Chapter 421

Zheng Dan and Xie Daoyun couldn't help but look at Sang Hong, as Prince Liang's confusion clearly mirrored their own. They simply couldn't understand Sang Hong's actions.

Sang Hong struggled to his feet, spitting out a mouthful of blood. Yet, there was no panic on his face; instead, a faint smile played on his lips. "Your Highness, I don't understand what you mean," he said. "Everyone here knows that our Sang family has a grudge against the Zhu clan. Just moments ago, he deliberately came to my son's wedding to cause trouble. How could I possibly help him escape?"

The surrounding guests nodded in agreement, clearly concurring with his statement. If someone had claimed Sang Hong was saving Zu An, they would have been the first to disbelieve it.

Prince Liang's face darkened. "If you weren't helping him escape, then why did you block me just now?"

Sang Hong replied unhurriedly, "Oh, that? I was watching the battle in the arena and had a sudden moment of enlightenment, so I instinctively shot into the sky. I didn't realize Your Highness was also flying at that exact moment, and I just happened to block your path. My apologies."

A practitioner's enlightenment is a rare occurrence, often beyond one's control, so a sudden movement could indeed be explained away.

Prince Liang, however, knew Sang Hong was lying through his teeth. Unfortunately, the explanation was plausible enough that even if he reported it to the Emperor, he likely couldn't incriminate him.

"That damn old fox!" Prince Liang cursed inwardly. He finally understood what Zu An must have felt when dealing with Sang Hong previously.

At this moment, Sang Qian asked via spiritual voice transmission, "Father, why did you save that brat Zu An?"

Sang Hong's words might fool ordinary bystanders, but they certainly couldn't fool him. Coupled with his hostility towards Zu An, his tone was full of resentment.

Sang Hong sighed. "Qian'er, our Sang family is in some trouble this time. If I'm not mistaken, the Emperor might have decided to abandon us. After returning to the capital, I'm afraid we won't escape death."

"What?!" Sang Qian was shocked. Although they had been captured, ups and downs were common in officialdom. Moreover, his father had always been deeply trusted by the Emperor for years, so this recall to the capital was likely just a show for certain people. How could it escalate to the point of inescapable death?

Sang Hong continued, "I can't explain the specifics clearly right now. I just hope it doesn't come to that."

"But what does this have to do with saving Zu An?" Sang Qian remained preoccupied with the question.

Sang Hong looked in the direction Zu An had escaped. "Because he is an unknown variable. This variable might be able to save our lives."

Sang Qian looked utterly bewildered.

He looked utterly confused, unable to follow his father's line of thought.

Sang Hong didn't explain further. Instead, he glanced at Zheng Dan. With his shrewd perception, how could he not see that there was something between them? Recalling how he had asked Zheng Dan to employ a honey trap recently, it was highly likely that the pretense had turned into reality.

He didn't share these deductions with his son. Doing so would only enrage him, serve no purpose for the current situation, and might even jeopardize the bigger picture.

An unknown variable, yes, an unknown variable. What he needed now was precisely such a variable; otherwise, he would surely die after returning to the capital...

At this moment, Prince Liang waved his hand. The Embroidered Uniform Guard agents immediately came forward and bound them with the Soul-Snaring Ropes they held.

The two instantly felt their vital energy restricted, rendering them no different from ordinary people.

"Tie up the bride as well," Prince Liang said, glancing at Zheng Dan. Aside from her being Sang Hong's daughter-in-law, her astonishing beauty alone could be of great use in the capital.

Seeing the Embroidered Uniform Guard agents approach, Zheng Dan bit her lip. However, noticing her Zheng family relatives nearby, she ultimately allowed them to bind her.

Prince Liang mounted his horse. "Temporarily escort them to the imperial prison for custody. The rest of you, follow me to the Chu family!"

This time, he had come bearing two important responsibilities from the Emperor: first, to bring Sang Hong and his son back to the capital, and second, to capture Zu An.

Relatively speaking, the Emperor had given more specific instructions regarding Zu An's capture, even sending Embroidered Uniform Guard agents along. Yet today, as a dignified Grandmaster, Prince Liang had watched Zu An escape right before his eyes. If he couldn't capture him, he would not only lose face, but the Emperor would also likely impose severe punishment.

Meanwhile, as Zu An fled, he had seen Sang Hong block Prince Liang for him moments ago, and his heart was equally filled with doubt.

However, he didn't have time to dwell on such matters. The urgent question was: what to do?

He was now almost certain that the Emperor knew about the Phoenix Nirvana Sutra. Such a cultivation method, potentially granting immortality, would be an irresistible temptation for any emperor.

For a moment, he felt despair. If he had offended someone else, no matter how powerful, there might still have been a way.

But this time, the one after his life was the Emperor: the ruler of a powerful, stable, unified dynasty, and also widely recognized as the strongest person in the world!

He wasn't naive enough to believe the Emperor would spare him after he handed over the Phoenix Nirvana Sutra. Would a narcissistic emperor allow a second person in the world to attain immortality just like him?

His first thought was to seek refuge with Prince Qi. After all, he was aware of the subtle power struggle between Prince Qi and the Emperor, and Big Manman could also act as an intermediary. However, he quickly dismissed this idea.

Given Prince Qi's influence, he would surely soon figure out what the Emperor was looking for.

If the Emperor desired immortality, wouldn't Prince Qi desire it as well?

As the saying goes, "An innocent man is guilty only for the treasure he possesses." The Phoenix Nirvana Sutra, he figured, was something every practitioner would want to seize as quickly as possible.

So where else could he go?

Zu An felt somewhat lost. In that moment, he felt that despite the vastness of the world, there was no place for him.

Unconsciously, he pulled out his audio-visual mirror, wanting to contact Chu Chuyan, even just to talk to her. But when he took out the mirror and looked, he found that its surface was cracked.

It must have been damaged when he fought the Embroidered Uniform Guard agents earlier, likely shattered by their Soul-Snaring Chains.

Zu An was filled with regret. If he had known this, he would have put it back into the Lapis Lazuli Orb after using it last time.

He tried to call Chu Chuyan, but the shattered audio-visual mirror showed no reaction, clearly damaged beyond repair.

Was this Heaven's will to destroy him?

Meanwhile, Prince Liang had already led his subordinates, riding non-stop, to the Chu family mansion.

Chu Zhongtian and Qin Wanru came out to greet him upon hearing the news. "Your Highness, why have you returned?"

Not long ago, Prince Liang had first come to the Chu family to declare the imperial edict, lifting the blockade, before proceeding to the Sang family.

After their unjust conviction was reversed, Chu Zhongtian and his wife had been busy with the handover procedures with General Liu Yao, while also settling their frightened family members.

Prince Liang sneered. "You two are feigning ignorance. Just now, those Red Robe Army soldiers even tried to defy the imperial edict and fight us. If I'm not mistaken, they should have already returned to report to you."

Chu Zhongtian's expression changed. He said in a deep voice, "We did just receive some news, but we still find it hard to believe. Is there some misunderstanding? Zu An couldn't possibly have any connection with the Emperor, so how could he have stolen something from His Majesty?"

Prince Liang snorted coldly, pointing at the Embroidered Uniform Guard agents nearby. "Lord Mingyue, surely you recognize their identities. The Emperor has even dispatched Embroidered Uniform Guard agents; could there still be a deception? As for what exactly was stolen, that is a royal secret, and I beg your forgiveness, but I cannot disclose it."

Chu Zhongtian's expression fluctuated, clearly still guessing what Zu An could have done to offend the Emperor.

However, Qin Wanru, standing by, was having none of it. "This is simply too much! All sorts of despicable tactics have been used against our Chu family recently. Now that you're about to fail, you've come up with such a ridiculous excuse to target our Chu family's son-in-law? Do you really think our Chu family is easily bullied?"

Prince Liang's face darkened. "What, is Lady Chu trying to rebel?"

"Don't threaten me with rebellion! Didn't the previous Emperor also seize the throne through rebellion?" Qin Wanru waved her hand, clearly infuriated. "Everything comes down to reason. Since you're not playing by the rules first, don't blame us for flipping the table! Then we'll see how you explain yourselves to the world! Red Robe Army, where are you?!"

"Present!" countless Red Robe Army soldiers emerged from the shadows, surrounding Prince Liang and his entourage.