Chapter 593: Appointment Crisis

Zu An was shocked when he clearly saw the person's face. He quickly diverted his palm strike, the sudden withdrawal of his technique causing his energy and blood to surge. He collapsed to the ground with a thud, like a heavy stone.

Qiu Honglei's face regained its usual charming smile. "What's wrong, young master?" she teased. "Bowing down the moment we meet? How embarrassing."

To hell with dignity and aloofness; this woman clearly preferred the flirtatious type. Compared to Zheng Dan earlier, even after spending time undercover at the Immortals' Abode, he felt far inferior.

Zu An awkwardly got up. "Haha, so it's Honglei..." he began.

Before he could finish, she interrupted, "What 'Honglei'? Are we that familiar?"

Zu An was speechless.

"Didn't I always call you that?" he thought. "You used to smile and seem quite pleased."

Zu An decided to skip the point and asked, "Why didn't you tell me you were coming?"

Qiu Honglei snorted. "If I had told you beforehand, how could I have witnessed such a spectacular scene?"

"Um... haha..." Even with his thick skin, Zu An was extremely awkward. "It's truly wonderful to see you again."

Qiu Honglei sneered. "Oh really? I thought I came at the wrong time and interrupted your little tryst."

"No interruption at all, it's already over... *cough cough*. Honglei, how did you know I was here?" Zu An quickly changed the subject again. He felt like his recent bath had been for nothing, as he was now sweating profusely, both from the earlier heat and now from sheer nervousness.

"Minister Ding, who was originally from my Sacred Sect, had his place usurped by you. Can't I come and see?" Qiu Honglei grew increasingly regretful. She truly wished she had ordered her subordinates to launch an assassination attempt for a while, just to see if that adulterous pair would dare to be so arrogant.

"So he was your person," Zu An said apologetically. "I'm truly sorry, but the situation at the time was beyond my control. Zhu Xie Chixin's people acted too quickly."

"How could you stop someone Zhu Xie Chixin wanted to kill?" Qiu Honglei wasn't angry about that; her frustration stemmed from having meticulously dressed up to see him, only to stumble upon such a vexing scene. An intense irritation still simmered within her.

"Honglei," Zu An said, "could you please come down from the tree first? My neck hurts from talking to you while looking up like this."

With one of them in the tree and the other on the ground, they could only converse by constantly looking up.

"No, I'm quite comfortable talking like this," Qiu Honglei replied, her lips curving slightly upward. Her calves swung back and forth in the air, and she felt her mood significantly lighten.

Zu An had to remind her, "Uh, you're wearing a skirt, and you're exposing yourself..."

Before he could finish, Qiu Honglei gasped. She quickly jumped down from the tree, pressing her skirt tightly while blushing and glaring at him. "Why didn't you say so earlier?" she demanded.

"I just hinted at it," Zu An replied, looking wronged, "but you didn't seem to understand."

Qiu Honglei was speechless.

Zu An chuckled. "Honglei," he said, "you two can chat. It's windy out there."

"Who told you not to put your clothes on properly?" Qiu Honglei snorted, turning her face away slightly to avoid looking at his bare upper body.

Zu An offered an awkward smile and quickly found a jacket to put on.

Qiu Honglei looked around the room. "Oh," she remarked, "you've made the room so elegant in such a short time. I didn't realize you were so handy."

"You flatter me, you flatter me," Zu An replied. He naturally dared not admit it was Qiao Xueying's doing. Although he and Qiu Honglei didn't have any specific relationship, his male instincts told him not to invite disaster.

Qiu Honglei casually found a stool and sat down. By this time, her anger had largely subsided. "I didn't expect you could truly escape this death trap," she said. "I admire you, whether as a friend or an enemy."

"It was just luck," Zu An said sincerely. "Speaking of which, I should also thank you for looking after me on the journey; otherwise, I might not have reached the capital safely."

Qiu Honglei scoffed. "Hmph, you make it sound like I'm a traitor to the Sacred Sect, colluding with you. Your escape was due to your own ability, and it had nothing to do with me."

Zu An smiled and nodded. "Of course, of course," he said.

Their eyes met, and everything was understood without a word.

Qiu Honglei cleared her throat, then asked, "Did you really give the Phoenix Nirvana Sutra to the Emperor?"

Zu An hummed in affirmation, knowing that he couldn't tell anyone he had tampered with the scripture.

"If I had known this, I would have told you to give it directly to my master instead," Qiu Honglei said, a hint of displeasure in her voice. "Perhaps he would have made you a Vice-Sect Master; wouldn't that be more impressive than being a mere baron?"

"But that would bring ruin upon your sect," Zu An replied.

Qiu Honglei fell silent. She knew that the Sacred Sect was currently incapable of withstanding the Emperor's full might. "But why did the Emperor let you live?" she mused. "Could it be that the Phoenix Nirvana Sutra doesn't grant immortality?"

Zu An let out an amused laugh. "I don't know how many people have asked me that same question," he said. "You're right, the Phoenix Nirvana Sutra truly cannot grant immortality."

This was not a lie; even the true Phoenix Nirvana Sutra could not be mastered through solitary cultivation.

"Then why didn't you inform everyone sooner?" Qiu Honglei asked, a hint of complaint in her voice, as she thought of the dangers he had faced on his journey. "You were hunted the whole way because of it."

"No one would have believed me if I had said it earlier," Zu An replied with a bitter smile.

Qiu Honglei knew this was true. After a moment of silence, she asked, "I hear you've become the Crown Prince's Retainer?"

"Yes."

"Does the Crown Prince's Retainer accompany the Crown Prince during the day or at night?"

Zu An's expression turned slightly odd at her question. "During the day, of course," he replied. "The Eastern Palace is still within the Imperial Palace grounds; why would other men be kept there at night?"

"That's good, that's good," Qiu Honglei said, exhaling in relief.

Zu An was somewhat curious. "Why did you suddenly ask that?"

"Nothing, just a casual question," Qiu Honglei replied, her eyes flickering slightly. After a moment, she added hesitantly, "Don't be too dedicated when you're with the Crown Prince. When it's time to leave work each day, just go. Don't linger."

Zu An stared into her eyes. "Are you saying this because something is going to happen?"

"Nothing will happen," Qiu Honglei said, her expression calming. "I just received news that eunuchs and palace maids often mysteriously disappear from the Eastern Palace, and I was simply worried something might happen to you."

Zu An felt a warmth in his heart. "Thank you, Honglei," he said, "but I should be able to protect myself now."

Qiu Honglei hummed, clearly not wanting to prolong the conversation. "Since I've seen you're well, I'm relieved. I'll head back now."

"Leaving so soon?" Zu An asked, a hint of reluctance in his voice.

Qiu Honglei turned back and looked at him with a half-smile. "You've just finished fooling around with another woman, and now you come to flirt with me?" she teased. "Don't you feel a little scummy?"

Zu An offered a wry smile. "You know I didn't mean it that way," he said.

Qiu Honglei snorted. "It's getting late. I need to go back; there's a pile of things waiting to be dealt with in the sect."

"If you ever need help in the future, don't hesitate to ask," Zu An quickly said. "I'm a court official now, so perhaps I can assist you sometime."

Qiu Honglei pointed to the surrounding residences. "The last court official who colluded with us just had his family property confiscated and his clan wiped out," she said. "Do you want to follow in his footsteps?"

Zu An was silent.

"I'd only be helping you, not the Demonic Sect."

"Hmph, wouldn't helping me be helping the Demonic Sect?"

Although Qiu Honglei said this, her mood was much lighter. "It's good to know you care," she said. "It makes our acquaintance worthwhile. Until we meet again, if fate allows."

With a light push of her toes, she gracefully floated away, her skirt fluttering behind her.

Zu An quickly waved from behind. "Oh, I almost forgot to mention," he called out, "your eyebrows today are even more beautiful than usual."

Hearing his words, Qiu Honglei turned back and smiled charmingly, thinking it hadn't been in vain that she had specially dressed up for him this time.

The next day, as Zu An entered the Imperial Palace, his mind alternated between Zheng Dan's graceful and gentle allure from the previous day and Qiu Honglei's charming glance back as she flew away. Indeed, each possessed a distinct charm, making it difficult to say who was superior.

What a scumbag!

He even felt a little contempt for himself.

He soon arrived at the Eastern Palace. After someone verified his identity, he was led directly to the Crown Prince's study.

"The Crown Prince is inside. You may go in and report yourself."

Zu An nodded. From outside the door, he announced, "Zu An, the newly appointed Crown Prince's Retainer, requests an audience with His Royal Highness."

"Come in, come in quickly," came the Crown Prince's voice from within.

Just hearing the voice, Zu An could imagine the large, excited Crown Prince. He couldn't help but chuckle to himself. Pushing the door open, a sudden alarm surged within him as a powerful gust of wind rushed forth.