I raised stunning young ladies, but they all wanted to possess me.

As Gu Yan was thinking, Lin Jinyu spoke up.

"Xiao Yan, what are you daydreaming about? Come on."

Gu Yan snapped out of her daze, nodded, and followed them forward.

More and more people gathered in the square, with celebrities coming together in twos and threes.

All eyes were fixed on the gates of the Marquis's residence, waiting for them to open.

Gu Yan walked beside Pei Youyi, wondering what she should say to Fu Shiwei when she saw her later.

And that superhuman being who's going to be interviewed, he's also surnamed Fu, I wonder what his status is in the Fu family.

As he was thinking, a dull thud sounded from the gate of the Marquis's residence.

With a creak, the two vermilion doors slowly opened.

Sunlight streamed in through the crack in the door, illuminating the threshold and drawing everyone's attention in that direction.

Two rows of guards came out first, dressed in black uniforms with long swords at their waists, their steps as synchronized as if they were one person.

They stood in two rows on either side, backs straight, eyes looking straight ahead, motionless like statues.

Then someone walked out of the door, and the whole world seemed to fall silent.

Fu Shiwei was wearing a dark blue military uniform, the stars on his shoulders gleaming in the sunlight.

The military uniform was tailored to fit her perfectly, highlighting her tall figure and smooth lines.

Her features were so deep and delicate that they seemed unreal, with an Eastern bone structure supporting a Western silhouette.

A high, straight nose, deep-set eyes, and a pair of amber eyes that seemed to hold both honey and sharp edges.

His eyebrows were thick, sharp, and slightly upturned, exuding an air of quiet authority and heroic spirit.

Her lips were thin and rosy, slightly pursed, making it impossible to tell whether she was smiling or not.

Her long black hair was styled in a bun at the back of her head, revealing her slender, fair neck and delicate earlobes.

Her skin was so white it seemed to glow, and it shone even brighter against the backdrop of her dark blue military uniform.

She stood there like a drawn sword, sharp, cold, and so beautiful that it was impossible to look away.

Two people followed behind her; on the left was an old man wearing a black robe.

The old man had gray hair and a thin face. He wore a pair of gold-rimmed glasses and had a gentle yet profound gaze.

He walks slowly and steadily, each step as if measured precisely, not a fraction off.

On the right is a middle-aged man wearing a bright yellow suit, who is slightly overweight.

He had a square face and a dignified appearance, but there was always a sense of unease about him standing there.

It's like wearing someone else's clothes, or playing someone else's role.

The people in the square held their breath and didn't dare to blink when they saw these three people.

Gu Yan heard people whispering behind her, their voices extremely low.

"That's Marquis Wu'an, Fu Shiwei, the strongest person in the Great Xia Dynasty. I heard he's not even twenty-five years old yet."

"The one on her left is Chief Minister Zhuge, and the one on her right is Emperor Xuanyuan."

"The emperor is merely a symbol; the chief minister is the one who truly holds power. This has been the case in the Great Xia Dynasty for hundreds of years."

"Chief Minister Zhuge is sixty-seven this year, but he looks like he's in his early fifties. He's really well-preserved."

"Of course, he was a ruthless man who single-handedly quelled the Rebellion of the Three Feudatories back then."

"I heard that when he was young, he carried the head of a traitor into the imperial palace with one hand, which terrified the emperor."

"Some people also say that he knows the art of Qimen Dunjia, can deduce the secrets of heaven, and has a plan that is infallible."

"Anyway, the reason why Great Xia has been so stable for the past few decades is because of his governance."

Gu Yan listened to these discussions, quickly processing the information in her mind.

The chief minister holds the greatest power, while the emperor is merely a symbol—this aligns with the history he knows.

As he was thinking, he suddenly felt two pairs of eyes on him.

The feeling was subtle, like being watched from a distance, and a slight chill ran down my spine.

He looked up and saw that Chief Minister Zhuge was standing on the steps, his gaze sweeping over him.

Those eyes hidden behind the gold-rimmed glasses were as gentle as a lake.

But Gu Yan always felt that something was hidden at the bottom of that lake, something unfathomable.

Then Fu Shiwei also glanced in this direction, her amber eyes lingering on him for a moment.

In that instant, it was like a blade slicing through water, swift and sharp.

Gu Yan's heart skipped a beat, and the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end.

What's going on? Two of the most prominent figures in the Great Xia Dynasty are looking at him at the same time.

He subconsciously took a step to the side and hid directly behind Pei Youyi.

Pei Youyi felt someone approaching from behind, and the familiar scent of a young man wafted into her nose.

Her body stiffened slightly, her ears began to burn, and her heart skipped a beat.

She didn't dare turn around, just stood there, her fingers gripping the hem of her cheongsam tightly.

Gu Yan hid behind Pei Youyi, only showing half of her head, like a frightened kitten.

Pei Yuran glanced at him, a hint of doubt flashing in her icy blue eyes.

But she didn't say anything; she just moved closer to Gu Yan, blocking part of his view.

Lin Jinyu stood to the side, her golden eyes sweeping over the three people on the platform.

Her gaze lingered on Fu Shiwei for a moment, and the corners of her mouth twitched slightly.

"I thought it was something amazing, but it's just so-so."

Her voice wasn't loud, but the people around her heard it.

Pei Youyi turned and glanced at her.

"Jinyu, don't talk nonsense. The Marquis is the number one person in the world."

Lin Jinyu snorted, crossed her arms, and her golden eyes were full of disdain.

"So what if I'm number one in the world? I'll be there sooner or later. What's so great about that?"

Her tone carried a hint of defiance, as if she were challenging someone.

Gu Yan peeked out from behind Pei Youyi and glanced at her, her lips twitching slightly.

This woman really doesn't respect anyone; she even dares to confront Marquis Wu'an.

As he was thinking, Emperor Xuanyuan had already walked up to the high platform in the center of the square.

The platform has three tiers of steps, each covered with a red carpet, and has a microphone and a podium placed on it.

Reporters from various countries had already set up their cameras, their long lenses and microphones aimed at the high platform.

The Emperor cleared his throat in front of the microphone, and his voice was amplified throughout the entire square.

"Gentlemen, today I and the Grand Secretary have come to the Marquis of Wu'an's residence to commend the Marquis of Wu'an for his great achievements."

His voice was loud but had a stiff quality to it, like he was reciting a text.

"Three months ago, Marquis Wu'an led his army to conquer the first S-level Black Tide Secret Realm."

"This is the first time since the founding of our Great Xia Dynasty that we have conquered an S-level secret realm. It is of extraordinary significance."

"In this battle, more than 37,000 alien beasts were annihilated, including six S-class alien beasts."

"The Marquis of Wu'an personally led the vanguard into the core of the secret realm and single-handedly killed the master of the secret realm."

"They have secured precious core resources of the secret realm for our Great Xia Dynasty, a feat that benefits the nation and future generations."

A round of enthusiastic applause erupted in the square; everyone was clapping, their faces filled with admiration.

Gu Yan clapped along, but he stopped after clapping twice.

A screen of light suddenly appeared in front of him, and blue words popped up one by one.

It's the system panel, but it's different from usual; the special items section is glowing.

[The Book of the World (Red): Encountering certain characters unlocks hidden storylines.]

The words were flashing red, blinking as if reminding him of something.