Chapter 1550: Taking a Dangerous Risk

"What!" Zu An exclaimed, a mix of shock and delight on his face, as he grabbed her arm. "Where is Sang Hong?"

Everyone had been searching for him lately, and Sang Qian had been so worried she couldn't eat or sleep. Zu An himself considered Sang Hong a close friend, despite their age difference, and had feared he was dead. How could he not be thrilled to hear news of him now?

Chu Chuyan's expression was odd as she glanced inside the house. "He's right here in your home. You're never home, so of course you wouldn't know."

Zu An was utterly confused.

His first thought was that she was joking, but seeing her genuine expression, he immediately understood and rushed inside.

Chu Chuyan followed him. "After leaving White Jade Capital, I initially planned to go to the demon realm to find you. But then I figured, with your personality, you wouldn't stay there long and would surely return to the capital. I was afraid we'd miss each other on the way and end up separated again, so I came straight back to the capital to wait for you."

"When I passed through Cancheng, I happened to see Sang Hong being chased by a group of black-clad assassins. I stepped in and saved him. It's just a pity I arrived too late and couldn't save the others in the envoy group."

Zu An suddenly understood. No wonder the Embroidered Envoy's records mentioned the unusually cold atmosphere that night; it must have been caused by her use of the Snowflower Divine Sword. He should have realized it sooner.

Chu Chuyan led Zu An to a secluded, unused room, normally used for storing miscellaneous items and rarely visited by anyone in the mansion. "I hid him here because the annihilation of the imperial envoy delegation would surely implicate many people. I was worried about the news getting out, so I didn't even let anyone in your household know. I was waiting for you to come back, but you didn't return all night!"

Sensing the hint of resentment in her tone, Zu An couldn't help but smile wryly to himself. To maintain secrecy, she had likely snuck in at night, but by then, he had already gone to the Sang family's residence.

Soon, the door opened, and he saw Sang Hong, unconscious and hidden in the shadows. He was in poor condition, covered in bandages, evidence of the severe injuries he sustained during that night's battle. His face was extremely pale, clearly a consequence of significant blood loss.

Zu An hurried over to examine him. Fortunately, Sang Hong had received proper medical attention; although his injuries were severe, his life was no longer in danger.

"Chuyan, I truly have to thank you this time. If it weren't for you, he likely wouldn't have survived." Zu An administered a healing elixir from the demon royal court to Sang Hong, then looked at Chu Chuyan with gratitude.

"We are family; why thank me?" Chu Chuyan couldn't help but smile faintly. "If I recall correctly, we were mortal enemies with him back in Brightmoon City. Now we're going to such lengths to save him. Indeed, who can predict the ways of the world?"

"That trip to Brightmoon City was a complete failure for me. The only real gain was meeting all of you." Just then, Sang Hong stirred and slowly regained consciousness. He overheard their conversation and couldn't help but remark.

"Uncle, you're awake?" Zu An went to help him sit up.

Sang Hong nodded slightly at him. "If it weren't for Miss Chu, my old life would have surely ended in Cancheng."

"What exactly happened in Cancheng? The rumors outside say you colluded with the demon race," Chu Youzhao asked curiously. Sensing the gazes of the others, she quickly added, "Of course, I don't believe that." Murong Qinghe also widened her eyes, clearly intrigued. The case of the annihilated envoy delegation had been the focus of discussion among all the prominent families in the capital for days.

Sang Hong glanced at the two of them. Having lived in the capital for many years, he recognized them. After a moment's thought, he replied, "That night, I encountered assassins from the Phantom Shadow Tower..."

He then recounted the events: how he was woken by a fire in the middle of the night, how a group of black-clad assassins systematically ambushed him as he fled, how he fought desperately to break through but was severely wounded, unable to shake off his pursuers, and how, in his despair, he was saved by Chu Chuyan.

Chu Youzhao and Murong Qinghe gasped repeatedly as they listened. Though born into influential families and having some experience, they had never encountered such a perilous situation.

Even Zu An, someone who had frequently brushed with death, changed color repeatedly, thinking it was an extremely slim chance that Sang Hong had survived. He couldn't help but say with a hint of guilt, "It's because I wasn't with the envoy group that you were brought to the brink of death."

He was, after all, the guard general appointed by the imperial court to the envoy delegation, in charge of the accompanying Imperial Forest Army. His absence in the demon realm for personal reasons had significantly reduced the protective force around Sang Hong.

Sang Hong shook his head. "It has nothing to do with you. Since they wanted to deal with me, they must have meticulously planned it, even bribing local officials. Even if you had been there, they would have factored you in and sent more experts. You would have been in danger too, and facing more assassins, I might not have been so lucky to escape alive."

Although he hadn't seen the Embroidered Envoy's report, as an old fox in politics, he had immediately realized something was wrong with the local officials that night in Cancheng.

Zu An smiled faintly, offering no argument.

At this moment, Chu Youzhao, who was standing nearby, couldn't help but exclaim, "What is the origin of this Phantom Shadow Tower? How dare they assassinate an imperial minister? Isn't that an act of rebellion!"

Murong Qinghe, standing next to her, said, "I've heard rumors that even the Embroidered Envoys can't find the true boss behind the Phantom Shadow Tower, only some mid-level leaders at most."

Zu An thought to himself that it wasn't just a rumor; the Embroidered Envoys genuinely didn't know who the boss of Phantom Shadow Tower was. Of course, perhaps only the Emperor and Zhuxie Chixin knew, as this information wasn't accessible even to those with gold tokens.

At this point, Sang Hong said, "Ah Zu, I need to see the Emperor."

Zu An frowned slightly. "Your injuries are still very severe. Let's wait until you've recovered a bit more."

Indeed, it was not advisable for someone so gravely injured to move around casually.

"I can't wait. The person behind this knows I'm not dead and surely won't give up. I didn't even dare to return to the Sang residence, fearing I'd bring disaster upon Xiaoqian and the others. If I hadn't been unconscious when Miss Chu brought me here, I wouldn't have agreed to come to this place either."

"Uncle, you're treating me like a stranger. Why would I be afraid of such things?" Zu An frowned. "By the way, who is the person behind all this that you mentioned?"

Sang Hong discreetly glanced at the others but remained silent.

Murong Qinghe realized what was happening. "I'll excuse myself for a moment."

Chu Youzhao quickly pulled her back. "Qinghe is one of us; she can be trusted."

Hearing 'Brother Chu' speak up for her like that, Murong Qinghe's eyes sparkled with amusement.

"It's not that I don't trust you," Sang Hong explained, "but this matter is too significant. Knowing about it could bring mortal danger upon you. I can't let that happen."

Zu An knew he made a valid point. "Alright, I'll take you to the palace immediately."

"It would be best to change our attire and create a diversion," Sang Hong advised. "I suspect there are spies near your residence, given everyone knows our relationship."

"No need," Zu An replied calmly, an inexplicable confidence in his tone. "We'll go directly."

Chu Chuyan, however, was still worried. "I'll escort you part of the way."

Zu An didn't want her to worry, and after such a long separation, he didn't want to part ways again, so he agreed.

Chu Youzhao also clamored to go along, but Chu Chuyan refused. "You two wait for news here. That way, there will be someone to receive us."

Hearing the undeniable authority in her sister's tone, Chu Youzhao reluctantly agreed.

Soon, Zu An arranged for a carriage, helped Sang Hong inside, and then he and Chu Chuyan sat beside him.

The carriage headed directly towards the imperial palace. As a marquis and a favored figure in the Eastern Palace, his carriage rarely encountered trouble in the capital.

Along the way, Zu An spoke up. "Uncle, is the person behind this, the one you mentioned, Prince Qi?"

"You already knew, as expected," Sang Hong said, not very surprised. "Yes, he likely doesn't want the matters of Yunzhong Commandery to reach the capital. I have evidence of his schemes, and he probably intended to destroy all traces."

"It's not hard to guess," Zu An said gravely. "The clues I found in that toy wooden sword, which you later investigated in detail, must have significantly impacted Prince Qi. I never imagined he would be so audacious as to take such a desperate risk."

"Prince Qi is already losing ground. If I reveal the evidence from Yunzhong Commandery in court, his decades-long ambition will become increasingly hopeless. No wonder he's acting so desperately," Sang Hong said, glancing at Chu Chuyan. "Miss Chu, you truly are remarkably astute. To think you arranged for your brother to monitor Miss Murong, preventing her from relaying messages."

It was no secret that the Murong family was aligned with Prince Qi.

Chu Chuyan nodded slightly in acknowledgment but said nothing in reply.

Zu An chuckled, reaching out to put his arm around Chu Chuyan's shoulder. "Of course my wife is smart."

He quickly realized, however, that Sang Hong was *another* one of his fathers-in-law, and openly showing affection with another woman seemed somewhat inappropriate.

Chu Chuyan's cheeks also flushed slightly. She quietly pinched him; her nature wasn't accustomed to such intimate displays in front of others.

Zu An was about to say something when his expression suddenly changed.

Just then, the carriage wall suddenly splintered as dozens of military crossbow bolts, gleaming with cold light, turned the carriage into a pincushion.