Emperor Like Smoke

To be more precise, Su Hong had not only heard of the Tongxin Alliance, but he had also worked with them.

They once had business dealings.

After all, the Tongxin Alliance was considered a top-tier martial arts sect with numerous commercial ventures in the Northern Frontier. As the Su family was a prominent leader in the Northern Frontier's business sphere, it was inevitable that their paths would cross.

Therefore, he had heard a few things about the Tongxin Alliance.

However, he didn't know much.

He only knew that its key figures were a few men and women entangled in passionate and resentful love affairs.

He had disapproved of them at the time.

He felt that people so consumed by romance could never achieve anything truly great.

Yet, he never expected that one day, the Tongxin Alliance would actually scheme against his own Su family.

They had used his third niece, Su Li, as a blade to strike at the Lord Duke!

"Damn them!"

Su Hong spat the words coldly through his teeth.

This startled the steward. "Master, the Tongxin Alliance is quite good. Are you saying this because you don't understand them? Do you want me to tell you more about the Tongxin Alliance..."

Before he could finish, Su Hong's cold gaze swept over him.

It abruptly cut off the steward's words.

He immediately called over another servant on duty and said, "From this day forth, you are the steward of the Su family's old residence. As for him..."

He looked at the old steward and said, "Have him collect this month's salary and leave immediately."

"Also..."

Su Hong stood up and ordered, "Investigate thoroughly. Within the Su family, whether it's the main branch in Yunjie City or clansmen from other regions, anyone who has the slightest connection to the Tongxin Alliance must be reported to me."

Su Hong did not have much time to linger in his hometown.

He already had plenty of matters to attend to, and now he had one more: track down the Tongxin Alliance, compile reports, and send them to the capital.

He needed to return to Yunjie City immediately to discuss this matter thoroughly with General Sun Xiang, the city's defending commander.

...

Duke Ren's Mansion.

"The Tongxin Alliance?"

Hearing these words from Su Jin, Ren Tianye was slightly taken aback.

"Yes. From what Wei Chengye said, your subordinate can confirm it is indeed the Tongxin Alliance. This is an extremely powerful martial arts sect with influence spreading across the Great Yu. Even here in the Northern Frontier, traces of them can be found."

Su Jin continued, "It is unknown who founded this sect, but judging by the current situation, they are absolutely extraordinary and will certainly be a formidable enemy."

"Through Wei Chengye, your subordinate also gained a clear understanding of how the Prostitute Empress transformed from a lowly harlot whom everyone avoided into the empress of a nation, all under the guidance of the Tongxin Alliance."

As Su Jin said this, she felt deeply emotional.

A prostitute like the Prostitute Empress was truly insignificant.

At the very least, in the eyes of the late Emperor Xiao Jingyuan, she was no different from an ant.

Yet, it was the methods of the Tongxin Alliance that allowed a crow like the Prostitute Empress to fly up onto a branch and transform into a phoenix.

And those methods...

Hearing about them from Wei Chengye left her utterly shocked.

She carefully sorted through them and clearly divided them into several steps.

The first step was to take advantage of the fact that the Prostitute Empress slightly resembled the daughter of Su Pengcheng, who was Xiao Jingyuan's unforgettable first love, and then deepen that resemblance.

They had the Prostitute Empress imitate Xiao Jingyuan's first love in every aspect—from her brow and eyes, her gait, and her voice, down to her smallest mannerisms.

However, she only made herself thirty percent similar.

The remaining seventy percent was pure, pitiful vulnerability that inspired deep affection.

The second step was a psychological assault.

After becoming acquainted with the late Emperor Xiao Jingyuan, and even upon learning of his imperial identity, the Prostitute Empress maintained a calm and composed demeanor. She made no demands of him, did not fight for status, and never involved herself in state affairs.

She only appeared at the perfect moments—when Xiao Jingyuan was exhausted, lonely, or nostalgic.

The third step was empathizing with Xiao Jingyuan.

She always understood his difficulties and constantly catered to his desires, never once disobeying him. This made Xiao Jingyuan feel that the Prostitute Empress was the only person in the world who truly understood him and didn't covet his power.

By the fourth step, it was about controlling the distance.

Playing hard to get, blowing hot and cold, she forced Xiao Jingyuan to take the initiative to draw closer.

By the fifth step, the Prostitute Empress had deeply embedded herself in Xiao Jingyuan's heart. At this point, she occupied all of his thoughts, allowing her to manipulate him entirely at will.

She would choose whether to see him or not.

She might greet him with radiant smiles or angry scoldings.

She would offer a little sweetness, or deliver a slap.

Through this series of manipulations, she drove the already somewhat unstable Xiao Jingyuan into a completely lovesick monster—a demon willing to abandon the entire world just for the Prostitute Empress.

When Su Jin first heard Wei Chengye recount this, she was already deeply alarmed. On her way back to report to Ren Tianye, the more she thought about it, the more her heart trembled.

Taken individually, none of these tactics were particularly complex.

But upon closer reflection, one could see how they pierced directly into the human heart!

Especially since she herself, relying on her extraordinary talent, had managed to intuitively grasp most of these concepts without a teacher. This made her understand their terrifying nature even more clearly.

And now, to think that someone could organize these methods systematically and logically, and teach them to others—the very thought was terrifying.

However, after Su Jin detailed all of this to Ren Tianye, he was left utterly dumbfounded.

Wasn't this just... a modern dating coach?!

Holy crap!

Could it be that some modern girl had time-traveled here?

"The source of this disaster is someone who transmigrated here earlier than I did?"

Ren Tianye asked urgently, "Su Jin, did you learn from Wei Chengye who founded the Tongxin Alliance?"

"Wei Chengye wasn't entirely sure either. He only remembered that the surname seemed to be Liu, and the name contained the character 'Yan'!"

Ren Tianye's body jolted!

Liu?

Yan?

Holy shit!

Liu Ruyan!

"It's actually Great Emperor Ruyan!"

"A miscalculation, a massive miscalculation! A situation like this could only be orchestrated by Great Emperor Ruyan!"

Su Jin looked surprised. "Lord Duke, you know this person?"

"I don't know her, but..." Ren Tianye said seriously, "The name is like thunder piercing my ears!"

Pausing for a moment, he added, "Just like the name Ye Fan, it is utterly renowned!"

These words only confused Su Jin further.

However, she knew when to stop and didn't ask any more questions. Yet, her heart couldn't help but feel a bit more at ease. Because she clearly remembered that Ye Fan had been personally hunted down by the Lord Duke, his bones crushed and ashes scattered to the wind!

If Ye Fan could die, then this Liu Ruyan definitely wouldn't survive either.

Moreover...

Liu Ruyan's current situation might not be so good.

She said, "Lord Duke, this Liu Ruyan has always existed as an advisor to the Prostitute Empress. Having stayed in the imperial city for a long time, she was arranged by the Prostitute Empress to reside in the Chongning Nunnery. Because she has always loved wearing white clothes, many insiders refer to her as..."

"The White-robed Chancellor!"

The White-robed Chancellor?

This title sent another shock through Ren Tianye's heart!

It must be known that in the history Ren Tianye was familiar with, there was a corresponding title. That person had assisted the Yongle Emperor, seizing the empire of the Great Ming with a mere eight hundred men.

Over five thousand years of history, fratricide and familial strife were common occurrences, but to use only eight hundred men to carve a righteous path to the throne and ascend to the highest seat of power—that was a sole, unprecedented case!

This White-robed Chancellor...

Ren Tianye could not afford to take her lightly!

Standing up abruptly, he said, "Are you saying that this Liu Ruyan is at the Chongning Nunnery?"

"Yes, Lord Duke!"

"Someone, summon Wei Shuo!"

A moment later, Wei Shuo arrived.

"This subordinate greets the Lord Duke."

"Wei Shuo..." Ren Tianye issued a direct order, "I command you to lead your troops, personally guide the way for me, and surround the Chongning Nunnery!"

...