Chapter 1881: Fallen Lady

The silver-badged Embroidered Guards exchanged glances. Finally, one stepped forward and said, "Reporting to the Grand Commander, these are the highest secrets within the Embroidered Union. Normally, only Master Zhu Xie has access to them and reports directly to the Emperor."

"Now that Master Zhu Xie is missing, we don't know where he hid those intelligence files. We'll have to find him first."

Zu An frowned. Zhu Xie Chixin truly was suspicious, trusting no one and holding so many secrets tightly in his grasp.

"Master Zhu Xie is dead. There's no need to look for him."

Everyone present was stunned by the news. "Master Zhu Xie is dead?" they gasped.

Although there had been various rumors, none had been definitively proven. Zhu Xie Chixin had controlled the Embroidered Union for decades, and his presence permeated every level, making it difficult for everyone to immediately process this news.

"It's absolutely true; he died in battle at the Golden Summit. You will receive official confirmation soon." Due to the isolation caused by the magical formation at the time, only a few high-ranking individuals knew the true circumstances of the events on the Golden Summit, and even what *they* knew was what Zu An had told them.

"Over this period, search for where Master Zhu Xie hid those intelligence files. Every action leaves a trace; there should always be some clues. Additionally, the Embroidered Guards who assisted him in investigating this information should still be around. Find out who they are and have them re-compile the intelligence to submit to me."

"Yes, Grand Commander!" The silver-badged Embroidered Guards saluted in unison.

They had initially been somewhat hesitant, but upon hearing the news of Zhu Xie Chixin's death, they realized the Embroidered Union had undergone a complete change. They no longer dared to scheme in front of their new leader; instead, they planned to work hard and leave a good impression, hoping it would lead to better opportunities in the future.

Next, Zu An instructed them to bring him a list of relevant mid- and high-level personnel. He also privately summoned the heads of various departments, offering them encouragement and reassurance, which served to temporarily stabilize the Embroidered Union.

He then went to visit Xiao Jianren in his room. Upon learning of Zu An's arrival, Xiao Jianren excitedly tried to sit up, but the movement strained his wounds, causing him to cough violently.

Zu An quickly stepped forward to help him lie back down. "You're severely wounded right now; there's no need for formalities," he said.

"Thank you, Lord Eleven — no, I should call you Grand Commander now," Xiao Jianren said with a grin. Although he was in pain, he felt truly invigorated today. The long-standing resentment from being suppressed by Bu Liangcai had finally been released, and Lord Eleven had become the Grand Commander. The powerful figure he had allied himself with was only growing stronger.

Zu An took out the ointment he had just retrieved from the Embroidered Union's medical hall and personally applied it to Xiao Jianren's wounds. "You've suffered a lot these past few days," he said. "That man named Bu certainly tortured you like this because he wanted you to implicate me."

Xiao Jianren snorted. "While I may be soft-spoken normally, I'm certainly not the kind of scoundrel who would implicate his superior. I originally thought I wouldn't make it, only hoping Lord Eleven could help me get revenge later and perhaps look after my family. I never expected such a wonderful outcome."

Zu An smiled. "This is what they call 'good deeds rewarded.' Recover well, and once you've recovered, I'll find an opportunity to promote you to a Gold-badged Embroidered Guard."

Since Xiao Jianren had proven loyal, Zu An naturally couldn't treat him unfairly. The Embroidered Union was already lacking trusted confidants, so promoting him would set a good example.

Xiao Jianren was immediately taken aback. "Oh, no, Grand Commander! My strength is too low; I truly don't deserve a Gold-badged position."

Zu An knew he spoke the truth. While Xiao Jianren's cultivation was acceptable, it was merely acceptable. He wasn't considered outstanding even among the Silver-badged Embroidered Guards, let alone deserving of a Gold badge.

After a moment's thought, he pressed a finger against Xiao Jianren, infusing him with the cultivation he had just absorbed from Bu Liangcai.

Bu Liangcai's cultivation wasn't particularly useful to Zu An, but for Xiao Jianren, it was like a timely gift, precisely what he needed.

As expected, Xiao Jianren was both surprised and overjoyed as he felt the formidable power being channeled into his body. "Grand Commander, is this...?" he began.

"No need for words," Zu An replied. "This power is temporarily sealed within you. Take this time to refine it thoroughly, and your cultivation should significantly improve. While you might still be a bit short of the Gold-badged Embroidered Guard standard, you'll be able to manage."

Zu An replied gravely. While such a direct and forceful infusion of cultivation was a convenient way to elevate one's realm, it also carried numerous potential drawbacks.

For instance, it could easily destabilize a cultivator's foundation and limit their future potential.

Furthermore, few others possess Zu An's unique cultivation method, which allows him to absorb another's cultivation and bestow it upon someone else. For these reasons, such an act is exceedingly rare.

Of course, Xiao Jianren's own talent was ordinary to begin with. If he were to cultivate conventionally, he might not even reach Bu Liangcai's realm, so the concern about limiting his future potential was moot.

"Thank you, Grand Commander!" Xiao Jianren's eyes welled up with tears of excitement. His achievement of becoming a Silver-badged Guard was largely due to his seniority and intellect, as his combat prowess was relatively weak among his peers. He had never imagined his cultivation would skyrocket so dramatically one day.

"Don't overthink it. Focus on recovering well; I'll still need your help with tasks later," Zu An said with a smile. He then briefly mentioned his need to investigate the Eight Dukes and the hidden elder ancestors of various prominent families.

"Although I often spend time in the Embroidered Union's archives," Xiao Jianren replied, "I never had access to this type of information before. However, the individuals who handled such cases and the related files must have left some clues. I have a vague idea, and once I've formulated a clear plan, I will report it to the Grand Commander."

Zu An was delighted. When he had previously assigned this task, the other Silver-badged Guards had all looked troubled, as this matter had been exclusively handled by Zhu Xie Chixin, leaving others no starting point.

Indeed, it seems librarians have always been powerful figures, from ancient times to the present. Given Xiao Jianren's long tenure in the archives, he was undoubtedly the most suitable person to investigate this matter.

"Good. There's no need to rush this matter. Focus on recovering first."

After leaving Xiao Jianren's room, Zu An also visited the Bronze-badged Guards, Dai Laoqi and Chen Laoba. As his direct subordinates, both had also been detained during this period.

However, due to their lower rank, they had not endured as much torture as Xiao Jianren.

He brought them wound medicine, offered words of encouragement, and promised to promote them to Silver-badged Embroidered Guards in the future. The two brothers were overcome with emotion.

By the time he left the imperial palace, it was already getting late. Zu An changed out of his Embroidered Guard attire, feeling a surge of anxiety. He had originally intended to just gather intelligence at the Embroidered Union and then leave, but he never expected to be delayed for so long.

He wondered what had become of the Qin family, especially Youzhao. She was disguised as a man, and if she were imprisoned, her identity could easily be exposed, putting a young woman in even greater danger.

He raced quickly to the Qin family residence. The usually bustling gate, once teeming with activity, was now eerily quiet, almost deserted. A cold wind swept through, rustling several fallen leaves by the entrance, lending the scene an inexplicable sense of desolation.

Zu An's brows furrowed slightly. He knew that prominent families like the Qins highly valued their public image, always keeping their main entrance immaculately clean. Yet now, there were numerous fallen leaves left uncleared, and not even a gatekeeper was in sight.

Fortunately, the Duke's Residence plaque hadn't been removed, and there were no official seals on the door. It seemed things hadn't reached their worst stage yet; at least the family hadn't been dispossessed.

Zu An was about to knock when he noticed the main gate was ajar, which puzzled him.

Currently, only two Dukes and two young masters from the Qin family had been arrested, and their judgment was still pending. The Qin family was a huge household, with at least a hundred members. How could they be so careless as to leave the gate unlocked?

He continued deeper into the estate. The bustling activity of servants and maids that once characterized the path was gone; he didn't see a single soul. It seemed likely that most had scattered upon learning of the impending disaster facing the Qin family.

Trash was strewn everywhere, along with various collapsed and crooked decorative items.

In the past, when he read *Dream of the Red Chamber*, he found it difficult to truly empathize with the decline of the Jia family. At this moment, however, he suddenly understood.

Having personally witnessed the Qin family's former splendor, seeing it now so desolate and dilapidated, the sight of a prominent family inevitably heading towards ruin was truly moving.

Suddenly, a thought struck him, and his divine sense detected activity in Chu Youzhao's courtyard in the rear of the estate. Disregarding all else, he immediately flew towards it.

He wasn't sure if the Qin family's principal members had all been arrested or what, but along the way, most of the protective formations safeguarding the estate were no longer functioning correctly. At this point, they could probably only deter minor Jianghu thieves; even cultivators of moderate skill wouldn't be stopped.

Arriving near Youzhao's small courtyard, he saw a group of soldiers gathered around, from which intense arguing could be heard.

Zu An's heart sank. Why were there soldiers in the inner quarters? Had they truly come to raid the family?

"What do you want?" an angry voice demanded. "Our Qin family hasn't been convicted yet, and furthermore, I'm not even a member of the Qin household. Why are you searching my room?"

An angry voice rang out, clear and melodious even in its fury. It was unmistakably Chu Youzhao.

"Young Master Chu," said the commanding officer, "we are not here for you. We are searching for the fugitive Murong Qinghe. Please do not make things difficult for us."

Zu An's eyebrows shot up. Murong Qinghe?

Hadn't she gone to Purple Mountain with the main forces? How had she become a fugitive now?