Chapter 1307: Smashing the Lovers

"Nonsense!" Zu An touched his face, quick to react. "Of course, I smiled unconsciously because I was so happy to see you back."

Pei Mianman spat. "Bah, you rascal, who knows which wild woman you're thinking about!"

Although she said this, a hint of delight couldn't help but appear between her brows. Clearly, she was quite pleased by his sweet words.

"I can't believe you've been through so much," Pei Mianman said with deep regret in her voice. "Ah, it's a pity I wasn't by your side."

Zu An had just recounted most of what happened in the Great Snow Mountain, naturally omitting any intimate encounters with Yan Xuehen. Even so, the exciting details were enough to make her exclaim repeatedly.

"Even all that excitement can't compare to how we relied on each other in the Yin Ruins," Zu An said, embracing her with a laugh.

Pei Mianman's heart fluttered as well. In the Yin Ruins, they had been husband and wife for several lifetimes. "Hmph, I just worry that after being with me for so long in the Yin Ruins, you've already grown tired of me."

Zu An kissed her delicate face. "How could that be? Everything back then was just an illusion, and time flowed so fast. It wasn't 'lifetimes' in the normal sense."

Pei Mianman's expression turned serious. "Are you saying you'd get tired of me if we actually lived together for decades?"

Zu An: "..."

How did the conversation take such a tricky turn?

"Of course not! Manman, you don't know how incredibly charming you are. Those men who see you wish they could just swallow you whole..." He was quick to react, immediately lavishing her with compliments.

Who knew that this time, Pei Mianman wouldn't fall for it? "What about you?"

"I'll swallow you whole right now," Zu An said, his hands moving playfully. Pei Mianman was ticklish and hurriedly tried to evade him, but she was no match for Zu An and soon was shaking with laughter.

Just then, the door opened from the outside. "Lord Zu, there's something I wanted to discuss with..."

The speaker's voice cut off mid-sentence.

"Father..." Pei Mianman gasped, startled by the sight of the newcomer. Although the relationship between father and daughter was quite distant, they had been father and daughter for many years, and she couldn't help but feel guilty in such a situation.

The newcomer was naturally Pei Shao, the City Lord of Cloudfall. Usually, he was quite amiable, often wearing a smile, but at this moment, his face was as dark as stagnant water.

Zu An, feeling guilty, quickly withdrew his hand from Pei Mianman's collar. "Greetings, City Lord." He had been too engrossed in playful teasing with Pei Mianman, and Yan Xuehen hadn't properly closed the back door when she left, which allowed Pei Shao to walk in and catch them. Being caught by a girl's father while 'stealing' his daughter would be awkward, no matter how thick-skinned one was.

"Lord Zu is now a Grand Marquis. I wouldn't dare accept such a title," Pei Shao scoffed, a surge of irritation rising within him. He had painstakingly nurtured his prized daughter, only for her to be 'pigged' without his knowledge. Anyone would be furious.

Rage value from Pei Shao: 311,311,311...

Hearing the title "Grand Marquis," Zu An's eyelids twitched. "City Lord Pei, what are you saying? I've always admired your character..." He then continued with a flurry of sickeningly sweet flattery, making Pei Mianman frown. *How could he be that good?*

Pei Shao's composure was beginning to crack. "Alright, alright. I came here today intending to ask about your relationship with my daughter and why she risked so much to impersonate a Gold-Medallion Embroidered Guard to rescue you. Now, it seems I don't need to ask."

Zu An praised, "City Lord Pei indeed possesses keen insight. My admiration for you flows like an endless river..."

Pei Shao: "..." This fellow was so exasperating, it was hard to even get angry.

Pei Mianman took a deep breath, clutching Zu An's arm. "Ah Zu and I have secretly pledged ourselves to each other."

Pei Shao's eyelids twitched, and he finally slammed the table and stood up. "Nonsense! Do you know what 'secretly pledged to each other' means? An unsanctioned union without a matchmaker would be a laughingstock even in an ordinary family, let alone our Pei clan!"

Pei Mianman held her head high. "We love each other deeply, where our hearts lead, we follow. What's there to laugh about?"

"You!" Pei Shao's hair bristled with anger. "You are to be the future Crown Princess of Qi, and potentially the future Empress! Why are you so lacking in self-respect?"

Zu An stepped forward, shielding Pei Mianman behind him. "City Lord Pei, I must correct you on one point: the Crown Princess of Qi will absolutely never become Empress."

"Hmph, regarding the struggle between King Qi and the Crown Prince, countless top clans in the world can't say who will emerge victorious. Who are you to speak?" Pei Shao was already furious, and seeing Zu An jump in made him even less polite.

Rage value from Pei Shao: 444,444,444...

"Because I said so," Zu An stated calmly. "I was able to break the Crown Prince of Qi's two legs back then, and I wouldn't mind breaking his third leg. Let's see how he'll marry then."

"You!" Pei Shao trembled with rage. "Utterly crude, utterly crude! Indeed, a commoner who suddenly rises to prominence lacks the cultivation of a true noble."

Rage value from Pei Shao: 599,599,599...

"True nobles?" Zu An said coldly. "City Lord Pei, don't you feel guilty saying such things? Among all the top noble families in the world, which one doesn't have its share of scoundrels and immoral women? Perhaps the cleanest are only the stone lions at their gates."

Pei Shao's breath hitched. He knew what Zu An said was true, but such matters were common in great families. They weren't fundamental errors and didn't damage a noble's integrity. What was most important to a noble? Of course, it was all sorts of elegant etiquette, a long history, mutual recognition among families, and established rules like marriage alliances between prominent families and between less prominent ones. Someone like Zu An, who was already a marquis but whose actions completely disregarded noble etiquette, would be privately mocked within that circle.

Not wanting the two of them to argue further, Pei Mianman proactively said, "I've already rejected the marriage to the Crown Prince of Qi. If you want to marry him, you marry him yourself."

"Fine, fine!" Pei Shao glared at Zu An. "Last time, you advised me not to agree to King Qi's marriage alliance so soon. Turns out you were planning to steal from your own charge!" The more he thought about it, the more annoyed he became. He had been completely played.

Rage value from Pei Shao: 555,555,555...

Pei Mianman said, "That has nothing to do with it. We already secretly pledged ourselves to each other when we were in Brightmoon City. If you insist on making me marry the Crown Prince of Qi, I'll just make everything public. Let's see if he still dares to marry me then!"

"You!" Pei Shao was beyond furious. Indeed, daughters were raised for other men. However, he suddenly thought of something and gradually calmed down. "That matter I discussed with you last time has progress. They've agreed. Do you still want to go?"

"Really?" Pei Mianman was both surprised and delighted.

"Of course it's true," Pei Shao snorted. "Come back with me first, and we'll discuss it further."

Pei Mianman hesitated, then nodded. "Okay."

Zu An looked utterly confused. What was happening?

Pei Mianman jogged over to him and said, "Ah Zu, I might have to be separated from you for a while." Zu An had expected some cliché plot twist from an old drama, but to his surprise, she excitedly said, "I'm going to become an apprentice and join a top sect, something similar to White Jade Capital!"