to her senses, her cheeks flushing scarlet as she stammered, "Th-this servant will take her leave first!"

With a sweep of her sleeve, she gathered up the broken porcelain, then fled as if escaping.

Chen Mo lowered his head to look at the Empress’s dazed, beautiful face and said softly, "Your Majesty, long time no see. This humble official has missed you to death..."