Chapter 2213

"Fine, act up if you want to." Yan Aohan didn't mind. In fact, he liked seeing her this way. As long as Zhu Yanyi didn't suffer, he didn't care who else did.

Zhu Yanyi smiled proudly. "Good. You’ll back me up then." She wasn't really asking for support; she wanted Yan Aohan’s presence to pressure Xi Muzheng.

Ouyang Mingyue felt sorry for Xi Muzheng. Why pick on a couple who loved to keep score? They deserved it.

The Ruthless Gentleman looked confused. "Why scheme? Just fight. The strong win."

Zhu Yanyi glanced at her. "If not for schemes, why did you push that weasel? Why did you stall with me? You’re full of contradictions."

The Ruthless Gentleman paused. "I wasn't pushing. I wanted to see how people hold on. Their minds are hard to read."

"In any world, ancient or future, people just want peace and safety. You don't understand them because you overthink. You overthink because you are too complex."

Zhu Yanyi spoke fast, leaving her no time to argue. She felt she was wrong, yet her words made sense.

Ignoring her, Zhu Yanyi turned to Yan Aohan. "I’ll have the three rest at my mansion, the former State Preceptor’s residence. The day after tomorrow, they’ll meet Yu Hua. Tasks must be done, regardless of their plans."

Yan Aohan nodded. "Won’t you revenge on Dansheng?"

"Do you think I forgive easily?" Zhu Yanyi smiled. "Husband, I always return tenfold for every slight. Dansheng used affinity arts on me? She should expect to become a temporary puppet."

Zhu Yanyi rarely lost. But she had lost to Dansheng and Xi Muzheng. She admitted it. But as a 'little woman,' her desire for revenge was fierce.

Ouyang Mingyue sighed. Zhu Yanyi seemed easygoing, but those who plotted against her always paid.

Zhu Yanyi looked at Ouyang Mingyue. "By the way, Senior Tianyun sent you some food she made. I thought I’d bring her, but Xi Muzheng arranged the team early. I only realized later that, except for Yanqiu World and Senior Feiyan, the others were her picks." She tossed a storage bag to her.

"You look young. How did you take Senior Tianyun as an adopted son?" she asked casually.

"Empress Yan, I’ve been an Immortal Emperor for millennia. I adopted Tianyun centuries ago. We look similar, but our ages differ greatly," Ouyang Mingyue reminded her.

Zhu Yanyi stuck out her tongue, making small talk.

Yan Aohan chuckled. "Since your mansion houses Saint Academy students, stay with me. Don’t go there. Dansheng is there. Even if he can’t threaten you, I’m uneasy."

"I never planned to stay with them. I know you’re here. I’ll rely on you." Relying on her husband was smart.

Yan Aohan loved this side of her. It wasn’t like other women’s antics. It delighted him.

Zhu Yanyi stayed with Yan Aohan. The next day, they visited Yu Hua.

Yu Hua’s eyes lit up. "Your Majesty, you’re back."

Zhu Yanyi saw Yu Hua standing before a Kanyu (geomantic model). It was well-made. Though the buildings were small, it covered the entire Dayu Empire.

"Nice Kanyu. Very complete," Zhu Yanyi praised.

"Teacher Yan gave it to me," Yu Hua said gratefully to Yan Aohan. He hadn’t expected such a perfect item. It made him feel proud to rule this land.

Zhu Yanyi hadn’t known Yan Aohan gave it. She smiled at him. "Truly a good teacher."

Yan Aohan smiled. "It’s nothing to me. You asked me to teach him about livelihood. This Kanyu shows the population and ethnic groups in each town. It clarifies his responsibility." Yan Aohan disliked complexity, so he made this simple tool.

It was a minor item to him, but invaluable to Yu Hua. As Emperor, he could see everything he needed.

Zhu Yanyi turned to Yu Hua. "Your Majesty, what do you think?"

Yu Hua nodded. "I lived in the palace, knowing this land was inherited from ancestors, but not its scope. Seeing this Kanyu, I feel small. It includes every place, even the capital. The capital has 363,051 residents, excluding recent births. I am just one of them, the smallest unit.

"To lead the capital and all of Dayu, I must lead well. This requires more heart and more effort."