Chapter 633: Disguise

Qiu Honglei snorted. "I just can't stand her acting like the legitimate wife. It was fine when we went to the Chu manor last time; she was indeed your wife then. But now the Chu family has abandoned you to protect themselves. What right does she have to act like that?"

Zu An sighed. "It's not like you think. That was the best choice at the time, and the Chu family has been helping me in secret ever since."

Qiu Honglei pouted. "Anyway, they still abandoned you."

Zu An remained silent. He actually understood that a powerful family making any decision has to consider a large group of people and can never act purely on personal likes or dislikes. So, he understood the Chu family's actions. But understanding aside, he also felt a bit lost, realizing that after transmigrating to this world, he still didn't have a true home.

Seeing his low spirits, Qiu Honglei took his hand. "Alright, actually, my motives aren't that pure either. I just don't want to see her acting like the legitimate wife."

Zu An smiled faintly. He reached out and pulled her into his embrace. "You're a demonic enchantress from the cult; it's perfectly normal for you to do such things."

After their recent intimate gestures, their relationship had progressed by leaps and bounds. Qiu Honglei naturally snuggled into his arms, enjoying the tender moment that had just been interrupted.

However, Zu An didn't forget his purpose for leaving the palace. He first went to a shop on the street and bought a hammock. Qiu Honglei, who was with him, saw this and was a bit curious. "What are you buying this for?"

"It's for your master, of course," Zu An explained. "It's quite inconvenient for a single man and woman to be together."

Qiu Honglei's eyes widened suddenly. "So last night, you and Master slept in the same bed?"

Zu An's face flushed. How could he admit to such a dangerous question? He quickly said, "How could that be? Even if I were willing, would your master agree?"

Qiu Honglei smiled, pursing her lips. "That's true. You'd be lucky if she didn't just slap you to death."

Zu An thought, *More than just a slap; her kick this morning still hurts a bit.*

After buying the hammock, Zu An was ready to go back to the palace and clock in for work at the East Palace. Given the major incident there yesterday, it would be inappropriate for him, as the Crown Prince's attendant, not to show up.

Qiu Honglei, following Yun Jianyue's instructions, went to the capital's branch to contact the cult members who escaped last night and proceeded according to the original plan.

The two reluctantly parted ways. Watching his retreating back, Qiu Honglei let out a soft sigh. She didn't know what kind of jealousy had gotten into her today. Her cultivation technique prevented her from being intimate with him for a long time, yet she still insisted on having a spat with Chu Chuyan.

However, thinking about the last time she visited the Chu family, she had always felt annoyed. This time, after confronting Chu Chuyan directly, her mind finally felt at ease.

On his way to the imperial palace, Zu An continuously received intermittent rage points from Chu Chuyan in his system backend. He thought, *I really annoyed her this time. I need to find a way to resolve her resentment.*

But at the moment, he was simply too busy. He could only enter the palace first.

After entering the imperial palace, Zu An, feigning ignorance, arrived at the former site of the East Palace. Looking at the East Palace, which had been razed to the ground, he appropriately expressed his shock.

Just then, a voice came from beside him. "Isn't that Lord Zu?"

Zu An turned his head and saw a guard with dark circles under his eyes walking towards him. He couldn't help but smile. "Ah, it's Lord Piao."

Piao Duandiao was a bit surprised. As a guard, it was natural for him to recognize everyone entering and leaving the East Palace, so recognizing Zu An wasn't strange. But he didn't expect this newly appointed Crown Prince's attendant to know his name. This was much better than Shi Kun, who used to look down on everyone.

Thus, he felt a great deal of goodwill. "Lord Zu," he said, "assassins attacked the East Palace yesterday, and grandmasters even showed up. His Majesty personally intervened, and the aftershocks of the battle reduced this place to dust."

Zu An feigned concern and asked, "Are the Crown Prince and Crown Princess alright?"

"They're fine, just a little shaken," Piao Duandiao said enthusiastically. "Another palace has been found to serve as the temporary East Palace. I'll take you there."

Those serving in the palace all adhere to the principle of not easily offending others. What's more, this fellow was quite to his liking, so it was natural to form a good connection.

"Many thanks, Lord Piao." Zu An cupped his hands in a salute. After their interaction last night, he naturally knew this fellow was someone who loved to show off and cared about his reputation, so he naturally played to his preferences.

The single address of "Lord Piao" made Piao Duandiao feel completely at ease, and his gaze towards Zu An became even friendlier.

Along the way, the two chatted casually. Piao Duandiao increasingly felt that this fellow was truly talented and a good conversationalist. Next time, he would introduce him to Jiao Sigun.

Soon they arrived at the new East Palace. Zu An first went to pay his respects to the Crown Prince. Unfortunately, the plump Crown Prince had been frightened last night. Today, he was lethargic and listless, without even the mood to play, and naturally couldn't be bothered to deal with Zu An.

Zu An didn't mind; he was happy to be invisible. However, doing nothing at all was a bit boring.

After a while, he asked around and learned that the Crown Prince's Grand Tutor had also suffered considerable injuries last night. Moreover, with such a major incident occurring, there would be no lessons today.

He wondered if he could take the opportunity to slip away. He was also eager to increase his favorability with the Cult Leader sister... *pfft*, no, it was to deliver a message to Honglei's master.

If he went back, circled around, and returned, no one should notice.

He secretly slipped to the doorway, when suddenly a graceful figure bumped into him.

Recognizing the person, Zu An was greatly alarmed. He quickly retreated a few steps. "Greetings, Crown Princess!"

Previously, when he accidentally hugged her while saving her, the stingy Emperor wanted to chop off his hand. If he bumped into her again today, who knew what would be chopped off.

The Crown Princess was also startled, quickly stepping back before steadying herself. Her abrupt movement caused the jade pendants adorning her dress to clink together, emitting clear, pleasant sounds.

However, her mood was clearly not as pleasant. She frowned and said, "Where are you going?"

Zu An naturally didn't dare to say he wanted to skip work. After a thought, he explained, "I need to relieve myself."

The Crown Princess frowned delicately, a look of disdain on her face. "You're late today."

Zu An's face flushed. He had been spending time with Qiu Honglei, so naturally, he was delayed. "It's mainly because security is very strict inside and outside the palace," he explained, "with patrolling soldiers everywhere conducting checks, so I was delayed."

This woman was back to her haughty and strict demeanor. She was much cuter when she spoke softly yesterday.

The Crown Princess hummed in acknowledgment. "Next time, remember to leave earlier. You should know that besides being the Crown Prince's study companion, the Crown Prince's attendant also bears the important responsibility of protecting the Crown Prince's safety. I didn't see you when the assassins attacked yesterday. Fortunately, Lord Gold Medal Eleven intervened and protected us. You should learn more from him."

"Yes, yes, yes, I will definitely learn from him." Zu An didn't bother to argue that it would have been abnormal for him to still be in the East Palace after working hours yesterday. *Hmph,* he thought, *if this woman ever finds out that I am Gold Medal Eleven, I wonder what kind of expression she'll have.*

The Crown Princess's delicate brows slightly furrowed. She secretly sighed to herself. It really was infuriating how people compared to each other. Lord Eleven was so mature and steady, giving people a profound sense of security. This fellow in front of her only knew how to grin sheepishly. The Crown Prince was surrounded by such useless idlers. How would they ever contend with Prince Qi's faction in the future?

She was about to say something more, when suddenly a tall, thin young eunuch rushed over. "Greetings to His Royal Highness and Her Royal Highness. Her Majesty the Empress requests your presence."

Zu An recognized him as Xiao Guizi, one of the two young eunuchs attending the Empress. Yesterday, during the assassin attack on Kunning Palace, a large number of high-ranking eunuchs were killed by the Shadowy Loft. These two had truly risen quickly through the ranks.

The Crown Princess nodded. "So much has happened in the past two days, I almost forgot to pay my respects to Her Majesty."

She called the plump Crown Prince, who was standing idly by, and was about to head to Kunning Palace, when Xiao Guizi said with a smile, "Her Majesty also requests that all personnel from the East Palace accompany you. She wishes to reward them for their valiant protection of their master last night."

The Crown Princess was a little surprised, but this explanation was reasonable, so she didn't pay much attention to it. Although the Empress might be suspected of trying to win favor, she saw no need to offend her over such a minor matter. Furthermore, if she were to prevent these rewards, the people of the East Palace would resent her. Why would she do something so foolish?

Zu An's heart, however, skipped a beat. He instantly understood. The Empress summoning the Crown Prince, Crown Princess, and even the East Palace personnel was just a pretext. She actually wanted to see him!