Chapter 413: Unique Gift

Zu An spread his hands. "In this world, strength is paramount. The biggest fist defines truth and virtue. So naturally, I'm conquering with virtue."

Liu Yao was seething with rage. He couldn't believe such a shameless person existed.

It was true that strength was respected in this world, so losing to a powerful individual would have been acceptable.

But what was Zu An's actual standing? Was he relying on his own strength? No, he was simply relying on these three thousand Red-Robed Army soldiers!

What a bully, relying on others' power!

Liu Yao's fury reached 999!

Zu An wore an inviting expression, as if daring him to try. He had already figured things out: Chu Zhongtian had been too soft before. Despite wielding such formidable power, he had always maintained the image of a good-natured person, which led to various factions challenging him and leaving the Chu family in a precarious situation.

Given this, he decided to do the opposite: make an example of someone to deter others. Liu Yao was the perfect candidate.

As the saying goes, "Deliver one decisive blow to avert a hundred future ones!"

Xie Yi, standing nearby, also worried that the two sides would truly come to blows. If that happened, he'd be in an impossible position, unable to help or abstain. He quickly stepped forward to calm Liu Yao. "General Liu, please calm down. I have a matter I'd like to consult you about. Please, this way..."

As he spoke, he gently guided Liu Yao away. Xie Daoyun also quickly went to assist. Her beauty and refined demeanor, coupled with her connection to the Crown Prince, made her perfectly suited to diffuse the tension.

Liu Yao then shot Zu An a resentful glare but refrained from an outburst, instead joining Xie Yi for a conversation on the other side.

Xie Xiu approached Zu An and couldn't help but exclaim, "Brother Zu, you've truly astonished me today, daring to openly defy a peak ninth-rank expert!"

Zu An scoffed, "A peak ninth-rank? I've already been chatting casually with Grandmasters and Masters."

He wasn't lying. Not to mention Old Man Mi and Wei Dan, none of the powerful individuals he had encountered in the secret realm previously were weaker than Liu Yao.

Xie Xiu was speechless.

Xie Xiu, unaware of these details, simply assumed Zu An was bragging. He didn't mind, however, as he was more interested in something else. "By the way, what's between you and my sister? I've never seen her so actively help anyone before."

"It's just one of those things," Zu An said with a smile.

"But what exactly happened?" Xie Xiu pressed impatiently.

"Go ask your sister," Zu An said with a mysterious smile, then gestured for his subordinates to enter the Chu Manor.

The Imperial Guards at the gate initially intended to block them, but recalling Liu Yao's recent defeat, they were at a loss as to how to proceed.

Fortunately, Zu An didn't bring everyone inside; he only selected a few dozen men to accompany him into the manor, leaving the main contingent to guard the gate.

Xie Yi, who had been closely observing, breathed a sigh of relief. This man still knew how to prioritize and hadn't completely antagonized the Imperial Guards.

Chu Zhongtian and Qin Wanru were both surprised and delighted to see him arrive with the Red-Robed Army. Chu Yucheng and Chu Hongcai, after greeting them, rushed off to check on their own families.

Qin Wanru was particularly pleased. "Azu, you certainly haven't disappointed me."

"Master and Madam, please rest assured," Zu An said with a slight smile. "With the brothers of the Red-Robed Army outside, they won't dare to cause trouble for anyone in the Chu family."

Chu Zhongtian, however, still harbored some concern. "But the deficit in the Salt Transportation Office remains. Even if they don't force a confession, a proper investigation will still spell the end for our Chu family."

Qin Wanru snorted. "What's there to fear? At worst, we'll become bandits. Black Wind Fortress and the Giant Whale Gang managed to thrive; surely our Chu family can do just as well, if not better?"

"What a fiery temper," Zu An thought, "Good thing Chu Chuyan isn't like her."

Zu An secretly wiped a bead of sweat before saying, "It's not that bad, not as serious as you imagine, Madam. The ledger that was stolen wasn't the real one."

Qin Wanru and Chu Zhongtian stared at him with bewildered expressions.

Only then did Zu An explain how Chu Chuyan had swapped the ledgers.

Chu Zhongtian burst out laughing. "That child Chuyan is truly clever, hahahaha!"

Qin Wanru also managed a smile. The heavy burden that had weighed on her heart for days finally lifted. However, she quickly recollected herself. "That girl! Tricking even me! I'll certainly deal with her when she returns!"

After leaving the Chu manor, Zu An had the army set up camp nearby. It was clear they wouldn't depart until the investigation into the Chu family was concluded.

Concerned about a potential skirmish between the Red-Robed Army and the Imperial Guards, Xie Yi also instructed Xie Xiu and Pang Chun to keep the city defense army on standby nearby, ready to assist.

Liu Yao was displeased, but the Red-Robed Army was too formidable, and with Xie Yi openly protecting them, he was powerless.

He wasn't worried, however, as time was on his side. As long as a few entries in the ledger could be verified with concrete evidence, conviction would be certain.

Once the charges were confirmed, Xie Yi would be unable to assist the Chu family further, unless he openly rebelled.

Even if Xie Yi chose to help the Chu family, it wouldn't matter. He could simply request an imperial decree from the Emperor to suppress them all.

"Hmph, Zu An, just you wait," he thought. "Enjoy your triumph for a couple more days; soon I'll show you just how cruel this world can be!"

Seeing a string of rage notifications pop up, Zu An curled his lip. "Coward," he muttered. "Come over here now if you've got the guts."

He couldn't be bothered with Liu Yao and went directly to find Xie Daoyun.

After all, she had just provided significant help, and he needed to properly thank her.

"Miss Xie, where are you headed?" Zu An asked, surprised to see her carriage about to depart.

The carriage curtain parted, revealing Xie Daoyun's serene figure. "Miss Zheng is getting married today," she explained. "We're good friends, so I must go and offer my congratulations."

"What!" Zu An exclaimed, startled. He had been so preoccupied that he hadn't even realized it was already the next day.

"Teacher Zu, would you like me to take a congratulatory gift for you?" Xie Daoyun asked playfully, blinking her eyes.

She was unaware of the secret between Zu An and Zheng Dan, but as they were teacher and student at the academy, it was only proper for him to offer congratulations.

"No need," Zu An said in a low, firm voice. "I'll go congratulate her in person."

Noticing his face had grown as dark as troubled waters, Xie Daoyun was momentarily startled, though she didn't dwell on it. "Azu," she offered, "would you like to come along?"

She also worried that Zu An might remain there and get into another conflict with Liu Yao, which the Xie family might not be able to prevent. It would be better to separate the two.

"Alright, wait a moment," Zu An said with a smile. He quickly went to the rear to give some instructions, then leaped directly into Xie Daoyun's carriage. "Ready," he announced.

Xie Daoyun's face flushed slightly. *I invited you to come along,* she thought, *but I didn't mean to share a carriage!*

She opened her mouth to protest, but remembering they had just shared a horse, it felt a bit overly sensitive to refuse now. So, she said nothing more.

Still, being face-to-face with a young man in the confined space of a carriage made her feel somewhat uneasy. She quickly sought a topic to diffuse her awkwardness. "Azu, what are your plans now?"

"Naturally, I'll meet whatever comes my way," Zu An replied.

Xie Daoyun hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Normally, I wouldn't say this, but since we are friends, I can't just watch you fall deeper into this predicament."

Zu An paused. "What are you trying to say, Miss Xie?"

Xie Daoyun pursed her thin red lips. "I know Duke Mingyue has always chosen neutrality. However, while neutrality might seem to avoid offending either side, in truth, it offends both. The Chu family's recent troubles are clear evidence of this. Now that the Chu family faces a crisis of survival, do you still intend to remain neutral?"

Zu An chuckled. "Miss Xie, are you trying to recruit me for King Qi?"

Xie Daoyun sighed. "I won't deny that I am trying to recruit you, but these are also my honest words as a friend. Although your Chu family still has three thousand Red-Robed soldiers, once you are convicted, what good will a mere three thousand men be against the mighty imperial court?"

"Moreover, once the Chu family loses its fiefdom and these two veritable gold mines—salt and iron—how will your family afford to maintain this army?"

"Duke Mingyue's character is well-known. I don't believe he would condone the Red-Robed Army plundering like the Black Wind Fortress. Without a source of income, your formidable Red-Robed Army will quickly disintegrate. By then, it will be too late for regrets."

"Your analysis is very sound," Zu An replied. "We'll consider it carefully."

Xie Daoyun carefully studied his eyes. After a long pause, she said, "I don't know why, but I feel you're simply humoring me. I sense no tension in your demeanor, as if you already have everything under control. Yet, I truly can't fathom what chance the Chu family has to turn things around."

Zu An smiled faintly. "Today, let's only speak of pleasantries, nothing else."

Xie Daoyun's mind involuntarily conjured the image of them riding the horse together earlier, and how they had been pressed close. Her cheeks instantly flushed. "Who's talking about pleasantries with you?" she retorted.

As she spoke, she nervously glanced out the window, and was startled to see the knights following the carriage. "Why did you bring the Red-Robed Army along?" she exclaimed. "What are you planning to do?"

Zu An's gaze pierced through the carriage door, looking towards the direction of the Sang family. "Of course," he said, "I'm going to congratulate them on their joyous wedding."

He had left the majority of the Red-Robed Army to guard the Chu manor, taking only a few hundred men directly to the Sang residence.

Xie Daoyun didn't believe his pretense. She quickly said, "I know you have many grievances with the Sang family, but this is Zheng Dan's important day. You mustn't cause trouble!"

She was already regretting her decision, wondering why she had been foolish enough to lead him here. This man was a true troublemaker, bound to stir up problems wherever he went.

"Don't worry, I won't cause any trouble," Zu An said with a smile, his eyes holding an unreadable depth.

Seeing him speak like that, Xie Daoyun found herself unable to protest further. She could only fret internally. Upon arriving at the Sang residence, her first act was to instruct a servant to notify her father.

From afar, Zu An observed the Sang residence. Unlike the oppressive atmosphere of his last visit, today the compound was adorned with red lanterns and "囍" (double happiness) characters everywhere, festive and bright.

The manor was already bustling with activity. The marriage of the Governor's son to Miss Zheng was a grand affair, and all the city's prominent figures had arrived.

In fact, had Zu An not suddenly brought the Red-Robed Army into the city, Xie Yi and Liu Yao might also have been present.

The attendant at the entrance was announcing the gifts from the arriving guests:

"Miss Xie has arrived, presenting twenty-eight supreme Eastern pearls."

"The Chu family... hmm? The Chu family's son-in-law has arrived, presenting... presenting a hat."

The moment this was announced, the previously boisterous Sang residence fell silent.

All those present were prominent figures in Mingyue City, and everyone was well aware of the animosity between the Chu and Sang families.

What's more, everyone had just been discussing Zu An's confrontation with Liu Yao and the Red-Robed Army. How could one of the main figures suddenly appear here?

And what was the meaning of "gifting a hat"?