After The Simp Sealed His Heart With Cement, The Demon Lord Immediately Fell In Love! - Chapter 10

“Deliver Zhou Yanyu’s corpse back to the Shuiyun Sect. You know how to report this, right?”

At this moment, Yan Yichen was completely different from his usual innocent and naive self. His apricot eyes were devoid of warmth, and his voice was so cold it made one’s skin crawl.

“The Emperor, in order to stand up for his most favored Empress, poisoned Zhou Yanyu to death. I risked my life to steal her corpse and send it back to the Shuiyun Sect!”

One of the men in black immediately knelt, cupping his hands in a respectful reply. His voice was not unfamiliar, even though Su Mo had heard it only a handful of times. It was none other than Qin Shuisheng, the captain of the Imperial Guard!

The imperial palace had always been riddled with spies from various sects. No one would have guessed that Qin Shuisheng, who ostensibly belonged to the Shuiyun Sect, was a double agent whose true master was Yan Yichen. This strategy of shifting the blame was truly ruthless.

Su Mo gave a helpless, bitter laugh. The Shuiyun Sect was already dissatisfied with Wen Muli for marrying Su Mo and abandoning Zhou Yanyu. Framing Su Mo was the best way to drive a wedge between Wen Muli and the Shuiyun Sect.

“This is the map of the array eye distribution I stole from Wen Muli. I will handle the barrier of Phoenix Capital. You take these maps and distribute them; have the spies stationed everywhere act quickly to buy me time. The day of the wedding is Wen Muli’s death day!” Yan Yichen took a map from his storage ring and handed it to one of his subordinates with the utmost caution.

Seeing this, Su Mo, having confirmed the progress of the plot, stopped lingering and left quickly. Thinking of the coming events, his scalp tingled. As expected, upon returning to the Heart Sealing Palace, he was met by a furious Wen Muli.

“My Lady, where have you been? You worried me to death!” Ye Lin cried, rushing over to check his body, fearing he had been harmed.

“I am fine. I am sorry for making you worry.” Su Mo wiped the tears from her face with a gentle expression and shook his head.

“I thought something had happened to you, and I had no choice but to contact the Emperor. My Lady, I am sorry.” Ye Lin sobbed, whispering an apology.

Su Mo looked at Wen Muli, whose face was dark and gloomy, with complex emotions.

“Where did you go?” Wen Muli interrogated him with a blank expression.

“I was just feeling stifled and wanted some peace and quiet,” Su Mo answered hesitantly.

“Do you know how much your actions delayed me? Do you know how many people I sent out to find you? Now, with a great enemy at the gates, I thought you had…” Wen Muli was clearly enraged to the extreme. He took a long time to finish the short sentence, his tone frequently halting.

“I…”

“Su Mo, do I have to break your legs for you to stay by my side obediently?” Wen Muli cut him off, his voice filled with the intensity of a raging storm.

Su Mo kept his head down, using silence as his response.

“Fine. Fine. Fine! Someone, the Empress Su Mo is stubborn and insubordinate. Give him thirty lashes and lock him in the water prison to reflect!” Wen Muli’s voice rose an octave in his fury.

“Your Majesty, please calm your anger. The Empress’s health is not what it used to be. If he is locked in the water prison, I fear…” Song Zhi, who was nearby, knelt in panic to plead for him.

“Your Majesty, please reconsider…”

A group of people knelt in a dense crowd. These were the brothers who had followed Wen Muli through life and death; they had witnessed Su Mo’s sacrifices for him. The Emperor might forget Su Mo’s kindness, but they could not. After all, everyone present had been saved by Su Mo at some point. Knowing full well that imperial orders were not to be defied, they still risked their lives to speak up.

“Insolent! You dare disregard my words? Fine! Since you cannot bear to do it, I will do it myself!” The more they pleaded, the more enraged Wen Muli became. He kicked Song Zhi aside and prepared to do the deed himself.

“I know my mistake, I will do it!” Knowing Wen Muli was in a fit of rage and fearing he would show no mercy, Song Zhi had no choice but to crawl to Su Mo’s side. He steeled his heart and whispered, “I am sorry, My Lady…”

As he spoke, he twisted Su Mo’s arm. Su Mo did not resist; he simply watched Wen Muli silently. Soon, he was pressed onto a wooden board. Wooden sticks infused with spiritual power struck his back one after another. Having exhausted all his spiritual power, he had no way to resist and had to bear the blows with his own flesh. He bit his lower lip so hard it bled, yet he did not make a sound.

Nearby, Ye Lin wept and kowtowed to Wen Muli incessantly. “It is my fault! I was the one who lured the Empress out of the palace! Your Majesty, punish me instead, let the Empress go. His body cannot take it…”

Wen Muli remained unmoved. He stared at Su Mo without blinking, as if waiting for a plea for mercy. Su Mo was equally stubborn; he said nothing throughout the punishment until he could no longer hold on, his eyes rolled back, and he lost consciousness completely.

When he awoke, he was locked in the cold, damp water prison. The wounds on his back had not been treated, and they burned with agony. Immersed in the rotting, foul smelling muddy water, the suffering was unbearable. His body felt like a furnace, his throat was dry and itchy, and every swallow felt like swallowing a blade.

It really hurts. Su Mo smiled bitterly, his eyes overflowing with sorrow and desolation. What is the use of pain? No one will pity me if I speak, and they might even think I am being delicate. It is better to endure it myself.

Fortunately, I am almost at the finish line. Wen Muli’s wedding day would be the day he was set free.

The persistent high fever made his brain foggy, his consciousness drifting between clarity and confusion. He did not know how much time had passed when soft, almost imperceptible footsteps sounded. Su Mo let his head droop, struggling to lift his eyelids to look.

The locked wooden door was pushed open, and a petite man in a black cloak entered.

“Brother Su, are you alright?” Yan Yichen took off his cloak, revealing his true face, his eyes brimming with concern.

“Why have you come? Go back quickly!” Su Mo replied weakly.

“Do not worry. The Emperor is not in Phoenix Capital; there are issues with several barriers, and he has gone to investigate. What on earth are you all fighting about? He is crazy, and you are stubborn. A simple plea for mercy could have ended it; why turn it into this?” As if trying to set his mind at ease, Yan Yichen chattered on and on. While he babbled, he took out a bowl of clear porridge and medicine from his basket.

Unbothered by the foul water, he stepped into the water prison to untie Su Mo and helped him to the shore to sit. First, he served him the porridge infused with spiritual medicine, then laid his cloak on the ground. After helping Su Mo lie face down and casting a purification spell, he applied medicine to the wounds on his back.

“Thank you…” Su Mo whispered.

“What is there to thank me for? Compared to what you have done for me, what I do for you is but a drop in the ocean…” Yan Yichen pouted and muttered.

“Without the Emperor’s permission, I cannot let you out for now, but I will come to visit you every day. At the very latest, you will be released on the day of the wedding. I am sorry you have to suffer for a few more days.” He sighed helplessly.

Su Mo shook his head with a smile, indicating he did not mind.

“I bribed the guards, but I cannot stay too long. I will go back now and come see you tomorrow.” Fearing he would be caught, Yan Yichen finished packing the empty bowl and prepared to leave. When he reached the door, he suddenly paused, slowly turned back, and asked in a deeply enigmatic tone: “By the way… where did you actually go that day, Brother Su? Why were you unwilling to tell the truth to the Emperor?”

Su Mo was startled. Yan Yichen offered a mysterious smile and left.