Chapter 961: Our Role Model

Seeing her nervousness, Zu An couldn't help but pull her into his arms. "Haha, you do care about me after all! You were so cold to me for a while, it made my heart sink."

This brought a fresh wave of annoyance to Bi Linglong. "Who told you to treat me like that last time!"

"That's only because you're too beautiful," Zu An chuckled, leaning in to kiss her again.

Bi Linglong knew he was deliberately complimenting her to change the subject, but she was still pleased and soon found herself lost in his kisses.

A moment later, she suddenly shivered, unable to resist playfully hitting him a few times with her fists. That scoundrel certainly knew how to take advantage.

After who knew how long, Bi Linglong languidly nudged the man beside her. "It's almost dawn; you should leave."

"No," Zu An mumbled, burying his head against her chest.

"Stop fooling around. The palace maids will be up soon." Though reluctant to see him go, Bi Linglong maintained her composure.

With a sigh, Zu An had to bid her farewell. "I'm leaving for Yunzhong Commandery today. I probably won't see you for several months."

Bi Linglong's eyes were full of tenderness. As she helped him straighten his clothes, she urged, "Be careful on your journey. It doesn't matter if you can't uncover the truth of the case; ensuring your own safety is paramount."

"Don't worry," Zu An reassured her. "The Emperor has granted me an imperial edict. If a crisis arises, I can call upon his power to intervene."

Hearing this, Bi Linglong finally breathed a sigh of relief. She, of course, knew the immense power of an imperial edict. However, she was somewhat surprised; usually, the Emperor only granted edicts to his trusted Embroidered Uniform Envoys. Why would he give one to Zu An?

But then she reconsidered: Zu An had demonstrated remarkable ability in the academy's secret realm earlier and had helped the Crown Prince pass the imperial examination, earning the Emperor's trust. In that light, it made sense.

Zu An looked down at her flushed face, his own filled with a smile. "That sounds a lot like a wife saying goodbye to her departing husband."

Bi Linglong spat lightly in response, then quickly pushed him towards the secret passage. Only after he was gone did she return to her bed and lie down, letting out a soft sigh as she thought of her identity.

A moment later, there was a stir outside. Rong Mo knocked softly on the door and whispered, "Your Highness, it's time to wake up."

Bi Linglong instinctively pulled the blanket up to cover the kiss marks on her neck, then realized the maid couldn't see them. Lazily, she replied, "I'm feeling a bit tired today. I need to sleep a while longer. Don't disturb me."

It was all that scoundrel's fault! He had kept her up most of the night, and now her body felt like it was falling apart. How could she possibly get up?

After all, she was the mistress of the Eastern Palace and didn't have to report to work like the Emperor. She still had some freedom.

Rong Mo was somewhat surprised. She knew that the Crown Princess had always been diligent over the years; the Crown Prince didn't handle affairs, so all the official documents in the Eastern Palace were managed by her. The Crown Princess was usually exceptionally strict with herself. What was different today?

However, she didn't say much more, thinking that perhaps the Crown Princess's lifespan had been affected in the secret realm, and her mental energy was now much weaker than before.

It was all Zu An's fault for not protecting the Crown Princess properly!

"Achoo!" On the other side, Zu An sneezed loudly, wondering if some girl was thinking of him again.

After leaving the Eastern Palace, Zu An clearly had no time to sleep. He gathered his men in the imperial palace and then departed with one hundred Imperial Forest Guards.

The Imperial Forest Guards were a branch of the imperial army. Each one was rigorously trained and possessed at least a fifth-rank cultivation. While they might not be a match for some individual martial arts masters, they were skilled in formations and combined attacks. Against an equal number of martial arts masters of the same rank, they would almost always achieve a complete victory.

Even against experts far exceeding the fifth rank, they could still put up a fight.

Their numbers were also sufficient. To deal with one hundred Imperial Forest Guards, one would need to deploy several times their number in troops. However, since they were representing the imperial envoy this time, such an act would be tantamount to rebellion.

If the enemy genuinely intended to rebel, there would be no difference between one hundred Imperial Forest Guards and one thousand.

Not long after, they met up with Sang Hong's people at the suburban dock. Although cultivation was advanced in this world, and various rune formations greatly improved transportation convenience, it still couldn't compare to the planes and trains of his previous life's technological civilization.

After all, rune formations required the consumption of primeval stones, which made them exorbitantly expensive. Usually, only a select few could afford them, and they became impractical with a large number of people.

Therefore, just like in ancient times in his previous life, traveling by water was definitely more convenient and hassle-free.

The Great Suidan River stretched for thousands of miles from north to south, passing directly through the capital city.

Tributaries along the way had been excavated and expanded, forming a convenient water transport network. For a large city like the capital, the consumption of bulk goods like grain, timber, and ore was astonishing, and most of it was transported by water.

The envoy team would travel north along the Great Suidan River, then disembark midway to proceed by land, heading west all the way to Yunzhong Commandery.

After all, the Great Suidan River did not pass through Yunzhong Commandery.

Since Sang Hong was serving as the imperial envoy this time, some officials represented the imperial court to see them off. Even the Emperor sent a eunuch to read out an imperial edict to enhance their prestige.

Zu An yawned, thankful that Sang Hong was handling all of this; otherwise, he'd be bored to death.

Suddenly, he noticed a few familiar figures in the crowd and was both surprised and delighted. "Why are you here?"

Two young men, distinguished in bearing, clearly stood out from the surrounding crowd.

One had a square face, appearing upright and serious, exuding a sense of reliability.

The other was handsome yet melancholic, instantly seeming like a troubled youth.

The two were none other than Gao Ying and Pei You.

Seeing him, a faint smile also appeared on Gao Ying's usually serious face. "Going to Yunzhong Commandery this time is a great opportunity for 'gilding' in the eyes of the major clans. Many people vied for a spot. We were chosen because of you."

Pei You, no longer the aloof handsome young man, lowered his voice and chuckled, "I've long heard that northern girls are tall with long legs, and I've always yearned to see them. Now that I finally have the chance to see for myself, how could I miss it?"

Zu An's expression turned odd. This guy acted like an introverted youth in front of outsiders, but with close friends, he was incredibly flamboyant. What was the term for it? Oh, right, 'men sao' (reserved but secretly passionate/flamboyant). Many of his classmates in his previous life were like that, which made him feel particularly familiar with Pei You.

"This trip to Yunzhong Commandery might not be smooth sailing," Zu An hinted subtly, unable to speak plainly about many things.

Gao Ying replied, "Don't worry, Brother Zu. We're not idle wastrels; we certainly won't hold you back. We might even be able to help."

Zu An realized he was right. Both of them were peak sixth-rank masters, already exceptional for their age. Moreover, they had the powerful Liu and Pei clans backing them. By any measure, they would be strong allies.

"Brother-in-law! Brother-in-law!" At that moment, a crisp voice belonging to an incomparably handsome youth called out from not far away, waving at Zu An.

Zu An smiled knowingly and hurried to meet him. "Youzhao, what are you doing here?"

Seeing Murong Qinghe beside him, Zu An also smiled and nodded to her. "Hello, Qinghe."

"Hello, Brother Zu," Murong Qinghe replied gracefully, but her attention quickly returned to Chu Youzhao, thinking how handsome 'Brother Chu' was, unmatched by any other man.

Gao Ying subtly nudged Pei You. "Tsk tsk tsk, you've been outshone."

"When Miss Chu first came to the capital, she attracted countless princes and young nobles with her beauty. With such a peerlessly beautiful elder sister, how could the younger brother be any less?" Pei You said dismissively. "Besides, a true man doesn't win by his looks."

Gao Ying looked sour, thinking, *Of course, you don't have these worries, being so handsome. It's us ordinary-looking people who face so many troubles.*

However, he was also a broad-minded person and quickly recovered from his negative mood.

Meanwhile, Chu Youzhao's eyes curved like crescent moons. "Brother-in-law is going on a long journey, so of course, I had to come see you off! Here, these are thick clothes I prepared for you; it's cold in the north, so wear more layers. These are pastries from Desheng Tower; eat them if you get hungry on the way. And these are..."

Watching her stuff various items into his hands, Zu An felt a warmth spread through his heart. It really was nice to be cared for.

"Thank you, but this doesn't quite fit your personality, does it?" Zu An quickly realized something was off. Although Chu Youzhao was a girl, she had been raised like a boy since childhood and was generally boisterous and carefree. How could she be so meticulous?

Chu Youzhao's expression became a little unnatural, but she eventually told the truth. "Many of these things, Qinghe helped me prepare, like your clothing sizes and such..."

Murong Qinghe, standing nearby, blushed. "I was just helping Brother Chu."

Zu An was somewhat surprised. He hadn't expected this little tomboy, Murong Qinghe, to have such a thoughtful side. It seemed girls were indeed girls after all. In comparison, Chu Youzhao was quite the innocent clutz.

"Anyway, thank you both. When I return from Yunzhong Commandery, I'll bring you back some fun things from there." As soon as the words left his mouth, Zu An wished he could slap himself twice. It felt like he was "planting a flag" (tempting fate). *Ptooey, ptooey, ptooey,* he thought, *children's words are innocent, children's words are innocent.*

"Yay!" Chu Youzhao exclaimed with delight. Murong Qinghe, however, was indifferent; if Brother Chu was happy, she was happy.

On the other side, Gao Ying was somewhat puzzled. "Didn't Old Master Murong lose his official position because of Brother Zu? How does Miss Murong seem to have such a good relationship with Brother Zu?"

"Brother Zu's charm is certainly extraordinary. Even a courtesan queen like Miss Nanxun, whose beauty fills the capital, favors him, let alone a young girl from the Murong family." Speaking of this, Pei You was filled with envy. They had been eyewitnesses at the time, and the impact was simply too powerful.

"I think Murong Qinghe is quite pretty too," Gao Ying remarked, stroking his chin. "Though a bit dark-skinned, she's clearly a beauty in the making. In a few years, she might not be any worse than Nanxun."

When do men find it easiest to bond?

When they're talking about women, of course.

The two had already faced life and death together in the secret realm and had visited places like Hongxiu Pavilion several times. They were truly sworn brothers now. In public, they would never speak like this, but in private, there was no need to maintain their usual personas in front of each other.

"Huh?" Pei You rubbed his arm, feigning disgust. "I didn't expect you to be that kind of person."

Gao Ying froze for a moment, then burst into anger. "Scoundrel! You know perfectly well that's not what I meant! I like women with big chests and shapely behinds. We've been to Hongxiu Pavilion several times; don't you know my preferences by now?!"

Pei You reminded him, "Keep your voice down. If someone hears you, your reputation will be completely ruined."

Gao Ying glanced around and indeed saw people looking in their direction, causing him to blush.

Just then, Pei You suddenly whistled. "Oh, a beauty?"

"Where?" Gao Ying followed his gaze, seeing a woman in a green dress gracefully approaching from a distance. She wore the most elegant and beautiful updo, exuding a gentle and serene aura.

A scholarly mind imbues one with a noble air!

For some reason, that very phrase simultaneously popped into both their minds.

Her appearance was remarkable, certainly, and very beautiful, but as young masters from prominent clans in the capital, they were accustomed to seeing beauties. It was primarily the lingering scholarly aura about her that truly refreshed their senses.

"Such a woman would truly make a suitable virtuous wife to bring home," Pei You couldn't help but sigh admiringly.

"Indeed," Gao Ying agreed wholeheartedly. Though the women in courtesan houses were alluring and charming, and usually brought them joy, compared to this woman, they instantly seemed bland and uninteresting.

"I wonder which family's young lady she is." They could tell that while her dress wasn't luxurious, its quality was exceptional, and combined with her unique temperament, she was certainly no peasant girl.

"Why do I feel like she looks familiar? Have I seen her somewhere before?" Gao Ying wondered.

"I thought I was the only one who felt that way!" Pei You exclaimed, surprised. "Huh, she's walking this way. Could it be that my extraordinary demeanor today has captivated her?"

After saying this, he deliberately straightened his posture and subtly adjusted his uniform.

As it was an official mission today, he was dressed in official attire, appearing much more proper than usual.

Gao Ying thought, *This guy really puts on an act.* He knew perfectly well that the woman couldn't possibly be looking for him, but he wouldn't admit defeat. "You're just boasting. If she's really looking for someone, it'd be Brother Zu."

Pei You raised an eyebrow, about to retort with a sharp remark, but in the next moment, his eyes widened. For the woman indeed walked straight towards Zu An.

"Brother Zu," the gentle woman softly called out.

"Daoyun, what are you doing here?" Zu An was both surprised and delighted. The person was, of course, Xie Daoyun.

Chu Youzhao, however, frowned. She showed no joy at seeing a fellow native; instead, she felt a sense of rivalry.

"Brother Zu is embarking on a long journey, so I specially asked my teacher for half a day off to see you off. My younger brother was also supposed to come, but he's currently at a critical stage in his cultivation, and his teacher wouldn't allow him to leave. So, on his behalf, I apologize and hope Brother Zu doesn't mind." Xie Daoyun's voice was like raindrops falling into a lake, automatically instilling a sense of peace in those who heard it.

"How could I blame him? Of course, cultivation is more important," Zu An replied.

"By the way, winter has arrived, and the north is bitterly cold. I specifically..." She was speaking as she reached into her storage pouch when her gaze suddenly fell upon the clothes nearby, and her expression froze slightly.

At this point, Chu Youzhao exclaimed, "Oh, my sister prepared a lot of winter clothes for Brother-in-law. Did Miss Xie prepare clothes too?"

Murong Qinghe, beside her, wore a strange expression, thinking, *Is Brother Chu intentionally saying this because he suspects something between Miss Xie and his brother-in-law?*

*Oh, it's just like those aunties, second aunties, and third aunties in the family's inner quarters, constantly bickering. How boring.*

*But Brother Chu is doing this for his sister. Hmm, in that case, it's understandable.*

"Of course not," Xie Daoyun quickly recovered, changing the direction of her hand in the storage pouch to retrieve a different item. "The north is bitterly cold, and Yunzhong Commandery's people are particularly fierce. Carrying this talisman will provide an extra layer of protection."

Zu An recognized the talisman in her hand at once as the 'One Thread of Life' talisman he had seen before, and he was delighted. "Thank you, Sister Daoyun. Last time in the secret realm, you..."