"Lin Catcher, there’s smoke coming out of your head."
At this moment, Sun Senior Palace Lady walked over and said, "Mr. Chen, Miss Lin, His Highness invites you to dine in the Dining Hall."
Chen Mo nodded his head.
The two followed her to the Dining Hall.
The table was covered with exquisite dishes, all made from ingredients to replenish qi and blood, clearly prepared especially for Chen Mo.
Chen Mo glanced around but didn’t see the Empress, and asked in puzzlement, "Where is His Highness?"
Sun Senior Palace Lady said, "His Highness is busy with state affairs and won’t be joining. He advised Hundred Household Officer Chen to feel at home and do as he pleases."
Chen Mo frowned slightly.
So busy, not even having lunch?
Why does it feel like the Empress is avoiding him...
Sun Senior Palace Lady looked at that youthful face and couldn’t help but feel emotional.
Only at the age of majority, already a fifth-rank Martial Cultivator, able to reach the top of the Cloud Top Ranking, the future is simply boundless!
"Last night, His Highness personally tended to you by your bedside until late, showing special care and affection. Hundred Household Officer, don’t let the imperial grace go to waste!" Sun Senior Palace Lady couldn’t help but say aloud.
"His Highness personally tended to me?"
Chen Mo was momentarily dazed.
Recalling that intensely vivid "dream" from last night, an unbelievable thought surged in his mind.
"Could it be... no way!"
After lunch, Lin Jingzhu went to find the Empress, mysteriously not knowing what they were discussing.
Chen Mo wandered idly around the palace by himself.
The previous times he came to Yangxin Palace, he was always accompanied by Eunuch Jin and Sun Senior Palace Lady, only able to walk along the palace roads, but this was the first time he roamed so freely.
The passing palace servants and eunuchs didn’t show any surprise at seeing him, obviously informed in advance by the Empress.
Around him, pavilions and towers were arranged haphazardly, artificial hills and weird rocks stood tall, a clear pond glistened like a mirror, the water rippling, fish leisurely swimming among the green aquatic plants.
Chen Mo walked along a winding path, vibrant flowers in full bloom on both sides, the air thick with fragrance.
But his thoughts were not on the scenery; instead, he was recalling last night’s experience... In a daze, he only remembered holding a girl in his arms who called him Brother Chen Mo...
"Perhaps it was really just a dream."
"It couldn’t possibly be the Empress playing role-playing games with me, right?"
Chen Mo laughed at himself, thinking that idea was too absurd.
Looking up, he realized he had unknowingly walked out of Yangxin Palace’s area, where it was desolate and cold, the surrounding evergreen cypresses standing tall, their dense foliage obscuring the view.
The path beneath his feet had somehow come to an end.
It seemed he was lost...
The Imperial Palace was indeed huge, with each scenic garden looking quite similar, the more Chen Mo wandered, the more confused he became.
Already weak, under the blazing midday sun, he couldn’t help but feel a bit dizzy and faint, fine beads of sweat breaking out on his forehead.
At this moment, he noticed a palace pavilion standing not far away, planning to go over and ask for directions.
Arriving at the palace gate, he knocked on the door ring but received no response.
Finding the door slightly ajar, he simply pushed it open and went inside.
The voice echoed in the open hall.
Chen Mo followed the corridor to the inner hall, where the air was thick with mist, before him was a large bath made of white jade with an island-like jade platform in the middle, dragonhead fountains set in the walls, with warm clear springs continuously gushing out.
Around the bath were tall screens, and against the wall were multi-layered racks and a dressing table made of rosewood.
Having just broken out in a cold sweat and feeling exhausted, Chen Mo couldn’t resist the urge to soak for a while.
"His Highness said to treat the Imperial Palace like my own home, so taking a bath in my own home should be normal..."
He took off his clothes, hanging them on the rack.
Then he stepped into the bath, leaning against the jade platform, soaking in the warm spring water, exhaustion quickly dissipated, and he let out a contented sigh.
Just then, a burst of footsteps suddenly came from outside, getting closer.
The voices of two people were heard:
"Auntie, how did your chest get so big?"
"I was born this way, though I wish they were smaller, hurts my back when I stand for a while..."
"Sigh, if only I could take some for myself..."