Chapter 428: My Wife Is Pure and Noble

Zheng Dan’s face instantly flushed. That man just had to do it in front of so many people…

Privately, she would go along with whatever he wanted, but in public, the persona of the dignified, proper, classically elegant Miss Zheng, cultivated over more than a decade, took precedence. She wished for a crack in the ground to crawl into, lowering her head as much as possible.

Next to her, Sang Qian’s face also flushed instantly, but with anger. He roared at Zu An, “Zu! You’ve gone too far!”

From his appearance, if not for the prison cart restraining him, he would have already lunged out to fight Zu An to the death.

Rage from Sang Qian +999!

Zu An looked innocent. “I’m doing this for everyone’s sake, so we don’t waste time and can set off sooner. What, is Young Master Sang afraid of going to the capital? I’m not afraid of offending the Emperor, so why are you so scared, Young Master Sang? A man needs to be bolder.”

“I’m not, I didn’t, I…” Sang Qian was almost dizzy from Zu An’s words. Was this really what he was angry about? It was clearly about Zu An flirting with his wife right in front of him.

But his emotions were so stirred at that moment that his thoughts were muddled, and he found it difficult to organize his words.

Rage value from Sang Qian +666!

“Alright, alright, Qian’er, you’re no match for him. Stop bickering with him.” Seeing his son being toyed with, Sang Hong felt a headache coming on and immediately stopped his son from arguing further.

Prince Liang, standing by, snorted. “Relocate the female prisoner and Sang Hong. This cart will hold Zu An and Sang Hong.”

He naturally couldn’t allow Zu An and Zheng Dan to stay in the same cart.

Hearing that Zheng Dan was to join his prison cart, Sang Qian’s eyes immediately lit up, his anger turning to joy. “Great, great!”

Sang Hong, beside him, was exasperated. “Do you really want your father to leave that much?”

Upon hearing this arrangement, Zheng Dan’s face turned pale, and she deeply lowered her head.

Zu An naturally objected. “Your Royal Highness, I don’t understand this arrangement. Are you giving a newlywed couple a chance to consummate their marriage by putting them in the same cart? Everyone is in the prime of their lives; what if something happens, an accidental spark? Are you going to let the Imperial Guards enjoy a lively show?”

Prince Liang paused, realizing it seemed a bit inappropriate. “Then…”

As his gaze fell on Sang Hong, Zu An continued, “Arranging Miss Zheng and Lord Sang in the same cart would be even more improper. There’s no principle for a father-in-law and his new daughter-in-law to be together. If rumors spread, Your Royal Highness, you would lose face.”

Prince Liang was amused. “According to you, Miss Zheng can only be in a cart with you then?”

Zu An nodded. “Of course. Firstly, I’m an outsider, so no one needs to worry about any sordid affairs. Secondly, Miss Zheng and I have a teacher-student relationship and have been in the same room before, so others won’t spread gossip. Thirdly, Miss Zheng is famously dignified and self-possessed; she certainly wouldn’t allow me to be disrespectful. Plus, we’re both restricted, and with so many eyes watching, what could possibly happen?”

“This…” Prince Liang fell into thought. What this fellow said was not without reason.

Sang Qian immediately panicked. “No, absolutely not…”

Before he could finish, Zu An interrupted, “What, do you still not believe in Miss Zheng’s dignity and reserve? Do you think something would happen between her and another man in plain sight?”

Sang Qian was flustered. “My wife is pure and spotless; of course, I trust her, it’s just…”

Before he could finish, Zu An interrupted again, “Then you don’t trust His Royal Highness’s wise and mighty judgment? Do you think he would intentionally target you and your father, and condone my wrongdoing?”

Seeing Prince Liang’s unfriendly gaze fall upon him, Sang Qian quickly waved his hands. “No, no, how could I dare to doubt His Royal Highness? It’s just…”

Zu An seized the opportunity to interrupt, “Your Royal Highness, since Young Master Sang also approves of my plan, why not arrange it this way?”

Sang Qian was furious, about to speak further, but his father pulled him, saying, “Sit down.”

“But…” Sang Qian pointed frantically.

Sang Hong calmly said, “How could Prince Liang fail to distinguish what’s important? He wouldn’t arrange it that way. Zu An is just deliberately playing with you. Don’t lose your composure and make a fool of yourself in front of everyone, disgracing our Sang family.”

At this point, Prince Liang on the other side was still hesitant. While it seemed unreasonable to put Zheng Dan with Sang Qian or Sang Hong, putting her with Zu An was equally unreasonable.

Then Zu An lowered his voice and said, “Your Royal Highness, do you think I would keep the original ‘Phoenix Nirvana Sutra’ on me and invite danger?”

“Of course not,” Prince Liang instinctively replied. In fact, the Embroidered Uniform Guard had just searched him and found nothing.

“Exactly,” Zu An chuckled. “Who would dare keep something like that? For safety, I already destroyed the original copy. All the content is in my mind.”

Prince Liang snorted. “Why are you telling me this?”

He knew his place; something like the ‘Phoenix Nirvana Sutra’ was not for him to possess. His task was simply to bring this fellow to the Emperor.

How the Emperor would extract the secret text from him was the Emperor’s business.

Zu An chuckled. “Mainly, I wanted to say that when a person is nervous or unhappy, it easily affects their mood. They might forget things or remember them incorrectly. Then, when the Emperor asks, the answers won’t match up…”

Prince Liang’s expression changed. He naturally knew what the other party meant. He snorted, “Guards! Put Zu An in this prison cart. We’ve delayed long enough. We depart immediately.”

Sang Qian: “???”

Sang Hong: “…”

Sang Qian couldn’t help but look at his father. “Father, didn’t you say it wouldn’t be arranged this way?”

Sang Hong’s old face flushed. “How should I know what that Prince Liang is up to!”

Sang Qian was about to say more, but Prince Liang’s subordinates, already instructed, sealed the mute acupoints of both father and son, rendering them speechless.

Sang Hong frowned, his gaze at Prince Liang’s retreating back filled with resentment.

After Zu An entered the prison cart, he smiled at Zheng Dan. Zheng Dan’s heart skipped a beat, and she quickly gathered her belongings, shrinking to the far side of the cart, keeping as much distance from him as possible.

Her actions earned widespread praise from onlookers. “Miss Zheng is truly a paragon of a dignified young lady; even in this situation, she knows how to maintain distance from other men.”

Hearing the people around him say this, Sang Qian’s expression finally softened.

“Ah Zu!” Chu Zhongtian and Qin Wanru hurried after them, clearly distressed to see him being taken away like this.

Zu An waved to them. “Lord and Lady, don’t be so sad. Perhaps we’ll meet again before long.”

Qin Wanru couldn’t help but spit. “Are you cursing us to die?”

After all, in most people’s eyes, his journey was fraught with danger, with little chance of a good outcome.

Zu An laughed heartily. “Of course not! Oh, I just remembered something: when Chuyan returns, tell her not to remarry, no matter what. I’m going to marry her again in the future!”

The Chu couple knew that he had originally escaped, but had come out solely to save the Chu family. Their eyes welled up with tears. Qin Wanru said, “If you can return, we will certainly let Chuyan marry you again.”

Zu An added, “Oh, and don’t marry Xiao Zhao off too soon either. Wait for me to come back…”

Seeing Qin Wanru’s eyebrows nearly standing on end, he quickly added, “Wait for me to come back and vet them for her, hahaha…”

Qin Wanru couldn’t help but burst into laughter through her tears. “This rascal, always so improper.”

At the same time, she understood that he had little chance of returning; he was merely saying this to put their minds at ease.

Thinking of the painful reality, she continuously wiped away her tears.

Beside her, Chu Zhongtian also sighed repeatedly, his face full of sorrow.

“Lord and Lady, are we truly going to let Young Master-in-law be taken away like this?” Yue Shan and others quietly approached the couple. Beside them stood the indignant Cheng Shoubing, Jiao Shan, and others.

Chu Zhongtian sighed. “I cannot risk the lives of all our clan members. Ah Zu sacrificed himself to save us; we must live well for his sake.”

Hearing his words, all the members of the Chu family showed sorrow on their faces. Even Chu Hongcai, who originally believed Zu An was responsible for his father’s death, was completely won over. He wondered if he could have been so noble in the same situation.

Qin Wanru, standing by, also spoke. “Don’t worry, we will try to rescue Ah Zu through all available channels. The Chu family also has many connections in the capital.”

Although she said this, she knew in her heart that hope could no longer be described as merely “slim.”