Chapter 99 Late Autumn, I have a gift for you (Please subscribe!)

The palace walls were high, the inner gardens solemn.

After entering the harem, Chen Mo headed straight for Donghua Avenue.

The consorts and palace maids passing by, thinking a man had entered the harem, immediately began to watch eagerly.

There was even some inexplicable excitement in their eyes.

The palace walls were high; weren’t they all living lonely lives in the deep palace?

At this moment, seeing a complete man was like a cat seeing a fish.

Chen Mo was even stopped and questioned once by the Inner Court people.

Fortunately, all the procedures were complete, with all kinds of identification.

Proving he was just a eunuch wearing a moon-white robe.

However, this trip inevitably caused a stir.

So Chen Mo took a large detour, took a jade hairpin and some rouge and face powder from his baggage, stuffed them into his bosom, tied up the baggage, and hid it in the treetop of a tree.

After all, carrying a baggage inside, if Ye Wanqiu asked, apart from what was for her, for whom the rest was, Chen Mo would have a hard time explaining.

Then he climbed over the wall into Jingru Palace.

Qing Shuang, just arranging for the palace maids and eunuchs to get busy, was startled to see Chen Mo climbing over the wall.

Chen Mo hurriedly covered her mouth and said, "Don’t scream, it’s me."

"Chen Hong? Why...are you here again? And climbing over the wall, why are you dressed like this?"

Qing Shuang blushed, took the hand from her mouth, asked several questions in a row to Chen Mo, and made a teasing remark: "Are you intending to be a flower thief?"

To be honest, although Chen Mo was handsome, Qing Shuang had never thought of him in that way before.

But now, seeing him in these clothes, Qing Shuang felt as if she had seen her heart’s desire.

After all, who doesn’t like a handsome, tall man with an air of nobility?

Especially since Chen Mo had left a good impression in her mind.

"The Empress arranged for me to work at the Infantry Department again, so I changed into these clothes for convenience. The reason for climbing over the wall was to avoid misunderstanding."

Chen Mo explained a few words, and immediately said: "Is the Empress in? I came to see how far the mahjong has progressed?"

"Hmph." Hearing the word mahjong, Qing Shuang, who had been in a good mood, immediately let out a cold snort, saying, "How dare you ask, I’ve never seen the Empress so engrossed, using her rest time to make mahjong for you at noon."

Hearing this, Chen Mo was startled, almost thinking she had discovered his affair with Ye Wanqiu.

Luckily, she was just venting her inner feelings.

Chen Mo smiled, continued to say: "Is the Empress in the palace?"

Qing Shuang glared at him, nodded, and said: "The Empress is inside. Since you are here, help the Empress color the characters on the bamboo tiles."

Chen Mo nodded.

Then, under Qing Shuang’s guidance, he entered Ye Wanqiu’s sleeping quarters.

"Empress, Chen Hong is here."

Qing Shuang lifted the bead curtain and respectfully informed Ye Wanqiu.

"Pa!"

Inside the chamber, there was some sound of fluster.

"Empress, are you okay?"

"I’m fine, you... let him come in."

"Alright. The Empress asks you to come in..."

Chen Mo walked in.

Before the bed, Ye Wanqiu, in a cyan summer dress, was reclining on the mat. Holding a carving knife, her face reddened, unsure where to fix her gaze as Chen Mo entered.

"Empress, are you okay? Why is your face so red?" Qing Shuang asked, hurriedly going over to check Ye Wanqiu’s condition.

"Hot... It’s hot."

Ye Wanqiu wasn’t hot—instead, at the sight or even the mention of Chen Mo, her mind replayed last night’s events. Especially with Chen Mo’s current attire, it reminded her of the male lead in a novel, making it difficult for her to stay composed.

Moreover, this mischievous man was staring at her while Qing Shuang wasn’t watching.

That gaze immediately made her face flush with warmth.

"Hot?"

Qing Shuang looked at the large ice block inside the wooden basin before Ye Wanqiu, issued to the consorts by the Ministry of Internal Affairs for cooling, and felt a chill just approaching it.

How could it be hot...

"Miss Qing Shuang, how about this? Since the Empress is hot, why don’t you take my token and request another ice block from the Ministry of Internal Affairs."

Chen Mo stepped up, took a token from his waist, and handed it to Qing Shuang.

It was the Empress’s waist token given to him.

Qing Shuang was stunned, did not take it, but glanced at Ye Wanqiu.

Ye Wanqiu knew Chen Mo was trying to send Qing Shuang away, making her face redden even more.

Seeing Ye Wanqiu’s reaction, Qing Shuang muttered to herself, is it really that hot?

But seeing Ye Wanqiu like that, Qing Shuang dared not linger, took Chen Mo’s token, and left the sleeping quarters.

Due to the previous two times Chen Mo resolved situations, coupled with his impression of being honorable, Qing Shuang already regarded him as a gentleman.

Therefore, Qing Shuang did not worry that Chen Mo would do anything to Ye Wanqiu in her absence.

Watching Qing Shuang’s departing figure, Ye Wanqiu’s heart beat faster.

Sure enough, after Qing Shuang left, Chen Mo sat directly beside her, casually holding her hand, and asked, "Wanqiu, where’s Rice Ball?"

"Quit... with the touching." Ye Wanqiu struggled a bit, finding she couldn’t break free, and then said, "Under the bed to cool off. Rice Ball went under there to rest after lunch."

"Okay, Wanqiu."

Chen Mo released Ye Wanqiu, placing his hand on her thigh.

Ye Wanqiu and Xiao Yunxi were of comparable height, but when it came to leg length, Ye Wanqiu’s were longer—and slenderer and fairer.

He wanted to touch them since last night.

"Wanqiu, aren’t you hot? Why are your thighs cool?" Chen Mo commented playfully as he stroked Ye Wanqiu’s thigh.

Ye Wanqiu suddenly felt as though ants were crawling over her body, with the carving knife losing its strength in her hand. A rosy hue spread to her neck, her skin so tender it seemed it could break.

"You... No, you can’t do this." Ye Wanqiu felt she had no strength to resist him, with her eyes welling with springtime emotion.

"How can’t I?"

Chen Mo directly picked Ye Wanqiu up into his arms, letting her sit on his lap, holding her from behind.

Just lowering his head, he could see the curvature down her neckline...

Of course, Chen Mo wasn’t ashamed of taking such small advantage, immediately bringing his face close to Ye Wanqiu’s ear, and said, "Wanqiu, close your eyes. I have a gift for you."

Ye Wanqiu thought Chen Mo was going to kiss her again, and though she anticipated it, her internal sense of propriety made her say, "We... can’t do this, I’m the Emperor’s consort."

"But you aren’t his woman."

"Hmm?"

"He hasn’t touched you."

"You... How do you know?" Ye Wanqiu widened her eyes; she had never told anyone about something like this.

"A secret. Rest assured, I won’t force you if you’re unwilling; I truly just have a gift for you." Chen Mo said.

"Liar." Ye Wanqiu naturally didn’t believe it; he said the same thing last night.

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