Chapter 367: Pouring Dirt

Hearing his words, Qin Wanru immediately panicked: "No, I don't want to be detoxified, I don't want to..."

"Don't worry, it's not the kind of detoxification you're thinking of," Zu An quickly explained.

However, his expression quickly turned strange. The woman in his arms kept squirming, causing him to feel a warmth spreading through his body.

Zu An's heart tightened. He immediately reined in his thoughts, no longer looking at or thinking about her, and focused all his energy on hurrying along.

Meanwhile, the Chu family was in chaos. All the main members of the Chu family had gathered.

Chu Hongcai was on alert with guards surrounding them. Chu Yuepo still maintained his usual chubby, good-natured appearance, but his customary smile was gone, replaced by a solemn expression. His son, Chu Yuepo, tried to speak with him and discuss things several times, but was repeatedly waved off.

"Brother-in-law, brother-in-law is gone too," Chu Huanzhao ran over in a panic. She had been resting in her room when she suddenly heard the commotion in the mansion. Frightened, she found her mother, then went to look for Zu An, only to find he wasn't in his room either. At the same time, many guards were searching something there.

So she rushed back, questioning Hong Zhong and Chu Tiesheng: "What exactly happened? Where is my mother? And why are you sealing off my brother-in-law's residence?"

Chu Tiesheng said in a deep voice, "What I am about to say must be kept strictly confidential. It must not get out, or it will be a major scandal for our Chu family."

Hearing his solemn tone, even Chu Yuepo looked at him curiously, his mind racing with guesses about what it could be.

For some reason, an ominous premonition gradually rose in Chu Huanzhao's heart.

Seeing that everyone had quieted down, Chu Tiesheng then said with a heavy expression, "That inhumane beast Zu An actually drugged my sister-in-law with that kind of medicine, attempting to violate her."

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire assembly erupted in an uproar.

Chu Yucheng and his father, Chu Yuepo, exchanged glances, both seeing confusion and shock in the other's eyes. Just as they were about to ask, they caught their father's gaze and swallowed the words on the tip of their tongues.

Chu Hongcai also whirled around. He had interacted with Zu An several times and, while finding him peculiar in many ways, he couldn't imagine him doing something so outrageous.

Before he could utter a sound, Chu Huanzhao had already cried out, "Nonsense! How is that possible!" She absolutely refused to believe that her beloved mother and brother-in-law would do such a thing. It was utterly impossible.

"Xiao Zhao, I know you've always had a good relationship with that beast Zu An, and it's normal for you to be unable to accept this right away, but it's the truth," Chu Tiesheng said with a sorrowful expression. "Just now, a maid happened to pass by and saw it with her own eyes. When Zu An realized his actions were exposed, he immediately grabbed my sister-in-law and fled in a panic. Unfortunately, the maids had no cultivation, so they couldn't stop that brute. He even mercilessly beat several of them to death. If you don't believe me, you can ask her."

"Qiuju, is this really true?" Chu Huanzhao urgently looked at the trembling maid beside her. Everyone knew she was from her mother's courtyard.

"Ye... yes..." The maid named Qiuju was trembling like a sieve. Earlier, Chu Tiesheng had found a few of them and told them to say this. The others refused and were killed on the spot. She, unable to bear it any longer, had no choice but to agree.

Chu Huanzhao's face instantly turned ashen. She stumbled backward weakly and collapsed onto a chair, muttering to herself, "How can this be..."

At this moment, Feng Daniou and a few others also cried out, "Impossible! The Young Master would never do such a thing!" They had followed Zu An for a long time, and besides Chu Huanzhao, they were probably the ones who least believed this story.

Chu Tiesheng roared in anger, "Are you suggesting I'm lying and slandering him? Qiuju here is testifying!"

Feng Daniou and the others exchanged bewildered glances, unsure what to say for a moment.

Just then, Hong Zhong cleared his throat and stepped forward directly: "Actually, quite a few people just saw Zu An leaving from the west side, carrying the Madam."

"That's right, we indeed saw with our own eyes Zu An frantically carrying... carrying the Madam as he fled from that direction," several guards said hesitantly.

Feng Daniou and the three knew these men were their brothers guarding the Chu family's west gate. Having been in the Chu mansion for so many years, they knew their character and understood they generally wouldn't lie. For a moment, they felt conflicted.

Hong Zhong gave a subtle look, and at that moment, another maid came out and timidly said, "Actually, a few days ago, I saw the Young Master come to the courtyard very early to look for the Madam, and the Madam also woke up earlier than usual."

Another maid also said, "I saw it a few days ago too. The Madam seemed to have gone out with Zu An..."

Before she could finish, Hong Zhong quickly interrupted, "What nonsense are you spouting? It's clear that what happened today is Zu An's audacious attempt to violate the Madam, forcibly taking her away. The urgent task now is to apprehend this inhumane scoundrel. Do not discuss anything else. Has everyone understood?"

"Understood!" Feeling the warning in his gaze, everyone's hearts tightened, and they quickly replied.

However, each person secretly harbored doubts, thinking that from what the maids said, it sounded like the Madam and the Young Master were having an affair.

The Young Master was quite handsome; otherwise, the Eldest Young Lady wouldn't have taken a liking to him. Furthermore, with the Master and Young Lady away these days, it wasn't impossible for loneliness and emptiness to lead to an opportunistic intrusion. No wonder the Madam had been so amiable toward the Young Master lately. So that was the reason.

Human imagination and gossiping tendencies are boundless. Coupled with Hong Zhong's deliberate attempt to conceal the truth, it made it even easier for others to think in that direction.

Feng Daniou and the others grew anxious. At that moment, Cheng Shoubing, who was nearby, tugged at their sleeves and gave them a meaningful look.

Just then, Hong Zhong and Chu Tiesheng began dispatching people to apprehend Zu An. They even issued an order: if this inhumane scoundrel resisted upon being found, he could be killed on the spot.

Everyone received their orders and departed. Once outside, Feng Daniou and the others glared coldly at Cheng Shoubing: "Cheng, the Young Master has always treated you well. Yet today, you not only failed to speak up for him but also stopped us from doing so. What exactly do you mean by this!"

"And you, Jiao Shanhe, you're usually the most talkative. But at this crucial moment, you've chickened out? Lost your courage?"

Cheng Shoubing replied, "Didn't you see? Steward Hong is clearly in cahoots with Second Master. If you keep talking, you might not even keep your lives."

Feng Daniou and Zhou Lujun sneered, "You're afraid of death, but we're not."

Cheng Shoubing grew anxious: "This isn't about being afraid of death. It's about the Young Master fleeing in a panic, being hunted down by so many people. He definitely needs help. Right now, he's surrounded by enemies. If we die, who will help him?"

Feng Daniou and the others' expressions softened slightly, realizing he had a point.

Jiao Shanhe, who was beside them, let out a sound of surprise: "Well, well, Little Bottle, you've really impressed me with your intelligence today. That's exactly what I wanted to say too."

"Of course, I'm not stupid," Cheng Shoubing proudly raised his chin. "Hey, are you insulting me?"

Jiao Shanhe chuckled, "Of course not. Let's hurry and find the Young Master's whereabouts. We don't know where he is right now."

At this moment, Zu An, carrying Qin Wanru, suddenly burst into a courtyard. Just as someone was about to come out the door, they collided head-on.

"Oh dear~" A clear, delicate cry rang out.