Chapter 427: Chapter 176 Breaking Through the Empress’s Final Line of Defense! Lin Jingzhu: Where’s my husband?
The Empress’s cheeks were slightly flushed.
Every time she heard Chen Mo call her "baby," her heartbeat would skip a bit.
She pressed both hands against Chen Mo’s chest, her tone urgent, "Let go of me first..."
"No."
Not only did Chen Mo not loosen his grip, but he held her even tighter.
With his arms around her soft waist, their bodies pressed together, even through the palace gown, he could feel the delicate touch of her skin, as light as a cloud, yet as ripe and juicy as a peach.
The Empress lightly bit her lip.
How annoying, holding me so tightly, I’m almost getting squashed...
"I’m warning you, don’t do this again! Otherwise, otherwise I’ll ignore you forever!"
Chen Mo nodded, seriously saying, "Rest assured, Your Highness, I have a sense of propriety."
The Empress held down the hands at her waist that were constantly exploring, and said with irritation, "Is this your understanding of propriety?!"
Chen Mo replied awkwardly, "Cough, cough, sorry, my hand slipped."
The Empress barely steadied her mind and said, "I’m not joking with you. Consider carefully what I said earlier... You and Zhu’er are quite a match and if the feelings are mutual, I am willing to grant you a marriage."
Chen Mo looked down at her and asked, "Are you really willing, Your Highness?"
Looking into his deep eyes, the Empress felt a bit panicked, and turned her head aside, "Of course I am."
Chen Mo shook his head, "But I’m unwilling."
Upon hearing this, the Empress frowned and said, "Do you not like Zhu’er? What’s wrong with Zhu’er that she can’t match you?"
"Lin Catcher is very good, more than worthy to match me. But the problem is, I’ve already fallen for someone else." Chen Mo said frankly.
The Empress’s brow furrowed tighter, and she coldly snorted, "I know you hold dear your bosom friends, but an imperial marriage is no child’s play; it represents the interests and position of two families, you must think it through clearly!"
If the Chen Family and the Shen Family were to unite in marriage, then Chen Mo would surely belong to the Imperial Consort Faction!
But if he were to marry Lin Jingzhu, his status would be completely "cleansed," and he might even be able to bring the whole Chen Family over!
No matter from which perspective, this is the most rational choice...
Yet, for some reason, an unspeakable sourness rose in the Empress’s heart.
At this moment, Chen Mo said, "I admit that I’ve indeed attracted many ladies, but it was all sincere, never did I treat feelings as child’s play... It is the same in my dealings with Your Highness."
Upon hearing the last sentence, the Empress was taken aback, "What did you say?"
Chen Mo gazed at her, his tone earnest, "The person I like is Her Majesty the Empress."
?!
The Empress couldn’t help but be stunned.
Thump—thump—
Her heart pounded intensely, almost leaping out of her chest.
A trace of blush crept from her cheeks to her neck, like a ripe apple, she said helplessly, "You little thief, what nonsense are you talking? How can you like me?"
"What’s the problem?" Chen Mo replied matter-of-factly, "Your Highness is also a woman, beautiful, with a good figure, although you always like to be stubborn, you’re actually quite adorable... It’d be normal for someone to like you, wouldn’t it?"
The Empress was dizzy from being bombarded by his sweet words, "But I’m the Eastern Palace Empress, how could I have a clandestine affair with an outside minister..."
"Your Highness, isn’t it a bit too late to say that now?" Chen Mo said helplessly.
"..."
The Empress couldn’t find a rebuttal for the moment.
The two had already kissed, and even shared a bed.
Saying such things now would indeed appear pretentious, and somewhat hypocritical...
"What about Zhu’er?" The Empress asked.
Instead of answering, Chen Mo said, "Your Highness, in one’s lifetime, one must live for themselves once."
"Live for oneself once?"
Upon hearing these words, the Empress felt a bit lost.
Over the years, she worked tirelessly, sparing no effort, playing the role of a wise and virtuous Empress to maintain the stability of the court.
But this wasn’t what she wished for, she only did it because the court and Imperial Family needed her to do so.
Yet she never thought about what she herself wanted.
"Your Highness..."
Chen Mo softly cupped her face, his thumb caressing her lips.
The Empress instinctively closed her eyes, her long lashes slightly trembling.
But after a moment, Chen Mo hadn’t made a move.
The Empress opened her eyes in confusion, only to see him smilingly gazing at her.
"I never said I was going to kiss you, why are you closing your eyes, Your Highness?"
"I want to, what’s it to you!"
The Empress glared at him in shyness and annoyance, this little thief is teasing me again!
Before she had time to react, Chen Mo lifted her up by the buttocks, hugging her entirely.
The Empress exclaimed, "What are you doing?"
Chen Mo smiled and said, "Didn’t Your Highness say we shouldn’t get carried away in front of Lin Catcher? Then let’s go to a different place."
"Wait, wait, what if someone is outside..."
"Don’t worry, I’ve used Divine Sense to check, there’s no one else in the entire Yangxin Palace."
With that said, Chen Mo directly carried her out of the bedroom.
Along the way, the Empress was fearful, afraid of being seen, but unable to break free, she buried her face in Chen Mo’s shoulder like an ostrich deceiving itself.
They passed through the palace corridor, arriving at a small room where she usually took a nap.
Chen Mo freed one hand to tightly close the door.
Only then did the Empress breathe a sigh of relief, she pinched his waist in resentment.
"You little thief, you’re really bold, what will happen to my reputation if someone sees..."
Her words were swallowed back.
The Empress bit her teeth tightly, intending to guard the last line.
But Chen Mo merely used a little more strength with his hands, and she shuddered violently, her lips letting out a soft moan, declaring the line totally breached.
"Mm~"
Her body grew soft, involuntarily leaning against Chen Mo.