Chapter 700

Zu An shook his head. "As a man, I can't always hide under someone else's protection. Although the capital is dangerous, it's also full of opportunities."

Chu Chuyan's expression dimmed. "I know, you blame the Chu family for abandoning you back then. It's a pity I wasn't in Brightmoon City at the time, or I definitely would have stopped it."

Zu An pulled her soft body closer. "You're overthinking it. Your father and mother actually treated me very well. What happened back then was just a last resort. They even secretly helped me escape. How could I resent them?"

Chu Chuyan was a little surprised. "I can understand why you don't resent my father, but haven't you always been at odds with my mother?"

Zu An sighed as well. "After you left, a lot happened between your mother and me. Any past unpleasantness has long since vanished."

"What happened between you two?" Chu Chuyan was puzzled, finding his words a little strange. "And lately, my mother has been asking about you quite often. She never used to care about you that much."

Zu An's face flushed. "Nothing much. It's just that your husband helped her suppress the Chu family's internal strife and rescued your father. Naturally, she's grown to like me more and more."

Chu Chuyan smiled, pressing her cheek gently against his chest. "That makes sense."

Yet, a worried expression still clouded her face. "King Qi is a Grandmaster, and even more terrifying, he commands a vast network that has swayed nearly half the imperial court. Even the Emperor can't do anything to him. You've offended him, so staying in the capital is still too dangerous."

"Don't worry," he reassured her. "I'm not alone. I have the Emperor's backing, and the Crown Prince and Crown Princess support me. At least he can't openly attack me; he can only resort to underhanded tactics in secret. But my strength isn't to be underestimated now. How could those sinister schemes possibly defeat me?"

When it comes to schemes, who in this world could outwit me?

Chu Chuyan recalled how even Han Fengqiu, a peak ninth-grade expert, couldn't defeat him today, realizing he had the power to protect himself. Her heart relaxed slightly, but then she immediately realized a problem: "The Crown Princess? Why would the Crown Princess help you? Are you and she...?"

Zu An burst into laughter. "My Chuyan has become quite the jealous pot now, hasn't she? What were you thinking? Given the Crown Princess's status, how could you even suspect her and me?"

Chu Chuyan's face flushed, and her expression was a little abashed. As soon as the words left her mouth, she herself found them preposterous. The Crown Princess, the future mother of the nation—how could she possibly have any improper dealings with another man?

"It's all because of what happened between you and Yu Yanluo," she huffed, trying to hide her embarrassment. "Who would have thought you'd be involved with the capital's most beautiful woman?"

Zu An chuckled. "What can I say? I'm just that charming; I'm naturally likable."

Chu Chuyan said nothing.

While his words were true to a certain extent, there was something about the way he said them that just begged for a beating.

Zu An's expression suddenly turned serious. "Oh, by the way, from what you just said, it sounds like you're returning to Brightmoon City?"

Chu Chuyan bit her lip and nodded slightly. "Yes. I stayed in the capital for a long time because of the account books, and then I was busy with your affairs, so I haven't been back to Brightmoon City. Although the greatest danger to the Chu family has passed, neither the Emperor nor King Qi has given up. Moreover, the Chu family has been severely weakened by those successive calamities, and many things need to be handled. If I don't go back to stabilize things, the Chu family might truly collapse."

Over the years, Chu Zhongtian and his wife had gradually handed over the Chu family's authority to her. She was usually the one managing the family's affairs. At such a critical juncture, the Chu family would indeed be in great danger without her.

Zu An let out a long sigh. "Even you are leaving now. Everyone is leaving me..."

In recent days, many of his familiar friends had successively departed, and he had grown tired of the pain of separation.

If Chu Chuyan also left, no matter how prosperous and lively the capital was, it would simply be a lonely cage to him.

Sensing his dejection, Chu Chuyan pursed her lips. "A'Zu, even though I've decided to return to Brightmoon City, it doesn't mean I'm leaving immediately. I can still stay in the capital for a while to keep you company."

Zu An was overjoyed. He immediately scooped her up. "Haha, only my own wife knows how to be considerate!"

Chu Chuyan playfully hit him with a delicate fist, feigning annoyance. "You talk as if you know other people's wives very well."

Zu An laughed heartily. "I don't care about other people's wives."

Chu Chuyan felt there was something strange about his last remark, but before she could ask, her face suddenly paled. He was laying siege once more. "A'Zu, no..."

She hadn't quite recovered from their previous encounter.

But seeing the usually aloof fairy now pleading softly, how could Zu An resist? He picked her up and carried her directly to the windowsill.

"Where do you come up with so many ideas?" Chu Chuyan was both shy and flustered, feeling a twinge of sourness in her heart, thinking he seemed a little too experienced.

Zu An naturally wouldn't answer such a loaded question. While he could usually be witty, in this situation, being a man of action was far more effective.

Chu Chuyan's brows initially knitted tightly, as if enduring something, but soon her expression softened, and a sweet look appeared on her face.

The next morning, Chu Chuyan tenderly helped Zu An straighten his official robes, looking every bit the gentle, devoted wife.

Beside them, Chu Youzhao, sporting panda eyes, watched the couple's display of affection with great frustration.

It was all my sister's fault, she thought. She made me stay out all night. Good thing I was with her, or Grandpa and the others would probably have sent people to search the entire city for me by now.

It was strange, though. These two had been "at it" for most of the night, yet they both looked better than ever, while she, on the other hand, looked much more worn out.

Especially her sister; she was radiant, her cheeks flushed, captivating even Chu Youzhao, who was also a woman.

She was well aware of her sister's beauty, but usually, her sister was too cool and aloof. Now, however, she appeared exceptionally radiant and alluring. Was this truly her sister?

After Zu An left for the palace to report for duty, Chu Chuyan also took her sister and headed toward the Qin family residence.

Along the way, Chu Youzhao kept falling back a step, observing her sister from behind. Chu Chuyan was puzzled. "What are you doing?"

Chu Youzhao said with a strange expression, "Sister, your way of walking has changed."

Chu Chuyan was startled. "Has it?"

"Yes," Chu Youzhao nodded seriously, holding up two fingers to demonstrate. "Before, your legs were like this, but now they're like this. They seem a bit more spread apart when you walk."

"You're mistaken!" Chu Chuyan's face turned beet red. How could they *not* be spread apart? After being worn out all night, she felt completely molded by Zu An. The key was that he was simply too...

Just then, Chu Youzhao quietly added, "Also, Sister, in the future, could you two please avoid the windowsill? It's really easy to disturb other people's rest."

With that, she darted away.

Chu Chuyan couldn't take it anymore. "You brat, stop right there!"

While the sisters were playfully bickering, Zu An had already arrived at the imperial palace.

As he was about to enter the palace as usual, a young official stopped him. "Improper attire! Go back!"

Zu An was taken aback. "Who are you?"

What kind of joke is this? Chuyan dressed me today; I've never been so neatly put together. And you're saying my clothes are improper?

He hadn't seen this man before. He appeared to be in his early thirties, handsome, and with a small mustache, exuding an air of scholarly refinement.

What puzzled him even more was that while he clearly hadn't met this man, he looked somewhat familiar.

"I am the Vice Minister of the Imperial Household," the man with the mustache said proudly. "It is my turn today to supervise the decorum of all officials."

A chill ran down Zu An's spine. Had King Qi's people come for revenge so quickly?

Not wanting to give his opponent any leverage, he suppressed his dissatisfaction and asked, "May I ask, Your Excellency, how exactly is my attire improper?"

The man with the mustache said indifferently, "If I say your attire is improper, then it is improper. Go to the side, adjust your clothes, and reflect. Don't block other officials from entering the palace."