I Became the Devil Queen's Heart Demon

Chapter 782 - 293: Relationship with the Empress Exposed?! Dumplings Taste the Best, but Fun Is...

Hearing this, Chen Mo couldn’t help but be slightly taken aback.

"Your Highness means, the one who dragged me into the Illusion Technique is His Majesty?!"

Chu Yanli said in a deep voice, "Even if it wasn’t his direct action, he is undoubtedly connected in countless ways... During this time, Qianji Palace has been so quiet, clearly brewing something in secret. I never expected that he would have made a move on Chu Heng so early!"

Chen Mo was somewhat puzzled, "But isn’t His Majesty already gravely ill? What’s the purpose of doing this?"

A shadow flickered across Chu Yanli’s eyes, without directly answering the question, she asked instead, "Do you know about the royal curse?"

Chen Mo nodded, "I once heard Her Majesty the Empress say there’s also an ancient saying: Destiny has an end, the True Dragon cannot achieve immortality."

The Great Yuan Royal Family has few descendants, but each one possesses extraordinary talent, top-tier both in physique and perception, with rapid cultivation.

The price is a short lifespan.

The average lifespan is only around fifty; the Emperor might live a bit longer, but not more than a hundred years.

And most suffer misfortune in their later years, either plagued by illness or dying in accidents, which is considered a curse hidden within the royal bloodline.

"True Dragon? Perhaps," Chu Yanli sneered coldly, "What if I told you this so-called curse is actually man-made?"

"Man-made?"

Chen Mo’s pupils slightly contracted, remembering the pattern on the Crown Prince and Chu Heng’s words "for survival"...

Could someone indeed be secretly plotting against the Imperial Family?

"Then who exactly is this person...?"

"It hides in the shadows of the palace walls, using bloodlines as bait, lifespans as food. Once I thought it was the shadow of Imperial Power, but actually, Imperial Power is merely its shed skin."

Chu Yanli’s words were obscure, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

A picture emerged in Chen Mo’s mind:

A ravenous malicious dragon perched on the dragon pillar of the Golden Throne Hall, greedily devouring flesh, chewing and swallowing the national destiny, using it as nourishment for itself.

Although Chu Yanli didn’t explicitly state the identity, the answer was obvious.

Chen Mo snapped back to reality, saying, "I came here to ask Your Highness to search Chu Heng’s Divine Soul; perhaps more crucial information can be found."

Chu Yanli shook her head, "It’s useless. From what you’ve described, Chu Heng’s Divine Soul has already been tampered with; key memories erased. Forcibly searching the soul will only alert them; it’s meaningless."

Chen Mo frowned slightly at her words.

He understood this but still felt unwilling because this could be his closest chance to the "truth."

Chu Yanli glanced at him, raised an eyebrow, "You know how deep the waters of this palace are, so why keep investigating? Is it solely for the Xu Family?"

Chen Mo was silent for a moment, then shook his head, "Not just for that, but for myself... Even though Her Majesty the Empress holds me in high regard, I know in my heart that being close to Imperial Power leads to an ill end. I and the Imperial Family are fundamentally in opposition, a conflict that cannot be resolved."

Chu Yanli knows he possesses Dragon Qi, doesn’t Wu Lie know it?

No emperor would accept the national destiny being shared with someone else; sibling brothers can clash, let alone him, a Foreign Minister?

Regardless of Wu Lie’s current stance, the conflict will eventually erupt, or maybe they have already acted and he hasn’t noticed.

The incident in the Imperial Prison just now was a signal...

Chu Yanli’s eyes were full of admiration, nodding, "You see things clearly. Others might have been blinded by the joy of rising to Qingyun, unconsciously drowning in the mirage woven by power."

"However, there’s one thing you got wrong..."

Her tone shifted, "The conflict between you and the Imperial Family isn’t unresolvable. As long as you agree, we can become allies, and I will help you step by step towards the pinnacle of power."

Chen Mo naturally understood her meaning, and shook his head, "I have no interest in becoming a concubine; I hope Your Highness won’t mention it again."

"Not a concubine, a Prince Consort," Chu Yanli said with a playful smile.

"Prince Consort?"

Chen Mo was momentarily stunned.

Chu Yanli said earnestly, "I mentioned before you could be listed as a candidate for Prince Consort, but based on your recent performance, I’m willing to skip that process, straight to the final step..."

"..."

Chen Mo’s mouth twitched slightly.

Did he really perform well?

Could it be she enjoyed spanking him?

"I’m curious, if I become Prince Consort, won’t my political career end? What power will I have?" Chen Mo asked.

Historically, Prince Consorts have always been "honored but without real power," just titular with no political influence.

The reason is naturally to prevent foreign relatives from intervening in politics, avoiding the spread of power.

Chu Yanli lazily leaned against the bed, swinging her fair legs, "That’s in ordinary circumstances. The status of a Prince Consort depends on the current situation; with my full support, who would dare say no?"

Chen Mo realized.

If actual power resides with the Emperor, the Prince Consort naturally steps aside.

But in the current situation, with the Eastern Palace Empress ruling, the Princess commanding troops, raising an "outside relative" is a simple matter.

Back then, the Lin Family was also an outside relative, yet held military power, which is a good example.

"So..."

Chen Mo’s eyes narrowed, pondering, "Your Highness will eventually return to the Southern Border, so you want me to be your ’agent’ in the court? And the risk of my Dragon Qi would be neutralized, becoming your trump card instead?"