Chapter 959: Eleven Gold Medal Envoys

Kong Nanwu gazed at Nanxun until the latter began to tremble, then finally withdrew her eyes and leisurely settled back into the soft chair. "Go back," she said.

"Yes!" Nanxun replied respectfully. She then slightly pushed open the carriage door, gave an instruction to the maids and servants outside, and the carriage slowly set off in the direction of Hongxiu Pavilion.

"Brother-in-law, last time you said you were going to Hongxiu Pavilion to investigate a case," said Chu Youzhao, her expression somewhat displeased as she watched the carriage slowly pull away. "How is it that the courtesan queen is now coming to find you?"

Zu'an felt exasperated. With Chu Yan not by his side, having to explain such matters to a young girl was truly difficult. "What can I say?" he sighed. "Your brother-in-law is simply popular and gets along with everyone. Both men and women like me. If you don't believe me, look at those two gentlemen over there; they're men, and they've been smiling at me this whole time."

Following his gaze, Chu Youzhao indeed saw Pei You and Gao Ying. When they noticed her looking, they immediately gave even brighter smiles.

*Brother Zu must be introducing us to his young brother-in-law*, Pei You and Gao Ying thought. *Naturally, we should appear more amiable.*

"Perverts!" Unfortunately, their smiles took on a completely different meaning in Chu Youzhao's eyes. She nervously pulled Zu'an closer. "Brother-in-law, please don't get so close to men!"

Chu Youzhao had naturally heard of the custom among many high-ranking officials and nobles in the capital of keeping male concubines.

After much thought, she concluded it would be better for her brother-in-law to go out and flirt with women than to get involved with men.

*Ugh, just thinking about it sends shivers down my spine!*

"Brother Zu, that courtesan queen certainly has deep feelings," said Zheng Dan, walking over with a smile. "Such a remarkable woman truly inspires admiration." Beside her was the usually talkative Sang Qian, who was now uncharacteristically quiet.

"Haha, we're just ordinary friends..." Zu'an chuckled awkwardly, thinking to himself that while having many female confidantes was enjoyable, once they met, it would inevitably turn into a chaotic scene.

Fortunately, there was movement from the other side at that moment, and he quickly said, "The ship is about to depart; I'll board first. It's cold out, so you all should head back soon."

As their separation was imminent, the women set aside any jealousy. Chu Youzhao, Zheng Dan, and the others all waved goodbye to him, saying, "Take care on your journey!"

Their voices were filled with concern. Zheng Dan knew his journey was likely fraught with danger. Chu Youzhao wasn't aware of the specific perils, but the thought of being separated for so long made her equally worried.

Zu'an nodded, then looked at Sang Qian. "Little Sister Qian, we're about to part ways. Won't you say something to me?"

Feeling everyone's gaze, Sang Qian's cheeks grew slightly warm. *What could I possibly say to you?* she thought. *This man really is thick-skinned.*

Despite her internal complaints, she still said, "Brother Zu, I wish you a smooth journey!"

No matter the circumstances, she didn't want anything to happen to Zu'an.

Zu'an laughed heartily. "With so many of you caring for me, I'll make sure to return safely, no matter what."

Watching his laughing figure walk away, Murong Qinghe thought, *Though Brother Chu's brother-in-law is a bit thick-skinned, he is certainly very open-minded.*

After the group boarded, the ship quickly set off. The members of the envoy all stood on the deck, waving goodbye to their families who had come to see them off.

Gao Ying and Pei You approached Zu'an, looking at the beautiful young women waving at him from afar. They couldn't help but feel envious. "Brother Zu certainly has a way with ladies," they remarked.

"Ah, having too many women is actually quite troublesome," Zu'an said, though his tone clearly conveyed a humblebrag. "They almost started fighting just now, and I was caught in the middle, which was truly awkward."

Gao Ying was speechless.

Pei You was also speechless.

Zu'an chuckled, putting his arms around their shoulders. "How come I didn't see your families here to see you off?"

Pei You replied, "I told them not to come, so they wouldn't cry and ruin the mood."

Gao Ying, on the other hand, said, "I don't have many close relatives at home. Rather than engaging in fake pleasantries with them, it's simpler to just avoid the whole thing."

"Haha, you two are quite open-minded as well," Zu'an chuckled. "It's good that we're traveling together; it won't be lonely." He understood the underlying reasons: Pei You was too young to know the sorrow of parting, so he felt little about goodbyes. Gao Ying's situation was due to his status; though nominally part of the Liu family, he was only their nephew, not a direct descendant, and thus inevitably felt like an outsider living among them.

The two also laughed heartily. "It's a good opportunity to ask Brother Zu on this journey how to attract women."

"That's simple," Zu'an began, "all you need is a blend of good looks, wealth, generosity, gentleness, and leisure..." He then proceeded to explain the specific meaning of each character in this idiom, leaving them utterly stunned and deeply impressed.

After chatting and joking for a while, a guard approached and reported, "Sirs, Lord Sang requests your presence."

The men immediately dropped their lighthearted smiles, knowing that Sang Hong would only summon them for something serious.

As the imperial envoy, Sang Hong held the highest position in the delegation, and his quarters were naturally the largest and most luxurious, even divided into a living room, bedroom, study, and other areas.

Golden Token Eleven and Zu'an also had good rooms, both located not far from Sang Hong's. Of course, Golden Token Eleven had not yet appeared, so that room remained empty, but it still had to be prepared.

Pei You and Gao Ying also had private rooms. Although they held some official positions, these were mostly honorary or minor. Their privileged treatment stemmed primarily from representing their respective prominent families.

As for the others, most had to share dormitory-style rooms with several people per room.

"Please have a seat, gentlemen," Sang Hong said. Seeing Zu'an, a hint of a smile appeared on his face.

"Greetings, Lord Sang." Pei You and Gao Ying secretly mused, *Everyone says Sang Hong is ruthless and unsmiling, but today the rumors don't seem quite right.*

"Gentlemen, there's no need for such formalities," Sang Hong replied. "Our upcoming journey to Yunzhong Commandery will require our full cooperation."

"We will certainly do our utmost to cooperate with Lord Sang," they replied, uttering the polite phrases everyone was expected to say.

Sang Hong clearly paid them no mind. "The reason I've asked you all here is to discuss the potential problems we might encounter during our trip to Yunzhong Commandery..."

He then briefly outlined the mission, along with the numerous suspicious circumstances and hidden dangers surrounding the Duke of Yunzhong Commandery's disappearance. Of course, he omitted the previously uncovered detail that the Duke's brother had murdered him.

Even so, this information was enough to change both their expressions. They had initially thought this trip would be a leisurely tour to gain some merit, never expecting it to harbor so many dangers.

However, neither of them were cowards. Instead of shrinking back, they saw this as an excellent opportunity to achieve great things. "With Lord Sang leading the mission, Brother Zu assisting, and the Golden Token Embroidered Envoy, Lord Eleven, accompanying us, this trip is sure to be a success!"

They had witnessed Zu'an's abilities in the secret realm, and with the mysterious Embroidered Envoy, coupled with their own competence, they naturally felt no fear.

Sang Hong frowned. "It's a pity Lord Eleven hasn't boarded the ship. If something truly happens, it will be difficult to coordinate."

This was his greatest frustration: the other party remained unseen, making discussion impossible. For someone who meticulously planned everything, this was the biggest unpredictable variable.

Zu'an could only offer a wry smile, pondering that remaining hidden indefinitely was not a solution and that he needed to figure out how to address this issue.

"Who exactly is this Golden Token Eleven?" Pei You asked curiously. "Do any of you know anything about him?"

Gao Ying shook his head. "Embroidered Envoys are inherently mysterious, and Golden Tokens even more so. I've only heard that he solved many major cases in the capital recently, and some important figures in the imperial palace were even brought down because of him."

He then looked at Sang Hong. "Lord Sang, do you know anything more?"

Sang Hong said in a deep voice, "Embroidered Envoys report directly to the Emperor. Under the Grand Commander, there are only eleven Golden Token Embroidered Envoys, each a formidable individual capable of operating independently. Rumor has it that each Golden Token Envoy is dispersed across the country, each responsible for an area spanning thousands of miles, overseeing various intelligence operations and covertly monitoring local officials. In the capital, because Zhu Xiechixin is stationed here, no Golden Token has ever been assigned to this area. This Golden Token Eleven also appeared out of nowhere; various factions likely haven't uncovered his background or origin."

Zu'an thought to himself, *No wonder I haven't encountered a single Golden Token Embroidered Envoy despite being in the capital for so long. It turns out they're all dispatched to regional areas to oversee various domains.*

*From this perspective, the emperor bestowing the Golden Token title upon him was purely honorary,* Zu'an mused. *In a place like the capital, with so many influential figures, and the Emperor and Zhu Xiechixin above, he's simply not on the same level as his colleagues who oversee entire regions, neither in terms of power nor resources.*

"What about their cultivation levels?" Pei You asked, more concerned about that detail.

Sang Hong shook his head. "That's a secret. Embroidered Envoys are already mysterious, and Golden Tokens even more so; no one knows their exact cultivation levels. However, for Golden Token Eleven, a rough estimation can be made."

Zu'an was startled, thinking, *Did I reveal any weakness? Otherwise, how would he know this?*

"Lord Sang, please tell us quickly," said Pei You and Gao Ying, their interest immediately piqued.

Sang Hong explained, "A few months ago, demon cult assassins infiltrated the palace for an assassination attempt. The imperial guards were initially drawn to Kunning Palace, but the assassins' true target was the Eastern Palace. At that time, the Crown Prince's Grand Tutor was gravely wounded, and the Eastern Palace guards suffered heavy casualties. It is said that at the crucial moment, Golden Token Eleven appeared and saved the Crown Prince and Crown Princess. Many people were present, and based on their descriptions, Golden Token Eleven's cultivation level should be around Rank Six or Seven."

"Ah, only Rank Six or Seven?" Pei You and Gao Ying couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. Their own cultivation was already at the peak of Rank Six, so it seemed these legendary figures weren't much more formidable than they were.

"That's precisely what's most terrifying," Sang Hong said, his expression tinged with awe. "At that time, he only displayed a cultivation of Rank Six or Seven, yet he was able to block a full-strength attack from the Demon Cult Leader, who is a Grandmaster. How many people in the world can do that?"

"Terrifying indeed!" Pei You and Gao Ying gasped, for as members of prominent families, they naturally understood the formidable power of a Grandmaster.

"That's probably not possible, is it?" Pei You said, frowning.

"It is indeed somewhat unbelievable," Sang Hong admitted, "for I consider my own cultivation to be respectable, yet even I might not be able to withstand a Grandmaster's full-strength attack." His tone then shifted. "But it is a fact, proving that Golden Token Eleven's true cultivation is at least as high as mine, if not higher, or perhaps his combat prowess is unique and cannot be simply measured by cultivation level. Regardless, he is one of the most formidable masters in the world."