Chapter 1125: Important Person

Zu'an's heavy-handed action was clearly a warning. Xu Yu's people had already shown such blatant disrespect; if Zu'an didn't respond, his subordinates' morale would falter, and the other side would grow increasingly arrogant.

He had always heard such arrogant words from villains in TV shows and secretly longed for the chance to say them himself. He never expected to get the opportunity today.

And honestly, it felt incredibly satisfying.

No wonder so many villains enjoyed saying such things.

He wasn't worried about the consequences at all. If they tried anything underhanded, his current cultivation level meant he had nothing to fear. If they tried to escalate the matter through official channels, offending a Duke was already a grave offense. Besides, the Imperial Commissioner's people were all loyal to him. How could they possibly contend with him?

"Huh? The way I'm speaking, I'm starting to sound more and more like a villain," he thought.

He had initially expected resistance or defiance and had prepared for the ensuing confrontation.

To his surprise, after his declaration, no one raised any objections; it was as if this outcome was entirely expected.

Fei Xun, enduring sharp pain, quickly cupped his hands and apologized: "Today, I, your humble subordinate, acted impulsively and offended the Duke. I humbly ask the Duke not to take it amiss."

There was no reason to fear a gravely injured, dying, and crippled Duke. However, the cultivation level the Duke had just displayed showed no hint of injury.

He was eager for promotion, but he wasn't a fool. How could he continue to antagonize the Duke in such a situation? He quickly summoned his subordinates, and they retreated in disarray. As for the matter of apprehending demon fugitives, no one dared to mention it again.

After they left, the guards and maids in the mansion excitedly surrounded Zu'an, exclaiming, "Duke!"

Their fortunes were tied to their master's; the stronger the Duke, the greater their honor. Otherwise, they would be trampled upon and powerless by petty individuals, just as they had been moments before.

Just then, someone urgently reported what had happened to Yu Yanluo. Zu'an nodded, "I understand. Summon General Wang, General Li, General Chen, and others to the manor for a discussion."

The names he listed were all trusted confidantes of Jian Yanyou who remained in the Governor's residence, along with several individuals who had historically maintained good relations with the Yu family.

After giving his instructions, he proceeded to the inner quarters and found Chu Ji.

Chu Ji was weeping and speaking with Xing Nu. Seeing him arrive, she quickly rose and knelt, pleading, "Please, Duke, save the Madam."

Zu'an helped her to her feet. "I already know what happened," he said. "Please don't cry."

He then turned to Xing Nu. "Where are your clan members hiding?" he asked. "I'll arrange for your departure from the city first."

Xing Nu was a little disoriented, feeling an odd sense of familiarity when he spoke to her.

She was about to answer but hesitated, concerned that if he was merely trying to trick her, her clan members would be in grave danger.

As Yu Yanluo's personal maid, she naturally knew that they were husband and wife in name only.

The only exception was a few days prior when they appeared to have spent the night together, but when she later subtly questioned Yu Yanluo, the Madam had denied anything of that nature with the Duke. This made Xing Nu fear the Duke might betray them in their current predicament.

At this point, Chu Ji, who was standing nearby, interjected, "Sister Xing Nu, the Duke can be completely trusted."

While others might not know, she was intimately aware of their relationship.

The Madam had even brought him in to impersonate the Duke; he was undoubtedly a trustworthy individual.

In fact, she and Liu Ji had privately speculated about his true identity, but both parties had a tacit understanding not to reveal it.

Xing Nu was greatly surprised, but considering Chu Ji was the Duke's confidante, if she vouched for him, it should be fine. Besides, she had no one else to turn to at this moment.

So she began to explain: "For years, seeing how difficult life was for our clan in the north, the Madam arranged for trade with that region, exchanging their local specialties for the food, medicine, and other essential supplies our people desperately needed. All of this had to be done with extreme secrecy; even the slightest hint of exposure would lead to utter disaster."

"Therefore, we carefully selected some intelligent clan members to come to Yunzhong Commandery and manage all these businesses."

"We also brought some promising clan members to human society to study, so they could better return and help rebuild our homeland."

"At first, the Madam was concerned about potential accidents, so she didn't let our clan members stay at the Yu family estate. Instead, she arranged for them to reside in various secret locations throughout the city. Looking back, the Madam was truly farsighted."

Zu'an mused that Yu Yanluo must have been deeply conflicted. On one hand, she wanted to care for her maternal clan as much as possible, but with a millennium of conflict between humans and demons, she also worried about implicating her father's Yu family.

"By the way, where is Butler Fu? Can you contact him?"

He recalled the old man from the carriage; his cultivation was indeed formidable. If Butler Fu had been there to protect her, Yu Yanluo wouldn't have been captured so easily.

"The Madam previously sent him to a neighboring commandery to handle a matter concerning some hijacked goods," Xing Nu replied. "Based on the timing, he should be returning soon. If we can get out of the city, I have a way to contact him."

Chu Ji then added, "However, it seems the city gates are now tightly closed, making it very difficult to leave. Moreover, the Duke is undoubtedly a key target for surveillance. If he were to escort you out under his name, he would be in considerable danger if exposed."

Xing Nu was also deeply conflicted and quickly said, "I wouldn't dare let the Duke risk himself. Whether we can leave the city is a minor concern. I earnestly implore the Duke to rescue the Madam."

Zu'an pondered for a moment before replying, "You needn't panic. I will rescue the Madam, and at the same time, I will find a way to get you out of the city. First, go inform the clan members remaining in the city to stay calm and not act impulsively or expose themselves, which would make their rescue far more difficult. Xing Nu, you should not show yourself; they are searching for you everywhere."

Chu Ji said, "I'll go inform them."

Zu'an glanced at her. "Be careful," he warned. "Someone is likely watching the Duke's manor now."

Feeling his concern, Chu Ji's face flushed slightly, and she shyly lowered her head. "Don't worry," she assured him, "I've received training in this area; it won't be a problem."

Zu'an nodded and offered a few more words of reassurance to the two women. Soon after, a servant arrived to report that the generals were steadily making their way over.

"So quickly?" Zu'an was a little surprised. Upon asking, he learned that news of Yu Yanluo's capture had already spread. A group of people had instinctively rushed to him for a discussion, coincidentally meeting the people he had sent out.

Zu'an then went to a secret room to strategize with these generals. Not long afterward, the group emerged with grave expressions.

Soon, several armies began to assemble impressively outside the city.

Due to the system of checks and balances, the main forces of the Governor's office were primarily stationed outside the city walls.

The city guards immediately became extremely tense, strictly manning the gates, while simultaneously sending messengers to report to Xu Yu.

However, Xu Yu had no time to attend to these reports, as "Jian Yanyou," accompanied by his private guard and the private soldiers from various general's estates, had already arrived at the Prefect's mansion.

Xu Yu had his subordinates on high alert while he, smiling broadly, greeted Zu'an at the entrance. "Isn't the Duke recuperating from his injuries?" he remarked. "I didn't expect such a swift recovery."

At the same time, Xiao Yao stood by his side, clutching his sword, evidently prepared in case Zu'an attempted to capture the leader first.

Sang Hong also arrived, having heard the news.

Zu'an swept his gaze across everyone present and stated coldly, "If you don't show yourselves now, the situation will change drastically."

Xu Yu shook his head. "No matter what," he countered, "this realm belongs to the Great Zhou Dynasty and the Emperor; it will not change."

Zu'an knew Xu Yu was intentionally using the imperial court and the Emperor to exert pressure. He responded calmly, "I, Jian, have diligently served for years; even if I haven't achieved great feats for the imperial court, I have certainly put in considerable effort. So why does Lord Xu, without any justification, seek to arrest my wife?"

Xu Yu replied, "The Duke misunderstands; this official has no intention of targeting the Duke. The reason for arresting Yu Yanluo is simply that she is a Medusa, a demon race hidden within human society!"

At these words, the ordinary soldiers on Zu'an's side exchanged bewildered glances. They had only known that Yu Yanluo was arrested, not the specific reason, and hearing she was a Medusa, their faces filled with doubt.

The generals also frowned slightly. They had heard some rumors previously but had been skeptical; they hadn't expected this to be the true reason.

"Nonsense!" Zu'an bellowed. "Can I not distinguish whether my own wife is human or demon? Do I need an outsider like you to make that determination?"

At his words, his subordinates nodded in agreement, and the small commotion quickly subsided.

In their view, this was merely Xu Yu's attempt to frame her.

Xu Yu replied, "Demon races are notoriously cunning, so it's not surprising to be deceived. To be frank, even I was once captivated by Madam Yu's charm until I recently uncovered the truth. The Duke needn't dwell on this. Someone, bring the evidence for the Duke to examine."

Zu'an knew exactly what the "evidence" was, and if it were presented, his side's morale would crumble. He immediately raised a hand to stop them. "No need!" he declared. "After all these years together, I know my wife's character perfectly well. On ordinary days, she wouldn't even kill a chicken, and she would tear up if she accidentally stepped on an ant. To accuse such a kind woman of being a demon is utterly ridiculous. Any 'evidence' you have must certainly be fabricated."

The soldiers, recalling Yu Yanluo's unparalleled grace and her usual gentle, benevolent demeanor, also began to protest loudly, crying foul.

Not just the ordinary soldiers, but even the generals found it hard to believe Yu Yanluo could be a Medusa.

Xu Yu frowned. "As far as I know," he said, "the Duke and Yu Yanluo have been husband and wife in name only for years, never truly living together. It's perfectly normal for you not to know her true nature."

Many in the crowd immediately began to murmur. Only a select few knew the true nature of Jian Yanyou's and Yu Yanluo's relationship; the revelation that they were merely nominal spouses greatly astonished everyone.

Many officials even began to breathe heavily. If they weren't truly married and Yu Yanluo was still a virgin, did that mean there was an opportunity for them as well?

However, the thought that Yu Yanluo might be a Medusa quickly brought a worried frown back to their faces.

"Heh, there's no need to sow discord between my wife and me," Zu'an replied. "The reason we live separately is that we are both heads of our respective families and have busy matters to attend to. But this does not affect the affection between us. We often meet and spend time together, and my understanding of her is certainly far greater than yours, Lord Xu."

With both sides holding fast to their arguments, Zu'an's subordinates naturally believed their Duke's words.

Meanwhile, Xu Yu's faction was more inclined to believe him, leading to an immediate stalemate in the debate.

Xu Yu's face darkened. "Duke," he said, "are you determined to shield a demon?"

"Don't misrepresent my intentions," Zu'an retorted. "I'm simply here to rescue my innocent wife." With a gesture from Zu'an, the guards behind him drew their long swords, instantly filling the air with a chilling aura of hostility. "Today, I'm taking my wife home. Anyone who dares to obstruct me will face my merciless hand!"