Chapter 731: Knockdown

Having been tricked once at the Hundred Flowers Palace, Zu An was now truly once bitten, twice shy.

So he quickly used the jade cong to control the small animals in the vicinity. Cats were most abundant at night, so he used their eyes to monitor the slightest stir around him.

Once he confirmed there seemed to be no ambush in the palace, he quietly snuck inside.

Suddenly, his heart skipped a beat, and he quickly stopped, hiding behind a large tree.

Through the cats' eyes, he saw a group of people approaching. The bright yellow figure in the center was none other than Emperor Zhao Hao!

Zu An's hair stood on end. What was the Empress thinking? Inviting him here, only for the Emperor to show up. Was she trying to get him killed?

He dared not breathe a sound, simultaneously activating "Bright Mirror Non-Platform" to make his presence increasingly faint.

The Emperor and his retinue passed by. While everyone else showed no unusual reactions, the Emperor suddenly stopped.

"Your Majesty, is something wrong?" Eunuch Wen, who was nearby, stepped forward to ask.

The Emperor turned his head and looked towards Zu An's hiding spot, his gaze incredibly sharp. "Who dares to trespass in the inner palace at night!"

The moment he spoke, the large tree in front of Zu An shattered. He instinctively tried to dodge but found the air around him had become incredibly viscous, as if an invisible force was binding him.

A thought struck him: the last time he was held down like this, he couldn't move at all, but now it didn't seem as extreme...

However, he did not dodge. Instead, he stood his ground and said, "Greetings, Your Majesty!"

At this moment, the imperial guards beside the Emperor finally reacted, drawing their long sabers and swiftly surrounding Zu An. However, they hesitated slightly upon seeing his Embroidered Uniform Guard attire.

The Emperor frowned. "It's you?"

Although Zu An was wearing a mask, someone with the Emperor's high cultivation level no longer needed to rely on their eyes to recognize people.

"Why are you here?" His gaze remained incredibly sharp.

Zu An quickly replied, "Your Majesty previously sent me to investigate a case, so I came here to look for clues."

The Emperor snorted. "Your investigation led you to the Empress? Do you suspect her?"

"I wouldn't dare," Zu An replied. "It is precisely because I wouldn't dare suspect Her Majesty the Empress that I came here secretly, to avoid any misunderstanding about her involvement in this case."

"Improper," the Emperor said, glancing at Eunuch Wen. "How should an inner attendant who trespasses into a consort's chambers at night be dealt with?"

"By law, he should be beheaded!" Eunuch Wen glanced at Zu An, thinking, *Has this Embroidered Uniform Guard lost his mind? To investigate a case, he's throwing his life away.*

Zu An's heart skipped a beat. "Please forgive my offense, Your Majesty. I am new here and unfamiliar with palace rules, and with the deadline for the case approaching, I acted impulsively..."

In truth, he knew the Emperor still needed him for many matters and would never kill him for this. However, in front of others, he still had to maintain the proper posture and give the Emperor a way to save face.

As expected, the Emperor nodded. "Very well. Considering your understandable circumstances, I shall spare your life this time. However, though your capital crime is remitted, you cannot escape a lesser punishment. Guards, take him away and give him fifty strokes with a heavy rod, to serve as a warning to others."

Zu An was both shocked and enraged. This guy was actually serious.

Damn it, ever since he arrived in the capital, the Emperor had been forcing him to do all sorts of things. Even a donkey on a production team wouldn't be worked this hard.

The key was that he'd only been given a nominal title of "Golden Token Envoy," with no other "carrots" afterward, only "sticks."

He had wanted to say something else, but the Emperor had already turned and entered Kunning Palace, giving him no further chance to explain himself.

Zu An was speechless.

Immediately after, Eunuch Wen approached him with a group of fierce-looking guards. "Our apologies, Sir."

Eunuch Wen always had a kind and benevolent appearance, and even in this situation, he didn't want to casually offend anyone. After all, the Emperor had spared his life despite him trespassing into the inner palace at night, which proved this person was certainly extraordinary.

Extraordinary or not, the Emperor's orders still had to be carried out.

Several guards pinned Zu An to the ground, then began to strike him with their saber scabbards as if they were heavy rods.

Zu An maintained a calm expression, but a surge of anger burned within him.

In truth, the beating caused him no harm at all; it even helped increase his cultivation.

But the feeling of indignity was utterly awful. Since arriving in the capital, he had constantly lived with his life and death controlled by others.

Although he was broad-minded and generally carefree, not taking things seriously, negative emotions had still accumulated within him.

This incident today became the last straw that broke the camel's back.

The Emperor clearly still needed his help with several important matters and certainly wouldn't kill him, yet he feigned generosity by pretending to spare his life, only to casually bestow a beating upon him.

Ultimately, it was because he was too weak. In the Emperor's eyes, he was probably just a servant to be ordered around at will, or perhaps even just a dog – and a not-so-obedient one at that.

This was why the Emperor had been using various means to discipline him recently. This was, in fact, normal imperial tactics. Had it been anyone else in this world, they would have long since been filled with awe and trepidation, finding the Emperor's might unfathomable, and would then have tremblingly and diligently carried out his orders.

But Zu An, as a transmigrator, had grown up with the concept of equality for all and the idea that no one is born inherently superior, whether they be kings, nobles, generals, or ministers. Furthermore, he had even been an emperor himself in a secret realm. How could he possibly tolerate such treatment?

I must become stronger!

This thought was clearer and stronger than ever before.

At that moment, inside Kunning Palace, the Empress, accompanied by Eunuch Lü, came to greet the Emperor. "Your humble concubine greets Your Majesty!"

The Emperor looked her over with some surprise. "It's been a while, Ning'er, you're becoming more beautiful."

The Empress seemed to have deliberately dressed up today. With finely groomed eyebrows and luscious, red lips, her fitted dress perfectly accentuated her full, voluptuous curves.

Although the Emperor had seen countless beauties, he still felt a trace of awe at her appearance.

The Empress's cheeks flushed. "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Eunuch Lü secretly glanced at the Emperor, wondering if he was going to stay the night in Kunning Palace today.

Tsk tsk tsk, it had been years since he last visited this place, yet he chose today of all days. Could it really be fate?

Seeing her eyes like a limpid autumn pool, the Emperor did not reply. Instead, he looked around. "Hmm, why are there so few people in Kunning Palace today, and why is it so dark?"

Eunuch Lü's heart skipped a beat, and he looked at the Empress with some concern.

The Empress, however, remained very calm, answering with a normal expression, "After that incident with the Crown Princess recently, everyone in Kunning Palace was busy investigating various matters and became quite exhausted. Now that things have settled down, I've given them leave to rest."

The Emperor smiled slightly. "The Empress truly cares for her subordinates, a true model for the imperial harem. Guards, reward everyone in Kunning Palace with half a year's salary."

The Empress quickly curtsied. "Your humble concubine thanks Your Majesty on their behalf. By the way, what made Your Majesty think of coming to Kunning Palace today?"

The Emperor replied, "I was passing by and decided to drop in on a whim today. By the way, have your injuries still not improved?"

The Empress lowered her head, a dejected expression on her face. "Your humble concubine has already resigned herself to her fate."

The Emperor said, "I will seek out miraculous medicines throughout the land and will surely cure your old internal injuries."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" The Empress bowed in thanks with a surprised expression, but secretly sneered to herself. A few years ago, she might have believed him, but so many years had passed, and each time he had only perfunctorily given her common remedies. She now understood that the Emperor most likely didn't want her to recover at all, for the sake of keeping her maternal relatives in check.

Since that was the case, she would have to find a solution herself.

"Oh, by the way, I just heard a commotion outside. What happened?" The Empress quickly changed the subject, worried he might notice something unusual.

"Just a foolish Embroidered Uniform Guard. He has been dealt with," the Emperor said, as if it were a trivial matter.

The Empress's heart jolted. She immediately thought that the clothes she had given Zu An were also Embroidered Uniform Guard attire. Could it be him?

This was too unlucky, wasn't it?

All her plans had gone to waste!

Although she was burning with anxiety, she did not show it in the slightest, nor did she inquire about any related information. After all, it would be strange for a dignified Empress to be so concerned about an Embroidered Uniform Guard, and the man before her was notoriously suspicious.

The two chatted for a while longer, then the Emperor stood up and said, "Empress, take good care of your health. I shall take my leave now."

The Empress looked at him with a melancholic expression. "Your Majesty, are you not staying the night?"

The Emperor's eyebrows imperceptibly furrowed, then he shook his head and said, "Many things have happened in court recently, and many state affairs are awaiting my attention."

The Empress had an "I knew it" expression, though outwardly she remained respectful. "State affairs are paramount. Your humble concubine respectfully sees Your Majesty off!"

"Empress, stay where you are!" the Emperor acknowledged, then turned and left Kunning Palace.

Just outside the palace, he happened to encounter Zu An, who had just finished his punishment. Eunuch Wen came with his men to report.

The Emperor acknowledged him, then looked at Zu An. "Be more careful in the future. The palace is not like the outside world. If you make such a mistake again, even I won't be able to protect you."

This fellow, from a commoner background, was a bit too wild. He needed to be disciplined from time to time.

At that moment, Zu An was seething with unspoken curses.

Knowing the art of rulership so well, how could he not see through the Emperor's tactics? The Emperor clearly wanted to make things difficult for him, yet acted as if he was bestowing great favor.

Although he was cursing internally, he could not show the slightest hint on his face. "Thank you for your mercy, Your Majesty."

Seeing his weak and dispirited appearance, the Emperor left feeling satisfied. It seemed the disciplining had been quite effective.

Zu An remained where he was and began to meditate, regulating his breathing and circulating the "Primordial Chaos Scripture." Injuries sustained in life-and-death battles used to heal quickly for him, so what were these superficial injuries? Soon, the flesh on his wounds had healed, leaving only some superficial scabs.

However, even as his injuries healed, the anger in his heart had not subsided in the slightest. His face was grim, and his mind was filled with thoughts that others would consider treasonous.

He had to become stronger; he could no longer let his life and death be controlled by another's whim.

Just then, a refreshing fragrant breeze wafted over. He looked up to see the beautiful and voluptuous Empress standing before him. "Are you alright?"