Chapter 1049: I Came at an Inopportune Time

At this moment, Zu An took something out of his pocket. Yan Xuehen didn't pay it much mind.

It was common for cultivators to have their own magical artifacts. For instance, Zhuang Hetong's golden brick, after being refined and inscribed with specific formations, could often unleash immense power.

However, the person in front of her wasn't even a Grandmaster, and had just been severely injured along with Jian Taiding. Even if he had a magical artifact, how powerful could it possibly be?

Just then, Zu An unrolled the yellow scroll, his expression solemn, and he declared loudly, "By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees..."

As his voice rang out, clouds began to gather in the sky, and an inexplicable sense of dread subtly started to coalesce.

Yan Xuehen: "???"

Jian Taiding: "???"

Qiu Honglei and Tang Tian'er: "???"

Everyone else: "..."

Many people present were well-informed and naturally understood what an Imperial Edict was and how terrifying its power could be.

Feeling the surrounding pressure intensifying, Yan Xuehen instinctively wanted to stop Zu An's chanting, but then she remembered her promise not to interfere with his spellcasting.

She finally understood why he had imposed so many conditions on her earlier!

If it had been anyone else, they might have directly attacked, but she had always valued her standing. How could she possibly go back on her word?

However, she wasn't confident in her ability to withstand a direct strike from the Emperor here.

So, with a light tap of her toe, she swiftly flew away into the distance.

Meanwhile, Jian Taiding and Yu Xuantao, who had been beaten half to death earlier, were swept up by an icy storm and quickly vanished into the distance.

"You little rascal, you play dirty!"

Rage points from Yan Xuehen +666666666...

Watching them disappear, Zu An put away the Imperial Edict and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, Yan Xuehen came from a renowned orthodox sect and kept her word. Otherwise, with her Grandmaster cultivation, if she had attacked him, he would never have been able to successfully activate the Imperial Edict.

The Imperial Edict indeed had clear pros and cons: its power was truly invincible, but its wind-up time was simply too long.

Under normal circumstances, when an edict was being read, imperial envoys and guards would assist with defense, allowing for unhurried chanting, so a long wind-up wasn't an issue.

After all, the Emperor hadn't considered someone using it alone.

Since they had fled, he naturally wouldn't continue to summon the Emperor's power.

This artifact was like a nuclear weapon; its deterrent effect was greater than its direct use.

At this moment, thousands of miles away in the imperial palace, Emperor Taishi suddenly opened his eyes. He had sensed someone summoning his power, but it seemed to have been canceled afterward.

His expression grim, he immediately summoned Eunuch Wen: "Go investigate what exactly happened in Yunzhong Commandery!"

During the last trip to Mingyue City, the Embroidered Uniform Envoys, including Huang Huihong, were killed before they could successfully unleash the power of the Imperial Edict.

If something similar happened again, where would the imperial court's authority be?

"Yes, Your Majesty, I will investigate immediately." Feeling his anger, Eunuch Wen respectfully bowed.

The Emperor waved his hand, walked to the window, and gazed northwest, his face clouded with worry.

Meanwhile, in Kuning Palace, the stunning Empress called for Eunuch Lü: "Was there just an anomaly in heaven and earth?"

Seeing her alluring figure, a flicker of heat flashed in Eunuch Lü's eyes, though it quickly faded. He lowered his head and replied, "Indeed, it seemed someone was summoning His Majesty's power just now."

"Oh?" The Empress instantly sat upright, her chest swelling as if about to burst through her robes. "Could something have happened to Zu An?"

A hint of jealousy flashed in Eunuch Lü's eyes: "Zu An is witty and cunning, and his cultivation is quite good. Also, with his status as an imperial envoy, it's unlikely anything serious happened to him. Furthermore, His Majesty didn't make a move just now, so it's probable the summon in Yunzhong Commandery wasn't fully completed."

The Empress sighed in relief: "I hope so."

Eunuch Lü said sourly, "Your Majesty seems quite concerned about that Zu An."

The Empress ran her fingers over her long, jeweled nail guards and lightly snorted, "I'm just afraid that if that fellow dies, there'll be no one left to treat my injuries."

"I've been cultivating myself these past days, but after all this time, it's still not as effective as one night with him. It truly infuriates me."

"That fellow's constitution is simply too peculiar." Although Eunuch Lü had known about this for a while, he still felt a pang of discomfort. However, he didn't show it, instead saying considerately, "Don't worry, Your Majesty. Once he returns, this old servant will bring him to you for treatment."

"Little Lü, you are indeed thoughtful," the Empress said, recalling her previous attempts to summon Zu An, which made her gnash her teeth slightly. "The last few times I sent for him, he actually made excuses and avoided me. Am I not beautiful enough, or not noble enough?"

Eunuch Lü bowed, smiling ingratiatingly, "Your Majesty worries too much. You are the most beautiful and noble woman in the world."

The Empress snorted, "Then why do you think he's avoiding me?"

"Perhaps he's worried about being discovered by His Majesty," Eunuch Lü explained.

The Empress fell into thought: "Then I'll find a few opportunities to leave the palace and stay at a nearby imperial villa for a while. I can call him over then, and he'll surely be able to act without worry."

"Your Majesty is wise." Eunuch Lü felt a sourness in his heart, but his breathing quickened. "Your Majesty should leave the palace to stay for a few days occasionally during this period, so that future departures won't arouse suspicion."

The Empress hummed, "You really are thoughtful. I'll leave these matters to you."

She had indeed rarely left the palace over the years, so it was best to prepare in advance.

"Yes, this servant will handle everything perfectly." Eunuch Lü bowed and slowly backed out.

Inside the Eastern Palace, Bi Linglong stood by the window, gazing blankly at the sky.

Her maid, Rong Mo, hastily brought a cashmere cloak and draped it over her: "Crown Princess, it's so cold, be careful not to get sick."

Bi Linglong subconsciously said, "Is it even colder in Yunzhong Commandery now?"

Rong Mo's expression was odd: "Is the Crown Princess worried about Master Zu?"

Bi Linglong's heart skipped a beat, realizing her slip. But she reacted quickly, immediately regaining her composure and saying, "Master Zu represents our Eastern Palace, after all. If this mission fails, it would be detrimental to the Crown Prince."

Rong Mo then relaxed: "The Crown Princess needn't worry. Master Zu's cultivation is good, and he's part of the imperial envoy delegation; how could anything happen to him?"

"But I just sensed an anomaly in the sky, as if someone was using an Imperial Edict to summon the Emperor's power, but unfortunately, it wasn't continued," Bi Linglong said, a hint of worry in her brows, "I wonder if it was abandoned or interrupted by an enemy."

"The Crown Princess worries too much. Yunzhong Commandery is imperial territory, after all. Who would truly dare to do anything to the imperial envoy delegation?" Rong Mo comforted.

"I hope so." Bi Linglong rubbed her chest and turned back to bed. "Oh, right, tomorrow morning, go inquire at both the Embroidery Chamber and the Ministry of Personnel to see if there's any latest news from Yunzhong Commandery."

"Yes, Crown Princess, rest well." Rong Mo tucked her in. As she exited, she wondered why the Crown Princess seemed to have grown quite a bit bigger than before.

Hmm, I'll secretly find a chance to ask her.

I want to improve too!

Meanwhile, Bi Linglong tossed and turned sleeplessly in bed, thinking, "That scoundrel Ah Zu, he's been gone for so long and hasn't even bothered to write back."

Although their identities were sensitive, he could at least write to the Crown Prince to report his safety.

What a scoundrel!

Achoo!

At this moment, inside the Zhenyuan Chamber of Commerce, Zu An sneezed.

"Ah Zu, what's wrong?" Qiu Honglei hurried over and helped him.

"Nothing, perhaps someone's thinking of me," Zu An said with a laugh.

Qiu Honglei, however, looked at his blood-stained robe with concern: "You're so heavily injured; how can you be fine?"

As she spoke, she applied the wound medicine to him.

"Thank you!" Zu An couldn't help but grasp her hand. He wouldn't forget how she had stood in front of him, desperately protecting him.

"There's no need for such words between us," Qiu Honglei said with a slight smile, then carefully bandaged his wound.

Although she already knew about his special constitution, she was still startled to see that the sword wound piercing his chest was already showing signs of healing.

"Cough, cough!" A light cough came from not far away.

Qiu Honglei shivered and quickly turned her head: "Master!"

Zu An was startled and looked in the direction of the sound, only to see a beautiful woman with waist-length hair standing on a treetop nearby.

It was deep winter, and the trees were all bare. The branch she stood on was incredibly slender; even a bird would likely make it sway. Yet, with a full-grown person standing on it, the branch remained completely still.

The moon hanging in the sky formed the perfect backdrop, as if she had stepped out from the moon itself.

"Did I come at a bad time, interrupting your intimate moment?" Although Yun Jianyue was smiling, there was a hint of danger in her eyes.

"No, no..." Qiu Honglei was startled and quickly jumped away from Zu An. "I just happened to run into Ah Zu."

Yun Jianyue snorted, then her gaze landed on Zu An: "You know she's cultivating a special technique and shouldn't be entangled in romantic love right now, yet you insist on pestering her?"

"Uh..." For some reason, Zu An wasn't as afraid facing Yun Jianyue as he had been facing Yan Xuehen. "We're driven by affection but abide by propriety; we haven't been pestering or influencing her."

Yun Jianyue knew his slyness and didn't bother arguing with him. She looked into the distance and said, "I seemed to sense Yan Xuehen's aura just now. Where is she?"