When Did You Find Out?

"Actually, it was like this!"

There was a reason Si Nan's strength and cultivation were not very high.

He spent all his time gathering information and gossiping. Where would he find the time to cultivate in peace?

After Si Nan's explanation, Ye Liuyun finally understood the general situation.

Within the Great Qian Dynasty, the only Great Grandmaster martial artist known openly was the current prime minister.

But in truth, the previous Old Emperor—Yan Shuzhu's imperial father—was also a Great Grandmaster martial artist.

A few years ago, the Old Emperor suddenly entered seclusion. It was said that he intended to break through into the legendary Land Immortal Realm, so an emperor had to be temporarily chosen to govern the dynasty in his stead.

But everyone knew that once the Old Emperor emerged from seclusion, the throne would still be returned to him.

The emperor who had now ascended the throne was destined to be nothing more than a puppet.

Therefore, they naturally could not choose a capable prince. The Old Emperor's selection of Yan Shuzhu was plainly meant to tell everyone that he would return, and that anyone harboring covetous thoughts had better stay quiet and behave themselves.

Otherwise, on the day he emerged from seclusion, he would settle every score once and for all.

That was why Yan Shuzhu bore the title of emperor but possessed none of an emperor's authority.

Everyone knew Yan Shuzhu was merely a puppet. They maintained only superficial respect in daily life, all waiting for the day the Old Emperor emerged from seclusion.

"Still, I only heard these things from others. I'm not too sure whether they're true."

Si Nan did not dare guarantee that everything he had said was true.

Ye Liuyun merely waved a hand, not caring too much. Even if it was not true, it was probably not far off.

After all, if she truly were an emperor with real power—

Guan Bao would not dare spout so much nonsense right now.

"Your Majesty, this man is someone Lord Eunuch ordered me to apprehend."

Guan Bao was still somewhat unwilling to let Ye Liuyun go just like that. He wanted to invoke Lord Eunuch behind him, making Yan Shuzhu wary of throwing the rat at the vase.

Unfortunately—

"What if I say I insist on protecting him?"

Yan Shuzhu spoke with complete seriousness.

Guan Bao hesitated for a long while, but could only leave behind these words.

"I will truthfully report this matter to Lord Eunuch!"

Knowing the matter could not be forced, Guan Bao said no more. He turned around and left with everyone.

Before leaving, however, he still shot Ye Liuyun a vicious glare, as if to say, I'll remember you.

But Ye Liuyun had even dared to kill Lu Quan. There was no way Guan Bao could threaten him with a single look.

Seeing Guan Bao leave, Yan Shuzhu relaxed slightly. Glancing sideways at the calm-faced Ye Liuyun, she could not help saying,

"I knew you had guts, but I never thought you would even dare offend Lord Eunuch!"

Leaving aside how deeply Lord Eunuch's influence was rooted in the imperial palace, Lord Eunuch himself was also a Grandmaster Realm expert. With the Old Emperor currently in seclusion, no one in the Great Qian Dynasty besides the current prime minister could suppress him.

"If I had to obediently bow my head just because he's some Lord Eunuch, then what kind of Brocade Guard would I be!"

Ye Liuyun said it as though it were only natural.

In truth, it was confidence. Even if he was no match for Lord Eunuch now, that might not be the case in the future.

Yet this upright and unyielding answer made Yan Shuzhu laugh despite herself.

"You needn't worry. I think Lord Eunuch will still give me this much face."

Even if she was only a puppet emperor, she was still the emperor in the end. As long as Ye Liuyun had not offended Lord Eunuch beyond all reconciliation, he could not continue targeting Ye Liuyun.

Thinking of something, Yan Shuzhu said somewhat awkwardly,

"The reason I hid my identity from you was not intentional. I was only worried that if you knew who I was, you might no longer dare speak to me as you did before."

Ye Liuyun had not actually taken the matter too seriously.

Instead, he was thinking that now that he even knew the emperor, could he walk sideways through the imperial city from now on?

A puppet emperor was still an emperor.

With Yan Shuzhu saying this, something suddenly occurred to him, and he teased her with a smile.

"You mean when I pointed at your head and called you stupid?"

Her words reminded Yan Shuzhu of what had happened earlier in the Imperial Brothel. She had kept chasing after Ye Liuyun with questions, and Ye Liuyun had truly grown fed up. He had directly pointed at Yan Shuzhu's head.

And said, "Are you stupid? Why do you have so many questions?"

"Don't worry, I'll still dare to do it in the future!"

"Get lost!"

She shot Ye Liuyun an irritated glare.

Yet after saying that, Yan Shuzhu could not help laughing again.

But after the laughter faded, Yan Shuzhu's expression gradually turned serious. Since her identity had already been exposed, there was no need to keep hiding it.

"I hope you can help me. There are not many people in this dynasty whom I can trust."

It was laughable, really. The Brocade Guard was a violent institution directly under the emperor.

Yet Yan Shuzhu, the emperor herself, had little authority to mobilize the Brocade Guard. Even the orders she gave were mostly obeyed in appearance while defied in reality.

Though Yan Shuzhu's gaze was exceedingly sincere—

After thinking it over, Ye Liuyun still intended to refuse.

So many stories throughout history had taught Ye Liuyun that those who became friends with emperors never came to a good end.

"I..."

Before Ye Liuyun could finish, Yan Shuzhu continued,

"I can also help you gain a firm foothold within the Brocade Guard."

As before, even a puppet emperor was still an emperor.

"As Ye Liuyun!"

Hearing his own name come from Yan Shuzhu's lips made Ye Liuyun's intended words catch in his throat.

Surprise flashed through his eyes as he looked at Yan Shuzhu, but it was soon replaced by realization.

Thinking about it, she was the emperor after all. She would naturally possess this much ability to gather intelligence.

When Shi Sheng heard the name Ye Liuyun, he was somewhat baffled. But after his initial shock, Si Nan beside him quickly accepted it.

No wonder he had felt that his lord had changed so much lately. He had not changed at all—he had been replaced.

But had the former Ye Liuyun not been a street thug?

Si Nan could not figure it out, but this was clearly not the time to ask about such things.

"When did you find out?"

Ye Liuyun did not panic. Instead, he asked curiously.

"Before, I only suspected it. But now, I'm certain."

Yan Shuzhu could not help smiling. When she said that, she had also been gambling on it.

In Yan Shuzhu's view, no matter how much a person changed, even if a prodigal son truly turned back, he could not become so completely different in such a short time, as though he had become another person.

Unless—

He truly had become another person.

So Yan Shuzhu had people gather more intelligence regarding Ye Liuyun.

"The information only said that Ye Liufeng's twin younger brother, Ye Liuyun, spent every day idling about and doing nothing worthwhile, often harassing respectable women. But no one had ever confirmed that this Ye Liuyun truly was a useless good-for-nothing."

,,,,,,