Hearing Zhao Fujin's words, cold sweat trickled down Chen Mo's forehead as he hurriedly said, "Empress, may I speak to you privately?"
"What's the matter? So mysterious..." Although Zhao Fujin said this, she still followed Chen Mo to a place farther from the palace maids, then said, "Go ahead."
Chen Mo stammered, "Empress, you're right; I did get lost. Please don't tell anyone."
After all, if word got out, Chen Mo wouldn't have an easy time.
"Pfft..." Upon hearing Chen Mo's words, Zhao Fujin couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Her charming laughter amazed Chen Mo.
Seemingly worried her laughter might be noticed by others, Zhao Fujin quickly covered her mouth and said, "This is Fengyang Pavilion, the Empress' residence, quite far from Mother's Weiyang Palace. How did you end up lost here?"
Chen Mo explained the situation.
"Food, leaving the palace..." Zhao Fujin's eyes brightened, and she said, "Xiao Hongzi, get me out of the palace, and I won't tell anyone you got lost in Fengyang Pavilion."
"No way, no way."
Upon hearing this, Chen Mo's head was about to explode, frantically shaking his.
Smuggling the Empress out of the palace would be a grave crime.
Getting lost in Fengyang Pavilion didn't cause any damage; at worst, he'd be rebuked or beaten, but at least his life would be spared.
But the former, if anything went wrong, even his kin wouldn't be spared from the consequences.
Since Zhao Fujin moved from Weiyang Palace to Fengyang Pavilion after coming of age, she hadn't left the palace in almost half a year.
She's nearly getting mad from staying in the palace all the time.
She tried asking Father, but he said it was too chaotic outside and wouldn't let her.
Now realizing there's a chance to leave the palace, she wouldn't miss it.
"If you don't take me out, I'll go tell Mother on you," Zhao Fujin said.
"..."
"Empress, even if you tell on me, I still can't take you out. If anything happens, it's a capital offense for me," Chen Mo said.
"How dare you..." Zhao Fujin exclaimed.
Chen Mo quickly knelt down.
He's learned something over the past few days.
When someone of noble status gets angry, you just kneel, and you'll never be wrong.
"You...you..." Zhao Fujin pointed at Chen Mo for a while but couldn't utter any punishment and then said, "Recently, General Wang said Bianliang is extremely peaceful, and under the Emperor's reign, what could happen? Just sneak me out and then sneak me back; there'll be no problem."
"..."
Chen Mo wanted to cry; while nothing might happen to you, I would be doomed.
No matter what Zhao Fujin said, Chen Mo kept shaking his head and wouldn't agree.
"You...you drive me mad!" Zhao Fujin put her hands on her hips, then glanced behind her, and turning back to Chen Mo said, "If you don't agree, I'll tell Mother you acted indecently toward me."
Upon hearing this, Chen Mo turned pale, wishing he could cover Zhao Fujin's mouth, "Empress, such words... cannot be said lightly."
"Will you take me out then?"
"But if we get caught, I can't take the blame."
"Heaven knows, earth knows, you know, I know. If you don't speak, I don't speak, who will know?"
"What about them?" Chen Mo pointed to the palace maids not far behind Zhao Fujin.
Zhao Fujin immediately coughed, turned to the palace maids, and said, "Ling'Er, this is Xiao Hongzi from Mother's palace; Mother misses me, so she sent him here to find me. I'll be visiting Weiyang Palace later; you don't need to follow."
"Yes."
Chen Mo's eyes widened.
Oh dear.
Now you're pushing the blame to me.
Great, I'm doomed even more now.
"How about it, can you do it now?" Zhao Fujin looked at Chen Mo triumphantly, as if saying, isn't my excuse great?
Chen Mo's mouth twitched.
Excellent, just don't say it again next time.
No, there won't be a next time.
"Empress, but your outfit?" Chen Mo pointed at Zhao Fujin's luxurious dress, which no palace maid could afford or be allowed to wear.
If Zhao Fujin wore this out, she'd definitely be discovered by the guards.
...
Zhao Fujin approached the palace maid named Ling'Er.
What she said, Chen Mo didn't know.
All he knew was that when he saw Zhao Fujin again,
Zhao Fujin was already dressed like a palace maid.
"Is this good enough now?" Zhao Fujin looked a bit annoyed at Chen Mo and said, "If you take me out, I can guide you and get you out of the Imperial Palace."
"..."
Chen Mo circled Zhao Fujin.
Hmm, quite a figure.
Even dressed as a palace maid, Zhao Fujin's noble aura couldn't be concealed, along with the pride and confidence in her eyes, which no palace maid could possess.
"What's wrong?" Noticing Chen Mo staring at her, Zhao Fujin's cheeks reddened slightly; no man had ever dared to look at her like this in the deep palace.
Moreover, this man in front of her was quite handsome.
Pity he's a eunuch.
"Empress, do you really want to go out?" Chen Mo took a deep breath.
"Of course." Zhao Fujin thought Chen Mo was reconsidering, furrowing her brows.
Chen Mo scanned around to ensure no one was present, then touched the wall and said, "Empress, forgive me."
"Ah?"
Before Zhao Fujin could react, he rubbed her face twice and swiftly withdrew his hand.
"You...you... How dare you." Zhao Fujin widened her eyes, fingers trembling as she pointed at Chen Mo.
Who could have thought Chen Mo dared to do this to her?
"Empress, pardon me." Chen Mo quickly knelt down.
Now with her face smeared by Chen Mo's dirty hand, Zhao Fujin appeared slightly disheveled; although still refined, she wouldn't easily be recognized as the Empress.
"Hmph." Zhao Fujin snorted twice, then said, "If you take me out, I'll forgive you."
"Alright, let's go."
Chen Mo had already risen; he'd roughly grasped Zhao Fujin's temperament.
She was fairly kind-hearted.
"Ah?"
"Didn't you want to leave the palace, Empress? Now I'll take you out," Chen Mo said.
"Yes!"
"No 'Yes!'"
"Huh?" Zhao Fujin frowned.
"Uh, nothing," Chen Mo said.
"Hmph." Zhao Fujin snorted again and said, "No 'No Yes!'"
Chen Mo: "..."
...
Fortunately, leaving the palace went smoothly.
When Chen Mo took out the Weiyang Palace badge, the guards barely glanced at it and let them out without even asking why they were leaving.
Outside the Imperial Palace.
Chen Mo felt utterly drained, his back soaked with cold sweat, and he let out a long breath.
Zhao Fujin spread her arms, raising them high: "I finally left the palace again."
"Is there so much fun outside the palace?"
"Yes, outside the palace is way more fun than inside."