Su Daji, Left Out in the Cold

As it turned out, the younger generation of Jizhou did not recognize the Human Emperor at all.

But the powerful man who had always stayed by Su Daji's side to protect her had once been fortunate enough to accompany Su Hu to Chaoge and had seen the Human Emperor from afar.

When Ye Xuan appeared before the crowd, the powerful man recognized him at once from a distance.

Greatly alarmed, the man immediately informed Su Hu.

Su Hu was also thrown into a panic when he heard that the Human Emperor had appeared in Jizhou.

He hurriedly led everyone over to pay their respects.

Under Su Hu's lead, the group came running over, scrambling on hands and knees.

A great crowd of people hurriedly dropped to their knees:

"Su Hu of Jizhou pays his respects to the Human Emperor!"

The many young people present were instantly startled, and everyone's faces turned ashen.

Their hearts and courage shattered.

The man before them was the Human Emperor? What had brought him all the way to Jizhou?

They had just been denouncing the Human Emperor.

Led by Bo Yikao, they had said some bad things about him.

Who would have thought the Human Emperor himself was right there?

Wasn't that a capital crime?

Damn that Bo Yikao! Not only had he coveted the beauties of their Jizhou, he had also led them into committing a monstrous, deadly sin!

At that thought, everyone immediately fell to their knees and slumped there, unable to rise.

They were terrified of attracting the Human Emperor's attention and losing their heads.

Su Daji, too, was full of shock and doubt.

She had never imagined that the current Human Emperor would appear in Jizhou. They had just been talking about him, yet there he was in person.

Her feelings tangled beyond measure, Su Daji knelt down along with Sanqi and Sanjiu.

She had been extremely curious about the Human Emperor, never expecting him to be right there.

His magnificently bold bearing was indeed far more domineering than she had imagined.

But why had the Human Emperor come to Jizhou?

Could he really have come for her?

Rumor had it that although the Human Emperor was peerlessly domineering, he was indeed a lecher.

He had even desecrated the Holy Mother herself.

Now that the Human Emperor had appeared in Jizhou, he had probably come for her after all.

At the thought, Su Daji could not help feeling both shocked and furious!

Deep in her heart, a faint sense of joy also began to emerge. Her feelings truly were tangled beyond measure.

On the other side, Bo Yikao was breaking out in a cold sweat, trembling with fear.

He had just been cursing the Human Emperor, never expecting him to be right there.

Wasn't he about to lose his head?

Bo Yikao could not help seething with resentment.

Su Changkong, meanwhile, ignored everyone.

His gaze passed over Su Hu and was drawn to a man with unusual features.

The man was powerfully built, with thick lips and an exceptionally large nose.

One look was enough to tell that he was extraordinarily gifted.

Ye Xuan knew that this was Zheng Lun, General Heng of Heng and Ha.

He was also one of the main reasons for this trip.

At that thought, Ye Xuan brightened. Ignoring everyone, he walked straight over and pulled Zheng Lun to his feet.

Su Daji was quite close by, so she thought the Human Emperor was coming for her. Instead, he passed right by her and took hold of Zheng Lun.

"You must be General Zheng Lun of Jizhou, correct? You truly are extraordinarily gifted and have an exceptional bearing. You have the makings of a great general!"

The moment Ye Xuan spoke, everyone was struck as if by rolling thunder.

Even Su Daji felt the same way.

The Human Emperor hadn't come for her?

As soon as that thought arose, her feelings became complicated.

Zheng Lun, meanwhile, was terrified.

"You flatter me, Your Majesty. I am merely a minor grain supply officer. Your Majesty praises me too highly!"

Zheng Lun was truly overwhelmed with excitement.

The man holding his arm was the current Human Emperor, the sovereign of heaven and earth.

How could Zheng Lun not feel a little proud when such a person held him in such high regard?

Ye Xuan chuckled.

"General Zheng, there is no need for such modesty. I have heard that you studied under Du'e Zhenren and are extraordinarily gifted. Having met you today, I see that your reputation is well deserved. You certainly have the makings of a great general."

"But serving as a grain supply officer in Jizhou is rather beneath your talents. Why not follow me instead? Your future achievements will surely be boundless."

Ye Xuan held Zheng Lun's hand as he spoke with a serious expression.

Ye Xuan was intent on having Zheng Lun follow him of his own free will, so he was rather complimentary toward him.

That way, he could also earn a good reputation for cherishing talent. Wouldn't that be killing two birds with one stone?

At those words, everyone stared in bewilderment.

The Human Emperor really had come for Zheng Lun.

Su Hu had originally thought the Human Emperor had come for his daughter too.

After all, Di Xin's reputation for lechery had spread throughout Yin Shang.

But what was going on before him now?

The Human Emperor had ignored his daughter and taken a fancy to a retainer of his Su family instead?

Zheng Lun had some abilities, but he was only a retainer of the Su family.

Why would the Human Emperor pass over his daughter and take an interest in a fellow like him?

He clearly did not know what Zheng Lun was capable of!

Everyone was baffled by the Human Emperor's actions.

Su Daji could not help doubting her own beauty.

Rumor has it that the Human Emperor is a lecher. Could that be untrue?

Or is it that I hold no attraction for him at all?

Su Daji fell into self-doubt.

She even felt a trace of dissatisfaction toward the Human Emperor.

Ye Xuan, however, had ignored her from beginning to end.

Su Daji was indeed beautiful.

She was worthy of her reputation as the greatest beauty of the human race, but how could Ye Xuan, who was intent on breaking out of his predicament, spare her a thought?

He merely fixed his burning gaze on Zheng Lun.

Seeing the troubled look in Zheng Lun's eyes, Ye Xuan instantly understood what was going on.

He then turned his gaze to Su Hu, who was kneeling on the ground.

He gave Su Hu a few kicks.

"Minister Su, General Zheng and I felt like old friends the moment we met. Would you be willing to part with him for my sake?"

Ye Xuan had no good feelings toward this fellow either.

Aside from the seventy-two lords of the North Sea, this fellow was the first lord to rebel.

Naturally, Ye Xuan found him quite detestable.

Su Hu's eyes twitched a few times after the Human Emperor kicked him.

His feelings were tangled to the extreme.

He was Su Hu, the Marquis of Jizhou, yet the Human Emperor treated him with such disdain.

It truly made him somewhat angry.

Neither he, Su Hu, the Marquis of Jizhou, nor his daughter, whose beauty could topple a nation and whose fragrance rivaled flowers, could compare to a mere retainer.

Kneeling on the ground, Su Hu suppressed his anger and hurriedly said:

"That Zheng Lun has earned Your Majesty's favor is naturally his good fortune. I have nothing to say against it."

Hearing this, Ye Xuan nodded.

"General Zheng, did you hear that clearly? From now on, why don't you come with me to Chaoge?"

Zheng Lun hurriedly fell to his knees.

"Thank you for your appreciation, Your Majesty. I, Zheng Lun, will scatter my liver and brains upon the ground and pledge my loyalty unto death to repay your regard."

"It is just that there are still some military matters I need to hand over."

"Once these trifling matters have been arranged, I will personally travel to Chaoge to serve Your Majesty."

Ye Xuan nodded at his words.

"I hope you will make the arrangements soon, General Zheng. I shall be waiting eagerly for you in Chaoge!"

Zheng Lun naturally offered another round of kowtows and worship.

Everyone present remained kneeling on the ground.

But they heard no further sound.

When they gathered their courage and raised their heads,

they were startled to find that the Human Emperor was nowhere to be seen.

The space in the middle had long since been empty.

Truly, he had come without a shadow and left without a trace.