At these words, Jiang Yuchuan, who had been on the ground looking defiant and stubborn, suddenly froze.

He even suspected something was wrong with his ears. Otherwise, how could he have heard something so absurd?

But from the look on Li Yun’s face, he clearly had no intention of joking.

Jiang Yuchuan stood frozen in place.

As for Ming Lingyi, perhaps out of sheer exasperation, she first shot a helpless look at the sky upon hearing Li Yun’s words, then landed a punch on him.

Ming Lingyi was at a complete loss for words.

But the words were already out of Li Yun’s mouth. Even if she made him take them back now, the one who heard them had already heard. It wasn’t as if she could just erase that memory from Jiang Yuchuan’s mind, was it?

She wasn’t one of the Daluo Immortals, after all.

Furious, Ming Lingyi could only channel her pent-up frustration into rage, hammering her fists against Li Yun several times to vent.

"Are you crazy?!" This time, Ming Lingyi held nothing back, all but pointing at Li Yun’s nose as she scolded him. "Just listen to the nonsense you’re spouting!"

"It’s the truth," Li Yun said.

Even now, he was replying to her outburst with a completely straight face.

Ming Lingyi: "..."

Seeing his attitude, she was overcome with a storm of complicated feelings.

She couldn’t tell if she felt more anger or exasperation, but in any case, Ming Lingyi knew that landing a few more hits on Li Yun would make her feel a little less angry.

What she didn’t know, however, was that in Jiang Yuchuan’s eyes, her actions were just further proof of her unusual relationship with Li Yun.

Jiang Yuchuan had never seen or even heard of anyone daring to "assault" the ruler of a nation. Besides, their Emperor was no weak, easily-bullied scholar; he was a ruthless figure who could lead armies, expand borders, and personally behead his foes on the battlefield.

And yet, right before his eyes, wasn’t a scene of the nation’s sovereign being "assaulted" playing out?

What was even more astonishing was that their Emperor showed no sign of resistance.

It was as if he were completely accustomed to this kind of treatment.

Li Yun was, in fact, used to it. Even in the past, Ming Lingyi had often "pummeled" him.

It was just that with her meager strength, she could do him no real harm. In fact, Li Yun felt it was more like being tickled.

He always let Ming Lingyi vent her frustrations on him.

It was the same then as it was now.

Whenever Ming Lingyi got physical with him—if one could even call it that—Li Yun would simply let her.

A shadow of sorrow fell over Jiang Yuchuan’s gaze.

He could try to ignore Li Yun’s earlier words—"My Empress"—but he couldn’t ignore Ming Lingyi’s actions now. Nor could he ignore the palpable intimacy between Ming Lingyi and Li Yun, an intimacy so strong that no third person could ever hope to break through it.

Once she had vented, Ming Lingyi looked at Li Yun. "Help him up."

Li Yun stiffened, pretending not to hear.

’What a joke. Why on earth should I help up a man who’s been coveting my woman?’

’The only reason I haven’t cut him down already is his sheer dumb luck.’

Seeing his stubbornness, Ming Lingyi didn’t press the issue. Instead, she turned and walked toward Jiang Yuchuan herself, intending to help him up.

Did she not realize how hard Li Yun had kicked him? Jiang Yuchuan was a civil servant, not some thick-skinned military general. How could he possibly withstand a kick like that?

Ming Lingyi couldn’t help but curse inwardly. ’This man really has no fear of the Imperial Censors’ reprimands!’

Just as Ming Lingyi reached Jiang Yuchuan and was about to offer her hand, another hand shot past her from behind, reaching for him first.

Li Yun had appeared behind her at some point.

He was, of course, extremely reluctant.

But given the circumstances, if he didn’t help Jiang Yuchuan up, Ming Lingyi would. He didn’t want her having any more contact with the man, not in the slightest. So in the end, however reluctantly, he stepped forward and extended his hand.

Ming Lingyi naturally took a step back.

Li Yun pulled Jiang Yuchuan up from the ground.

For a moment, none of the three spoke, and a heavy silence—like the calm before a storm—descended upon them.

Jiang Yuchuan felt a thousand sorrows tangled in his heart, and he didn’t know where to begin to unravel them.

In the end, it was Jiang Yuchuan who broke the silence.

"This humble servant has a question for the Emperor. I hope Your Majesty will deign to enlighten me," Jiang Yuchuan said, bowing with his hands clasped toward Li Yun.

"What is it?" Li Yun asked.

"This humble servant... regarding what Your Majesty said earlier..." Jiang Yuchuan trailed off, unable to continue. Even now, he couldn’t believe what he had heard; it was simply too incredible. "...Is it true?"

He spoke these last words softly, hesitantly.

As if he wanted to know the answer, yet was terrified of what it might be.

"Of course it’s true." Li Yun didn’t ask which words Jiang Yuchuan meant; he knew perfectly well. "Our imperial word is sacrosanct. How could We deceive you?"

The color drained from Jiang Yuchuan’s face.

’As incredible as it seemed, if Ming Lingyi was Empress Hui Ming, then everything would make sense.’

’It would explain why the Emperor kept appearing at a tiny eatery in the market. It would explain why Ming Lingyi showed no fear in his presence, nor any desire to curry favor. Their interactions truly were like those of people who had known each other for many years.’

’How could the ruler of a nation possibly be involved with a common girl from the market? But if that girl was the Empress... then it all made perfect sense.’

’The only thing that still didn’t make sense was...’

’Hadn’t Empress Hui Ming passed away long ago?’

’Why...’

Jiang Yuchuan looked toward Ming Lingyi. This time, he did not repeat his confession of love for Miss Ming. Instead, he simply gave her a deep, formal bow.

Ming Lingyi sighed inwardly.

’The farce is over.’

After Jiang Yuchuan left, Ming Lingyi turned to go back to her eatery.

But before she could take a single step, Li Yun grabbed her arm and pulled her back to the courtyard next door.

He shut the door, leaving just the two of them in the courtyard.

Ming Lingyi said nothing. She simply poured herself a cup of water and began to drink it slowly.

Li Yun waited a moment. Seeing that Ming Lingyi clearly had no intention of pouring him a cup, he had no choice but to pour one himself. Then, with fawning attentiveness, he topped off Ming Lingyi’s already full cup.

Ming Lingyi: "..."

Li Yun caught the displeased look from the woman beside him. Where was the cold, severe man from moments ago? His current smile was so obsequious it might as well have had the word "fawning" written all over it.

"Still angry?" Li Yun ventured, breaking the silence.