Chapter 1123: Transaction

Zu An frowned, never expecting such a result.

He truly couldn't link Big Manman's mother's death to Yu Yanluo, but if it were true, he certainly couldn't let Manman down.

Just then, Yu Yanluo smiled faintly. "Look how scared you are; Miss Pei must be very important to you. Don't worry, her mother's death has nothing to do with me, and I believe it has nothing to do with my mother either."

Zu An asked, puzzled, "Then why did you say that just now?"

Yu Yanluo looked at him with a complex expression. "Can't I test you? It's a pity the result seems to have saddened me."

Zu An remained silent. Clearly, her keen perception had allowed her to deduce his choice from the changes in his expression.

Fortunately, Yu Yanluo broke the silence in time. "According to your description, the poison her mother suffered from is indeed unique to the Medusa royal family. That's what made me unsure at first, but after thinking it over, I've never harmed her mother, and it's even less likely my mother would have had any involvement with hers."

"That's for the best," Zu An said, relieved. "Now, the main concern is how to get you out."

Yu Yanluo shook her head. "I appreciate your kindness, but given the circumstances, it's too dangerous for you to try and rescue me again. I'm already very grateful that you're helping my clansmen get out of the city; how could I ask you to risk your life further?"

Zu An, also burdened with worries, said, "Then I'll go back first and ensure Xingnu and the others are safely out, before considering anything else."

The two then exchanged some information. Zu An bid farewell and left, as it became more dangerous for Xingnu and the others the longer they remained in the city.

"Husband~" Just a few steps after he left, Yu Yanluo suddenly called out to him with emotion.

Zu An turned back in surprise. Yu Yanluo's face was flushed, and she pointed outside, indicating her worry that Yan Xuehen might overhear, which was why she dared not call his name.

Even though he knew the reason, that tender, sweet "husband" had stirred a strange feeling in both their hearts at that moment.

"Thank you," Yu Yanluo said, her eyelashes gently lowered, clearly too embarrassed to meet his gaze anymore.

Zu An chuckled heartily. "How many times have you thanked me now? There's really no need, because I'm your man, hahaha~"

After a series of laughs, he disappeared beyond the door.

Yu Yanluo's cheeks burned, and she could almost hear her own heartbeat.

She couldn't help but recall encountering the young man in the outskirts of Brightmoon City, seemingly a brash newcomer, proclaiming he wanted to be her man. At the time, she had merely dismissed it with a smile.

Now, hearing similar words again, even though he had deliberately used the tone of their current roles to avoid Yan Xuehen's notice, why did she still feel a blush creeping up?

Emerging from the prison, Yan Xuehen stood there expressionless. Although she tried hard to maintain her ethereal appearance, Zu An still detected annoyance between her brows.

"My apologies for making you wait, Revered Daoist." Zu An smiled at her.

Yan Xuehen was silent.

She was indeed quite displeased inwardly. She wanted to say something, but felt it might compromise her image as an otherworldly master, so she swallowed her words. With a feigned aloof hum, she turned and walked away.

Xu Yu had been waiting anxiously and let out a sigh of relief when he saw the two emerge.

Yan Xuehen nodded slightly to him. "I've asked all I needed to ask. I hope everyone will consider the people of Cloud County and not resort to violence lightly."

Without waiting for anyone to respond, she stepped into the air and gradually disappeared into the sky.

Her long hair billowed, her white dress flowed like snow, and her exquisite beauty drew gasps of admiration from the crowd.

Even the distant common folk, upon seeing her, believed they had witnessed a fairy, and some even excitedly knelt and prayed in her direction.

Zu An looked up for a moment, frowning. This woman's taste was truly questionable; wearing trousers under her dress completely ruined the skirt's inherent grace.

Yan Xuehen seemed to sense something, instinctively tightened her legs, and turned her head to look down with a puzzled expression. Unfortunately, she didn't understand what was wrong and simply accelerated her departure from the place.

Zu An was startled when she looked back, thinking, "Is a Grandmaster's spiritual perception this sensitive?"

It seems he would have to be more careful with his criticisms next time.

At that moment, Xu Yu's voice interrupted his thoughts. "Duke, you must be reassured now, aren't you? We've treated Madam Yu with the utmost courtesy, without the slightest neglect."

Zu An scoffed. "I hope one day Master Xu will also come to my manor to experience this kind of courtesy."

Xu Yu wasn't annoyed. "I'll certainly visit the Duke if given the opportunity."

Xu Yu's impenetrable response left Zu An with no opening to vent his frustration, so he merely said, "Master Xu, if even a single hair falls from Yanluo's head during this time, don't blame me for going back on my word."

Knowing that a major disaster had been averted today, Xu Yu smiled and said, "Even if the Duke doesn't trust me, you should trust Master Sang; he's also keeping an eye on things."

Sang Hong cursed inwardly, realizing this old fox was clearly dragging him into it. However, since things had come to this, he could only step forward and declare, "Indeed, we will certainly ensure Madam Yu's safety."

Only then did Zu An let out a snort, feigned anger, and stormed off.

The perpetually tense generals of the governor-general's mansion and the Jian family members all breathed a sigh of relief, fearing that he might impulsively order an attack, which would leave them in a difficult predicament.

The Yu family, on the other hand, was somewhat disappointed, but they hadn't yet resolved to openly defy the court and the Emperor.

After returning to the ducal manor, a group of people came to persuade Zu An, even bringing up the incident where Duke Brightmoon's army was suppressed by the Emperor's imperial decree.

They feared he might act rashly and lead an attack on the Prefect's mansion again, which would jeopardize the safety of their entire families.

Zu An knew these people had been terrified by the imperial decree and had no mood to deal with them. He gave a few perfunctory responses and dismissed them.

He then returned to the back antechamber, where Chu Ji had already returned. Zu An recounted the recent events to the two women.

Upon learning that Xu Yu possessed an imperial decree, the two women immediately fell into despair.

Zu An comforted them, "You don't need to worry. The priority now is to get your clansmen out. That's also what Madam is most concerned about."

Chu Ji replied that she had already contacted her clansmen, reassured them, and told them to prepare for their departure from the city.

She also mentioned that soldiers were now searching everywhere for their whereabouts, and they wouldn't be able to hide much longer.

"It seems we must act quickly; the longer we delay, the more dangerous it becomes," Zu An mused.

Xingnu said worriedly, "Xu Yu's side will definitely have people watching the ducal manor now. If the Duke makes a move, it could easily implicate you."

If he were caught escorting the Snake Clan out of the city, it would be undeniable proof of colluding with the demon race. At that point, not only would rescuing Yu Yanluo be impossible, but he, as a duke, would likely end up in prison.

"Yes, I noticed it too when I returned just now; there are many more Prefect's mansion soldiers around," Chu Ji added, also worried.

"There's someone who might be able to help us. You two rest well; I'm going out for a bit." With that, Zu An got up and left.

To avoid suspicion, he left directly through a secret passage, then found an opportunity to restore his true appearance, and proceeded to a certain manor.

A servant soon led him inside, where a sweet-looking woman showed no surprise at his arrival. Instead, she smiled playfully at him. "I've been waiting for you for ages! What took you so long?"

Zu An was startled. "You knew I was coming?"

The young woman before him was, of course, Tang Tian'er, the eldest daughter of the Zhenyuan Merchant Guild.

"With such a major incident involving Yu Yanluo, and you being her little lover, how could you not be anxious?" Tang Tian'er brewed tea unhurriedly.

Zu An's face darkened. "What 'little lover'? We're just pure friends."

"Really?" Tang Tian'er neither confirmed nor denied it. She scalded a teacup with hot water, discarded the first brew, then added some ingredients from various jars to the tea before preparing a cup and presenting it to Zu An. "Try the Cloud County's special honey-mint tea first. How does it taste?"

Zu An wasn't afraid of poison. He picked up the cup, took a sip, and couldn't help but praise, "It's quite different from the tea in the Central Plains, but the aroma is delightful, and the taste is as sweet as you are, young lady."

Seeing him drink her concoction without any hesitation, Tang Tian'er's eyes curved into crescent moons as she smiled. "Young Master always knows how to please women. No wonder Madam Yu treats you differently from other men. It's a pity this tea tastes sour to me."

"Sour?" Zu An frowned and took another sip, but detected no sourness whatsoever.

Tang Tian'er sighed faintly. "You never think of me on normal days, Young Master, but now you come to me seeking help for another woman. How could I not feel sour?"

Zu An was speechless.

"Have you gone mad with all your acting? Are we even in a romantic relationship?"

"Oh, saying that will make me sad," Tang Tian'er said, on the verge of tears.

Zu An's scalp tingled. "Just speak properly."

"Cruel man! Since you have no regard for our past, let's stick to business," Tang Tian'er said, her expression returning to normal, showing no trace of her previous laughter or tears. "What help do you need from me? Let me state upfront that I don't have the ability to rescue Yu Yanluo."

Zu An said gravely, "Naturally, I wouldn't ask you to risk something like that. I merely want to use your guild's channels to transport some goods out of the city."

"Are they goods, or people?" Tang Tian'er asked with a knowing smile, but she didn't press further. "It's not impossible, but what can you offer me in return?"