Chapter 452: Standing Side by Side in Battle

Zu'an instinctively looked towards Yun Yuqing, who was beside him. Seeing her secretly looking at him too, he couldn't help but smile and subtly winked at her.

Yun Yuqing's face flushed, and she quickly turned her head away.

Today, she felt physically and mentally exhausted and actually didn't want to come out. However, thinking this might be her last glimpse of Zu'an, she inexplicably found herself here.

The exchange of glances between the two did not escape the eyes of the King of Wu, whose heart filled with intense rage.

Rage points from Zhao Yan +1024!

However, under everyone's gaze, he couldn't openly erupt. He could only pretend nothing had happened and continued exchanging pleasantries with the King of Liang, Liu Yao, and others.

After leaving the city, the two parties would eventually go their separate ways.

As Zu'an's carriage passed by, Yun Yuqing sent a message with her qi: "Take care on your journey!"

Sensing the sadness of parting in her voice, Zu'an laughed heartily: "Jibei City is a wonderful place, with not only beautiful scenery but also beautiful people. I'll definitely come back next time, ha ha ha."

Yun Yuqing's face reddened slightly. She knew he was deliberately saying it for her to remember their promise, but she truly couldn't imagine how Zu'an could survive this journey.

Those around them were bewildered, thinking, "You're just a prisoner passing through here; what's there to miss and come back for?"

Only the King of Wu understood the meaning behind his words. His handsome face instantly darkened, and the murderous intent in his eyes grew even stronger.

Rage points from the King of Wu +444!

Huang Huihong, annoyed, closed the carriage door for him: "Shut your trap. You're a royal criminal, and you still dream of coming back."

The surrounding people burst into laughter, clearly mocking his overestimation of himself.

Zu'an paid them no mind. *You trash wouldn't understand my joy.*

"Is there something going on between you and the Princess Consort?" Zheng Dan traced words on the table with her finger. She had been beside Zu'an just now and noticed the subtle exchange of glances between them.

Zu'an smiled slightly and also wrote on the table: "Indeed, she couldn't resist my handsome face and has completely succumbed to my charm."

Zheng Dan rolled her eyes.

*I'd believe a ghost before I believe you.* "How could someone as noble as the Princess Consort, practically a fairy, take a liking to you?"

If they had spent more time there, it might be plausible, but they had only been in the prince's estate for two days. Moreover, they were kept in a separate courtyard and hadn't even met the Princess Consort. How could they have interacted?

With that thought, she breathed a sigh of relief, feeling she had overthought things.

At that moment, Sang Hong, in the prison cart behind, also looked utterly bewildered. He kept feeling he had forgotten something, but no matter how hard he tried to recall, he couldn't pinpoint what it was.

Only Sang Qian gazed wistfully at the woman in the white fox fur from afar. He inwardly marveled at how such a perfect woman could exist in the world, while simultaneously feeling intense envy for the King of Wu.

Each member of the group harbored their own thoughts as they journeyed north. They arrived at a small town as dusk approached, and the King of Liang ordered them to encamp there.

The town was tiny, with only one inn. The King of Liang's subordinates quickly booked the entire inn. Of course, most of the Imperial Guards had to camp on the outskirts of the town.

Due to the limited rooms, Zu'an naturally couldn't have a room to himself. He had to share with Sang Qian and his father.

Sharing a room, Sang Qian looked at Zu'an with intense animosity, as if seeing an arch-enemy.

Seeing him poised to lunge, Zu'an said displeased, "Aren't you being incredibly ungrateful?"

"Ungrateful?" Sang Qian laughed in anger. He wondered where this guy got the nerve to say such a thing. What favor had he ever done?

Rage points from Sang Qian +666!

"Let's not even talk about saving you before," Zu'an scoffed. "Just consider now: if it weren't for me, you'd still be in the prison cart below. Would you have the chance to stay in an inn room when rooms are this scarce?"

Sang Qian's breath hitched. This guy was actually right.

Originally, they were all supposed to stay in the prison carts. However, Zu'an had been clamoring all the way, threatening that if he wasn't comfortable, he would forget some content of the "Phoenix Nirvana Scripture" when facing the Emperor. He would then blame the escorts, claiming they deliberately targeted him because they didn't want the Emperor to live forever.

Old foxes like the King of Liang wouldn't dare bear such responsibility. Besides, giving him one more room was no big deal.

So, he was given a room throughout the journey. Of course, considering it wouldn't sound good if word got out that a dignified grandmaster was being manipulated by a mere hooligan at every turn, the King of Liang simply arranged for the other royal criminals to stay in rooms as well. After all, Sang Hong and others were once high-ranking officials, and he wanted to avoid future criticism from the Censorate.

It was fine when rooms were plentiful before, but today the inn didn't have many rooms, so the three of them had to cram into one.

"That's right," Zu'an scoffed. "People should be grateful. Otherwise, if you piss me off, I'll just go stay in Miss Zheng's room next door. Then what will you do?"

As a woman, Zheng Dan naturally couldn't share a room with others at night.

Since Sang Hong hadn't been formally convicted yet, the King of Liang, Liu Yao, and others still considered the optics of the situation.

"You're going too far!" Sang Qian was almost insane, roaring as he lunged at Zu'an.

Rage points from Sang Qian +999!

Because his qi was sealed, his movements were no different from an ordinary person's, and Zu'an easily dodged him.

While dodging, he yelled, "Murder! Murder! I demand a different room!"

"What's all this noise about?!" Huang Huihong entered, glaring at the two. "If you make any more noise, you'll both sleep in the prison cart outside."

Zu'an chuckled, "It's not me making noise. It's this guy treating me like an enemy, wanting to hit and kill me whenever he sees me. I don't feel safe here, so I request to move to Miss Zheng's room next door. We get along well normally, so I'm sure she wouldn't mind."

"What?!" Sang Qian suddenly realized he seemed to have fallen into this guy's trap again.

Just as he was getting anxious, Huang Huihong glared at Zu'an: "Move over and sleep with Miss Zheng? What are you dreaming of?"

Zu'an: "..."

*Why does this guy seem to dislike me now? Just because I exchanged a few glances with your goddess? Do you really need to make things difficult for me?*

Just then, a soldier ran in: "Commander Huang, the Prince requests your presence to discuss something."

Huang Huihong nodded, then warned the two again: "If you cause any more trouble, I won't be lenient. Lord Sang, please say something too; otherwise, it won't look good if we have to escort you out."

Sang Hong nodded slightly: "Rest assured, I will restrain my son."

Huang Huihong glared at Zu'an: "That goes for you too."

Zu'an shrugged, looking utterly nonchalant.

Soon, Huang Huihong left, and Zu'an mused on how to extract more rage points from Sang Qian.

However, Sang Hong spoke up: "Young friend Zu, we are not enemies. Perhaps we will even fight side-by-side in the future, so why waste energy on internal strife here?"

"Fight side-by-side?" Zu'an was somewhat puzzled.

Sang Hong looked out at the night sky and said faintly, "There are many who wish to kill you now, and quite a few who wish to kill my son and me. When the situation becomes chaotic, perhaps we can join forces against our enemies."

Zu'an pouted, "I wondered what you were going to say. I've heard you claim many people want to kill you before, but so far, everyone who's come has been after me. So, don't inflate your own importance."

Sang Hong was unconcerned: "This isn't a good thing, so why would I inflate my importance? Those who want to kill us, by my reckoning, should be arriving tonight."

Sang Qian, who had been simmering with indignation, was startled by his father's words and instantly forgot about arguing with Zu'an.

Zu'an frowned, observing that Sang Hong seemed to have perceived something.

Just then, the door was pushed open, and a waiter entered carrying a wooden box: "Your meals, gentlemen."

As he spoke, he quickly placed a meal in front of each of the three. The dishes weren't extravagant but looked appealing in color, aroma, and taste.

Sang Qian was already ravenous and was about to start eating when Sang Hong stopped him. He looked at his father in confusion.

Sang Hong smiled: "Look, even Zu'an hasn't started eating yet. What's your rush?"

Zu'an chuckled, "Respecting the elderly and caring for the young is a traditional virtue of our Great Zhou Dynasty. Of course, the elders should go first."