Volume One, Chapter 8: Attending the Emperor, Favored Above All Others

How could he be so at ease, so extraordinarily gifted!?

Cao Mo reached out and plucked it.

Not far away, the pile of silver ingots he had tossed on the bedside—over a hundred taels, weighing more than ten pounds—was effortlessly snatched into his hand!

This was no mere old pickpocket using the Flying Dragon Cloud-Seeking Hand technique; this was clearly a mastery of the Dragon-Grasping skill, seizing objects from a distance!

Alright, Cao Mo admitted it.

When it came to the art of deftly snatching flowers, he did indeed possess a certain talent.

If he could easily pluck a pile of silver weighing over ten pounds, then the undergarments on a woman were nothing.

After only two years of cultivation, Cao Mo had perfected the Flying Dragon Cloud-Seeking Hand and even elevated it by one rank; he was quite satisfied.

He then invested his remaining three years of cultivation into the Sun Origin Inner Scripture once more.

[After three years of diligent refinement, your true qi has become even more condensed, and your cultivation has advanced by one rank!]

[Level]: Grandmaster, Eighth Layer

Boom—

His aura retracted!

Though it was only a slight breakthrough, Cao Mo could distinctly feel a qualitative shift in his strength.

Ah, this character sheet is truly marvelous!

Refreshing!

...

The next day, before dawn.

Dressed as an imperial eunuch, Cao Mo made his way to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

He had thought he arrived early, but to his surprise, a number of junior imperial eunuchs were already attending there.

“Cao Mo, come in. His Majesty summons you,” came the call at the hall’s entrance.

Nangong Li, still clad in her pristine white robes, cradling the pale blue longsword, glanced at Cao Mo with her strikingly ambiguous, alluring eyes and spoke coldly.

“Here!” Cao Mo answered promptly and strode into the hall.

As he passed by, Nangong Li frowned slightly—she clearly sensed that Cao Mo seemed somewhat changed.

Especially his face.

Yesterday it was handsome, but today it was delicately beautiful, almost effeminate.

Could it be that this brat, worried about his fake eunuch identity being exposed, had taken extreme measures against himself?

Of course, that was impossible!

Nangong Li gently flicked her fingers, and the pale blue longsword in her arms slid out an inch, instantly enveloping Cao Mo in a razor-sharp sword intent.

“My lord?”

Cao Mo paused, looking both anxious and respectful.

“Go in.”

Nangong Li’s expression remained unchanged as she sheathed the sword once more.

Only then did Cao Mo step forward.

In that brief moment, he felt that even with his Grandmaster Eighth Layer cultivation, he was no match for this white fox-faced beauty.

Only the Sun Origin Inner Scripture’s ability to conceal his aura saved him.

He guessed she hadn’t detected his true power.

Sure enough.

The imperial city was teeming with experts.

Especially this white fox-faced figure, the personal sword guard of the Empress—her cultivation could not be low.

Cao Mo’s slight arrogance from yesterday instantly vanished.

He still had to keep his head down and survive!

Seeing Cao Mo, a newcomer, summoned by the emperor, the junior eunuchs exchanged astonished looks.

They had heard yesterday that a lowly eunuch had earned the emperor’s favor and been promoted to an imperial eunuch.

But they never expected this brat to receive such grace!

Aside from Lord Nangong, the emperor had never summoned anyone to serve so closely.

Damn it!

Was it just because he was so handsome?

...

Entering the Hall of Mental Cultivation,

Cao Mo saw behind a curtain the Empress dressing, her alluring silhouette faintly visible.

Recalling the astonishingly long legs of the Empress he had seen yesterday in Huaqing Palace, Cao Mo felt his heart stir.

Could the Empress be summoning him to help her dress?

He certainly wouldn’t mind!

“Your Majesty—”

“I will attend you at once!”

Eagerly, Cao Mo stepped forward.

But then,

From behind the curtain came the Empress’s cool voice: “Do you know why I summoned you?”

At the same time, the white fox-faced guard appeared behind him, her delicate fingers resting quietly on the sword hilt.

Cao Mo’s heart skipped a beat; he halted.

“I do not know, Your Majesty.”

Behind the curtain,

Xiao Rulong spoke indifferently, “I need you to serve me reasonably, so this favor is only for show.”

“I understand.”

Cao Mo bowed respectfully and quietly retreated several steps, standing on the boundary between inner and outer chambers, speaking with firm conviction, “Your Majesty, rest assured, my loyalty to you is witnessed by heaven and earth, marked by sun and moon; I will never act rashly to cross you!”

In an instant,

Cao Mo understood why the Empress had “reminded” him.

After all, he was a fake eunuch, and the Empress was a woman—she would never let him take advantage without cause.

In other words, her summons were not for actual service but to display favor toward him.

To create an appearance before others that he served closely.

So that when he later switched identities with her, and acted on her behalf to dote on the Empress or other consorts, no one would suspect.

Sigh!

Cao Mo silently sighed.

The passionate scene in the bathhouse yesterday was truly a rare occurrence.

“Good that you understand.”

Xiao Rulong’s expression was calm; after donning her inner robe, she draped the dragon robe over herself and stepped out.

Though dressed in men’s clothing, her peerless beauty, exquisitely carved features, proud chest, slender white neck, and graceful figure beneath the robe all betrayed her disguise.

There was no fooling anyone!

Cao Mo was a little surprised.

Did the Empress truly think that such a female disguise could deceive the court officials?

She was an obvious fake to the eye!

Just as Cao Mo was pondering this,

He saw the beautiful Empress pick up a jade bracelet placed nearby and slip it onto her wrist.

In an instant, her peerless features sharpened, her proud chest vanished, an Adam’s apple appeared on her fair neck, her figure lengthened, her aura fierce and tiger-like, yet still retained a handsome and elegant charm.

If Cao Mo did not know the Empress’s true identity, he would never guess she was a woman just by her appearance.

It was almost indistinguishable from when Cao Mo himself wore that facial mask yesterday!

Well then!

Cao Mo admitted his ignorance.

He hadn’t expected the Empress to possess such a device; the jade bracelet was clearly a rare artifact, likely capable of concealment or transformation.

Far superior to his own “Shrunken Yang Absorption” technique!

...

Leaving the Hall of Mental Cultivation,

The Empress went to the Imperial Kitchen for breakfast.

One had to admit, the morning meal prepared was lavish.

Looking at the array of exquisite delicacies brought out, Cao Mo was dumbfounded.

He had never even seen such dishes, let alone eaten them!

Truly worthy of the Imperial Kitchen.

This fare was far superior to the ordinary meals served to junior eunuchs!

“This soup is good.”

Suddenly, the Empress spoke lightly.

Cao Mo instantly understood and ladled several more spoons into her bowl.

“Your Majesty, if you like it, please eat more!”

Witnessing this,

Several accompanying imperial eunuchs silently chuckled.

The emperor never liked others guessing his wishes—this brat was doomed!

But at the next moment, to their astonishment, the Empress took the soup calmly from Cao Mo.

This, this, this handsome little devil truly deserved to die!