Chapter 2243: Reaping Where They Have Not Sown

King Wu Manor’s people couldn't help but swallow with difficulty when they saw Elder Lin’s end. The Four Great Attendants even reflexively took a few steps back. After all, Elder Lin had been an insurmountable mountain to them. They'd thought that with him taking the lead, perhaps they would even be able to put up a fight against Zu An. How could they have known that he would be killed so effortlessly?

Weren’t you acting all strong and mighty when you won against us? Where did those mysterious and powerful skills go now? Why didn’t you even use a single one before dying?

They now finally understood that the regent was far more terrifying than the rumors claimed. How the hell were they supposed to even fight someone like that?!

Is there something wrong with King Wu’s head? He actually made someone like that his enemy!

Hopefully, the madam will the regent a bit to quell his anger. He might even end up sparing the king's life if his mood improves.

Yeah, keeping King Wu alive should give the regent a greater feeling of victory.

“What are you all backing off for? Hurry up and get rid of him for me!” Now that he saw his subordinates’ movements, King Wu also panicked. He immediately criticized them, all the while planning his retreat. However, his subordinates were shaking all over and their bodies were weak. Even movements that were normally extremely simple became impossibly hard.

King Wu Manor’s men rolled their eyes.

The regent is already this strong, but you still want us to charge forward? Do you take us for idiots?

Even though King Wu Manor treated them quite well, it wasn’t to the extent that they would give up their lives as repayment.

When King Wu saw that his subordinates were frowning and were even standing behind him now, he was about to cry. He held the imperial edict in a trembling hand while saying to Zu An, “This king is acting on an imperial edict, so you cannot kill me...”

With a wave of Zu An’s hand, a terrifying force wrapped around King Wu and sucked him right over.

King Wu normally flaunted his status as a capable cultivator, but he couldn't even produce the slightest thought of resistance. His body was completely limp. Once he left his mount, he couldn't even stand and kneeled helplessly on the ground.

When she saw his unsightly appearance, Yun Yuqing’s beautiful brows couldn't help but furrow. In the end, she released a soft sigh.

“An imperial edict?” Zu An remarked as the imperial edict appeared in his hand with a wave. When he opened it, his eyes narrowed.

He'd thought that King Wu had faked an imperial edict, since there was no way Bi Linglong would write such an order. But he'd never expected it to be written so explicitly, stating that the Jiang clan had committed treason and that King Wu had been ordered to capture all of them.

He gave the Imperial Palace a look.

Just what is going on?

However, soon after, his eyes narrowed. His hand moved over the imperial edict, and the words disappeared. Then, he showed it around, saying, “Zhao Yan, you really are daring. You actually dared to forge a fake imperial edict!”

The Jiang clan cheered when they saw this. They'd thought that the Jiang clan would be finished, but they were unexpectedly rescued from danger!

However, Jiang Boyang and Jiang Luofu realized what had happened. They specialized in the law, so seeing what Zu An had done made them raise their eyebrows. However, they weren’t completely inflexible. They naturally wouldn’t correct him here.

King Wu looked at the empty imperial edict and became completely dumbstruck.

He can even freaking do something like that?

But he immediately snapped out of his daze. Then, a trembling that came from his very soul spread through his entire body. Without the protective talisman that was the imperial edict, Zu An had a proper pretext to kill him by invoking the crime of falsifying an imperial edict.

He immediately hollered to Yun Yuqing when he realized that. “Yuqing, save me! Help me talk to him!”

He frantically tried to grab the corners of her clothes. However, Yun Yuqing dodged to the side and looked at him rather angrily. “Zhao Yan, you've always presented yourself as a heroic figure. Why don’t you look at how you’re acting right now?”

“Compared to the regent, what kind of hero am I? I’m just a coward!” There was an apologetic smile on King Wu’s face as he replied. Inwardly, he thought that a leader could submit or stand tall as required. As long as he made it through this, it wouldn’t be too late to slowly get revenge after.

Yun Yuqing felt more and more disappointed. A bit of disgust appeared in her eyes. She turned around and ignored him. But during that moment of hesitation, she secretly said to Zu An, “Ah Zu, we have been married for so many years. Even though we don’t share any romantic feelings, there is still some sense of duty. Can you...”

Before she even finished, when King Wu saw that she had ignored him, he thought that she was just going to let him die and cursed, “You slut! I treated you so well all these years, and yet now that you have a stronger backer, you're immediately abandoning me! Regent, if this kind of woman can leave me today, once she meets someone better, she’ll also abandon you!”

Zu An gave Yun Yuqing a look. The meaning in his eyes was clear.

Is someone like this deserving of your mercy?

When she heard what King Wu said, Yun Yuqing’s entire body shook. “You...!”

Zu An looked down at King Wu and replied, “Oh? Do you think there's anyone who's a better choice than me?”

King Wu immediately cursed his own mouth. “Damn this mouth of mine. Regent, you are the best choice, and you are also the world’s strongest man. How about we just let this matter pass in exchange for my having been something of a matchmaker between the two of you in the past?”

Jiang Luofu had been listening the entire time. When she heard that, she widened her eyes.

Huh? Judging from what he's saying, it seems King Wu was the one who took the initiative to send the madam Zu An’s way. What's wrong with him?

So I misunderstood Ah Zu. Madam Wu must’ve developed feelings for him after that event. The two really are a harmonious couple.

“A real man should just accept death when it comes. Why continue to wag your tail like this so pitifully?” Zu An said with a frown. Then, his hand pressed down on King Wu’s head.

“Stop!”

Just then, a sudden shout came from the distance. Dust surged as a group of men rushed over on horses.

...

Meanwhile, inside the Heart Nurturing Palace that the emperor lived in, the security was extremely strict. If Zu An were there, he would immediately realize that the guards all seemed to be unfamiliar faces. They all watched the surroundings vigilantly, as if they were on guard against outsiders entering.

Inside the main hall, the emperor Zhao Ruizhi was meeting with the Bi clan’s leader, Bi Qi. The maids and eunuchs had all been chased out. If there were any outsiders here, they would definitely be alarmed, because Zhao Ruizhi’s eyes were shining intelligently, and didn’t look like a fool at all.

“The Thousand-Footed Elder was exposed.” Bi Qi picked up his teacup to take a sip and reflexively frowned.

This stuff is so bitter. I have no idea why the daoists like to drink this.

Zhao Ruizhi harrumphed. “That guy never did anything properly and always failed.”

“It isn’t his fault. That Zu An is indeed quite formidable.” Bi Qi tossed the teacup aside with a look of disgust.

“Fortunately, we were careful enough and didn’t let the Thousand-Footed Elder really contact us.” Zhao Ruizhi leaned backward. There seemed to be two strange lights flickering in his eyes.

“Hmph, he was nothing more than a chess piece that had already completed his mission and was thus discarded.” Bi Qi chuckled. There wasn’t even a bit of pity to be seen in his expression. “But what's worth noting is that Zu An has already hurried to the Jiang clan. King Wu is there, so that fool might end up embarrassing himself.”

“That’s fine. Judging from what we know, Zu An apparently killed a prince before, which became the talk of the town for a while. It would be best if he killed King Wu this time too, as wed have something interesting to work with then.” Zhao Ruizhi’s face looked a bit strange. He didn’t look like his normal stupid self at all.

“That’s right, it would be best if he killed King Wu too. The more chaotic the situation, the better. We could use the power of the entire empire against him then.” Bi Qi smiled sinisterly. “That pitiful King Wu still thinks he's exploiting us, when he has no idea just how pitiful he is.”

Zhao Ruizhi also laughed. “Even though he's stupid, he has quite the attractive wife.”

“Won’t his wife be ours to enjoy once he dies?” Bi Qi exchanged a look with him. The two felt as if things were going more and more according to plan.

“The empress seems to have sensed something off. She no longer comes here to pay respects like before.” Zhao Ruizhi was a bit dissatisfied.

Bi Qi chuckled. “It’s fine. I’ll just find a chance to have a talk with her. I am her father, after all.”

Zhao Ruizhi shook his head slightly when he heard that. “Daughters often end up siding with outsiders once they grow up, and whether or not she still sees you as her father is questionable in itself. In my opinion, it would be best to turn her into one of us.”