Chapter 1893: I Treat You Like a Brother, But You Want Me to Call You Daddy

The previously noisy environment immediately fell silent, everyone stunned by the sight. King Jin, a figure of such dignity, had been killed by Zu An in broad daylight?

The soldiers from King Jin's manor were filled with horror. They were tasked with protecting the King, and now that he was dead, they knew they couldn't escape culpability. Yet, they dared not avenge him. After all, King Jin and Elder Shen had just been slaughtered before their eyes; the assailant had dispatched them as easily as butchering chickens. What chance did a group of mere soldiers have? No one knew who started it, but soon, numerous soldiers fled in a panic, fearing they would be silenced if they remained.

Zu An made no move to stop them; he saw no need to trouble these common soldiers. His mood was already foul that day, largely due to his unexpected revelation as a former imperial grandson. The thought of so many relatives perishing at the hands of the Zhao family, coupled with King Jin's brazen insolence, had simply pushed him past his breaking point. Now, however, his mind felt considerably clearer.

Witnessing the King Jin's manor soldiers flee, the curious onlookers who had been secretly gathered in the distance also snapped out of their daze. They scattered, running as fast as they could, terrified of being silenced if they lingered. In an instant, an eerie silence settled over the surrounding several miles.

Chu Youzhao and Murong Qinghe approached Zu An, casting another disbelieving glance at King Jin. He was, indeed, undeniably dead. Both young women's faces paled, clearly having grasped the gravity of the repercussions.

Murong Qinghe couldn't help but speak, "Big Brother Zu, you made such a terrible mistake, and it was all to save me. I think we should escape the capital before the imperial court can react. We can wander the world together; it's vast enough that the court might never catch us."

Chu Youzhao's eyes brightened. "Yes, excellent! The three of us can travel together, upholding justice and living a carefree life." Although she bore the responsibility of her family as the Chu Clan's heir, all of that seemed insignificant compared to her brother-in-law's safety.

Zu An was speechless.

"I don't consider this a major transgression," Zu An reassured them. "You don't need to be so anxious; it's not as serious as you both imagine."

Murong Qinghe and Chu Youzhao stared at him, wide-eyed. *He had just killed King Jin in broad daylight, and he thought it wasn't serious?*

"Nonetheless, we can't remain here," Zu An mused, then told the two women, "I'll take you somewhere else." He then instructed his household staff to tell the truth if anyone from the imperial court arrived, assuring them there was no need to conceal anything on his behalf.

With everything arranged, he escorted the two women back to Jade Spring Mountain. A storm was surely brewing, but at least at the academy, no one would dare cause trouble.

Shortly after entering the academy grounds, he coincidentally met Xie Daoyun, who was on her way down the mountain. She was visibly delighted to see him. "Big Brother Zu," she exclaimed, "I just heard you visited the academy and then left! I was wondering why you didn't even come to say hello, but I'm so glad you're back!"

Seeing the usually reserved and elegant young lady so openly cheerful and proactive, Chu Youzhao felt a hint of wariness. This woman had once been close with her sister, and the saying "a rabbit doesn't eat the grass near its burrow" came to mind, yet... Midway through her thoughts, Chu Youzhao suddenly sighed. *What a time to be concerned with such trivial matters! Her brother-in-law's safety was paramount now.*

"Sister Ling'er," Zu An's mood brightened slightly upon seeing Xie Daoyun. "Could you please inform the other teachers to gather in the Chancellor's study?"

Xie Daoyun was overjoyed. "Of course!" *Once Big Brother Zu became the Chancellor, she would have even more opportunities to spend time with him.*

Chu Youzhao and Murong Qinghe followed him all the way to the mountaintop, both greatly excited by the passing scenery. They knew this place had always been incredibly mysterious, typically accessible only to the Chancellor and a select few.

Back at the mountaintop cottage, Zu An found the old servant had indeed vanished, prompting a quiet sigh of relief. He cleared two rooms in the courtyard and told the two women, "You'll be staying here for now." Though the Chancellor's courtyard appeared small, it was deceptively spacious within, more than ample for several people to reside concurrently.

"We're staying here? But this is the Chancellor's residence..." Both women were utterly astonished.

"From now on, I *am* the new Chancellor," Zu An said with a smile.

Before the two women could react, a soft snort came from nearby. "Quite a boast," a voice commented. They looked up to see a beautifully dressed, rather flamboyant young woman perched on the windowsill, her fair legs swinging idly.

"Qi Yaoguang," Zu An said, smiling. *This girl always had quite the personality.*

"While we have a good relationship, being friends is one thing; accepting you as Chancellor is another," Qi Yaoguang declared, a compass appearing in her hand, subtly projecting a starry expanse. "Do you understand Ziwei Dou Shu? Do you comprehend the power of star vortexes and divination? If you know nothing of these, how can you be Chancellor and guide me?"

"Ziwei Dou Shu, divination..." Zu An's eyebrows rose. He actually *did* know both of those now.

Before he could reply, a wave of "Not so, not so!" laughter echoed from outside, and soon an obese man strode in with a swagger that suggested he acknowledged no one. Despite his plump build, the man wore a scholar's blue robe, with a hat on his head and two handlebar mustaches that gave him an unexpectedly comical air. This was Yin Shi, the former Chancellor's eleventh disciple, renowned for his debating skills and knack for contradiction. "I, for one, believe Mister Zu is qualified to be the new Chancellor," he declared. Evidently, Zu An's first visit to the academy had left a profound impression on him.

"Hmph," Qi Yaoguang snorted, crossing her arms. Knowing his nature, she promptly turned her head away to avoid getting into a debate.

Yin Shi seemed slightly disappointed. "Junior Sister," he persisted, "would you like to hear my reasoning?"

"No," Qi Yaoguang replied, not falling for his trap.

"Then that simply proves you agree with my assessment: Mister Zu is indeed qualified to be the new Chancellor," Yin Shi said with a smug smile.

"You!" Qi Yaoguang was indeed provoked.

"I, for one, think Senior Brother is more suited to be the new Chancellor." The newcomer was none other than Jiang Luofu, her dark hair simply coiled with a wooden hairpin, which only accentuated the elegance of her long neck and her noble bearing. She was, astonishingly, even more stunning than when Zu An had seen her in Brightmoon City.

"Eighth Senior Sister's legs seem to have gotten longer again!" Yin Shi's eyes widened, fixated. "Let your Junior Brother take your measurements!"

"Haha, Eleventh Junior Brother, haven't you been beaten enough over the years?" A distinguished scholar, with an almost otherworldly aura, stroked his long beard and chuckled as he approached. He wore a flowing black and white checkered robe with extraordinarily wide sleeves that nearly dragged on the ground. This was Black and White, the former Chancellor's fifth disciple!

"Not so, not so, Fifth Senior Brother, you speak wrongly," Yin Shi corrected with a chuckle. "Being trodden underfoot by Eighth Senior Sister's delicate feet—that's not being beaten, that's clearly a reward!"

"Silence!" Jiang Luofu suddenly produced a small bell and shook it. An invisible wave expanded outwards, and though Yin Shi's mouth opened, he found himself unable to utter a single sound.

Zu An was somewhat surprised; the beautiful Headmistress seemed to possess a magical artifact. A faint, sweet fragrance wafted over as Jiang Luofu walked up to him, gazing at him with a teasing, half-smile. "I treat you as a younger brother, yet you want me to call you 'Daddy'?"

Zu An immediately broke into a cold sweat. "Where did *that* come from?" he stammered. The others nearby exchanged strange looks, and even Qi Yaoguang turned her head. *Was she flirting with this pretty boy?*

Meanwhile, at the Meng family's grand estate, Meng Yi, upon hearing what transpired outside the Marquis Shen's residence, couldn't help but stand up and burst into boisterous laughter. "Well, well, who would have thought!" he exclaimed. "Everything is proceeding even more smoothly than planned. I initially thought this Zu fellow had some genuine skill, but it turns out he's merely a reckless brute, relying on brute force!"

"Someone! To the palace, with me!"