"My woman—how dare you touch her!"

This imperial roar thundered like lightning, shaking the entire Listening Rain Villa. Xiao Yu's sword froze mid-air, not daring to advance another inch.

Everyone present was stunned. That bone-deep majesty, that natural kingly aura—it was something no one could possibly fake.

This was the true dragon's imperial might!

Lu Zhao—no, he should now be called Xiao Zhao—was completely transformed from before. The confusion in his eyes had vanished, replaced by an ocean-deep authority. He slowly stood up, every movement carrying the bearing of an emperor.

"Xiao Yu," his voice was calm yet filled with power, "five years. You've put on quite a performance."

Xiao Yu's face turned extremely ugly, his sword trembling slightly in his hand. "You... you really are..."

"I am Xiao Zhao, the sixteenth emperor of the Great Yan Dynasty," Xiao Zhao declared word by word. "And the person you've been trying to eliminate for these five years."

Su Ying stood nearby, completely dumbfounded. She never imagined that the gentle carpenter's apprentice could actually be the current emperor!

"This... how is this possible..." she murmured.

Xiao Zhao turned to look at her, the authority in his eyes instantly melting into tenderness. "Ying'er, I'm sorry I kept this from you all along."

Ying'er? Su Ying's heart jumped. How did he know her real identity?

Seeing her confusion, Xiao Zhao smiled gently. "From the first moment I saw you, I recognized you. Su Ying, the pearl of the Su family, Jiangnan's greatest beauty—how could I possibly mistake you?"

"Then why didn't you say anything?" Su Ying's eyes filled with tears.

"Because I had lost my memory and wasn't certain of my own identity," Xiao Zhao gently caressed her cheek. "And I was afraid you'd be frightened if you knew the truth."

Su Ying grasped his hand. "I wouldn't be afraid. Whether you're an emperor or a carpenter, you're still my Lu Zhao."

These words warmed Xiao Zhao's heart, and five years of loneliness and confusion vanished in that moment.

"Enough!" Xiao Yu shouted coldly, interrupting this tender scene. "So what if you really are Xiao Zhao? For five years, I've been managing the imperial court. The people of the realm all believe you're dead. What can your sudden appearance change now?"

Xiao Zhao's gaze sharpened again. "Change? I'll make everyone know who the true master of Great Yan really is."

"Based on what?" Xiao Yu sneered. "Based on you, a waste who lost his memory for five years?"

"Based on the loyal ministers still at my disposal, based on the justice still in the hearts of the common people!" Xiao Zhao's voice rang with conviction.

Li Anguo was now in tears, falling to his knees. "Your Majesty, this old minister has waited five years for this day!"

Lin Zhong also knelt down. "Your Majesty, this old minister is willing to follow you unto death!"

Madam Shui watched this scene from the side, complex emotions flashing in her eyes. She slowly walked forward and also knelt. "This humble woman is willing to serve Your Majesty."

Seeing more and more people taking Xiao Zhao's side, Xiao Yu's expression grew increasingly dark. But he quickly regained his composure and sneered. "Fine, very good. But do you think you can overturn heaven with just these few people?"

"At least we're better than a usurping traitor like you," Xiao Zhao retorted without mercy.

A flash of killing intent appeared in Xiao Yu's eyes, but he quickly controlled his emotions. In this situation, if he rashly killed Xiao Zhao, everyone present would be witnesses, and news getting out would be extremely disadvantageous to him.

"Since you've returned alive, we'll see how this plays out," Xiao Yu sheathed his sword. "But I advise you to think carefully—the court situation has long since changed over these five years. What right does someone who disappeared for five years have to compete with me for the realm?"

With that, he turned to leave.

"Wait," Xiao Zhao suddenly spoke.

Xiao Yu stopped and looked back at him. "What, are you afraid now?"

"I just want to ask you one question." Xiao Zhao's gaze was sharp as a blade. "Five years ago, who exactly poisoned me?"

Xiao Yu's pupils contracted slightly, but his surface remained calm. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't know?" Xiao Zhao laughed coldly. "Then let me tell you. Five years ago, I was poisoned with 'Soul-Severing Powder'—a poison only available in the imperial palace treasury. The only people who could access such poison, besides myself, were..."

"Were what?" Xiao Yu's voice grew tense.

"Only you, my dear uncle," Xiao Zhao said word by word.

The atmosphere in the hall instantly dropped to freezing. Everyone held their breath, waiting for Xiao Yu's response.

Xiao Yu remained silent for a long time, then actually laughed. "Xiao Zhao, you say I harmed you? Do you have any evidence?"

"Evidence?" Xiao Zhao drew out the damaged metal fragment from his chest. "Is this enough?"

Seeing the metal fragment, Xiao Yu's face instantly changed. That was something he had left on Xiao Zhao five years ago. He had thought it was long lost, never expecting it to be preserved.

"This... this proves nothing," Xiao Yu forced himself to remain calm.

"Really?" Xiao Zhao held up the metal fragment. "Then do you dare, in front of everyone, tell us what words are carved on this fragment?"

Xiao Yu's face completely changed. Carved on that fragment was his name, along with one sentence: "Brother, only one of us can live."

This was what he had left after his failed assassination attempt five years ago, thinking Xiao Zhao would surely die, so he kept it as a memento. He never expected it would become evidence today.

"It seems my dear uncle doesn't dare to speak," Xiao Zhao put away the metal fragment. "If that's the case, then we'll settle this in the imperial court."

Xiao Yu looked at him deeply, then turned and left. Before leaving, he told his subordinates, "Everyone, come with me."

The soldiers hesitated, but ultimately followed Xiao Yu. However, Xiao Zhao noticed that several soldiers glanced back at him as they left, complex emotions in their eyes.

After Xiao Yu's group departed, the atmosphere in the hall finally relaxed somewhat.

Li Anguo said excitedly, "Your Majesty, you've finally returned! These five years, the court has been in chaos, the people suffering. Everyone has been hoping for your return to restore order!"

"What's the current situation in the court?" Xiao Zhao asked.

"Very complicated," Lin Zhong sighed. "Over these five years, Xiao Yu has won over many people. More than half the court officials are under his control. However, there are still some loyal ministers secretly resisting, waiting for Your Majesty's return."

"What about the military?"

"The military situation is even more complex," Li Anguo said. "Imperial Guard Commander Zuo Jian is still loyal, but he's been sidelined now and has no real power. As for the border armies, several key generals are fence-sitters who follow the wind."

Xiao Zhao pondered for a moment, then asked, "What do you think my chances would be if I returned to the capital now?"

Li Anguo and Lin Zhong exchanged glances, both falling silent.

Madam Shui spoke up then: "Your Majesty, forgive this humble woman's directness, but returning to the capital now would be walking into a trap. Xiao Yu has operated in the capital for many years with deep roots. With your current weak position, it would be difficult to contend with him."

"What do you suggest then?" Xiao Zhao asked.

"Lie low first, secretly contact loyal ministers, and build up strength," Madam Shui said. "When the time is right, then strike to reclaim power."

Xiao Zhao nodded. This was indeed the wisest choice.

"Where should we go now?" Su Ying asked.

Xiao Zhao looked at everyone present, his gaze finally settling on Lin Zhong. "Elder Lin, do you have any connections in the martial world?"

Lin Zhong thought for a moment and said, "This old minister does know of a place with a group of utterly loyal people, and they're well-informed. Perhaps they could be of use to Your Majesty."

"What place?"

"The Heavenly Secrets Pavilion," Lin Zhong said. "It's the largest intelligence organization in the martial world. The pavilion master, Miss Hong Xiu, has some connections with the court and should be willing to help Your Majesty."

Hearing this, a strange look flashed in Madam Shui's eyes. "Hong Xiu? She is indeed someone who can be trusted."

"You know her?" Xiao Zhao asked.

"We're old acquaintances, you could say," Madam Shui smiled. "If Your Majesty needs it, I can make the introduction."

"Then I'll trouble you, Madam," Xiao Zhao bowed.

Just then, a series of bird calls suddenly came from outside. Madam Shui's face changed upon hearing them. "Not good, someone's communicating with secret signals!"

"What does that mean?" Su Ying asked nervously.

"Danger is approaching!" Madam Shui immediately said. "We must leave here at once!"

Xiao Zhao frowned. "Has Xiao Yu sent people back so quickly?"

"Not necessarily Xiao Yu's people," Lin Zhong said. "Could be other forces. News of Your Majesty's identity being revealed will spread throughout the martial world very quickly."

Just then, the sound of hoofbeats came from outside the villa, and it sounded like quite a few riders.

"The back gate!" Madam Shui immediately said. "There's a secret passage behind the villa that leads directly to the mountain valley!"

Everyone immediately sprang into action. Xiao Zhao took Su Ying's hand and followed Madam Shui toward the back courtyard.

"Your Majesty," Su Ying asked as they ran, "now that you've recovered your memory, will you still treat me the same as before?"

Xiao Zhao stopped and looked at her seriously. "Ying'er, whether I'm an emperor or a carpenter, my feelings for you will never change."

"Really?"

"Really." Xiao Zhao nodded firmly. "Are you willing to help me reclaim our rightful empire?"

Su Ying looked at the determination and tenderness in his eyes and nodded. "I'm willing. Wherever you go, I'll follow."

Their hands clasped tightly together. No matter how treacherous the road ahead, they would face it hand in hand.

And in the distance, an even greater storm was brewing. Xiao Zhao's return would completely change the fate of the Great Yan Dynasty...