Because the injury on his butt wasn't healed.
Today, he wasn't going to serve the Empress.
Just as he was about to simulate.
The door was thumped loudly.
That sharp voice, as soon as Chen Mo heard it, he knew it was that damned eunuch Wang Ying.
"Little Chen, the Empress has arrived, still not opening the door to receive the royal presence." Wang Ying shouted in a high-pitched voice.
Behind him, Zhao Fujin said with slight displeasure: "Eunuch Wang, keep it down."
Speaking, Zhao Fujin walked to the door, gently knocked on it, and said softly: "Chen Hong, are you awake? It's me, I have something to say to you."
Upon hearing this, Wang Ying beside him widened his eyes, the Empress actually spoke to Chen Hong in such a tone.
The feeling was that if Chen Hong hadn't woken up, the Empress might have waited outside for him.
Inside the room, Chen Mo hurriedly put on his pants, covered himself with bedding, then lay on the bed, used the Object Manipulation Skill to unlock the three locks on the door, and said:
"Begging Your Highness' pardon, I have already awakened, but my body is unwell, forgive me, I cannot rise to receive the royal presence. If Your Highness does not mind, you may come in yourself."
"No need, no need, I don't mind, I'll come in myself."
Hearing Chen Mo's words, Zhao Fujin pushed the door open and walked in directly.
Upon seeing Chen Mo lying on the bed, the self-blame in her heart surged again, and she directly sat by Chen Mo's bedside: "Chen Hong, are you... are you alright?"
"I'm alright, a couple of days rest, and I can continue to serve the Empress and Your Highness." Chen Mo said respectfully.
Upon hearing it, Zhao Fujin felt even more guilty: "It's all my fault, if it hadn't been for me..."
Realizing Wang Ying was still inside, Zhao Fujin stopped speaking immediately, turned to Wang Ying and said: "Eunuch Wang, please step outside, I have some words to speak privately with Chen Hong."
"Your Highness, this..."
"Hmm?"
"Yes, the old slave will exit now." As he went out, Wang Ying glared at Chen Mo, as if warning him not to speak nonsense.
With the door closing.
Zhao Fujin looked concerned and said: "Chen Hong, are you... really alright?"
"Your Highness, I'm truly alright, see, am I not lying here perfectly fine?" Chen Mo replied with a smile.
Zhao Fujin thought he was deliberately showing that he was alright to avoid worrying her.
After all, not long ago a eunuch serving the Emperor was beaten with fifty strokes, and died the next day.
Chen Hong was hit with a hundred strokes.
Touched, deep self-blame filled her heart: "It's all my fault, if I hadn't forced you to take me out of the palace, this wouldn't have happened."
"Of course it's your fault..." Chen Mo almost blurted out but then said submissively:
"It's unrelated to Your Highness, it's all my fault, if I had been more cautious, perhaps this matter wouldn't have reached the Empress."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Fujin burst into laughter, her voice charming: "Slick-tongued."
"I dare not."
Zhao Fujin snorted, then took out a white jade porcelain bottle from her chest, placed it on Chen Mo's bedside, and said: "Chen Hong, here is the finest golden sore medicine, apply it to... your injured area, it won't take long to heal."
"Thank you, Your Highness." Chen Mo expressed his gratitude respectfully.
"I'm the cause of your condition, and you still thank me?" Zhao Fujin said, pressing her lips.
"I've said, it's not Your Highness' fault."
"Mother says rightly, you indeed are a good person."
Chen Mo: "..."
Seeing Chen Mo's dazed expression, Zhao Fujin laughed again.
Her laughter like blossoming flowers.
Returning to her optimistic nature, Zhao Fujin said: "Go on, ask for a reward."
"Uh... I don't want a reward."
"You must want one."
"Then let Your Highness decide." Chen Mo said.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Fujin thought, then took out a delicate small wooden box from her chest again.
Seeing Zhao Fujin with jade bottle and wooden box.
Chen Mo slightly suspected that the bulging mound in front of Zhao Fujin might actually be filled with these things.
This is too proficient at containing items.
Zhao Fujin opened the small wooden box, inside it lay two dragon-eye-sized elixirs quietly.
She picked up one with some reluctance, then tilted her head to avoid looking at it, respectfully handed it to Chen Mo, and said: "For you."
"Your Highness, what is this?" Chen Mo asked in confusion as he looked at the elixir Zhao Fujin handed.
"This is a Golden Core crafted by my master, after slaying a Flood Dragon in the East Sea, only a hundred and eight pieces per batch, very precious." Zhao Fujin said.
"Master?" Chen Mo was surprised, it's the first time he knew Zhao Fujin had a master.
Indeed, he was but a small figure, how much could he know?
"It's the State Preceptor." Zhao Fujin said.
"State Preceptor?!" Chen Mo was stunned.
Over these days, he roughly learned some information about the Great Song Dynasty.
After the Great Song Dynasty took over the previous dynasty, the sects and religions abandoned by the Grand Ancestor Emperor gradually rose again.
Later, Daoist prodigy Lin Su Ya attached to the Imperial Family, founded the Shenxiao Sect, Emperor Zhao Ji became its leader, and Daoism was exalted as the state religion, Lin Su Ya became the State Preceptor.
Subsequently, Lin Su Ya even used Daoism to extinguish Buddhism, commanding the religious authority of the Great Song Dynasty.
Lin Su Ya was also a First Grade master.
Moreover, among all First Grade masters, she ranked at the top.
And her crafted elixirs, could they be ordinary products?
"Your Highness, this elixir is too... precious, I can't accept it." Chen Mo said, unsure of accepting such a valuable elixir.
"Really not accepting?" Zhao Fujin asked again.
Chen Mo shook his head.
"Alright then." Seeing Chen Mo truly not accepting, Zhao Fujin kept the elixir back and instead handed him a bottle of relatively ordinary elixir.
Of course, ordinary meant compared against the Golden Core, yet naturally it's ordinary.
But in common people's eyes, it's still incredibly precious.
This time, Chen Mo accepted.
Though he desired the Golden Core greatly.
He understood that Golden Core was not for someone of his status to enjoy.
Even though he knew accepting it, Zhao Fujin wouldn't say anything or tell anyone.
If by chance it got out, it wouldn't end well for him.
After all, what virtue or capability did he possess to receive a Golden Core from the Empress.
Was just for taking a beating?
It's different from the Jade Pendant Zhao Fujin had previously given.
No matter how precious the Jade Pendant is.
It's still a mortal object.
Whereas this Golden Core.
Even some Princes or Empresses might not have.
What can be accepted.
What cannot be accepted.
Chen Mo did have a clear sense of.
...
After Zhao Fujin left.
Chen Mo began today's simulation.
Just like yesterday, still brushing for talent.
[Day One: Great chaos emerged, the Great Song Dynasty places raised the flag of rebellion, Heaven is dead, Yellow Heaven shall rise. You are in the Imperial Palace, the safest place in the Great Song Dynasty, having comprehended the Feather Nirvana Heart Scripture early, you are now a Seventh Grade Martial Artist.
The dark night and high winds, you plan to sneak into the Emperor's bedchamber, to absorb the Emperor's Qi from the Jade Seal.
As soon as you stepped into the Great Ming Hall, you were discovered by a First Grade master guarding the Emperor, you died.]