Chapter 562: The Most Outstanding Wealthy and Beautiful Woman of the Great Zhou Dynasty

Seeing the changes in her expression, Chu Chuyan thought Pei Manman was embarrassed and couldn't help but sigh softly, "Manman, I haven't had many friends growing up. You could say you're my best friend."

Pei Manman's pretty face flushed, and she said, "I'm sorry."

Although she could tell herself that Zu An and Chu Chuyan were already divorced, and there was no legal issue with her being with him, she knew she couldn't fool herself. Their divorce was clearly forced, and she had interfered before they had even separated.

Seeing the usually passionate and generous Pei Manman acting like a shy, awkward young wife, Chu Chuyan chuckled. "Do you think I'm blaming you?"

"You don't mind?" Pei Manman asked, surprised by her tone.

"Normally, of course, I would mind," Chu Chuyan sighed. "But now, Zu An's future is uncertain and precarious. The fact that you're still willing to be with him proves that you truly love each other. How can I possibly blame you?"

Pei Manman fell silent, her initial joy replaced by worry. It was clear the person Zu An had provoked this time was too powerful; it looked like a desperate situation no matter how she saw it. "He insisted on going to the capital," she said, "saying that once he reached there, he could resolve this matter completely. Do you perhaps have a solution?"

"He really said that?" Chu Chuyan was startled. "What solution could I possibly have? To be honest, I was hoping you two would run away after coming out of the secret realm. I didn't expect Zhu Xie Chixin to find you."

Pei Manman bit her lip; she had indeed thought of the same thing. "I suggested that once," she said, "but he couldn't bear to leave you behind."

Chu Chuyan was taken aback, her gaze drifting towards Zu An's figure. For a moment, she seemed lost in thought.

Pei Manman said, "Is there really no other way? You could go ask your maternal grandfather for help. Given his status, things might not be without a turning point."

A look of worry appeared between Chu Chuyan's brows. "You know about the situation between my family and my maternal grandfather's family," she said. "My maternal grandfather never approved of my mother's decision back then. They publicly severed ties... Never mind, I'll go beg him when the time comes. We can't just give up any glimmer of hope."

Pei Manman hummed in acknowledgment. "I'll also go back to my family and see what I can do," she said. "But there's not much hope. You know my awkward position within the family."

Chu Chuyan took her hand to offer comfort. In a way, the two shared a similar plight, which was why they became best friends back then. Although their personalities were completely different, they connected well in many aspects. They just never expected to connect so well that they would fall for the same man.

The warriors nearby glanced over. The expected drama didn't materialize; these two women were actually holding hands and looked quite harmonious. What the hell?

Not to mention two women of such exceptional beauty, even two ordinary women would never be so harmonious. What kind of magic did that guy Zu An possess?

Zu An saw the constantly refreshing rage points in the background and couldn't help but look back. Noticing the sight of the two women holding hands, he was stunned. Were these two women too open-minded, or did they not love him that much? How could they be so harmonious...?

Everyone was preoccupied with their thoughts, and the group soon returned to a nearby inn. It turned out they hadn't traveled far from where they exited the secret realm.

Seeing his gaze wandering around, Chu Chuyan said, "The Sang family father and daughter, as well as Miss Zheng, have already been escorted back to the capital."

Zu An let out a faint "Oh," feeling a little guilty.

Chu Chuyan had originally wanted to ask about what happened between him and Zheng Dan, but thinking of his uncertain fate, she momentarily lost the mood to scold him.

At this moment, Prince Liang and Liu Yao also returned one after another. They had been searching everywhere for Zu An's traces, and Zhu Xie Chixin had immediately informed them once Zu An was found.

Seeing Zu An captured, Prince Liang and Liu Yao both let out a sigh of relief. Too many things had happened on this journey. Now that the rest had been handed over to Zhu Xie Chixin, whatever happened next was no longer their concern.

After seeing Pei Manman, Prince Liang stroked his beard and walked over. "Miss Pei," he said, "I received a letter from the Pei family two days ago. Here it is."

Pei Manman was a little puzzled. She took the letter and opened it, and her expression instantly changed when she saw a certain token inside.

"What's wrong?" Zu An and Chu Chuyan both noticed the abnormality and hastily inquired.

Pei Manman bit her lip, clearly struggling with something. After a while, she said with some dejection, "Ah Zu, I'm afraid I can't accompany you to the capital. I have an urgent matter that requires me to return to my hometown."

"What exactly happened?" Zu An was extremely worried. Ever since he met her, she had always been cheerful and smiling; he had almost never seen her like this.

"My mother sent me a message, but the details were vague; I'm not sure what it is," Pei Manman said, glancing at the people around her. She took out the token from the envelope and lowered her voice. "We agreed that this contact method would only be used in an extremely urgent situation, so I have to go back and see what's happened to her."

"In that case, you should leave quickly," Zu An said gravely. "Also, be extremely careful on your journey; who knows what accidents might occur."

Pei Manman hesitated, as if wanting to say something more. "Ah Zu," she said, "after this separation, I'm afraid we might not have a chance to meet again." She knew that by the time she traveled to her hometown and back, it might be too late to join him in the capital.

Zu An, however, smiled and ruffled her head. "What are you thinking?" he said. "A scoundrel like me isn't so easy to kill. I'll wait for you in the capital. It's you who needs to be careful and protect yourself. Don't let me get through this ordeal only for something to happen to you."

"Bah, jinx!" Pei Manman, her face red, spat lightly. Then she looked at Chu Chuyan. "Chuyan, I'm entrusting Ah Zu to your care."

Chu Chuyan's expression was strange. "Manman," she said, "have you forgotten that Ah Zu is my husband to begin with? I'd take good care of him even if you didn't say anything."

Pei Manman snorted. "You two are clearly divorced!" she said, then threw herself into Zu An's arms, standing on tiptoe to kiss him passionately.

Although Zu An spoke lightly, she had no confidence in her heart. This time, the emperor wanted his life; who in the world could protect him?

This separation could very likely be their last. So she used all her strength to kiss him; if it weren't for the public setting, she would have even given herself to him completely.

Before, in the secret realm, it was only their souls. In reality, she was still a virgin. If this separation became permanent, she would always feel great regret.

The surrounding guards and Embroidered Uniform Envoys were wide-eyed. What was happening? Why did a condemned criminal, about to die, have such good fortune with women?

And Miss Chu, aren't you going to do something about this?

Rage points from the warriors: +1024, +1024, +1024...

Chu Chuyan actually somewhat understood Pei Manman's feelings at this moment. She had originally just been sighing with emotion, but being watched by so many people with strange looks, she felt uncomfortable all over. She felt like she should do something, but she didn't know what to do. That feeling of frustration was truly inexpressible.

She could only turn her face away, adopting an "out of sight, out of mind" approach.

Hmm, a vast expanse of lush green grass, tender green branches in the distant forest, even the birds were emerald green parrots...

What a vibrant and lively scene.

But why did it feel so strange?

After a long kiss, their lips parted. Pei Manman's already charming face was now radiant as she gazed dazedly at her lover. She transmitted her voice with vital energy: "Ah Zu, if anything unforeseen happens on this journey to the capital, I will come to join you."

Zu An was startled and hastily said, "Please don't do anything foolish. You can't assume I'm dead until you've seen my corpse with your own eyes. No, even if you see my corpse, I might still be alive through some other secret method. Don't let it happen that I'm not dead, but you've died for love. Then I wouldn't even be able to cry. At the very least, wait ten or eight years to confirm I'm truly dead before doing anything."

Pei Manman knew he was intentionally trying to lighten her mood, so she stopped arguing. "Okay, I'll definitely confirm everything before making any decisions," she said. "But I still hope we can meet alive next time. My... my body in this life is still waiting for you."

These words, filled with tender affection, instantly made Zu An's blood boil. He clearly realized that their previous intimacy in the trial had only been a merging of souls.

Feeling the changes in his body, Pei Manman smiled sweetly, and, blushing, gracefully left. "I wish you a safe journey," she said.

Zhu Xie Chixin, standing nearby, was somewhat surprised. "Miss Pei's cultivation seems to have improved significantly," he remarked.

Prince Liang also nodded, saying with astonishment, "It looks like she's already at the peak of the Sixth Rank, and may have even touched the threshold of the Seventh Rank. How old is she?"

Liu Yao sighed with shared sentiment. "Truly, every generation produces new talents," he mused. "One generation seems more 'spirited' than the last."

He had lived his whole life and only barely reached the Ninth Rank. Had he even reached the Fifth Rank at her age?

Zhu Xie Chixin and Prince Liang gave him a disdainful look. "This fellow is truly uneducated," Zhu Xie Chixin thought. "Is that how you use that phrase?"

However, they also deeply shared the sentiment. Pei Manman was at the peak of the Sixth Rank, and Chu Chuyan was already at the Seventh. Both were only in their teens; their cultivation speed was truly astounding.

But why would two such astonishingly talented and beautiful women coincidentally fall for that guy Zu An?

Because Zu An used the "Mirror Not a Stand" aura concealment, he currently appeared to be only at the Fifth Rank. So, they all coincidentally had the feeling of "a beautiful flower stuck in cow dung."

Uh, no, it was two beautiful flowers stuck in cow dung.

Rage points from Zhu Xie Chixin: +233!

Rage points from Prince Liang Zhao Yi: +999!

Rage points from Liu Yao: +999!

Zu An had no time to concern himself with the rage points received in the background. Watching the beautiful woman disappear into the distance, he felt utterly forlorn.

"Stop looking, she's already far away." Chu Chuyan had come to his side at some point, and her tone was no longer as calm as usual.

Zu An chuckled. "Are you jealous?" he asked.

"Who's your wife?" Chu Chuyan snorted, then turned and walked away immediately.

Zhu Xie Chixin walked over. "We're setting off for the capital," he announced. "Also, bind him with the Soul-Binding Chains."

Chu Chuyan, who had walked away, immediately floated back and shielded her husband. "Since he willingly returned, he has no intention of running," she said. "Why are you using Soul-Binding Chains?"

Zhu Xie Chixin frowned slightly. "Just in case," he said. "We can't keep an eye on him constantly."

Chu Chuyan still insisted. "If he wanted to run, he would have done so already with all the opportunities on this journey," she stated. "If you insist on binding him with the Soul-Binding Chains, then we might as well break out together right now. Anyway, it's certain death once we reach the capital; there's no difference dying here."

Zhu Xie Chixin's brows furrowed deeply. Prince Liang, standing nearby, spoke up. "Commander Zhu Xie," he said, "we don't know how many more dangers there will be on this journey. If we get bogged down, it would be bad if he had no ability to resist if someone tried to kill him."

He had suffered a great loss from this before. Strictly speaking, it would be better for Zu An to escape than to die at the hands of those assassins. If he escaped, there was still a chance to recapture him, but if he died, he was truly dead. Where would the Emperor find the *Phoenix Nirvana Sutra* then?

Zhu Xie Chixin snorted coldly. "Since I'm here, such a situation naturally won't occur," he declared. Although he said this, he didn't actually insist on binding Zu An.

In the end, Zu An boarded a specially made carriage. Although it wasn't as luxurious as Liu Yao's previous one, it was much better than a prisoner cart. After so many assassination attempts, they naturally didn't dare let him sit in an open-air prisoner cart. The carriage walls were inscribed with special magic arrays, capable of blocking sneak attacks from assassins' arrows.

Chu Chuyan also proposed riding in the carriage, and Zhu Xie Chixin's first reaction was to refuse.

What a joke. A condemned criminal was not someone one could casually be around.

Before, Prince Liang and Liu Yao had let Zheng Dan and Zu An share a carriage, and Zhu Xie Chixin had internally cursed them to death when he found out.

It was simply absurd. A single man and woman together? What if something happened inside? It would truly shame the imperial court.

However, seeing Chu Chuyan's serene and aloof face, he wouldn't think along those lines. But this was a condemned criminal specifically requested by the Emperor, so it was naturally best for him not to have contact with others.

Who knew that Zu An would directly yell, saying that since it was the last leg of the journey, if they wouldn't let him and his wife be together, he might as well just fight to the death now. Why bother going to the capital to suffer?

Zhu Xie Chixin also felt a headache coming on, finally understanding Prince Liang and Liu Yao's previous frustrations.

At this moment, Chu Chuyan also spoke. "I can protect him inside," she said. "Consider it a final line of defense."

Zhu Xie Chixin thought for a moment and then agreed. Although he believed the force he brought this time was sufficient to control any situation, it was always wise to prepare for the unexpected.

Moreover, there might be spies from other factions embedded within the group. If they really found a weakness and tried to kill Zu An, it would indeed be troublesome.

He couldn't trust others, but Chu Chuyan would absolutely never collude with other factions.

The group began to set off. Outside, the guards watched their surroundings with full vigilance, but in contrast, the carriage was much quieter.

"Why are you staring at me like that?" Chu Chuyan felt a little uncomfortable under Zu An's direct gaze. She instinctively touched her face, thinking there might be something dirty on it.

"Wife, long time no see. You're getting more and more beautiful," Zu An said with a grin.

Chu Chuyan's expression turned stern. "Who's your wife?" she snapped. "We're already divorced."

Before, with Pei Manman present, she hadn't been able to flare up. Now that only the two of them were left, she had fewer reservations.

Zu An, however, didn't mind. "Although you speak fiercely, you still care about me in your heart," he said. "You just argued strongly with Zhu Xie Chixin to spare me from being bound."

Chu Chuyan sighed softly in her heart, realizing it really wasn't the time for jealousy. She directly transmitted her voice with vital energy: "The reason I argued was just to buy you an opportunity. To find a suitable moment on the road, and I'll cover your escape."

"But what about you then, and what about the Chu family?" Zu An asked, looking at her.

Chu Chuyan remained silent. After a long moment, she said, "At this point, I can't worry about that much. The Emperor can't possibly exterminate our entire clan over this matter. And even if he had the intention, our family actually still has some connections. Before in Brightmoon City, we didn't have time to activate them, but this time, we won't submit so easily."

Zu An shook his head. "There's no need for you and the Chu family to take such a risk," he said. "I'll just go directly to the capital. I might not even die."

"What exactly is your plan?" Chu Chuyan asked curiously.

Zu An shook his head. "I don't actually have much confidence," he said. "Saying it now would only lower the chance of success."

"Then I won't ask," Chu Chuyan said, biting her lip. "After we reach the capital, I'll go beg someone. If he's willing to help, he might be able to save you from the Emperor."

Zu An was startled and hastily said, "Please don't do anything foolish. You're not allowed to sacrifice your innocence or reputation to save me."

Those idiotic TV dramas from his previous life had left him with an indelible psychological shadow: the female protagonist would go beg the villain to save the male protagonist, only for the villain to demand her body, and then she would agree with tears in her eyes...

Were those directors and scriptwriters doing this out of personal quirks or to spite society?

Understanding what he meant, Chu Chuyan's fair, snow-white face instantly turned red. "Bah, what nonsense are you thinking?" she exclaimed. "I'm going to beg my maternal grandfather!"

Zu An was surprised. "Who is your maternal grandfather, that he has such great power?" he asked.

He knew the Emperor was looking for him for the method of immortality, and he truly couldn't imagine anyone being able to dissuade the Emperor.

Chu Chuyan hesitated for a moment, then continued, "At this point, there's no need to hide these things from you. My maternal grandfather's given name is Zheng, and he is the Grand Marshal of the Central Army in the current dynasty. My second maternal grandfather's given name is Se, and he is the Commander of the Central Guard."

Qin Zheng, Qin Se? Zu An was about to complain that his second maternal grandfather's given name was a bit disharmonious when he suddenly remembered what Shang Liuyu had mentioned about these two positions back in Brightmoon Academy.

The Grand Marshal of the Central Army commanded the six armies in the capital. The most elite and direct troops of the entire dynasty were nominally under his command.

That General Wei Liu Yao, who was so pompous, commanded two of the six armies (the left and right guards) and was under the jurisdiction of the Grand Marshal of the Central Army.

The Commander of the Central Guard was responsible for the selection of all mid- and high-ranking military officials, and also commanded the troops in the capital's suburbs.

In the military hierarchy, the Grand General and the General of Cavalry held the highest positions, but these two were mostly honorary.

In contrast, the Grand Marshal of the Central Army and the Commander of the Central Guard held actual power in the military. In a sense, her two maternal grandfathers were the first and second most powerful figures in the military.

Zu An was a little bewildered. "Your maternal grandfather's family is so formidable," he said. "Why then were so many people bullying your Chu family back in Brightmoon City?"

Chu Chuyan sighed softly. "This is due to an old past event," she began. "Back then, my maternal grandfather didn't approve of my mother marrying my father; he had arranged another marriage for her. But my mother resolutely chose to elope with my father, which enraged my maternal grandfather, and he directly severed his father-daughter relationship with her."

"Both my maternal grandfather and my mother have very strong personalities," Chu Chuyan continued. "They've never had any contact for all these years. It was only a few years ago, after Youzhao went to the capital, that there was a little contact, but that was only limited to showing concern for us, the younger generation."

"My maternal grandfather hates my father to the bone," she concluded. "It's already good if he doesn't kick us when we're down; how could he possibly help the Chu family?"

Zu An chuckled and promptly hugged her thigh. "Who would have thought, who would have thought, I accidentally married the most formidable *baifumei* in the entire country, and she's also the most formidable third-generation official," he said. "I definitely need to cling tightly to such a strong leg!"

Chu Chuyan tried several times but couldn't push him away, so she could only let him, blushing. "What nonsense are you talking about?" she said. "There are countless women in the capital whose family backgrounds are no less than mine, or even better. How can I be as you say? Besides, strictly speaking, I married you... And where are my thighs thick?"

She ultimately didn't dare to ask this question aloud.

Only then did Zu An realize his identity as a live-in son-in-law, but he didn't care at all. "Anyway, we're already divorced," he said. "What happened before doesn't count. I'll just marry you again, won't I?"

Feeling his mischievous hands move upwards along her thigh, Chu Chuyan's originally serene and aloof demeanor instantly broke down. Her face instantly turned crimson. This guy was truly a super rogue.