Chapter 697: Troublesome Demands

Zu An shook his head. "As a man, I can't always hide under others' protection. Although the capital is dangerous, it's also full of opportunities."

Chu Chuyan's expression darkened. "I know you blame the Chu family for abandoning you back then. It's a pity I wasn't in Brightmoon City at the time, or I would have definitely stopped it."

Zu An pulled her soft body closer to him. "You're overthinking it. Your father and mother actually treated me very well. What happened back then was just a desperate measure. They even secretly helped me escape. How could I resent them?"

Chu Chuyan was surprised. "I can understand why you wouldn't resent my father, but haven't you always been at odds with my mother?"

Zu An sighed. "After you left, a lot happened between your mother and me. Any past unpleasantness has long since vanished."

"What happened between you two?" Chu Chuyan asked, feeling confused by his strange tone. "Also, my mother has been asking about you frequently these days. She never used to care about you this much."

Zu An's old face flushed. "Nothing much. It's just that your husband helped her suppress the Chu family's internal strife and rescued your father. Naturally, she's grown more and more fond of me."

Chu Chuyan smiled, pressing her cheek gently against his chest. "That makes sense."

However, her face still showed clear worry. "King Qi is a Grandmaster. What's more terrifying is that he commands a huge force and has practically won over more than half of the imperial court. Even the Emperor can't do anything to him. Since you've offended him, staying in the capital is still too dangerous."

"Don't worry, I'm not alone. I have the Emperor's backing, as well as the support of the Crown Prince and Crown Princess. At the very least, he can't openly attack me. He can only resort to underhanded tactics in secret, but my current strength isn't to be underestimated. How can those devious tricks deal with me?"

When it comes to schemes, who in this world could outwit me?

Chu Chuyan recalled how even Han Fengqiu, a peak ninth-rank expert, couldn't harm him today, and realized he could protect himself, which eased her mind slightly. However, she immediately thought of something: "The Crown Princess? Why would the Crown Princess help you? Are you two...?"

Zu An couldn't help but laugh. "My Chuyan has become a jealous person now. What were you thinking? Given the Crown Princess's status, how could you suspect anything between her and me?"

Chu Chuyan's face flushed, and she looked a little embarrassed. In truth, as soon as the words left her mouth, she felt they were ridiculous. The Crown Princess, the future mother of the nation, how could she have an illicit relationship with another man?

"It's all because of what happened with Yu Yanluo," she huffed, trying to hide her embarrassment. "Who would have thought you'd be involved with the capital's most beautiful woman?"

Zu An laughed heartily. "No choice, I just have this much charm. I'm naturally likable."

Chu Chuyan: "..."

Although there was some truth to his words, why did he sound so punchable when he said them?

Zu An's expression suddenly turned serious. "By the way, from what you just said, it sounds like you're going back to Brightmoon City?"

Chu Chuyan bit her lip and nodded slightly. "Yes. I stayed in the capital for a long time previously because of the account books, and then rushed around for your sake, never returning to Brightmoon City. Although the Chu family's greatest danger has passed, neither the Emperor nor King Qi has given up. Moreover, after enduring those several calamities, the Chu family is greatly weakened. Many things need to be handled. If I don't go back to stabilize everyone, the Chu family might truly collapse."

Over the years, Chu Zhongtian and his wife had gradually handed over control of the Chu family to her. She usually managed the family's affairs, and without her at such a critical time, the Chu family would indeed be in great danger.

Zu An let out a long sigh. "Even you are leaving now. Everyone is departing from me..."

His familiar friends had been leaving one after another these days, and he had grown tired of the pain of separation.

If Chu Chuyan left again, no matter how prosperous and lively the capital was, it would simply be a lonely cage for him.

Sensing his dejection, Chu Chuyan pursed her lips. "A'Zu, although I've decided to return to Brightmoon City, it doesn't mean I'm leaving immediately. I can stay in the capital for a while longer to keep you company."

Zu An was overjoyed and immediately picked her up. "Haha, only my own wife knows how to care for me!"

Chu Chuyan playfully punched him with a delicate fist, her face showing a charming pout. "You talk as if you know other people's wives very well."

Zu An laughed heartily. "I don't feel sorry for other people's wives."

Chu Chuyan felt there was something strange about his words, but before she could ask, her face suddenly paled as he "laid siege to the city" again: "A'Zu, don't..."

She still hadn't fully recovered from their previous encounter.

But seeing the usually aloof fairy now pleading softly, how could Zu An resist? He picked her up and carried her directly to the windowsill.

"Where do you get so many tricks?" Chu Chuyan was both shy and anxious, feeling a little sour inside, sensing that he was overly experienced.

Zu An naturally wouldn't answer such a loaded question. While he could quip at other times, in this situation, being a man of action was far more useful.

Chu Chuyan's brows initially knitted tightly, as if enduring something, but soon her expression softened and became sweet...

The next morning, Chu Chuyan tenderly helped Zu An straighten his official robes, looking every bit like a gentle, devoted wife.

Beside them, Chu Youzhao, with dark circles under her eyes, watched their display of affection with great frustration.

It was all her sister's fault for making her stay out all night. Luckily, she was with her sister, otherwise, her grandfather and the others would probably have sent people to search the entire city for her.

Strangely enough, these two had been "at it" for most of the night, yet they both looked better than ever, while she, on the other hand, looked much more haggard.

Her sister, especially, was radiant, with a healthy glow on her cheeks; even as a woman, Chu Youzhao was mesmerized.

She knew her sister was beautiful, but her sister was usually quite aloof. Now, she appeared exceptionally radiant and alluring. Was this still her sister?

After Zu An left for the palace for roll call, Chu Chuyan took her sister and headed towards the Qin family residence.

Along the way, Chu Youzhao kept falling back a step, scrutinizing her sister from behind. Chu Chuyan felt bewildered: "What are you doing?"

Chu Youzhao said with a strange expression: "Sister, your walking posture has changed."

Chu Chuyan was startled: "Has it?"

"Yes," Chu Youzhao nodded seriously, holding up two fingers to demonstrate. "Before, your legs were like this, but now they're like this. It's as if they're spread apart a bit when you walk."

"You're mistaken!" Chu Chuyan's face turned beet red. How could they not be spread apart? After being "worn out" all night, she had completely taken on Zu An's "shape." The key was that he was simply too...

At that moment, Chu Youzhao leisurely said: "Also, Sister, can you two please avoid using the windowsill in the future? It really makes it hard for others to rest."

After saying that, she darted away.

Chu Chuyan couldn't take it anymore: "You little brat, stop right there!"

While the sisters were bickering, Zu An had already arrived at the Imperial Palace.

Just as he was about to enter the palace as usual, a young official blocked him: "Your clothes are disheveled. Turn back!"

Zu An was taken aback: "Who are you?"

What kind of joke was this? Chuyan had meticulously arranged his clothes today; he'd never been dressed so neatly before, and now this person claimed he was disheveled?

He had never seen this person before. He appeared to be in his early thirties, handsome, and with a small mustache above his lips, he exuded an air of scholarly elegance.

What puzzled him even more was that although he hadn't met this person before, why did he look somewhat familiar?

"I am the Imperial Secretariat Grandee," the mustached man said proudly. "Today, it is my turn to supervise the decorum of all officials."

Zu An's heart tightened. Had King Qi's people come for revenge so quickly?

Not wanting to give the other party any leverage, he suppressed his displeasure and asked: "Excuse me, sir, how am I disheveled?"

The mustached man stated coolly: "If I say your clothes are disheveled, then they are. Go to the side and straighten yourself out and reflect. Don't block other officials from entering the palace."