Chapter 28 – Do You Want Me to Sack You?

To prevent another assassination attempt, the Emperor and his entourage hurriedly left and boarded their carriage back to the capital.

Upon returning to the city, the Emperor personally escorted the “gravely injured” Mu Nanjin back to her residence.

【Hehe, I must be the first official in Great Qian ever to be personally sent home by both the Emperor and the Empress Dowager.】

Kan Chaoyan struggled to suppress a laugh. “Little Mu girl, we’ve arrived.”

Supported by the Empress Dowager’s maid, Mu Nanjin gracefully stepped down from the carriage. “Thank you, Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, for bringing me home.”

Kan Chaoyan replied warmly, “I’ll have an imperial physician sent to examine you. You should rest and recuperate at home for the next three days.”

“Three days?” Mu Nanjin frowned slightly.

【Old Kan, are you looking to get sacked? Do you need me to beat some sense into you before you realize that someone gravely injured can’t possibly recover in just three days?】

Kan Chaoyan: “…”

Inside the carriage, the Emperor interjected, “Mu Nanjin rendered great service by saving Our life. You shall rest at home for half a month, and then return to the Commandant’s Office to resume duty.”

【Now that’s more like it. The Emperor old man actually knows reason.】

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Mu Nanjin entered the Mu residence cheerfully.

Inside the carriage, the Emperor rubbed his face and asked the Empress Dowager, “She keeps calling me ‘old man.’ Do I truly look that old?”

The Empress Dowager couldn’t help but laugh. “Not old, not at all. But compared to her age, you’re certainly no young man either.”

“That’s true,” the Emperor admitted, amused. “I’m old enough to be her father.” He then turned to Feng Sinan, who was seated across from him. “National Preceptor, what do you think about today’s assassins?”

Feng Sinan’s expression grew serious. “The assassin who targeted Gong Xiurong was an extremely formidable individual. Very few in this world could face him head-on. He shouldn’t have appeared here at all.”

“Shouldn’t have appeared here? What do you mean?”

Feng Sinan remained silent, clearly unwilling to elaborate.

Seeing that he didn’t wish to speak further, the Emperor changed the topic. “Then, was it truly Mu Nanjin who fought off the assassin chasing Gong Xiurong?”

“Almost certainly.”

“So that story about her fighting alongside another expert was fabricated—there was never any mysterious ally at all.” The Emperor chuckled softly. “To think that little girl not only knows martial arts but is actually a top expert herself. All those assassins I sent after her before must’ve been killed by her hand. It’s fortunate she didn’t pursue the matter further—otherwise, the consequences would’ve been… unimaginable.”

His emotions were mixed as he rubbed his aching temples. “Even though I can hear her thoughts, I still can’t see through her. She’s hidden her true self too well.”

Feng Sinan nodded slightly, agreeing with his assessment.

The Empress Dowager smiled gently. “I don’t think she harbors any ill will. If she did, she wouldn’t have risked herself to save us today. As long as we don’t make an enemy of her, she won’t trouble us.”

The Emperor’s mood lightened considerably at her words. “Mother, you’re right.”

After returning to the palace, word spread quickly—since the head assassin had been killed, the false monks of Jietuo Temple were forced to flee.

However, the real monks of Jietuo Temple had all been massacred by the assassins. Once they withdrew, the massive temple became an empty ruin. The people of the capital now had nowhere to burn incense or pray for blessings.

Thus, the Emperor issued an edict to recruit eminent monks from across the land to preside over Jietuo Temple.

While the monks began traveling toward the capital, Mu Nanjin sprawled lazily on a reclining chair in her courtyard, basking in the sun and watching dramas from her system. Her life was blissfully peaceful.

Ever since she began cultivating, she hadn’t enjoyed such leisure.

In the past, her days had been filled with sword practice and meditation—endlessly repetitive and dull. If not for her twin goals of immortality and never being bullied again, she would’ve given up long ago.

Now, she had money, a house, a horse, and an ironclad government job. She’d even started blending into life in this ancient era. By all accounts, she should be content.

And yet… something still felt missing—though she couldn’t quite say what.

“Miss, Miss! Our young lady is recovering from her injuries. You should come back another time!”

Mu Nanjin heard Zhenzhu’s voice and looked up—only to see Princess Xueyu striding into the courtyard.

She sighed inwardly. There went her days of peace.