If you're made a fake emperor, why did you change the country's name?

The next morning, as dawn broke.

Inside the Imperial Study, Meng Baishan, dressed in full armor, entered the hall with a solemn expression.

"Your Majesty, overnight, we have taken control of all the shops and people in the imperial city related to coffins and paper offerings, totaling thirty-seven people, including shopkeepers, paper offering craftsmen, coroners, and others."

Zhao Yu put down the martial arts manual in his hand and looked up.

"Any abnormalities were found?"

Meng Baishan shook his head: "Your Majesty, the Embroidered Uniform Guard interrogated them overnight and used some methods. These people are all ordinary people with no martial arts background and no trace of practicing any strange magic."

Zhao Yu was not surprised by this result.

If Zhao Yu's mole, whom he had cultivated for many years, were found so easily, that would truly be a miracle.

The problem is, he always felt uneasy until he found this ticking time bomb.

Seeing Zhao Yu's furrowed brows, Meng Baishan's lips moved, but he finally spoke.

"Your Majesty, this old minister has something he wishes to discuss with you privately."

Zhao Yu glanced at the eunuchs and palace maids standing in the hall and waved his hand.

"Everyone, step back."

"Here you are."

As the palace doors gently closed, leaving only the emperor and his minister inside, Meng Baishan stepped forward, lowering his voice even further.

"Your Majesty, Zhao Yu is, after all, the legitimate prince personally chosen by the late Emperor. He has cultivated his influence in the palace for over a decade and has many followers. His trump cards are probably far beyond our imagination. This old minister dares to suggest that Your Majesty should temporarily avoid confrontation and leave the capital for a period of time."

Seeing that Zhao Yu had no expression, he added another sentence, his tone sincere.

"With the old ministers and the Meng family army here, we will never allow Zhao Yu to set foot in this palace again. It will not be too late for Your Majesty to return to the capital after we have eliminated his spies one by one."

Zhao Yu shook his head, his expression remaining unchanged.

"I appreciate General Meng's kindness, but this is absolutely unacceptable."

He knew in his heart that although the palace was a prison, it was also his greatest reliance at the moment.

The Nine Dragons Formation bestowed upon him by the system allows him to possess defensive capabilities within the imperial city comparable to those of a terrestrial immortal.

Once he leaves the imperial city, his current Grandmaster-level cultivation will make him nothing more than a lamb to the slaughter in the eyes of true experts.

Moreover, whether he is in the capital or not, the situation will not change—Zhao Yu remains in the shadows, while he remains in the light.

Rather than fleeing in all directions and being passively attacked, it's better to remain unchanged and stay here.

Just then, Qiu Ping's voice came from outside the hall, sounding somewhat urgent.

"Your Majesty, I have important matters to report!"

Zhao Yu looked at Meng Baishan: "General Meng, you may step down now. Continue to keep a close watch on those suspicious individuals and do not let your guard down in the slightest."

Meng Baishan sighed, knowing that his persuasion was futile, and could only bow in respect.

"Your humble servant obeys the imperial decree."

After he withdrew, Qiu Ping quickly entered the hall, his face so dark it could drip water.

"Your Majesty, I have failed in my duties. That house in the west of the city... is now deserted."

Zhao Yu frowned even more deeply: "Didn't I tell you to take people there immediately last night?"

Qiu Ping lowered his head, his voice full of frustration.

"I did indeed lead men there immediately, but when we arrived, the courtyard was empty. All traces had been cleaned up, as if no one had ever lived there."

Zhao Yu took a breath.

The Embroidered Uniform Guards are experts in this field; reconnaissance and tracking are their specialty. Yet, they failed to catch them twice in a row.

This suggests that the other party not only acts cautiously, but also likely has some kind of early warning channel.

Seeing that Zhao Yu's expression was not good, Qiu Ping quickly took out a scroll from his bosom and presented it with both hands.

"Your Majesty, I have ascertained the origin of the paper figure from last night."

This is the only piece of progress amidst the bad news.

Zhao Yu took the file and quickly began to browse through it.

Qiu Ping explained from the side, "That is a kind of evil magic called 'Witchcraft Curse,' which originated from the witchcraft families of the Sun Kingdom. It is an extremely rare and special magic."

"This technique is extremely powerful, capable of locating enemies over long distances and causing those affected to die in their dreams. However, the conditions for casting this technique are also extremely demanding. Last night's paper doll was used to collect the target's aura; this is the first step."

"Searching for the enemy across a thousand miles?" Zhao Yu frowned. "And then what?"

Qiu Ping's expression grew increasingly grave: "According to a secret rumor circulating in Sun Kingdom, the person afflicted by the spell will have a series of dreams starting today. After three days, the caster can then use a secret technique to take the person's life in the dream. As for the specific technique, the Embroidered Uniform Guard has not yet been able to find out."

Zhao Yu rubbed his temples.

The Imperial Guards, whose highest cultivation level is only at the early stage of the Celestial Realm, are clearly no match for such bizarre methods.

Fortunately, he defined the Embroidered Uniform Guard as an intelligence network covering the entire Liang Dynasty, rather than spies penetrating deep into the city.

Is there a way to solve this?

"The witchcraft of the Sun Kingdom has always been mysterious and unpredictable. I have searched through all the classics and only found two methods." Qiu Ping's voice was a little hoarse.

"Firstly, we should find the caster and kill them, then the spell will naturally fall apart. Secondly..." He paused, "...we should find a sorcerer stronger than the caster to counter the spell with spell itself. But Sun Kingdom is thousands of miles away from our Great Liang; distant water cannot quench a nearby fire."

Having two options is tantamount to having no options at all.

Zhao Yu was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "What if I don't sleep for three days?"

Qiu Ping shook his head.

"Your Majesty, according to records, only martial artists whose cultivation level far surpasses that of the caster can forcibly stay awake. Otherwise, once night falls, the person under the spell will be unable to control themselves and will inevitably fall asleep."

Zhao Yu waved his hand, signaling Qiu Ping to step back.

He was alone again in the imperial study.

He sat alone on the dragon throne, his fingertips lightly tapping the table as he fell into deep thought.

Right now, his only advantage is that he knew about the existence and process of this spell in advance.

Since we know we can dream, we must be fully prepared and never fall into any traps in our dreams.