Chapter 42: When did you find out?

"Actually, it's like this!"

There was a good reason why Si Nan's cultivation level was not particularly high.

He spent all his time gathering information and gossiping, leaving him virtually no time to practice martial arts with peace of mind.

Through Si Nan's subsequent explanation, Ye Liuyun managed to get a rough idea of the situation.

Within their Great Qian Dynasty, there was only one Grandmaster martial artist known to the public, and that was the current Chancellor.

However, in reality, the previous emperor—Yan Shuzhu's biological father—was also a Grandmaster martial artist.

A few years ago, this former emperor suddenly went into seclusion, reportedly to break through to the legendary realm of Land Immortals. Consequently, he needed to temporarily select an emperor to rule the dynasty on his behalf.

Yet everyone knew that once the former emperor emerged from seclusion, the throne would inevitably have to be returned to him.

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

Therefore, it was naturally impossible to choose a capable imperial prince. By choosing Yan Shuzhu, the former emperor was making it crystal clear to everyone that he would return, and anyone with ambitious designs had better stay obedient and quiet.

Otherwise, they should wait for the day he broke through seclusion to settle all scores thoroughly.

This was precisely why Yan Shuzhu possessed the title of emperor but lacked any actual imperial power.

Everyone knew Yan Shuzhu was merely a puppet, maintaining only a superficial level of respect while waiting for the day the former emperor emerged from seclusion.

"Of course, these are just things I heard from others. I'm not entirely sure if they're true."

Si Nan dared not guarantee that everything he said was factual.

To this, Ye Liuyun merely waved his hand dismissively, unconcerned. Even if it wasn't entirely true, the reality was likely very close.

After all, if she were truly an emperor with real power, Guan Bao would never have dared to speak so much nonsense right now.

"Your Majesty, this is the person the Nine Thousand Years has explicitly ordered me to arrest."

Guan Bao was still somewhat unwilling to let Ye Liuyun go just like that, hoping to invoke the formidable backing of the Nine Thousand Years to make Yan Shuzhu hesitate.

Unfortunately for him...

"And what if I say that I am determined to protect him?"

Yan Shuzhu said this with utmost seriousness.

After hesitating for a long time, Guan Bao could only drop this parting threat:

"I will certainly report this matter truthfully to the Nine Thousand Years!"

Knowing that nothing more could be accomplished here, Guan Bao stopped talking, turned around immediately, and left with all his subordinates.

Before leaving, however, he still glared fiercely at Ye Liuyun, as if to say he would remember him.

Yet since Ye Liuyun had even dared to kill Lu Quan, he was certainly not going to be intimidated by a mere glare from Guan Bao.

Seeing Guan Bao depart, Yan Shuzhu felt a slight sense of relief. She cast a sideways glance at Ye Liuyun, who stood beside her with a calm expression, and could not help saying:

"I knew you were bold, but I never expected you to dare offend the Nine Thousand Years!"

Leaving aside the fact that the Nine Thousand Years' influence was deeply rooted within the imperial palace, the Nine Thousand Years himself was a martial artist at the Master realm. With the former emperor currently in seclusion, no one in the present Great Qian Dynasty could suppress this powerful eunuch except for the Chancellor.

"If I had to cower submissively just because the other person happens to be some 'Nine Thousand Years', then what point would there be in me being a brocade-clad guard?"

Ye Liuyun stated this as if it were only natural.

In truth, he was brimming with confidence; even if he was not currently a match for the Nine Thousand Years, that might not be the case in the future.

This upright and unyielding response unexpectedly caused Yan Shuzhu to burst into laughter.

"You don't need to worry. I believe the Nine Thousand Years will still grant me this much face."

Even though she was merely a puppet emperor, she was still the emperor after all. As long as Ye Liuyun had not offended the Nine Thousand Years beyond all redemption, the powerful eunuch would not continue to target him.

Remembering something else, Yan Shuzhu said with a somewhat embarrassed expression:

"Hiding my identity from you was not intentional. I was simply worried that if you knew who I was, you wouldn't dare to speak to me the way you used to."

Ye Liuyun hadn't really taken the matter to heart.

Instead, he was currently wondering whether, now that he was acquainted with the emperor, he would be able to walk sideways and do as he pleased throughout the imperial city from now on.

A puppet emperor was still an emperor, after all.

Prompted by Yan Shuzhu's words, a thought suddenly crossed his mind, and he teased with a smile:

"Are you referring to the time I pointed at your head and called you stupid?"

This remark reminded Yan Shuzhu of what had happened earlier inside the House of Joyous Music, where she had continuously chased after Ye Liuyun to ask him questions until a thoroughly annoyed Ye Liuyun had finally poked her on the forehead.

He had asked her if she was out of her mind to have so many questions.

"Rest assured, I'll dare to do it again in the future!"

"Get lost!"

She rolled her eyes at Ye Liuyun in exasperation.

Yet once she finished, Yan Shuzhu could not help laughing once more.

Her amusement faded, however, replaced by a serious expression. Since her identity had already been exposed, there was no longer any need to keep things hidden.

"I hope you can help me. There are very few people within this dynasty that I can truly trust."

It sounded laughable, but the Embroidered Uniform Guard was a coercive institution directly subordinate to the emperor.

Yet Yan Shuzhu, the emperor, possessed very little authority to mobilize the Guard, and most of the commands she issued were met with superficial compliance and covert defiance.

Even though Yan Shuzhu's gaze was entirely sincere...

Ye Liuyun thought about it for a moment and still decided to refuse.

So many historical accounts had taught him that those who befriended emperors never met a good end.

"I..."

Before Ye Liuyun could finish, Yan Shuzhu continued:

"I can also help you firmly establish your footing within the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

That same principle applied here: a puppet emperor was still an emperor.

"As Ye Liuyun!"

Hearing his own name spoken from Yan Shuzhu's lips caused the words Ye Liuyun was about to say to stick in his throat.

A flash of surprise crossed his eyes as he looked at her, which instantly gave way to sudden understanding.

On second thought, she was the emperor after all; she naturally possessed this level of intelligence-gathering capability.

Hearing the name Ye Liuyun, Shi Sheng looked bewildered, but Si Nan, standing nearby, quickly accepted the revelation after an initial moment of shock.

No wonder his superior had felt so different lately; it turned out that it wasn't a change in personality, but a completely different person altogether.

Only, wasn't the former Ye Liuyun a good-for-nothing hoodlum?

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

"When did you find out?"

Instead of panicking, Ye Liuyun curiously asked the question.

"I only suspected it before, but now I'm certain."

Yan Shuzhu smiled helplessly, taking a gamble by speaking aloud.

In her view, no matter how much a person changed or how thoroughly a prodigal son turned over a new leaf, it was simply impossible for them to undergo such a complete transformation in so short a time.

Unless...

He genuinely had been replaced by someone else.

Consequently, Yan Shuzhu had ordered people to gather more intelligence concerning Ye Liuyun.

"The reports merely stated that Ye Liuyun, the twin brother of Ye Liuyun, was idle and useless, frequently harassing virtuous women. Yet no one had ever truly verified whether this Ye Liuyun was genuinely a talentless wastrel..."