Chapter 45 – You Scared Them Half to Death

“You’re Tian Yuan.”

Mu Nanjin spoke like a puppet, her tone flat, her expression cold and detached.

But even though her lips didn’t move, Tian Yuan still heard her voice in his mind.

【Nonsense. I was the one who accepted you as a secret guard: how could I not recognize you?】

Tian Yuan’s gaze focused on her lips. “I wasn’t asking for my name. I meant my identity.”

When she had winked at him yesterday, he already suspected that she had guessed who he was.

【Identity? What identity? Is he talking about the assassin thing? If that’s what he means… should I admit I recognized him?】

Tian Yuan: “…” So she really does know who I am.

【Ugh, I already have to get up before dawn every day just to attend court with that bunch of bald old men in Tai Jin Hall, pure torture. The only joy I have left is sneaking glances at handsome men. If he quits because I recognize him, that’d ruin all my fun! No, I can’t admit it. Definitely not.】

The civil and military officials: “…”

Young lady, you’re ruthless.

We’re standing here attending court seriously, not bothering you at all, why stab us straight in the heart like that?

Feigning ignorance, Mu Nanjin frowned slightly. “We only met yesterday. How would I possibly know your identity?”

Tian Yuan ended his little test and drew his conclusion: this woman really could project her thoughts aloud.

It was the first time he had ever encountered such a bizarre thing, and it was hard to believe that someone so expressionless could have such a lively inner world.

He even felt a touch of pity for her. Someone like that couldn’t keep a single secret.

【He keeps staring at me without saying a word… is it because he doesn’t believe me, or because he’s falling for me?】

Tian Yuan immediately turned on his heel and walked away before she got the wrong idea.

【He’s leaving? So he believes me now? But… will he still come to assassinate me tonight?】

Mu Nanjin had read in the gossip records that the person who had paid Tian Yuan to assassinate the Emperor and the one who had paid him to assassinate her were two different employers.

That meant Tian Yuan wouldn’t target the Emperor again, but it didn’t necessarily mean she was safe. As for which mysterious employer wanted her dead, she still had no clue.

Tian Yuan’s steps faltered.

She knew he was sent to kill her?

Was this what Kan Chaoyan had meant when he said, “Mu Nanjin knows things no one else should know”?

But how did she know? And why, knowing he might kill her, would she still keep him close?

Was she planning to keep him under her watch?

【If he doesn’t come to kill me, then all the traps I set up in my room and courtyard last night will go to waste!】

That thought reminded Tian Yuan of the time at Jingtuo Temple, when Mu Nanjin had tossed him that “pill.”

It had been nothing more than a mild hallucinogen, yet it had taken him days to fully purge the effects.

And now she dared to set traps for him again?

Was she seeking death?

【I was even planning to capture him alive and make him take Gong Xiurong’s place at Xiaoqing Tower for a day as the top courtesan to attract customers. Looks like that plan’s fallen apart.】

Ever since Gong Xiurong left, Xiaoqing Tower’s income had dropped by thirty percent.

Taking over the brothel herself, Mu Nanjin felt the loss keenly, and she was desperate to find someone to fill Gong Xiurong’s shoes and bring business booming again.

Tian Yuan’s face darkened so much it was practically charcoal.

If he hadn’t sworn to keep the matter of her thought projection a secret, he would have drawn his sword on the spot.

For a woman to humiliate him like this, using a brothel boy as a comparison, was simply unforgivable.

The court officials, meanwhile, were utterly in awe of Mu Nanjin.

They’d thought the traps were meant to kill Tian Yuan, but it turned out she wanted him to work at a brothel?

This little girl’s imagination was truly… boundless.

The Emperor, however, was drenched in cold sweat.

He still hadn’t recovered from the chaos at Jingtuo Temple. Just the thought of Mu Nanjin provoking Tian Yuan again made his heart seize up. If they fought here, the entire court would suffer the fallout.

After all, the forest at Jingtuo Temple had been annihilated by their clash. He really didn’t want the Imperial Palace flattened next.

The Emperor abruptly rose to his feet and declared, “Court is dismissed!”

The officials immediately bowed in unison. “We respectfully send off His Majesty!”

Mu Nanjin blinked, looking dumbfounded.

This was, without a doubt, the fastest court session since she’d started her post.

【Huh? We just started! Barely exchanged a few words, and it’s already over? Are imperial meetings always this casual?】

The Commander of the Imperial Guards silently thought,

Not casual, girl. You just scared everyone half to death.