Chapter 667: Shadowed Figure

"I'm so angry I could curse."

At that moment, Zu An's mind was a maelstrom of curses. He thought, "I was too foolish, truly too foolish. After all this time interacting with the Emperor, I still haven't grasped how utterly shameless he is."

If a system could quantify his rage, it would surely be hitting peak levels, a continuous string of "1024s."

Seeing Zu An's expression, the Emperor felt a surge of satisfaction. Given his status and cultivation, how long had it been since he'd felt such delight?

He cleared his throat and continued, "But you needn't worry. This restriction won't activate for a while. Just diligently complete the tasks I assign you, and I will remove it afterward."

Zu An cursed inwardly, "I don't believe a word you say, you rotten old man, you're utterly deceitful!" He knew that even if he completed the task, the Emperor wouldn't easily remove the restriction. He would surely use it to coerce Zu An into performing other duties until he was no longer useful...

Yet, on his face, he feigned profound gratitude, exclaiming, "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

The Emperor nodded in satisfaction; he relished the feeling of holding others' lives and deaths in his hands. "You may withdraw!"

"Yes!" Zu An replied respectfully, but internally seething with anger, as he exited the Imperial Study.

As he passed the main entrance, Eunuch Wen smiled and nodded at him. But to Zu An, that benevolent smile appeared exceptionally sinister and terrifying.

He sighed inwardly, wondering what role Eunuch Wen truly played.

After leaving the Imperial Study, he did not return to the East Palace, but instead headed towards Golden Badge Eleven's courtyard.

After walking for a while, he frowned again. That unsettling sensation of being followed and watched surged through him once more.

He subtly controlled nearby birds to observe, but found no suspicious individuals.

Could he be overthinking it?

Zu An scratched his head. The recent stress was immense, making him feel almost paranoid.

Still, he dared not be careless. He circled through the palace a few times, periodically switching to various animals for surveillance, but still found no one following or watching him.

Only then did he sigh in relief and head towards Golden Badge Eleven's courtyard. He intended to inform Yun Jianyue about Sun Luzhen and his group, and at the same time, try to get her out of the palace.

Although he was reluctant to part with such a stunning beauty, as exquisite as the bright moon in the clouds, the Emperor was far too cunning. If she were discovered, she would surely be doomed. After his recent experience in the Imperial Study, he was even more unwilling to take risks.

Gazing at the courtyard hidden in the distant grove, Zu An felt a sense of home. The thought of a woman waiting for him there every day was a truly wonderful feeling.

However, remembering the strange feeling of unease he'd experienced earlier, he decided against walking straight in. For safety, he pretended to pass by the courtyard instead.

After walking a short distance further and finding no anomalies, he was about to turn back when Yun Jianyue's voice, transmitted by energy, reached his ear: "Don't look back, someone is following you."

Zu An: "???"

So there really was someone following him. Yun Jianyue, after all, was a Grandmaster. With her injuries somewhat healed, her senses were far more acute than his.

"Do you know who it is? Is it a plump eunuch?" Zu An transmitted his question.

"That person is highly skilled in concealment techniques. My injuries aren't fully healed yet, so I can't pinpoint their location or see them, but I know they're there." Yun Jianyue's voice was cool yet carried the allure of a mature woman, sounding like an exquisite massage for the ears.

At that moment, however, Zu An had no thought of enjoyment. Instead, the hairs on his body stood on end.

He had tried various methods to detect the follower behind him, yet found absolutely nothing, which spoke volumes about the opponent's skill.

He had too many secrets, and the thought of such a formidable individual secretly observing him was terrifying.

"Why don't we lure him out and take him down together?" Zu An suggested, but immediately dismissed the idea. With the Emperor present in the palace, any commotion would be difficult to conceal from him, and Yun Jianyue's energy signature would be too obvious if she were to act.

"I have a plan. Wait a moment." Yun Jianyue said, then fell silent. Soon after, the courtyard gate creaked open.

Zu An's eyes widened. What was happening?

He turned to look, and saw a masked Embroidered Uniform Guard, wearing a golden badge, emerge from inside.

"Did another Golden Badge Guard enter my room to investigate?" Zu An was startled, but then immediately realized it was his own uniform. The identity of the person was clear; no wonder Yun Jianyue had specifically asked him for a set of clothes earlier.

Yun Jianyue was tall, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard's attire was designed to conceal identity, so when impersonating Golden Badge Eleven, she appeared almost flawless.

Zu An's gaze lingered on her. He wondered where she had hidden her long, hip-length hair. As for her figure—the clothes were wrapped tightly, so her physique wasn't clearly visible, but that didn't stop Zu An from envisioning her graceful curves in his mind.

The Golden Badge Embroidered Uniform Guard's uniform was inherently striking. While traditionally worn by men, it held a unique allure when donned by a woman.

Was this uniform fetish, like those female investigator series?

A string of such terms flashed through Zu An's mind, but he quickly shook his head, realizing this was not the time for such thoughts.

At that moment, Zu An's eyes darted, and he stepped forward to greet her directly: "Ah, it's Lord Eleven! The Crown Prince and Crown Princess were greatly indebted to your rescue last time. We are truly grateful!"

Yun Jianyue tilted her head, watching him, thinking, "This guy is quite the actor." She lowered her voice and grunted impatiently.

With her experience in the martial arts world, as long as she didn't speak extensively, it would be difficult for others to distinguish her gender.

Zu An cupped his hands and bowed slightly: "It seems Your Excellency has important matters to attend to, so I won't detain you. Please, go ahead."

Yun Jianyue nodded and then walked in the opposite direction.

She secretly transmitted, "I'll circle around nearby first to see if I can find the follower."

Zu An replied, "Head towards the palace gate. I've already rescued Sun Luzhen and his group, so you can use this opportunity to leave the palace as well."

Yun Jianyue was both surprised and delighted. She hadn't expected him to actually succeed in rescuing people from the Heavenly Prison. She was curious how he managed it but knew this wasn't the time to ask. So, with some concern, she said, "But what about you if I leave? There's a powerful individual secretly watching you."

"You can't help me fight by staying here," Zu An said with a chuckle. "Don't worry, this is the Imperial Palace, and the Emperor is present. That mysterious expert wouldn't dare to act recklessly; at most, they'll just follow me. You are my biggest secret right now, so if you leave, I won't be afraid of him tracking me anymore."

Upon hearing "You are my biggest secret," Yun Jianyue's expression grew strange. For some inexplicable reason, those words made her heart flutter. However, she quickly composed herself and said, "Alright, I'll leave the palace first. You find an opportunity to come out, and we can talk in detail outside."

As the two departed in opposite directions, a figure slowly emerged from the shadow of a large tree.

Anyone observing continuously would have been astonished, as only the tree's shadow had been there moments before, with no sign of a person. This individual seemed to have crawled out of the very shadows.

"Hmm, there were two of them. It seems King Qi guessed wrong," the person murmured to himself. He looked left and right, hesitated for a moment, then changed direction, following Yun Jianyue.

Yun Jianyue's voice also reached Zu An's ear: "That person is following me."

Zu An was startled: "Be careful!"

At the same time, he secretly wondered. He had initially thought the hidden individual was after him, but now it didn't seem so. Who exactly was this person, and what was their objective?

Yun Jianyue let out a soft chuckle: "He's the one who should be careful."

Zu An then understood. Yun Jianyue was, after all, a Grandmaster, even when injured. The hidden individual likely thought they were fishing, but had, in fact, hooked a great white shark.

As the two walked further apart, they moved beyond the range of energy transmission.

Yun Jianyue could have continued transmitting her voice, but it would require more energy and easily attract the Emperor's attention, which was unnecessary.

Zu An continued walking for a bit, then quietly turned back and followed. He wouldn't feel entirely at ease until he saw Yun Jianyue leave the palace with his own eyes.

Since that feeling of being followed had dissipated, he wasn't afraid of being discovered.

He followed from a distance all the way to Yunlong Gate on the west side of the Imperial Palace. Yun Jianyue walked at a steady, unhurried pace, exuding the aura of a true master.

"Perhaps someday I'll get her to wear this uniform again..." Zu An's mind conjured many scenarios of "uniform temptation," and an unconscious, infatuated smile appeared on his face.

Meanwhile, Yun Jianyue arrived at Yunlong Gate and casually presented Golden Badge Eleven's waist token. The guards, upon seeing it, quickly granted her passage.

The Golden Badge Embroidered Uniform Guards already held an extraordinary status, and this particular one had recently saved the Crown Prince and Crown Princess, making him a favorite in the East Palace. Who would dare offend him?

Just as she was about to leave, a pleasant voice called out from nearby: "Wait a moment!"

Underneath her mask, Yun Jianyue's beautiful brows furrowed. Zu An also groaned inwardly—why did she have to appear now!

Not far away, jades on a girdle chimed softly as a woman in magnificent palace attire, moving with utmost grace, slowly approached. Who else could it be but the Crown Princess?