Chapter 1979: Impersonation

Zu An instantly broke into a cold sweat. "How is that possible? It's just that I can't find suitable materials right now, and I'm still new to making these, so there are many flaws. It will get better in the future."

Bi Linglong nodded in satisfaction. "Alright then. When new models come out in the future, you must give them to me first."

"Alright, alright, alright," Zu An secretly wiped his sweat and quickly reminded her, "Oh, right, this kind of chat is personal and private. You absolutely must not let anyone else see it."

At that moment, he felt a pang of regret. In his previous life, many scoundrels were caught by women precisely because their phones were secretly checked. He had to preemptively warn them from the start, emphasizing the importance of privacy to prevent them from having similar ideas.

"Don't worry, I know what's important. How could I let others see it?" Bi Linglong was a woman of sharp intellect. Halfway through speaking, she seemed to realize something and looked at him suspiciously. "Are you afraid I'll look at your communication jade slip?"

Zu An directly handed her the jade slip. "There's nothing I'm afraid for you to see. I was just worried about others finding out about our relationship, which is why I reminded you."

Bi Linglong, however, didn't take it. She merely glanced at it with her peripheral vision and saw that it only contained chats with herself. She then felt a little embarrassed. "Good brother, I was wrong."

"What 'good brother'? Call me 'Dad'."

Soon, Rong Mo arrived to inform them that the Empress Dowager was approaching. Naturally, it was inappropriate for the two to continue chatting. Bi Linglong straightened her clothes and turned to leave, resuming her usual dignified and aloof demeanor, walking like a proud swan.

Zu An mused that with Rong Mo covering for them, things were indeed much more convenient. That girl was quite clever.

Soon, Liu Ning arrived by his side, while Eunuch Lü stood at a distance, blocking anyone attempting to approach them.

"What were you just chatting about with Linglong? You were so engrossed," Liu Ning said, looking at him with a half-smile.

Zu An smiled. "She still seems unaccustomed to calling me 'Zhongfu' and gets a bit temperamental about it."

"That's understandable," Liu Ning said, a mischievous, girlish look appearing on her beautiful face. "How does it feel, having your former mistress become your daughter? Must be quite satisfying, eh?"

Zu An: "..."

"Are you doing this on purpose?"

"Of course," Liu Ning said, raising her chin. "I just can't stand her usual proud demeanor, strutting around like a rooster. What right does she have to make you bow to her all day? It should be the other way around; she should be bowing to you." Of course, another thought lingered in her mind: this way, she could legitimately become Zu An's peer. An Empress Dowager to an emperor and a Zhongfu—weren't they a perfect match?

Zu An's expression was strange. The war between women, though smokeless, was still incredibly fierce.

He took the opportunity to pull out a communication jade slip and hand it to her. "Your Majesty, this is for you..." She, like Bi Linglong, had funded him earlier, so naturally, she couldn't be left out.

Hearing him explain its use, Liu Ning was both surprised and delighted. "To think there's such a convenient communication tool! So, all that money you spent before was to research this?" As she spoke, her slender, delicate hands were already tapping on it, testing its various functions.

"The advantage of this item is that it consumes much less energy, but over long distances, messages may not be received in time, or may even be lost entirely. Therefore, it cannot be used for important military or state affairs," Zu An explained.

"It's already very impressive," Liu Ning said, cradling the jade slip and unable to put it down. "At least in the future, when I'm alone and can't sleep, I can still chat with you." While she could use a sound-and-vision mirror given her status, the exorbitant cost of spirit stones for that made her click her tongue in dismay. How could she possibly use such an expensive tool for casual chats between lovers?

Seeing her joyful expression, Zu An couldn't help but feel gratified. If it made them so happy, what did a little extra trouble for himself matter?

Suddenly, Liu Ning remembered something. "You seemed to have given Linglong something just now. Was it this?"

Zu An felt a headache coming on, but knowing he couldn't hide it forever, he could only nod. "After all, I came from the Eastern Palace, and recently I've become too close to you. Plus, with today's matter of the 'Zhongfu' title, I had to mend relations with her."

"What's there to mend?" Liu Ning said dismissively, clearly feeling displeased. "If she wants to be as close to you as I am, it's simple: she just needs to sleep with you, right? But can she do it?"

Zu An gave an awkward smile, unsure how to respond. If she knew that Linglong had already been with him and every inch of her body explored, he wondered what kind of expression she would have.

"Shall I go sound her out for you? I think that girl seems to have a good impression of you. I don't believe she's truly content to spend her whole life with that simpleton," Liu Ning asked, seemingly eager to stir up trouble.

Zu An nearly choked. "Don't!" If those two women were to confront each other on this matter, he wouldn't even know how he died.

"Hmph!" Liu Ning merely said it casually. She was most familiar with Bi Linglong's proud and reserved nature and knew she would never do such a thing.

Suddenly, her eyes sparkled, and her voice became somewhat charming. "Regent King, would you like to come to the palace tonight? I have some new tricks."

Zu An was taken aback. "What new tricks could there be?"

Liu Ning was more passionate and open-minded, making her more adventurous in bed, unlike Linglong, who was sometimes too reserved. As a result, the two of them had tried all sorts of intimate activities.

"Before, you were with the Empress, but you haven't tried the Empress Dowager yet," Liu Ning giggled.

Zu An: "..."

He felt a surge of heat in his lower abdomen. This woman was truly captivating to the core.

Eunuch Lü, not far away, secretly glanced over. Seeing Liu Ning's radiant face and affectionate gaze, he thought to himself that the noble lady he once admired from afar had indeed been completely conquered by that man from head to toe. He felt both a pang of sorrow and a sense of relief. After all, he had seen her before, withered and lifeless, looking as if she had nothing left to live for. It had been incredibly painful to witness, and he had been unable to help her at all. Only now, nourished by love, could she truly display her inherent beauty.

On the way back from the coronation ceremony, Zu An found the Qin family's carriage procession. After exchanging a few casual greetings with the two Qin Dukes, he went directly to the carriage behind to find Xiao Zhao and You Zhao.

Various sounds of laughter and joy came from inside the carriage. The three Chu family women—mother and two daughters—were chatting happily together, and their conversation seemed to revolve around Zu An.

Zu An slipped inside. The girls let out startled cries, but realizing it was him, they all relaxed. It turned out Murong Qinghe was also there. The carriage was already fragrant, and with the distinct natural scents of several women, it instantly felt like being in a kingdom of flowers.

Qin Wanru had originally been lying casually in the carriage, laughing heartily, but upon seeing him, she quickly sat up straight to maintain her image as a mother-in-law.

"Brother-in-law, you're really amazing! You actually became the Emperor's Zhongfu, and even the new Emperor and Empress have to bow to you," Chu Huanzhao, the most innocent of them, spoke first.

"It's just to make it easier to get along with the Emperor in the future," Zu An said with a smile, then quickly took out a jade slip and handed it to her, explaining his purpose for coming.

Knowing that this item would allow her to communicate with Zu An at any time, Chu Huanzhao immediately held it dearly and turned her back, fearing Chu Youzhao might touch it. Chu Youzhao tried several times but couldn't get it. She became both angry and anxious, and tears welled up in her eyes.

Seeing the two sisters fighting over it, Zu An couldn't help but smile faintly. He took out another jade slip and handed it to Chu Youzhao. "Don't worry, there's one for everyone."

Only then did Chu Youzhao beam with joy, holding her own jade slip and constantly caressing it, as if it were a priceless treasure.

Zu An was about to take his leave when he saw Murong Qinghe's somewhat forlorn gaze nearby. He suddenly felt a headache. He hadn't expected her to be there too. If he left her out now, the young girl would be terribly upset. So he also took out a jade slip and handed it to her. "Sister Qinghe, you take one too."

Murong Qinghe was both surprised and delighted. "Ah, I... I get one too?" She originally wanted to refuse, but she genuinely wanted the item, and her honey-colored skin instantly turned rosy.

Zu An smiled. "You can add Youzhao as a friend, and it will be convenient to contact each other anytime." In the capital's aristocratic circles, she was almost universally considered a future daughter-in-law of the Chu family. So, in a way, they were all family. Luckily, he had made a few extra ones as spares.

"You can also add other people as friends?" Chu Huanzhao's eyes lit up as if she had discovered a new continent.

Zu An's heart sank instantly. Oh no, if they started adding each other as friends and chatting, many secrets might be revealed. Therefore, he absolutely could not let her know who else possessed these jade slips. He quickly said, "Only you few can add each other as friends privately. This item is extremely precious, so you absolutely must not let others know about it, lest someone with ill intentions arise." He also educated them on the concept of privacy, telling them not to casually look at others' jade slips, and so on.

"We know," the girls replied, momentarily stunned by his sternness, nodding like chickens pecking at rice.

"Big Brother Zu, can I also add you as a friend?" Murong Qinghe suddenly asked, blushing.

Zu An was startled. She quickly added, "I have many cultivation questions I'd like to ask Big Brother Zu about."

"Sure," Zu An replied. He took out his own jade slip and touched it against hers, teaching them how to add friends.

The girls immediately began playing with great delight, and Zu An then took his leave.

"Cough, cough!" Qin Wanru suddenly straightened her back, as if reminding him that he had forgotten something.

"Has Mother-in-law caught a cold?" Zu An looked at her strangely. She seemed to have coughed several times since just now, but her complexion was rosy, and she didn't look sick.

"It's nothing, you go ahead," Qin Wanru said, instantly deflating like a frost-bitten eggplant, her back no longer straight.

Rage value from Qin Wanru: 555555...

Feeling her surge of anger, Zu An felt baffled, but he had too many important matters to deal with at the moment and no time to delve into it, so he quickly left.

Not long after, the Murong family had something to attend to and called Murong Qinghe back.

Inside the carriage, Qin Wanru finally exploded, "That heartless fellow didn't even think to give me one!"

Chu Youzhao dismissed it. "Mother, you're his mother-in-law. It wouldn't be appropriate for him to give you something like that."

Chu Huanzhao laughed carelessly. "Exactly. What private things do you two have to chat about? Are you trying to cuckold Dad?" She got along quite well with Zu An and was particularly familiar with his character. When she saw him give a 'green hat' to Sang Qian at his wedding back then, she roughly guessed its meaning, and it circulated within their small circle. Of course, the general public still didn't know its meaning.

Qin Wanru's face instantly turned crimson with shame. "You brat, are you asking for death? Watch me tear your mouth apart!" Soon, the carriage was filled with playful chaos, and it only settled down after much effort.

Qin Wanru tidied her disheveled hair. "Can't I just chat with him about everyday matters? He even gave one to that young girl from the Murong family. Are you implying they're having a romantic affair?"

Chu Youzhao mumbled, "If they were truly having a romantic affair, I'd actually be relieved."

Qin Wanru's eyebrows shot up. "Are you foolish? Qinghe is your future wife!"

Chu Youzhao sighed. "Mother, you know my situation."

Qin Wanru: "..." Did I owe that Zu fellow from my previous life? Not only were my daughters swept away by him, but even my future daughter-in-law has to be given up?

Feeling a sorrowful atmosphere pervading the carriage, Chu Huanzhao quickly said, "Mother, don't be angry. At worst, I'll let you play with my jade slip later."

"Hmph, charity! I don't want it!" Qin Wanru turned her face away.

"Then don't take it," Chu Huanzhao said, though she immediately regretted it.

"Pah! If you don't want it, I insist on having it!" Qin Wanru instantly became anxious and hastily reached out to grab it.

Chu Huanzhao quickly laid down three rules: "You can use it, but you're not allowed to peek at my chat history with Brother-in-law." Zu An had introduced this hidden function before, and at the time, she had wondered why he would invent such a feature. Now, she realized that Brother-in-law was indeed far-sighted.

"Alright."

"Also, from now on, every time you chat, you must state your identity and not pretend to be me."

"Of course, why would I impersonate you?" Although Qin Wanru said this, her heart stirred. That's actually a good idea. If that boy knew it was me, what would there be to chat about between us? It would only be interesting to chat with him while pretending to be Xiao Zhao. Then I can see what flowery words this boy usually uses to deceive my daughters, hmph!