Yang Guo travels back in time to become Duan Yu, a different kind of Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils.

Chapter 69 Who are you?

Yang Guo, who was in mid-air, suddenly stopped when he heard the other person's words.

He used to be a loner, and for the past sixteen years he had only been accompanied by the giant eagle, never having any ties. For a moment, he forgot that he was now the heir of the Prince of Zhennan.

It's alright in the martial arts world, but once he enters the officialdom, his every move represents the Dali Duan family, and he can no longer do as he pleases as before.

No matter which time or space, the Dali Duan family has always treated him well. In the past, Master Yideng traveled thousands of miles to save him from the Love Flower Poison, and the Indian monk even lost his life because of it. After arriving in this world, Emperor Baoding and the eminent monks of Tianlong Temple did not hesitate to sacrifice their power to save him.

If I were to affect the diplomatic relations between the two countries because of my actions, then it would truly be my fault.

Since that's the case, let's stall for time. Yang Guo made up his mind, his expression remained unchanged, and he spoke loudly and clearly, his voice neither humble nor arrogant: "Although I am a member of the Duan family of Dali, tonight's matter is purely a private visit. I am not here on the orders of the King of Dali, and it has nothing to do with the Dali court."

The old eunuch's face darkened: "Who would believe your empty words!"

Just as the two sides were about to continue fighting, they saw two rows of imperial guards approaching in the distance with torches, and the voices of eunuchs called out from afar: "The Empress Dowager has arrived! The Empress Dowager has arrived!"

The torchlight meandered and pierced through the deep night, casting flickering shadows of the flowers and trees under the eaves. Yang Guo quickly weighed the situation in his mind. The opportunity to escape had passed. If he fled now, it would only confirm that the Dali Duan family harbored ill intentions. If this old eunuch added fuel to the fire, things would likely become even worse.

Very well, I'll just have to meet the powerful Empress Dowager of the Song Dynasty.

When the Empress Dowager and her retinue arrived, Yang Guo stepped forward, crossed his arms in front of his chest, bent deeply at the waist, and spoke in a clear, neither humble nor arrogant, voice that resounded throughout the hall.

"Duan Yu, the heir apparent of the Prince of Zhennan of Dali, pays respects to the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager of the Great Song Dynasty!"

He bowed deeply to the ground, and only after a long while did he straighten up. He presented a jade tablet with both hands, which was the proof of his status as the heir of the Prince of Zhennan of Dali. Dali was rich in jade, so the royal family often used jade tablets, which was very different from the gold tablets used by the royal family of the Song Dynasty.

Yang Guo was performing the most formal bow with crossed hands, a gesture most valued by Song Dynasty nobles. This was taught to him by his aunt Guo when he was young. At the time, Huang Rong only wanted to teach Yang Guo some manners, but she never expected it to come in handy here.

The old eunuch, whom she had dealt with before, had already stood beside the Empress Dowager. Seeing this, he sternly rebuked her: "How dare you! When foreign vassals come to pay homage to the two palaces, why do you not kneel and perform the full kowtow!"

This sharp question, laced with hidden meaning, was intended to force Yang Guo to kneel.

If he kneels down, it will be considered a private act of tribute from a vassal state within the inner court. In the future, this matter can be used to argue in the court that Dali has submitted. If he refuses to kneel, he can be accused of being arrogant and disrespectful to the two palaces of the Song Dynasty.

Just as Yang Guo was about to retort, he heard Zhao Shuhuai calmly reply, "Bowing and prostrating are grand national ceremonies for the Grand Court Assembly. Today is a private audience within the inner palace, without any officials or ceremonial guards. As a member of the Dali royal family, what wrong has Prince Duan done in observing the etiquette between the two countries?"

Empress Dowager Gao, advanced in years and with profound gaze, sized up Yang Guo, then looked at Zhao Shuhuai who had spoken earlier, and said calmly, "So you are the Crown Prince of Dali. Why are you at the Princess's Yaohua Villa in the dead of night?"

Yang Guo thought to himself: This matter is too absurd. If I tell the truth, not only will the Empress Dowager not believe me, but it will also put the Princess in the spotlight. I need to find a reasonable explanation. Then it dawned on him—he already had a ready-made reason!

"Reporting to the Empress Dowager, I came here to track down a Tibetan monk. I traveled from Dali to Jiangnan, and then from Jiangnan to the capital of the Song Dynasty. In the end, I lost sight of him in the palace and got lost. That's why I mistakenly entered Yaohua Villa and disturbed the Princess."

After saying this, Yang Guo bowed to Zhao Shuhuai again, and she bowed back.

The Empress Dowager turned to the old eunuch beside her and asked, "Is this true?"

The old eunuch bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I have a question. May I ask Prince Duan?"

Yang Guo said, "Please ask, Your Excellency."

"With Your Highness's skills, few in the martial world can rival you. This old minister would like to know what kind of Tibetan monk could escape from Your Highness's clutches a thousand miles away and infiltrate the palace silently?"

Yang Guo was secretly pleased, thinking that it was a good question, but his face remained calm and composed as he said, "That man is called Kumārajīva, the national preceptor of Tibet. In Dali, he first murdered the Shaolin monk Master Xuanbei, and then attempted to kidnap my uncle, Emperor Baoding, at Tianlong Temple. After being repelled by me and the monks of Tianlong Temple, he came to Jiangnan and caused great trouble at the Murong and Wang families in Suzhou. His martial arts skills are extremely high. If it weren't for the help of others, I would have had a hard time defeating him."

"Is what Young Master Duan said true?"

"Absolutely true. If the eunuch doesn't believe me, he can send someone to Tianlong Temple in Dali and the Murong and Wang families in Suzhou to inquire. That Kumārajīva is proficient in several of the Seventy-Two Shaolin Arts, and is especially skilled in the Flaming Saber technique; he is truly formidable!"

The old eunuch nodded to the Empress Dowager. He was originally a servant of the Gao family, the Empress Dowager's maternal family. He had also traveled the martial arts world. Later, he was seriously injured in a battle and became disabled in the lower half of his body. The Gao family then sent him to the Prince of Pu's mansion, where he had served the Empress Dowager ever since.

Although this person resided in the palace, he was very knowledgeable about the affairs of the martial world. He had long heard about Xuan Bei's murder and the fighting at Tianlong Temple, and he knew in his heart that the prince in front of him was not lying or deceiving him.

The Empress Dowager pondered for a moment, then said slowly, "Very well, since Young Master Duan has his reasons, let's leave it at that."

However, Your Highness should familiarize yourself more with the etiquette of the Central Plains and refrain from speaking with the jargon of the martial arts world. Although your Duan family has many dealings with the martial arts world, you are ultimately a royal family. I will send someone to escort you to your lodging first, as the delegation from Dali that came to congratulate me on my birthday is still in Bianliang and has not yet left.

The Emperor will summon you tomorrow.

Two eunuchs stepped forward and bowed, gesturing for the servants to enter.

Yang Guo bowed deeply again, his gaze quickly sweeping over Zhao Shuhuai. The young woman's expression was calm, but her eyes held a thousand unspeakable, turbulent emotions. Their eyes met for only a brief moment before immediately parting, neither daring to reveal the slightest hint of anything amiss. Yang Guo followed the eunuch, turning and stepping out of the courtyard gate of Yaohua Villa.

After Yang Guo's figure disappeared around the corner of the corridor, the Empress Dowager slowly turned her gaze to the old eunuch beside her. She did not ask the Princess any more questions in public, but simply raised her sleeve slightly, and the eunuch gave the order to proceed.

A group of palace maids and eunuchs surrounded the imperial carriages of the two palaces. The procession slowly set off, and the noisy voices and tinkling of jade pendants gradually dissipated into the deep night.

As the hustle and bustle subsided, the courtyard of Yaohua Villa finally returned to silence. In this vast villa, only Zhao Shuhuai remained, standing alone in the courtyard.

Her brows furrowed slightly, her eyes filled with confusion and melancholy, her lips moved slightly, and a very soft murmur dissipated into the evening breeze.

"Little Dragon Girl—Yang Guo—Duan Yu, who exactly are you, and who am I?"