Chapter 563: 贵圈真乱

"Don't!" Chu Chuyan gasped, quickly stopping his mischievous hand. "There are still people outside!"

Zu An knew she was easily embarrassed and probably wouldn't be able to act intimately with him inside the carriage. He didn't press further, merely reached out and wrapped his arm around her waist. "Is a hug like this okay?"

Chu Chuyan's body was cool to the touch, and holding her felt particularly refreshing and comfortable—especially pleasant in the summer.

"We're already divorced; we shouldn't be like this..." Chu Chuyan's face flushed slightly.

"Even divorced people can be friends, right? It's not like we haven't hugged before," Zu An said, grinning cheekily.

"Are there friends who hug like this...?" Chu Chuyan scoffed softly. However, she also knew their divorce was a matter of necessity, so she didn't resist his embrace. Instead, she leaned her face against his chest. "Ah Zu, what exactly happened to you on this journey? Can you tell me?"

Zu An let out a wry chuckle. "I'm afraid what you really want to hear is what happened between me and Manman, right?"

"How dare you say that?" Chu Chuyan sat up straight, her teeth itching at his mischievous grin. "After months apart, I've lost my husband, and you've gotten involved with my best friend. I haven't even settled accounts with you yet."

Zu An quickly pulled her into a hug and said with a conciliatory smile, "Wifey, whatever you want to know, I'll tell you everything, plain and simple..."

Hearing the word "wifey," Chu Chuyan's heart softened. Although they were divorced in the eyes of the world, they weren't in her heart. So, hearing him address her so naturally made her particularly happy.

The two remained closely nestled together, recounting their experiences since they parted ways. Of course, Zu An did most of the talking.

"You and Manman lived together for decades in the secret realm?" Chu Chuyan felt a pang of jealousy. Actually, with Zu An's uncertain fate, she shouldn't have time for jealousy at all, especially since Pei Mianman was her good friend, meaning the benefits would stay within their circle.

But after learning they had lived like husband and wife for decades in the secret realm, she finally lost her composure. It was as if they were the true couple. "Ah Zu and I haven't even had the chance to grow old together like that," she thought.

Zu An felt a little guilty. "Actually, it probably wasn't decades. The flow of time in the trial was strange; it was as if a voice told you decades had passed, making you believe it completely, but in terms of personal experience, time just flew by. It wasn't really that long."

"Even if not decades, it was certainly years!" Chu Chuyan glared at him. She wasn't sure why she was angry, but the more she thought about it, the more annoyed she became.

Rage points from Chu Chuyan +233 +233 +233...

Zu An gently pulled her back into his embrace. "Wifey, you're actually jealous for me. I'm so happy; I thought you didn't really care about me."

Chu Chuyan's composure finally broke, and she couldn't help but chide, "You only seem happy when you make me angry. Are you a pervert?"

Zu An knew it wasn't wise to dwell on this topic, as it could truly cause trouble at home. He quickly changed the subject. "Wifey, tell me in detail about the situation in the capital. That way, I won't be completely lost when I arrive."

He had previously gotten some information from Sang Hong and his daughter, but unfortunately, they had been on the run the whole way, so there wasn't enough time to exchange much. As a result, he still knew very little about the capital.

Seeing that they were getting to serious matters, Chu Chuyan's expression also grew solemn. "In the capital, besides the Emperor, there are eight individuals with the highest official ranks and greatest prestige in the imperial court, respectfully known as the Eight Dukes: Grand Tutor, Grand Preceptor, Grand Guardian, Minister of Education, Minister of Works, Grand Minister of War, Grand General."

"Oh, and by the way, Shi Kun, whom you offended in Brightmoon City, his father is one of the Eight Dukes, the current Grand Minister of War, Shi Miao."

Zu An's expression was strange. "Why are the Shi family's names so odd? It's either 'sun' or 'grass'!"

Chu Chuyan: "..."

"What on earth does this guy think about all day?" she wondered.

She continued, "Of course, you don't need to worry too much. Although the Eight Dukes hold high positions, these are honorary titles with no actual administrative power. So, even if you've offended the Shi family, it won't be as difficult to deal with as you might imagine."

Zu An couldn't help but laugh. "That Shi Kun acted like such a snob before, making it seem like his family was incredibly powerful. Turns out he's just a paper tiger."

Chu Chuyan warned, "I only said that to ease your mind. While the Eight Dukes hold honorary titles, their status is undeniable. Their former students and subordinates are spread throughout the court and the government, and many of their family's younger generations hold actual administrative posts. You must not take it lightly."

Zu An smiled. "Anyway, I've already provoked the Emperor. The mere Shi family is nothing by comparison."

"You're certainly optimistic." Chu Chuyan sighed inwardly. Indeed, their biggest enemy now was the Emperor, so offending the Shi family was hardly worth mentioning.

She then began to introduce the powers in the capital. "Below the Eight Dukes are generals such as the General of Agile Cavalry, General of Chariots and Cavalry, Commander of the Central Army, Protector of the Central Army, and so on..."

"The Commander of the Central Army and Protector of the Central Army are my maternal grandfather and his family, as I mentioned earlier... The General of Agile Cavalry is held by Prince Qi. Originally, this was an honorary position with no direct control over regular troops, but Prince Qi is quite unique and still commands loyal forces."

Zu An nodded. "I understand. Prince Qi, being in contention with the Emperor, is naturally no ordinary person."

He had heard too much about Prince Qi in Brightmoon City. On the surface, it seemed Prince Qi was vying for the crown prince position with his nephew, but in reality, he had always been clashing with the Emperor. It would be strange if he were weak.

"General of Chariots and Cavalry, Liu Guang, is the current Empress's father, and also Liu Yao's older brother—the one outside."

Zu An thought to himself that this must be the head of the imperial relatives. The Emperor must have elevated his status so high to counterbalance Prince Qi.

Although Liu Yao was a ninth-rank cultivator, he always gave off a feeling of being a good-for-nothing. Zu An wondered if his older brother would be more capable.

"By the way, what's the position of Prince Liang, who's outside?" Zu An asked curiously. Surely, he didn't just have a noble title without an official post.

Chu Chuyan replied, "Prince Liang also serves as the General of the Rear."

"General of the Rear?" Zu An was a bit confused; these titles sounded quite complicated.

Chu Chuyan explained, "It's like this: The Commander, Protector, Left and Right Guards, Agile Cavalry, and Light Cavalry are collectively known as the Six Armies. The Commander refers to the forces of the Commander of the Central Army; the Protector refers to the forces of the Protector of the Central Army; the Left and Right Guards are led by the General of the Left Guard and General of the Right Guard, responsible for palace security; the Agile Cavalry and Light Cavalry are the mobile units within the palace, dispatched to handle various emergencies. These Six Armies constitute the palace's military power."

"Additionally, outside the Imperial City but within the capital, there are four armies stationed in the front, rear, left, and right directions, responsible for city gate defense and regional security. They are led by the Generals of the Front, Rear, Left, and Right, respectively. Prince Liang is the General of the Rear."

"In the suburbs of the capital, there are also six units stationed: the Garrison Cavalry, Infantry, Demon Cavalry, Changshui Guards, Archer Guards, and Winged Guards. Their commanders are known as the Six Colonels. These six armies are the empire's main field forces, deployed whenever there's a conflict in various regions."

"I see!" Zu An nodded, finally understanding the military structure of this world.

Chu Chuyan continued, "The centers of power in the imperial court are the Department of State Affairs, the Central Secretariat, and the Chancellery. The Central Secretariat consists of the Emperor's trusted ministers, who deliberate on important matters with the Emperor and are responsible for drafting imperial edicts. The Chancellery is responsible for reviewing and approving edicts. The Department of State Affairs is responsible for execution and handling specific government affairs..."

Zu An occasionally asked questions and finally understood the situation. The Central Secretariat was equivalent to a modern-day secretariat, basically making decisions on many critical matters.

The head of the Central Secretariat was the Supervisor of the Central Secretariat, the second-in-command was the Director of the Central Secretariat, and below them were officials like the Vice Directors and Secretaries of the Central Secretariat.

Many of those in the Chancellery were eunuchs, acting more like the Emperor's personal assistants. After all, ministers from the Central Secretariat couldn't reside in the imperial palace, but since many in the Chancellery were eunuchs, that wasn't an issue for them.

Of course, it wasn't practical for eunuchs to handle everything, as their knowledge and abilities were limited. Therefore, the Emperor would grant many trusted ministers in the Chancellery the authority to enter and leave the palace.

The head of the Chancellery was called the Grand Counselor, and typically there was more than one. This dynasty had a total of four such positions, with officials like the Deputy Grand Counselor and Palace Attendant below them.

The Department of State Affairs was the executive body. Its head was the Minister of State Affairs, with Left and Right Executive Assistants below him, and further down, the various Ministers of Bureaus.

In many power struggle dramas of later generations, the protagonist would devise a scheme, handle the various Ministers of Bureaus, and that would be the end of it... In reality, the Ministers of Bureaus were not at the center of power because they were merely policy implementers, not policy makers.

Although the three departments held equivalent status in this world, strictly speaking, the Central Secretariat and Chancellery had much greater power than the Department of State Affairs. Of course, nothing is absolute; if the Emperor was not strong enough or lacked sufficient ability, the Central Secretariat and Chancellery would not play a significant role, and the Department of State Affairs would become the primary decision-making body.

However, since the current Emperor was the strongest in the land, the Central Secretariat and Chancellery naturally held much higher status.

"Oh, and by the way, Minister of State Affairs Pei Ming and Grand Counselor Pei Zheng of the Chancellery are both from the Pei family, the prominent clan that Manman belongs to," Chu Chuyan added, as if remembering something.

"Your family backgrounds are all so impressive?" Zu An's eyes widened. The family backgrounds of the women around him were truly more formidable than the last, making him feel like he didn't even need to work hard.

Chu Chuyan's delicate brows furrowed slightly. "Manman's position in the family is a bit... awkward. It's not as glamorous as you might imagine."

Zu An quickly asked, "What exactly is her situation in the Pei family? And what about her mother? It seemed like she was in a hurry to go back and see her mother this time?"

Chu Chuyan hesitated, then said, "It's best if Manman tells you about her family matters herself in the future. It's not really appropriate for others to talk about it."

Seeing her many reservations, Zu An mused, "Could she be an illegitimate daughter or something similar...?"

Chu Chuyan continued, "Besides the Three Departments, there are also the Nine Ministers, each responsible for specialized affairs in their respective fields. For example, the Ministry of Imperial Sacrifices, which is the head of the Nine Ministers, is in charge of academies throughout the realm and holds an exceptionally high status."

Zu An thought of Brightmoon Academy, where the teachers and headmaster were all extraordinary individuals, and which also cultivated a large number of talents. He wondered how many such academies existed across the empire's various prefectures and counties, and what a formidable force they collectively represented.

"This is a general overview of the power structure in the capital. You haven't met these people yet, so you probably can't connect the names to faces. If there's a chance later, I'll introduce them to you one by one." Chu Chuyan's heart sank. After this trip to the capital to meet the Emperor, she wondered if Zu An would even make it out alive.

Zu An pondered for a moment, then asked, "One last question: Among the people you just mentioned, who belongs to Prince Qi's faction, who belongs to the Emperor's direct line, and who is neutral?"

In Brightmoon City, the Chu family was fiercely contended over by both sides. In the capital, wouldn't these two factions be at each other's throats even more?

It was crucial to clarify these relationships, so he would have some understanding when he met the Emperor.

Chu Chuyan cautiously glanced outside the carriage, then transmitted her voice with vital energy. "No one openly admits to such things, but you can usually discern their faction from their everyday words and actions."

"Among Prince Qi's faction, the core members are likely the Qin, Yu, and Pei families. The Qin family is my maternal grandfather's family. My maternal grandfather's sister is Prince Qi's mother, so as Prince Qi's maternal uncle, they naturally support Prince Qi..."

Zu An couldn't help but inwardly scoff. "So all this time, your maternal grandfather was a staunch supporter of Prince Qi? Then what was all that talk about the Chu family being neutral?"

"Yu Xuanchong, the head of the Yu family, is the Left Executive Assistant of the Department of State Affairs. The Yu family has marital ties with various influential clans, and they made their fortune in primeval stone businesses, making them as rich as the nation itself."

Zu An's expression suddenly turned strange. "What's the connection between Yu Yanluo and the Yu family?"

He recalled the stunning young woman he had rescued in the valley after first arriving in this world. She seemed to be involved in the primeval stone business and was once known as the capital's foremost beauty.

But that woman wasn't honorable; she had promised to repay him, yet he hadn't seen her at all in Brightmoon City. Damn it!

Beautiful women truly were deceivers.

"You know Yu Yanluo?" Chu Chuyan was a little surprised.

"Isn't she the capital's former foremost beauty? She should be quite famous, so it's not strange that I know her," Zu An said, looking perfectly nonchalant.

Chu Chuyan's face flushed slightly, and she huffed, "Men are all big scoundrels!"

She finally understood why her mother always reacted that way whenever her father mentioned Yu Yanluo.

Nevertheless, she explained, "Yu Yanluo is indeed from the Yu family. The Yu family men are always handsome and charming, and the women are beautiful and captivating, making them sought-after for marriage alliances among all the major clans. Yu Yanluo is the most outstanding among them..."

Zu An wrapped his arm around her soft waist and kissed her cool cheek. "I think the Yu family is nothing special. The women of the Chu family are much more beautiful than they are."

Chu Chuyan knew he was complimenting her, and a hint of sweetness rose in her heart, but she wouldn't admit it readily. "If you had seen Yu Yanluo, you probably wouldn't say that. My father couldn't stop thinking about her after seeing her once, hmph..."

Zu An mumbled softly, "It's not like I haven't seen her..."

However, recalling the scene when he first met her, he had to admit she was a woman of unparalleled grace.

Chu Chuyan continued, "The Pei family primarily has two branches. One is headed by Duke Linhai, Pei Zheng, whose official position is Grand Counselor. He is Manman's grandfather."

"Manman's grandfather, huh?" Zu An immediately felt a sense of goodwill by association.

Chu Chuyan hesitated, then said, "Their family isn't necessarily that harmonious, so don't be so quick to take a liking to anyone."

She then continued, "The other branch is Duke Julu, Pei Ming, whose position is Minister of State Affairs. He and Pei Zheng are cousins. While Pei Zheng's branch is staunchly pro-Prince Qi, his side's stance is somewhat ambiguous, though overall, he leans more towards Prince Qi."

"The Emperor's faction, on the other hand, is primarily composed of the Yang family, the Meng family, and Prince Liang. You've already met Prince Liang and members of the Yang family, so I won't elaborate. The Meng family head, Meng Jing, is one of the Eight Dukes, the current Minister of Works, and holds extremely high seniority. His son, Meng Yi, is the Supervisor of the Central Secretariat, overseeing the Central Secretariat..."

"What did you say his son's name was?" Zu An asked, surprised.

"Meng Yi? Do you know him?" Chu Chuyan seemed puzzled.

"Meng Yi! What man wouldn't know that name?" Zu An couldn't help but exclaim. He then wondered aloud, "What kind of names do these fathers give their children?"

Chu Chuyan completely missed his point and continued, "Oh, and Meng Yi has a daughter who is married to Prince Dai, Zhao Ping, as his consort."

"Prince Dai?"

"Prince Dai is the Crown Prince's younger brother. The Crown Prince has many younger brothers, including Prince Wu, whom you met in Jibei Commandery, and now Prince Dai."

"Prince Wu, yes, I remember him," Zu An said, his expression strange. He didn't just remember him; he knew him exceedingly well—especially Prince Wu's consort.

"Your expression is very strange. Are you thinking something improper?" Chu Chuyan stared at him, her cheeks slightly flushed.

Zu An's old face flushed. He was too embarrassed to mention his liaison with Prince Wu's consort, Yun Yuqing, and quickly changed the subject. "By the way, since the Crown Prince has so many younger brothers, and they all seem to be intelligent, why did the Emperor insist on making a fool the Crown Prince?"

From his previous interactions with Prince Wu, apart from a certain peculiar habit, he was far more intelligent and capable than most people, certainly more than capable of being Crown Prince. As for the current Crown Prince, although everyone spoke vaguely about him, it was clear he was a complete imbecile.

Chu Chuyan replied, "The Emperor probably wants a normal son to be Crown Prince too, but he can't. You must have heard the story of the Emperor and Prince Qi from back then. Although they are biological brothers, Prince Qi was adopted by their eldest uncle—the previous Emperor—in his early years. Due to the chaotic times back then, Prince Qi was young, so the older Emperor inherited the throne. Therefore, Prince Qi actually has a legitimate claim to the throne."

"Now, the Emperor is nearing the end of his life due to injuries sustained in a great war with foreign tribes years ago. Prince Qi is also wise and virtuous, and many ministers in court believe the throne should be returned to Prince Qi's line. The Emperor wants to pass the throne to his own son, and the only legal principle he can rely on is primogeniture—succession by the eldest legitimate son. If he were to skip the eldest legitimate son and appoint someone else, it would be 'appointing the worthy over the eldest.' But in terms of worthiness and wisdom, how could any of those other princes compare to Prince Qi?"

"Therefore, even though the Emperor knows the Crown Prince is somewhat foolish, he can only grit his teeth and make him the Crown Prince."

Zu An was somewhat puzzled. "But can such a fool truly hold onto the throne? Isn't the Emperor afraid that the entire empire will be ruined in the future?"

Chu Chuyan explained, "Although the Crown Prince is not intelligent, he isn't completely idiotic. If he chooses some trustworthy and capable ministers to assist him, it wouldn't be impossible. Moreover, the Crown Prince already has an heir. Though young, his intelligence is normal, and the throne can eventually be passed to the Holy Grandson."

Zu An was surprised. "I heard the Crown Prince got married not long ago. He already has an heir so quickly?"

Chu Chuyan's face flushed slightly, and she whispered, "He wasn't born to the Crown Princess. In earlier years, the Emperor worried that the Crown Prince wasn't... not experienced with intimate matters, so he bestowed a beautiful concubine from the palace upon him to assist him... Later, this concubine became pregnant. To avoid conflict with the Crown Princess, she returned to the palace to live and give birth after conceiving."

Zu An's expression was strange. "So, is that the fool Crown Prince's child or the Emperor's? And she even returned to live in the imperial palace. This noble circle is truly chaotic!"