Chapter Thirty-Four: Exposure

“Steward Tian? Steward Tian? Why are you not answering me? Where is Young Master Zhu? Did he come as well?” Seeing that Yu Huatian had not responded to her questions, Jiang Yuyan grew anxious and urged him.

“Miss Jiang, please don’t worry. The young master did not come this time. Something urgent happened at home, and he had to hurry back to deal with it. However, he didn’t forget about you. He specifically asked me to bring you a letter.”

While comforting Jiang Yuyan, Yu Huatian took out the letter written by Zhu Yu and handed it to her.

Upon hearing that Zhu Yu hadn’t come, a deep disappointment washed over Jiang Yuyan, and most of her spirit seemed to vanish.

Watching Jiang Yuyan silently clutch the envelope, Yu Huatian produced a white porcelain bottle from his sleeve and handed it to her, saying, “Miss Jiang, don’t lose heart. As long as you persevere, everything is possible. If you are beaten again and your body cannot endure, take a pill from this bottle. It will keep you from serious harm.”

“Thank you,” Jiang Yuyan replied, managing a faint smile as she accepted the bottle.

Yu Huatian thought for a moment, then drew out a token and handed it to Jiang Yuyan, saying, “If you ever encounter something sudden that you cannot handle, take this token to the magistrate’s office or the Six Gates Bureau for help. They will surely assist you.”

He had considered mentioning the Western Bureau’s Secret Affairs Office, but the magistrate’s office and Six Gates Bureau were easier to explain. If he brought up the Secret Affairs Office, nothing would make sense—only two people could command the Western Bureau with a token: the Chief Overseer and the Emperor himself.

As for whether giving Jiang Yuyan the token would arouse suspicion, Yu Huatian wasn’t concerned. The court had countless tokens in various styles; no one except those with official standing could tell their origins.

Jiang Yuyan thanked him again and accepted the token.

Seeing that Jiang Yuyan showed no interest in questioning further, Yu Huatian didn’t bother to explain.

“Miss Jiang, is there anything else you need from me? If not, I’ll take my leave.”

“There’s nothing more I need to trouble you with, Steward Tian. You’ve worked hard delivering the letter.” Hearing Yu Huatian was about to depart, Jiang Yuyan forced herself to respond politely.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Jiang Yuyan blinked, and in an instant, Yu Huatian’s figure vanished from the room.

For most, this would be shocking, but Jiang Yuyan’s expression remained unchanged. Once she confirmed he was gone, she picked up the envelope to open it.

Jiang Yuyan raised her hand, intending to tear the envelope open, but her large eyes flickered. She held the envelope up to the moonlight and examined the wax seal.

After confirming it was intact, she tore open the envelope, withdrew the letter, and read it in the moonlight streaming into the room.

“Yuyan, seeing these words is as if seeing me. You must already know that something urgent has happened in my family and I must return to handle it. The promise to visit you cannot be fulfilled, and I feel truly guilty. I’ve asked Steward Tian to deliver this letter to inform you. There are a few matters I must remind you of—do not speak of them to anyone.

First, I am roughly aware of your situation in the Jiang household. Hold on, and trust that things will turn around. Also, do your best to show Jiang Biehe your strengths so he knows your worth. Only then will your days improve.

Second, do not trust anyone in the Jiang household, not even your own father, Jiang Biehe. He is nothing like the image he presents. His ruthlessness is beyond your imagination.

Third, Yuyan, I know your feelings for me and I am truly grateful for your affection. Who could resist a beautiful woman such as yourself? But my family’s circumstances are unusual. I do not need a wife right now, but someone who can help me. I hope that next time we meet, you will always be by my side.

Fourth, which will determine whether you can always be by my side: Jiang Biehe possesses the Six-Ren Divine Dice that Liu Xi has been desperately seeking, but he has no intention of handing it over and plans to study it himself.

Within the Six-Ren Divine Dice is a peerless martial art called ‘Transplanting Flowers and Grafting Trees.’ I hope you can master it, so you can help me.

The dice are extremely difficult to open. This will depend on your intelligence and wisdom. The manual inside is not written in Central Plains script, so you’ll have to rely on yourself. Hold on, and believe that the day we meet again is not far away.

That is all. Most importantly, be wary of Jiang Biehe, and above all, protect yourself. Yours, Zhu Yu.”

After reading the letter, whether from the purity of her feelings or from a twisted heart, Jiang Yuyan clutched the medicine bottle in her left hand, the token in her right, and pressed the letter to her chest, overcome with emotion.

Judging by her demeanor, she had clearly taken the token and medicine as gifts from Zhu Yu, completely forgetting Yu Huatian’s kindness.

Her cheeks flushed, Jiang Yuyan whispered, “Young Master Zhu, Your Majesty…”

If Zhu Yu or Yu Huatian had heard this, they would have been utterly shocked—how did Jiang Yuyan know Zhu Yu’s true identity?

In fact, a few days earlier, Tie Xinlan, who had been seriously injured, was recuperating in the Jiang household under Jiang Yuyan’s care.

After Xiaoyuer retrieved the Fire Lingzhi, he explained to Tie Xinlan where it came from, naturally mentioning that Zhu Yu was the current emperor.

Jiang Yuyan, who was outside, happened to overhear.

Only then did she realize that her beloved was not some wealthy young master, but the exalted emperor!

This revelation brought her both joy and disappointment.

She was delighted that her beloved was no ordinary man but the emperor himself, yet disappointed because she felt unworthy of him.

Moreover, Jiang Yuyan deduced Steward Tian’s identity as the Chief Overseer of the Western Bureau, Yu Huatian!

How she arrived at this was quite logical.

Knowing Zhu Yu was the emperor, his personal protector could not be a nobody. Reflecting on Yu Huatian’s behavior, it was clear he was a eunuch.

Only three eunuchs were renowned throughout the country, and given the name Steward Tian, it was an easy guess.

Furthermore, the token Yu Huatian gave her confirmed her suspicion.

She had seen an Eastern Bureau token in Jiang Biehe’s possession, which looked different from the one in her hand, confirming that Steward Tian belonged to the Western Bureau.

This was something Zhu Yu had never anticipated. In his dealings with Jiang Yuyan, he had always regarded her as a gullible, naïve girl.

But he had never stopped to consider that such a girl could reduce a television drama to nothing but its title.

No, calling it just the title is an exaggeration—what remained was not a title, but a list of survivors.