Chapter 377: Joy Turns to Sorrow

Zu An ignored him and immediately sent someone to bring Qin Wanru back.

While waiting for news, Zu An suddenly had an idea. He searched Chu Tiesheng's belongings and found two porcelain bottles. A white bottle had a red label that read "Bull's Milk." This must be the poison Qin Wanru had been afflicted with earlier, the one Ji Dengtu couldn't stop thinking about.

"Hmph, I'll confiscate it," he thought. "Otherwise, if that scoundrel Ji Dengtu gets his hands on it, who knows how many innocent women he'll harm."

Next, he found a green porcelain bottle with a label that read "Forget-Sorrow Water."

"Forget-Sorrow Water?" Zu An paused, wondering what it was. The name sounded quite poetic, but he had no idea what its effects were.

"Should I test the medicine on Ji Xiaoxi next time?"

Suddenly, the image of Ji Dengtu's enraged roar flashed through Zu An's mind. If Ji Dengtu knew he was tormenting his precious daughter like this, he would surely fight him to the death.

A shiver ran down his spine, and he quickly dismissed the idea, putting the bottle into the space of the Glazed Treasure Gourd. He decided to investigate its effects later.

Meanwhile, when Qin Wanru saw the Chu family guards coming for her, her first thought was that her hiding place had been exposed. Believing Zu An's mission had failed, she worried about his safety.

Only after the messenger repeatedly reassured her, and remembering the man's long-standing loyalty, did she follow them back to the Chu family, still somewhat doubtful.

Upon seeing Qin Wanru appear, the last heavy weight in the hearts of the Chu family members was finally lifted.

After all, Zu An's earlier account had been one-sided. Although he was the Chu family's son-in-law, the true decision-makers in the Chu family were still the master, the madam, and the eldest young lady.

Qin Wanru made various arrangements to deal with the remaining affairs of the Chu family. Finding a free moment, she pulled Zu An aside and looked at him in surprise. "How did you do it?" she asked.

"Do what?" Zu An replied with a smile.

"Hong Zhong and Chu Tiesheng, of course," Qin Wanru said, her face full of doubt. "One was a seventh-rank, the other a sixth-rank, neither of whom you could handle. Plus, they had countless guards with them. How did you manage to capture and kill them directly?"

Zu An proudly declared, "Actually... I'm a master."

Qin Wanru naturally didn't believe him. She had seen Zu An in action; while his cultivation was indeed good, it was nowhere near that level.

However, Hong Zhong's and Chu Tiesheng's bodies were still there, leaving her no choice but to believe.

Remembering Chu Chuyan's instruction to trust Zu An before she left, Qin Wanru couldn't help but sigh inwardly, realizing how far behind Chuyan she was in discerning people.

However, another thought immediately crossed her mind, and her expression became unnatural.

"How will I face my daughter now?" she wondered.

Just then, Chu Yuepo also rushed over with a beaming smile to offer his condolences. "Sister-in-law, it's wonderful that you're safe! I was so worried about you."

Qin Wanru composed her chaotic thoughts. "Hmph, you must be very disappointed to see me back, aren't you? I didn't see you do anything when I was in trouble."

During Chu Tiesheng's rebellion, the third branch had remained silent, as if they hadn't seen any of it.

Chu Yuepo smiled wryly. "Sister-in-law, the family upheaval happened so suddenly that I didn't even have time to react before you were gone. At that time, Chu Tiesheng and Hong Zhong were in powerful collusion. If I had dared to object, our entire family would surely have been killed."

"Circumstances were against us. I could only pretend to cooperate with them while secretly preserving our strength, waiting for the right moment to welcome Big Brother and you back."

Qin Wanru knew he was being disingenuous and sneered, "What exactly do you consider the 'right moment'?"

Chu Yuepo chuckled apologetically. "Like just now, for example. If I hadn't sent people to assist, Zu An might not have been able to clear out Hong Zhong and Chu Tiesheng's remaining forces so quickly."

Qin Wanru knew he was the type to adapt to circumstances and, since he hadn't colluded with Chu Tiesheng from the start, she didn't want to make things difficult for him. She gave him a warning and then let him go.

She then went to find Chu Huanzhao, thinking the girl must have been terrified these past two days.

However, when she found Chu Huanzhao, the girl was curled up asleep in Zu An's arms, with faint tears still lingering in the corners of her eyes.

"Shh~" Seeing Qin Wanru approach, Zu An immediately made a shushing gesture, signaling her not to wake Xiaozhao.

Qin Wanru frowned, but seeing Xiaozhao tightly clinging to Zu An's arm, she ultimately sighed inwardly, "What a fated entanglement!"

After a while, Zu An carried Chu Huanzhao to her bed and covered her with the blanket before coming out. "Madam," he said, "Xiaozhao has been worried about us these past two days and barely slept. She only just now truly relaxed."

A faint smile appeared on Qin Wanru's face. "This girl usually seems mischievous and playful, but I didn't expect her to be so filial. It makes all my doting on her worthwhile."

Then her expression turned serious. "What exactly are your intentions toward Xiaozhao?"

Zu An paused. "No intentions at all. I just see her as a lovely younger sister, a good friend."

"That's good," Qin Wanru's expression softened slightly. "However, you still need to be careful about maintaining proper boundaries. Although she's still young, she'll be marrying in a couple of years. If rumors spread about you two constantly hugging, it could damage her reputation, and then no in-laws might want her."

Zu An laughed heartily. "How could someone as adorable as Xiaozhao not be wanted? If no one else wants her, I'll take her!"

Qin Wanru's face instantly flushed crimson. She grabbed a feather duster nearby and chased him, hitting him as she went:

"You scoundrel! I knew you had that idea!"

Rage points from Qin Wanru +233 +233 +233...

Zu An dodged and pleaded, "Madam, stop hitting me! It was just a joke, a joke..."

Old Man Mi, hidden in the shadows and observing the two, showed a playful smile on his face at this scene.

"Not bad, not bad," he thought. "This boy is more capable than I imagined."

He had thought he would need to slowly establish himself in the manor after the body snatching, but unexpectedly, this cunning Zu An had already completely gained the Chu family's recognition. He had even performed such a great service this time, ensuring his status in the Chu family would only continue to rise.

Even more surprising was that Zu An had not only been accepted by the eldest young lady but also had an excellent relationship with the second young lady. In his view, once he became Zu An, he would only need a few tricks to make the second young lady his.

Even Madam Chu herself seemed to have a strange attitude toward him.

Having lived for so many years, although his body was failing, he had witnessed so much that his theoretical knowledge surpassed anyone else's.

He believed that with the right approach, even a romantic encounter with Madam Chu was not impossible.

At worst, he could use that "Forget-Sorrow Water." Zu An didn't know what it was for, but he knew perfectly well.

Perhaps it was due to his prolonged physical deficiencies and suppression, but Old Man Mi's desires in this regard were greater than anyone else's.

Moreover, as a man who had lived for a long time, he found mature women like Qin Wanru even more attractive.

"That Zu An is truly too young," he thought. "He's still thinking about choosing. A true man, of course, wants them all!"

All the necessary materials had been gathered. It would be in the next couple of days; he would perform the body-snatching ritual and gain a new life!

Thinking of the Chu family's wealth and all the beautiful wives and concubines that would be his, a fervent desire flashed in Old Man Mi's eyes.

Then he sneered repeatedly. "That Zu An deliberately hid things from me, but how could he know that I've already sensed the aura of my treasure!"

He had previously worried about not being able to bury his body intact after the body snatching, but now his last trace of concern was gone.

"That brat Zu An dared to deceive him," he thought, "so being taken over is his deserved retribution."

"Hahahaha~" Back in his room, Old Man Mi could no longer suppress the triumph in his heart and burst into laughter, looking up at the sky.

Just then, a coughing sound suddenly came from outside the window: "Xiao Yingzi, what has you so pleased?"