Lei Chen kept quiet the rest of the ride. It seemed he had stopped talking to ponder about Longwei's ambiguous gestures.
Soon, they reached the Imperial Palace. Lei Chen parked the car against the giant palace walls, the parking area empty as if no one was inside. Imperial Guards stood still before the palace's main gate. It was majestic and adorned with expensive gemstones. Yu Han could only guess the extravagance showered inside the palace.
Longwei simply had to show his face to the Imperial Guards before they opened the gates for the three. Lei Chen and Yu Han sheepishly followed Longwei as he walked them to the Imperial Study.
On their way, Yu Han couldn't help but look around. Being atop a mountain, the Palace was filled with snow. Many court maids and servants were busy wiping the snow off the courtyard, only for more to fall down.
The Palace was as exquisite as Yu Han imagined it. Although massive and majestic, its design was easy on eyes. Without being too extravagant, it just fit the mood of the snowy mountains and the Zhongping State's atmosphere.
After passing through multiple open corridors, Longwei took a sharp right turn to enter a large courtyard. In the center of that courtyard were stairs that went high up to the Imperial Study.
The three walked up the stairs and stopped outside the Imperial Study where a humble servant had been waiting for them.
"Commander Liu, you made it!" the elderly servant uttered as he reached for Longwei, gasping upon realizing his state, "Why didn't you stop at a hospital?" the elderly gasped again, "Doctor Lei! Why didn't you treat him?"
Longwei chuckled out loud, a gesture Yu Han hardly saw from him. He patted the elderly servant's shoulder and glanced at him, "Dr. Lei will treat me right now. Bring Yu Han to His Majesty. We'll follow when summoned."
The elderly peeked behind Longwei to see Yu Han. For some reason, Yu Han felt a chill run down his spine. As their eyes met, the servant's eyes widened in surprise, and Yu Han's narrowed with confusion.
The servant slipped past Longwei and clasped his hands before Yu Han, bowing his head deeply, "This humble servant dares not touch you. Please walk inside."
Yu Han was taken aback. Was he really the long lost son of the Emperor? There was no other reason for a servant to talk to him like that. The servant kept his head down, as if he was waiting for approval.
Yu Han wasn't used to any of this, and quickly nodded. The servant raised his head and pointed at the Imperial Study door. Yu Han gulped and walked through the door, only for the servant to close it behind his back.
The Imperial Study was empty at first glance, jade screens all over the room. There was a war ground map model in the center of the room, empty of pawns. It signified ongoing peace. The model was clean and empty as if it wasn't used in ages.
"Fascinated?"
A voice emerged out of nowhere, spooking Yu Han. He frantically glanced around, but couldn't find the source of the voice. Multiple jade screens covered different areas of the room, and he didn't dare roam around. He could tell it was the Emperor's voice.
It was assertive, curious, and blunt. No one in their right mind would dare speak like that in the Imperial Study.
The silence made Yu Han uncomfortable, almost as if the other party wanted him to reply. He pondered for a moment before mustering the courage to speak.
"No," he replied, "Maybe." he added after some consideration.
Suddenly, the jade screen at the very back of the room showed a man's shadow as he stood from a chair. The man could be seen covered in large robes through his silhouette. His hair was long and reached his knees, whereas his long robes spread to the ground. He didn't walk past the screen and glanced at Yu Han's silhouette through the screen.
"I hear they gave you a name," the man spoke in a gentle voice.
Yu Han nodded, "It's Yu Han."
"Yu Han, take my oral edict," the man confirmed himself as the Emperor and ordered Yu Han.
Yu Han didn't know how to take an oral edict. Was he supposed to do something? He stood quietly, waiting for the Emperor to speak.
"Hm," the man sighed, "Don't follow etiquette, then. I'll just say it."
Yu Han pressed his lips together and stood still.
"Go north with Longwei and live a quiet life. Remain healthy. If you're bored, send a word. I'll see to it. You're not allowed to leave without my permission, though." The Emperor swiftly uttered as if he couldn't be bothered with mentioning more details.
Yu Han paused for a moment, trying to process what he just heard. Was he just asked to live a quiet life in the middle of nowhere?
The Emperor tilted his head in confusion, "What? Leave now. That's all I had to say," he said as he turned around, "Oh, and call Lei Chen inside as you leave."
Yu Han's eyes widened. All he had endured—the assassins, the cold, the bloodshed, the endless traveling—had led to this? He couldn't believe his own ears.
"I…" Yu Han pressed his fists together. This was far from his ideals. He had decided to try and have control over his life. The last thing he wanted was to become the Emperor's lifeless dog. "I disagree."
Although confident, he regretted his words immediately when the thought of Longwei's hostage family occurred to him. The Emperor could resort to threatening him with Longwei's life.
The Emperor's silhouette was no longer visible as he had sat down again, "I don't care. I said what I said. Even the universe would ensure you obey."
"And if I fight with all I have?" Yu Han argued, "What will you do then?"
The Emperor scoffed, "I know you more than you could ever know yourself. You dare not fight me."
Yu Han felt ridiculed. How could anyone know him more than him? He, who had no memories, had come this far, not because he wanted to hear this out of all things.
Furious, he glanced around the room and noticed armor on a stand. Right next to it was a weapon stand on which a sword was displayed. Though placed for its aesthetics, people like Yu Han had other plans.
He grabbed the sword off the stand and rushed toward the jade screen, pointing the blade at the screen such that its tip slightly pierced it. The weight of the blade was foreign to him, but his resolve kept it steady.
"I will fight you," Yu Han uttered, "Just to prove that you don't know me enough!"