Chapter 793: Bewildered Choice

The two words "inside agent" perfectly sum up the Emperor's every action.

He really is just like an inside agent.

He secretly passes the court's military intelligence to him, and even insists that the court army be beaten until they wail and cry for their fathers and mothers.

Could the Emperor possibly do something like this?

This news leaves no room for it being false.

If there were no such thing, the Emperor's feint at him would be meaningless.

But then again.

Chen Wuji truly cannot understand: the Emperor told him such vital military secrets—what could the Emperor possibly gain from it?

Could it be merely because of that one sentence—"I think you've done an excellent job in Nan Jun, doing what I cannot"—so I will spare no effort, within my limited abilities, to help you?

Is there really such a pure-hearted person in the world?!

Even A Dou back then wouldn't have done something like this!

These two ideas bounced back and forth in Chen Wuji's mind, left and right clashing, leaving him somewhat dazed, yet he still couldn't reach a conclusion.

"My lord, based on the intelligence we have now, I actually lean toward believing that everything the Emperor said is true, and that he sincerely means it toward you."

Xu Zengyi reiterated his opinion once again.

"In the court, the power ministers led by Ruan Yuchang and Yan Yan dominate the government, and behind them stand the great clans that have stood in Zhongyuan for who knows how many years. The Dayu court is no longer merely a struggle between the Emperor and his ministers; it is a contest between the Yu imperial house and those aristocratic families."

"It is clear that the Emperor and his imperial clan now face the possibility of total collapse in this struggle. Moreover, within the imperial clan there are petty troublemakers taking advantage of the chaos, attempting to overthrow the current Emperor's power and seize that position for themselves."

"In Nan Jun, Yu Ren has declared himself the Rui Wang, aiming to become emperor; the Emperor also mentioned in his letter the Wise King he greatly trusts. I firmly believe that among the imperial clan, those with ulterior motives are not limited to just these two."

Xu Zengyi paused slightly, then offered a summary: "The Emperor now faces internal and external troubles, and the embarrassing situation where edicts cannot leave the imperial city. In such circumstances, he has turned his gaze toward you, my lord—though sudden, the reasoning is indeed plausible."

Chen Wuji jerked upright: "Then for now, let's treat the Emperor as our inside agent."

He decided not to overthink it.

Unable to fathom the Emperor's intentions, he just thought over his own situation, and suddenly everything became clear.

Even if the Emperor truly had some scheme against him, it seems he wouldn't have anything to fear.

The military authority of Nan Jun isn't something a couple of petty lackeys can seize, and he isn't someone who can be easily killed with a single knife stroke.

As long as he stays alive and holds the military authority, there's no need for him to worry excessively.

The Snake Staff Elder has done so much—carrying out assassinations, conducting subversions—but he's still alive and well, and Nan Jun has also achieved unification.

In terms of influence in Nan Jun, the Snake Staff Elder should be even more terrifying than the Emperor.

At the very least, the Emperor certainly couldn't mobilize that many martial artists from the Rivers and Lakes to linger outside his camp like wandering ghosts, carrying out assassinations.

With his doubts gone, Chen Wuji felt refreshed: "I've seen my share of the world, and now the Emperor wants me to be his inside agent. This matter must be recorded in the histories—if the court historians won't write it, we'll write it ourselves."

Throughout history, there probably hasn't been anything more insane than this.

Xu Zengyi chuckled and said, "Actually, my lord, if you have any doubts, you can simply ask His Majesty the Emperor directly. Whether true or false, as long as you get an answer, it will make your judgment easier."

Chen Wuji nodded deeply in agreement: "That's a good idea."

Although it was late at night, since the conversation had come to this point, Chen Wuji simply picked up his brush and began writing a reply to the Emperor.

He listed everything he wanted to ask, and finally added, "Does the Emperor have anything he needs me, Chen Wuji, to do? If so, I certainly won't shy from the trouble."

If His Majesty the Emperor truly regards me as an inside agent, then he has done a lot for me; Chen Wuji reflected that he ought to repay something in return, and not always take others' favors.

While he wrote with brush strokes like dragons and snakes, Xu Zengyi narrowed his eyes and began flipping through the Dao De Jing.

Chen Wuji wrote a passage, Xu Zengyi translated a passage.

……

In the room.

Zhang Xiuer sat cross-legged on the makeshift floor mat, hugging her knees and resting her chin on them, gazing blankly at the lights in the courtyard, her expression dark and complex.

She felt lost again, not knowing where to go.

She had experienced this many times before.

But each time, it came with extreme pain.

The first time was when she knelt outside her father's door for an entire day and night, her voice hoarse from shouting, yet she could not stop her father from killing her birth mother. Moreover, because of her defiance, her father, right before her eyes, hacked her mother two more times, saying it was to make her understand the cost of acting without thinking.

At that moment, she became bewildered by the words "daughter," "father," and "person," which stand for so many things.

The second time was related to that man in the courtyard.

She felt torn between Chen Wuji and her own family.

She didn't know whether to choose the man who made her heart flutter at first sight, or her family.

Of course, the family she wishes to protect does not include the father who murdered her birth mother.

That man ought to have died long ago.

The third time was her own life and mission.

The Wise King gave her the choice.

Choose death, or choose to go to Nan Jun to gather information about that man in the courtyard.

But after meeting that young Emperor, she chose the former.

The Emperor said only a few words to her—just two sentences.

The first is: you must always understand that you are mine.

The second is: I have no grudge against Chen Wuji; I merely want to learn something about him. Your trip to Nan Jun will not harm him, and you might even be able to help him.

It is because of this sentence that Gu Nianqing came to be, and all that followed.

But this also leaves her constantly caught in a dilemma.

This feeling is exhausting.

Today, at this very moment.

These pent-up emotions erupted completely.

Zhang Xiuer clearly knew that she needed to make a choice.

Should she choose that man in the courtyard, or remain loyal to her duties…

Some things can no longer continue in such a muddled way.

Zhang Xiuer bit her lip hard, using the slight pain to keep herself rational, but her thoughts grew ever more confused.

The night was deep, and the lights in the courtyard shone especially bright.

That fellow who once made her heart and soul entwine, who secretly vowed to win one person's heart and never part till white hair, was still bent over his desk writing, his expression focused, still making her heart flutter as before.

Suddenly, Zhang Xiuer recalled the few vague words the Emperor had once mentioned to her.