Chapter 44 – I Miscalculated!

When Tang Jingrui ordered someone to keep an eye on Tang Liuzhao, the Emperor was vexed over whether or not to grant Tian Yuan an official title.

After all, the man had once tried to kill him. Keeping such a person by his side made it hard to feel at ease, and if he gave him a high position, what if Tian Yuan rebelled?

But then again, Tian Yuan’s martial strength far surpassed even that of the National Preceptor. If he truly wanted to kill him, he could have stormed straight into the palace and done it. There was no need to go through the trouble of disguising himself as the Emperor’s secret guard first.

After thinking it through, the Emperor promptly granted Tian Yuan and Song Longzhu the title of First-Rank Imperial Secret Guards, allowing them to command the Forbidden Army, the Imperial Bodyguards, and the Jinyiwei at will. He also rewarded them with a mansion in the inner city, ten servants, and a thousand taels of gold.

On top of that, their monthly salary was a hundred taels of gold, five times that of the sitting Left and Right Grand Chancellors.

However, for Tian Yuan and Song Longzhu, as long as they had food to eat, a place to stay, and money to spend, their official rank mattered little.

Next, the Emperor found himself facing yet another dilemma.

Once he conferred their ranks, he would have to give them their official seals. But granting the seals meant they would be able to hear Mu Nanjin’s inner voice, something that could expose many secrets better left unknown.

Yet if he didn’t give them the seals, their titles as First-Rank Imperial Secret Guards would be a joke. Neither the Forbidden Army nor the Jinyiwei would obey their commands unless the Emperor gave them his personal command token.

But the Emperor’s token held far greater authority than any official seal, and he wasn’t foolish enough to hand it over lightly.

After much deliberation, he finally decided to give them their seals. He then instructed Kan Chaoyan to explain Mu Nanjin’s situation to them, but strictly warned that they must never let Mu Nanjin herself know about it.

When Tian Yuan heard Kan Chaoyan say that all civil and military officials could hear Mu Nanjin’s inner thoughts, he was utterly baffled and suspected Kan Chaoyan was lying.

That was until early the next morning.

As the Emperor prepared to attend court, Tian Yuan suddenly heard a sweet, girlish voice cry out:

【Tian Yuan, handsome hunk! I’m here!】

Tian Yuan’s brow furrowed instantly.

By all rights, this was his first day on duty at the palace, and hardly anyone should know him by name. How could someone be calling out to him?

Unless… there was another man in the palace also named Tian Yuan?

【Tian Yuan, handsome hunk! Where are you?】

Listening closely, Tian Yuan realized that the voice sounded somewhat like Mu Nanjin’s. But that cold-faced girl never smiled, let alone spoke in such a coy, syrupy tone. It couldn’t possibly be her… could it?

【Strange, why can’t I see him? Don’t tell me he hasn’t come to work today?】

Mu Nanjin, failing to spot Tian Yuan anywhere, assumed the Emperor hadn’t arrived for court yet.

But even after court began, Tian Yuan was nowhere to be seen. Only then did she suddenly remember something.

【Damn it, I forgot the Emperor picked him as a secret guard! Secret guards hide in the shadows to protect the Emperor, of course I can’t see him! Doesn’t that mean… I’ll never get to see him again?!】

【I… I miscalculated!】

Mu Nanjin was so regretful she could have pounded her chest.

【Is it too late to take it back now?】

From his hidden vantage point, Tian Yuan watched her impassive expression and the complete lack of reaction from the ministers. A doubt crept into his mind, had he imagined that voice?

Or could it be true that the entire court really could hear Mu Nanjin’s inner thoughts?

Or perhaps… this wasn’t an inner voice at all, but a transmission of sound, carrying her thoughts directly to others?

But sound transmission required spiritual energy, and he hadn’t sensed even the faintest fluctuation of it in the voice he’d heard.

After pondering for a moment, Tian Yuan decided to test it out.

He stepped out from the shadows and walked straight up to Mu Nanjin.

Her eyes immediately lit up.

【It’s Tian Yuan, the handsome hunk!】

Tian Yuan’s tone was cool and even. “Mu Nanjin, do you recognize who I am?”