Chapter 163: The Empress Dowager’s Physical Features, Li Mo’s Suspicion!
Still in that pavilion.
Li Mo sat alone inside, waiting quietly.
Soon enough, Li’s figure appeared inside.
She knelt on one knee and said, “Greetings, Master.”
Li Mo nodded, “You came so quickly, won’t the Empress Dowager miss you?”
Li’s body was the personal maid of Zhao Ji.
Just like Gai Nie beside Ying Zheng, she never left her side.
But her strength was not as strong as Gai Nie’s.
“After the master left, the Empress Dowager fell asleep on the bed. I took the opportunity to come out.”
Li Mo was taken aback.
Didn’t she just nap at noon? How come she’s asleep again?
Did he make her too comfortable just now?
“Did the Empress Dowager say anything?”
“For example, badmouthing me behind my back, talking ill about me.”
Usually, he pissed her off so much that she was half dead. Nine out of ten times, she must have jotted down her grievances in a little notebook.
Li gave Li Mo a strange look.
“The Empress Dowager did say something.”
Li Mo snorted.
Figured this old witch was petty and would hold grudges.
“What did she say?”
Li pursed her lips and said, “The Empress Dowager said… she said you’re detestable.”
Li Mo raised an eyebrow, “Exact words?”
“Yes, exact words.”
Li Mo’s expression became interesting.
This doesn’t sound quite right.
On one hand, she says she hates me, but on the other, she wants me to come back tomorrow to touch her leg?
That doesn’t sound like cursing; it seems more like throwing a tantrum.
This old witch, at her age, still acts like a young girl.
Li Mo asked again, “Did she say anything else?”
Li’s gaze wandered, looking like she wanted to speak but didn’t dare.
“Speak your mind.”
Li Mo frowned.
It’s one thing for a woman to be hesitant sometimes, but it’s not good to be hesitant when speaking.
Li didn’t dare to hesitate any longer and straightforwardly said, “The Empress Dowager also said… that you’re treacherous and that sooner or later she’ll behead you.”
Li Mo laughed.
“When did she say that?”
Li glanced at him quickly and replied, “She says it every day.”
Li Mo was stunned again.
“Every day?”
Li nodded, “Yes, every day.”
“Whether I’m here or not?”
Li nodded again, “It was fine before, but in the past few days, she says it at least a dozen times a day.”
She found it strange too.
If Li Mo were here or if he had offended the Empress Dowager somehow, it would make sense for her to say that.
But he hadn’t been here for the past few days, yet the Empress Dowager kept muttering it.
It seemed to be on her mind all the time.
Li looked at Li Mo and cautiously asked, “Shall I just go back and kill her?”
Li Mo was surprised, “Why kill her?”
Li’s eyes instantly showed a cold light, and she said seriously, “If she wants to kill the master, then I will kill her first.”
Li Mo suddenly laughed.
Waving his hand, he said, “No need, she won’t kill me.”
You can’t hide the intent to kill someone in your eyes, nor can you hide the hatred for someone in your eyes.
Although Zhao Ji was full of dissatisfaction with him.
Yet her eyes did not reveal any of these emotions.
However, Li’s loyalty did make him somewhat satisfied.
He said no need, and Li withdrew her killing intent.
“When you’re by her side, pay more attention and see if there’s anything unusual.”
Li asked puzzledly, “Unusual in what way?”
Li Mo pondered for a moment and said, “Everything, especially when she’s bathing. Observe if there’s anything unusual about her body.”
“Especially the chest and lower abdomen.”
Li blinked blankly.
Obviously, she didn’t understand why Li Mo wanted her to observe those two areas.
But she understood that whatever the master instructed, she would do.
Li Mo had no intention of explaining to her.
It was just his own guess.
False or not, the fewer people who knew, the better.
Earlier, when he helped Zhao Ji press her legs, it wasn’t because he really wanted to touch her.
Li Mo carefully examined the muscles and tendons in her thigh.
Indeed, there were obvious strains.
Moreover, her flexibility was not as good as Jing Ni and the others.
Jing Ni and the others practiced martial arts since childhood, so their flexibility is excellent.
Although Zhao Ji did not practice martial arts, she practiced dancing.
As a dancer, her body’s flexibility should not be worse than someone who knows martial arts.
Even if she hadn’t danced for many years, doing a split is a peculiar thing.
Either you haven’t trained and your flexibility is limited, making it impossible to do the splits.
But once you’ve trained, it will never degrade.
A few days ago, just a slight pull injured her hip.
Did you fake your hip training when you were a dancer?
Three more days have passed.
It was time to return to Azure Dragon small pagoda.
After staying inside for a quarter of an hour, she emerged punctually, and her originally whitening skin gradually returned to normal.
“Have you checked the spies Lu Buwei placed around the Empress Dowager?”
Sitting there, Li Mo asked lightly.
“We’ve identified them, including their contact information and marks.”
After speaking, Li glanced at Li Mo before continuing: “Lu Buwei sent that Lao Ai over because she relayed the message.”
“They said… they said you and the Empress Dowager overturned the bed in the bedchamber, so intense that you ripped the Empress Dowager’s quilt apart.”
Actually, Li also wondered if Li Mo and the Empress Dowager had really reached that point.
Otherwise, why did they always send everyone out?
And her hearing was much better than ordinary people.
She has vaguely heard strange sounds from the bedchamber these two times.
Last time, the moaning didn’t stop.
Although it was much softer just now than last time, it was more intoxicating.
Was the master gentler this time?
Li Mo’s mouth twitched.
This palace maid had quite an imagination.
Why didn’t she think that if it were that intense, the quilt wouldn’t have stayed dry?
Could it be that I drank from the Empress Dowager’s cup, and she drank from mine?
The spy Lu Buwei placed must be a novice, not even knowing these basics.
At the Prime Minister’s residence.
Lu Buwei had just entered the study when Yan Ri appeared, handing over a bamboo tube she took from her sleeve. “Master, it’s a message from the palace.”
Lu Buwei’s eyes lit up, eagerly taking it.
He opened the bamboo tube and pulled out a piece of paper, moving close to the candlelight.
He first folded the paper.
Each side of the paper had half a spider drawing, forming a complete spider when folded.
Lu Buwei nodded, then unfolded the paper.
After carefully reading the contents, he took a deep breath and then sneered coldly.
“This Lao Ai really has some skills.”
Yan Ri’s eyes moved deeply.
“Lao Ai succeeded?”
Lu Buwei squinted, lighting the paper on the candle’s flame.
A cold gleam flashed in his eyes.
“Hmph, the Empress Dowager drove out all her maids last night, leaving only Lao Ai.”
“Lao Ai stayed in her bedchamber all night.”
“Looks like I didn’t misjudge him. This Lao Ai has indeed gained favor.”
Lu Buwei initially thought it would take Lao Ai some time to succeed.
Unexpectedly, it only took a few days for him to climb up so quickly.
The information was sent by his spy next to Zhao Ji.
So it couldn’t be Lao Ai boasting.
Such significant progress must be reported to him.
Also, to know his next instructions.
Whether to expose Lao Ai and the Empress Dowager or have Lao Ai control her.
Lu Buwei pondered in the study for a long time.
And was making a decision.
If he exposed the two, Zhao Ji would undoubtedly be impeached by the civil and military ministers.
Even the generals who supported her before would be no exception.
The Empress Dowager having an affair with a lowly eunuch disgraced the entire royal family and Qin Empire.
How could anyone continue to support her!
Even if she didn’t die, she would be imprisoned in the deep palace.
But the issue is, if this happened, her power could likely fall into Ying Zheng’s hands.
Those generals, even if they no longer supported Zhao Ji, wouldn’t come to Lu Buwei’s side.
But if Lao Ai were to control Zhao Ji, it would be quite difficult.
Unless he could convince the Empress Dowager to fully obey him.
After that, not only did no one oppose her, even her Empress Dowager was under her control.
After weighing his options, Lu Buwei made a decision.
No matter what, he couldn’t let Ying Zheng’s power grow.
After all, two years remained until his ascension to the throne.
That time should be enough to control Zhao Ji.
By then, all the civil and military officials would be under his control, so even when Ying Zheng did ascend, he would merely be a puppet.
Thus, the second method was still more reliable.
But before that, there was one person who had to be removed first.
That was the National Advisor who had disgraced him.
Lao Ai had managed to climb the ranks, which meant that the National Advisor couldn’t satisfy the Empress Dowager.
Not only did he need to make him fall out of favor with the Empress Dowager, but he also had to make her personally get rid of him.
Such matters naturally required Lao Ai’s pillow talk.
Lu Buwei picked up a brush, contemplating how to instruct Lao Ai in carrying this out.
Thinking about it, he suddenly let out a cold laugh.
National Advisor, oh National Advisor, you wouldn’t expect an old man like me to use such a method against you, would you?
But still, even in death, you wouldn’t lose out.
How many people in this world have had the chance to get close to the Empress Dowager?
(bgeh) In your next life, hopefully you’ll grow a pair of eyes. When you see me, Lu Buwei, remember to stay far away!
“What are you avoiding?”
“I’m massaging you, and now you’re avoiding me?”
“Why are you so hard to please?”
In the palace bedchamber, Li Mo unceremoniously complained to the Empress Dowager.
Zhao Ji didn’t even know what she had just experienced.
Her cheeks were red, and her phoenix eyes were still misty.
She furrowed her willow-like brows and glanced at Li Mo with a strange expression.
Then she scooted her butt backwards.
Clamping her legs tightly, she said, “No… no more. You, you leave.”
Li Mo straightened up and raised an eyebrow. “Sure? These acupoints I just learned can promote blood circulation in your legs, helping you recover faster.”
Zhao Ji bit her red lips, her expression somewhat flustered.
She urged, “Hmm, no more. You, you go quickly.”
She couldn’t tell if it was the acupoints or the way Li Mo was massaging.
In any case, it felt very strange, unlike any sensation she had felt before.
Previously, palace maids had also given her massages.
Why did it never feel like this?
After just a few presses from him, everything felt wrong.
Li Mo pursed his lips: “Then can I at least have a drink of water before I leave?”
The massage had left him parched, and now she was telling him to leave abruptly.
Full of frustration and indignation.
Unexpectedly, Zhao Ji suddenly became agitated upon hearing this.
Her brows shot up, and she said angrily, “What water? There’s no water!”
“If you want to drink, go back and drink. There’s none here.”
After finishing, she reiterated, “Hmm, absolutely none.”
Li Mo took a deep breath, looking puzzled.
“All I said was to grab a drink of water here. Why are you getting so worked up?”
“Why are you getting so mad out of nowhere?”
He flicked his sleeve and turned his back.
I’m done serving!
“Your water must be so precious, right? I’ve got plenty at home, all different flavors. I’ll go back and drink my fill.”
This person is just…crazy.
Absolutely unreasonable.
Zhao Ji seemed to desperately want him to leave, waving her hands.
“Go go go, I’m annoyed just looking at you.”
Li Mo suddenly paused, then slowly turned back around.
“Am I that annoying to you?”
Zhao Ji let out a cold laugh: “Ha, yes, very annoying!”
“I’m irritated just seeing you. What do you think?”
Li Mo gently nodded, took a few steps forward, and plopped down on her bed.
“Then I won’t leave. Let me annoy you a bit more.”
Zhao Ji’s eyes widened instantly, staring at him in disbelief.
“You… you…”
She didn’t even know how to describe it!
Her status as the Empress Dowager seemed meaningless to him.
Finally, she simply lifted her leg and kicked towards his calf.
Gritting her teeth, she said, “You’ve got some nerve, deliberately opposing me?”
Li Mo lifted his leg and she missed entirely.
Letting out a snicker, he said, “You don’t let me oppose you directly, and now I can’t go against you?”
“Why don’t you just cut off my head?”
After he finished speaking, he suddenly sniffed and muttered in confusion, “What’s that smell? Why is it so fragrant?”
A faint floral scent lingered in the air.
It was somewhat similar to Zhao Ji’s body fragrance, but more intense.
Zhao Ji quickly jumped far away, moving directly to the foot of the bed.
She sat properly with her legs squeezed together, her eyes darting around uncertainly.
“What smell?”
“You smelled wrong, you must have smelled wrong.”
Do you have a dog’s nose?
Li Mo sensed her reddening cheeks once again and suddenly understood something.
Seriously?
Is this really happening?
No wonder she wanted to drive me away.
“Should I leave then?”
Li Mo pointed at the door.
Zhao Ji nodded her head vigorously.
“Hurry and go, next time I’ll invite you for tea, good tea, okay?”
Li Mo rubbed his chin, “You personally prepare it for me?”
Upon hearing this, Zhao Ji instantly became furious.
She scolded, “Bold! Who do you think you are? Even if I prepared it, would you dare to drink it?”
Li Mo nodded, “Then I’ll rest a bit before leaving.”
Zhao Ji was almost in tears.
Her beautiful face suddenly collapsed.
This is really uncomfortable.
So awkward and uncomfortable.
“Fine, I’ll prepare it for you, okay?”
“Just leave quickly!”
She almost pleaded.
She knew that being tough with him was pointless, even cutting off his head wouldn’t scare him.
So she could only try a softer approach.
Li Mo chuckled softly.
Still can’t deal with you?
After a while, Zhao Ji sat by the bed and listened outside.
She couldn’t hear any noise from the outside, but she guessed he had probably left.
She finally let out a heavy sigh of relief.
She squeezed her legs, her brows furrowed deeply.
“Someone.”
Zhao Ji called out towards the door.
A maid quickly came over to await orders.
“Prepare hot water, I want to take a bath.”
The maid bowed slightly, “Your Majesty, a maid is already preparing it.”
Zhao Ji looked at her in confusion, “Already preparing it?”
She usually bathed twice a day.
After the morning meeting, and before bed.
But it was still afternoon, how did the maid know she wanted to bathe?
The maid explained, “The National Advisor instructed it before he left.”
Zhao Ji was stunned for a long while.
He instructed it?
Why did he instruct it?
How did he know I wanted to bathe?
Suddenly, Zhao Ji recalled Li Mo’s earlier words.
She took a deep breath, her face turning red instantly!
Her teeth ground against each other with an audible creak.
“I must cut off your dog’s nose and then cut off your dog’s head!”
An imperceptible chill flashed in the maid’s eyes.
Try cutting him, and see what happens?
I’ll cut you first!
In the mist-filled bathroom, a white and dazzling figure slowly emerged.
Her smooth skin was like jade.
Without any flaws.
Li carefully examined Zhao Ji.
If not for being particularly large, she looked no different from a normal person.
There was nothing particularly unique on her body.
Her abdomen was flat.
Her waist was thin without a trace of fat.
Her figure was better maintained than that of young women.
When Li reported this to Li Mo, Li Mo frowned deeply.
His expression was more serious than she had ever seen.
“Are you sure there’s no difference compared to ordinary people?”
Li thought for a moment and said, “If being much larger counts?”
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