Chapter 897: 挑衅

A short while later, Zu An patted Bi Linglong’s shoulder and said, "That's enough. I'll leave now to avoid being discovered."

"They..." Bi Linglong looked at the two old nannies, a little hesitant.

"What, you don't want me to leave?" Zu An leaned close to her cheek and said with a smile.

"Pfft, go, go!" she scoffed, then pushed him, blushing, into the secret passage under the bed boards. After closing the mechanism, she looked at the deadbolt above, reaching out to touch it, then letting go, then reaching out again...

Clearly, she was very conflicted internally.

Just then, the Empress's questioning voice came from outside: "Has the inspection not finished after all this time?"

Bi Linglong was startled and quickly smoothed the bedding, then replied, "It's done."

At this moment, the two old nannies also snapped back to attention and hurried to open the door.

After the Empress entered, she saw Bi Linglong had just finished dressing, then looked questioningly at the two old nannies.

The old nannies quietly nodded to her and whispered, "She is still intact."

Bi Linglong, who had been listening intently, breathed a sigh of relief. She had truly been scared to death just now; that Zu An always manages to turn the impossible into possible.

Seeing that the mission was complete, the Empress did not wish to stay longer. After exchanging a few polite words with Bi Linglong, she left with the two nannies, as she still had to report the investigation results to the Emperor.

Meanwhile, Zu An emerged from the secret passage and returned to the guard courtyard where the Emperor had placed him. Although he had the White Sand Courtyard in the palace, that was the residence of Golden Medallion Eleven. Since he couldn't reveal his identity, being placed in the guard's quarters was naturally the most suitable arrangement.

From a distance, he saw two guards, heavily bandaged like zongzi, knocking on his door.

"Huh, why has no one answered after all this knocking?"

"Could he be asleep?"

By their voices, it was clearly Piao Duandiao and Jiao Sigun.

"What's going on?" another voice asked. Zhu Xie Chixin, who happened to be passing by, couldn't help but inquire when he saw their situation.

"Nothing," Piao Duandiao answered instinctively, then pulled Jiao Sigun away.

"We just came out to stretch our muscles," Jiao Sigun replied in tacit agreement.

"You're seriously injured," Zhu Xie Chixin snorted, "Why are you out wandering around instead of resting properly?" He was about to leave when he suddenly stopped, turned, and looked at the door. "Is Master Zu not inside?"

Piao Duandiao replied, "He's probably asleep. I just heard those young eunuchs mention that Master Zu was severely injured and his spirits were very low when he was brought back."

"Is that so?" Zhu Xie Chixin hesitated for a moment, then still knocked on the door. "Brother Zu, Brother Zu, are you there?"

"Let's go in and take a look," he said, "lest something unexpected happens to him and no one finds out." As he spoke, he pushed the door open with his palm.

Inside, Zu An was lying on the bed. He opened his eyes with a feigned daze and murmured, "Grand... Commander?"

As he said this, he made a move to get up. Zhu Xie Chixin quickly said, "No need for formalities. I just called out to you from outside and received no answer, so I was worried something might have happened to you alone and wanted to ensure I could call the imperial physician in time."

"Thank you for your concern, Grand Commander," Zu An said, secretly sneering. The other party was clearly suspicious; if he hadn't returned in time, he might have been exposed by now.

He wondered why their relationship, which had been quite good before — they could even be called drinking buddies — had now become one where Zhu Xie Chixin was targeting him everywhere.

He realized that the other person was the Emperor's most trusted subordinate, and his attitude likely reflected the Emperor's. It seemed that although the Emperor believed his words, he still disliked him deep down. A shrewd person like Zhu Xie Chixin would naturally distance himself immediately to avoid the Emperor suspecting his loyalty.

Zhu Xie Chixin subtly observed the surroundings of the room. Seeing nothing unusual, he stood up to take his leave, saying, "Since Brother Zu is fine, please rest well. I won't disturb you any further."

After speaking, he got up and left.

Piao Duandiao and Jiao Sigun stood up to see him off. After he left, they closed the door again. Piao Duandiao came to Zu An's side and complained, "The Grand Commander was clearly doing that on purpose just now."

Zu An smiled, but said nothing.

Piao Duandiao seemed to have opened a floodgate, complaining incessantly: "We risked our lives in the secret realm protecting the Crown Prince and Princess, nearly losing our lives. But upon our return, instead of rewards, we were met with various interrogations. It's truly disheartening."

Zu An's heart tightened. It seemed the Emperor had interrogated all relevant personnel upon their return and likely learned about his battle with those masters from others.

The Emperor must now think he fully understands my hidden strength. Hmm, that's perfect; let him believe everything is under his control.

Jiao Sigun said coldly, "Speak any louder and you'll be in big trouble if someone overhears you."

"Stop being a pain," Piao Duandiao complained. "Brother Zu isn't an outsider, and I'm just saying this privately here."

Zu An comforted them, "With such a huge incident and so many deaths, it's only natural for the palace to conduct more investigations. By the way, it's truly good to see you two again."

Piao Duandiao and Jiao Sigun's voices also choked up. "If it weren't for Brother Zu," they said, "our lives would have been lost in the secret realm."

Zu An patted their shoulders. "Given our relationship, saying such things makes it sound formal," he said. "If I were in danger, wouldn't you save me?"

The two replied in unison, "Of course we would!"

But soon their spirits deflated. "But with your cultivation, Brother Zu," they added, "how could it be our turn to save you?"

"That's not necessarily true," Zu An said. He thought of how the two had instinctively covered for him when facing Zhu Xie Chixin just now, and his heart felt especially warm.

At this moment, Piao Duandiao hesitated, wanting to speak but holding back. He wanted to counsel Zu An about the Crown Princess and him. In the secret realm, he had clearly felt that the two were overly intimate, but after thinking about it, he decided not to speak. It was better to keep such matters to himself.

Then the few of them chatted casually, recalling the scenes of fighting side by side and sharing their relief at having survived.

Suddenly, a young eunuch's shrill voice came from outside: "Her Majesty the Empress has arrived!"

Immediately after, a beautiful woman dressed in luxurious clothes walked in with a graceful sway.

Piao Duandiao and Jiao Sigun were startled.