Chapter 1880: Taming

The remaining Embroidered Uniform Envoys exchanged bewildered glances. They had never imagined having to lay hands on a Gold-rank envoy, an unprecedented event since the Embroidered Uniform Guard was established.

Zu An, seemingly oblivious to the situation, looked down at Xiao Jianren and said, "You've suffered much for me these past few days."

Xiao Jianren smiled and replied, "Lord Eleven, please don't say that. It wasn't solely for you. He wanted me to admit to colluding with rebels to assassinate the Emperor. That's a capital crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family. How could I possibly admit to it? Moreover, as an Embroidered Uniform Envoy for so many years, I have been loyal to the imperial court. I ask myself, how could I be ashamed before heaven and earth? Even if I die, I cannot bear such a charge. Cough, cough..."

Seeing him coughing up blood, Zu An comforted him, "Don't speak for now. Focus on recovering. Leave the rest to me."

He then looked at Bu Liangcai and asked, "Bu, are you planning to extract a confession through torture?"

Bu Liangcai said coldly, "During the Purple Mountain incident, the Emperor was assassinated. For such a monumental event, all relevant individuals must undergo investigation, and even princes and dukes are no exception. We Embroidered Uniform Envoys should set an example. Everything I'm doing is simply following regulations and procedures."

"Is this how investigations are conducted?" Zu An sneered. "If so, why aren't you being investigated?"

Bu Liangcai's expression remained calm. "I wasn't at Purple Mountain, so why should I be investigated?"

"Several other Silver-rank confidants of the Grand Commander are dead, leaving only you," Zu An retorted. "And you've used this incident to take charge of everything in the Embroidered Uniform Guard. By the principle of 'who benefits most is likely the mastermind,' aren't you also a suspect?"

Bu Liangcai's expression finally changed. "Nonsense! I won't waste my breath on you. You went to investigate the dangers at Purple Mountain in advance. You clearly learned from Gold-rank Seven that a mysterious organization intended to harm the Emperor, yet you failed to report it. That alone is enough to convict you. Seize him!"

"Who dares!" Zu An stepped forward. "I am a Gold-rank Embroidered Uniform Envoy, and you are merely a Silver-rank one. According to the emergency regulations of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, you should all obey my command now. Are you trying to commit insubordination?"

The Embroidered Uniform Envoys who rushed to the scene were all bewildered. Logically, they should indeed obey a Gold-rank envoy, but Bu Liangcai was a confidant of the Grand Commander and usually managed everyone. They were momentarily caught between two difficult choices.

The enforcement team members also exchanged glances. The current situation was truly tricky, mainly because since the establishment of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, there had never been a precedent for dealing with a Gold-rank envoy.

"The Grand Commander anticipated this situation, so he sent me ahead to oversee everything," Bu Liangcai said, pulling out a small token. "This is the Grand Commander's personal seal, granting me authority over the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Even if you are Gold-rank, you must obey my orders!"

"Surrender now, and you might receive lighter punishment," he declared. "Otherwise, you will be executed on the spot!" Towards the end, his tone held a chilling edge.

The enforcement team finally moved, pouring into the cell and surrounding Zu An and Xiao Jianren. They brandished their signature Soul-Snatching Ropes. Once ensnared, one's vital energy circulation would be severely hampered. The formation masters activated their array plates, causing blue light to shimmer around each member.

The Embroidered Uniform Envoys' strength never relied on individual combat prowess but on their coordinated efforts. Many rampaging martial arts experts and aristocratic retainers had often met their demise at their hands.

"Lord Eleven, quickly leave! Don't worry about me," Xiao Jianren said, growing anxious. He knew Bu Liangcai had always resented Lord Eleven. Given his qualifications and cultivation, Bu Liangcai was originally the closest person in the Embroidered Uniform Guard to being promoted to Gold-rank. Moreover, as a confidant of Zhu Xie Chixin, it should have been a certainty. Who would have thought the Emperor would directly parachute a Gold-rank Eleven in, completely blocking Bu Liangcai's path to Gold-rank. Bu Liangcai dared not resent the Emperor, so he naturally redirected his resentment towards Gold-rank Eleven, feeling that he had stolen what was rightfully his. Bu Liangcai often picked fights, though Xiao Jianren hadn't mentioned many of those incidents to Lord Eleven. Now that he had such a perfect excuse with the Purple Mountain incident, if Lord Eleven fell into his hands, Bu Liangcai could fabricate charges even if Lord Eleven was innocent. The outcome would be obvious without needing to guess.

To everyone's surprise, Zu An did not move. Instead, he comforted Xiao Jianren, "No need to worry."

Immediately after, he raised a gold token in his hand and declared, "The Grand Commander's token is here! All Embroidered Uniform Envoys, heed my command!"

Seeing the token in his hand, everyone in the hall was stunned. Instinctively, they knelt and saluted.

Unlike the personal seal of Zhu Xie Chixin that Bu Liangcai held, the token in Zu An's hand represented the Grand Commander's identity and authority. It was impossible for it to be given to anyone else.

Bu Liangcai and his confidants, however, remained standing. Their faces showed a mixture of shock and rage as they stared at the token. "Bastard, where did you steal that token from?"

"Steal?" Zu An sneered. "Seeing the token is like seeing the person himself. From now on, I am the new Grand Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

At this, even Bu Liangcai's confidants couldn't stand firm. They exchanged glances, their knees feeling weak.

"The Grand Commander is still alive," Bu Liangcai bellowed. "Where could there be a new Grand Commander? You must have stolen this token while the Grand Commander was injured at Purple Mountain. This is undeniable proof of your insubordination and collusion with foreign enemies. Guards, seize this villain! If he dares to resist, kill him on the spot!"

"Yes, sir!" Bu Liangcai's confidants finally realized their situation. They had done so many things following Commander Bu; if he fell, they would also be purged. They had no choice but to go all the way.

As for the others, they were also somewhat swayed. After all, there was some logic to what Bu Liangcai said. Could this token really have been stolen by Lord Eleven from the Golden Peak?

Seeing the other party's furious desperation, Zu An seemed to have anticipated it. "Steal? The Empress Consort just personally bestowed this upon me. I am now the legitimate Grand Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard!"

The neutral Embroidered Uniform Envoys' expressions immediately changed, and their gazes towards Bu Liangcai were filled with sympathy.

Bu Liangcai's heart pounded with fear. He truly couldn't understand why the Empress Consort would give this token to Zu An. But having worked in the Embroidered Uniform Guard for many years, he immediately understood his predicament: taking even one step back would lead to eternal damnation.

So he sternly declared, "You dare to falsely declare the Empress Consort's decree? I will seize you first, then hand you over to the Empress Consort for judgment!" By saying this, at least the other neutral Embroidered Uniform Envoys wouldn't help Zu An. As long as he captured Gold-rank Eleven first, and then quietly killed him midway, once the person was dead, even if the Empress Consort found out, she wouldn't be able to say much. He was now the de facto leader of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, so the position of Grand Commander could only be his. Even if the Empress Consort didn't tolerate him, he could still seek refuge with other forces.

In a flash, he had already analyzed the pros and cons and directly drew his waist knife, lunging at Zu An. He was at the peak of the ninth rank in cultivation, just one step away from becoming a Grandmaster. He could be considered the most highly cultivated Silver-rank envoy in the Embroidered Uniform Guard, even comparable to some Gold-rank envoys. His full-strength attack naturally could not be underestimated. At the same time, to ensure a one-hit kill, he ordered his confidants to attack alongside him, aiming to leave Zu An no chance of retaliation.

"He's still not moving?" Seeing Zu An standing still the entire time, with a hint of mockery in his eyes, Bu Liangcai felt joy instead of anger. Even if this fellow had some skill, being so arrogant would lead to his downfall. Allowing his saber's momentum to reach its peak, he felt he had never unleashed such a satisfying strike in his life. Perhaps because it concerned his future, this strike even displayed 130% of his normal strength. Coupled with the combined attack formation formed by his other confidants, even Grand Commander Zhu Xie would likely fare poorly in a short fight.

Huh, where is he?

Suddenly, Bu Liangcai's vision blurred, and he realized Zu An was no longer in his original spot. This shock was immense. He hastily prepared to change his move, but at that moment, a pair of large hands had already gripped his neck. Bu Liangcai's eyes widened in horror, because he was horrified to discover that with Zu An's touch, his entire vital energy seemed to surge uncontrollably into Zu An's hands. In almost an instant, his cultivation was completely drained.

"What kind of demonic art is this!" He was terrified beyond belief, but unfortunately, he could no longer utter a single word.

With a crisp snap, his neck broke.

Zu An casually dropped his corpse to the ground. At the same time, he conjured a wisp of flame, which quickly incinerated the body completely. He worried that someone might deduce clues from the corpse, so he naturally had to eliminate the traces.

"Bu Liangcai committed insubordination and has been executed on the spot," Zu An declared, standing with his hands behind his back, his gaze coldly sweeping around the room.

Bu Liangcai's confidants felt as if they were dreaming. One moment they were forming a formation to attack Zu An, and the next, Bu Liangcai, who was at the heart of their formation, was instantly killed by him? Chills ran down their spines. They had no will to resist, and one after another, they knelt down and kowtowed, begging for mercy.

The other Embroidered Uniform Envoys also seemed to awaken from a dream. They knelt in unison, saluting, "Greetings, Grand Commander!" Zu An was originally a Gold-rank Embroidered Uniform Envoy, and the strength he now displayed was in no way inferior to that of Zhu Xie Chixin in his prime. In such a department, everyone was more convinced by strength.

Zu An nodded and ordered Xiao Jianren to be taken away for proper recuperation. At the same time, he sent people to arrest Bu Liangcai's confidants. Having just witnessed Bu Liangcai, a peak ninth-rank cultivator, instantly killed within the formation, they dared not show the slightest resistance.

After everything here was handled, Zu An went to Zhu Xie Chixin's former office. He summoned all the Silver-rank Embroidered Uniform Envoys in the Guard and stated, "I want detailed intelligence on the hidden ancestors of all major families in the capital, and on the Eight Dukes."