Chapter 764: Invisible Great Hand

"How did they die?" Zhuxie Chixin asked in surprise. His first thought wasn't of Zu An, because he knew Zu An's cultivation level was, at most, Rank Seven. While Zu An always seemed to display combat prowess beyond his cultivation, there was a limit. These three were all peak Rank Seven masters and had truly been tempered by blood and fire on the battlefield. Their combat abilities were top-notch, far from the theoretical types who could be easily challenged by those of lower ranks.

Zu An replied calmly, "I killed them."

Since he couldn't possibly reveal Yun Yuqing's involvement, he had no choice but to take credit.

"You killed them?" Zhuxie Chixin was truly shocked. He looked Zu An up and down. "How did you manage that?"

Zu An replied, "They pursued me relentlessly. I used the terrain to scatter them, then defeated them one by one..." He remembered how Old Ancestor Bloodblade had once fought four equally skilled masters and defeated them, so Zu An roughly adapted the story for Zhuxie Chixin.

Zhuxie Chixin stared at him, stunned. This level of combat ability was rare in the world. This young man was truly extraordinary. He particularly noticed the bloody holes on the corpses, thinking that they must have been indiscriminately attacked by a powerful technique. It seemed Zu An had trump cards he didn't even know about. He didn't press for details about the specific skill, as this was a major taboo among cultivators; no one wanted to reveal their ultimate moves.

He chuckled, "You've rendered a great service this time! Come, let's go report to the Emperor!"

Zu An nodded. Since the case involved the Shi clan, it was indeed beyond Zhuxie Chixin's sole decision-making authority.

Soon, the two arrived at the Imperial Study. Zhuxie Chixin respectfully reported the events to the Emperor, while Zu An took the opportunity to observe him. He recalled his first direct encounter with the Emperor in Casali's illusion, where he had actually defeated him. Though it was merely the Emperor of his subconscious, the experience had filled him with immense confidence. Now, observing the real Emperor, he appeared even more composed.

"Hmph, the Shi clan is truly audacious!" the Emperor exclaimed, slamming the table in a mix of surprise and anger after hearing Zhuxie Chixin's report. Just as he was about to speak, he looked up, seemingly sensing Zu An's scrutiny. A flicker of displeasure crossed his face, but remembering the great service Zu An had just rendered, he refrained from scolding him too harshly. With patience, he said, "Excellent, Eleven. You've performed a great service this time. Tell me, what reward do you desire?"

Zu An muttered to himself inwardly, thinking, "I want the Crown Princess; would you give her to me?" He smiled faintly and said naturally, "It is our duty to share His Majesty's burdens; no reward is needed." Previously, when he feigned such humility, he would feel a slight resentment. But now, he felt no ripple of emotion throughout the entire process. Instead, he felt as if he were playfully manipulating the Emperor's emotions.

As expected, the Emperor burst into laughter: "Excellent, excellent, Eleven is becoming more sensible." After a few words of commendation, he said to Zhuxie Chixin: "Go arrest Shi Tong, the Colonel of Archers, and Shi Jun, the Yellow Gate Attendant. As for Grand Marshal Shi Miao, do not touch him for now. Also, send someone to investigate the case of Ouwu, the Sima of Xuanwu Gate. Make sure to uncover the illicit forces behind him. If I recall correctly, he was recommended by Prince Qi; you can investigate him as well."

Zhuxie Chixin's heart tightened. He immediately bowed and said, "Yes!"

At this point, Zu An said, "Your Majesty, this case is not that simple. There are many suspicious points, and the true culprit might be someone else..."

Before he could finish, the Emperor waved his hand, "Enough. You have already completed your task perfectly. This case will be handled by Zhuxie Chixin; you don't need to concern yourself with it anymore."

Zu An frowned slightly, about to speak, when Zhuxie Chixin, standing nearby, secretly gave him a look. Seeing this, he closed his mouth.

The Emperor closed his eyes and resumed meditating on his cushion. "I am weary. You may both withdraw."

Zu An silently scoffed. This man seized every moment to cultivate, just to live a little longer, but what meaning was there in living such a life?

After the two left the Imperial Study, Zu An asked, "Chief Commander, why did you stop me from speaking just now?"

Zhuxie Chixin glanced around. Seeing no one nearby, he lowered his voice and said, "What do you think is most important when investigating a case?"

"Of course, the truth is most important," Zu An replied instinctively, the background music from Detective Conan involuntarily playing in his mind.

Zhuxie Chixin chuckled, "Seeing you like this reminds me of how passionate I was when I first joined the Embroidered Uniform Guard. It wasn't until many years later that I understood: the truth of the case isn't important; what matters is what kind of truth the Emperor wants."

Zu An's heart stirred, and he vaguely grasped something.

Zhuxie Chixin continued, "The Emperor doesn't care about the truth. He considers more, and what he cares about is what goal can be achieved through this case. Do you understand?"

"Thank you for your guidance, Chief Commander." Zu An was not foolish. He had simply been too preoccupied with wondering about the mysterious third party hidden in the shadows to consider much else. Now, with the reminder, he naturally understood. This outcome was most advantageous for the Emperor: it eliminated the Shi clan, which could potentially harm the Crown Prince and Princess in the future, and also provided an opportunity to purge Prince Qi's influence. Why would the Emperor want to uncover any other truth? As for the true culprit, either the Emperor already knew, or he simply didn't care. After all, he was the strongest man in the world; the person hiding in the shadows couldn't harm him.

Zhuxie Chixin chuckled, patting his shoulder. "No need for formalities. Let's get together and chat properly sometime when we have time. I'm off to make arrests."

Zu An cupped his hands in salute. After parting ways, he returned to the Embroidered Building. He first gathered the group of colleagues who had been working on the case with him and announced, "You've all worked hard during this period. This case has been solved."

A cheer went up among the crowd. Even the usually calm Xiao Jianren smiled. The high-intensity investigation during this time had left everyone physically and mentally exhausted.

Zu An smiled, "The successful resolution of this case is entirely due to all your efforts. Officer Xiao, you, Old Seven Dai, and Old Eight Cheng, take my golden token to the treasury and collect two thousand taels of silver for rewards based on merit." As a Gold Token Envoy, he already possessed certain authority, and with the Emperor having just promised him a reward, Zhuxie Chixin naturally wouldn't make things difficult for him in this regard.

"Thank you, Sir Eleven!" The group's cheers grew even louder; they were so excited they nearly lifted Zu An up and threw him into the air.

Seeing their joyful expressions, Zu An smiled faintly. Having been a "social animal" in his previous life, he naturally understood what working people needed most. Although everyone, as an Embroidered Uniform Guard, possessed a certain sense of mission, they also had families to support.

Xiao Jianren, standing nearby, showed a surprised expression. The Embroidered Uniform Guard had always been strictly hierarchical. The other Gold Token Envoys had never shown such consideration for their subordinates as Sir Eleven did. Even if they occasionally did, it was merely a means to win over subordinates. But it was clear that Sir Eleven genuinely cared for their well-being, which was truly rare.

The group happily went to collect their money, while Zu An gathered all the case files to review them. Seeing that there was still no news of Ouwu, his brows furrowed even tighter.

After leaving the Embroidered Building, Zu An changed back into his original attire and headed directly for the Eastern Palace. On the way, he couldn't help but sigh. Having multiple identities came with multiple troubles. If only he had the art of clone separation. "Huh, if it were a clone, would it count as cheating on himself?" He pondered this philosophical question throughout his journey, arriving at the Eastern Palace before he knew it.

"Heh, so our Sir Zu still remembers to report for duty! What time is it now? Do you not have the Crown Prince and me in your eyes?" The Crown Princess's cold laugh reached him. She had originally wanted to discuss some matters with Zu An today. After all, after that incident, many things could only be discussed with him. But he hadn't shown up after waiting and waiting, which truly made her furious. It seemed this guy hadn't been on time for days lately.

Rage value from Bi Linglong: 565656...

Zu An clutched his chest and said, "Reporting to Your Highness, I left for the palace early this morning, but I was ambushed and assassinated on the way."

"What? You were assassinated!" Bi Linglong instinctively stood up, wanting to check his injuries, but immediately noticed the strange looks from the surrounding maids. She quickly cleared her throat to hide her embarrassment and sat back down. "Are you hurt? Who assassinated you?"

"Just a minor injury, nothing serious," Zu An said with a smile, then roughly recounted the events of the day.

The Crown Princess initially thought he was fine, seeing him standing there without any visible abnormality, assuming it was just some minor thugs. However, upon hearing about the use of elite assassins, siege crossbows, and three peak Rank Seven military masters, her face paled. "You still say it's nothing serious? How could you only sustain minor injuries with such a grand scheme against you?"

Zu An smiled, "I was just hit by a siege crossbow bolt. Fortunately, it wasn't a vital spot. It hurt a bit then, but I'm fine now."

"Ah?" The Crown Princess instinctively wanted to check the wound from the siege crossbow bolt, but realizing it would be inconvenient with so many people watching in the Eastern Palace, she immediately said, "Someone, quickly summon an imperial physician to treat Sir Zu."

Zu An waved his hand, "It's fine. I'll just go to the Imperial Hospital myself later."

From a distance, Pu Duandiao, Jiao Sigun, and other Eastern Palace staff were astonished. The power of a siege crossbow was well-known, yet he seemed unharmed after being hit by one, aside from his slightly pale complexion. "Ah, truly a robust and strong man!"

The Crown Princess quickly said, "Since you've suffered such severe injuries, why are you still here?"

Zu An replied, "Mainly, I was worried about Your Highness misunderstanding, and I also wanted to inform you of the latest progress in the case."

Seeing his fervent gaze, the Crown Princess's heart skipped a beat. This man was usually quite intelligent, so why was he so silly at times? Couldn't he just have sent someone to inform her? However, feeling his sincerity, her heart couldn't help but soften, and even her voice became a little gentler. "I'm giving you the day off today... no, wait, you don't need to come for the next few days. Rest well at home and recover from your injuries."

"Thank you, Your Highness!" Zu An genuinely felt stretched thin right now, and a holiday would make things much easier.

The Crown Princess thought for a moment and said to a maid standing nearby, "Xiaomo, go fetch that spiritual ganoderma for Sir Zu."

Rong Mo immediately became anxious. "That thousand-year ganoderma is so precious! It's for Your Highness to use for future breakthroughs!"

The Crown Princess shook her head. "No matter how precious a spiritual herb is, no person is as precious. Sir Zu is an attendant of the Eastern Palace, and he was injured while working on my case. This medicine will help him recover. What, do you expect me to fetch it myself?"

"This servant wouldn't dare," Rong Mo pouted, then reluctantly turned and entered the inner chambers.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, this little girl is quite generous with you," Mi Li's voice echoed in his mind. Apparently, she had found something amusing and reappeared.

Zu An ignored her and instead bowed to Bi Linglong. "Thank you, Your Highness!"

Mi Li wondered, "You're quite shameless, aren't you? You didn't even politely decline something so precious before accepting it?"

Zu An secretly replied, "You wouldn't understand this. In my hometown, there's a trick between men and women involving borrowing books. Because something borrowed must be returned, it creates another reason to meet again, and gradually, their feelings grow stronger. Declining it this time would only give me a superficial gain, no real benefit. On the contrary, accepting her gift raises our favorability by a level. Besides, this item seems very important to her. If I give it back to her when she needs it in the future, wouldn't I gain her favor once more?"

Mi Li listened, dumbfounded. After a long pause, she finally exhaled. "What kind of place is your hometown, where the schemes are so deep?"

Zu An replied with a nostalgic expression, "It's a place teeming with seasoned veterans, where 'master drivers' are everywhere..."

By this time, Rong Mo had emerged from the inner chambers, carrying a brocade box wrapped in red cloth, and presented it to Zu An. Even through the box, Zu An could feel the rich spiritual energy. He thanked the Crown Princess once more.

A hint of tenderness appeared in the Crown Princess's eyes. "Rest well these next few days. I will handle the matters concerning the Shi clan."

Zu An knew she was hinting that she would take this opportunity to completely eliminate any future troubles from the previous incident. He winked back, signaling that he understood.

The Crown Princess's face flushed. She quickly glanced around, relieved when she saw that no one else had noticed. This fellow was truly bold, openly flirting with her like that. Hmph, she would let him off this time, given his injuries.

When Zu An left the Eastern Palace, the Crown Princess sent Pu Duandiao and Jiao Sigun to escort him to the Imperial Hospital. On the way, the two exclaimed, "In all these years, we've never seen the Crown Princess treat anyone so well."

"Indeed, I'm even starting to suspect that Brother Zu and the Crown Princess are having an affair."

Zu An: "..."

"Are you looking for death? How dare you say such things?"

"We're just joking around amongst us brothers. Besides, the Crown Princess still treats Brother Zu like this after that scandal, doesn't that just prove she has a clear conscience?"

"That's true. But if not for the Crown Princess's sensitive status, I would genuinely prefer her to be with Brother Zu. She's had a very difficult time alone these past years. The Crown Prince can't protect her from hardships; instead, he needs her protection."

"Good heavens, you're scolding me, but what you just said is even more suicidal!"

Finally, Zu An, feeling a headache from their chatter, sent the two away. His injuries had mostly recovered, so going to the Imperial Hospital would only expose him. Too lazy to leave the palace, he returned to his White Sand Courtyard to rest for an hour.

Soon, he received news that Shi Jun had been apprehended. Zu An immediately changed into his Gold Token Eleven attire and headed to the Embroidered Building. He had many questions that Shi Jun needed to answer. His prestige among the Embroidered Uniform Guard was now very high. Although the case was no longer under his jurisdiction, no one would be so foolish as to obstruct him. In any case, Chief Commander Zhuxie was currently interrogating the more important Shi Tong about the siege crossbows and the military masters.

Shi Jun sat in his cell, his hair disheveled, looking completely dejected. He no longer had his former air of youthful vigor. Hearing someone enter, he said weakly, "There's no need to question me. Our family possesses a death-exemption golden token; I won't say anything."

Zu An chuckled, "But you don't have your death-exemption token on you right now."

Hearing his voice, Shi Jun was startled. He turned his head, and upon seeing the familiar figure, his pupils instantly contracted. The miserable experience he'd had at Zu An's hands still haunted his nightmares these days.

Zu An's smile faded. "I don't want to waste time either. I ask, you answer. Otherwise, don't blame me for making you taste a fate worse than death again."

"Alright, alright, please ask, Sir," Shi Jun immediately said with a fawning smile. A wise man doesn't suffer immediate losses. He just needed to appease this devil first; his father would surely find a way to save them.

"How did you and Xinrui meet?"

Shi Jun showed hesitation, but still replied, "For years, as Yellow Gate Attendant, it was very convenient for me to enter and exit the imperial palace. One time, I accidentally bumped into a flustered palace maid at a corner. She kept apologizing to me, and seeing her frail, frightened eyes, I couldn't bring myself to punish her. Later, out of gratitude, she specially sent me Hundred Flowers Tea. That's when I learned she was Xinrui, a maid from Hundred Flowers Palace..." Recalling the past, a hint of tenderness flashed in Shi Jun's eyes. Clearly, his time with that pretty palace maid had been a happy one.

Zu An quickly asked, "Did she bump into you, or did you bump into her?"

Shi Jun frowned. "I am responsible for supervising the conduct of all officials; how could I be so reckless? But what does it matter if she bumped into me?"

"Nothing," Zu An chuckled. "So, you two got together after that?"

Shi Jun nodded. "Originally, she was a palace maid, and all women in the imperial palace belonged to the Emperor, so I wouldn't dare touch her. However, she told me she had been in the palace since she was very young, and her service term was almost up, after which she would be eligible to leave. I already had a good impression of her, and I thought I could marry her after she left. So, our feelings for each other grew stronger over time."

"Later, I learned she had a mother and younger brother in her hometown, so I specifically sent people to bring them to the capital and settle them. But for some reason, she actually quarreled with me over this," Shi Jun said, a little confused. "However, we quickly made up and soon began imagining our future together."

Zu An said mockingly, "That's a nice story, portraying yourself as a deeply affectionate man. But I'm afraid you had ulterior motives when you approached her, didn't you? You coveted her identity as a Hundred Flowers Palace maid, thinking she'd be useful someday. And sure enough, you later used her to frame the Crown Princess and Zu An. As for bringing her mother and brother to the capital, I presume that was to hold them as hostages."

Shi Jun's face changed. "I don't know what you're talking about!"

Zu An chuckled, "You don't need to deny it. At this point, none of that matters anymore. Your Shi clan is doomed anyway."

Shi Jun knew Zu An spoke the truth. With the assassination attempt having failed and all their people captured, their influence had indeed waned. Their only hope now was whether the death-exemption golden token could save him. He said through gritted teeth, his eyes filled with resentment, "Honestly, it's all because of her younger brother. If he hadn't been so addicted to gambling and secretly snuck out, only to be caught by the Embroidered Uniform Guard, we wouldn't have been so cornered, forced to take such risky actions."

"So to save Huabao, you had to sacrifice the casino owner," Zu An sighed. "I should have realized earlier that the casino was backed by your Shi clan, considering you secretly supported Mei Chaofeng in running a gambling house in Brightmoon City."

Shi Jun's expression changed, shocked by how powerful the Embroidered Uniform Guard's intelligence network was, knowing even about this matter.

Zu An said, "So you colluded with Prince Wu, lured Zu An to Xinrui's home, planning to kill him there and pin all the blame on him, ensuring there would be no witness to contradict your story?"

"Prince Wu? What Prince Wu?" Shi Jun asked blankly.

Seeing that his expression didn't seem feigned, Zu An's face couldn't help but change.