Chapter 402: You Should Call Me Uncle

Zuan chuckled. "There's a way that won't mess up your clothes or your hair."

Zheng Dan's heart fluttered. She shot him a flirtatious sideways glance, but still moved closer.

Upon arriving at the Sang residence, Sang Hong was already waiting at the entrance.

With his only son's life hanging in the balance, he put aside all concerns about his status; he certainly had to show proper deference.

"It's too much, having the Prefect himself come out to greet me," Zuan said. He looked at the thin, middle-aged man with a goatee in front of him, thinking that the man appeared refined but was actually like a venomous snake.

"Today, let's forget about official ranks and just relax as if it were a family gathering," Sang Hong chuckled. "Indeed, a hero emerges from the youth. Duke Mingyue has found himself an excellent son-in-law."

Rage points from Sang Hong: 444!

His various plans against the Chu family had been meticulously crafted, taking every factor into account, and he was absolutely confident in their success. Yet, this "evil star" had appeared, causing almost every one of his plans to fail.

Noticing the rage points received in the system and Sang Hong's beaming smile, Zuan cursed inwardly, *What a treacherous old fox, with honey on his lips and daggers in his heart.*

So he also said with a grin, "Lord Sang has also found an excellent daughter-in-law. Miss Zheng is truly wonderful."

Sang Hong was taken aback, not understanding why Zuan would use such an odd phrase to describe Zheng Dan.

Zheng Dan, standing nearby, blushed and cursed Zuan inwardly. Knowing that her future father-in-law was always meticulous in his thoughts, and fearing he might deduce something, she quickly bowed. "Greetings, Uncle."

Sang Hong gestured as if to help her up from a distance. "Dan'er, you look exceptionally well today."

Zheng Dan's complexion was indeed much more radiant than usual; presumably, her joy stemmed from the thought that Qian'er was saved.

Zheng Dan bit her lip, daring not to say anything more lest any flaw be detected.

Zuan, who was unaccustomed to feigning civility with the old fox, said directly, "Lord Sang, let's not waste any more time. When can you release my father-in-law?"

Sang Hong smiled faintly. "Young man, you are indeed straightforward. Let's get straight to the point. In fact, Duke Mingyue was released the moment you stepped through the gates of the Sang residence."

Zuan's eyes lit up. "Lord Sang is truly a man of his word. Since my father-in-law has been released, I should take my leave and go see him." With that, he turned to depart.

Sang Hong: "..."

*This fellow certainly doesn't play by the rules.*

Rage points from Sang Hong: 512!

He said coldly, "The journey from the provincial capital to Mingyue City is long, and the roads aren't particularly safe."

Zuan immediately turned around. "I was just joking with Lord Sang to liven up the atmosphere. Since I'm here, how could I not visit Brother Sang?"

Zheng Dan, standing beside him, secretly suppressed a smile. *This man is such a scoundrel.*

Given her upbringing, she had always detested such rascals, but after experiencing his roguish behavior on several occasions, she found herself gradually growing fond of the feeling.

Sang Hong forced a smile and said, "I appreciate your trouble, young man."

Zuan followed him to a bedroom, where a strong medicinal odor hit him as soon as he entered.

Sang Qian lay on the bed, no longer possessing his former vitality. He appeared emaciated, and with medicine applied all over his body, he looked even more haggard, as if he had aged ten years.

Sang Hong sighed. "I've exhausted every method, yet I can only keep him barely alive. If you can save him, in addition to releasing Duke Mingyue, I promise I will never target the Chu family again. Furthermore, you will gain my friendship. You may ask for anything you desire."

*I want your future daughter-in-law, can you agree to that?* Zuan thought to himself.

With great effort, he suppressed the self-destructive urge, cleared his throat, and said, "I haven't thought of anything I want yet."

Sang Hong smiled faintly. "No matter, this condition will remain valid forever. I will not refuse anything within my power."

Zuan said with a half-smile, "Speaking of which, I'm a little worried that Lord Sang might go back on his word afterward."

"That's easy," Sang Hong said, clearly having anticipated this concern. "I can make an oath. I'm sure you understand the power of oaths in this world."

Zuan was surprised, not expecting him to dare make an oath.

Seeing no objection from him, Sang Hong solemnly repeated his earlier promises in the form of an oath.

Only then did Zuan fully relax. "Lord Sang, there's no need for that. How could I ever doubt you, hahaha."

Sang Hong cursed inwardly, *Then why didn't you stop me when I was just making the oath? What a cunning little fox!*

He snorted inwardly but maintained a calm expression. "Please, young man."

Zuan, too lazy to approach, directly threw a bottle of red liquid into Sang Hong's hand. "Give this to him; it should save his life."

Receiving the bottle of red medicine, Sang Hong's breathing immediately quickened; after all, his son's life depended on it.

He gestured to the physician standing by and handed him the medicine bottle.

The physician took the bottle and was about to pour out a drop to test its properties when Zuan quickly stopped him. "Don't say I didn't warn you, this medicine is incredibly precious. It must all be taken to be effective. If even a single drop is missing and he can't be saved in the end, well then..."

The physician's hand trembled; he no longer dared to test the medicine. If the young master couldn't be saved and the Prefect blamed him, he would be doomed.

Sang Hong frowned deeply, clearly weighing all his options.

Suspicious by nature, he still asked, "Just now, to put your mind at ease, I deliberately made an oath. I wonder if you could also make one?"

Zuan sneered. "Your conditions can't be fulfilled immediately, so of course you need an oath. Mine will show results right away, so why bother with that? If he can't be saved, you can just come and settle the score with me then."

Sang Hong thought for a moment and realized Zuan was right. If his son wasn't saved, he would immediately flay the man alive.

So he personally went, took the medicine bottle, helped his son sit up, and carefully fed the medicine into his mouth, drop by drop. Under his precise control of vital energy, not a single drop was wasted.

However, he didn't notice that a faint hint of green was subtly mixed with the red liquid in the bottle as it was administered.

After administering the medicine, he nervously watched his son. Even Zheng Dan, standing nearby, stood on tiptoe to peer over.

Her heart was conflicted at this moment; she worried that if Sang Qian didn't recover, Sang Hong would kill Zuan, but also worried about what would happen to their impending marriage if Sang Qian truly recovered.

A moment later, a flush of color spread across Sang Qian's face, and his overall complexion visibly improved.

"A miracle medicine, truly a miracle!" the physician nearby exclaimed, dumbfounded.

Sang Hong was also very excited, his hands trembling slightly inside his sleeves. "Qian'er, Qian'er?"

After a moment, Sang Qian slowly opened his eyes. "Father!"

Evidently, he had retained some awareness of his surroundings during his severe injury, though he hadn't been able to fully regain consciousness.

After calling out, he suddenly felt he could move and instinctively clambered out of bed, astonishing the physician, whose eyes nearly popped out.

The physician knew best that Sang Qian's life force could extinguish at any moment, yet now he looked no different from a normal person, save for being slightly weaker.

Sang Hong quickly asked, "Physician, how is Qian'er's condition now?"

The physician took Sang Qian's pulse, and after a moment, said with a smile, "Congratulations, Prefect! The young master is out of danger. A few days of rest, and he'll make a full recovery."

"Good, good!" Sang Hong exclaimed, overjoyed, and quickly said to Zuan, "Thank you, young man!"

"It's you?" Sang Qian said, feeling a surge of displeasure upon seeing him.

"Your father calls me 'young man,' so you should call me 'uncle'," Zuan said, digging his ear with a hint of dissatisfaction.

Sang Qian: "..."

Sang Hong: "..."

Zheng Dan: "..."

Watching the continuous influx of rage points in the background, Zuan's face was practically blooming with a smile.

"You brat, what did you say!" Sang Qian, who already had a contentious relationship with Zuan, was so provoked that he nearly lunged at him in anger.

Zuan sighed. "Is that how you speak to your savior?"

Sang Hong quickly intervened. "Qian'er, don't be rude. Quickly thank Young Master Zu. He saved your life, after all."

He was concerned about a possible relapse of the injury and thus dared not completely offend Zuan at this moment.

Sang Qian protested, "Father!"

Sang Hong shot him a meaningful glance. "Obey!"

Only then did Sang Qian reluctantly cup his hands in greeting towards Zuan. "Thank you."

Zuan deliberately leaned his ear closer. "Thank me for what?"

Sang Qian: "..."

*How can this guy be such a jerk?*

Rage points from Sang Qian: 444!

Sang Hong was also somewhat displeased. "Young Master Zu, Qian'er is just recovering from a serious illness and needs rest. Please don't provoke him further."

Zuan was also concerned that staying longer would risk being torn apart by the enraged Sang Qian and his father, so he simply stood up to take his leave. "Since things here are mostly settled, I'll be going now."

Sang Hong nodded. "Dan'er, please see Young Master Zu out."

He no longer dared to call Zuan "young man," lest some new trouble arise.

Zheng Dan rose, smiled, and curtsied. "Very well."

"With such a beautiful lady like Miss Zheng seeing me off, I couldn't be happier," Zuan said, his eyes openly darting over her, while also casting a triumphant glance at Sang Qian.

Sang Qian: "..."

*Why does this guy's gaze look so ominous? I feel like I'm wearing a green hat.*

Zheng Dan's heart pounded from his gaze, fearing that the father and son might notice something amiss.

Only Zuan understood their psychology; the more he acted this way, the less the two would suspect, all while contributing another wave of rage points.

Watching the two leave and recalling Zheng Dan's elegant demeanor from moments ago, Sang Qian's breathing quickened. He suddenly felt that his fiancée was far more alluring and charming than before.

He swallowed, saying with some displeasure, "Father, why did you let Dan-dan see that fellow out?"

The thought of his beautiful fiancée seeing another man off made him quite unhappy.

"It's simply for Dan'er to keep an eye on him until he leaves; I wouldn't trust anyone else," Sang Hong said. "I have some things to discuss with you."