She was unaware of the secret between Zu'an and Zheng Dan, but since they were teacher and student at the academy, they should have congratulated each other.
“No need, I will go and offer my congratulations in person,” Zuan said in a deep voice.
Noticing his gloomy expression, Xie Daoyun was taken aback, but she didn't think much of it: "Grandma, do you want to come over together?"
She was also worried that if Zu An stayed here, he might cause another conflict with Liu Yao, and the Xie family might not be able to stop him then, so it would be better to separate the two.
"Okay, wait a moment." Zu An smiled, ran to the back to give some instructions, and then jumped directly onto Xie Daoyun's carriage. "It's ready."
Xie Daoyun blushed slightly, thinking to herself, "I invited you to come along, but I didn't mean for you to ride in the same carriage as me."
She opened her mouth, but then she remembered that they had just shared a horse, and it seemed a bit pretentious to refuse now, so she said nothing.
However, being so close to a young man in the private space of a carriage made her feel a little awkward, so she quickly tried to find a topic to ease her embarrassment: "Azu, what are your plans next?"
"Naturally, we'll meet force with force and water with earth," Zu'an replied.
Xie Daoyun hesitated for a moment before saying, "Originally, I shouldn't be saying these things, but since we are friends, I can't just watch you continue to fall into the abyss."
Zu An was taken aback: "What does Miss Xie want to say?"
Xie Daoyun pursed her thin red lips: "I know that Lord Mingyue has always chosen neutrality, but neutrality, while seemingly avoiding offending either side, actually offends both. The various things the Chu family has suffered recently are clearly due to this. Now that the Chu family is at a critical juncture of life and death, do you still intend to remain neutral?"
Zu An laughed and said, "Miss Xie, are you trying to recruit me on behalf of Prince Qi?"
Xie Daoyun sighed: "I don't deny that I'm recruiting, but it's also my honest opinion as a friend. Although your Chu family still has three thousand Red Robe Army soldiers, once convicted, what use can a mere three thousand men be against the powerful imperial court?"
"Moreover, they went to the Chu family's fiefdom, losing the two gold mines of salt and iron. How will your Chu family support this army?"
"Mingyue Gong's character is well-known. I don't believe he would allow the Red Robe Army to plunder everywhere like the Black Wind Stronghold. Without a source of income, the powerful Red Robe Army will soon collapse. It will be too late to regret it then."
Zuan replied, "Your analysis makes a lot of sense, we will consider it carefully."
Xie Daoyun scrutinized his eyes carefully, and after a long while said, "I don't know why, but I always feel that you are just trying to appease me. I can't sense any tension in your expression, as if you already have everything under control, but I really can't understand what possibility the Chu family could possibly have to turn the tables."
Zuan smiled slightly and said, "Today we'll only talk about romance, nothing else."
Xie Daoyun couldn't help but recall the scene of being poked while riding horses together earlier. Her jade-like cheeks flushed instantly, and she spat out, "Who's talking about romance with you?"
As he spoke, he glanced nervously out the window, then suddenly noticed the knights following behind the carriage and was startled: "Why did you bring the Red Robe Army along? What are you planning to do?"
Zu An's gaze passed through the car door and looked in the direction of the Sang family: "Of course, I wish them a happy marriage."
He left most of the Red Robe Army to guard the Chu family, while he led several hundred men straight to the Sang family.
Xie Daoyun didn't believe his nonsense and hurriedly said, "I know you have a lot of grudges with the Sang family, but this is Zheng Dan's big day after all, so don't do anything reckless!"
She was starting to regret it. Why had she been so foolish as to lure him here? This guy was such a troublemaker; he always caused trouble wherever he went.
"Don't worry, I won't do anything reckless." Zu An smiled, his eyes holding a somewhat ambiguous meaning.
Seeing that he said that, Xie Daoyun could not say anything more and could only worry inwardly. After arriving at the Sang family, the first thing she did was to have the servants inform her father.
Looking out from afar, Zu'an noticed a stark contrast to the oppressive atmosphere of his last visit to the Sang family. Today, the place was brightly decorated with lanterns and the character for "double happiness" (囍).
The mansion was already bustling with activity. The marriage of the prefect's son and the eldest daughter of the Zheng family was such a momentous occasion that all the prominent figures in the city had come.
In fact, if Zu'an hadn't suddenly brought the Red Robe Army into the city, Xie Yi and Liu Yao might have been here too.
The servant at the door was chanting about the gifts given by the arriving guests:
"Miss Xie has arrived, bringing twenty-eight top-quality pearls."
"The Chu family... Oh? The Chu family's son-in-law has arrived, bringing... bringing a hat."
Upon hearing this, the previously noisy Sang family fell silent for a moment.
Those present were all prominent figures in Mingyue City, and everyone was aware of the feud between the Chu and Sang families.
Moreover, everyone was discussing the confrontation between Zaun and Liu Yao with the Red Robe Army, so how come one of the main figures suddenly appeared here?
Also, what's with giving a hat as a gift?
---
I'm not feeling well today, so this is the only chapter I'll finish tomorrow.
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