Chapter 1872: Expelled from the Eastern Palace

“Huh?” Zu An asked. He had never expected the noble and conservative Xie Daoyun to propose such a thing.

Xie Daoyun flinched when she saw his reaction. Her face immediately turned red. She said, “No, um… What I meant was whether you could stay at my side tonight.”

“You mean sleeping together in the same room?” Zu An asked.

“Ah! No, that’s not what I meant. Please don’t misunderstand…” Xie Daoyun trailed off.

When he saw how she was on the verge of tears, Zu An couldn't help but chuckle. He asked, “You’re scared to be all alone?”

“Yes, exactly!” Xie Daoyun hurriedly replied, nodding quickly. She was incredibly moved.

There was almost a misunderstanding, as if I wanted to do that with him! Thank goodness big brother Zu understands me. He really is a kind and warm person who's good at understanding others.

Xie Daoyun secretly gave Zu An a look, then quickly shifted her gaze.

Zu An nodded and said, “I don’t know if other assassins will be sent after us, so let’s stay in the same room. That way, we can watch out for each other.” If something similar happened again, he would end up really regretting it if Xie Daoyun ended up in danger.

Xie Daoyun quietly voiced her agreement.

It’s clearly him who’s taking care of me, and yet he's making it sound as if we're taking care of each other. Big brother Zu is so considerate.

“Hurry and get some sleep. It would be best if you could force out the cold energy inside you sooner so you don’t catch a cold,” Zu An said. At first, he'd wanted to help her, but they'd already had too much physical contact with each other, so he really didn’t want to cross the line.

“Okay. Thank you, big brother Zu,” Xie Daoyun said with a nod. Then, she sat on the bed and began to circulate her energy. Her cultivation wasn’t low. If not for the fact that she had been poisoned, those assassins likely wouldn't have been able to win against her.

Zu An watched her finish that process, then pulled the screen over to separate them somewhat. He then sat down on a chair to meditate.

Xie Daoyun tossed and turned in bed, finding it hard to sleep. When she thought about everything that had happened, her face immediately turned red. When she flipped over again and saw the handsome and carefree figure on the other side, she suddenly felt a bit guilty.

What kind of status does big brother Zu have now? And yet, he doesn’t even have a place to sleep. He has to work so hard to keep watch for me.

She felt pity and blurted out, “Big brother Zu, you can come into this bed to sleep too.”

After saying that, her heartbeat immediately accelerated countless times. She had never expected to speak such shameless words!

Just what will big brother Zu think of me? Will he think I’m an easy woman?

It’s fine if he agrees, but if he refuses, what will I do in the future…

After all, she seemed to have already ‘offered to sleep together’ several times. If her offers were all refused in the end…

When she thought of that, her face immediately became deathly white, and she wanted to fan herself in the face a few times. Just what was she thinking today?

She had all kinds of thoughts, but they actually all took place in an instant. She quickly added, “We’ll each sleep on one side. This bed is pretty big.”

Ahhh! This is still so embarrassing! What wise and virtuous lady invites a man into her bed?

Zu An was also quite conflicted. He knew that Xie Daoyun didn’t actually have any dirty thoughts as she invited him, but rather, she was just too embarrassed to watch him sit there in meditation alone. He was about to refuse, but when he saw her nervous and scared expression, he suddenly became speechless. He seemed to have already refused her several times. If he continued to refuse her, what dignity would she have left?

He said, “That’s fine too. Then I’ll be disturbing little sister Ling’er."

“You’re not disturbing me, not at all!” Xie Daoyun almost cried out loud when she heard him agree. She knew just how many stunning beauties her big brother Zu had. The reason he agreed couldn't possibly be because she was alluring in any way; it had to be because he was worried about making her lose face.

Big brother Zu is so great…

When she saw him walk over, Xie Daoyun gave him half the bed. Then, she wrapped herself tightly in her covers. The room was so quiet that she could even hear her own heartbeat.

Zu An couldn't help but chuckle. He lay down and said, “Good night, little sister Ling’er.”

Xei Daoyun felt as if her entire body were burning up. She continued to wonder,

What if big brother Zu hugs me? What will I do then?

Should I pretend to be asleep and tacitly allow it, or should I take the initiative to respond to him?!

If it’s the former, what if big brother Zu thinks I don’t want to? But if it’s the latter, big brother Zu will misunderstand and take me for that kind of woman…

Aiya! Xie Daoyun, Xie Daoyun, what are you thinking? Big brother Zu is a real man with an indomitable spirit, an incomparable gentleman! Why would he do such a thing?

Even so, while tossing and turning at night, there's a chance that he might accidentally put his arms and legs on my body. I… I’ll just pretend not to notice.

She secretly moved aside the covers to look at him several times, but she saw that Zu An was lying there properly at the very edge of the bed. His eyes were closed and his breathing was even; he seemed to already be sleeping.

Big brother Zu really is handsome. Those women from Brightmoon City all say my little brother is handsome, but I don’t feel that at all. Compare to big brother Zu, he’s just too far…

After going through so much all night, she was actually already exhausted. As all kinds of nonsensical thoughts passed through her head, she unknowingly fell asleep.

…

The next morning, a trace of golden sunlight broke through the clouds and cast itself upon the two of them. The sky in the distance gradually brightened, and the sound of roosters crowing filled the air from time to time.

Xie Daoyun slowly opened her eyes. Nothing seemed to have happened the previous night.

However, she'd dreamed that she accidentally entered a world of ice and snow. She had wondered if it was Great Snowy Mountain. However, when she felt unbearably cold, she encountered a big brown bear. That big brown bear was really warm. She had been able to make it through that frigid cold night by huddling in its arms. Then, she seemed to have become a female bear... That big bear was really great, but there was something next to his abdomen that was really big.

When she recalled that ridiculous dream, Xie Daoyun couldn't help but smile. Just then, though, her eyes opened. When she saw the scene in front of her, her smile instantly froze on her face.

.

What big brown bear? That was clearly big brother Zu!

She had been worried that he would do naughty things at night, but he was still sleeping at the side of the bed properly. There was no change from his posture the previous night at all. Instead, she was wrapped all around him like an octopus! Her arms being hooked around his neck was one thing, but even her legs were clamped around his waist!

Ahhhhhhhh!

So embarrassing!

She quietly raised her legs for fear that she would startle Zu An. She slowly moved them while secretly looking up at him.

Please don’t be awake, please don’t be awake, please…

She completely froze up, because when she raised her head, she just happened to meet a pair of bright eyes.

Zu An smiled and remarked, “You’re awake?”

“I’m not!” Xie Daoyun cried, shooting back into her covers off to the side like a streak of electricity. She really wanted to smack herself repeatedly with a huge club and knock herself unconscious.

Zu An got up and sorted out his clothes. He said with a warm voice, “Little sister Ling’er, you don’t need to be so bothered. You were cold last night, so you would naturally move toward any heat source; it’s natural. I’m sure that little sister’s usual sleeping posture is still very graceful.”

Xie Daoyun was extremely moved.

Big brother Zu was so considerate that he found me such a good excuse!

How could she continue to hide in her covers? She stuck her head out and gently said, “Thank you, big brother Zu, for easing my anxiety.”

Then, her gaze froze.

Zu An also felt a bit awkward. He got up and walked out, saying, “I’m going to sort out my luggage first. Little sister can wash up first.” Then, he bent over and ran.

Xie Daoyun’s face was bright red.

What luggage?!

She also finally knew what that thing between her and that big brown bear had been.

Just how does Miss Chu’s petite body take that kind of thing…

…

Soon after, the two of them arrived at the entrance to the capital. The city gates had already opened, bustling with activity from the commoners. There were all sorts of shoppers, traders, and transporters. As he looked at the majestic city, Zu An thought to himself,

I guess I’m back again.

He first saw Xie Daoyun off to the academy. That was the only place where she would be safe from the threats of various forces. Then, he headed straight into the palace.

At first, he was worried that Bi Linglong would be holding the morning court session. After all, the emperor had left the capital and left her behind to assist the crown prince in ruling the empire. She was the one who had to deal with the official matters of the imperial court. And yet, as soon as he entered the palace, he bumped into the imperial guards Piao Duandiao and Jiao Sigun. The two of them seemed to have been waiting there the entire time.

“Sir Zu!” Both of them greeted him excitedly when they saw him.

Zu An couldn't help but smirk as well when he saw the pair of oddballs.

They exchanged some conventional greetings. Jiao Sigun said, “The crown princess knew that Sir Zu would return within a few days, so she sent us brothers here to wait here every day. She even specially withdrew from the court sessions to wait for you at the Eastern Palace.”

Piao Duandiao also said with a sigh, “I’ve already been stationed at the palace for so many years, but I’ve never seen the crown princess attach so much importance to a single individual.”

Zu An was stunned for a moment, but then he felt warm inside. Even a successful career woman like the crown princess. who devoted herself to her work, had gone so far for him! He could sense how much she cared about him.

As they chatted, the group quickly arrived at the Eastern Palace. They could hear the crown prince shouting loudly and knew that he was playing games with the eunuchs and maids. Zu An paid the crown prince a visit. Even though the prince was stupid, there were so many eyes watching right now. Zu An had to show proper etiquette where it was due.

Zhao Ruizhi’s eyes also lit up when he saw Zu An. He waved his chubby hands and said, “You’ve been out for so long. Did you bring this crown prince any fun gifts?”

Zu An was speechless. He said, “I apologize, crown prince. I was in a rush and had my duties to carry out. and forgot to prepare a gift for the crown prince. I'll definitely make it up the next time I enter the palace.”

He had almost died during this trip; like hell he'd have time to think about something like that!

“What could be more important than my gift? Why did you even come back if you didn’t bring a gift? Men, make sure to give him thirty vicious strikes so he can have some brains next time. Then, expel him from the Eastern Palace!” The crown prince pointed at Zu An while causing a fuss.