Chapter 416: About to Explode

Zu An's mind was racing. He was certain that what he was waiting for would eventually arrive, but he wasn't sure if today was the day. If it did, everything would be fine. But if not, would he have to stand by and watch Zheng Dan and Sang Qian get married?

Although both of them had long come to an understanding about their relationship, and Sang Qian was even now rendered impotent by Ji Dengtu's medicine, why did the thought of them getting married feel so strange to him? Alas, a good cuckolder should stick to cuckolding. Why get emotionally involved and accidentally turn it into pure love? Isn't that just shooting himself in the foot?

Just then, a soft, seductive voice whispered in his ear, "A'Zu, I heard you gave Sang Qian a green hat?"

Zu An looked up to see Zheng Dan slowly approaching, holding a red silk ribbon. Everyone around them was praising her elegant and graceful demeanor, unaware that she was communicating with him via a spiritual message.

“What else could I give him?” Zu An snorted.

“You’re such a scoundrel,” Zheng Dan’s tone was odd, and her expression beneath the veil must have been even more remarkable. “If Sang Qian knew what a green hat meant, he’d probably fight you to the death.”

Zu An chuckled, “I only told you about that allusion. If you don’t tell him, how would he know?”

Zheng Dan sighed, “A’Zu, playing a trick on him is enough. The marriage alliance between the Zheng and Sang families can’t be changed. Don’t be impulsive and put yourself in danger.”

“Can’t be changed? Not necessarily,” Zu An sneered.

Zheng Dan bit her lip. “If it were just me, I would abandon everything and leave with you. But this marriage isn’t just about Sang Qian and me; it concerns both the Zheng and Sang families, involving the interests of countless people. I truly cannot back out.”

“Besides, you should know that once I’m married, we’ll only be husband and wife in name. I won’t let him touch me. And… you already tampered with things, so he couldn’t touch me even if he wanted to.”

“Don’t worry,” Zu An replied, “I won’t put you in a difficult position.”

Zheng Dan sighed softly, “I hope so.”

Next came the various elaborate wedding rituals. Several times, Sang Hong glanced towards Zu An, only exhaling in relief when he saw him quietly drinking alone. It would be quite troublesome if that fellow really caused a disturbance at the wedding.

Xie Daoyun, however, looked at Zu An curiously. "A'Zu, is there something going on between you and Miss Zheng?"

Zu An was startled. "Why do you ask?"

“I can’t quite put my finger on it, but your relationship seems a bit strange,” Xie Daoyun said. “When we were at school, Zheng Dan often came to you for help with arithmetic. Of course, given her family’s business, that’s understandable. But combined with your behavior today, it’s even stranger. You look like a lovesick person drowning his sorrows in drink.”

Zu An was dumbfounded. A woman’s sixth sense truly was a marvelous thing; she had guessed the truth based on such minor details? “Miss Xie, your imagination is truly vivid. You must read a lot of romance novels, don’t you?” Of course, he wouldn’t admit it. He had to consider Zheng Dan’s reputation, not just his own.

Xie Daoyun’s face flushed slightly, and she said sheepishly, “I read a wide variety of books.”

Zu An couldn’t help but chuckle, “Have you read ‘Sweet Pet Little Wife: Overbearing Sword Immortal’s 99 Days of Love’?”

Xie Daoyun looked at him in surprise. “You like that book too?”

Zu An: “…”

She actually had read it? This book must be cursed. Both the usually cold and aloof Chu Chuyan and Xie Daoyun, widely regarded as a talented woman, actually enjoyed reading it? At the mention of the book, Xie Daoyun immediately looked excited and eagerly began discussing various plot points with him. Zu An had never read it, so he could only respond vaguely. Fortunately, he had watched many TV dramas in his previous life, and the tropes of female-led narratives were all too familiar, so he managed to converse without revealing his ignorance.

Time passed unnoticed until the master of ceremonies’ loud voice suddenly boomed, “It’s time to bow to Heaven and Earth!”

Zu An frowned. He saw that the other rituals were complete, and now it was time for the most important part: bowing to Heaven and Earth. Sang Qian and Zheng Dan, connected by a red silk ribbon, walked to the center of the hall. In front of them was a large square table covered with a red cloth, on which an incense burner and red candles were placed. This was the Heaven and Earth Table.

The master of ceremonies loudly announced, “First bow to Heaven and Earth!”

The couple slowly knelt and bowed three times towards the Heaven and Earth Table.

“Second bow to the parents-in-law!”

Sang Hong and Zheng Yutang sat in the place of honor, stroking their beards and smiling as they watched the couple, clearly delighted by the sight.

“Now, the couple bows to each other!”

This was the final step. Just as the couple stood facing each other, about to bow…

With a sharp crash, everyone quickly turned to look.

Zu An said apologetically, “My apologies, I just slipped. I didn’t hold the wine glass properly and it accidentally fell and shattered.”

Sang Hong: “…”Sang Qian: “…”Anger +444 from Sang Hong!Anger +444 from Sang Qian!

At such an important moment, how absent-minded would one have to be to accidentally drop and break a wine glass? This was clearly an act of sabotage! The guests in the hall exchanged strange looks, thinking there was more entertainment to come.

Sang Hong coughed. “Young Master Zu, please be a little more careful.” Then he waved his hand to the others. “Please continue.”

The master of ceremonies cleared his throat and shouted again, “Now, the couple bows to each other!”

Just then, with another sharp crash, a teacup fell to the floor. Seeing everyone’s gaze fixed on the shattered porcelain cup at her feet, Xie Daoyun’s cheeks flushed scarlet, and she hastily waved her hands, “It wasn’t me, it wasn’t me…”

Sang Hong naturally knew it wasn't her. His gaze sharpened as he glared at Zu An. "Young Master Zu, don't push your luck!"Anger +666 from Sang Hong!Anger +666 from Sang Qian!

Zu An spread his hands innocently. “It has nothing to do with me; she’s the one who dropped it.”

Xie Daoyun, standing nearby, ground her teeth. This guy was utterly shameless!

Sang Hong took a deep breath, then addressed everyone, “A misunderstanding, it’s all a misunderstanding. Please continue.”

The master of ceremonies nearby swallowed hard. He’d been shouting for so long his voice was almost hoarse. He hoped there wouldn’t be any more trouble. “Now, the couple bows to each other!”

Zu An was just holding a plate, about to drop it, when suddenly his hand was gripped. A figure appeared before him, seizing his wrist firmly. "Young Master Zu, you won't claim this was an accident too, will you?"

With his pulse point seized, Zu An’s heart jolted. He twisted his wrist, breaking free from the man’s grip at an incredible angle, then instantly retreated several yards, looking at the opponent with lingering fear. An eighth-rank expert—truly living up to his reputation!

Sang Hong was stunned, not expecting the other person to escape from his grasp. That twisting movement he just used seemed to be the Feathered Robe Silk Entanglement Hand of the Pei family. Could he have a background with the Pei family?

“You, Zu, are deliberately looking for trouble, aren’t you? Guards! Seize this shameless scoundrel!” Having been interrupted repeatedly, Sang Qian was already seething with anger.Anger +999 from Sang Qian!

Anyway, the River Defense Camp brothers had arrived, and with his father being an eighth-rank cultivator, they weren’t afraid of facing the Chu family’s Red-Robed Army. A group of soldiers, already instructed, rushed in. The Red-Robed Army, meanwhile, surrounded Zu An to protect him, and the two sides seemed on the verge of conflict.

The surrounding guests quickly scattered, seeking cover. While watching the drama was entertaining, such a large-scale confrontation could easily lead to collateral damage. Then it would truly be a case of the entire village coming to dine at their house.

Sang Hong was genuinely enraged. “Zu An, I have always treated you with courtesy, yet you repeatedly disrupt my son’s wedding. What exactly are your intentions?!”Anger +567 from Sang Hong!

“What do you mean I’m disrupting it? It’s clearly your floor that’s uneven, making the cups and plates unstable. How can you blame me?” Zu An protested, feigning innocence. Since Sang Hong had played dumb when discussing the Chu family’s issues earlier, Zu An saw no reason not to follow suit.

“Father, stop talking nonsense with him. Just kill him!” Sang Qian also took a saber from a servant.

Zheng Dan slightly lifted her veil, looking at Zu An in the distance with a worried expression, wondering how he would resolve this situation. He wasn't usually so impulsive. What had gotten into him today? Was it because of her...? Her face alternated between joy and worry.

At this moment, Sang Hong also snorted, “If I don’t teach you a lesson today, you’ll truly think my Sang family is easy to bully!” He waved his hand, and countless archers emerged from the rooftops on all sides, drawing their bows and nocking arrows, aiming at Zu An and the Red-Robed Army. Having suffered such a great loss against the Red-Robed Army just now, how could he not have any precautions in place? While Sang Qian went to inform the River Defense Camp, he had also secretly sent trusted subordinates to gather people and set up an ambush.

Seeing Zu An surrounded, Zheng Dan couldn't stand by. She quickly said, "Father-in-law, today is Dan'er's big day of joy, and spilling blood would be inauspicious."

Xie Daoyun, standing nearby, was surprised. On the surface, Zheng Dan's words were reasonable, but to Xie Daoyun, they sounded entirely like she was speaking up for Zu An. Sang Hong frowned, a hint of hesitation in his expression after hearing his daughter-in-law's words.

As he hesitated, the main gate was suddenly pushed open, and a high-pitched voice announced, "An imperial decree has arrived!"