The sun was rising high, brightening the sky with its glow.
Chen Mo munched on a flatbread stuffed with meat, strolling toward Huai Zhen Fang at a leisure pace, just like an old gentleman taking a morning walk.
Clip-clop, clip-clop—
The sound of horse hooves came from behind, followed by a clear, feminine voice:
"Mr. Chen."
Chen Mo turned around to look, seeing several government officers on horseback arriving, led by Lin Jingzhu.
Dressed in white martial attire with a dark blue short cloak over it, she looked valiant and capable.
Approaching Chen Mo’s side, she reined in her horse, dismounted, and smilingly said, "What a coincidence to meet you here again."
Chen Mo nodded, "Catcher Lin, how are your injuries?"
Lin Jingzhu waved her hand dismissively, "Just some superficial wounds, nothing serious."
Knowing her special constitution, Chen Mo didn’t inquire further.
"Why isn’t Mr. Chen on horseback? And your clothes... this doesn’t seem to be the street where Chen Mansion is located, right?" Lin Jingzhu asked with curiosity, then realized her mistake and quickly said apologetically, "Sorry, professional habit; I don’t mean to pry into your privacy."
Chen Mo responded indifferently, "It’s fine, I went to the Imperial Music Bureau last night."
...
The assistant officers behind them bowed their heads, stifling laughter.
Lin Jingzhu’s expression turned slightly awkward, but she soon regained her composure.
Recalling the conversation over drinks yesterday, when Chen Mo said he was going to the Imperial Music Bureau to listen to music and caress a thigh, it seemed he was not just talking... This Mr. Chen was quite the romantic figure.
"Regarding the Demon Clan case, I have some thoughts..."
Lin Jingzhu leaned in closer and whispered softly.
After listening, a hint of surprise flashed in Chen Mo’s eyes.
He didn’t expect Catcher Lin to be so sharp, deducing Zhou Jing’an’s oddity from just a few words.
However, the task given by the Empress hadn’t been completed, and it was definitely not the time to stir the grass and startle the snake.
After some thought, Chen Mo shook his head, "As much as I dislike Zhou Jing’an, to suggest he’s related to this case seems far-fetched; his reaction yesterday was likely just to avoid making enemies."
"But..."
"Evidence is key in everything, Catcher Lin, don’t let personal emotions cloud your judgment."
Without waiting for Lin Jingzhu to finish, Chen Mo turned and walked away.
Watching his departing figure, Lin Jingzhu’s brow furrowed slightly, feeling that something was not quite right...
...
Huai Zhen Fang, the headquarters of the Sky Scale Guard.
As Chen Mo approached the front gate, his acute hearing caught whispers.
"Hundred Households Chu was injured?"
"I heard it was General Chen who slashed him..."
"Really? Regardless, Hundred Households Chu is fifth-grade; there’s a big gap between their rankings!"
"You still don’t know? The Drunken Moon Restaurant on Huai Fang Street has been demolished! Not only did Hundred Households Chu shed blood, but that Chu Chen was even more severely beaten, and there are rumors of fatalities..."
With a bloody conflict occurring inside Tiandu City, involving both the Sky Scale Guard and the Six Gates, by all accounts, this should have been escalated to the higher authorities by now.
But up to this point, Jingzhao Mansion hasn’t made any noise.
Quite evidently, the matter has been suppressed.
As for who managed to suppress it... that was an intriguing thought.
Chen Mo entered the training field, and the chatter ceased, creating an immediate silence.
"Chen Mo."
Li Yuan came over swiftly, her expression concerned, "Are you alright? I heard that you last night..."
"I’m fine."
Chen Mo smiled, "You do realize this can lead to misunderstandings."
Noticing the probing gazes around, Li Yuan’s brows lifted slightly, and she glanced around with an intimidating look in her eyes.
Everyone hurriedly looked down, not daring to take another glimpse.
"Now there are no misunderstandings."
Li Yuan’s dimples showed as she said with a light smile.
Effortlessly switching between the "Fierce Woman" and "Little Kitten," Chen Mo was amazed.
"Hundred Households Chu."
"Greetings to Hundred Households Lord."
At that moment, voices of greeting rose from the crowd.
Both turned their heads to see Chu Zhuo, with a head of white hair, walking toward them, his steps slightly stiff, indicating his knife wound had not fully healed.
Li Yuan instinctively stood in front of Chen Mo.


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