Chapter 22 – Loves to Expose Others’ Secrets

Obviously, it was the assassins who would be recognized first.

The commanders of the Imperial Guards and the Jinyiwei exchanged subtle glances, their eyes flashing with killing intent toward the abbot and his group—but before the others could notice, they quickly averted their gaze.

Kan Chaoyan stepped up beside the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guards and whispered so quietly it barely stirred the air,

“If we withdraw now, it’ll alert the assassins. Worse, it could drag the civilians in the temple into chaos—and even put His Majesty in danger.”

“Then what should we do?” the Deputy Commander asked, frowning.

Kan Chaoyan considered for a moment before replying,

“His Majesty must have heard what Mu Nanjin said. They’ll find a chance to slip out of Jingtuo Temple quietly. Besides, the National Preceptor is secretly protecting him. His Majesty should be safe.”

The Deputy Commander nodded in agreement.

“Then we hold our positions for now.”

The Emperor and Empress Dowager did not leave Jingtuo Temple immediately. Departing at that moment would only attract unwanted attention. Instead, they decided to burn incense first and wait until other pilgrims began leaving—then blend in and depart with them.

At that moment, the most relaxed person in the entire temple was Mu Nanjin.

She didn’t need to guard the Emperor, nor accompany the Empress Dowager. Free of responsibility, she wandered about aimlessly, unbothered and at ease.

The Emperor and Empress Dowager deliberately passed right in front of her, yet she pretended not to see them, turning in another direction instead.

【Where are you, Your Majesty? Where are you, Your Majesty? I can’t find you! What should I do?】

The Emperor ground his teeth in fury.

“When we get back, I’m definitely punishing her!”

The Empress Dowager couldn’t help laughing. At this moment, the Emperor looked like a petulant ten-year-old boy—utterly childish.

As Mu Nanjin avoided the Emperor, she spotted Gong Xiurong leading his men and following a middle-aged man into the monks’ residential courtyard.

【Gong Xiurong, that man’s trying to kill you! How can you follow him so easily? Sure, he’s only a Ninth-Rank martial artist—no match for you, a grandmaster—but he’s backed by a Ninth-Rank Martial King, and another assassin whose level even I can’t identify. You go in there, and you’re walking straight to your death!】

Martial King!

There was a Martial King here!?

Everyone who heard Mu Nanjin’s thoughts froze in shock. A Martial King was an entire realm above a grandmaster. There were only two Martial Kings in the entire Great Qian Empire. One of them—a First-Rank Martial King—was secretly protecting the Emperor. But who was this assassin aiming to kill Gong Xiurong? Could it be the same one targeting the Emperor?

Mu Nanjin’s next thought gave them the answer.

【I mean, sure, it makes sense that they’d want to kill Gong Xiurong and the Emperor. One’s a royal prince, the other’s the Emperor himself—people like that always attract enemies. But why me!? I’m just a lowly Ninth-Rank Jinyiwei! I barely talk to anyone, I don’t socialize, I don’t even gossip that much! How did I offend someone so badly they’d spend a fortune to have me killed? Hmph! Even the rumors don’t explain it properly—what a cliffhanger!】

Everyone who could hear her fell silent—then collectively sneered.

Heh. “Barely talks,” she said?

Sure, she didn’t speak much out loud, but her inner thoughts were endless—and she loved exposing everyone’s secrets.

If the Emperor hadn’t been protecting her, she’d have died a thousand deaths by now.

Wait a minute…

Did she just say the assassin targeting Gong Xiurong also wanted to kill the Emperor? Their Emperor?

Everyone’s faces went pale.

A Ninth-Rank Martial King targeting the Emperor—none of them could possibly stop that.

For the first time, the Emperor truly felt fear. He forced himself to stay calm, clutching the Empress Dowager’s hand tightly.

“Mother, let’s go home.”

The Empress Dowager nodded, following the flow of pilgrims leaving the temple after finishing their incense offerings.

The Jinyiwei were growing increasingly anxious, but they couldn’t act rashly. To avoid alerting the monks, Kan Chaoyan excused himself by claiming he needed to relieve himself. When no one was watching, he vaulted over the temple wall and slipped outside.