I Became the Devil Queen's Heart Demon

Chapter 755 - 283: Mr. Chen’s Subtle Craft, Director Xu in Tears!

Yet beneath the skirt lifted by the breeze, stockings enveloping her legs could be faintly seen; her willowy waist and hips, curvaceous and ample, formed a striking visual contrast.

"Is this... me?"

"That’s right, I’m planning to use it as an illustration in the book."

Chen Mo leaned close to her ear and whispered, "I don’t dislike Director Xu; on the contrary, your jealous look is quite adorable."

Adorable?

Impossible!

But if he could keep lying like this, it would be wonderful...

Xu Qingyi’s cheeks flushed like the sunset spreading across the sky.

Looking at the portrait, her heart raced like a startled deer, nearly leaping out of her chest.

She flicked her hand to send a gentle breeze, drying the ink on the paper, then cautiously rolled it up to avoid creases and placed it in the wooden box under the desk.

Feigning confusion, Chen Mo asked, "I was going to publish it, why are you putting it away?"

Xu Qingyi shot him a playful glare and snorted, "The portrait is so embarrassing, I don’t want others to see it!"

Chen Mo was only teasing her; though the portrait wasn’t revealing and everything but the legs was covered tightly, he didn’t want Xu Qingyi to become the object of other men’s fantasies.

"Then why is Director Xu willing to show it to me?" he asked with a grin.

Xu Qingyi instinctively replied, "You’re not other people..."

Once the words were out, she realized they were wrong. Seeing Chen Mo’s playful expression, her face turned hot in embarrassment and anger, "You’re not other people, you’re a scoundrel! A terrible scoundrel!"

Having said that, she was about to get up and leave.

But Chen Mo held her waist, her rounded curves pressed tightly against him.

"You... you shouldn’t do anything reckless..."

"Who’s being reckless between us?"

"..."

"And you said you’d help me find inspiration; we’ve only written one Chapter, and you’re already quitting?"

"Then what do you propose?"

"Since we’re idle anyway, let’s refine some ink for me, get some ink ready, and maybe wet the brush too."

"Okay."

"Ahem, you got it wrong. I meant refine not that ’ink’."

"...Hm?"

...

...

The next day, at dawn.

Accompanied by the melodious chime, ministers crossed the Golden Water Bridge and entered the Golden Throne Hall.

The golden dragon throne remains empty, behind the bamboo curtain, a bright yellow figure vaguely visible sitting.

"Long live the Emperor! Long live, live forever!"

"Long live the Crown Prince! Long live, live forever!"

The ministers performed the kneeling ceremony.

From behind the bamboo curtain came the Empress’s serene voice, "Rise, my lords."

"Thank you, Your Highness." The ministers stood up.

Eunuch Jin holding the horsetail whisk, voiced sharply, "Bring it forward if you have matters, otherwise dismiss court."

Typically, before these words settle, the Six Ministries and officials would impatiently start bickering.

But today, both sides were unusually quiet, each hanging their heads in silence, creating a strange atmosphere.

"If there’s nothing else, disperse then." the Empress spoke.

Zhuang Jingming, standing in front, hands in sleeves, lowered his gaze, eyes subtly sweeping towards Cabinet Scholar Fu Baiyi beside him.

Fu Baiyi understood, took a step forward, and loudly declared, "I have a matter to present!"

"Speak."

"I wish to impeach Deputy Thousand Households of Sky Scale Guard, Chen Mo, for storming the Prince Yu Mansion, reckless slaughter, privately detaining the princely heir, abusing authority for personal vendetta, unworthy of pardon!"

Immediately, two civil servants with peacocks embroidered on their chests stood out.

"The Sky Scale Guard massacre of Prince Mansion Guards is already an act of treason! Chen Mo defies Eight Discussion Decree, imprisoning Heir of Prince Yu in Imperial Prison, is utterly disrespectful!"

"Crime upon crime, he should be seized immediately and punished severely!"

"I second the motion!"

"I second that!"

Several ministers voiced in agreement.

Facing the ministers’ denunciation, Chen Zhuo remained expressionless and silent, as if the matter didn’t concern him.

"Huh, the Cabinet usually spectates during court chaos, but today it’s quite lively." The Empress scoffed, her daunting gaze palpable through the bamboo curtain.

"Is there anyone to add anything?"

Some ministers felt uneasy, lowering their heads, not daring to meet eyes.

Zhuang Jingming lightly tapped his notebook, Vice Minister of the Ministry of War Lei Xiwen’s eyes flickered, and he stepped forward: "Your Highness, according to my knowledge, at the time of the incident, East City Military Department received an emergency signal from Prince Mansion, Commander Lin Junxian immediately led troops to the site, just in time to witness the Sky Scale Guard’s wrongdoing!"

"While reasoning with them, Lin Junxian was stabbed by Chen Mo, severely injured, and still has not fully recovered!"

"I hope Your Highness will discern clearly!"

One wave had yet to settle when another rose, the situation clearly was one-sided.

Zhuang Jingming’s lips curled into a cold smile.

Dealing with just a Deputy Thousand Households of the Sky Scale Guard was not worth such a huge fuss; his target was actually the Empress.

The sudden appearance of the Crown Prince in the court last time sent out a signal—

The Qianji Palace was well aware of the court situation and had not lost control over the Eastern Royal Palace.

Though the Empress was acting as regent, she was merely a proxy for power, the Emperor could reduce her to her original status with a single word.

This time, as the Sky Scale Guard arrested Chu Heng, he had to take a stand, to remove the blame placed on him, and to also convey the Jiang Family’s attitude to the Empress—do not dream of severing ties with the family!

"Alright, let’s handle this matter by matter then."

Upon hearing the Empress’s calm tone, Zhuang Jingming’s brows furrowed slightly, a faint unease rising in his heart.

"Let’s begin with the forceful entry into the Prince Yu Mansion and the massacre of the Prince Mansion Guards. I happen to have an image that I wish to show everyone."

"Eunuch Jin,"

"Yes."

Eunuch Jin took out an Image Stone from his sleeve, infused True Yuan into it, and projected the image into the air of the hall.

It showed the entirety of the Sky Scale Guard’s law enforcement, clearly recording everything from their entry into the Prince Mansion. Even after Chen Mo presented documents and the Token, the Prince Mansion Guards still resisted with knives, eventually leading to the conflict.

When the scene reached the study, upon seeing the secret room’s interior, a collective gasp resounded in the hall!

Then, when the Military Prison arrived and saw that it was Lin Junxian who moved first, Lei Xiwen’s face turned slightly pale.

"Do any of you have anything else to say?" inquired the Empress.

The ministers who had spoken up earlier now looked at each other, all falling silent.

Fu Baiyi cleared his throat and said, "Even if the Heir of Prince Yu is guilty, an investigation should first be conducted before deciding whether to arrest him. Sending a member of the royal family to the Imperial Prison without sufficient evidence is neither compliant with regulations nor legal!"

"As I said, this case is of great importance, and special arrangements are necessary, there is no need to adhere strictly to the formality."

"Whether to arrest was a decision made collectively by the Three Departments, the Sky Scale Guard merely executed it."

"As for the evidence you mentioned..."

The Empress looked up at Yan Peizhi and asked, "As far as I know, the Three Departments have held an initial audit, and Lord Yan should have participated, what was the result?"

Everyone turned their heads, focusing on Yan Peizhi.

Yan Peizhi stepped aside, bowed his hands, and replied, "Your Highness, Chu Heng has already confessed."

"Confessed?!"

"Is it true or not?!"

"Even if he did it, he wouldn’t confess! Could it be a forced confession?!"

"Wait, we don’t know what he confessed to, it might just be some trivial matter..."

The assembled ministers discussed among themselves.

"Silence!" Eunuch Jin called out.

When the hall quieted down, the Empress continued to ask, "Since this is the case, is there a confession?"

"Yes, not only is there a confession, but also the image from the day of the interrogation. I ask Your Highness to take a look." Yan Peizhi took out the xuan paper and round stone from his sleeve and presented them.

Eunuch Jin stepped forward to receive them, ready to pass them to the Empress, but heard her calmly say, "Since everyone is so concerned about this case, we might as well show it so everyone can see."

"Yes."

Eunuch Jin activated the Image Stone, and the scene surfaced in the air of the hall.

Clatter—

The sound of chains scraping the ground was heard.

Seeing Chu Heng’s miserable state, there were some aghast expressions among the crowd; they hadn’t expected Chen Mo to be so bold as to apply all the practices of the Imperial Prison on a princely heir!

This is the Emperor’s own nephew!

Zhuang Jingming shook his head secretly.

"Courting death."

"I said this boy was too youthful and impulsive, bound to fall sooner or later..."

However, the conversation that followed left his expression frozen.

[Who are you?]

[...Chu Heng.]

[What crime did you commit?]

[Murder.]

[Who did you kill?]

[Assistant Minister of Jingzhao Mansion Zhu Qiming, doctor of the Ritual Department Zhu Chen, Chief of the Directly Affiliated Department Gao Jun...]

[Why did you kill them?]

[They knew too much, had to die...]

The scene instantly fell silent!

...

...

ps: My computer broke down, so I have to type on my phone, which is quite awkward.