227: change

Tu Nan's hand was scalded by the ice-cold armor.

Her newly acquired perception bonus didn't seem that sharp yet; for instance, she was confusing hot and cold right now.

Withdrawing her hand, Tu Nan roughly understood the meaning behind The Emperor's move.

She was hidden in the palace to accompany Ao Ao and Miao Miao, completely within His Majesty's control.

But after these Two Children were born, her relationship with Peacock and Hain might be discovered by those with ulterior motives.

Plus, once these two little ones grew up and revealed their Talents...

It was hard to say if someone would take a desperate risk.

The Silver Armored Knight, who should only ever be behind His Majesty, appearing by her side represented His Majesty's absolute will.

How fortunate.

She had actually become His Majesty's Reverse Scale.

"Shou, please rise. I'll be in your care from now on."

Tu Nan spoke very politely to Shou, but Shou remained kneeling by her bed.

"Tch."

Another Silver Armored Knight strode forward, passing The Emperor.

"That's enough already."

He said, impatiently hauling Shou up.

The Emperor frowned slightly but said nothing.

Judging by the voice, this should be the one who had carried her out of the liquid earlier.

"How should I address this one?" Tu Nan asked.

The two Silver Armored Knights looked exactly the same; it was hard to tell them apart unless they spoke.

The Emperor answered her question.

"He has no name," he said.

Tu Nan was puzzled; she glanced at Shou, then at The Emperor.

Meaning, doesn't this person have a name?

"Silver Armored Knights have no names," The Emperor said calmly. "He has a name only for your convenience."

"I heard there used to be six knights? None of them had names? Then how did you distinguish them?"

Tu Nan was shocked.

The Emperor nodded. "No need to distinguish. To The Emperor, they are one entity. They are our hands or feet."

He felt slightly amused and gave an example.

"When you want your left hand to do something, do you specifically distinguish it? You don't, do you?"

But they are humans after all; how could they manage to not need distinction and be completely one?

Then she immediately realized.

It was possible.

When they themselves forget they are individual people and only focus on The Emperor's will, they can achieve this.

Moreover, they were never dispatched away from The Emperor to someone's side like this.

The Emperor didn't like this.

Tu Nan quietly observed the two knights.

So one was silent, and the other was flamboyant. In their speech and actions, they still retained their own personalities.

This was naturally because The Emperor allowed it.

She even guessed that sending Shou to her side was the first move The Emperor made to set them free.

"I'll go wash up."

The Emperor didn't bring any attendants inside; after greeting her, he went to the bedroom to get a change of clothes and washed up on his own. Once he was ready, he left a word and went out.

"Get some good rest. War has already broken out on the front lines, so I need to stay in the meeting room. I'm leaving."

As expected, he didn't need to explain.

Shou stayed behind quietly, while the other naturally followed The Emperor.

Tu Nan uncomfortably made a request of Shou.

"Shou, could you stay behind the screen? Also, could you pass me my bracelet?"

***

After getting the bracelet, Tu Nan called Lance back.

And James, who came back with her.

The two of them also pushed in a small Treatment Pod.

"I went to ask for it."

Lance was incredibly smug.

"Quick, get into the Treatment Pod and lie down."

"...Is it for the right condition?"

"They're all external injuries, internal injuries, and lacerations; how is it not for the right condition?" Lance glared at her.

"Don't you feel pain? I see sweat all over your face; you're not going to be as pedantic as those medical officers, are you?"

"What's the big deal about a Female Beast giving birth? Isn't it always like this? Why waste a Treatment Pod?"

Lance mimicked the bastardly words the oblivious medical officer had said out of instinct.

"Look at him acting all high and mighty; if he's so capable, let's see him give birth to one himself."

"Alright, stop it. They gave it to us in the end, didn't they?"

James advised while adjusting the settings.

"That's only because I said it was to be sent to Your Majesty's bedroom that he got scared," Lance muttered.

"You Male Beasts have no idea how much damage childbirth causes."

"I'll go argue more later. Tu Nan, hurry," she urged Tu Nan.

Shou walked in.

"Shall I carry you in now?" he asked Tu Nan.

Tu Nan was shocked!

Wait, soaking in treatment fluid is done naked; Lance is a woman, James is a doctor, but what about you?

"What are you, a Male Beast, doing butting in?" Lance spoke up for Tu Nan.

"Oh, then you carry the Children out and soothe them."

Lance couldn't tell which knight could soothe Children; perhaps she mistakenly thought this was a skill all knights possessed.

Shou realized his presumption; he turned to take the soft towels James had prepared and wrapped the Two Children separately.

"Put them here. Gaia instructed that if the Children were born, they must sleep in this."

Lance dragged out a small nest.

It was made of Ang Grass that he had brought from Sand Star to the Capital City; he had brought a lot. There was enough to make suitable nests for both Ao Ao and Miao Miao, plus an extra one.

It was perfect for these two newborns.

Gaia... was he by Tu Nan's side too?

Shou—who was Li, renamed by The Emperor—still felt downhearted by this news; he silently placed the Two Children into the nest.

Carrying the nest, he went behind the screen.

***

He thought about how, after he had insisted on that request, he thought His Majesty would refuse or go back on his word.

But after that Silver Armored Knight leaned in and whispered something to His Majesty,

His Majesty changed his mind.

"No regrets!" That was how he had answered His Majesty.

"Oh?" His Majesty asked. "I can fulfill your wish, but you must do as I require."

"I am willing."

"Mhm." His Majesty pointed to his Silver Armored Knight.

"You may not know them; they have no face, they discard their names, they do not marry, and they no longer possess anything of the secular world, but..."

"They are silent shadows."

Li looked up in shock as he realized something.

His Majesty's gaze was full of scrutiny.

"Tu Nan is pregnant, did you see?" he asked.

Li nodded slightly; yes, of course he knew. He already knew from Major General Kong, and he knew what that meant.

"She is carrying Kong Jiamu and Hain's Children."

The Emperor told him the answer directly.

Li was somewhat surprised; he hadn't heard of such a thing. But what difference did it make to him?

"You don't care?" The Emperor saw him shake his head, his words like a knife. "You aren't worthy of caring; it has nothing to do with you."

"There are many people who should care for her; you don't even make the list."

"But you insist on forcing your way in."

"Fine, then."

"Don't let her know who you are. You are not allowed to interfere in any of her affairs; you can only protect her and watch over her."

"If she finds out who you are, you will never get a second chance."

"Like this... are you still willing?"

Li thought for a long time.

Before agreeing to the condition he was bound to accept, he asked the noble man before him.

"Your Majesty, I want to know."

Li's tone was calm.

"Why do you care so much?"

The Emperor's expression froze.

Li boldly looked at His Majesty's face.

"You are punishing me. I failed Tu Nan and did wrong; I deserve my punishment. But you are not Kong Jiamu, nor are you Hain."

"What is it that makes you so angry?"

When it came to Tu Nan, Li was no longer dull.

He was not only sharp but also fearless.

"Good question."

The Emperor finally looked directly at the Chaotic Beast before him.

He rose from his seat and walked up to Li.

"If you want to know..."

He turned slightly, and the knight on his left removed his armor piece by piece, including a Voice Changer.

These were laid out neatly in front of Li.

Li put on the silver armor piece by piece.

Throughout this process,

The Emperor remained silent.