Chapter 431: My Wife is Pure and Noble

Zheng Dan’s face instantly flushed. This guy insisted on doing this in front of so many people.

In private, she would have cooperated with whatever he wanted to do, but in public, the persona of Miss Zheng, who had been dignified, proper, and classically elegant for over a decade, took precedence. She lowered her head so much that she wished for a crack in the ground to crawl into.

Beside them, Sang Qian’s face also flushed instantly, but with anger. He roared at Zu An, “Zu, you’ve gone too far!”

From his appearance, if he hadn’t been blocked by the prisoner’s carriage, he would have already lunged at Zu An to fight to the death.

Rage from Sang Qian +999!

Zu An looked innocent. “I’m doing this for everyone’s sake, so we don’t waste time and can set off earlier. What’s wrong, Young Master Sang? Are you afraid of going to the capital? I’m not afraid even after offending the Emperor, so why are you so scared? Men should be bolder.”

“I’m not, I didn’t, I…” Sang Qian was almost dizzy from Zu An’s words. Was this really what he was angry about? Clearly, it was Zu An flirting with his wife right in front of him.

But his emotions were so stirred at that moment that his thoughts were muddled, and he found it difficult to formulate his words.

Rage from Sang Qian +666!

“Alright, alright, Qian’er, you’re no match for him. Stop bickering,” Sang Hong said, his head aching from watching his son being toyed with. He immediately stopped his son from continuing the argument.

Prince Liang, standing nearby, snorted, “Switch the positions of the female convict and Sang Hong. This one will be for Zu An and her.”

Naturally, he wouldn’t allow Zu An and Zheng Dan to be in the same carriage.

Upon hearing that Zheng Dan would be in his prisoner’s carriage, Sang Qian’s eyes immediately lit up, and his anger turned to joy. “Good, good!”

Sang Hong, standing beside him, had a dark expression. *Do you really want your father gone that badly?*

Hearing this arrangement, Zheng Dan’s face turned pale, and she lowered her head deeply.

Zu An, of course, disagreed. “My Lord, I don’t understand this arrangement. Are you giving a newlywed couple a chance to have their wedding night by putting them in the same carriage? Everyone is young and full of vigor. What if something happens accidentally? Are you going to make the Imperial Guards witness a live, scandalous show?”

Prince Liang was stunned. It did seem a bit inappropriate. “Then…”

As his gaze turned to Sang Hong, Zu An continued, “If you arrange Miss Zheng and Master Sang in one carriage, it would be even more improper. There’s no custom for a father-in-law and his new daughter-in-law to be together. If rumors spread, My Lord, your reputation would suffer.”

Prince Liang was amused. “According to you, Miss Zheng can only be in a carriage with you?”

Zu An nodded. “Of course. First, I am an outsider, so everyone needn’t worry about any shady dealings. Second, Miss Zheng and I also have a history as teacher and student, and have been in the same room before, so others wouldn’t gossip. Third, Miss Zheng is famously dignified and self-possessed; she certainly wouldn’t allow me to be disrespectful to her. Plus, we’re both restrained, and with so many eyes watching, what could possibly happen?”

“This…” Prince Liang fell into thought. What this fellow said wasn’t entirely unreasonable.

Sang Qian immediately panicked. “No, absolutely not…”

Before he could finish, Zu An interrupted, “What, do you still not trust Miss Zheng’s dignity and reserve? Do you think she would do something with another man in plain sight?”

Sang Qian grew anxious. “My wife is pure as ice and clean as jade; of course, I trust her, it’s just…”

Before he could finish, Zu An interrupted again, “Then you don’t trust the Prince’s wisdom and might? Do you think he would intentionally target you and your father, and condone my misdeeds?”

Seeing Prince Liang’s unfriendly gaze fall upon him, Sang Qian quickly waved his hands. “No, no, how dare I doubt the Prince, it’s just…”

Zu An seized the opportunity to interrupt, “My Lord, since Young Master Sang also approves of my plan, why don’t we arrange it this way?”

Sang Qian was furious, about to continue speaking, but his father, who was beside him, pulled him back. “Sit down.”

“But…” Sang Qian said anxiously, pointing.

Sang Hong calmly stated, “How could Prince Liang not know what’s important? He wouldn’t make such an arrangement. Zu An is just deliberately toying with you. Don’t lose your composure and become a laughingstock, or you’ll disgrace our Sang family.”

Meanwhile, Prince Liang was still hesitant. While it was unreasonable to arrange Zheng Dan with Sang Qian or Sang Hong, putting her with Zu An was equally unreasonable.

At this point, Zu An lowered his voice and said, “My Lord, do you think I would keep the original ‘Phoenix Nirvana Sutra’ on me and invite danger?”

“Of course not,” Prince Liang answered subconsciously. In fact, the Embroidered Uniform Guard had just searched his body and found nothing.

“Exactly, who would dare keep such a thing? For safety’s sake, I’ve already destroyed the original copy. The entire content is stored in my mind,” Zu An chuckled.

Prince Liang snorted, “Why are you telling me all this?”

He knew his limits. Something like the ‘Phoenix Nirvana Sutra’ was not for him to possess. His task was simply to bring this fellow to the Emperor.

As for how the Emperor would extract the secret text from him, that was the Emperor’s concern.

Zu An chuckled. “I mainly wanted to say that when people get nervous or unhappy, it tends to affect their mood. They might forget some things or remember them incorrectly. Then, when the Emperor asks, the information might not match up…”

Prince Liang’s expression changed. He naturally understood what the other party meant. He snorted, “Guards! Put Zu An in this prisoner’s carriage. We’ve wasted enough time. Depart immediately!”

Sang Qian: “???”

Sang Hong: “…”

Sang Qian couldn’t help but look at his father. “Father, didn’t you say he wouldn’t arrange it this way?”

Sang Hong’s old face flushed. “How was I supposed to know what that Prince Liang is up to!”

Sang Qian was about to say more, but Prince Liang’s subordinates, having already received their orders, sealed the acupuncture points that controlled speech on both father and son, rendering them speechless.

Sang Hong frowned, his gaze at Prince Liang’s retreating back filled with resentment.

After Zu An entered the prisoner’s carriage, he smiled at Zheng Dan. Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly gathered her things and huddled on the other side of the carriage, keeping as far away from him as possible.

This action earned praise from everyone who witnessed it: “Miss Zheng is truly a model of a noble lady; even in such circumstances, she still knows how to maintain distance from other men.”

Hearing the people around him say this, Sang Qian’s expression finally softened.

“Ah Zu!” Chu Zhongtian and Qin Wanru hurried after them, clearly heartbroken to see him being taken away like this.

Zu An waved at them both. “Master, Madam, don’t be so sad. Perhaps we’ll reunite before long.”

Qin Wanru couldn’t help but spit. “Are you cursing us to die?”

After all, in most people’s eyes, his journey was fraught with peril.

Zu An laughed heartily. “Of course not! Oh, I just remembered something: when Chuyan returns, tell her not to remarry. I’ll be back to marry her again someday.”

The Chu couple knew that he had originally escaped this time, and had only come out to save the Chu family. Tears welled up in their eyes. Qin Wanru said, “If you can return, we will certainly let Chuyan marry you again.”

Zu An added, “Oh, and don’t let Xiao Zhao marry too early either. Wait until I return…”

Seeing Qin Wanru’s eyebrows furrowing, he hastily added, “Wait until I return to vet her suitors, hahaha…”

Qin Wanru couldn’t help but laugh through her tears. “This rascal, always so improper.”

At the same time, she understood that he likely wouldn’t have a chance to return; he was just saying this to put their minds at ease.

Thinking of the sad situation, she kept wiping away her tears.

Beside her, Chu Zhongtian also sighed repeatedly, his face filled with worry.

“Master, Madam, are we truly going to let Young Master-in-law be taken away like this?” Yue Shan and others silently approached them, joined by the indignant Cheng Shoubing, Jiao Shan, and others.

Chu Zhongtian sighed, “I cannot risk the lives of all our clansmen. Ah Zu sacrificed himself to save us; everyone must live well for his sake.”

Hearing his words, the entire Chu family’s faces were filled with sorrow. Even Chu Hongcai, who originally held a grudge against Zu An for his father’s death, was completely won over. He wondered if he could ever be so noble if put in the same situation.

Qin Wanru also spoke up, “Don’t worry, we will use all available channels to rescue Ah Zu. The Chu family has many connections in the capital.”

Although she said this, she knew in her heart that hope was beyond slim.