Chapter 160

Chapter 160: Spin the Wheel? Someone, attach blades to the wheel and let him spin!

Lao Ai hadn’t wanted to reveal his secret so early.

But now that the National Advisor had just left and the Empress Dowager had summoned him in.

Coupled with her resentful words just now.

What did this signify?

It signified the National Advisor hadn’t satisfied the Empress Dowager!

He might even have been left hanging halfway.

Based on his understanding of women, this was one of the easiest times to take advantage.

Moreover, there was no need to fear these surrounding palace maids.

They were either Lu Buwei’s people or the Empress Dowager’s people.

In the future, they would all become his people.

By then, they would adore his treasure, who would divulge this matter?

Zhao Ji took a deep breath, her face darkening like clouds on a snowy day.

Her silver teeth clenched with grinding sounds.

Her small, tight nose flared with rapid breaths.

That person really said it!

“Hmph, hmph, good, very good.”

Zhao Ji sneered twice, her phoenix eyes filled with coldness.

Lao Ai couldn’t see her reaction through the curtain.

Hearing her say “good,” a great joy surged in his heart.

He knew the Empress Dowager had needs now!

This bet was sure to be right!

But it wasn’t enough.

He had to show the Empress Dowager his abilities.

“Heh, heh, in response to the Empress Dowager, this humble one not only has roots but also has a special skill.”

Lao Ai boldly lifted his head, eager to see what Zhao Ji looked like.

But the curtain blocked everything; he couldn’t see anything inside, not even the bed.

But he was not in a hurry.

He’d come this far; the Empress Dowager calling him in wouldn’t be far off.

“Is that so? What special skill? How do you know… cough, cough, I mean, what special skill do you have?”

Lao Ai’s eyes darted around.

Strange, why do I feel like the Empress Dowager is talking to someone else?

“I’m asking you, are you deaf?”

Before he could think more, Zhao Ji’s cold voice interrupted his thoughts.

Lao Ai thought she was getting impatient.

He straightened his back and proudly said, “Replying to the Empress Dowager, I can spin a wheel!”

Zhao Ji: “??”

“Spin what?”

Lao Ai saw that she didn’t seem to understand and explained proudly, “This little one’s treasure is naturally divine and can spin a tung wood wheel.”

The palace maids nearby were instantly dumbfounded!

Are you made of iron?

Lao Ai looked at their gaping expressions.

Through gritted teeth, Zhao Ji spit out her words, “Really that impressive?”

“I dare not deceive the Empress Dowager. If you don’t believe me, I can demonstrate right now.”

Lao Ai was overjoyed inside.

Caught, she is caught!

The Empress Dowager was already very curious about him.

As long as he proved it, she would definitely treasure him!

Sure enough, Zhao Ji agreed as soon as she heard it.

“Alright, someone, prepare a wheel for him.”

Lao Ai glanced at the palace maids beside him, all traces of humility gone.

He arrogantly ordered, “Did you hear the Empress Dowager? Hurry up!”

From now on, he would be the master here!

Zhao Ji’s urging voice also came, “Remember to add blades to the wheel.”

Lao Ai nodded and repeated, “Yes, remember to add blades… Blades?”

He suddenly realized halfway through!

Panicking, he looked towards the veil, tremblingly said, “Empress Dowager, why add…blades?”

Zhao Ji could no longer suppress her anger!

She shouted, “Why? Of course, to shave off that dirty thing bit by bit!”

“What are you all standing there for?”

“Go and do it!”

A bunch of blind people, letting something like this sneak into the harem without noticing.

So many eyes, and none as discerning as the blind!

Lao Ai was instantly scared out of his wits!

He fell to his knees weakly!

“Empress Dowager, spare my life! Empress Dowager, spare my life!”

“This little one can spin a wheel, but not one with blades!”

Why isn’t this going as he expected!

This isn’t the right script!

She should be eager and treasure him!

Why is she so furious?

Where did it go wrong?

Where exactly is the problem?

A few palace maids were just about to follow Zhao Ji’s orders to prepare the wheel.

They had just lifted their legs when she stopped them: “Stop!”

Lao Ai’s face lit up with hope.

Maybe there’s still a chance to save this!

“Empress Dowager, calm down ~ calm down!”

“How about, how about adding another wheel? Just not the blades, please!”

“If you add blades, I’ll be done for!”

The palace maids also stopped.

Did the Empress Dowager change her mind?

“Take him out and spin there, don’t dirty my floor!”

Zhao Ji was already jumping with anger behind the veil, her smooth, fair forehead even showing veins.

Hearing another word would dirty her ears!

“I’m done for.” Lao Ai instantly turned ashen.

His eyes rolled back, and he fainted!

The Empress Dowager was furious, and the palace maids didn’t dare to delay anymore.

They dragged the fainted Lao Ai out like a dead dog.

“Get out, all of you get out!”

In such a situation, who would dare to stay.

Each palace maid ran out as if escaping.

As they left, they closed the palace doors, to prevent the later screams from further angering Zhao Ji.

The bedchamber suddenly quieted down.

Zhao Ji was shaking with anger, gasping for breath with her hands clutching her chest.

The fury in her heart was like a flood with no place to release!

Suddenly, a warm hand gently patted her soft, slender back, soothing her.

Zhao Ji trembled slightly.

Her anger began to slowly abate.

Her rapid breathing gradually calmed down.

After a long time, a voice came from behind.

“Feeling better?”

The tone was gentle, like a spring breeze in March.

The wind whispered into people’s hearts.

It rendered them completely helpless.

Zhao Ji shook her head gently and whispered, “It’s nothing.”

However, right after speaking, she felt something was wrong.

She quickly sat up and kicked towards the position behind her.

Furiously cursing with an icy glare, “How dare you take liberties with me!”

Li Mo reached out to grab her tender little foot and flung it aside with force.

Zhao Ji almost ended up doing a split!

She screamed in pain.

Her previously angry eyebrows twisted together in agony.

Sitting on the bed with her legs spread, propping herself up with her hands between her legs, she tilted her head back, a look of ecstasy on her face.

Ignoring her completely, Li Mo rolled off the bed to the floor.

“Stop pretending.”

“Weren’t you a dancer? Isn’t doing the splits an easy feat for you?”

“You didn’t even do a proper split, who are you fooling?”

“Not as proficient as my wife!”

“You kicked me while I was comforting you, are you not used to being treated gently?”

“Do you now believe me? So tell me, Empress Dowager, what are your thoughts?”

Li Mo straightened the wrinkles in his clothing.

Then he took a sniff of himself.

Suddenly his expression darkened!

Zhao Ji’s bed had a sweet fragrance that now lingered on his body.

Yan Lingji’s nose was sharper than a dog’s.

The last time he escorted Lady Hu to the Palace of emperor Han, she picked up her scent from afar.

Let alone now that she’s clinging onto him every day.

Going back with this scent could lead to unfounded accusations again.

Zhao Ji remained motionless in her previous posture.

Cold sweat formed on her back and forehead.

Her shapely, slender legs visibly trembled.

Her ten tender toes splayed out like fans.

Li Mo frowned.

Her expression didn’t seem faked.

Even if she could fake the face, the reaction of muscles trembling from pain couldn’t be faked.

Could she have really pulled something?

Too long without dancing, flexibility declining?

Li Mo pondered for a moment, scratching his chin, and said, “Does it hurt that much? Do you want me to massage it?”

“Get lost!”

Zhao Ji suddenly opened her eyes and glared at him.

Her tearful eyes filled with fury.

It seemed it really hurt badly!

“You want my help massaging your thigh? Do you want to rotate positions as well?”

Zhao Ji sat propped up with her legs spread like a female knight.

The red nightgown lay flat on her legs, hiding what was underneath.

Only two small white feet poked out from under the hem.

One on each side, like two little white rabbits peeking from under a blanket.

Li Mo shrugged, “You think I care to massage you?”

Zhao Ji’s pained expression calmed down, and she gazed at him coldly.

With a stern demeanor, she said, “National Advisor, please remember your place.”

She was, after all, the Empress Dowager.

If it were anyone else, that remark would be enough to have them beheaded a hundred times over!

Li Mo sneered, “Did you remember your place when you elbowed me?”

Is it fitting for an Empress Dowager to attack someone from behind?

Zhao Ji’s eyebrows shot up, glaring angrily, “Yet you still spanked me… and whipped me.”

“Such rebellion! I could have your entire family executed!”

Li Mo nonchalantly replied, “If you hadn’t elbowed me, would I have whipped you?”

“Go ahead, but make sure the edict states the crime clearly.”

“The National Advisor committed an unpardonable sin by spanking the Empress Dowager and reddening her buttocks, making the Empress Dowager very angry. Hence, his whole family must be executed.”

“How about that? This way, the whole country will know I committed an unpardonable sin, and executing me will be justified.”

This wasn’t crafting a charge against himself.

It was clearly meant to utterly disgrace her before the entire nation!

The Empress Dowager being spanked by a minister!

She might as well not live after executing him!

“Li Mo, are you feeling proud of yourself?”

Zhao Ji, consumed with rage, lost her composure.

She was so furious she called out his full name!

“Alright, alright, if you keep yelling, the palace maids outside will come in.”

“You don’t want them to see you like this, do you?”

Sitting on the bed with her legs splayed and sweating profusely, Zhao Ji’s appearance made it hard not to misunderstand!

If the palace maids saw this, nothing would become something for sure!

Li Mo pointed outside and changed the subject: “Let’s talk business, how do you plan to deal with the one turning the wheel outside?”

Zhao Ji glared at him viciously, clearly marking him as an enemy.

Coldly, she said, “How else to deal? Chop him up and feed him to the dogs!”

Dare to have such thoughts about a Empress Dowager like her? Even flaying him alive would be too lenient.

Li Mo shook his head and sat down on the edge of the bed.

Zhao Ji immediately raised her eyebrows, lifting her fair chin while gritting her teeth: “Get down.”

I allowed you to lie here just now because of special circumstances.

Do you think you can just get on my Phoenix Bed whenever you want?

Li Mo chuckled.

I’ve already laid down, can’t I even sit?

How is this different from comforting yourself that cheating isn’t betrayal because you used protection?

If you can move, kick me off.

If you can’t, then don’t blabber!

Zhao Ji’s white toes curled up, she had the urge to kick him.

But alas, she couldn’t move!

Her waist felt like it was split and had no sensation!

“This person can’t be killed yet; he might be useful.”

Li Mo leaned his elbows on his knees, speaking kindly.

“Useful for what? To perform turning the wheel for you?”

Saying this, Zhao Ji gave him a disdainful look, sarcastically continuing: “Is it because you can’t turn by yourself that you want to see it up close?”

Li Mo sneered dismissively.

“Turning the wheel is nothing; I can lift a person without using hands.”

Zhao Ji was confused for a moment, not understanding his words.

“What do you use if not hands?”

But soon, she comprehended.

Her pale face from the pain just now blushed red.

She spat teasingly: “Bah, you’re not a good person, I’ll slice you up sooner or later!”

Li Mo couldn’t be bothered to argue with her.

Good or bad, it wouldn’t be her using it anyhow.

“Keeping him alive for now is enough; as for that part, it’s probably already half sliced-off.”

Li Mo didn’t need to look to sense what was happening outside.

Who knows what those palace maids fed him, half of it was already gone yet he could still manage to stick it up!

Lao Ai must’ve fainted countless times from the pain, waking up again only to suffer more.

His wails were horrifying!

Zhao Ji looked at him and asked, “What do you plan to do?”

Li Mo took a deep breath.

Did you trade your brain for your big bosom?

Couldn’t figure it out?

“Lu Buwei instructed him to seduce you, the Empress Dowager, for what purpose?”

“Either to ruin your reputation and pull you down.”

“Or to turn you into an obedient plaything.”

Zhao Ji frowned deeply hearing this.

“Watch your words; such filth is unbearable to hear.”

What teaching, what plaything.

How dare you use such terms for a Empress Dowager!

Li Mo shrugged indifferently: “The words may be harsh, but that’s the reality.”

The first scenario aims to put Zhao Ji in mortal danger, the second to make her wish she was dead.

Both are equally malicious.

“What do you call this? This is sheer treason!”

“Lu Buwei is the mastermind. If this plot gets exposed, wouldn’t such a heavy crime be enough to pull him from his position as Prime Minister?”

Thinking for a moment, Zhao Ji muttered, “Indeed, it would be.”

Instructing someone to tarnish the Empress Dowager, bringing disgrace to the entire royal family.

Even attempting to manipulate the Empress Dowager.

These charges are nearly as serious as rebellion!

After understanding, she asked, “But with just that wheel-turner’s testimony, will Lu Buwei admit guilt so easily?”

Li Mo pursed his lips: “Not wheel-turner, it’s Lao Ai.”

Zhao Ji raised her eyebrows, full of arrogance: “I don’t care what he’s called, is that important?”

Nodding, Li Mo said: “That’s why we need more evidence. Having both witnesses and material proof will make things easier.”

Zhao Ji looked at him with a skeptical expression.

“Lu Buwei is a cunning old fox. Will he let you catch such evidence?”

Li Mo smirked.

“Not only will he, but I’ll make him personally present the evidence.”

Now Zhao Ji was more disbelieving!

Turning her face away with a cold sneer, she didn’t even want to speak.

“Don’t believe me? Then let’s make a bet.”

Zhao Ji turned her head back: “What kind of bet?”

She believed that Li Mo had a way to deal with Lu Buwei, but she absolutely did not believe that Lu Buwei would personally present the evidence.

Li Mo pondered for a moment and said, “If I win and he presents the evidence himself to bring down Lu Buwei, how about you

perform a dance for me in celebration, Your Majesty?”

Zhao Ji, who came from a background of dance, certainly had no problem dancing.

For the Empress Dowager to present a dance, even Ying Zheng had never had such a fortune.

Zhao Ji’s face instantly turned red with anger.

“You truly have immense audacity!”

But then she chuckled, looking at the blindfold over Li Mo’s eyes and mocked, “Even if I danced, can you see it?”

“That’s none of your business. Just tell me if you dare to bet with me or not!”

Zhao Ji was immediately stimulated by his words and felt highly competitive!

“There’s nothing I don’t dare!”

Li Mo smiled, which left Zhao Ji feeling suddenly uneasy.

“Fine then. Oh, by the way, there are spies of Lu Buwei among your palace maids, make sure to deal with them.”

“And make sure the news about Lao Ai being discovered doesn’t leak out.”

Zhao Ji gave him a sideways glance, “No need for your reminder.”

Seeing that he had said enough, Li Mo got up to leave through the window.

Just as he had entered earlier.

As soon as he stood up, Zhao Ji called out to him.

“Wait.”

Li Mo turned around, “What other instructions do you have, Your Majesty?”

A blush suddenly appeared on Zhao Ji’s face, and she averted her gaze.

After mumbling for a while, she finally said, “Could you help me put my legs together before you go?”

Sitting on the bed with legs apart—if one of the palace maids came in and saw this—

How could she maintain her dignity as the Empress Dowager?

Where would her authority be?