Chapter 760: Invisible Powerful Hand

"How did they die?" Zhuxie Chixin asked in surprise. His first thought wasn't of Zu An, because he knew Zu An's cultivation was at most seventh-rank. Although Zu An seemed to be able to unleash combat power beyond his cultivation level every time, there was ultimately a limit. These three were all top-tier seventh-rank experts who had been truly tempered by blood and fire on the battlefield; their practical combat ability was absolutely top-notch, not theoretical fighters who could be easily challenged by those of lower ranks.

Zu An said calmly, without batting an eyelid, "I killed them."

Since he couldn't reveal Yun Yuqing's involvement, he had to take the credit himself.

"You killed them?" Zhuxie Chixin was truly shocked. He looked Zu An up and down, "How did you do it?"

Zu An replied, "They pursued me all the way. I used the terrain to separate them, then defeated them one by one..."

He recalled how the Old Ancestor of the Blood Saber had fought four opponents and ended up killing four experts of similar cultivation to himself. He then roughly adapted that story for Zhuxie Chixin.

Zhuxie Chixin stared at him, bewildered. Such practical combat ability was rare, perhaps possessed by only a handful of people in the world. This young man was truly extraordinary.

He specifically noticed the bloody holes on the bodies, thinking they must have been indiscriminately attacked by a powerful technique. It seemed Zu An had some trump cards he wasn't aware of.

He didn't press for details about the specific skill, as it was a major taboo among cultivators, and no one wanted to reveal their ultimate moves.

He chuckled, "You've rendered a great service this time. Come, let's go report to the Emperor!"

Zu An nodded. Since the case involved the Shi family, it was indeed beyond Zhuxie Chixin's sole authority to decide.

Soon, the two arrived at the imperial study. Zhuxie Chixin respectfully reported the events to the Emperor, while Zu An took the opportunity to observe the Emperor.

He recalled that it was in Zhaskali's illusion that he had first directly fought and defeated the Emperor.

Although it was only the Emperor of his subconscious, it still gave him immense confidence. Now, looking at the real Emperor, Zu An felt even more at ease.

"Hmph, the Shi family is incredibly brazen!" After hearing Zhuxie Chixin's report, the Emperor, both surprised and enraged, slapped the table.

Just as he was about to speak, he instinctively looked up, seemingly sensing Zu An's gaze. He felt a hint of displeasure but, remembering the great service Zu An had just rendered, he suppressed his rebuke and patiently said, "Very well, Eleven. You've rendered a great service this time. Tell me, what reward do you desire?"

Zu An grumbled inwardly, thinking, *I want the Crown Princess, would you give her to me?*

He smiled slightly and said naturally, "It is our duty to alleviate His Majesty's concerns; no reward is needed."

In the past, he would have felt a bit indignant when feigning such humility, but now, the whole process left him entirely unfazed. Instead, he felt as if he was freely manipulating the Emperor's emotions.

As expected, the Emperor burst into laughter. "Excellent, excellent, Eleven is becoming increasingly sensible."

After a few encouraging words, he turned to Zhuxie Chixin and said, "Go arrest Shi Tong, the Colonel of the Archer Guard, and Shi Jun, the Palace Attendant. Leave Grand Marshal Shi Miao untouched for now. Also, send someone to investigate the case of Ouwu, the Commander of Xuanwu Gate. You must uncover the rogue forces behind him. If I recall correctly, he was recommended by Prince Qi; you can investigate him concurrently."

Zhuxie Chixin's heart tightened. He immediately bowed and said, "Yes, Your Majesty!"

At this point, Zu An said, "Your Majesty, this case is not that simple. There are many lingering doubts, and the real culprit might be someone else..."

Before he could finish, the Emperor waved his hand. "Enough. You have completed your task admirably. This case will be handed over to Zhuxie Chixin; you need not concern yourself with it further."

Zu An frowned slightly, about to speak, but Zhuxie Chixin subtly winked at him from the side. Seeing this, Zu An closed his mouth.

The Emperor closed his eyes and resumed meditating on his cushion. "I am tired. You may withdraw."

Zu An secretly scoffed, thinking, *This guy doesn't miss a single moment of cultivation, just to live a bit longer, but what's the point of living such a life?*

After the two left the imperial study, Zu An asked, "Chief Commander, why did you stop me from speaking further just now?"

Zhuxie Chixin looked around. Seeing no one nearby, he lowered his voice and said, "What do you think is most important when investigating a case?"

"The truth, of course, is most important," Zu An replied subconsciously, the background music from Conan involuntarily playing in his mind.

Zhuxie Chixin smiled. "Seeing you like this reminds me of how zealous I was when I first joined the Embroidered Uniform Guard. It wasn't until many years later that I understood: the truth of a case isn't important. What's important is the truth the Emperor wants."

Zu An's heart stirred; he vaguely grasped the meaning.

Zhuxie Chixin continued, "The Emperor doesn't care about the truth. He considers more complex matters and is more concerned with what objectives can be achieved through this case. Do you understand?"

"Thank you for the insight, Chief Commander." Zu An wasn't foolish. He had just been so preoccupied with identifying the mysterious third party lurking in the shadows that he hadn't considered much else. Now, with the reminder, he understood: this outcome was most beneficial to the Emperor. It not only eliminated the Shi family, who could potentially harm the Crown Prince and Princess in the future, but also provided an opportunity to purge Prince Qi's faction. Why would the Emperor want to uncover any other truth?

As for the real culprit, either the Emperor already knew, or he simply didn't care. In any case, he was the most powerful person in the world, and whoever was hiding in the shadows couldn't harm him.

Zhuxie Chixin laughed heartily and patted his shoulder. "Don't mention it. Let's get together and chat properly sometime when we have time. I'm going to make the arrests now."

Zu An cupped his hands in a salute, then, after parting ways with Zhuxie Chixin, returned to the Embroidered Building. He first gathered the group of men who had been working with him on the case and announced, "You've all worked hard during this period. The case has been solved."

A cheer erupted from the crowd. Even Xiao Jianren, usually calm, smiled. The intense investigation had left everyone physically and mentally exhausted.

Zu An smiled. "This case was solved thanks to all your efforts. Officer Xiao, you, Old Dai Seven, and Old Cheng Eight, take my golden token to the treasury and collect two thousand taels of silver for rewards based on merit."

As a Golden Token Envoy, he already had certain authority, and since the Emperor had just promised him a reward, Zhuxie Chixin naturally wouldn't make things difficult for him in this regard.

"Thank you, Lord Eleven!" The group cheered even louder, nearly lifting Zu An in their excitement and tossing him into the air.

Seeing their joyous expressions, Zu An smiled slightly. Having been a "corporate slave" in his previous life, he understood perfectly what employees needed most. Although everyone in the Embroidered Uniform Guard had a certain sense of mission, they all had families to support.

Xiao Jianren, standing by, showed a look of surprise. The Embroidered Uniform Guard had always been strictly hierarchical, and none of the other Golden Token Envoys had ever shown such consideration for their subordinates as Lord Eleven had. Even if they occasionally did, it was merely a means to win over their subordinates.

But it was clear that Lord Eleven genuinely cared for their well-being, which was truly rare.

The group happily went to collect their money, while Zu An gathered all the case files to review them. Seeing that there was still no news of Ouwu, his brows furrowed even tighter.

After leaving the Embroidered Building, Zu An changed back into his original attire and headed straight for the Eastern Palace.

On the way, he sighed, realizing that having multiple identities brought multiple troubles. He wished he had a clone technique.

*Hmm, if I had a clone, would it be like cheating on myself?*

He pondered this philosophical question all the way, arriving at the Eastern Palace before he knew it.

"Heh, our Lord Zu still remembers to clock in. What time is it now? Do you not have the Crown Prince and me in your eyes?" The Crown Princess's cold laugh reached him. She had originally intended to discuss something with Zu An today, especially after that incident, as many matters could only be discussed with him. But he hadn't shown up, causing her anger to flare.

*It seems this guy hasn't been on time for days recently.*

Rage points from Bi Linglong +56 +56 +56...

Zu An clutched his chest and said, "Reporting to Your Royal Highness, I left early this morning for the palace, but I was ambushed and assassinated on the way."

"What? You were assassinated!" Bi Linglong instinctively stood up, wanting to check his injuries, but immediately noticed the strange glances from the surrounding maids. She quickly coughed to cover her embarrassment and sat back down. "Are you injured? Who assassinated you?"

"Just a minor injury, nothing serious," Zu An said with a smile, then briefly recounted the day's events.

The Crown Princess initially saw him standing there with no apparent abnormalities and thought it was just some petty thieves. But upon hearing about the use of suicide squads, siege crossbows, and three top-tier seventh-rank military experts, her face turned pale. "You still say it's nothing serious? With such a large-scale assault, how could you only suffer minor injuries?"

Zu An smiled. "I was just hit by a siege crossbow, but fortunately, it wasn't a vital spot. It was a bit uncomfortable at the time, but I'm fine now."

"Ah?" The Crown Princess instinctively wanted to examine the wound where he had been hit by the siege crossbow, but remembering that many people in the Eastern Palace were watching, it was too inconvenient. So she quickly said, "Someone, quickly summon the imperial physician to treat Lord Zu!"

Zu An waved his hand. "It's fine, I can just go to the Imperial Hospital myself later."

From a distance, Pu Duandiao, Jiao Sigun, and others in the Eastern Palace were astonished. The power of a siege crossbow was common knowledge, yet he seemed unharmed after being hit by one, aside from his slightly pale complexion.

*Ah, what a formidable and resilient man.*

The Crown Princess quickly said, "Why did you even come here if you're so severely injured?"

Zu An replied, "Mainly because I was concerned Your Royal Highness might misunderstand, and I also wanted to inform you of the latest developments in the case."

Seeing his ardent gaze, the Crown Princess's heart skipped a beat. *This person is usually quite intelligent, so why is he so simple-minded sometimes? Couldn't you have just sent someone to tell me?*

Nevertheless, sensing his sincerity, her heart involuntarily softened, and her voice became gentler. "I'm giving you the day off today... no, wait, you don't have to come in for the next few days. Rest well at home and recover from your injuries."

"Thank you, Your Royal Highness!" Zu An genuinely felt stretched thin at the moment, and a holiday would make things much easier.

The Crown Princess thought for a moment, then told a nearby maid, "Xiao Mo, go fetch that spirit ganoderma for Lord Zu."

Rong Mo immediately became anxious. "That thousand-year-old ganoderma is so precious; it's meant for Your Royal Highness's cultivation breakthrough in the future!"

The Crown Princess shook her head. "No matter how precious a spiritual herb is, it's not as precious as a person. Lord Zu is a Palace Deputy within the Eastern Palace, and he was injured while working on my case. This medicine is perfect to help him recover and restore his vitality. What, do you expect me to fetch it myself?"

"This servant wouldn't dare." Rong Mo pouted, then reluctantly turned and entered the inner chambers.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, this little lass is quite generous to you," Mi Li's voice echoed in his mind. Evidently, she had found something amusing and popped out again.

Zu An ignored her directly and bowed to Bi Linglong. "Thank you, Your Royal Highness!"

Mi Li wondered, "You're quite shameless, aren't you? You didn't even try to decline such a precious item before accepting it?"

Zu An secretly replied, "You wouldn't understand this. In my hometown, there's a trick between men and women involving borrowing books. Because something borrowed must be returned, it creates another reason to meet again, and gradually, their feelings for each other grow warmer. Declining this time would only gain me a little face, with no real benefit. On the contrary, by accepting her gift, our mutual favorability increases. Besides, this item seems very important to her, so if she needs it in the future, I can give it back to her, earning her goodwill once more, can't I?"

Mi Li listened, dumbfounded. After a long moment, she exhaled. "What kind of place is your hometown? The schemes are so intricate."

Zu An replied with a nostalgic expression, "It's a place full of 'old drivers' and 'Mount Akina's racing gods'..."

By this time, Rong Mo had emerged from the inner chambers, holding a brocade box wrapped in red cloth, and presented it to Zu An.

Even through the box, Zu An could feel the rich vital energy. He thanked the Crown Princess once more.

A hint of softness entered the Crown Princess's eyes. "Rest well these days. I will handle the matters concerning the Shi family."

Zu An knew she was implying that she would use this opportunity to completely eliminate any future troubles from the previous incident. He, in turn, winked at her to show he understood.

The Crown Princess's face flushed. She quickly glanced around, relieved when she saw that no one else had noticed. *This fellow is truly audacious, openly teasing me like this. Hmph, I'll let him off the hook this time, considering his injuries.*

After Zu An left the Eastern Palace, the Crown Princess dispatched Pu Duandiao and Jiao Sigun to escort him to the Imperial Hospital.

On the way, the two remarked, "We've never seen Her Royal Highness treat anyone so well in all these years."

"Indeed, I even suspect Brother Zu and the Crown Princess might be involved."

Zu An: "..."

"Are you trying to get yourself killed, saying something like that?"

"We're just joking around amongst us brothers. Besides, the Crown Princess continues to treat Brother Zu this way even after that scandal, doesn't that just prove she has a clear conscience?"

"That's true. But if the Crown Princess's status weren't so sensitive, I'd honestly prefer to see her with Brother Zu. These past years have been so difficult for her alone. The Crown Prince can't protect her from hardships; instead, he needs her protection."

"Good heavens, you're calling me out, but what you just said is even more suicidal."

...

Finally, Zu An, growing exasperated, sent the two away. His injuries had mostly healed by now, and going to the Imperial Hospital would only expose that.

He was too lazy to leave the palace again, so he returned to the White Sands Courtyard and rested for an hour.

Soon after, news arrived that Shi Jun had been apprehended.

Zu An immediately changed into his Golden Token Eleven attire and headed to the Embroidered Building. He had many questions that Shi Jun needed to answer.

His prestige among the Embroidered Uniform Guard was currently very high. Although the case was no longer under his direct purview, no one would be so tactless as to obstruct him. Besides, Chief Commander Zhuxie was currently interrogating the more important Shi Tong regarding the siege crossbows and the military experts.

Shi Jun sat in his cell, his hair disheveled, looking utterly dejected and nothing like his former confident self.

Hearing someone enter, he said weakly, "No need to question me. My family has a death-exemption token; I won't say anything."

Zu An chuckled, "But you don't have that token on you right now."

Hearing his voice, Shi Jun startled. He turned his head and saw the familiar figure, his pupils instantly contracting. His miserable experience at Zu An's hands had frequently haunted his nightmares these days.

Zu An's smile faded. "I don't want to waste time. I'll ask, and you'll answer. Otherwise, don't blame me for making you experience something worse than death again."

"Alright, alright, please ask, My Lord." Shi Jun immediately forced a smile. A wise man knows when to yield. He needed to get rid of this devil first; his father would surely find a way to save them.

"How did you and Xinrui meet?"

Shi Jun hesitated, but eventually replied, "For years, as a Palace Attendant, I had easy access to the imperial palace. One time, I accidentally bumped into a flustered palace maid at a corner. She kept apologizing profusely. Seeing her fragile, frightened eyes, I couldn't bring myself to punish her. Later, out of gratitude, she specifically brought me Hundred Flowers Tea, and that's how I learned she was Xinrui, a maid from the Hundred Flowers Palace..."

Recalling past events, a hint of tenderness flashed in Shi Jun's eyes. Clearly, his time with that pretty palace maid had been a happy one.

Zu An quickly asked, "Did she bump into you, or did you bump into her?"

Shi Jun frowned. "It was my duty to oversee the demeanor of all officials; how could I be so reckless? But what does it matter if she bumped into me?"

"Nothing," Zu An smiled. "And then you two became close?"

Shi Jun nodded. "She was a palace maid, and all women in the palace belonged to the Emperor, so I wouldn't dare touch her. However, she told me she had been in the palace since she was very young and her term of service was almost up, after which she would be eligible to leave. I already had a good impression of her, and I thought I could marry her after she left the palace. So, over time, our relationship grew stronger."

"Later, I learned she had a mother and a younger brother in her hometown, so I specifically sent people to bring them to the capital and settle them. But for some reason, she actually argued with me about it," Shi Jun said, sounding puzzled. "However, we quickly reconciled and soon began imagining our future together."

Zu An said mockingly, "That's a nice story, portraying yourself as a deeply affectionate man. Unfortunately, I suspect you approached her with ulterior motives. You probably coveted her identity as a maid from the Hundred Flowers Palace, thinking it would come in handy someday. And sure enough, you later used her to frame the Crown Princess and me. As for bringing her mother and brother to the capital, I presume that was to hold them as hostages."

Shi Jun's expression changed. "I don't know what you're talking about!"

Zu An smiled. "You don't need to deny it. At this point, none of it matters anymore. Your Shi family is doomed, anyway."

Shi Jun knew Zu An was speaking the truth. With the assassination having failed and everyone involved captured, their influence was indeed gone. Their only hope now was whether the death-exemption token could save them.

He gnashed his teeth, his eyes filled with venom. "Speaking of which, it's all her brother's fault. If he hadn't been a gambler and secretly snuck out, only to be discovered by the Embroidered Uniform Guard, we wouldn't have been so passive, forced to take such a risky move."

"To save Huabao, you had to sacrifice that casino owner. I should have realized earlier that the casino was backed by your Shi family. After all, you secretly supported Mei Chaofeng in opening a casino in Brightmoon City," Zu An sighed.

Shi Jun's expression changed to one of surprise. He was shocked at how powerful the Embroidered Uniform Guard's intelligence network was, knowing even about that.

Zu An said, "So you colluded with Prince Wu, lured Zu An to Xinrui's house, intending to kill him there and pin all the blame on him, ensuring no witnesses?"

"Prince Wu? What Prince Wu?" Shi Jun looked utterly bewildered.

Seeing that his expression didn't seem feigned, Zu An's face involuntarily changed.