Zu An hurriedly pulled Zhang Zitong up to her feet. “You don’t need to do something like that! I owe your Zhang clan a lot. I haven’t properly repaid you yet. Is there anything you want? I’ll fulfill it as long as it’s within my means.”
He wasn’t the real imperial grandson, but it was thanks to the Zhang clan that he’d grown up safely. He was indebted to the Zhang clan for their sacrifice.
Feeling the heat of Zu An’s palms on her arms made Zhang Zitong’s heart race. The regent has touched me! Through her excitement, she heard Zu An’s words, and that made her heart swell in bliss. “Can I ask for anything?”
“You can give it a try. There are very few things that are beyond me now.” Zu An smiled. Despite everything he had been through, he still enjoyed her reverent gaze.
Zhang Zitong’s breathing hastened. Her face reddened as she thought about something, but she suppressed that thought and said, “I wish to continue serving you as your guard. No, not just a guard, but... What was the term you used back then? Yes, secretary. That.”
Zu An was stunned. “You’re already my guard and secretary. That isn’t much of a wish. Why don’t you pick something else?”
But Zhang Zitong shook her head. Her mind was made up. “That’s what I want!”
She knew that Zu An’s pond was filled with ferocious, gigantic sharks, and a shrimp like her would only be swallowed whole if she joined the battlefield. But if she became his secretary, no matter how many lovers he had, she could remain the one closest to him.
Those sharks might even have to fawn over me instead!
The thought of the lofty empress, noblewomen, and holy maidens fawning over her made her so happy that she nearly burst into laughter.
Zu An couldn’t understand her bizarre wish, but since it wasn’t anything difficult, he accepted her request. “Alright. Let me know if there’s anything else you want.” Although, he didn’t think this would be enough to repay the Zhang clan.
“This is enough.” Zhang Zitong grinned merrily.
...
After organizing the rebel army in Phoenix Pass, Zu An and Bi Linglong brought the rebel kings to the capital as prisoners. The political situation immediately stabilized. Many major clans had been secretly liaising with the rebels in search of a way out, but with the rebellion quelled, no one dared to harbor traitorous thoughts anymore.
It also helped that Bi Linglong had publicly burned the letters she obtained from the rebel army, declaring that she would only punish the masterminds. That won her tremendous support from the people.
Zu An entrusted all administrative work to Bi Linglong, including the clean-up and the transition of dynasties. Meanwhile, he went to the courtyard on top of Mount Yuquan and gathered all the teachers there.
Other than Second Senior Drunken Sword Immortal Xiao Yao, who was wandering the world, Sixth Junior Painter Yu Yanluo, who was with the Fiend races, and Ninth Junior Bard Shang Liuyu, who was with the Ocean races, the rest were all present.
“Paying respect to the libationer!” All of them bowed to Zu An.
To them, his position as the libationer was more important than his post in the imperial court. They keenly noticed that Jiang Luofu hadn’t returned with him, and that made their hearts sink in sorrow.
Zu An knew they had misunderstood, so he quickly told them about the events during the trip and where Jiang Luofu was likely to be.
“A universal deity?” The crowd was startled.
They were the old libationer’s disciples, masters of their respective fields. They were knowledgeable. But learning about universal deities and the battle against Zhao Yuan at the Phoenix Pass made them realize that they were still frogs in a well.
Even so, this only sparked their enthusiasm to get to the bottom of things.
Knowing they were a bunch of obsessed academics, Zu An warned them, “Don’t recklessly dive into this. Catching the attention of a universal deity is more likely to bring destruction, though if you happen to be suited for their path, it is possible for them to bestow you with power instead, such as in Zhao Yuan’s case.”
Qi Yaoguang blinked. “Is the libationer telling us to look into deities whose dao aligns with ours, so we can have a higher chance of getting acknowledged?”
Zu An nodded. “It would be best for you to avoid getting involved with them, but I know you’re devoted academics. You won’t let an opportunity to uncover the unknown slip past your fingers, so I won’t waste my breath here.”
Yan Xiangu frankly replied, “I’ve been pursuing the heavenly dao for a long time now. I can’t stop now that a path has emerged. It might be fraught with dangers, but I have no regrets dying while in pursuit of the truth.” Despite his emaciated physique, he looked unwavering in his stance.
“Great senior is right!” The others voiced their agreement. They weren’t to give up on their paths for safety.
But Ji Dengtu was more worried about something else. “Why don’t I see Xiaoxi? Don’t tell me you lost Xiaoxi on top of my little aunt?” He lurched forth and grabbed Zu An’s collar. His voice was quivering.
The others frowned. If anyone else dared to treat the libationer in such a manner, they would have intervened right away, but Ji Dengtu had a special relationship with him.
“Brother Zu, what about my big sister?” Xie Xiu asked. A third-generation disciple like him wasn’t qualified to attend this meeting, but he was Zu An’s friend and Xie Daoyun’s little brother, so Zu An had called him over too. He was only speaking up now because he hadn’t dared to interject when his elders were talking.
Yan Xiangu also asked, “Indeed, Libationer. Is Daoyun safe?” He, too, was worried about his disciple’s safety.
“You don’t have to worry. They’re safe. I’ll bring them over right now.” Zu An wasn’t angry even though Ji Dengtu’s saliva was splattering all over his face. They had, after all, forged a strong bond over erotica back then.
The crowd was perplexed. Right now? How? Are they in this room too? But we went out to welcome the libationer together earlier. He didn’t bring anyone else other than the beautiful guard with long legs.
Zu An abruptly paused for a second before saying, “Xiaoxi is fine, but Xie Daoyun’s situation is a little unique. You should prepare yourselves mentally.”
“Ah?” Yan Xiangu and Xie Xiu’s faces paled.
“Ah? Is she crippled, poisoned, or in a coma?” Xie Xiu asked about a series of frightening possibilities.
“That’s not it. She’s fine, it’s just that her appearance has changed.”
“What do you mean, her appearance has changed? Is she disfigured?”
Zu An had no idea how to explain this, so he decided to let them witness it in person instead. Thus, he began communing with the world’s will.
There were a few flashes of light, and several figures suddenly appeared in the house.
“Xiaoxi!” Ji Dengtu nearly burst into tears when he saw Ji Xiaoxi.
There was also the well-endowed Pei Mianman, the innocent yet seductive King Wu Consort, and a woman who was dressed like an ancient shaman but emanated a familiar scholarly air.
“Where’s my big sister?” Xie Xiu panicked when he didn’t see his big sister.
“Xiu’er, it has only been a while. Have you already forgotten me?” Xie Daoyun had been chatting with her Fiend race friends when she was suddenly transported here. She heard her little brother’s words and instinctively reached out to pinch his ears.
“Ah?” Xie Xiu, Yan Xiangu, and the others froze up.