You Couldn't Begin to Imagine the Joys of the Saint Realm!

Li Chen and Li Ran talked about a great many things that night, and only then did Li Chen realize how complicated the situation in the Imperial Capital was.

Even Li Ran found it absurd. Li Chen knew nothing, yet he had actually survived this long and even become emperor.

But on closer reflection, perhaps it was precisely because Li Chen had known nothing back then and posed no threat to anyone that no one had bothered with him.

Someone like Li Ran, who knew too much and had become embroiled in the palace struggles, ended up like this once he lost.

The only reason Li Chen had come to chat with him was that he had nothing to do and wanted to kill some time.

Still, Li Chen now understood why the crown prince's death had never been properly investigated, and why the leads kept breaking off. There were probably plenty of traitors within the court who had wiped the trails clean long ago. Or perhaps those people simply did not want the truth uncovered.

Li Chen summed it up: the former dynasty's imperial family wanted to restore their rule, so they had begun courting the hereditary nobles.

Many of the consorts in the harem were descendants of those hereditary nobles, putting them within the former imperial family's reach.

Some of them must have already thrown in their lot with the former imperial family, which was why disaster had struck the crown prince and the Previous Emperor one after another.

Then, according to Li Ran, the former imperial family's next target would surely be Li Chen, the emperor in the Saint Realm.

The reason they had yet to act was that Li Chen's strength had caught them completely off guard. They were also afraid of stirring the grass and startling the snake, so they were undoubtedly laying their plans now.

At this point, Li Ran paused. He wanted to make Li Chen feel threatened. That way, Li Chen would need him more, and he could gain something in return: Li Chen's protection.

Who would have thought Li Chen would merely yawn? His mood remained perfectly steady, without a trace of worry. He was just making idle conversation.

Puzzled, Li Ran asked, "The remnants of the former dynasty have been infiltrating the Imperial Capital for a long time. Aren't you worried about what they might do?"

Li Chen replied, "Whatever. Plenty of people want me dead, but I've yet to meet anyone who actually has what it takes."

Those words left Li Ran speechless for a moment.

Why do I feel like this guy is showing off?

"What about our second and third brothers, then? They'll probably try to seize your throne openly."

"Let them try. I've never taken either of them seriously."

"I'm curious. Why did you become emperor?"

"I'd never been emperor before, so I thought I'd give it a go for fun. What's wrong with that?"

After a long silence, Li Ran took a deep breath and asked, "Is this what the joys of the Saint Realm are like?"

Li Chen chuckled. "Heh, you couldn't begin to imagine the joys of the Saint Realm!"

Li Ran: "..."

There you go showing off again!

So this guy became emperor just to show off!

I was wondering why he remained completely unmoved after I'd talked for so long, without even the slightest shift in his mood.

Now Li Ran understood. This guy was purely playing around. He did not care about the throne in the slightest.

At that moment, Li Ran felt that fate was truly a strange thing. So many princes had fought over the throne until their heads were cracked and bloodied, yet none of them had claimed it. Li Chen cared about it the least, and now he sat firmly upon it.

"It's getting late. If there's nothing else, I'll head back and rest." As he spoke, Li Chen prepared to get up and leave. That was enough killing time for tonight. He still had morning court tomorrow.

"Wait. Can you let me out?" Li Ran did not want to stay here any longer. There was somewhere he wanted to go.

"I told you, leave whenever you like. I'm not stopping you. But can you actually get out in your condition?"

"Don't underestimate me. I may be blind, but my other senses are more than twice as sharp."

To prove it to Li Chen, Li Ran stood up and took a few steps.

Sure enough, he walked headfirst into a pillar.

Li Chen stared speechlessly at Li Ran as he clutched his head. You're really forcing the act, aren't you?

But the reason Li Ran dared speak so freely was that he had already figured out this emperor's personality. Li Chen was only here for the entertainment, and killing him would be as easy as turning over a hand. Most importantly, there was no conflict between them.

"That was just a slipup. Let's keep going."

This time, Li Ran activated his cultivation technique, and a peculiar energy spread outward.

The surrounding structures slowly took shape in his mind.

Now he could avoid obstacles as he walked, which even Li Chen found rather fascinating.

Sensing Li Chen observing him, Li Ran asked, "Want to learn?"

Li Chen shook his head. "No thanks. I have eyes."

Li Ran: "..."

You motherfucker...

As they made their way out of the Cold Palace, Li Ran asked Li Chen whether he should change clothes, perhaps into a eunuch's or a guard's uniform, so he could leave without being noticed.

Li Chen said it did not matter. He was the emperor; who would dare touch Li Ran? On this little patch of land, his word really was law.

So what if anyone else found out? If they had the ability, they could come beat him to death.

Even though Li Ran could not see, he felt certain that Li Chen's face was filled with the confidence and pride of the strong!

"Looks like someone's coming." The moment Li Ran stepped out of the Cold Palace, his keen hearing picked up three sets of brisk footsteps approaching.

The Imperial Guards walked with steadier steps. These brisk footsteps carried a certain weight, so they most likely belonged to eunuchs rather than palace maids.

Judging by what Li Ran heard, the eunuch leading them had a fairly high cultivation level.

At that thought, he ducked straight back inside, planning to wait until the group passed before coming out again.

But he never imagined that Li Chen would call directly to the approaching men, "Eunuch Cui, come here."

Hearing Li Chen call, Eunuch Cui hurried over and dropped to his knees. "This old servant greets Your Majesty. What are your commands?"

Li Chen pointed at Li Ran, who was hiding inside the Cold Palace. "You know my fifth brother. He wants to leave without anyone finding out. Make the arrangements."

Those words not only startled Li Ran, but left Eunuch Cui utterly bewildered.

How did His Majesty get involved with the fifth prince?

What was His Majesty's purpose in coming here so late at night?

Was he hinting at something by letting the fifth prince go?

Countless questions sprang up in Eunuch Cui's mind, but he dared not ask, nor did he particularly dare to know the answers.

Li Ran was wondering too. What does Li Chen mean by this? Is he telling me that Eunuch Cui has already pledged allegiance to him?

What else could it mean, entrusting Eunuch Cui with such a dangerous task?

Or does he want to use this opportunity to have Eunuch Cui keep an eye on me?

In truth, they were both overthinking it. Li Chen simply could not be bothered to escort Li Ran to the gate, so he had grabbed someone at random to do it.

"This old servant obeys!" Eunuch Cui took his two trusted eunuchs into the Cold Palace and brought Li Ran out.

Li Chen patted Li Ran on the shoulder. "Take care. Come visit when you have time, and remember our agreement."

Li Ran froze for a moment before realizing that Li Chen meant the former dynasty's Emperor Dragon Sutra.

"Thank you, Your Majesty. I will not fail your trust!"

With outsiders present, Li Ran still addressed Li Chen by his title to show his respect.

Only after Li Chen had left did he follow Eunuch Cui away.

Eunuch Cui was nowhere near as bold as Li Chen. He had the two young eunuchs change Li Ran into eunuch's clothes.

It had to be said that anyone else wearing eunuch's clothes would have felt uncomfortably constricted down below, but the outfit really suited Li Ran. After all, he was a genuine eunuch.

All the way out of the palace, Eunuch Cui excitedly spouted rubbish like, "You have been blessed with great fortune this time, Fifth Prince, earning His Majesty's trust," "Your mother, the noble consort, looked after this old servant back then as well," and "If you need anything in the future, Fifth Prince, just let this old servant know."

Li Ran knew Eunuch Cui was putting on an act. Ever since his mother had fallen from favor, these eunuchs had never bothered with him.

Eunuch Cui's current attitude was entirely because of Li Chen.

Could Li Chen have already brought Eunuch Cui under his control?

No. Someone like Eunuch Cui would only obey the emperor, and an emperor with real power at that.

Then it was obvious: Li Chen definitely held real power within the palace, and his prestige was far from low.

The most frightening part was that he had achieved all this after only a few days on the throne!

"No wonder he said I couldn't begin to imagine the joys of the Saint Realm. So that's what he meant."

Li Ran finally understood, though it was rather late.

As he left the palace, a hundred emotions mingled within him. He had imagined countless ways to escape, but openly walking out like this had truly never occurred to him.

Still, he would definitely honor his agreement with Li Chen!

Early the next morning, Li Chen appeared in the Imperial Court right on time. He might arrive late, but never early.