Chapter 917: Born Protagonist

Qin Yongde also smiled, "That's right, the Chu family has already expelled him from their home. Chu Yan has nothing to do with him now, so there's really no need to help him."

"Although this fellow appears frivolous, he does have some real capability," Qin Guangyuan took a sip of clear tea. "I heard my grandfather and father mention that he seemed to have ruined King Qi's important plans. It's better not to get close to him at this time."

"It's truly hard to imagine that this kid could disrupt the plans of King Qi and our grandfather's generation," Qin Yongde sighed repeatedly. In his mind, King Qi and people of his grandfather's generation were formidable figures; he wouldn't even dare to breathe heavily in front of them, only bowing his head to listen to their lectures. How could this young man compete with them and even cause them significant losses?

"It must be that the Emperor had other arrangements, and he was just a figure pushed to the forefront," Qin Guangyuan hesitated. After much thought, this seemed to be the most plausible reason.

While the two brothers decided to stand by, another private room was also lively. A group of people spoke to a young man in the main seat: "Young Master Bi, that's the newly appointed Count Green Hat, Zu An, down there. We don't know how he offended Yi Zhibing, but it looks like there's a good show about to start."

The young man, who was the center of attention, had a handsome face with a high nose, but its tip was hooked. Combined with his extremely thin lips and narrow phoenix eyes, he exuded an aura of coldness and ruthlessness.

The young man stood up and said, "Let's go down and see."

The others were surprised: "Young Master Bi, why are you suddenly getting involved in this matter?"

The young man smiled, "This Zu An is my sister's loyal dog. As the saying goes, when you beat a dog, you have to consider its owner. That Yi fellow is too arrogant."

The others all laughed, saying, "Young Master Bi truly cares for his subordinates. Let's go teach Yi Zhibing a lesson."

A group of people, eager for excitement, stood up and went to join the commotion.

This young man was, naturally, Bi Linglong's older brother, Bi Zi'ang, the eldest legitimate son of the Bi family.

Meanwhile, Gao Ying and Pei You were blocking the constables, and the situation between the two sides was on the verge of escalating.

What a joke! They had invited Zu An, and now they had to rely on him just to get inside. They had already lost enough face. If they were to be kicked out in front of so many people, they really wouldn't be able to make a living in the capital anymore.

Yi Zhibing's face fell. "What? Do you intend to openly defy the constables? That's a serious offense."

Gao Ying and Pei You's expressions changed, clearly aware that the charge could be either minor or severe. However, since things had come to this, they couldn't worry about it anymore.

Zu An was about to step forward and say something when a burst of laughter suddenly came from nearby: "What's going on here? It's so lively!"

Yu Nan, who had been watching the commotion from the second floor, saw this scene, and the smile on her face instantly froze.

On the other side, Qin Yongde couldn't help but snort, "Zu An has indeed completely sided with the Crown Prince! He's not allowed through our Qin family's doors ever again!"

Zu An curiously examined the newcomers. The leader was handsome, yet there was something unsettling about him. A phrase suddenly popped into Zu An's mind: "wolf's gaze, eagle's vision." Yes, that was the feeling—it instinctively put one on guard.

Yi Zhibing had been complacent, feeling like the center of attention and the protagonist, especially after provoking the two young men from the Liu and Pei families to impotent rage in front of so many people.

However, upon seeing the new arrival, his expression changed, and his imposing manner instantly weakened by a third. "So it's Young Master Bi. What brings you here?"

Bi Zi'ang smiled and said, "You're troubling my people here. How could I not come?"

Zu An raised an eyebrow. When did "we" become "your people"?

Yi Zhibing felt a pang of frustration. On any other day, he would have given the other party face and stopped troubling Zu An and his companions. But he had just grandiosely boasted to Yu Nan; what kind of impression would it make if he backed down now?

So, he braced himself and said, "Young Master Bi, you've misunderstood. I'm not intentionally making things difficult for anyone. It's simply for the safety of today's banquet, which is why I've had them check the guest invitations. Everyone will be checked; there's no targeting of them."

Hearing him, the smile on Bi Zi'ang's face suddenly vanished. "I originally intended to save you some face, but since you don't want it, don't blame me. If you want to talk about official rules, then I must ask carefully: What is your current official position? Did you issue the order to deploy the capital's constables to maintain order today?"

Cold sweat immediately broke out on Yi Zhibing's forehead. "It's... it's because my father was worried about too many common people here, so he sent people to maintain order."

He himself was a commoner. On ordinary days, he could naturally command these constables through his father's connections, but strictly speaking, this was an unauthorized act.

"Oh, so it's Lord Yi," Bi Zi'ang said. "Then I wonder if Lord Yi reported this action to the imperial court today? And is there an official reply from the court? After all, this is an entertainment district. Sending imperial constables to maintain order for a brothel will inevitably lead to public criticism about the misuse of public resources." Bi Zi'ang's questions came one after another, each hitting a crucial point.

"This... this..." Yi Zhibing continuously wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, at a loss for how to answer. He had taken it upon himself to dispatch people today; although his father knew, he hadn't paid it much mind. If this were truly investigated, his actions today might cost his father his official position.

He secretly regretted volunteering to come down and show off earlier. Zu An was indeed a jinx; getting involved with him always led to trouble.

Just as he was in a dilemma, Yu Nan's faint voice came from upstairs: "Since Young Master Bi is vouching for them, they naturally won't be a problem. Come up."

Yi Zhibing, as if granted a great pardon, hastily offered a few ingratiating smiles to Bi Zi'ang, then fled as if escaping.

Zu An glanced upstairs. Although it was just a fleeting glimpse, he had already recognized the person's identity. It seemed all the trouble he encountered tonight was caused by this fellow.

They had only met once, and even shared a meal at King Qi's mansion. Was there any need to target him like this?

People are strange like that; sometimes, they fall in love at first sight, while other times, they subconsciously dislike someone after just one meeting.

Clearly, Yu Nan belonged to the latter category.

The bead curtain in the private room upstairs had already been lowered. Apparently, Yu Nan found even another glance at him inauspicious.

Zu An withdrew his gaze and cupped his hands to Bi Zi'ang. "Thank you, Young Master Bi."

"No need to thank me. You're my sister's person, so of course, I'll protect you," Bi Zi'ang scrutinized him. "Before, I only heard your name but never met you. Seeing you today, neither humble nor arrogant, you truly are impressive."

"You flatter me, Young Master Bi," Zu An replied calmly. The other person's way of speaking always carried a condescending tone, but Zu An didn't mind; it was probably a common trait among people of their standing.

Bi Zi'ang chuckled, "Speaking of which, I have a few friends who met their end because of you."

Zu An was taken aback. "There was such a thing?"

He had made so many enemies lately that he couldn't immediately recall who Bi Zi'ang was referring to.

"Shi Kun, as well as Gu Heng and Gu Xing, were quite close to me in ordinary times," Bi Zi'ang quickly changed the topic. "However, those people were traitors, so it's good that you killed them."

Zu An's heart tightened. He felt that the other party's words carried a hint of warning.

The two exchanged a few more polite greetings, and Bi Zi'ang invited, "I have a private room upstairs. Why don't you join us?"

Zu An smiled and said, "Perhaps next time. We've already reserved our spot for today."

Seeing Bi Zi'ang's entourage, Zu An could imagine that upstairs, he would just be listening to flattery. It would be much more enjoyable to drink with Gao Ying and Pei You.

More importantly, the other person's gaze and tone always made him feel like a servant. What a joke! He had chatted and laughed with big shots like Zhao Hao and Qin Shi Huang. Who was this guy?

Seeing his refusal, Bi Zi'ang's brows furrowed slightly, but he quickly concealed it. "Very well."

Without another word, the group soon departed. Once they were further away, his companion mumbled, "That fellow is too ignorant of how to behave. Young Master Bi invited him, and he actually refused."

Bi Zi'ang's face was expressionless. "Capable people always have a bit of a temper. It's like taming a hawk; keep at it, and they'll eventually become docile."

On the other side, after Zu An and his two companions were seated, a maid quickly came to prepare fruits, wine, and dishes.

Although their seats weren't a private room upstairs, they were in a very elegant spot, indicating Gao Ying had put thought into it.

However, this only made Yi Zhibing seem more detestable. Red Sleeve Pavilion clearly had places prepared according to the invitations, yet he had specifically sent people to block them outside.

Now, at least a third of the seats in the main hall were still empty, clearly all blocked by those constables under various pretexts.

"Brother Zu, let me toast you first. What happened today was truly embarrassing," Gao Ying said somewhat shamefacedly.

"Don't take it to heart. It was mainly caused by a villain's interference," Zu An said, downing his drink.

The group clinked their cups, and the atmosphere gradually grew lively as they chatted about various topics, soon turning to Bi Zi'ang.

"Ah, he's just a born protagonist," Gao Ying and Pei You exclaimed in unison.

Zu An: "???"

What the hell? It was the first time he'd ever heard anyone described that way.

If Bi Zi'ang was the protagonist, what was he?

Seeing his surprised expression, Gao Ying seemed to know what he was thinking and explained with a smile, "Back then, Madam Bi dreamed of a Qilin and then discovered she was pregnant. Even before he was born, the entire capital knew the Bi family was expecting a Qilin child."

Zu An couldn't help but ask, "Why wasn't his father cuckolded by the Qilin?"

Gao Ying: "..."

Although in this world, "green" didn't carry the meaning of being cuckolded yet, it didn't prevent him from understanding the implication.

Pei You, stifling a laugh, said, "Brother Zu, we should just say such things quietly among ourselves. If it gets out, it will cause a huge stir. Bi Zi'ang is always arrogant, and he might turn into an enemy over such a remark."

Zu An nodded. "Just because of that, you call him a born protagonist?"

"Of course, it's not just that," Gao Ying continued. "On the day he was born, the room was filled with red clouds, and a strange fragrance permeated the air. According to the Bi family's maids and servants, the entire Bi mansion was filled with this peculiar scent at the time."

Zu An muttered to himself, "Why does that sound like a demon being born?"

However, considering their fragile sensibilities, he kept his thoughts to himself.

Pei You, on the side, couldn't help but add, "When he was a child, Lord Bi went to a wilderness area to suppress fierce beasts and took him along. However, due to the negligence of a servant, he accidentally got lost. The Bi family searched frantically but couldn't find him, and everyone thought he was certainly dead. You know, that wilderness is infested with all kinds of fierce beasts; even a sixth-rank master would be in great danger there."

"Who knew that three days later, he actually returned on his own, riding a Zouyu?"

"A Zouyu?" Zu An was startled.

Pei You explained, "This is a mythical auspicious beast with the body of a tiger and the head of a lion, white fur with black stripes, and a tail longer than its body. It can travel ten thousand miles a day. Legend says it's inherently benevolent, unwilling to even step on green grass, and only eats creatures that did not die naturally. So, people say it represents benevolence and righteousness."

Zu An recalled that there were indeed records of Zouyu in his previous life. However, from the description, it sounded like a white tiger.

"Later, that Zouyu became his mount. A benevolent beast choosing its master caused quite a stir back then," Pei You said, his face filled with envy, clearly wishing he were the protagonist.

"It certainly is quite unusual," Zu An mused. Could the Bi family have orchestrated these events? But wouldn't such a display make the Emperor wary?

"And that's not all," Gao Ying continued. "Once, as a young man, he was traveling and accidentally fell off a cliff. Not only did he survive, but he also obtained an ancient inheritance, the 'Heaven and Earth Sword of Sorrow.' Even the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy praised that sword art."

Zu An thought to himself, "This really is like those protagonists in novels. Others fall off a cliff and are never seen again, but protagonists fall off a cliff and find either treasure or secret martial arts manuals, and sometimes even stumble upon beautiful women bathing."

He recalled that when he was a teenager in his previous life, he believed the nonsense in those novels, thinking there were miraculous encounters at the bottom of cliffs.

Of course, as a person with normal intelligence, he didn't dare to jump off cliffs, but he could take a detour to the bottom of cliffs to look for secret manuals or similar things.

Heaven rewards the diligent. One time, he finally found a booklet at the bottom of a cliff. The characters "Nine Yang" were faintly written on it, and he was overjoyed, thinking he had found the legendary "Nine Yang Divine Skill." However, upon picking it up and looking closely, he realized it was actually the "Joyoung Soy Milk Maker Instruction Manual."

From then on, he never believed in miraculous encounters from jumping off cliffs again.

Yet today, he actually met such a lucky person, and it made him a little jealous.

"Oh, and also, I heard he picks up money every time he goes out," Pei You said, growing more envious. Picking up money when going out is everyone's dream, isn't it? He could even enjoy courtesans every day for free.

"Wow, that's incredible! How much money must he have picked up over the years?" Zu An also felt a bit sour.

"And the most bizarre thing is that everyone who crosses him experiences various accidents—either they slip on a banana peel, get hit by a flowerpot from upstairs, or even almost choke to death while drinking water..." Gao Ying recounted all the unbelievable things he had heard, finally sighing, "Eventually, everyone became afraid, believing he was a person of great fortune, and no one dared to provoke him."

Pei You said with some concern, "You just rebuffed him. I wonder if anything unlucky will happen."

Gao Ying said, "However, the offense wasn't too severe just now. Even if something unlucky happens, it won't be life-threatening."

Seeing their worried expressions, Zu An had so many complaints he wanted to vent. It was truly outrageous. How could that Zhao Hao fellow allow such an impressive person to exist in the capital?

Naturally, he didn't put much stock in these stories, so he directly changed the subject: "By the way, are Shi Kun, Gu Xing, and the others he just mentioned very close to him?"

Gao Ying explained, "Because of the legends surrounding his great fortune, many people gradually gathered around him. Among them, eighteen individuals stood out most in terms of background and ability. They frequently gathered at Bi Zi'ang's private residence, Green Garden, and were known as the Eighteen Friends of Green Garden. Shi Kun and the Gu brothers were among them."

"Of course, Shi Kun was ranked among the higher ones, while the Gu brothers were almost at the very bottom."

Zu An thought to himself, no wonder that Shi Kun fellow used to act so arrogant when he came to Clear Moon City. It turns out he learned it from Bi Zi'ang. In some ways, the two were inexplicably similar, no wonder they could be good friends.

As for Gu Heng and Gu Xing, well, it was evident what kind of people were in Bi Zi'ang's circle of friends.

Suddenly, a melodious zither tune slowly drifted in. The previously noisy main hall instantly quieted down, and everyone looked towards a pavilion on the second floor at the very center.

Unfortunately, heavy gauze curtains and various bead screens surrounded it, allowing only a vague silhouette to be seen, with the face completely obscured.

"Miss Nanxun has started playing the zither!" Pei You's face was filled with excitement, and he even involuntarily stood up.

"This music should only exist in heaven," even Gao Ying stretched his neck, looking towards the second floor.

Only Zu An remained unperturbed. He was surrounded by exceptionally beautiful women, including courtesans. Qiu Honglei, the Saintess of the Demonic Cult, was one who truly sold her art, not her body—wasn't she far better than these "marketing courtesans" here?

As for this zither music, he genuinely couldn't appreciate it much. In his previous life, he had been exposed to various musical genres—domestic, Western, Japanese—so many classics had already raised his appreciation threshold. The sound of a mere guqin was too bland and could hardly move him anymore.

His purpose for coming here was to find a way to discredit Yu Nan, but he hadn't thought of a good method yet.

At this moment, in another room on the second floor, a graceful figure stood by the window, carefully observing the people downstairs. Seeing their infatuated expressions, a hint of mocking amusement appeared on her moist red lips: "Heh, men!"

However, she quickly noticed the anomalous Zu An. While other men eagerly craned their necks, he alone sat steadily, leisurely drinking, his expression seeming to suggest disdain for the zither music's boredom?

"How interesting," the woman chuckled softly, then pointed in Zu An's direction. "Who is that?"

"Replying to master, that is Count Green Hat, Zu An, a favorite of the Eastern Palace and concurrently the Crown Prince's Vice-Secretary and Commander of the Imperial Forest Guards," a maid-like figure nearby looked and replied.

"Count Green Hat?" The woman frowned. "Why are human official titles so strange and unpleasant?"

She looked at Zu An again, feeling a bit puzzled. "Zu An? Why does that name sound familiar? Who was it that little sister Xue'er mentioned to me last time?"

By this time, the music had ended, and fervent applause erupted throughout the hall. Everyone eagerly offered their profound comments, vying to impress Nanxun:

"Miss Nanxun's zither skill is truly superb; it lingers for three days and never fades." This was a relatively reserved comment; afterward, everyone became increasingly enthusiastic and forthright.

"After listening to Miss Nanxun's zither, I feel my entire soul has been cleansed and uplifted."

"Miss Nanxun could be said to have entered the Dao through her music. If she were to pursue cultivation, she might achieve great heights. As long as Miss Nanxun is willing, I, this young master, am willing to teach you personally, sharing everything I know."

Zu An inwardly grumbled. A patron comes to listen to a famous courtesan play a piece and his soul gets cleansed and uplifted? How dirty must that soul be?

And that guy who wants to personally teach someone cultivation... I don't even need to say it. Is he really trying to teach cultivation, or is he just lusting after her body?

"Sharing everything I know," he says. What "everything" are you sharing? Others pass down knowledge and skills; you want to pass down... fluids, right?

Pei You also shouted a few remarks, his face still flushed with excitement. "Brother Zu, what do you think?"

"Not much," Zu An said, "A brothel should act like a brothel, not put on these fancy airs." He then loudly called out, "We're here for fun, not to listen to music! Miss Nanxun, how about something more exciting and stimulating?"