Chapter 3 Chapter 3 "Why would someone suddenly appear in his yard...

"How could someone suddenly appear in his yard?" The current emperor received a secret report, slammed the table and questioned the secret guard who came to report.

The secret guard knelt on the ground and said, "Your Majesty, that man suddenly appeared, and disappeared again after entering. We had planned to set up a net outside to catch him, but he didn't come out at all. We have been guarding outside the whole time, and no one came out before I came."

"You were guarding outside and yet someone was able to get in. You didn't even know to go in and search, and then you reported to me that the person was missing?" The current official stared at him and asked, gritting his teeth.

"After the people inside rested, we went in to search, but found nothing. However, there was a strong smell of blood in one of the rooms, and that person had gone in with a lamp. It was because of him carrying the lamp that we discovered there was more than one person in the room." The secret guard said with his head down.

"Is that person injured?" The current emperor frowned slightly and squinted his eyes and said, "If that's the case, I guess you guys didn't search thoroughly enough. Search again tomorrow morning. If you can't find anything this time, then we'll just have to give up."

The secret guard lowered his head and said, "Yes!"

"How many people are guarding outside the courtyard today?" the present gentleman asked casually.

"No more, no less, a total of 121 people." The secret guard replied with gritted teeth.

"After the search tomorrow, let them each receive 20 strokes of the cane. If this happens again next time," the current official said expressionlessly, "let them die to atone for their sins."

"Yes!" the secret guard replied.

"Let's go." The present ruler looked at him and said.

After the secret guard left, the present emperor turned around and walked out slowly with his hands behind his back.

The secret room was empty.

The Swordsman, who was watching the entire process wearing an invisibility cloak, muttered to himself, "Now that's good, he won't suspect me of plotting a rebellion again, will he? Who is it that has always been interested in restoring the old dynasty?"

"Could it be me?" In the brightly lit imperial study, the current emperor was flipping through memorials, sneered, and suddenly asked.

The eunuch next to him took the tea from the maid and placed it on the table. He bent over and served carefully, saying, "Calm down."

The then current emperor took a sip of chrysanthemum tea, put the cup back on the table with a thump, and said, holding the memorial, "Do you know what the Chief Censor said in the memorial?"

He took the memorial and unfolded it, reading it: "Recently, I heard that sticking sticks are active among the people, and there are many more people arrested in the Dali Temple for being suspected of missing the old dynasty.

In my opinion, ordinary people are illiterate and may not know what they are doing. I am afraid they are not truly missing their ancestors. Arresting them with such fanfare will only make the people panic.

If some people who truly cherish the old ways are arrested for this reason, it will be a good thing. However, if they act secretly and encourage the ignorance of the people, the peaceful world will be thrown into chaos again.

Please think twice, Your Majesty."

After reading it, the emperor was so angry that he threw the memorial on the table with a bang and shouted angrily to the eunuch beside him: "What does he mean by this?

Isn't he saying that, in fact, the people were originally very peaceful, but I must investigate those people from the old dynasty who have caused public resentment, and I must be careful that they may rebel?

Who is the rebel? I am the rebel! He is so bold! He dares to mock me. I will kill all his clans!"

The chief eunuch knew that the emperor was just talking, so he bent over, wrinkled his face slightly, squinted his eyes and smiled softly, "Congratulations, Your Majesty. Congratulations, Your Majesty."

"What did you say?!" The current emperor slammed his fist on the table, looking at the eunuch angrily with a stern face.

The eunuchs and palace maids around immediately knelt down.

The scene was so quiet for a moment that the only sound was the crackling of the candle flame.

The eunuch knelt on the ground slowly, and no one urged him.

He kowtowed respectfully and said, "Your Majesty, you have such a minister who can speak out and give you advice, just like Emperor Taizong of Tang had Wei Zheng. With such a loyal minister to assist Your Majesty, Your Majesty will be wise and brave, and you will surely be able to achieve a harmonious relationship with your ministers. You will also be able to become a wise ruler for all ages on the basis of your hegemony. Your name will last for thousands of years, and your grand plan will be realized in the blink of an eye. Isn't it a great joy?"

"The way you say it makes it sound like I have to rely on him to become a wise ruler." The current emperor snorted, and his anger subsided a little, but not completely.

The chief eunuch smiled and said, "Your Majesty is a wise ruler. You can succeed without him. However, the emperor's ambition is like the vast ocean. Can't Your Majesty forgive him?"

If he is by your side and remains loyal, Your Majesty will be even more powerful. If Your Majesty executes his entire clan, the reputation of deterrence will rise again, and I am afraid that the good ministers in the world will not dare to make suggestions, and only treacherous villains will flatter the superiors and bully the subordinates. I am worried that they will not only pollute Your Majesty's ears, but also tarnish Your Majesty's reputation."

He took a breath and said slowly, "I am really thinking about your majesty. Please be at ease. Anger is harmful to your health. Don't ask the imperial physician to come for such a small matter."

"You are old now and bolder, and you can even say such things. If you don't know, you would think that I have to listen to you." The current emperor looked at him with a smile.

"I dare not. If Your Majesty wants to punish me, I will naturally accept it. As long as Your Majesty is pleased." The eunuch bowed slowly and said.

The current emperor took another sip of the chrysanthemum tea and said with a smile, "Get up! If I really have to punish you to please myself, what will happen if the news gets out? I'm afraid they will say that I'm a torturer."

"No one dares to criticize your majesty," the old eunuch slowly got up from the ground and said with a smile, "but your majesty is indeed a kind and benevolent monarch. Everyone in the world has seen it with their own eyes and will not make a mistake."

"Alright, alright, no need to praise me." The current emperor smiled and waved his hand: "Give me another plate of dessert. You can go and rest when the time comes. You are getting older, so don't be too tired."

"It is not hard for me to work for Your Majesty." The old eunuch said respectfully.

"Go ahead and rest early. It's getting late." The current gentleman looked at him while holding a cup of chrysanthemum tea, his expression unchanged.

"I obey your command." The old eunuch slowly retreated.

The candle flame crackled again, as if a new page in the bamboo history book had been turned.

The present emperor rubbed his brows and continued to review his memorials.

The sky gradually brightened.

The swordsman returned to the villa halfway up the mountain wearing a disposable invisibility cloak, sat on a stool in Li Baili's bedroom, poured himself a cup of tea, and felt very sober after drinking it.

Li Baili slowly sat up from the bed.

"Is it daybreak?" he asked.

The voice was vague, and there was also the tiredness and haziness of just waking up in the early morning.

The swordsman made a cup of jasmine tea, held the cup and felt that the temperature was just right, so he stood up and walked to the bed, handed the tea in his hand to him, and said, "Drink some tea and wake up."

Li Baili took the tea and drank it, then returned the empty cup to him. He took it with a smile and said, "It's already dawn."

"How long has it been light?" Li Baili rubbed her eyes, threw back the quilt, got out of bed and asked.

"About several hours." The sword-bearer put the empty cup back on the table and said with a laugh, as if joking.

"Come on, it's only a few hours from the time I fall asleep to dawn. If it really lasts a few hours, it's enough for me to sleep again. Why do I need to drink tea to refresh myself?" Li Baili stretched and shook her head.

"Should I get you some water to wash your face?" The sword-bearer did not argue with him, but turned around and looked at him and asked.

"I'll go by myself." Li Baili said and walked out.

But when he reached the door and looked out, he felt the cold outside and retreated, saying to the sword bearer, "Please, I want warm water."

"Okay? It's just a few steps away. I don't know why you are so reluctant to walk." The swordsman put on a new invisible cloak, slowly opened the door and walked out, fetched some water and brought it back and placed it on the table.

The water was still piping hot.

Li Baili hurried to close the door.

By the time he closed the door and turned around, the sword-bearer had handed him his towel from the shelf next to him.

He took the towel and washed his face, feeling the hot water melting on his face. The pores on his face opened up. He felt extremely comfortable and sat there with his eyes squinted.

The sword bearer beside him told him what he saw and heard when he went out.

Li Baili nodded, washed the handkerchief in the basin, wrung it dry, and wiped the water droplets off her hands.

The man holding the sword reached out his hand, took the handkerchief, shook it open, tugged at it, and hung it back.

Li Baili buttoned up her clothes, grabbed a rag from the table, wiped the water droplets from the basin on the table, stood up and asked, "How was that man last night?"

The swordsman froze for a moment, then turned around with a smile, took two steps closer to Li Baili, like a golden retriever wagging its tail, and whispered, "I haven't had time to go yet."

"Then go and have a look when you have time." Li Baili said, holding the basin of water, "I don't know if putting it in the basement will scare him to death."

"He has even fought a bear, so why would he be afraid of the dark? I think you should be worried about the basement. Will he suffocate to death? In that place, even a deep breath will make your chest feel stuffy." The swordsman shook his head.

"Why don't you go?" Li Baili glanced at him and said with a smile, "Do you want to wait for me to go together? I haven't shown up in front of him. It's not good to show up in front of him."

Li Baili paused, restrained her smile and whispered: "Plus my identity, if he really saw my face, and saw my portrait somewhere else someday and recognized me, I'm afraid he would be in trouble.

I'd better try to avoid him. Yesterday I helped him because he was unconscious and it was difficult for you to handle it alone. Actually, you know that I don't like to work."

"Alright, alright, I'll go." The swordsman waved his hand.

"Okay." Li Baili nodded.

He squeezed the door open and walked out, poured the water in the basin into the ditch, and scooped some water from the water tank next to it to wash the basin. After washing, he put the basin back to its original place.

The door was not closed yet, and the swordsman had already walked out.

Li Baili walked back slowly, took out the cup and washed it, then closed the door and went to the basement entrance to find the Swordsman.