I Became the Devil Queen's Heart Demon

Chapter 709 - 268: Chu Yanli Forces a Man into Submission! The Empress’s Baby Hero Makes an Entrance!

Chu Yanli pondered for a while before she understood what "those with larger lower limbs" meant.

After realizing, she pursed her lips and playfully gave Chen Mo a sidelong glance.

"You, daring to say such things without a second thought, if this spreads, you’d be charged with grave disrespect!"

"But, actually, there’s some truth to it. The Imperial Music Bureau earns a ton of money daily, and a considerable part of the military funds to suppress the Southern Barbarians comes from allocations by the Ministry of Rites, calling it ’patriotic indulgence’ isn’t entirely wrong..."

?

I just said it casually, and you actually took it seriously!

Shouldn’t you, from a female’s perspective, reprimand me and kick me out at once?

Chen Mo looked down at the Cat Lady furiously pawing her crotch, his eyelids twitching, with an ever-growing ominous feeling... Tonight, it seemed it wouldn’t be easy to pass the buck.

"Although I detest such places, one must admit, they do have their reason for existing."

Chu Yanli grasped her wine cup with her slender fingers, speaking softly, "If not for the Ministry of Rites’ unified supervision, giving those women from criminal families a legal status, they would’ve been devoured by others long ago..."

Chen Mo was silent.

Although the Imperial Music Bureau was filled with oppression and exploitation, it had some official backing, preventing wanton abuse to a certain extent, which was a form of protection.

Chu Yanli drank the wine in her cup, filled it again for herself and Chen Mo, and said, "The reason I called you here today is related to this matter... I heard you’re very close with Xu Yuqiong, her only Esteemed Client?"

Chen Mo frowned, not expecting the topic to suddenly shift to Yu’er, and thousands of thoughts flashed through his mind.

However, this matter wasn’t exactly a secret, and there was no need to deny it, so shaking his head, he said, "The term ’Esteemed Client’ doesn’t quite fit; in my humble eyes, she isn’t some famed courtesan or songbird, but more of... a confidante."

"A confidante?"

Chu Yanli’s movements paused slightly, quite surprised by this answer.

One must understand, women condemned to the lowliest of classes had a social status even lower than commoners, let alone for Chen Mo, a highly favored minister to say such a thing...

Her eyes showed a certain complex expression, as she inquired, "How has Yu’er fared over these years?"

Chen Mo recalled the Empress mentioning the close ties between the Princess and the Xu Family, guessing her intentions, he straightforwardly replied, "Not well. First, she was confiscated and enslaved, then managed to endure harsh times, only to catch Chu Heng’s attention, forced into becoming his spy and nearly lost her life because of it."

"Not just her, the other Xu Family women have also suffered terribly..."

Chu Yanli lowered her eyelids, silent.

From her trembling eyelashes, it was apparent that her mind wasn’t at peace.

Chen Mo hesitated slightly, and said, "After so many years, since Your Highness holds them dear, why not directly rescue them from their plight? It shouldn’t be difficult for you, right?"

Chu Yanli shook her head, "It’s not as simple as you think. To Wu Lie, the Xu Family is taboo. Originally, they were to be implicated and executed, but instead were relegated to menials, which was a result of my efforts..."

"If I intervened again in the Xu Family matters, within twenty-four hours, they’d all meet untimely deaths."

Chen Mo’s frown deepened.

So when the Princess rushed back from the Southern Border, causing a commotion at Qianji Palace, it was for this reason?

Chu Yanli sighed, speaking softly, "This is all I can do; beyond this, I am powerless."

From his few encounters with her, Chen Mo could sense the princess’s innate pride, yet this was the first time he’d seen her so despondent.

It seems even someone as powerful as her couldn’t change everything, and had to choose compromise.

Chu Yanli seemed preoccupied, pouring wine more and more frequently, cup after cup was emptied.

Her snow-white cheeks flushed red, as if rubbed with premium rouge, her eyes becoming misty, reflecting a faint watery glow under the candlelight.

"I summoned you today actually to thank you," Chu Yanli’s voice turned somewhat blurred, her breath permeated with wine fragrance, "I heard from Yuchan, if it weren’t for your presence, the Xu Family’s outcome might have been very tragic."

Chen Mo shook his head, "Yu’er has been kind to me, it was my duty to do so."

"I’ve said it before; nothing in this world is taken for granted." Chu Yanli once again raised her cup and said with a smile, "For that ’confidante’, let’s drink a toast."

With those words, she tilted her head and finished her drink, her actions extraordinarily free and easy.

Chen Mo followed with a drink, inexplicably thinking of Ji Hongxiu... If these two heavy drinkers sat together, who knows who would outdrink whom?

"By the way, there’s something I’m quite curious about."

Chen Mo said nonchalantly, "I heard from Yang Fengluan of the Imperial Music Bureau, that the Princely Heir seems to be searching for something related to the Xu Family’s rebellion..."

Chu Yanli’s wine-pouring hand paused, her eyes flickered with a cold glint, and she sneered, "Do you really think the Xu Family would rebel? Xu Yanlin held a rank of second grade official, with control over the Ministry of War, and was also the royal father-in-law. What reason would he have to rebel?"

"It’s a pity, knowing too much, Wu Lie couldn’t tolerate him..."

"Just remember this, within this Imperial Palace, there are no coincidences or accidents; everything is deliberately orchestrated."

"Now you are thriving in the Capital City, seemingly soaring through the ranks with ease, but do you know what’s beyond the clouds?"

Chu Yanli pressed against the table, leaning in closer, lowering her voice, "Those close to Imperial Power never meet a good end, this has been true throughout history. The more favored you are, the more cautious you must be!"

Chen Mo’s heart stirred slightly.

Was the Princess warning him to keep his distance from the Crown Prince?