The footsteps came in a rush, as though someone had appeared out of nowhere.
Qin An frowned slightly and looked toward the doors of the Imperial Study.
A knock suddenly sounded at the doors.
The old eunuch's voice came from outside.
"Your Majesty, this old servant has a matter to report."
Emperor Xuanwu tapped his fingers on the desk. After a brief pause, he nodded. "Come in."
The old eunuch pushed open the door and walked slowly into the room.
When he saw Qin An, he gave a slight bow before saying, "Greetings, Lord Qin."
Qin An said nothing. He merely nodded in acknowledgment.
For the old eunuch to come at this hour with a matter to report, Qin An suspected something serious had happened.
But Emperor Xuanwu had not asked him to leave, so he remained seated and waited patiently.
Emperor Xuanwu raised a hand. "Eunuch Yang, what brings you here?"
The old eunuch's surname was Yang. He was one of the Great Qian Kingdom's foremost experts, powerful enough to stand alongside the Pacifying Distant King and his peers.
During the Great Qian Kingdom's war with the Former Dynasty, the old eunuch had fought several experts of his own level alone. He had been left permanently maimed, with no descendants and no hope of ever regaining his manhood.
Yet Eunuch Yang had not despaired. Instead, he had stayed in the depths of the palace and become its personal guardian.
He was the person closest to Emperor Xuanwu in the Great Qian Kingdom's palace, as well as his protector.
Emperor Xuanwu had reached the Heaven-Human Realm and needed no protection, but the old eunuch's presence spared him a great deal of trouble.
Eunuch Yang bent slightly, his back hunched and his hands tucked into his sleeves. "This old servant happened