How Much More Are You Hiding from Me?

In his previous life, Wu Junji had ignited his Human Emperor Fortune himself and had never undergone general summoning.

In this life, he had awakened his Human Emperor Fortune during the general summoning ceremony and instead gained heavenly mandate general summoning.

General summoning meant protecting one's lord as he transformed into a dragon, receiving fortune in return, and gaining countless benefits oneself. This was meritorious dragon-guarding service.

Li Gong had remained hidden for Emperor Zhou for eighteen years, serving as his eyes in the shadows and even establishing the Golden Eagle Guards. In the previous life, when Emperor Zhou had long been unable to transform into a dragon, Li Gong had been the most formidable sword at his side.

The moment Emperor Zhou transformed into a dragon, Li Gong received fortune in return. His years of hidden ailments vanished, and his internal power surged by sixty years' worth.

Throughout the world, no one could hurt him through martial prowess, and in terms of mystic arts, he shared the dragon's fortune. Apart from being unable to live forever, fly through the heavens, or burrow through the earth, he was no different from an immortal. From another angle, he had become second to one and above ten thousand.

But Wu Junji was a born Human Emperor. The moment he awakened, he reached the finish line. What the hell did he need anyone to guard his path for?

His summoned general only needed to keep him safe.

Chen Yu was only six. Neither his body nor his martial skills met the requirements. Never mind protecting the Crown Prince-he himself needed protection.

By the time Chen Yu grew up, the Crown Prince would already have his own forces. His future was bright, and he needed no one to guard his path. Becoming his summoned general was practically receiving a benefit for nothing.

That benefit could go to anyone. Why should it fall to Chen Yu?

Apart from heavenly mandate, it was also because Chen Yu was Chen Yang's nephew. The uncle and nephew were very close, and for the Crown Prince's sake, Chen Yang would make sure Chen Yu remained loyal to him.

Of everyone under heaven, the Chen Family ought to have been the most loyal to the Crown Prince.

Without that dream, Emperor Zhou would have firmly supported Chen Yu.

From the moment he saw Chen Yu among the people throwing steamed buns at the Crown Prince in his dream, Emperor Zhou had only thought, Sure enough, the Crown Prince has good reason to dislike someone.

A summoned general was his lord's greatest trump card, and the lord was the general's greatest support. Unquestioning mutual trust was the relationship they ought to have.

If the Crown Prince had to remain constantly on guard against his own summoned general, that was no general-it was a burden! Better to have none than him.

Out, out, out! Replace him, replace him, replace him!

And so, first thing that morning, Emperor Zhou arranged candidates for general summoning.

The Golden Eagle Guards were all eunuchs.

Most had neither father nor mother, neither ties nor attachments. Such men's honor and disgrace were bound entirely to their master.

Li Gong had spent eighteen years in hiding, traveling everywhere, and had only found a thousand promising, loyal recruits.

These ten were the best selected according to numerous criteria, including looks, temperament, age, build, martial prowess, and endurance.

Before the ten were brought before the emperor, Li Gong had addressed them.

"By His Majesty's command, we are choosing someone for the Crown Prince."

"Whichever of you is blessed with good fortune may gain a road straight to the heavens. In the future, you might even stand as my equal."

To stand as Li Gong's equal...

Their hearts burned with excitement.

Heaven knew how their eyes had gone wide when they saw the little Crown Prince drifting leisurely toward them at the palace doors.

The Crown Prince, the Human Emperor-they had a chance to shed their identities as killing machines and step onto a bright, open road, perhaps even ascend to heaven in a single leap and serve beside the heir apparent!

Could such a wonderful posting really fall to rootless eunuchs like them?

Every one of them stood ramrod straight, brimming with vigor.

Emperor Zhou poked the little Crown Prince's back.

"Go pick one?"

Wu Junji tilted his head up. They were all quite tall, and he spotted the most foolish-looking one among them at a glance.

He was the one who, when Wu Junji had asked at the doors whether his imperial father was inside, had kept stretching out an arm and using his entire body to convey-please come in.

Wu Junji noticed him because he was the tallest.

He looked over a meter ninety. It was hard not to notice him.

Li Gong returned from outside. Wu Junji wasn't sure whether he imagined it, but he faintly smelled blood.

Li Gong said, "This man is named Li Jiu. He still has an aunt and a younger sister at home. He ate too much, so he sold himself for his family's sake."

Something stirred in Wu Junji's mind, and he asked,

"What's your sister's name?"

Li Jiu dropped to one knee and answered hoarsely, "Li Maomao."

Wu Junji pressed, "Where is your home?"

"Yazi Village, Sanping County, Julu Commandery."

Wu Junji felt as though a great weight had lifted from him.

"You, then."

Li Jiu felt as though a pie had fallen from the sky and landed squarely on him.

I-I-I... I'm chosen?

In the thirty-first year of Zhou Wu, Wu Junji had used the Eighth Prince's money to recruit eight hundred people to intercept the imperial procession. Thirty people from Yazi Village, Sanping County, Julu Commandery had signed up. Among them was a woman named Li Maomao, who had fought alongside Wu Junji for three years and died in the Azure Dragon Gate coup, on the eve of his ascension to the throne.

Why did Wu Junji remember her so clearly?

Because of her name and her gender, and because she had been the last of those eight hundred to die.

With that, no witnesses remained to the days when Wu Junji first rose to power.

What Li Maomao said most often was-my brother's name is Li Jiu. He's eight feet tall and serves in the Golden Eagle Guards. I'll help you finish fighting this war, and you'll help me buy his freedom.

After Wu Junji became emperor, he went to the Golden Eagle Guards to find him. The answer he received was-in the twenty-second year of Zhou Wu, he died while attempting to assassinate the Crown Prince.

How ironic. How very ironic.

His voice trembling with excitement, Li Jiu kowtowed in gratitude. "Thank you, Your Highness!"

He had become a close attendant to the Crown Prince! He would write to his sister today!

Emperor Zhou asked him quietly, "Don't you want to think it over?"

After all, this man was to become his summoned general.

Wu Junji said, "No."

If he was wrong, he would bear the consequences.

And so Emperor Zhou stopped trying to persuade him. His son had always had a mind of his own.

"Do you like the Deputy Imperial Seal I gave you?"

Wu Junji said, "I do~"

Emperor Zhou laughed aloud and hoisted the little Crown Prince onto his shoulder.

"Come. Today, I will show you what an emperor's draconic majesty means."

"Though general summoning is ordained by heaven, our Zhou Wu Royal House has the power to change heaven's decree!"

Wu Junji's mind was filled with a single thought-how much more is this shameless royal house hiding from me!