After leaving the tavern, with no outsiders present, the Fourth Divine General, Yan Chunfeng, no longer addressed him as 'Young Master'. Instead, she spoke with reverence, "Supreme Emperor, I will follow you into the Forbidden Grounds."
"I'll go alone."
Xu Lai stopped in his tracks. "If I don't return, please deliver a message to Ruan Tang for me."
"Rest assured, Supreme Emperor. I will inform the Matriarch that a cenotaph will be erected in your honor." Yan Chunfeng's voice remained gentle.
"...I want you to tell her that I'm definitely still alive. Tell her to wait for my return and not to do anything reckless."
"Understood."
Yan Chunfeng blushed. Perhaps I was overthinking things. With The Supreme Emperor's power, how could he possibly fail to return?
"So, Divine General Yan can blush too," Xu Lai remarked in surprise. It was the first time he had ever seen her like this.
"I will be sure to relay that little jest to the Matriarch."
"..."
