Chapter Eleven: I Am Innocent

“Since I am innocent, why should I hide?”

At this moment, only Tian Yueying and Yang Chuan remained in the alley.

As for the shops lining the street, upon witnessing a murderer striking down officials in broad daylight, they hurriedly shut their doors, fearful of drawing trouble upon themselves.

Yet, despite this, Yang Chuan did not see himself as a wanted fugitive.

Instead, he turned around and firmly grasped Tian Yueying’s delicate hand.

“I came to Daqi at Your Majesty’s invitation. Since the state affairs have been entrusted to me, should Your Majesty not take charge of this situation yourself?”

As the illustrious Empress of Daqi, Tian Yueying felt a blush rise to her cheeks at Yang Chuan’s sudden touch.

Even during the three years he spent at the Grand Chancellor’s residence, Yang Chuan had always been self-reliant in his daily needs, and physical contact was almost nonexistent.

In truth, she understood why.

Back then, Yang Chuan’s heart still belonged to Yan Wugou, so he deliberately kept his distance from her to avoid scandal.

But now, things were different. To all of Daqi, he was a distinguished guest who held the fate of the nation’s future decades in his hands.

And to her, he was the savior she had prayed for in the Grand Chancellor’s residence for three long years.

After a brief flutter in her heart, the dominant emotion on Tian Yueying’s face was one of quiet satisfaction.

Yes, at this very moment, she could be certain—she had fully won over Yang Chuan.

They stood at the alley’s entrance for quite a while, until dusk’s mist began to rise. When the county magistrate of Hui County arrived with heavy troops, they finally exhaled in relief.

A commoner, perhaps lured by the bounty on the wanted notice, personally led the magistrate to the scene. Upon arrival, he pointed directly at Yang Chuan, declaring him the culprit who had slain the soldiers.

Initially believing the criminal would have fled long ago, the magistrate grew uneasy when he saw Yang Chuan still standing beneath the notice.

He quickly ordered his men to surround the entire alley, then turned back and commanded the constables to return immediately to the prefecture, requesting martial reinforcements from the court to regain control.

At that moment, a refined female voice suddenly interrupted the magistrate’s commands.

“Enough, Magistrate Hui. Young Master Yang has traveled all the way from Dakang to strengthen our great Daqi Empire.”

“And yet you, deceived by a false edict forged by Cao Ding, mistakenly regard Young Master Yang as a rebel. Is it your intention to doom the fate of our nation?”

Though delicate, the voice carried an undeniable noble air, causing all present to feel a shiver of fear.

Who was this woman by Yang Chuan’s side, daring to speak such bold words before an official? Was she not afraid her audacity would only worsen the situation, adding to their guilt?

Before the magistrate could devise a response, the woman took a measured step forward, walking with poise and tranquility.

As the lamplight illuminated her face, Tian Yueying produced a command token and tossed it toward the magistrate.

Without verifying her identity, the magistrate dared not act rashly.

He caught the token and examined it carefully, his expression suddenly shifting to astonishment. Flustered, he knelt down with a thud.

“I pay homage to Your Majesty!”

Though a minor official stationed at the frontier, the magistrate had never seen the Empress’s visage in person. But this token was the sole symbol of imperial authority to command troops in Daqi.

Even Cao Ding, now the Grand Marshal overseeing state affairs, did not possess such a token.

Following the magistrate’s lead, the constables and soldiers present all dropped their weapons and knelt in unison before Tian Yueying.

“We pay homage to the Empress of Daqi!”

Seeing Tian Yueying firmly command the local officials, Yang Chuan stepped forward with confidence.

“Well done, Yueying. I did not expect that after three years away from Daqi, you would still be able to win the hearts of the people.”

He deliberately addressed her by name, an intentional move.

Now that they had arrived in Daqi, the first order of business was to establish their authority.

Hadn’t the magistrate just received a false imperial edict from Cao Ding, mistaking Yang Chuan for a rebel fleeing from Dakang?

Then today, he would show the magistrate and his men exactly who had been by his side these past three years.

Noticing the magistrate’s increasingly uneasy gaze, Yang Chuan smiled faintly and then knelt before Tian Yueying.

Displaying authority over the subordinates was part of his strategy, but Tian Yueying was after all the Empress of Daqi, and he could not allow her to lose face.

If he treated her otherwise, how would he differ from Cao Ding, who meddled in court affairs?

Once kneeling, Yang Chuan cupped his hands respectfully, showing utmost reverence to the Empress.

“Your Majesty, I have followed you into the court to assist in rectifying the government, eliminating dissenters, spreading imperial grace across the nine provinces, and helping Daqi rise as the sovereign power of the Central Plains!”

Impressed with Yang Chuan’s understanding of decorum, Tian Yueying quickly extended her hand to pull him up.

“Minister Yang, rise.”

By now, the magistrate kneeling opposite them was drenched in cold sweat, trembling uncontrollably in fear.

Such words—spreading imperial grace across the nine provinces and elevating Daqi to the throne of the Central Plains!

In this era of competing vassal states, only Dakang stood supreme, dominating the Central Plains.

And there were five other small nations like Daqi surrounding it.

Yet Yang Chuan boldly proclaimed that upon entering Daqi, he would aid the Empress in ascending to the imperial throne and unifying all of China.

But the events of the past three years had revealed a truth—Yang Chuan indeed possessed that power.

He was like a living embodiment of national destiny. Whichever country he supported, the grand vision of unification would ultimately be realized.

Yet Yan Wugou was shortsighted, failing to grasp this.

Out of fear that Yang Chuan’s rising influence would threaten her, she stripped him of his Grand Chancellor title.

This single misstep allowed a divine beast, the Peng Bird, to fall under another nation’s command.

Now the magistrate was grateful he had not been blinded by a mere few thousand silver taels to dispatch heavy troops to hunt down Yang Chuan.

Today was, in fact, the greatest opportunity of his career.

As long as he could serve the Empress and Yang Chuan well, he might someday rise to office in the capital.

“Your Majesty…”

Seeing the two exchange a look tinged with affection, the magistrate hastily called out to Tian Yueying.

“You may rise now.”

Heartened by the imperial decree, the magistrate smiled broadly and stood up, immediately resorting to sycophantic flattery.

“Your Majesty, Minister Yang, you have traveled thousands of miles from Dakang. As night falls, why not accompany me back to the county office? I will have my men prepare a feast to welcome you both!”

Upon hearing this, Tian Yueying instinctively glanced once more at Yang Chuan.

Indeed, over these three years, she had almost developed the habit of a servant, always wanting Yang Chuan to make every decision.

But now, on her own turf, Yang Chuan deliberately turned his face aside and covered his mouth to cough lightly.