Chapter 107: Yan Yi // The Loyal Shadow Guard

Shen Hezhi curled his lips. “I remember you weren’t this good at acting before. Just tell me, what’s really going on?”

This time, Yan Yi looked puzzled. “Shouldn't I be the one asking you? You dragged me here—what exactly do you want? And now you’re asking me what’s going on?”

After they spoke, both were confused, their expressions genuine rather than feigned. Yan Yi was the first to break the silence.

He tentatively asked, “Weren’t you the one who brought me here? Don’t tell me you saved me and brought me here…”

Shen Hezhi nodded.

Immediately, Yan Yi covered his face with his hands, then lowered them and said, “I really didn’t know it was you who saved me. I thought you had uncovered what happened back then and misunderstood me, which is why you brought me here.”

“The incident back then? You mean the poisoning? I’m curious about the cold poison inside you as well,” Shen Hezhi replied.

Yan Yi sighed again. “Yes, that incident. I thought you already knew, but judging by your expression, you don’t. But it doesn’t matter; I was originally planning to write you a letter to tell you.”

Then Yan Yi revealed something that shocked Shen Hezhi—not just shock, but more a mild surprise.

Yan Yi told Shen Hezhi that he had actually been an agent under his mother. Knowing she didn’t have long to live, his mother secretly assigned Yan Yi to protect the young Shen Hezhi. Although Yan Yi was also young then, he was exceptionally skilled.

However, his mother never allowed Yan Yi to appear openly by Shen Hezhi’s side; instead, he was to protect him covertly. She was unsure whether the emperor might eliminate this young secret guard. After all, if the emperor ordered it, there was nothing Shen Hezhi could do to prevent Yan Yi from being taken away. So Yan Yi’s protection had to be in secret.

At that time, his mother knew the emperor was ruthless and was under threat from the empress. Though the emperor dearly loved her, that did not mean he would sacrifice the entire realm for her sake. Because of the empress’s threat, the emperor had decided to kill her.

Upon learning this, she instructed Yan Yi to protect Shen Hezhi at all costs—inspecting even his food, drink, and belongings personally.

This was also why Yan Yi’s body was poisoned with cold toxin.

Hearing all this, Shen Hezhi was deeply shaken. He had never imagined his mother had plotted such a scheme for him.

He had always thought his mother was fragile and without status or power, never suspecting anything like this.

But if she had no status or power, how could Yan Yi, such a remarkable secret guard, come to be?

“When exactly were you under my mother? And how did you, so young, acquire such superb martial skills?” Shen Hezhi asked.

Yan Yi seemed to have anticipated the question; he smiled and explained, “That’s because of my father. Years ago, my father was saved by your mother, so he vowed to repay her whenever he could.

“But later, your mother was chosen by your father and brought into the palace as a concubine, so my father lost the chance to repay her.

“Still, my father understood the dangers of the palace, so he took me to find a master and learn martial arts. Naturally, as a child, I trained alongside him, which is how I gained such skills at a young age.”

The explanation sounded reasonable, and Shen Hezhi nodded.

Yan Yi wasn’t finished telling his story. He continued.

After staying by Shen Hezhi’s side for about a year, constantly testing his body against poison, his own body accumulated many toxins. Yan Yi knew he wouldn’t live long in this state, yet he still couldn’t let go of Shen Hezhi.

He understood how deeply his father valued the life-saving debt owed to Shen Hezhi’s mother, and under that influence, Yan Yi came to regard Shen Hezhi as a younger brother. Gradually, brotherly affection grew.

How could he bear to see his younger brother suffer?

So one time, he deliberately staged a chance encounter to meet Shen Hezhi openly, wanting to get to know the brother he cared for.

At that point, knowing he was heavily poisoned and near death, after officially meeting Shen Hezhi, Yan Yi planned to quietly leave and die.

Yet, whether by fate or because the toxins counteracted each other, he did not die. Instead, he survived all these years, though tormented by the poison.

Sometimes he would lose consciousness; other times, he would become delirious. During this time, he accidentally saved two men—foolish but fiercely loyal brothers whom Yan Yi treated as his own siblings.

Over time, they confided in one another, and Yan Yi had casually told these two brothers that he knew Shen Hezhi and that they shared the same cold poison.

He knew Shen Hezhi had married Yan Heru, who could cure the cold poison, but Yan Yi never dared reveal this to him.

One reason was that he had been absent for so many years; suddenly appearing now, just to talk about poison, seemed impossible. Even if he did appear and told Shen Hezhi everything, would Shen Hezhi believe him?

Knowing his own death might come soon, Yan Yi distanced himself from Shen Hezhi. Yet, since he survived, he occasionally protected him secretly. It was through this covert watch that Yan Yi discovered Yan Heru could cure Shen Hezhi’s cold poison.

He was deeply glad when he learned this.

But he had no intention of reappearing in Shen Hezhi’s life. However, as his cold poison worsened, he finally collapsed. His two brothers, unable to bear it, came up with the most foolish plan: to kidnap the Ninth Princess.

This plan had been suggested before Yan Yi fainted but was rejected by him.

“So that’s the story. I hope you won’t blame my two clumsy brothers; they meant no harm.”

Shen Hezhi remained silent for a long time after hearing this.