Chapter 1193: Furious Wrath

Emperor Shunzhi's expression immediately darkened at these words.

A fierce glint flashed in his eyes, and the atmosphere in the room instantly grew heavy.

"Where did the Ward Lord hear such wild nonsense?"

The Badger Demon was in no rush. He took a sip of his tea before replying, "I have heard a little of Your Majesty's recent activities. It is not hard to guess."

A surge of anger rose in Yan Nantian; he felt the Badger Demon had truly overstepped his bounds. He gave a cold snort and said, "You are certainly well-informed."

The Badger Demon set down his teacup. "Your Majesty flatters me. I was born with keen senses, able to hear and see in all directions. It is only natural that I learn things a bit faster."

Yan Nantian said, "So you have come to persuade me?"

The Badger Demon nodded. "I have come to remind Your Majesty. Spiritual Energy in the Mortal World has suddenly surged, and cultivators and demons appear frequently. It is no longer the barren era it once was. Seeing such changes, it is inevitable for Your Majesty to entertain certain thoughts. I do not blame you for this. I merely wish to remind Your Majesty that as the Human Sovereign, there are some things you can ponder, but you must not take them as truth. The lesson of Emperor Tianshun lies right before your eyes. Your Majesty might as well open the history books and take a look—what kind of end did Emperor Tianshun meet?"

"Crash!"

Yan Nantian smashed his teacup down. It instantly shattered into pieces, scattering in all directions.

He stood up in a fury, his voice dark. "Do I need you to remind me?!"

The Badger Demon's expression remained calm. With a raise of his hand, the shattered teacup floated into the air. Under Yan Nantian's gaze, the porcelain shards joined together piece by piece, restoring the cup to its original state.

The Badger Demon stood. "Your Majesty had best look out for yourself. This world is not like this teacup. If the world shatters, it will be difficult to put back together. And even if it is restored, it will no longer be the same teacup."

Veins bulged on Yan Nantian's forehead. "Badger Demon! You are far too bold!"

The Badger Demon faced Yan Nantian directly. "Honest advice grates on the ear. Your Majesty should consider it carefully. I anticipated such a reaction, which is why I came in the middle of the night. Do not be too angry, Your Majesty. Sometimes, when fury rushes to the heart, it inevitably makes one lose their reason."

"It is getting late, so this badger will not overstay his welcome. Farewell, Your Majesty."

At that moment, Yan Nantian wanted nothing more than to draw the Son of Heaven Sword and slay him in a single strike.

But in the end, he did not act.

In that fleeting moment, countless thoughts raced through his mind.

If he truly fell out completely with the Badger Demon, what would happen to the Demon Market? And who would be left to suppress the demons of this world?

Relying solely on those celestial officials was far from enough.

Over the years, the Demon Market had played an enormous role in governing the demons across the lands. Without it, the world would have long since plunged into demonic chaos.

The world needed him, just as the commoners of the Mortal World needed a wise sovereign.

The Badger Demon left.

Yan Nantian remained in a daze for a moment before sitting back down.

The wind blew in through the door, making him involuntarily shiver.

The head eunuch stood outside the door and called out, "Your Majesty..."

"Close the door!"

"This servant..."

The head eunuch had merely answered a little too slowly, and His Majesty's furious roar immediately followed.

"I told you to close the door!!"

"This servant obeys!"

Startled, the head eunuch hurriedly pulled the doors shut.

Yan Nantian was left completely alone in the Imperial Study.

He took a deep breath, but the fury in his heart was difficult to quell.

For so many years, the Imperial Court and the Demon Market had coexisted in peace, but from the very beginning, it had been a thorn in Yan Nantian's side.

He always felt that the Demon Race and the Human Race could never truly reconcile.

The relationship between the two sides was not nearly as harmonious as it appeared.

And the Badger Demon's visit today set off alarm bells in Yan Nantian's mind.

The Badger Demon did not fear him, yet he, Yan Nantian, felt a trace of fear.

This was something an emperor could not tolerate.

The few words spoken tonight felt as if that thorn had been yanked out, only to be ruthlessly stabbed back into the wound—plunging even deeper than before.

Yet, he had no choice but to consider the Badger Demon's words.

Yan Nantian stayed awake all night, constantly pondering this problem.

It was not until the light of dawn fell into the Imperial Study that he snapped out of his daze.

His voice seemed to carry a trace of regret as he muttered, "Can I truly not achieve immortality..."

He had to admit that the Badger Demon had succeeded.

Emperor Shunzhi had indeed taken those words to heart. For the time being, he suppressed his thoughts and stopped obsessing over the path to immortality.

But what followed was a massive personnel change within the palace.

Yan Nantian felt a persistent sense of unease, constantly feeling unseen eyes watching him. He replaced every single palace maid and servant; only then did he feel at ease.

It was not until early morning that the Diarist of Daily Life arrived at the palace.

Only then did Yan Nantian dazedly remember something.

He pondered for a moment before asking Tong Nianyi, "Minister Tong, how long have you served as the Diarist of Daily Life?"

Tong Nianyi paused her brush and replied, "In response to Your Majesty, it has been two years."

"Two years already..."

Yan Nantian felt a bit disoriented. In the blink of an eye, so much time had passed.

Time lost meaning deep within the palace. For him, the emperor, the years passed by in a flash, so quickly they were scarcely noticeable.

"I am considering transferring you to a different post."

...

Not long after, in accordance with an imperial decree, Tong Nianyi stepped down from her position as the Diarist of Daily Life. She was dispatched to Chunhui Prefecture to take up the post of prefect.

Only later did she learn that His Majesty had replaced everyone around him that day.

Tong Nianyi couldn't help but sigh at the depth of His Majesty's suspicion. She had served as the Diarist of Daily Life for two full years without a single transgression, yet when the time came, he still replaced her.

However, it didn't matter; where there was loss, there was gain.

Now that she was being sent out to serve as a local prefect, she would embark on a new path in her official career. The Diarist of Daily Life was a good position, as it was closest to His Majesty, but remaining in that role forever was naturally out of the question.

And from the moment she walked out of Shangjing City...

...her magnificent and sweeping life truly began!

After two years of refinement, it was finally time to reveal her sharp edge.

"Why did you send Xiao Nianyi away?"

"Isn't this for the best? Did you want her to be the Diarist of Daily Life forever?"

"So you do know. She scored in the second tier of the Palace Examination, yet you actually made her serve as the Diarist of Daily Life for two years. You're only thinking of her now."

The mention of this matter sparked a surge of anger in Yan Nantian.

He glared at Ruyi. "You are being far too insolent! Is it your place to question my arrangements?!"

Ruyi froze for a moment. She furrowed her brows, looking Yan Nantian up and down.

Yan Nantian felt somewhat uncomfortable under her gaze. "What are you looking at?!"

"Tsk, tsk."

Ruyi shook her head. "One look at you and I can tell you swallowed some nasty grievance earlier and you're still fuming. Did something I say hit a sore spot?"

Hearing this, Yan Nantian's fury flared even hotter. He slammed the table. "Get out!"

Ruyi crossed her arms and scoffed. "You don't need to rush me, I'm leaving. Emperors are all so petty."

With that, Ruyi turned and walked out.

Yan Nantian clenched his fists. Sometimes, he really wanted to have the people from the Court of Judicial Review arrest her and subject her to a little torture.