Chapter 42 offended

Chen Mo had just returned to Weiyang Palace when he was stopped by Cai’Er: "Brother Hong, wait."

Chen Mo, who was about to return to the slave quarters, paused and turned around to see it was Cai’Er. Seeing her somewhat anxious expression, he asked, "What’s wrong?"

"I hurt the Empress..." Cai’Er’s eyes were slightly red, her expression appearing agitated.

"Hurt her?" Chen Mo was taken aback, then quickly said, "No, Cai’Er, speak slowly, tell me what happened..."

"This morning, when the Empress woke up, she said her hands hurt and her legs felt sore. Initially, I wanted to call the Imperial Physician, but the Empress said it wasn’t necessary and let me massage her instead. The more I massaged, the more it hurt the Empress, to the point where Wang Gonggong said he wanted to have me beaten to death..." Cai’Er was so scared that she was on the verge of tears, then quickly added:

"Then the Empress told me to find you."

Upon hearing this, Chen Mo immediately understood something and quickly said, "Cai’Er, you didn’t massage the Empress last night?"

Cai’Er shook her head, her voice trembling slightly as she said, "Last night, after the Empress finished bathing, she initially wanted... me to massage her hands and feet, but then Wei Gonggong came with people saying Your Majesty wanted to see the Empress. When the Empress returned again, it was already very late, and she was tired by then, so she went to sleep."

Chen Mo roughly understood the reason and quickly told Cai’Er, "Go get me a basin of hot water and a towel. I’ll grab something from my room and then go find the Empress."

"Yes... yes..." Hearing Chen Mo’s words, Cai’Er quickly took action but suddenly paused in her steps, turned back to Chen Mo crying:

"Bro... Brother Hong, can you save... save me? I’m still young, I don’t want to die. Please help me plead for mercy in front of the Empress, will you?"

Cai’Er was so anxious she was about to kneel before Chen Mo.

Chen Mo hurriedly held her, saying, "Did the Empress say she wants to have you executed?"

If the Empress herself said she wanted Cai’Er executed, he wouldn’t dare to plead for her.

"The Empress... didn’t say it, but at that time, the Empress was in so much pain... tears were flowing, it’s all my fault, the Empress will surely have Wang Gonggong beat me to death..."

The palace maids beside the Empress were all quite attractive, and Cai’Er was a beauty in the making too, with a tear-shaped mole at the corner of her eye. However, her temperament was too timid, and she had only been serving the Empress for a few days, afraid to make any mistakes while serving.

Now, with a big mistake like this, combined with Wang Ying’s cold tone of wanting to beat her to death, Cai’Er’s courage was broken, her mind anxious and unsettled.

Knowing the Empress had been quite fond of Chen Mo recently, Cai’Er placed her hopes in him.

Upon hearing this, Chen Mo’s brows relaxed, dismissing it as merely Cai’Er scaring herself.

At least based on Xiao Yunxi’s current demeanor, she was still quite understanding, and this wasn’t Cai’Er’s fault.

At most, she would be verbally reprimanded a few times, she wouldn’t actually be beaten to death.

Chen Mo wanted to tell Cai’Er to relax, that it was alright.

But seeing Cai’Er’s eyes filled with hope that he would agree, Chen Mo nodded.

This was just a simple gesture, not requiring much effort.

"Thank you, Brother Hong, thank you, Brother Hong..."

Upon seeing Chen Mo agree, Cai’Er immediately showed gratitude towards him.

Chen Mo waved his hand and left.

He didn’t pay too much attention to the matter.

In his room, Chen Mo found the bottle of medicine given by the Crown Prince.

Back then, there was still some left in the bottle.

Now was the perfect time to use it.

...

Upon arriving outside the Empress’s chamber, Wang Ying swung the duster as he quickly approached, saying, "You’re a good one, Little Chen, coming here at this late hour."

"If the Empress has problems, I won’t spare you."

Wang Ying gave Chen Mo a stern reprimand.

Chen Mo retreated a step, avoiding the spit flying out, and listened quietly with his head lowered.

Just at that moment.

Xiao Yunxi’s voice came from inside the chamber: "Is it Little Hong?"

"Reporting to the Empress, it’s him." Cai’Er replied.

"Then Wang Ying, hurry and let him in." Xiao Yunxi urged.

"Understood." Wang Ying nodded, finally allowing Chen Mo to enter.

...

The outer chamber.

Cai’Er carried a basin of hot water, with a neatly folded towel placed at the edge, quietly saying, "Bro... Brother Hong, I’ve prepared what you asked for, the Empress is inside."

Chen Mo nodded, lifted the curtain, and bent over as he walked inside.

"Little Hong, you’ve come?"

There, lying on the soft couch, was a woman with gentle and beautiful features.

She wore a light yellow sheer sleep dress, her hair yet unbound, draped over her shoulders and hung to the bed’s edge, clearly uncombed and unadorned.

Beneath the skirt that barely covered her hips, a pair of full, white, and slender legs were crossed together.

However, her jade-like feet were curled, her brows furrowed with a trace of pain.

Like a trammeled rose.

"Reporting to the Empress, it’s me." Chen Mo said.

Xiao Yunxi nodded slightly and then waved, saying, "Cai’Er, you may leave now."

"Understood." Cai’Er hesitated slightly as she glanced at Chen Mo, and upon receiving his nod, she set down the basin, bowed, and exited.

After Cai’Er left, Xiao Yunxi said, "It’s all my fault for not heeding your advice, Little Hong. When I woke up this morning, I felt like my legs were about to break. Asking Cai’Er for a massage made it hurt even more, so I had her call for you."

"Since the Empress’s Phoenix body is unwell, why not call the Imperial Physician?" Chen Mo asked the question in his heart.

"You don’t know this, but Your Majesty will be going to Saint Emperor Mountain to pray to the heavens tomorrow, and I’m required to accompany him. If I call for an Imperial Physician now, the diagnosis will surely reach His Majesty, and if my condition delays the prayer’s schedule tomorrow, His Majesty will certainly be angered with me."

Xiao Yunxi sighed, her beautiful eyes involuntarily flashing with some grievance.

Although Chen Mo wished for Xiao Yunxi and the Emperor to grow apart, he still said, "The Empress worries too much, His Majesty will surely care for the Empress."

"Hopefully."

"Then does the Empress wish for this servant to take a look at it for you?" Chen Mo tentatively asked.

"Can you do it? If not, I’ll still call the Imperial Physician." Xiao Yunxi said.

"Well, reporting to the Empress, although I don’t understand medicine, I do have some knowledge in this area."

Seizing the opportunity to impress, Chen Mo was eager to take advantage.

Being a special talent student in sports who entered university, Chen Mo had some experience in this area.

"Then... please take a look for me." Xiao Yunxi struggled to move her legs to the bedside.

"This servant apologizes for the intrusion."

Chen Mo approached, but did not dare sit on the Phoenix Couch. Instead, he squatted at the bedside.

Seeing Xiao Yunxi’s delicate, snow-white jade feet, Chen Mo uncontrollably swallowed a bit, thankfully it was subtle and went unnoticed by Xiao Yunxi.

"Empress, this servant apologizes for the offense!"

"Mm." Xiao Yunxi softly replied, her voice like a mosquito’s hum. In truth, she didn’t want Chen Mo to assist her, but she was annoyed with His Majesty. If her injury was known to him now and affected tomorrow’s schedule, she would inevitably face another reprimand.

And Cai’Er was ultimately a common person, unaware of how to handle such matters.

Xiao Yunxi had also considered Wang Ying.

But the old eunuch couldn’t compare to a young, handsome guy.

ps: Little known fact, in ancient times, officials were also selected based on their looks.