Zu An wrapped an arm gently around her soft waist. “We’re already one. Don’t treat me like an outsider.”

Chu Chuyan blushed, and quickly pushed him away. “Stop messing around already. Everyone is growing impatient.”

Zu An noticed that she was looking at him as though trying to ward away a pervert, and grew rather indignant. 

Am I that sort of person?

The two of them quickly returned to the study. “So? What’s your decision?” Qin Zheng asked lightly.

He stared at Chu Chuyan, feeling slightly nervous. 

She’d better not run away like Wanru did back then…

 He might just die from anger if he had to go through that twice.

Chu Chuyan’s cheeks were still slightly flushed. She said with a gentle voice, “Of course I will stay with you, grandfather.”

Qin Zheng roared with laughter. “Excellent! That’s my granddaughter! Mister Zu, did you hear what she said?”

Zu An was speechless when he saw his triumphant expression. 

Seriously, how old are you? You’re acting like a kid. You might just die from anger if you found out what I just did to your precious granddaughter.

I hope Chu Youzhao can keep a secret. Even though I’m shameless, I don’t think Chu Chuyan could handle it.

He subconsciously glanced over at Chu Youzhao. For some reason, she just happened to be looking at him as well. Their eyes met, and her heartbeat quickened. She looked away at once, and he could not figure out what was going on in that mind of hers.

Murong Qinghe’s attention was constantly on Chu Youzhao, and she also quickly noticed that something was strange.

Hm? Why is Big Brother Chu’s face red?

But he’s still so handsome!

Big Brother Chu’s skin is so good. It’s fair, with a light, pinkish blush. It’s not dark like mine…

She actually didn’t know just how attractive her tanned, healthy skin was to other men. She was just used to seeing fair-skinned girls everywhere in the capital. Even though she didn’t usually mind, she couldn’t help but worry about it when in front of the person she adored.

Big Brother Chu’s skin is so fair. Will he dislike my darker skin?

Should I ask the others what they use to lighten their skin when I get back?

But what if they laugh at me…?

…

Zu An chose this time to speak. “Since this is Chuyan’s personal choice, I will respect it. However, I hope that the State Duke of Triumph will not keep her under house arrest anymore.”

The two of them had discussed this already. As long as Chu Chuyan was given back her freedom, the two of them could meet whenever they wished, as long as they made sure that they weren’t found out.

Qin Zheng snorted angrily. “Do I need you to teach me how to take care of my granddaughters?”

He had only detained Chu Chuyan because he had been worried that she might act impulsively to try to save Zu An. Now that Zu An was safe, there was no need to detain her anymore.

I should dispatch Chuyan to make some indirect inquiries about the details surrounding Zu An’s deal with the emperor.

Now was not the time to make such a request, though, and he wasn’t sure if he could believe her replies at the moment.

With the agreement made, Zu An got up to leave. Hanging around with a fuming old man really wasn’t fun at all.

Chu Chuyan was too embarrassed by what had transpired earlier, and had her younger sister see Zu An out.

Murong Qinghe wanted to follow them out, but Qin Zheng made her stay to ask her about her own grandfather. She could only watch jealously as the two of them left. Even though she knew that it was only a short while before she could see Big Brother Chu again, she was still upset.

Why was it, though, that there seemed to be a slight green shimmer in the air as she watched their departing figures?

When the two of them reached the gates, Zu An finally couldn’t take it anymore. “What the heck is wrong with you? Why are you staring at me?”

Chu Youzhao snorted. “Do you really have no idea why I’m looking at you like that?”

Zu An replied, “Look at you, following bad examples and filling your mind with wicked thoughts at such a young age. Be careful, lest you bring ruin upon yourself.”

Chu Youzhao stared back at him in silent indignance.

Who the hell was the one doing wicked things earlier? Are you trying to lecture me right now? This guy really is hateful!

You have successfully trolled Chu Youzhao for 233 Rage points!

She took a deep breath. “Did you bring me back to the estate last night?”

“Of course.” Zu An didn’t want to expose Qiao Xueying.

“I remember being unconscious. How did you get me back here?” Chu Youzhao’s cheeks were pink.

Zu An had to admit that this cross-dresser was rather attractive. No wonder that silly Murong Qinghe ended up being obsessed with her. “I carried you back, of course. How else? I’m a cultivator. I could easily lug around a pig, let alone a single human. There’s no need to be so grateful.”

“You’re a scoundrel after all!” Chu Youzhao yelled, stamping her foot. She turned around and ran back in.

Zu An was stunned. 

I didn’t ask for your gratitude, but why are you berating me instead?

He quickly tossed this thought out of his head, as there were other important matters still to attend to.

It wasn’t just Chuyan who was worried about him.

Pei Mianman had returned home, and wasn’t in the capital. He had no way of contacting her even if he wanted to. However, the emperor had informed the entire world about his new status, so she should be able to find out soon enough.

However, there was someone else he cared about in the capital. Zheng Dan was here, together with the father and daughter of the Sang clan.

He had already found out that the emperor had shown pity towards the old man when they were returned to the capital. His crimes were reduced to minor offences, and they were placed under house arrest.

When the clans at odds with Sang Hong found out that he would have no more successors, they were all overjoyed. None of them argued with the emperor’s decision, and gladly accepted the judgment.

Clearly, choosing the prettiest daughter-in-law was useless if she couldn’t even help you give birth to an heir. Furthermore, Sang Hong was very old, and did not possess the ability to father another child of his own. He was doomed to be left without an heir.

If he was willing to remain a lonely yet loyal subject of the emperor to the end, so be it.

The Sang clan was actually quite famous around the capital. Zu An knew the general direction of their estate, and after making several inquiries along the way, he quickly found himself at his destination.

He had just visited the magnificent Qin Estate, so the Sang Estate seemed much poorer in comparison. Not only was the land area much smaller, the entryway was strewn with dead leaves that had not been swept away.

A bleak and defeated atmosphere permeated the area.

Zu An wanted to enter through the main gate, but he saw several people monitoring the area from the shadows. House arrest was also a form of punishment, so he couldn’t let them catch him.

He didn’t want to expose his relationship with Zheng Dan either, as it could result in unforeseen danger for both himself and her.

He found a secluded courtyard wall, and vaulted over it with a light tap of his feet.

Because of his cultivation, none of the watchers outside detected him.

When he entered the Sang Estate, he discovered that there were few servants inside, and even fewer guards. It did not feel like a governor’s estate at all.

This was probably a result of Sang Hong’s fall from grace. Everyone who used to serve here probably fled the estate, like rats from a sinking ship.

Zu An sighed. Even though he and Sang Hong had been enemies in the past, it was only because they had been from different factions. He still admired the man’s ability and methods, and couldn’t help but feel sympathetic when someone so great fell so low.

He walked inside and discovered that this was probably the rear garden. Even though he called it a garden, it wasn’t that large either.

He saw a figure in white moving about.

Zu An was alarmed. He thought about the bleakness he had encountered along the way. Was there a female ghost wandering this place?

However, he immediately laughed at himself. This was a world of cultivators. He had already seen his fair share of zombies, skeletons, and ghosts in the dungeons. Why was he still stuck with viewing things through the lens of his previous world?

He walked around the corner and saw the figure in white more clearly. Sure enough, it was a woman wearing white. She was seated on a swing, her back to him, idly swaying back and forth.

Zu An quietly leaned over. “The lady seems rather lonely. Could you use a companion?”

Who else could this familiar figure be but Zheng Dan?

The woman gave a frightened start. She whipped around nervously, but forgot that she was still swaying on the swing. She lost her balance and fell.

Zu An quickly caught her. She swung her hand to strike him, but was stunned when she saw who it was. “You?”

Zu An’s face was about to turn green. The one in his arms wasn’t Zheng Dan at all! It was the Sang clan’s first miss, Sang Qien!