Chapter 958: Cloudy and Confusing

King Qi calmly stated, "You should proceed carefully and also try to befriend Zu An. That boy previously hinted at wanting to join us, so you can take this opportunity to test if he's sincere or just feigning it."

"Befriend him?" Zhao Zhi's voice instantly rose, his eyes filled with fury. "That boy humiliated me back then; I wish I could tear him limb from limb and grind his bones to dust!"

"A small act of impatience can ruin a great endeavor," King Qi reprimanded. "If you can't even endure something like this, how can you achieve anything great? Now is the time when we need capable people; even enemies must be utilized skillfully. Once the dust settles in the future, it won won't be too late to settle scores with him."

Seeing that his father did not forbid his revenge, Zhao Zhi's expression softened. "Father is right to teach me a lesson."

"Let me tell you the specific situation over there..." King Qi then pulled Zhao Zhi aside and discussed various details about Yunzhong Commandery with him.

Atop Jade Spring Mountain, a pair of long legs, clad in silk stockings, ascended the steps and approached the lotus pond. Despite the freezing cold and the falling snow, the lotus flowers in the pond bloomed vibrantly, shrouded in a misty aura, as if in a fairyland.

Gazing at the figure fishing by the pond, Jiang Luofu couldn't help but say, "Teacher, these fish are your beloved pets. Why do you fish for them, and I've never seen you catch a single one?"

"They must be quite bored confined to this small world. I merely play with them often," the Libationer said, lifting his fishing rod. The hook, however, was not bent but perfectly straight.

Jiang Luofu truly couldn't understand her teacher's peculiar sense of humor. "Teacher, what instructions do you have for me today?"

"Did Consort Qi once ask you to retrieve something from Zu An?" the Libationer asked, his attention entirely on the water, as if it were a casual question.

Yet, a storm brewed in Jiang Luofu's heart, and she smiled bitterly. "Indeed, nothing can be hidden from Teacher."

Her elder brothers had married daughters from the Pei and Yu families, which had strengthened the relationship between the Jiang family and King Qi's lineage. She herself had a good personal friendship with Consort Qi, considering her an elder confidante, which was why Consort Qi had entrusted her with such a task.

"Then why didn't you act?" the Libationer asked with a light chuckle.

Jiang Luofu said gravely, "Zu An is also my friend. I don't want to betray a friend."

"This matter might not be as serious as you think; perhaps some people are even hoping you'll betray him," the Libationer said meaningfully.

"What do you mean, Teacher?" Jiang Luofu was startled and quickly looked towards the Libationer.

However, he did not answer her question. "Next, you are to go to Yunzhong Commandery."

"Yunzhong Commandery?" Jiang Luofu crossed her arms, resting a hand on her smooth chin, deep in thought. "Today, the imperial court dispatched Sang Hong and Zu An to Yunzhong Commandery to investigate the disappearance of the Duke of Yunzhong Commandery. Is this somehow related to the academy?"

Although the imperial decree stated the purpose was to appoint a new Duke of Yunzhong Commandery, everyone knew that the appointment was a pretense, and the real purpose was the investigation. If the disappearance of the former Duke of Yunzhong Commandery was found not to be an accident, then the appointment would naturally be postponed.

"It could be related, and it could be unrelated," the Libationer said as ripples spread across the water. He lifted his fishing rod, and a red fish was caught.

Jiang Luofu was inwardly complaining that his words were like those of a fortune-teller on a street corner, but then her eyes widened in disbelief at the sight—a fish caught with a straight hook.

The Libationer removed the fish and, spreading his palm, the red fish floated and swam in his hand as if still in water, though it could not move beyond the confines of his palm.

"Ah, of this entire pond, you are the greediest. Sooner or later, you'll die because of your mouth," the Libationer admonished the red fish before releasing it back into the pond. He then casually propped the fishing rod aside, stood up, and went to the nearby cliff. Gazing at the mist halfway down the mountain, he slowly said, "A great change is coming."

Jiang Luofu pouted. Her teacher always spoke in riddles, but she didn't ask. After so many years, she knew that unless her teacher chose to speak, asking was futile. She thought, *If only my junior sister were here, she would surely tug on his white beard.* But only her junior sister would dare to do such a thing.

"Go," the Libationer waved his hand, signaling her to depart. "You will know what to do when the time is right."

"Yes!" Jiang Luofu bowed respectfully, and the crisp, clear sound of her high heels on the bluestone path gradually faded into the distance.

The Libationer overlooked the entire capital city, a hint of profound沧桑 (deep vicissitude/age-old wisdom) appearing in his eyes.

Inside the palace, Zu An looked at the palace maid before him, feeling quite frustrated. He had just tried to visit Crown Princess Bi Linglong under the guise of paying respects, hoping to see her, but she had sent a palace maid to give him a perfunctory comforting message and still refused to meet him.

"It seems I truly angered her last time," Zu An thought, quite vexed. Even knowing he was about to depart for a long journey, she still wouldn't see him. Was she planning to resent him forever? Since Bi Linglong wouldn't see him, there was no point staying in the East Palace. He found an excuse and slipped away. After all, he still held the title of Grand Commander of the Imperial Guards, which he could legitimately use to avoid work.

"Crown Princess, look at him, he increasingly disregards you, just leaving whenever he pleases," Rong Mo naturally wouldn't miss such a good opportunity to badmouth him.

Bi Linglong's expression was unreadable. "Grand Commander Zu is busy with official duties these days; naturally, he cannot stay in the East Palace indefinitely."

Rong Mo rolled her eyes. "That fellow is getting too big for his britches and becoming more impudent. His Majesty shouldn't have promoted him."

"Slap yourself! Is His Majesty's decision something you can criticize behind his back?" Bi Linglong's eyes instantly sharpened.

Rong Mo's forehead broke out in a cold sweat. Realizing her slip of the tongue, she quickly said, "This servant knows her mistake and will never dare to do so again."

Bi Linglong calmly said, "How is the investigation I asked you to do last time progressing?"

"Zu An doesn't seem to have had any contact with anyone from King Qi's residence these past few days, but I heard that King Qi's heir apparent is also going north," Rong Mo replied.

"What is he going there for?" Bi Linglong frowned.

"I heard he's going to choose a secondary consort for the heir apparent and is conducting an on-site inspection," Rong Mo answered.

Bi Linglong simply said "Oh" and lost interest. "Does Grand Commander Zu have any other recent activities?"

"Oh, him? He's been running to the Sang family every day, not even returning to his own home, sleeping there every night. He's probably taken a fancy to their beautiful daughter-in-law and daughter. Your Highness, you don't know, but the Sang family's widowed daughter-in-law is a rare beauty. Many noble youths in the capital's circles are talking about her," Rong Mo recounted vividly.

Bi Linglong's expression remained neutral. "The Sang family is a loyal and honorable household; do not gossip about them like that. Besides, Sang Hong is being dispatched as an imperial envoy to Yunzhong Commandery this time, so it's normal for Zu An to communicate frequently with him."

Despite saying this, why did she feel a surge of anger in her heart?

"Oh." Rong Mo stuck out her tongue, sensing that the Crown Princess seemed somewhat displeased, and she dared not be too presumptuous.

After leaving the East Palace, Zu An, of course, did not go to the Imperial Guards' barracks but went straight to the Hundred Flowers Palace. He was already a familiar face at the Hundred Flowers Palace. Despite the freezing cold, many fresh flowers still bloomed in the palace, and the air was filled with a sweet scent of spring. He wondered how she managed it.

After the palace maid announced him, she quickly led him inside. From afar, he saw Consort Bai sitting on a swing in the courtyard, gently swaying.

"She seems to really enjoy sitting on swings," Zu An quietly mused, but his gaze was soon drawn to her back. Consort Bai today was wearing a white knitted sweater dress, similar to those he had seen in his previous life. The dress was quite form-fitting, and perhaps because she was sitting on the swing, it clung tightly to her waist, making it seem incredibly slender, as if it might break with a slight squeeze. But even more breathtaking was her tightly wrapped derriere, truly full and exquisite, inviting contemplation.

"Greetings, Your Highness Consort Bai!" Zu An respectfully saluted in front of the palace maid.

"Grand Commander Zu, what brings you here today?" Consort Bai had an inherently gentle temperament, and her smile naturally gave people a relaxed sense of pleasure.