Not long after, Zu An patted Bi Linglong on the shoulder: "That's enough, I'll leave now to avoid being discovered."

“They…” Bi Linglong looked at the two old nannies and hesitated.

"What, you don't want me to leave?" Zu'an said with a smile, leaning close to her cheek.

"Pah, hurry up and go!" she said, blushing as she pushed him into the secret passage under the bed. After closing the mechanism, she stared at the lock above, sometimes reaching up to put her hand on it, sometimes letting go, sometimes putting it back on...

He was clearly very conflicted.

Just then, the Empress's puzzled voice came from outside: "Has the examination not been finished after all this time?"

Bi Linglong was startled and quickly rearranged the bedding before replying, "It's all done now."

At this moment, the two old women also came to their senses and ran over to open the door.

When the Empress entered, she saw that Bi Linglong had just finished dressing, and then looked at the two old nannies for their opinion.

The old nanny nodded quietly to her and said in a low voice, "She is still a virgin."

Bi Linglong, who had been eavesdropping the whole time, breathed a sigh of relief. She was really scared to death just now. That guy Zu An always managed to turn the impossible into the possible.

Having completed her task, the Empress did not wish to linger. After exchanging a few more pleasantries with Bi Linglong, she left with two maids, as she needed to return to report the results of her investigation to the Emperor.

Meanwhile, Zu'an emerged from the secret passage and returned to the courtyard where the emperor had placed him as a guard. Although he had a small courtyard in the palace called Baisha, that was the residence of the Eleventh Gold Medal Guard. Since his identity could not be exposed, it was naturally most appropriate to be placed in the guard's quarters.

He saw from afar two guards wrapped up like rice dumplings knocking on his door:

"Huh, why is no one answering the door after knocking for so long?"

"Could he be asleep?"

Judging from the sounds, it was clearly Pu Duan Diao and Jiao Si Gun.

"What's going on?" Another voice came from nearby. Zhu Xie Chixin happened to be passing by and couldn't help but ask when he saw their situation.

"Nothing?" Park Duan Diao answered subconsciously, then pulled Jiao Si Gun away.

"Let's stretch our muscles a bit," Jiao Si Gun replied in unison.

"You're all badly injured. Instead of resting, why are you wandering around?" Zhu Xie Chixin snorted, about to leave, when he suddenly stopped and turned to look at the gate. "Isn't Lord Zu inside?"

Pu Duandiao replied, "He should be asleep. I just heard those eunuchs mention that Lord Zu was seriously injured and was in very poor condition when he was brought back."

"Really?" Zhu Xie Chixin hesitated for a moment, then knocked on the door. "Brother Zu, are you there?"

"Let's go in and check, just in case something happens to him and no one finds out." He said as he shook the door open with his hand.

Inside, Zuan was lying on the bed, his eyes wide with a bewildered expression: "Great...Commander?"

As he was about to get up, Zhu Xiechi hurriedly said, "No need for formalities. I just saw you outside and didn't answer when I called you. I was worried that something might happen to you if you were alone, so I wanted to call the imperial physician in time."

"Thank you for your concern, Commander." Zuan sneered inwardly. It was obvious that the other party had become suspicious. If he hadn't returned in time, he might have been exposed by now.

We used to have a pretty good relationship, we were practically drinking buddies, so why is he targeting me like this now?

He realized that the other party was the emperor's most trusted subordinate, and his attitude probably reflected the emperor's attitude. It seemed that although the emperor believed his words, he still disliked him. Zhu Xie Chixin, being a shrewd person, would definitely draw a clear line as soon as possible to avoid the emperor doubting his loyalty.

Zhu Xiechi subtly observed the surroundings of the room. Seeing nothing amiss, he rose to take his leave: "Since Brother Zu is alright, please rest well. I won't disturb you any longer."

After saying that, he got up and left.

Park Duan-diao and Jiao Si-gun got up to see him off. After he left, they closed the door again. Park Duan-diao came to Zu An's side and complained, "The Grand Commander was obviously doing that on purpose."

Zuan smiled but didn't say anything.

Park Dan-diao seemed to have opened a floodgate of complaints, saying, "We risked our lives to protect the Crown Prince and Crown Princess in the secret realm, almost losing our own lives, but when we came back, we were greeted not with rewards, but with all sorts of interrogations. It's really disheartening."

Zu An felt a chill run down his spine. It seemed that the emperor had interrogated all the relevant personnel upon his return and must have learned about his battle with those experts from others.

The emperor must have thought he was fully aware of my hidden strength. Well, that's perfect, it makes him think everything is under control.

Jiao Sigun said coldly, "If you raise your voice any louder, you could be in big trouble if someone hears you."

"What are you arguing about? Brother Zu isn't an outsider. I'm just saying this privately here," Park Duandiao complained.

Zuan comforted him, "Such a big thing happened this time, so many people died, it's only right that the palace conducts a thorough investigation. It's really good to see you all again."

Pu Duandiao and Jiao Sigun also choked up: "If it weren't for Brother Zu, we two brothers would have lost our lives in the secret realm."

Zuan patted the two on the shoulder: "It's too formal for us to say such things. If I were in danger, wouldn't you save me?"

The two answered in unison, "Of course we'll save them!"

However, he quickly lost heart: "But with your cultivation level, Brother Zu, how could it be our turn to save you?"

"That's not necessarily true." Zu An felt a surge of warmth in his heart as he recalled how the two of them had instinctively protected themselves when facing Zhu Xie Chixin.

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