Chapter 724: Old Honest People Also Spill Their Anger

Murong Xiu felt his face redden with embarrassment. He was too ashamed to continue chatting with Miss Chu and motioned to a maid, who had come out upon hearing the commotion, to help Murong Qinghe back into the residence.

Chu Chuyan nodded slightly, then turned and left with Chu Youzhao.

Reluctantly, Murong Xiu turned back to gaze at her slender and graceful figure, momentarily mesmerized.

Murong Qinghe couldn't help but remark, "Stop looking, she's long gone."

Murong Xiu scoffed, "What do you know about deep affection, you little child?"

"But Sister Chu is already married," Murong Qinghe said, rolling her eyes. Was this guy into married women?

"Miss Chu has already divorced that Zu fellow," Murong Xiu hastily explained, as if her words had insulted his goddess. "Besides, with Miss Chu's appearance, character, and abilities, I wouldn't mind even if she had been married before. I love her for who she is, no matter what."

Murong Qinghe stared at him for a long time before finally blurting out, "You're truly a simp."

This was a term she had recently learned from Zu An, and it perfectly summed up the situation.

Murong Xiu frowned, feeling it wasn't a good term. "Sincerity can move even stone," he declared. "What do you, a little kid, know?"

Murong Qinghe parted her cherry-red lips, looking at her elder cousin with a hint of sympathy.

He had no idea what his goddess had just gone through, and here he was, still talking about sincerity moving mountains.

It turned out she had woken up midway. Her cultivation was higher than Chu Youzhao's, and thanks to a family trait, she sobered up much faster than ordinary people, even after drinking heavily.

After waking, she felt parched and found some water to drink. As she passed the next room, she noticed the door was slightly ajar and saw Brother Chu sleeping inside.

Seeing his uncommonly handsome face, she was inexplicably drawn in. She stepped closer, examining Brother Chu's pale cheeks and red lips, her heart pounding.

Such a handsome man actually existed in this world!

She hesitated for a long time, but ultimately couldn't resist the temptation and secretly leaned down to kiss his lips.

Although she was usually carefree, she was still a girl, and after doing such a daring thing, she worried he might wake up, feeling very guilty.

Just then, a sound came from nearby, startling her into a hasty retreat. But the sound was like a mournful wail, making her heart pound with unsettling agitation.

Unable to suppress her curiosity, she crept closer, pushed open the window, and peeked inside. Her entire worldview then crumbled.

Was that truly the ice-cold Sister Chu she knew?

Because of Murong Xiu, she had seen Chu Chuyan's icy demeanor many times. Was the woman inside, looking so charmingly tender and utterly compliant, really her?

Recalling what she had seen, her gaze at her cousin grew more sympathetic. She felt she should perhaps give him a subtle hint: his goddess had already been claimed by another.

Just then, Murong Xiu said, "Why are you focusing on me? Shouldn't you be helping me? If I could marry Miss Chu and become your Brother Chu's brother-in-law, I could help you. Wouldn't your situation with him become much easier?"

Murong Qinghe's eyes lit up. "That's true!" she thought. "Then I won't tell him about this for now."

Zu An, of course, had no idea what the brother and sister were thinking. He had spent a very pleasant day, and waking up feeling refreshed, he changed into his Crown Prince's Retainer uniform and headed to the palace for morning roll call.

Upon arriving at the East Palace, he saw Pu Duandiao and Jiao Sigun. He smiled and went over to greet them, "How was your day yesterday?"

To his surprise, they ignored him, instead continuously giving him meaningful glances.

Zu An's heart skipped a beat. Had something happened?

Just then, a furious voice came from inside: "Is that Zu An fellow here? Seize him for this Crown Prince!"

Pu Duandiao and Jiao Sigun, with no choice, came over to restrain him, then quietly warned him, "Just endure whatever happens later. Do not provoke the Crown Prince, otherwise, the consequences will be dire."

In all their years at the East Palace, they had seen many people beaten to death by the Crown Prince's sticks, so they hastily warned Zu An.

Zu An also frowned. It was that idiotic fat guy. How had he offended him?

The group soon entered the palace hall. The Crown Prince sat imperiously on a chair, while two young eunuchs on the side were feeding him grapes.

Upon seeing Zu An, he immediately grabbed a plate nearby and hurled it at Zu An's head.

Unfortunately, his aim was terrible, and it missed its target, instead hitting Pu Duandiao in the face.

Pu Duandiao looked bewildered, but he dared not show any dissatisfaction, maintaining a smiling expression instead.

The scattered grapes and juice splashed onto Zu An's face. Zu An's face darkened. "What's wrong with this fat idiot?" he thought.

"You dare to take advantage of Linglong!" the Crown Prince roared from his seat. "Guards! Beat him! Beat him hard! Beat him to death!"

Zu An hadn't expected this idiot to unleash such a massive amount of rage. It seemed that even if his intelligence was low, even a child knew to protect their toys.

And the Crown Princess, in his mind, was clearly his most precious and important toy.

He could only explain, "Your Highness, you've misunderstood. The Crown Princess and I have done nothing. The Emperor and King Qi have already sent people to investigate this matter, and even Master Libationer personally came forward to prove my innocence. If Your Highness doesn't believe me, you can ask them."

Pu Duandiao and Jiao Sigun quickly echoed, "Yes, Your Highness, it was all a malicious frame-up. Sir Zu is innocent."

All his colleagues who usually got along with him spoke up to intercede.

The Crown Prince roared, "I don't care! Whoever provokes Linglong must die!"

Seeing his vicious and ruthless expression, he suddenly recalled what he had heard when he first arrived at the East Palace: several eunuchs and palace maids had been tormented to death by this guy.

In recent days, he had almost been fooled by his simple-minded appearance, forgetting how cruel he actually was.

"What? Why aren't any of you moving? Are you all in cahoots with this fellow too?" The Crown Prince grew even angrier, roaring at the others, "If you don't act, you'll be equally guilty!"

The people of the East Palace exchanged glances and could only quietly tell Zu An, "Sir Zu, forgive us, please bear with it for a while."

It was only because Zu An usually had good relations with these people; otherwise, anyone else would have already been beaten senseless by now.

Zu An was forced down onto the ground as a group of guards approached, carrying thick wooden boards.

His face was grim. Although taking a beating could actually enhance his cultivation, wasn't the humiliation too much?

He wasn't a masochist. He could accept being miserably beaten by high-level cultivators in battle, but he couldn't quite accept being beaten like this.

Just as he was pondering how to escape, a cold voice rang out: "Stop!"

Everyone in the East Palace collectively breathed a sigh of relief. "It's good that the Crown Princess is here," they thought. Only she could control the Crown Prince.

Otherwise, if the Crown Prince truly went mad, they too would likely suffer.

Seeing the noble and beautiful woman in palace attire walking in from outside, the Crown Prince's face lit up with excitement. "Linglong, you've come at just the right time," he exclaimed. "Watch how I punish this scoundrel who bullied you."

The Crown Princess's phoenix-like eyes swept across the room, then lingered briefly on Zu An, roughly guessing what had happened. Her willow-leaf eyebrows furrowed. "What are you doing, Your Highness?" she asked.

The Crown Prince replied, "I'm punishing this person who bullied you."

"The Emperor and Master Libationer have already stated that we were framed by villains," the Crown Princess said, her eyes welling up with tears. "Yet you are beating him here. What will people think of me if this gets out? Everyone will just think I truly engaged in illicit affairs with him. How will I live then? Does Your Highness wish to elevate Concubine Bai? There's no need to go about it this way. I can go to the Cold Palace myself; I don't mind not being the Crown Princess."

The Crown Prince immediately paced in agitation, his fat hands flailing helplessly. "Linglong, don't be angry!" he pleaded. "I didn't mean that. I just wanted to vent your frustration."

"If Your Highness truly wants to vent my frustration, you should find the culprits who framed us, not deal with Zu An," the Crown Princess said, her tears falling like pearls. "Your actions won't just fail to avenge me; they will bring about my utter ruin, boohoo..."

The Crown Prince immediately panicked. "I won't beat him then..."

The Crown Princess immediately cut him off. "Not only must you not beat him, but you must also heavily promote and rely on him. Only then can we prove our clear conscience and make all parties completely dispel their suspicions."

Zu An watched, dumbfounded. This woman truly had the Crown Prince wrapped around her finger.