Chapter 902: Alliance

Zheng Dan didn't understand the connection between wearing Chu Chuyan's clothes and overcoming the current predicament. However, with no other options and her mind in a whirl, she instinctively followed Zu An's instructions. Changing women's clothing in that era was not quick or easy, so she simply opted to hide behind the screen.

Zu An was contemplating how best to keep the Sang father and daughter from meeting, reasoning it would be best to prevent their encounter. After all, this "Pinru's Wardrobe" trick was untested, and he had no idea if it would work. However, just as he reached the door, it burst open.

A graceful figure rushed in first. Zu An immediately seized her, asking in a low voice, "What are you doing?" The figure gasped, recoiling instantly. She clutched her chest, her face flushing crimson as she glared at him with a mixture of embarrassment and indignation.

Rage from Sang Qian +444444…

The young woman who had burst in was indeed Miss Sang Qian of the Sang family. Zu An hadn't anticipated such an awkward encounter, having inadvertently touched an inappropriate area.

"What were you doing lurking behind the door?" Sang Qian was on the verge of tears, mortified that it looked as though she had thrown herself at him.

"Who told you to just barge in like that? I was about to open the door." Zu An had intended to reprimand her, but his usual assertiveness was undeniably diminished.

"Cough, cough!" Sang Hong's voice then drifted in. "Please don't take offense, Lord Zu. Qian'er can be a little impetuous and has been rude to you. I apologize on her behalf."

Sang Qian looked wronged. Her daughter had been taken advantage of, yet she was the one who had to apologize. The feeling was truly vexing.

Zu An's expression was peculiar. He might have believed Sang Qian was impetuous, but for the habitually resourceful Sang Qian to be so? He found it hard to believe. The old fox had clearly sent his daughter in first, making it difficult for Zu An to react strongly, even if they had directly intruded.

"Master!" At that moment, several house guards arrived, armed with sticks and glaring at the pair. Allowing them to barge in was a significant dereliction of duty.

"It's fine, we're old friends. You may leave," Zu An said, not wanting to escalate the situation. He simply motioned for the guards to depart.

He then turned to the father and daughter, saying with a faint smile, "You two burst in so boisterously; anyone unaware of the situation might assume you're here to catch someone in the act of adultery."

Behind the screen, Zheng Dan's heart skipped a beat. This man truly dared to say anything. If she were discovered, she wondered how he would manage the situation.

Sang Qian's pretty face flushed, and she looked away guiltily.

Sang Hong, the old fox, clearly had a much thicker skin. He replied with a chuckle, "Lord Zu still enjoys a good joke. We heard you sustained severe injuries in the secret realm. Unfortunately, you were in the palace, so we couldn't visit. The moment we learned of your return today, we rushed over. Qian'er here was simply too worried about you, which explains her rashness. We hope you'll forgive it."

"Father!" Sang Qian stamped her foot in exasperation. While she understood her father's intention to use her as a shield, she was still a young woman, and her sensibilities were delicate. Sang Hong coughed lightly, pretending not to notice.

Zu An, his mind perfectly clear, said with a smile, "Oh, only the two of you today? Why don't I see Miss Zheng?"

Behind the screen, Zheng Dan's heart pounded. This man truly knew how to stir up trouble; he was completely playing with fire now.

Sang Qian gradually composed herself. "My sister-in-law left early today. By the way, has she been here to see you?" As she spoke, she subtly scanned the room.

Zu An smiled and said, "Why would your sister-in-law come here?"

Sang Qian's expression was a wry smile. "Not necessarily. My sister-in-law and you are... good friends, aren't you?"

Behind the screen, Zheng Dan pressed a hand to her forehead. Her sister-in-law was too clever; it felt as if she knew something.

Zu An laughed heartily. "Of course. On the journey to the capital, your sister-in-law and I were cellmates for many days. We shared hardships, so naturally, we're good friends. And Miss Sang, you and I are good friends too!"

Hearing his words, Zheng Dan, hidden behind the screen, couldn't help but blush. The memory of their time together in the carriage flashed through her mind. He truly was a little scoundrel.

Sang Qian scoffed inwardly, thinking, *I certainly don't want that kind of "good friend" relationship with you.*

Sang Hong, who had appeared to be resting with his eyes closed, suddenly looked toward the screen. "Ah, so Lord Zu has another guest in his room? I wonder who it could be."

In that fleeting moment, Zheng Dan's heartbeat had been so distinct that Sang Hong, with his cultivation, naturally detected it.

Sang Qian also looked sharply at the screen, her expression instantly becoming very complicated. *What if it really was her sister-in-law inside? How would they explain this?*

Zheng Dan was so terrified she nearly fainted, her mind buzzing. *Discovered by my father-in-law and sister-in-law, what do I do? What do I do?* Although her marriage to Sang Qian had been a farce from beginning to end, a mere formality, the critical point was that it hadn't been officially dissolved. If she were caught, it would not only ruin her reputation but also bring immense shame upon the entire Zheng family.

Zu An laughed heartily. "Indeed, nothing gets past Lord Sang! It's Chuyan in there. She just came to see me, and we were... getting intimate. You arrived just then, and she's a little shy."

Sang Qian silently scoffed. *Who are you trying to fool? Miss Chu is in Brightmoon City; she couldn't possibly be here.*

Sang Hong's eyelids twitched involuntarily. He certainly didn't believe it was Chu Chuyan inside; it was far more likely to be his daughter-in-law, Zheng Dan. While he didn't particularly object to their private relationship—since his son was already deceased, it seemed pragmatic to maximize his daughter-in-law's usefulness by having her serve as a link between Zu An and the Sang family—none of this could be openly acknowledged. Yet, for Zu An to brazenly claim they were "getting intimate" with Zheng Dan in front of him was simply audacious.

Observing Sang Hong's fluctuating expression, Zu An said with a smile, "Perhaps I should call Chuyan out to greet you? After all, we're all acquainted."

Sang Hong's face changed, and he quickly responded, "No, no need at all."

Sang Qian hastily added, "I apologize for disturbing you both. Perhaps we should return another day?" As she spoke, she made to leave. If Zheng Dan were to emerge under these circumstances, Sang Qian wouldn't know how to handle the situation. Her father was old; if he witnessed this scene and suffered a stroke from anger, it would be catastrophic.

To her surprise, Zu An was insistent. "Oh, but of course you must meet! Otherwise, you might think it's your sister-in-law in here." As he spoke, he stepped behind the screen and pulled Zheng Dan out.

Zheng Dan's mind went blank with a sudden buzz. *What is he doing? Why is he making me meet the Sang father and daughter? It's over, it's all over. I'll never be able to show my face again.*

Yet, the angry shouts or mockery she had anticipated never came. Instead, the room became eerily silent.

As a former gang leader in Brightmoon City's underworld, she hardened her resolve. This matter had to be addressed eventually, so why not seize this opportunity? Before she could speak, however, she saw the Sang father and daughter gazing at her with astonished expressions. "So it really is Miss Chu! My daughter and I were quite rude just now. We hope you won't take offense."

Zheng Dan: "???"

Zu An patted her hand. "We're all friends here, no need to be so formal. Lord Sang, what brings you here today?"

Zheng Dan, completely bewildered, sat down beside him. A myriad of thoughts raced through her mind: *Why are the Sang father and daughter calling me Miss Chu? Are they pretending to avoid public conflict, just playing along with Zu An's words? Oh, this is so mortifying! I wish I could just disappear into the ground.*

"We primarily came to visit you," Sang Hong said, gesturing to his daughter, "and brought some healing medicine."

Sang Qian snapped back to attention and quickly presented the prepared gift. "This bottle of Millennium Snow Toad Essence is a rare treasure my father stumbled upon many years ago. It has remarkable effects for healing and nourishing the body. Please take good care, Brother Zu."

She found it somewhat odd that Miss Chu remained silent, and her expression seemed subtly different from what Sang Qian remembered. Noticing the peculiar look in her eyes, Zu An remarked with a smile, "Little sister Qian'er, your fair wrist is even whiter than this Millennium Snow Toad Essence."

Sang Qian instantly blushed a deep red, retracting her hand as if it had received an electric shock. Her attention was indeed diverted. *What a boorish man. Who are you calling 'little sister Qian'er'? Do you think I'm as easily fooled as my sister-in-law?* She continued muttering to herself under her breath.

Witnessing this, Sang Hong's expression grew peculiar. He mused, *I've already sacrificed one daughter-in-law; am I to offer my own daughter as well?* He cleared his throat. "Ah Zu, do you know why His Majesty did not publicly reprimand Prince Qi this time?" He had avoided calling him "Lord Zu" again, and calling him "nephew" might have been presumptuous, so he opted for "Ah Zu" to foster a closer relationship.

Sang Qian clearly understood her father's intent. She glanced at him, then lowered her head again.

Zu An chuckled. "Lord Sang, I'm afraid I don't understand. Why would the Emperor reprimand Prince Qi?"

Sang Hong smiled. "I know you have reservations. However, you've shown immense kindness to our family, and the Sang family feels nothing but gratitude, constantly wondering how to repay you. Furthermore, the capital is currently a tangled web of power, and those of us without strong backing should naturally unite and assist each other."

Although he wasn't privy to the exact events within the secret realm, it wasn't difficult to surmise that Prince Qi had made a move there. The fact that Zu An, the Crown Prince, and the Crown Princess were the ones to emerge at the end indicated that Prince Qi's scheme had failed.

Seeing that Sang Hong had laid his cards on the table, Zu An dropped his pretense. "Uncle Sang, please don't take offense, but I'm currently walking on thin ice in the capital, and every step I take must be cautious."

Hearing Zu An even address him as "uncle," Zheng Dan couldn't help but roll her eyes. Just a few months prior, these two had been bitter enemies, fighting fiercely. Now, they were acting like family. The world truly was strange.

Sang Hong continued, "We never had any irreconcilable conflicts. On the contrary, there are many areas where we can cooperate. Therefore, it's even more crucial that we stand together." Previously, he had been a devoted and solitary loyal official to the emperor. However, a sudden turn of events led to the death of his only son, fundamentally because the emperor had abandoned him without hesitation. He realized that continuing as an isolated official served no purpose, which prompted his change of heart. Unfortunately, in his years as an isolated official, he had offended too many nobles. It was almost as if the capital could no longer tolerate him. Zu An, however, was different. He was a rising star, backed by the Chu family, and seemed to have a good relationship with the Imperial Academy. More importantly, they had endured hardships together on the journey to the capital, establishing a relatively stable friendship. Thus, Zu An was a highly worthwhile investment.

Zheng Dan, standing nearby, was somewhat surprised. Sang Hong's stance was remarkably sincere; despite clearly seeing her, he continued to play along, implicitly acknowledging their relationship. She felt a mix of joy, gratitude, and guilt. Subconsciously, she looked at Zu An, her eyes filled with entreaty, also hoping that Zu An would maintain good relations with the Sang family.

Zu An pondered for a moment, then also smiled. "Your guidance on the capital's affairs during our journey here was incredibly beneficial, Uncle. I'm certain I'll need your considerable help in the future."

Sang Hong, whose nerves had been taut, secretly exhaled a sigh of relief. Zu An's acknowledgment of their alliance meant everything would proceed smoothly.

At this point, Zu An no longer hid his thoughts. "Uncle, the question you just raised has perplexed me as well. Logically, after so many years of conflict, this was a legitimate opportunity to eliminate Prince Qi. Why did His Majesty let such a good chance slip away?" As for Zhu Xie Chixin's threat, Zu An currently gave it no thought. In fact, he had his own theory: perhaps the Emperor had lost a soul clone, resulting in a significant reduction in power, and thus lacked the absolute confidence to defeat Prince Qi. Unfortunately, this was not something he could discuss with Sang Hong.

Sang Hong replied, "That's perfectly normal. Are you aware that the situation in the capital has been extremely tense lately? Various military units are constantly being moved in secret. The entire capital is like a powder keg, ready to explode with just a single spark. Prince Qi has cultivated his power for many years, accumulating immense influence. Half of the court's civil and military officials have been drawn into his faction. If His Majesty were to act now, the other members of Prince Qi's group, fearing implication, would be forced to fight alongside him. That is a scenario His Majesty absolutely wishes to avoid."

Zu An hadn't realized that both sides had already begun mobilizing troops in preparation for a direct confrontation. "But can he just let it go?" Zu An asked. "Given the Emperor's nature, it seems unlikely he would tolerate such a significant loss."

Sang Hong simply smiled without answering, instead turning a probing gaze to his daughter. "Qian'er, what are your thoughts?"

Sang Qian paused, then replied, "Of course, His Majesty won't just let it be. Unless something unexpected happens, he'll avoid direct large-scale conflict. Instead, he'll employ a strategy of undermining Prince Qi, first dismantling the main factions within his group, and then settling accounts with Prince Qi later." She glanced at Zheng Dan, then continued, "The most immediate target within Prince Qi's group is the Qin family. Their influence in the military is too deeply entrenched. His Majesty's current hesitation is precisely because of the Qin family."

Zheng Dan felt a surge of bewilderment. *Why are you looking at me while talking about the Qin family? Do they really think I'm Chu Chuyan?*

Zu An quickly asked, "Then how do you think His Majesty will deal with the Qin family?" The Qin family was, after all, Qin Wanru's birth family, and they had always treated Chu Chuyan and Chu Youzhao very well. If something happened to them, it would undoubtedly cause distress.

Sang Qian shook her head. "There's too little information to make a definitive judgment right now. However, what is certain is that the Qin family will be His Majesty's first target, and he won't delay for long."

"Continue," Zu An prompted, sitting up straighter. It was clear that her analysis would be incredibly useful for future actions, and he couldn't afford to be careless.

"Next comes the Yu family," Sang Qian continued. "If the Qin family represents military power, then the immensely wealthy Yu family holds Prince Qi's financial power. Of course, it could also be the Pei family, given their significant influence in court politics."

Images of Yu Yanluo and Pei Mianman flashed through Zu An's mind, causing a momentary pang of frustration. Why were all the people he befriended associated with Prince Qi's faction, when he himself had an irreconcilable conflict with Prince Qi and his son?

Sang Qian continued with many more analyses, from which Zu An felt greatly enlightened. He couldn't help but exclaim, "Little sister Qian'er, your reputation as a 'female Zhuge' is certainly well-deserved!"

"Who is Zhuge?" Sang Qian paused, even though she had corrected him multiple times about calling her "little sister Qian'er," he persisted, so she had eventually given up.

"Ah," Zu An mused before explaining, "A person whose wisdom is almost supernatural."

Sang Qian's pretty face flushed slightly, and she looked a little shy. "I'm not that amazing."

"Little sister Qian'er, you're being too modest," Zu An replied. He suddenly found it quite amusing to tease this young woman. She was incredibly mature when discussing state affairs, yet in ordinary moments, she seemed like a shy young girl.

Sang Hong cleared his throat, cutting short Zu An's teasing. "Ah Zu, my position is sensitive. Frequent meetings with you could easily arouse the Emperor's suspicion. Therefore, in the future, you can discuss anything with Qian'er. Her insights in all areas are now on par with mine."

"Alright," Zu An agreed, smiling. Dealing with a beautiful young woman was certainly more enjoyable than conversing with an old man. However, he felt a small hand pinch the soft flesh around his waist, and Zheng Dan's tart spiritual message whispered into his ear: "Tsk, tsk, tsk, they're clearly trying to create opportunities for you two to meet privately." She was gradually understanding Sang Hong's intentions now, and a sense of unease settled in her heart. *I was here first,* she thought.

Sang Hong hesitated for a moment, then spoke again. "Oh, and the Zheng family has also established some businesses in the capital. Zheng Dan has been working tirelessly. It's not easy for her, being alone now. Ah Zu, if you're willing, perhaps you could look out for her."

Sang Qian stared at her father in astonishment. She had suspected as much, but she never imagined he would actually say it aloud. Though not explicitly stated, everyone present was intelligent enough to grasp the implication. Zheng Dan lowered her head further, so mortified she wished the ground would swallow her whole. Yet, a flicker of joy also stirred within her; the immense burden that had weighed on her heart could finally be lifted.

Zu An's expression was peculiar. "Uh, I will look after her to the best of my ability."

Sang Hong nodded, then stood up. "Well, we won't disturb your reunion as a couple any further."

"Please stay a bit longer, perhaps for a meal before you go," Zu An offered with feigned politeness. The father and daughter, however, were not fooled and naturally declined to stay.

After they exited, Sang Qian quietly remarked to her father, "Father, Miss Chu seemed a bit peculiar today, didn't she?"

Sang Hong nodded. "Indeed, rather strange. She almost seemed afraid of us."

"Huh? Miss Chu, you say?" A questioning voice suddenly came from nearby.

The father and daughter turned to see a handsome young man with rosy lips and white teeth staring at them, accompanied by a beautiful, youthful girl with long, straight legs and sun-kissed skin.

"Ah, Young Master Chu, it seems," Sang Qian replied with a smile. "We just visited Lord Zu and met your esteemed sister inside." There was nothing to hide, as their regard for Zu An extended to the entire Chu family.

"My sister is in the capital?" Chu Youzhao's eyes lit up. He completely disregarded the Sangs and dashed impetuously into the house.

Meanwhile, Zu An was holding Zheng Dan's hand. "Dan'er, your father-in-law just gave you to me in front of everyone. You don't have to worry anymore, do you?"

Zheng Dan scoffed. "It wasn't that bad! He only asked you to look out for me. Don't twist his words." Despite her words, her heart was still pounding.

"By the way, I can't shake the feeling that the whole situation is odd," Zheng Dan mused. "Why weren't they angry at all when they saw me? It was as if... as if I truly were Miss Chu." Her mind was filled with questions; the entire affair felt far too bizarre.

Zu An was about to answer when a hurried voice suddenly called from outside: "Sister! Sister!"