Chapter 413: About to Explode

Zu An’s mind was racing. He was certain that what he was waiting for would eventually happen, but he wasn't sure if it would be today.

If it did, everything would be fine. But if it didn't, would he just have to watch Zheng Dan and Sang Qian get married?

Although they had long ago reached an understanding about their relationship, and Sang Qian was even now incapacitated by Ji Dengtu’s medicine, why did the thought of them getting married feel so strange to him?

"Sigh, a good cuckolder should stick to being a cuckolder. Getting emotionally involved and accidentally turning it into pure love—isn't that just shooting myself in the foot?"

Just then, a soft, alluring voice reached his ear: "A'Zu, I heard you gave Sang Qian a green hat?"

Zu An looked up to see Zheng Dan slowly approaching, holding the red silk. Everyone around them praised her elegant and graceful demeanor, unaware that she was communicating with him via vital energy transmission.

"What else could I give him?" Zu An snorted.

"You're too naughty," Zheng Dan said, her tone a little strange. Her expression under her veil must have been even more amusing. "If Sang Qian knew what a green hat meant, he'd probably be after you relentlessly."

Zu An chuckled, "I only told you about that idiom. If you don't tell him, how would he ever know?"

Zheng Dan sighed, "A'Zu, playing a trick on him is fine, but the marriage alliance between the Zheng and Sang families can't be changed. Don't be impulsive and put yourself in danger."

"Can't be changed? Not necessarily," Zu An sneered.

Zheng Dan bit her lip. "If it were just me, I would abandon everything and go with you. But this marriage isn't just about Sang Qian and me; it's about the Zheng and Sang families, involving the interests of countless people. I truly cannot go back on my word."

"Besides, you should know that once I marry him, we'll only be husband and wife in name. I won't let him touch me. And... you already tampered with him, so he couldn't even if he wanted to."

"Don't worry," Zu An replied, "I won't put you in a difficult position."

Zheng Dan sighed softly, "I hope so."

Next came the various elaborate wedding rituals. Several times, Sang Hong glanced towards Zu An, only relaxing when he saw him quietly drinking alone.

If that guy really caused trouble at the wedding, it would be quite a headache.

Xie Daoyun, however, looked at Zu An with a hint of curiosity. "A'Zu, is there something going on between you and Miss Zheng?"

Zu An was startled. "Why do you ask?"

"I can't quite put my finger on it, but your relationship just seems a bit strange," Xie Daoyun said. "Zheng Dan often came to you for math problems when we were at school, which is understandable given her family's business. But combined with your behavior today, it's even stranger. You look like a lovesick person drowning your sorrows in wine."

Zu An was dumbfounded. A woman's sixth sense was truly astonishing; she had guessed the truth based on such minor details.

"Miss Xie certainly has an active imagination. You must read a lot of romance novels, don't you?" He, of course, wouldn't admit it. Not just for himself, but also for Zheng Dan's reputation.

Xie Daoyun's cheeks flushed, and she said a little shyly, "I read a wide variety of books."

Zu An couldn't help but chuckle. "Have you ever read 'Sweet Pet Little Wife: Overbearing Sword Immortal's 99 Days of Love-Seeking'?"

Xie Daoyun looked at him in surprise. "You like that book too?"

Zu An: "..."

She had actually read it?

This book must be addictive. Both Chu Chuyan, usually so cold and aloof, and Xie Daoyun, renowned for her intellect, actually enjoyed reading it?

As soon as the book was mentioned, Xie Daoyun's face lit up with excitement, and she eagerly discussed various plot points with him.

Zu An hadn't read it at all, so he could only respond vaguely. Fortunately, he had watched many TV dramas in his previous life, and the tropes of strong female lead shows were all too familiar, so he managed to converse without revealing his ignorance.

Time passed without him realizing it. Suddenly, the officiant's loud voice boomed, "Time for the worship of Heaven and Earth!"

Zu An frowned. He saw that the other procedures were complete, and they were now entering the most crucial part: the worship of Heaven and Earth.

Sang Qian and Zheng Dan, connected by a red silk ribbon, walked to the center of the hall. In front of them was a large square table covered with a red cloth, on which stood an incense burner and red candles. This was the Heaven and Earth table.

The officiant called out loudly, "First bow to Heaven and Earth!"

The two slowly knelt, bowing three times towards the Heaven and Earth table.

"Second bow to the esteemed parents!"

Sang Hong and Zheng Yutang sat at the head of the room, stroking their beards and smiling as they watched the pair, clearly delighted by the scene.

"Husband and wife bow to each other!"

This was the final step. As the two stood facing each other, about to bow.

*Clang!* A crisp sound echoed, and everyone quickly looked in its direction.

Zu An said apologetically, "My apologies, my hand slipped just now. I didn't hold the wine cup properly and it fell and broke."

Sang Hong: "..."

Sang Qian: "..."

Rage points from Sang Hong +444!

Rage points from Sang Qian +444!

At such a crucial moment, one would have to be incredibly careless to accidentally break a wine cup. Wasn't he clearly trying to disrupt the event?

The guests in the hall exchanged strange looks, thinking there was more drama to witness.

Sang Hong cleared his throat. "Young Master Zu, please be a bit more careful."

Then he waved his hand to the others. "Continue."

The officiant, straining his voice, began to call out again, "Husband and wife bow to each other!"

Just then, *clang!* another crisp sound, and a teacup fell to the floor.

Seeing everyone's gaze turn to the shattered porcelain cup fragments at her feet, Xie Daoyun's cheeks flushed crimson, and she quickly waved her hands. "It wasn't me, it wasn't me..."

Sang Hong naturally knew it wasn't her. His gaze fixed sharply on Zu An. "Young Master Zu, don't push your luck!"

Rage points from Sang Hong +666!

Rage points from Sang Qian +666!

Zu An spread his hands innocently. "It has nothing to do with me; she was the one who dropped it."

Xie Daoyun, standing nearby, gritted her teeth. This guy was utterly shameless.

Sang Hong took a deep breath, then continued to address everyone. "A misunderstanding, it's all a misunderstanding. Please continue."

The officiant nearby swallowed hard. He'd been shouting for so long his throat was almost hoarse. He hoped there wouldn't be any more mishaps. "Husband and wife bow to each other!"

Zu An was just holding a plate, intending to throw it to the ground, when suddenly his hand was seized. A figure had appeared before him, gripping his wrist tightly. "Young Master Zu, you won't say this was an accident too, will you?"

With his wrist caught, Zu An's heart leaped. He twisted his wrist, breaking free from the grip at an astonishing angle, then instantly retreated several yards, looking at the other person with lingering fear.

An eighth-rank expert—truly living up to their reputation!

Sang Hong was momentarily stunned, not expecting the other party to escape his grasp.

That twisting movement just now, it seemed like the Pei family's "Feather Robe Silk Entanglement Hand." Did he have a connection to the Pei family?

"You, Zu! You're deliberately looking for trouble, aren't you? Guards! Seize this shameless scoundrel!" Interrupted time and again, Sang Qian was already seething with rage.

Rage points from Sang Qian +999!

Anyway, the brothers from the River Defense Camp had arrived, and with his father being an eighth-rank cultivator, they weren't afraid of facing the Chu family's Red Robe Army.

A group of soldiers, having already received their orders, rushed in. Meanwhile, the Red Robe Army surrounded Zu An to protect him. Both sides were on the verge of clashing.

The surrounding guests quickly dodged aside. While watching drama was entertaining, such a large-scale confrontation could easily lead to collateral damage. They didn't want the whole village ending up at *their* homes for dinner.

Sang Hong was genuinely enraged. "Zu An, I have always treated you with courtesy, yet you repeatedly disrupt my son's wedding. What are your intentions?!"

Rage points from Sang Hong +567!

"What do you mean I'm disrupting it? Your floor is clearly uneven, causing the cups and plates to fall. How can you blame me?" Zu An complained, reasoning that if Sang Hong could feign ignorance when discussing the Chu family's issues earlier, he could follow suit.

"Father, stop wasting words on him, just finish him off!" Sang Qian also took a saber from a servant.

Zheng Dan slightly lifted her veil, gazing worriedly at Zu An in the distance, wondering how he would resolve this situation.

He wasn't usually so impulsive. What was wrong with him today? Was it because of her...?

Her face alternated between joy and worry.

At this point, Sang Hong also snorted. "If I don't teach you a lesson today, you'll think my Sang family is easy to bully!"

He waved his hand, and countless archers appeared from the rooftops on all sides, drawing their bows and nocking arrows, aiming at Zu An and the Red Robe Army.

Having suffered such a great loss against the Red Robe Army earlier, how could he not have any precautions?

While Sang Qian went to inform the River Defense Camp, Sang Hong had also secretly dispatched trusted aides to gather men and set up an ambush.

Seeing Zu An surrounded, Zheng Dan couldn't stand idly by and quickly said, "Father-in-law, today is Dan'er's big day. Seeing blood would be inauspicious."

Xie Daoyun, standing by, was momentarily surprised. On the surface, Zheng Dan's words were perfectly reasonable, but to Xie Daoyun, it seemed entirely as if she was speaking up for Zu An.

Sang Hong frowned, showing some hesitation after hearing his daughter-in-law's words.

Just as he hesitated, the main gate suddenly swung open, and a high-pitched voice announced, "An imperial edict has arrived!"