“This... doesn’t seem appropriate,” Zu An replied awkwardly. Despite having once undergone the most intimate ritual, that was due to Chu Youzhao’s scheming. She was the Chu clan’s daughter-in-law, so it wouldn’t do for him to carelessly hug her.
“My request might be unusual, but I truly wish to hug you.” Murong Qinghe was already embarrassed to make that request, and insisting on it sapped all her courage dry.
A thought surfaced in Zu An’s mind. “Did you argue with Youzhao?”
He had rushed here from the capital when he sensed that Phoenix Pass was in danger, so he hadn't had time to drop by the Chu manor. As such, he hadn’t met Chu Youzhao yet and didn’t know how their relationship had progressed over the years.
“You should know why there’s a conflict between us.” Murong Qinghe was from a military clan, after all. She quickly overcame her embarrassment and regained her courage.
“It has been years since we last met, so how could I know?” Zu An could fathom a guess, but it wouldn’t be good to speculate without speaking to Chu Youzhao first.
“Is that so?” Murong Qinghe murmured before abruptly leaping into his arms to embrace him.
It was so abrupt that Zu An’s protective ki layer reflexively activated, jolting her back. He hurriedly reined in its strength, but it was still too much for her to bear. With a dull thud, Murong Qinghe spewed fresh blood. She collapsed on the floor, severely injured.
Zu An was both angry and worried. He rushed forward to circulate her ki and treat her injuries while exclaiming, “What are you doing? You would have been dead if I hadn’t held back in time.”
Instead of saying a word, Murong Qinghe took this chance to embrace him. Tears flowed down her eyes as she muttered, “It was indeed you that night...”
Zu An was stunned and awed by her intuition. She can tell just from a hug?
“I’m sorry. It was an accident...” he tried to explain, but he didn’t know how to go about it.
“I know. It’s all big brother Chu... No, it was big sister Chu’s arrangement,” Murong Qinghe replied miserably.
“You already know?” Zu An was taken aback.
“How can I not know? She might have fooled me at the start, but the truth became apparent after I was married. Besides, that night was... I didn’t think too much at the start because I was too embarrassed, but in hindsight, that couldn’t have been big brother Chu’s body.” Murong Qinghe wiped her tears. “Since then, big brother Chu has never shared a room with me. I thought he was scorning me and was heartbroken. Fortunately, big brother Chu hinted at the truth to me because he was worried I would resort to something extreme. It was only then that I realized what happened on the night of my marriage.”
“Why did you still test me earlier?” Zu An was curious.
For some reason, Murong Qinghe’s face reddened further. “Youzhao refused to tell me that man’s identity, but it wasn’t difficult to figure out what happened that night. Given my years of ties with Youzhao, I doubt she would just find anyone to take advantage of me.”
“You are the closest man to her, and you happened to be in the neighboring courtyard that night. I tried asking her if it was you that night, but she didn’t give me an answer. That’s why I needed to verify it myself.”
Zu An was intrigued. “You were able to tell with just a hug?”
Murong Qinghe’s face reddened. She turned away. “You wouldn’t know. You aren’t a woman.”
It was too embarrassing for her to say it aloud. That night had been too special for her. There was no way she could forget that sensation.
“I’m sorry. I had too much to drink that night, and I didn’t know Youzhao would do something like that,” Zu An replied apologetically.
“I know. You were a victim too, and she kept you in the dark as well.” Murong Qinghe had already figured out what the Chu clan was planning back then, so she didn’t blame him for it.
The word ‘victim’ sounded off to Zu An. Had it come from him, it would have felt as if he were complaining after taking advantage of her. He asked, “You were hurt the most in this matter. Do you hate Youzhao for it?”
“Of course I do. I hate her for being a woman and not a man.” Murong Qinghe bit her lips. “I should have known earlier. There were times when big brother Chu felt too weak to be a man, but I fancied her for her weak, scholarly disposition.”
Zu An had to concede that the Chu clan had outstanding genes. The three sisters were incredibly good-looking. Chu Youzhao, when disguised as a man, looked like a dashing gigolo. Murong Qinghe wasn’t the only woman who had fancied him then. It could have also been because Murong Qinghe had been in the military for too long and had seen too many coarse men, thus making the gentle and graceful Chu Youzhao more appealing to her.
“Now that I think about it, there were many signs. Big brother Chu asked me several times...” Murong Qinghe suddenly fell silent here.
“What did she ask?” Zu An was intrigued by her peculiar reaction.
“Nothing.”
Murong Qinghe suddenly remembered how Chu Youzhao had once asked her if she would have fallen in love with big brother Zu had she met him first. She hesitated briefly, though she chose Chu Youzhao in the end. Big brother Chu must have been confirming my feelings then.
When she thought about how much Chu Youzhao cared about her, her heart ached.
“Are the two of you on bad terms after talking it out?” Zu An han’t seen Chu Youzhao anywhere in Phoenix Pass.
“I don’t blame big brother Chu. I know she had no choice either. I only blame fate for playing such a prank on us.” Murong Qinghe sighed.
Zu An felt the same too. She’s a good person. She still thinks on Chu Youzhao’s behalf despite having such a thing happen to her.
“Big brother Zu, big brother Chu is a pitiful one too. She has to conceal her identity and live as someone else. Even her marriage was an act.”
“She is a pitiful one. But Linglong ascending to the throne will be the start of all kinsd of changes. I'll push for women's rights, so that they can inherit noble titles and assets. This way, those who face the same plight won’t have to go through the same suffering,” Zu An replied.
Murong Qinghe’s eyes lit up. “Are you doing this for big brother Chu? It looks like her feelings for you didn’t go unreciprocated.”
“Ah?” Zu An was taken aback.
“Youzhao harbors deep feelings for you as well, but she has to play the role of the Chu clan’s young master, and you’re her brother-in-law. She had no choice but to suppress her feelings,” Murong Qinghe said with a sigh. “I did think it was weird how big brother Chu was attached to you. It only made sense to me when I learned that she was a woman.”
“She might have deceived me, but after everything we've gone through, I believe our feelings for each other are real.” Murong Qinghe looked intently at Zu An. “You were the only one she would have chosen to take her place for that night, and I believe she would have rather been the one to accompany you that night.”
Zu An coughed. “I am her brother-in-law, after all.”
Murong Qinghe narrowed her eyes. “That means nothing. Sisters sharing a husband are praised. The previous emperor’s wives are from the Liu clan. Such things are also common among nobles and officials.”
“Why are you suddenly turning the topic to me?” Zu An felt awkward. “What are your plans with Youzhao?”
“We’ll just continue like that. If we part ways, her identity will be exposed. I don’t want to put big brother Chu in a difficult position. Besides, I've already said that I’ll be with her no matter what happens,” Murong Qinghe said with conviction.
It was then that she suddenly changed her tone and said, “Big brother Zu, even though that night... I hope you don’t take me for a casual woman. Don’t look for me again in the future!”
Zu An replied solemnly, “Of course!” I’m also not the kind who will casually take advantage of others.
Then, Murong Qinghe whispered with a reddened face, “But it’ll be fine if big brother Chu agrees to it.”