Chapter 742: Wang Po Sells Melons

Accompanying her were a handsome young man and a beautiful, healthy-looking young woman with tanned skin, all familiar faces. However, another unfamiliar young master was currently paying them a great deal of attention, seemingly engaged in conversation with Chu Chuyan.

Zu'an: ...

No wonder Mi Li had just said what she did; from this vantage point, the two seemed to be enjoying their conversation, and they were standing quite close.

Zu'an snorted, his face grim, and walked directly up the nearby stairs to the city wall. He had no doubt about Chu Chuyan; it was not merely trust, but also self-confidence.

As for that effeminate fop, hmph!

“Chuyan, have you seen that view over there? This is the best vantage point in the capital; most people can’t enjoy it from this angle. Next time, I’ll find an opportunity to take you hunting over there. That’s a royal garden, inaccessible to ordinary people, but our Murong family is highly favored by the Emperor, so we have the chance to hunt there.”

Despite wearing armor, the young man exuded no masculinity, appearing more like a delicate scholar. He was smiling as he continued to speak beside Chu Chuyan.

Chu Chuyan's delicate brows furrowed slightly, and she instinctively shrank back, increasing the distance between them. “Young Master Murong,” she said, “please don’t call me Chuyan. You can call me Miss Chu, or Madam Zu.”

Upon hearing the words “Madam Zu,” the young man’s pupils contracted slightly, and a surge of wicked anger flared in his heart.

Rage value from Murong Luo: 110,110,110…

Zu'an was startled. So this young man was Murong Luo.

He reached the city wall just in time to hear Murong Luo say to Chu Chuyan: “Miss Chu, it is well known that your father and mother have already expelled that live-in son-in-law from your home. How can you still be husband and wife?”

Chu Chuyan said indifferently, “In my heart, he is still my husband.”

This man was Murong Qinghe’s cousin. Because of her good relationship with Murong Qinghe, Chu Chuyan found it difficult to say anything too harsh, so she could only use this method to clearly establish distance and make him back off.

Murong Luo was secretly furious, but on the surface, he said nonchalantly, “Once one has seen the vast ocean, other waters lose their appeal. Miss Chu is indeed a person of deep affection and strong character; I truly admire that.”

“Oh, are you ever going to stop?” Chu Youzhao, who was standing nearby, finally couldn’t bear it anymore and jumped between them. “My sister and brother-in-law have a great relationship, so just give up.”

Zu'an secretly nodded, thinking, 'This little sister-in-law wasn't doted on for nothing; she even knows how to help her brother-in-law.'

Murong Luo frowned, gesturing with his eyes for Murong Qinghe to help him. However, Murong Qinghe was staring at Chu Youzhao with a lovesick expression and didn't notice his gaze at all.

“Girls are indeed unreliable once they’re interested in someone else,” Murong Luo thought, secretly snorting. He was just about to say something more when a cold voice came from the side: “Neglecting your duties while on duty here, do you know what crime that is?”

“Who are you?” Murong Luo was enraged. At the city gate, he was the boss, and backed by the Murong clan, he could essentially do as he pleased. He was currently worried about not being able to show off in front of his goddess, so with a mere clown appearing, he could just use this opportunity to display his power.

But when he turned his head and saw the clothes of the group, he nearly urinated himself on the spot.

Embroidered Uniform Guards!

Having grown up in the capital, he naturally knew the significance of the Embroidered Uniform Guards. What’s more, the leader this time was a Gold Token Embroidered Uniform Guard!

Zu'an sneered, “The Embroidered Uniform Guards act on behalf of the Emperor, and you consider them mere ‘green onions’? Disrespecting the Emperor is a crime of great irreverence. Guards, seize him!”

Such a fly, daring to approach Chu Chuyan, certainly needed to be taught a lesson.

Murong Luo’s expression changed, and he quickly said, “Don’t talk nonsense; I didn’t mean that.”

Murong Qinghe, who was beside him, no longer cared about staring at her sweetheart with starry eyes. She quickly jumped out to protect her cousin: “Your Excellency, you are taking his words too seriously. He did not know you were here and had no intention of offending. I apologize on his behalf.”

Many things are inconvenient for men to do, but a woman’s intervention to ease the atmosphere often has a much better effect. She naturally could not let the charge of great irreverence be leveled against him, as this was not just Murong Luo’s personal matter but also concerned the safety of the entire clan.

Zu'an snorted, “Everyone heard what he just said, and I am not wrongly accusing him. Did you hear it?”

The other Embroidered Uniform Guards were not fools. Knowing that their superior had some conflict with this man, they certainly wouldn't jump out to refute him at this moment. They all nodded in agreement.

Murong Luo’s face turned alternately green and white. Normally, he was the one who used his influence to pressure others; he never expected the tables to turn today and be suppressed by someone else. Although he clearly knew the other party was making a big deal out of nothing, the other party’s identity was too special, and there was nothing he could do.

Murong Qinghe, seeking help, tugged at Chu Youzhao’s and Chu Chuyan’s sleeves, signaling them to speak up on their behalf.

With her dearest friend asking for help, Chu Youzhao naturally wouldn’t stand idly by. She stepped forward and said, “Your Excellency, Miss Murong came to the Qin manor to invite us out to play this time, and we merely stopped here for a moment on our way, which caused Young Master Murong some trouble. We hope Your Excellency can show some leniency.”

Zu'an thought, 'My sister-in-law is quite clever. She's not dwelling on the crime of great irreverence—after all, that was originally just an excuse. Instead, she's focusing on excusing his neglect of duty. At the same time, she subtly highlighted their family backgrounds. In this capital, anyone who knows the Qin and Murong families would surely give them some face, right?'

Unfortunately, Zu'an had no intention of giving face. “This official has always upheld the law impartially, without favoritism,” he said. “It’s useless for you to bring up the Qin and Murong families.”

Even Chu Youzhao was a little angry now, not because of Murong Luo, but because the other party’s disdainful attitude towards the Qin family was somewhat displeasing.

Watching the rage values from Murong Luo, his sister, and Chu Youzhao steadily accumulating in the background, Zu'an’s expression didn't change in the slightest; he had no good feelings for either of these families.

At this point, Chu Chuyan finally spoke. “Your Excellency must have come here for an important matter, I presume. May I ask what it is? Perhaps we can all help resolve it.”

At this moment, Mi Li, who was sitting on the battlements, chuckled softly. “Your wife is indeed the smartest; she immediately grasped the crux of the problem.”

Zu'an replied inwardly, 'My woman is naturally intelligent.'

He then coughed lightly and looked towards Chu Chuyan. “Are you Miss Chu, the eldest daughter of the Chu family?”

Now it was Chu Chuyan’s turn to be surprised. “Yes, that’s right,” she said. “How do you know me?”

“You are the wife of Grand Secretariat Zu, the Prince’s Tutor. How could I not know you?” Zu'an praised himself lavishly without batting an eyelid. “Grand Secretariat Zu is a man of profound righteousness, always eager to help others, and he is handsome and dashing…”

Mi Li, who was preparing to watch the show, was instantly dumbfounded. She had truly underestimated this fellow’s shamelessness.

Even Chu Chuyan blushed crimson upon hearing it, having not expected her husband to be so beloved in the palace.

Zu'an coughed lightly, finally stopping his bragging. “This official once received a favor from Grand Secretariat Zu,” he announced, “so today, for Madam Zu’s sake, I will show leniency. However, while the death penalty is waived, punishment is unavoidable. For neglecting duties while on duty and showing verbal disrespect, twenty strokes of the staff!”

“Yes, sir!” An Embroidered Uniform Guard stepped forward and directly pressed Murong Luo to the ground.

Although Murong Luo’s cultivation was decent, he was no match for these perfectly coordinated Embroidered Uniform Guards. He immediately lost his balance and was pinned to the ground.

“You can’t hit me, my father… Ah!” Before he could finish speaking, his words turned into a scream as the Embroidered Uniform Guards’ staffs viciously struck his backside.

Murong Qinghe and the others nearby showed expressions of reluctance, but they considered it not too bad if the matter could end this way. After all, the severity of this offense was flexible, and Murong Luo was a sixth-rank master; he should be able to withstand a beating. Unfortunately, they didn’t know the methods of the Embroidered Uniform Guards. Those men knew their superior’s intentions and used special techniques. Although ostensibly only twenty strokes were given, he would need at least half a month to recover afterwards.

Listening to Murong Luo’s continuous screams, Zu'an calmly found a stool nearby and sat down. He then called over Murong Luo’s deputy and asked him about Ou Wu.

The man replied, “A few days ago, it seems a carriage from the Ou family did leave the city.”

Zu'an frowned, “Why were his family members able to leave freely?”

Several soldiers nearby replied, “We didn’t know it was Ou Wu’s family in the carriage, and they had a token from the prince’s manor, so we didn’t question them.”

“If you didn’t check,” Zu'an said, looking sharply at everyone, “how did you know it was the Ou family’s carriage?”