Chapter 2161

Zhu Yanyi glanced at the Emperor with a hint of disdain. "Second, I have a Dao companion, which means a husband. She is more handsome than you, more domineering, more decisive, and more capable. Most importantly, she is more two-faced than you, fiercer to enemies, and more ruthless in her actions."

The Emperor was stunned by her praise. "You make being two-faced, fierce, and ruthless sound like virtues."

"Haven't you heard the saying about loving someone and loving everything associated with them? In my heart, my husband is perfect in every way. You cannot compare to her." Zhu Yanyi walked with the Emperor into her temporary practice chamber.

"Your Majesty, here are the files for the five hundred reserve members you requested," Fu Huai said, carrying a box out.

Zhu Yanyi nodded and asked the Emperor, "Do you want to look at these files?"

The Emperor was curious about how Zhu Yanyi operated, so she nodded. "If it is possible, I would like to see them."

"No problem. They will eventually become your people, so you should be familiar with their backgrounds." Zhu Yanyi did not lie. She smiled, opened the box, and took out a stack of files.

There were ten stacks in the box, each containing fifty files.

Zhu Yanyi reviewed the first fifty, then picked out seven and handed them to Fu Huai. "Kill them."

Fu Huai had no objections. He took them and immediately said, "Yes." Then he left to execute the order.

The Emperor watched Zhu Yanyi continue reviewing the second stack. "You can identify insiders just by looking at the files? Do you not need to investigate?"

"They might be assassins, insiders, or death warriors. In any case, they are not innocent. I do not have time to investigate such matters. The fact that they could provide such perfect files shows they were already prepared."

Zhu Yanyi looked at the Emperor. "I have many ways to know who is loyal and who is treacherous. But in this place, it is more important to first learn to judge everything here. Judging is very simple right now. The people killed based on files and interrogations are only the first part. The truly deep insiders are not simple people. At least, they cannot be seen through files and interrogations alone."

"You mean, even after you have screened them, there are still hidden lines inside?" The Emperor understood instantly.

Zhu Yanyi nodded. "Your Majesty, have someone prepare five hundred pots of plants. This place is too monotonous. I want to decorate it."

"Plants?" The Emperor was a bit puzzled by Zhu Yanyi’s jumping thoughts.

"Yes, plants. Is that not allowed?" Although Zhu Yanyi wore a mask, her eyes were clear as she looked at the Emperor.

The Emperor shook his head quickly. "There is nothing wrong with it. I will have them sent over." He then added, "The day after tomorrow is the day the State Preceptor transmits scriptures. Will Your Majesty go to listen?"

"The day after tomorrow?" Zhu Yanyi tilted her head. "Does your State Preceptor like to transmit scriptures and preach?"

The Emperor nodded. "But only four times a year. Once every three months. The day after tomorrow is the time for this quarter." The Emperor said calmly, "Because of this, he has a large group of believers."

"Believers? Absorbing faith? Is your State Preceptor a Daoist cultivator or a Buddhist cultivator?" Zhu Yanyi asked casually.

"A Buddhist cultivator." The Emperor was not clear about the definitions of cultivators, but he understood the difference between Dao and Buddha. "He is just a monk."

"A monk." Zhu Yanyi laughed. "Then it is understandable that she goes out to gather believers. Faith is a power that cannot be underestimated. How about this: I will go secretly the day after tomorrow, and you will go openly. Do not worry about how I go. Also, if anything happens the day after tomorrow, take care of yourself first. If you are in danger, just open the poison bottle I gave you. You do not need to worry about others."

Life and death are sometimes very cruel. Whether some people can live, and what the purpose of living is, only by understanding this can one clarify if they have the qualification to live.

Once the poison bottle Zhu Yanyi gave was opened, no one within three miles of the Emperor would survive. However, that was for others. If Zhu Yanyi was present, she could still control it.

"Okay." The Emperor hesitated, but finally agreed.

Zhu Yanyi looked at the Emperor. "Remember, you are the Emperor. An emperor can be benevolent and righteous, but not merciful. Once you are merciful, you may harm yourself."

"I understand. Thank you, Your Majesty, for the reminder." The Emperor knew Zhu Yanyi was doing this for her good. But after being a puppet emperor for so many years, she always felt an indescribable sadness. She originally lived just to let her people live in peace and contentment, but now she might have to destroy some people.

Zhu Yanyi could see the conflict in the Emperor’s heart. This was inevitable. However, one must do one’s duty according to one’s position. She was the Emperor. As long as she was here, the country had a glimmer of hope. So sometimes, killing ten thousand people to save one person really exists, because that one person might save thousands and tens of thousands in the future.

"An emperor needs to see the future more. You are different from ordinary people. For ordinary people, killing one person makes you a murderer. For soldiers fighting bloody battles, killing ten people is hope, killing a hundred is victory, and killing ten thousand is a hero. As an emperor, sometimes killing a hundred thousand makes you a king among kings. Of course, you cannot kill blindly. Some must die, some are helpless, and some are implicated. You must distinguish these clearly."

Zhu Yanyi looked seriously at the Emperor. She had pointed out what she could. She would not say these words again in the future. "I am a cultivator. I generally do not interfere in mortal power struggles. I am interfering now because the matters here have exceeded what you can handle. Therefore, I will only say this to you once. Even if you ask me later, I will not say it again."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." The Emperor sincerely thanked Zhu Yanyi, knowing these were very good words of gold for her.

The Emperor could not stay long. Zhu Yanyi still had to review the files. She finished reviewing the five hundred files in one day and night, killing sixty-seven people.

Watching the bodies being dragged away again, Fu Huai said to Xuanyuan Cheng, "This female fiend is really powerful. I never thought the people in these files would be insiders, and several were even death warriors."

Fu Huai felt she was doubting herself. After all, she had specifically tested these people before. Even she thought they were fine. If it were not for Zhu Yanyi, who knows what situation would have arisen in the future.

Xuanyuan Cheng looked at Fu Huai and said, "I think it is good. This way, the people here will be cleaner. But it will probably take some time to be absolutely clean."