Chapter 89 – Rebirth: The Poisonous Concubine (30)
Yu Chenyi had always known that Bai Mo possessed some special abilities, but since Bai Mo never spoke about them, he never asked. He believed that when Bai Mo was ready, he would naturally reveal them.
And now, Bai Mo was showing off his signature trick—creating something out of nothing. With a flick of his hand from behind his back, a eunuch’s uniform identical to the one he was wearing appeared in his grasp.
“Brother Chenyi, want to come along? I have a full plan.” The boy grinned, his shimmering apricot eyes brimming with excitement. He was inviting Yu Chenyi to join him in stirring up trouble, and if Yu Chenyi refused, he wouldn’t leave the palace tonight either—he had to settle the score.
“Alright, whatever Mo Mo wants to do, I’ll go along with it.” Yu Chenyi chuckled indulgently, unwilling to let Bai Mo face danger alone.
The coachman was one of their own, so Yu Chenyi had the carriage stop along the palace pathway. After donning the eunuch’s uniform, he stepped out of the carriage with Bai Mo. “Go back and tell Mother and Madam Bai that I’m with Mo Mo. Tell them not to act rashly.”
Acting secretive would only attract suspicion. Instead, the two of them boldly stepped out in the open. The patrolling guards noticed them but saw nothing amiss—after all, no thief would walk around in broad daylight wearing a burglar’s outfit with ‘I am a thief’ plastered across their forehead.
Neither of them appeared nervous or suspicious, and they confidently walked through the palace like they belonged there, making the guards drop their guard entirely.
Moving through the imperial grounds as if they were in their own backyard, they owed much of their success to the eunuch uniforms Bai Mo had prepared. Eunuchs had a hierarchy, mainly reflected in their attire. The outfits they wore clearly belonged to those serving high-ranking masters—either the Emperor, the Empress Dowager, or prominent imperial consorts. Lower-ranking eunuchs wouldn’t dare to question or command them, let alone stop them.
It wasn’t until they neared Cining Palace that anyone even considered suspecting them. By now, the sky had darkened, and lanterns had been lit at the palace gates, casting a warm orange glow. The lanterns swayed gently in the evening breeze, blending into the twilight, creating an eerie, almost supernatural atmosphere.
Xiao Bobao was fearless when it came to anything—except ghosts.
Spooked by her own imagination, she let out a whimper before wriggling into the newly purchased bamboo grove for cover.
“Mo Mo, I’ve left your props here. If you need me, just call—but I’m not watching! I’m scared.” Her soft, trembling voice betrayed her fear. Though she wanted to stand by her host, she simply couldn’t get over the mental hurdle. Even though it was all fake—and they were the ones in control—it still sent chills down her spine.
“Xiao Bobao, are you really okay?” Bai Mo asked, a hint of concern in his voice. Her reaction was far more extreme than usual.
“I’m fine. I just need a moment.” The little panda swiftly darted into the bamboo grove, leaving only her echo lingering in the system.
There was a connection between a host and their system. Since Xiao Bobao said she was fine, Bai Mo chose to believe her. Night had fallen—there were more pressing matters at hand.
Bai Mo and Yu Chenyi were both exceptionally good-looking. Even in eunuch uniforms, they stood out as handsome eunuchs. Unlike walking through the palace corridors, where people rarely knew each other, the servants within Cining Palace were familiar with one another—making them far more likely to be exposed.
This was where Yu Chenyi had to step in.
He took out a small container of disguise powder, knocked out two eunuchs who had come out to hang lanterns, and meticulously applied the powder to both his and Bai Mo’s faces, mimicking their features. One incense stick’s time later, two “eunuchs” from Cining Palace were born.
At a glance, they looked almost identical to the two unconscious men lying on the ground—except for Yu Chenyi’s slightly taller frame. He had to hunch his shoulders to appear shorter, but in front of the Empress Dowager, every servant was expected to bow and stoop anyway, so it wouldn’t stand out.
The two of them dragged the unconscious eunuchs into a hidden spot before finishing up the lanterns.
Just as the last lantern was hung and before Bai Mo could even climb down the ladder, a palace maid rushed out to hurry them along.
“Why are you so slow today? Hurry up and fetch the hot water—Her Majesty has been waiting!” Judging from the maid’s tone, the two eunuchs Yu Chenyi had knocked out weren’t very high-ranking.
Which made sense. If they held real status, they wouldn’t have been reduced to menial labor.
“Yes, right away!” The two replied in unison, quickly moving the ladder aside before heading toward Cining Palace’s small kitchen.
As the Empress Dowager, as long as she didn’t meddle in state affairs, the Emperor was more than happy to give her face, upholding his reputation as a filial son. No one in the palace dared to displease her.
Lately, dealing with Wei Yuyan’s affairs had left her feeling drained, even affecting her complexion. But after teaching Bai Mo a lesson, her mood had significantly improved, and she finally had the mind to focus on her beauty treatments again.
Between the greetings, the lantern hanging, and all the errands, Bai Mo had long since grown hungry. The moment he spotted the delicately prepared dishes in the small kitchen, his stomach let out an audible growl.
“Hungry? I have some pastries from the Imperial Kitchen.” Yu Chenyi chuckled, playfully pinching the boy’s nose before pulling out the treats he had specifically asked the Emperor to pack up before leaving the Imperial Study.
Mo Mo loved these pastries. But since the Imperial Chefs couldn’t follow him outside the palace, the best he could do was pack some up for him.
Right now, it was dinnertime, and the small kitchen was empty. The Empress Dowager wouldn’t summon her evening meal until after her bath, so the palace servants were taking the opportunity to slack off.
Yu Chenyi placed the pastries in the steamer, instructing Mo Mo to keep an eye on the fire while he went to fetch water—and to add a little something special for the Empress Dowager.
It was a colorless, odorless medicinal solution that helped detoxify the skin and tighten pores, a secret formula from Medicine King Valley, something so rare that even the palace might not have it. However, there was one strict rule: it must be used alone in water. Mixing it with other substances would cause an allergic reaction.
Since the Empress Dowager was set on her beauty regimen, it was certain she wouldn’t skip using her precious skincare products—which meant things were about to get interesting.
Just as a piercing scream erupted from the inner chambers of Cining Palace, Yu Chenyi and Bai Mo were happily enjoying their pastries. The high-pitched shriek tore through the night, causing Bai Mo to shudder. A piece of pastry got stuck in his throat, nearly choking him.
“Cough! Cough! Cough!” Bai Mo coughed violently as Yu Chenyi patted his back, then quickly accepted the cup of water his “husband” handed him.
“Our plan hasn’t even started yet. Why is she already screaming?” Bai Mo asked in confusion. He had meticulously crafted a perfect ghost-haunting scheme for Cining Palace. The food had been laced with a mild hallucinogen to induce vivid dreams—just enough to send the Empress Dowager into a state of terror later in the night.
“Who knows? Some people just bring disaster upon themselves,” Yu Chenyi said with a gentle smile, though his eyes were unreadable. He wouldn’t let Mo Mo suffer in vain. This was just the beginning.
Cining Palace was in chaos—brightly lit, with imperial physicians being summoned and guards searching for assassins. Someone had poisoned the Empress Dowager!
As the palace servants were being checked one by one, Bai Mo—quick-witted as ever—pulled Yu Chenyi into the Buddha Hall to hide.
At first, Yu Chenyi was startled to see another Bai Mo kneeling on the floor, picking up Buddhist prayer beans. But before he could react, the Bai Mo beside him flicked his sleeve, and the illusion vanished into thin air.
“Mo Mo, this is what the Empress Dowager meant by ‘picking prayer beans’?” Yu Chenyi’s expression darkened as he looked at the countless beans scattered across the floor. The illusionary duplicate had been at it for hours, yet barely made a dent. Compared to the sheer number of beans still left, his efforts were almost meaningless.
The palace maids did not keep a close watch; they would occasionally check in, and seeing that “Bai Mo” was behaving, they would leave again.
At this moment, the front hall was in complete chaos. Every palace servant had been summoned for inspection, leaving the Buddha Hall as an unexpectedly safe hiding place.
“If I told you I was a demon, would you be afraid, Brother Chenyi?” The young man watched Yu Chenyi closely, testing him.
It was said that lovers should be completely honest with each other. Although Bai Mo couldn’t openly say he was here on a mission, he also didn’t want to keep his true identity a secret. His dear “husband” had been chasing him through different worlds—their bond was only growing deeper. If Yu Chenyi were to find out the truth later and be unable to accept it, wouldn’t that be even worse? Better to rip off the bandage now.
Bai Mo’s heart pounded as he stared at Yu Chenyi, not wanting to miss even the slightest change in his expression.
He saw the man’s pupils contract, as if in surprise, but instead of shock, his gaze was filled with amusement and relief.
Yu Chenyi pulled Bai Mo into an embrace, laughing softly—as if a heavy shackle that had bound him for years had finally been unlocked.
“I’m so happy, Mo Mo.” Yu Chenyi cradled Bai Mo’s face as if he were holding the most precious treasure. “I’ve finally waited long enough to hear your secret.”
Bai Mo: “?” Huh? His secret had already been discovered by Brother Chenyi?
“Whether you are human or a little spirit, you are my Mo Mo. As long as you are Mo Mo, does it really matter what you are?”
Instead of being bothered, Yu Chenyi was delighted that Bai Mo had finally opened his heart to him. “I hope that from now on, whatever you do, you’ll call me to join you. I’d love nothing more than to serve you.” He didn’t want to be the one only hearing about things after they had already happened.
The man took the young boy’s hand, pressed a kiss to his fingertips, and Bai Mo—blushing—averted his eyes. His heart felt warm and sweet, like he had just drunk a cup of honey water.
Suddenly, Yu Chenyi grabbed Bai Mo, swiftly turned around, and—without warning—flung open the door and pushed him outside the Buddha Hall.
Bai Mo was so stunned that his mind went blank.
“Brother Chenyi?”
As they completely exited the Buddha Hall, no longer able to see the statues inside, Yu Chenyi let out a breath of relief as he looked at the unharmed young man. “Little demon, are you not afraid of the Buddha?”
Bai Mo chuckled. “What’s there to be afraid of? Back in the Netherworld, I used to run wild without a care.”
The moment he finished speaking, both of them froze.
“The Netherworld? Is that Mo Mo’s home?”
The name of that foreign realm, which did not belong to this world, seemed to stir something deep within Yu Chenyi—something familiar yet buried. Meanwhile, Bai Mo sank into deep thought, and as he tried to delve further, an unbearable suffocating feeling crawled over his heart, weighing him down.
“I… I don’t know…” Go home?
The image that surfaced in his mind wasn’t the vast, snowy mountains before he met Xiao Bobao but rather a wide, open space with a massive tree standing at its center. He had used the tree hollow as his nest, the tree shielding him from the wind and rain, playing with him—just like… just like the warmth and safety he felt when Brother Chenyi embraced him.
“I can’t go back…”
As Bai Mo inhaled the faint woody scent on Yu Chenyi’s body, he suddenly couldn’t tell if this was reality or illusion. The feeling that Brother Chenyi gave him was exactly the same as that tree.
Yu Chenyi couldn’t bear to see Bai Mo looking so lost. He cupped the young man’s lowered head and gently kissed his forehead.
“Then I’ll build a new home with you, Mo Mo—one just like the one you had before.”
Bai Mo looked into the man’s eyes and, for a moment, he saw that very tree, swaying in the wind, its branches waving at him.