He has been reincarnated through countless worlds, adorned with billions of mythological terms!

Yun Yi's gaze fell on the post, his fingers lightly tapping the table.

The richest man in Jiangnan.

They are extremely wealthy.

Its industries are spread throughout the states south of the Yangtze River.

They do sound very rich, but compared to him, their status is clearly worlds apart.

After all, even the wealthiest merchant families are still just commoners.

Why should a newly enthroned emperor meet with the son of a merchant?

Just because his family is rich?

Is Yunyi short of money?

lack.

The national treasury is indeed empty, and public discontent is indeed boiling over.

But he doesn't need this businessman's money.

Moreover, the timing of this merchant's son's arrival was too perfect.

Four hundred thousand iron cavalrymen from the grasslands marched south, while one hundred and fifty thousand Heavenly Craftsmen from Jiangnan went north. The demon from the northern border who slaughtered cities was heading towards the capital.

The entire court was filled with unease, while officials in various regions remained on the sidelines, observing the situation.

Just at this very moment, the only son of the richest man in Jiangnan came to see the new emperor.

congratulate?

A gift?

Yun Yi's lips curled up slightly.

interesting.

"How old is Zhou Yulang this year?"

Yun Yi suddenly spoke.

The lieutenant paused for a moment, then quickly replied:

"Your Majesty, according to the document submitted by the Ministry of Rites... it says she is thirteen years old."

Thirteen years old.

Yun Yi's finger stopped on the table.

Thirteen years old.

She's the same age as him.

"Thirteen years old..."

Yun Yi repeated it to himself, then suddenly smiled.

The smile was faint, as faint as a wisp of smoke, yet it sent a chill down the general's spine.

"interesting."

Yun Yi put down the invitation, leaned back in his chair, and his gaze became deep.

The Eye of Destiny hadn't been activated, but he had already guessed it.

This Zhou Yulang is most likely one of the ten reincarnated beings.

I just don't know which type it is.

"Your Majesty," the lieutenant asked cautiously, "should we see this person or not?"

Yun Yi did not answer immediately.

His fingers tapped lightly on the table, making a rhythmic tapping sound.

To meet or not to meet?

Meeting someone is like giving them a chance to observe you up close.

Not seeing the other person is tantamount to telling them – I know you have a problem, and I don't want to see you.

Either choice will reveal information.

But Yunyi doesn't like being passive.

"See."

He spoke calmly, "Have him come to the Imperial Study at Chenshi (7-9 AM) tomorrow."

"Yes."

The deputy general bowed and withdrew.

In the imperial study, only Yun Yi remained.

He stood up, walked to the window, and looked out at the gray sky.

Another reincarnator has delivered themselves to our doorstep.

Friend or foe?

do not know.

But he will soon find out.

……

The next day at Chenshi (7-9 AM).

The Imperial Study.

Zhou Zhen stood outside the door, gazing at the tightly closed vermilion gate, a faint smile on his lips.

Overnight, he had already familiarized himself with most of the layout of the palace.

He didn't touch it himself; he had his spies, whom he had bribed, do it.

The legendary assassin's greatest skill wasn't killing, but gathering information.

The door opened.

A eunuch bowed and said:

"Young Master Zhou, His Majesty summons you in."

Zhou Zhen nodded and stepped into the Imperial Study.

Then he froze.

The imperial study was neither as magnificent as he had imagined, nor as heavily guarded as he had expected.

There was only one person.

A thirteen-year-old boy, dressed in a moon-white casual outfit, sat behind a desk, looking down at something.

The boy looked up.

Eyes facing each other.

Zhou Zhen felt an invisible force sweep over him, as if he had been seen through from the inside out.

He instinctively tried to avoid those eyes, but found he couldn't.

For some reason, the moment he faced him, he had an instinctive urge to submit.

"Zhou Yulang?"

The boy's voice came through, as calm as a deep pool of water.

Zhou Zhen snapped out of his daze and bowed respectfully:

"This humble subject, Zhou Yulang, greets Your Majesty."

"Rise."

Yun Yi put down what he was holding, leaned back in his chair, and looked at him.

[Eye of Destiny], activated.

The next instant, several lines of information that only he could see appeared above Zhou Zhen's head—

Name: Zhou Zhen

Loyalty: 0

[Evaluation: This person is proficient in assassination, stealth, and poison, but cannot use any supernatural abilities in this world. Currently in a wait-and-see mode, their goal is to reap the benefits. They are here to observe your true strength and determine whether you are worth cooperating with or using.]

Yun Yi read through this information without showing any expression.

Only a very faint hint of surprise flashed across his eyes—

Loyalty is not negative.

Of ten people, only one can survive.

Under such rules, how come loyalty isn't negative?

interesting.

He leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrest, one tap after another, the sound particularly clear in the quiet imperial study.

The boy before me looked to be about fifteen or sixteen years old. He wore a moon-white brocade robe, had gentle features, and was composed in his demeanor. He was the spitting image of a young master from a noble family.

No one who saw him would associate him with the word "assassin".

"Young Master Zhou, you've come from afar, you must be tired."

Yun Yi spoke, his tone as casual as if he were chatting about everyday things.

Zhou Zhen bowed slightly:

"It is my great honor to be received by His Majesty."

Yun Yi nodded and pointed:

"sit."

Zhou Zhen did not refuse, and remained respectful after taking his seat.

"I've heard that the Zhou family's businesses span all the prefectures of Jiangnan?"

"Yes."

"The Zhou family has been in business for generations and has accumulated some wealth."

"A meager output?"

Yun Yi smiled, "Young Master Zhou is too modest."

"Ten thousand taels of gold and five hundred thousand taels of silver, is that considered meager wealth?"

Zhou Zhen's expression remained unchanged:

"Your Majesty's ascension to the throne is a cause for great joy throughout the land."

"The Zhou family's small token of appreciation is merely to add a touch of good fortune to His Majesty's occasion."

Yun Yi looked at him and suddenly asked:

"How old is Mr. Zhou this year?"

Zhou Zhen paused for a moment, then replied:

"Your Majesty, I am thirteen years old."

Thirteen.

Yun Yi nodded and didn't ask any more questions.

The Imperial Study was quiet for a moment.

"Young Master Zhou, is there anything else you wish to do in the capital besides offer congratulations?"

Zhou Zhen raised his head and met those eyes.

Those eyes were calm.

But it was precisely those eyes that, when they looked at him just now, made him feel as if they had seen right through him.

He had only experienced that feeling once—

In the Holy Empire, when facing that old monster who had lived for three hundred years.

"Your Majesty is wise."

Zhou Zhen lowered his head. "I have indeed come here on another matter."

"explain."

"The Jiangnan Tiangong Army caused chaos, and the Zhou family's businesses suffered severe damage."

"My father is deeply worried, fearing that the Zhou family's century-old foundation will be destroyed in an instant."

He paused, his tone carrying just the right amount of worry, "Therefore, this humble subject dares to ask Your Majesty for a favor."

Yun Yi looked at him:

"What grace?"

"The Zhou family is willing to serve the imperial court."

Zhou Zhen raised his head, his gaze sincere, "As long as Your Majesty speaks up, all of the Zhou family's properties and wealth are at Your Majesty's disposal."

"I only ask that Your Majesty protect the Zhou family."

The imperial study was so quiet that the flickering candlelight could be heard.

Yun Yi leaned back in his chair, looking at the young man in front of him.

His words were perfectly watertight.

The posture was just right.

But it was precisely this perfect timing that made Yun Yi feel strange.

In that conversation just now, the other party clearly already knew that he had guessed his identity as a reincarnator—

Why say it like that?

"I understand the Zhou family's intentions."

Yun Yi spoke, his tone as calm as ever, "Young Master Zhou has come from afar, please rest at the inn for a few days."

"In a few days, I will summon you to the palace for a detailed discussion."

Zhou Zhen stood up and bowed:

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

"This humble subject takes his leave."

He turned and walked outside.

As I reached the door, Yun Yi's voice suddenly came from behind me:

"Young Master Zhou."

Zhou Zhen paused and turned around.

Yun Yi sat behind the desk, his gaze fixed on him, a slight smile playing on his lips:

"You just said you're thirteen this year."

"Yes."

"I am also thirteen."

Yun Yi smiled. "A thirteen-year-old boy, able to stand up for your father and stake the entire Zhou family's fate on me—I admire that courage."

Zhou Zhen was slightly taken aback.

"Go."

Yun Yi waved his hand, "Get some rest."

Zhou Zhen bowed and took his leave.

The moment I stepped out of the Imperial Study, my back was soaked with sweat.

It's not hot.

It was cold sweat.

The way that young emperor looked at him just now—

It was as if they already knew who he was.

It was as if she had seen through everything about him all along.

It's like a cat watching a mouse that thinks it's clever.

Zhou Zhen took a deep breath to calm his racing heart, then quickly left the palace and disappeared into the streets of Kyoto.