I Became the Devil Queen's Heart Demon

Chapter 1373: Chapter 530: The Empress’s Transgression! Her Secret Exposed! (Part 2)

Lin Jingzhu’s slender hand clenched her dress hem, and her pearly teeth bit her lip hard, leaving a deep red mark.

After a long silence, she whispered:

"I believe in Chen Mo. He said he would marry me, and he won’t break his promise!"

"Even if what mother said is true, as long as aunt doesn’t mind, I accept it!"

"What do you mean by that? What do you mean you accept it?" Lady Jin Yun couldn’t react for a moment.

Lin Jingzhu’s eyes were firm, and she said seriously, "When aunt comes, I’ll make things clear to her. As long as she doesn’t break us apart, it’s fine! We each have our roles; privately, he’s your son-in-law, and in the palace, you call him brother-in-law!"

???

Lady Jin Yun had a face full of question marks.

What is this girl talking about?!

But seeing Lin Jingzhu’s serious demeanor, as if she wasn’t joking, her mouth couldn’t help but twitch slightly.

In royal marriages, it’s common for an aunt and niece to serve the same husband; in early times, there was even a system where "when a prince marries a nation, two nations accompany it, with nieces and sisters-in-law."

Among them, "sister" refers to younger sister, and "niece" includes the niece and niece-in-law.

But the problem is...

This rule applies to the Emperor!

Although Chen Mo is a Third Grade noble, the Thousand Households of the Sky Scale Guard, he is ultimately just a foreign minister. How could he have it both ways?

Unless the Great Yuan changes its surname to Chen, such an absurd thing is absolutely impossible!

"Wait a moment..."

Lady Jin Yun suddenly recalled what the Empress said when the Observatory collapsed, feeling a chill on her scalp, and a bold idea flashed through her mind—

"No way!"

...

...

Inside the wardrobe.

The Empress had heard their conversation clearly, her cheeks flushed red like a ripe apple.

She thought she hid it well, but Jin Yun had long noticed something suspicious!

Even setting aside her identity as the Mother of the Country, as a senior and a "woman with a husband", actually competing with her niece for a man... this shameless sense of betrayal made her wish to find a crack to slip into!

However, Lin Jingzhu’s reaction next was far beyond her expectations!

"What kind of nonsense is this?" The Empress was both embarrassed and annoyed, "This girl is too frivolous!"

At this moment, a pair of big hands wrapped around her waist, and Chen Mo’s deep voice came to her ear: "Actually, what Lin Catcher said isn’t unreasonable. At worst, we can each have our roles in private, and it won’t affect your relationship with your niece..."

"You’re dreaming!" The Empress glanced at him, speaking in annoyance: "Don’t think I don’t know what sneaky idea you’re plotting!"

Chen Mo asked in return: "Then, what does Her Majesty think should be done?"

"This..."

The Empress was momentarily at a loss for words.

She had seen Lin Jingzhu’s feelings for Chen Mo, and completely separating the two was almost impossible...

"Who asked you to provoke me, and then still go and flirt with Zhu’er?" The Empress gritted her silver teeth, complaining: "It was your mess to begin with, why should I clean it up for you?"

Chen Mo consoled her: "I know what Her Majesty is worried about, but once everything settles down, the problem will naturally be resolved."

The Empress thought for a moment and understood what he meant—

When Wu Lie passes from this world, the Chu family’s rule will be completely over, and as the Mother of the World, she will serve a new emperor, not violating the rites but rather solidifying the dynasty and placating the old ministers.

According to the rule of "with nieces and sisters-in-law," adding Lin Jingzhu as an "addition" is quite normal, and no one could find fault with it.

"Is it really going to..."

Thinking of this, the Empress’s heart inexplicably began to race wildly, pounding uncontrollably.

Apart from shyness, panic, and unease, there was also a faint sense of expectation—

In this way, she wouldn’t be considered an unworthy, frivolous woman!

Perhaps, this is indeed the only way to solve the problem?

As she pondered, she suddenly felt something, her body stiffened involuntarily, and she turned sharply, stammering: "Little thief, wh-what are you doing?"

Chen Mo had no ulterior motives, it was just a natural reaction. Seeing the Empress in a flustered state, he couldn’t help but tease her, the corners of his mouth rising in a sly smile, saying: "Of course, I’m doing what Her Majesty hasn’t finished before."

"No, Zhu’er and Jin Yun are still outside, and how can we do this here..."

The Empress struggled anxiously, but the cramped space meant they were pressed together with nowhere to hide.

The most crucial thing was, under the influence of Dragon Blood, she lacked the strength to resist, and after half a day, it only made Chen Mo’s self-control increasingly strained.

"If this continues, something’s bound to happen!"

Although the Empress had prepared herself mentally, deciding to entrust herself entirely to Chen Mo, doing so in a wardrobe was just too ludicrous. If Yu Youhan found out, she would probably be laughed at for a lifetime!

To get this guy to stop, unless...

Resolutely, the Empress steeled her heart and reached back with her hand.

"Hmm?"

Chen Mo shivered slightly, puzzled: "Her Majesty, what are you..."

The Empress’s cheeks were burning, her fair skin blushing red, her eyes glistening, "Let’s just like usual, alright? I’m yours sooner or later, so why rush..."

As she spoke, she stood on tiptoe, lowered her waist, and slowly leaned in—

"Wait a moment..." Chen Mo spoke up.

"What, even when I’ve let you have your way, you’re still not satisfied? Are you trying to push someone to death?" The Empress retorted angrily.

Chen Mo whispered: "Her Majesty misunderstood, I didn’t mean it that way, someone just arrived outside..."

...

...

Tap tap tap—

Rapid footsteps echoed outside the hall.

Sun Senior Palace Lady’s voice rang out, carrying annoyed anger: "I was only gone for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, who let you allow people in?! What do you mean you couldn’t stop them! If you disturb Her Majesty, all of your heads will roll!"

Crash—

The bead curtain was lifted, and Sun Senior Palace Lady briskly strode into the inner hall, followed by two pale-faced palace attendants.

Upon seeing Lady Jin Yun and Lin Jingzhu, her expression shifted slightly, her eyes scanning around, yet she didn’t see a trace of the Empress.

Lady Jin Yun frowned and said: "Senior Palace Lady, why are you so heated? I came to see the Empress with important matters to discuss, why take it out on the palace attendants?"

"The servant greets the Lady, greets Miss Lin." Sun Senior Palace Lady bowed in salutation, saying: "Given the recent turmoil in the Capital City, the Imperial Palace is on full alert, so in these extraordinary times, we must be cautious. I hope the Lady doesn’t take offense."

"No problem," Lady Jin Yun waved her hand, not showing any intention to pursue the matter.

Lin Jingzhu inquired: "By the way, where did Aunt go? Why isn’t she back yet?"

"Hmm?" Sun Senior Palace Lady froze for a moment upon hearing this, "Didn’t you see the Empress?"

Lin Jingzhu shook her head and said: "When we arrived, Aunt wasn’t in this Zhao Hua Palace."

Sun Senior Palace Lady secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

It seems Chen Mo realized someone was approaching and had left with the Empress earlier, as long as their relationship hasn’t been exposed, it’s fine...

"Ahem, Her Majesty is currently reviewing memorials in the Imperial Study, probably won’t come back anytime soon... Wouldn’t it be better if you both rest and return tomorrow?"

"No problem, since we can’t leave the palace right now, I’m bored anyway, I’ll just wait here." Lin Jingzhu didn’t mind, rising and walking toward the small couch.

Sun Senior Palace Lady raised her eyes and suddenly focused her gaze.

She saw that the bedding on the small couch was a bit messy, with a bit of black material sticking out from underneath the pillow, seemingly... like a man’s leather belt?

?!

Sun Senior Palace Lady quickly took a step forward, reaching out to flip the sheet, deftly wrapping up both the pillow and the leather belt.

"These palace attendants are indeed lazy, letting the sheet get so dirty without changing it!"

"Please wait a moment, Miss Lin, I’ll fetch you a new set."

"Never mind, no need to trouble yourself."

"It’s no trouble at all."

Sun Senior Palace Lady carried the bedding towards the wardrobe, silently praising her quick thinking.

"Good thing I reacted quickly, otherwise Her Majesty’s secret might have been exposed!"

"Her Majesty is quite careless too, leaving behind a belt..."

She reached the wardrobe, opened the door, and placed the sheet inside.

Then she froze.

The sheet seemed to hang in mid-air, caught on an unseen obstacle, yet in front of her, nothing was there.

"What’s going on here?"

She reached forward, and her wrist was suddenly grasped, with a familiar voice whispering in her ear: "It’s me! Don’t fumble, just close the door!"

Sun Senior Palace Lady: [・_・?]