Chapter 2270: There is One More Request

"Brother-in-law, I'm so sorry, I really couldn't think of any other way." Chu Youzhao sidled up to Zu An, gently shaking his arm.

"You're already married, yet you're still pouting... Put your clothes on first." Seeing her loose nightgown reveal her fair, radiant skin, Zu An turned his head away.

"Oh." Chu Youzhao's face flushed slightly as she quickly straightened her clothes and put on her outer robe.

"Brother-in-law, I'm dressed now." A moment later, Chu Youzhao whispered, her cheeks flushed. She wondered, "Why am I completely unguarded in front of my brother-in-law?"

Only then did Zu An turn back to her. "Why exactly did you do this?"

Chu Youzhao lowered her head, saying apologetically, "Brother-in-law, you know I'm a woman and can't consummate the marriage. Moreover, the Chu family needs an heir, so I could only entrust this to you."

"Is this what you call 'entrusting'?" Zu An almost laughed in exasperation.

"If I hadn't acted first and reported later, would you have agreed, brother-in-law?" Chu Youzhao mumbled.

Zu An was speechless.

While such a thing was certainly appealing to a man, it was only something he might have fantasized about previously, perhaps even from ads on telephone poles seeking heirs for large sums. In reality, who would do something so preposterous?

If Chu Youzhao had told him beforehand, he definitely wouldn't have agreed.

"Does Qinghe know about this?"

"I haven't told her yet; I plan to gradually hint at it." Chu Youzhao admitted, a little awkwardly.

Zu An was speechless.

"Brother Zu, you don't need to worry," Chu Youzhao added. "I asked Qinghe before, and she's willing to be with you."

Zu An stared at her, utterly confused.

Chu Youzhao's face reddened slightly, and she continued, "Once, when I was talking with her, I asked her who she would like if she hadn't met me. It took a lot of effort to get her to open up, but guess who she answered."

Seeing her somewhat mischievous gaze, Zu An's heart couldn't help but flutter. After all, being liked by a beautiful girl was always a pleasant thing.

"Even so, this kind of behavior is unacceptable," Zu An said, finding the recent events utterly absurd. "Once Qinghe learns the truth, how will she ever accept it?"

"Don't worry, brother-in-law, leave this to me. She will accept it." Chu Youzhao's tone was remarkably confident.

Zu An had considered being completely honest with Murong Qinghe, but what happened today was truly too preposterous. If Murong Qinghe couldn't accept it, she might do something foolish, which would be disastrous.

Moreover, the imperial court had only just stabilized. If this matter were to be exposed, causing further turmoil, it would be detrimental to the entire political situation.

He couldn't help but sigh inwardly, realizing that different positions brought more responsibilities and concerns.

"Then you two will have to manage it yourselves. If Qinghe can't bear the truth later, tell me, and I'll personally apologize to her." Zu An was thoroughly annoyed at this point. *What a mess.*

Now, if he merely beckoned, countless beautiful girls in the capital would line up for his bed. There was absolutely no need for him to do something like this. Who could have foreseen being manipulated like this by someone so close?

The crucial point was that he was, in a way, the beneficiary in this situation, so he didn't even know where to direct his anger.

"Don't worry, brother-in-law, I'll handle this perfectly." Chu Youzhao reassured him, like a child trying to make amends for a mistake.

Zu An snorted, pulled on his clothes, and walked out.

Chu Youzhao gasped in surprise. "Brother-in-law, where are you going?"

"Back to the palace," Zu An said coldly.

"You're going back so late?" Chu Youzhao asked, perplexed.

"Staying here just makes me agitated thinking about it," Zu An replied impatiently.

As he reached the doorway, Chu Youzhao rushed after him, taking his hand. "Brother-in-law, don't be angry. I still have one more thing to ask of you."

Zu An thought of Chu Chuyan still suffering beneath the Bridge of No Return. He took a deep breath to calm himself. "What is it?"

"Could you occasionally make time to spend with Qinghe in the future?" Chu Youzhao whispered.

Zu An looked utterly bewildered.

Chu Youzhao's face flushed deeper, and she shyly explained, "I just heard... Qinghe was very happy. She definitely won't forget tonight's events. If she clings to me later asking for more... you know I'm a woman, so I can't help her."

Zu An was so exasperated he almost laughed. This girl's thought process was truly abnormal.

He snorted and stormed off.

Outside the door, Zhang Zitong heard the commotion and quickly approached. "Your Highness, is something wrong...?"

"Back to the palace!" Zu An said coldly.

Zhang Zitong was puzzled but dared not ask further. She gathered her subordinates and escorted Zu An away.

At the same time, a doubt arose in her mind. She'd caught a fleeting glimpse and it seemed the Chu Young Master was also in his room. If he wasn't in the bridal chamber, why was he in the master's room?

Could His Excellency have such a preference?

Both brother and sister? And on their wedding night?

A shiver ran down her spine, yet she had to admit, the Chu Young Master had rosy lips and white teeth, and with his hair loose, he looked even prettier than many beautiful girls.

What man wouldn't be tempted by such a sight?

Meanwhile, in the room, Chu Youzhao watched Zu An's departing figure, her lips pursed. Her brother-in-law had snorted—did that mean yes or no?

She pondered for a long time without a conclusion. Suddenly remembering her wife next door, she cast aside her concerns, hurried to the wall, activated a mechanism, and returned to the bridal chamber.

She lit the nearby candles, and soon the bridal chamber was re-illuminated.

Coming to the bedside, she extinguished the sweet incense burning nearby.

Looking at Murong Qinghe, whose face was flushed and whose body still trembled slightly even in unconsciousness, Chu Youzhao's own face couldn't help but redden.

It seemed Qinghe truly had been very happy...

Clothes lay scattered on the floor, including the vibrant wedding gown. Combined with Murong Qinghe's yielding body, the scene took on an oddly alluring beauty.

Chu Youzhao pouted, thinking, *Brother-in-law talks so righteously, but wasn't he just as rough and unrestrained?*

She carefully picked up some intimate clothes and gently helped Murong Qinghe put them on.

As she did so, feeling Murong Qinghe's delicate skin and noticing the red marks scattered across her body, Chu Youzhao's face flushed. She mumbled softly, "Stinky brother-in-law, bad brother-in-law, bullying Qinghe like this."

"Hmph, other men would beg for such a good thing, but he ended up scolding me fiercely."

While tidying Murong Qinghe's clothes, Chu Youzhao's hand brushed her thigh and felt a large, wet patch. Her face instantly flushed.

Before the wedding, as was customary, the Chu family's elder women had taught her some knowledge in this area—after all, only a very few knew she was disguised as a man.

She, of course, now knew what it was, and couldn't help but gasp in surprise, "So much?"

Her nostrils flared slightly, and she felt a little lost in thought. *Was this her brother-in-law's scent...?*

She instinctively drew her hand back, observing it with a mix of curiosity and shyness. Whatever she thought of, her face reddened even more intensely.

The next morning, Murong Qinghe slowly awoke. As the events of the previous day came to mind, she was overcome with shyness. *I actually fainted yesterday!*

She turned her head to find Chu Youzhao gazing at her, eyes wide, with a faint, knowing smile.

With a mix of sweetness and shyness, she nestled into Chu Youzhao's embrace. "Brother Chu..."

Chu Youzhao had never heard her speak in such a sweet, intimate tone. She was increasingly impressed. *Brother-in-law really is something.*

"What is it, Qinghe?"

Murong Qinghe suddenly lifted her head, gently pecking Chu Youzhao's lips. Her eyes filled with affection. "Brother Chu, I was so happy last night. I feel like I'm the happiest woman in the world."

Chu Youzhao's expression was complex. Unable to meet Murong Qinghe's eyes, she gently pulled her into an embrace. "I hope you won't blame me later."

If she were to ever learn the truth one day, what would her reaction be?

Murong Qinghe smiled sweetly. "I love Brother Chu the most. How could I ever blame you?"

For some reason, Zu An's image suddenly flashed in her mind, and she quickly shook her head to dispel the thought.