Bi Qi and Zhao Ruizhi both frowned when they heard the voice. They exchanged a look and saw the concern in each other’s eyes.
Unlike them, Bi Linglong and the three women’s eyes lit up. They looked in the direction where the voice had come from.
There was a single person standing in the air, looking down on everyone else. He walked over step by step, as if there was a transparent flight of stairs in the air.
There were many powerful cultivators in the Imperial Palace, most of whom were shocked when they saw that. One could fly once they reached the master rank, but everyone still did so by borrowing the power of the world. They could move quickly, but it was very difficult to move slowly, let alone take leisurely steps like this.
The regent’s cultivation seemed to have increased by quite a bit once again!
“Ah…” Bi Linglong was about to call out to him when her expression froze. He wasn’t alone, but had another exceptional beauty with him, and he was holding her hand. She knew the woman; it was none other than the mighty and unapproachable Madam Wu. She was confused.
Why is this guy with Madam Wu right now?
But her thoughts moved quickly.
If he dares to even flirt with the empress dowager, it’s not all that surprising for him to be interested in the young and pretty Madam Wu.
Liu Ning had a weird expression. First it was Bi Linglong, then Madam Wu; and there were even rumors about Madam Jin and Madam Dai… All of Zhao Han’s daughters-in-law had been thrown into the pot together! If he found out about this, wouldn’t he just come back to life out of anger?
The reason why Yun Jianyue had remained calm was because she had previously sensed Zu An’s aura from the other side and knew that he would be here soon. However, as she stared at their clasped hands, the look in her eyes turned a bit dangerous as well.
This guy already screwed up my relationship with my disciple, and yet he won’t even let my little sister go?
He really likes to finish his plate!
Yun Yuqing was embarrassed, but also felt a different kind of bliss. She and Zu An had appeared in front of everyone’s eyes while holding hands! This was more useful than any public declaration. Furthermore, walking step by step together felt as if they were celebrating a wedding. Everyone present served as a witness.
And yet, when she saw the way they looked at her, she was still a bit embarrassed. The empress and her big sister especially looked as if they were about to swallow her up whole.
Huh? Is that the empress dowager, who's been missing for many days?
Why is she looking at me like that too?
Although he saw their Rage points, Zu An pretended to not notice the women's anger at him. Instead, he looked at Zhao Ruizhi and Bi Qi before saying, “I didn’t expect the Imperial Palace to be so lively.”
The soldiers who had been approaching Bi Linglong all stopped when his gaze passed over them. They all swallowed with difficulty and subconsciously backed up.
Wang Bolin and Zhang Jiang almost cried tears of joy when they saw him return. They really had been shouldering the lives of their entire clans by supporting the empress in this situation! The pressure they had felt was tremendous. With Zu An’s return, however, it was all worth it.
Jiao Sigun and Piao Duandiao wiped the fine sweat off their foreheads.
We don’t have to face the emperor’s wrath anymore! Our feeble limbs can’t possibly withstand such a heavy responsibility.
The Embroidered Envoys had knowing smiles on their faces, especially Zhang Zitong. As they looked at Zu An, their eyes carried something of a worshipful expression.
Bi Qi cupped his hands. “So the regent has arrived. His majesty and I have been worried to death ever since you went missing.”
Zu An thought to himself, What a crafty fox. He replied with a smile, “Could it have been worry that I didn’t die?”
Bi Qi’s expression changed. “Regent, please do not joke about this!”
The empress’ guards had strange expressions. Bi Qi definitely hadn't so agreeable just a moment before. Now that the regent appeared, however, he didn’t even dare to show any hostility!
Bi Linglong knew that it was more important to deal with the most pressing matter. She suppressed the dissatisfaction she felt and quickly reminded Zu An, “Both he and the emperor have already been replaced by alien monsters.”
Zu An gave the two of them a surprised look. He hadn’t expected the Plague Monarch and Doomsday Spirit that he'd been so worried about tracking down to actually deliver themselves right to him!
How kind of you!
Zhao Ruizhi and Bi Qi both had unpleasant expressions. They had been thinking highly of themselves just a moment ago, believing there was no way Zu An would be able to find them because they were hiding inside the Imperial Palace.
Bi Qi gave Zhao Ruizhi an annoyed look.
It was all because this guy ended up being affected by human desires that everything we worked to prepare is now about to fall through.
Zhao Ruizhi shot a look right back.
Weren’t you here all this time too? Why didn’t you immediately detain Bi Linglong instead of blaming me?
“Ahem, Linglong, please don’t speak nonsense. How could your father and his majesty be alien monsters?” Bi Qi still did his best to carry out one final struggle.
Zu An said with a faint smile, “Whether you're alien monsters or not, won’t we find out after I do a simple check?”
“Don’t come over here!” Zhao Ruizhi screamed. “I don’t want you to examine me! You bullied Linglong, and now you want to harm me too!”
The emperor’s faction nodded inwardly. The empress and regent had an unclear relationship. Even if they weren’t alien monsters, the regent could still use this as a chance to frame them.
Just then, a guard hurriedly ran over, even stumbling midway. “Reporting to your majesty, the regent, he…”
He suddenly saw Zu An midway through his sentence, causing his voice to come to a screeching halt.
“What about me?” Zu An asked with a warm smile. That person suddenly trembled all over, and couldn't speak at all.
“Speak, what happened?” Bi Qi grinned. He had a rough idea of what it was, thinking, This person came at the perfect time.
A stream of warmth entered the guard's body, allowing that person to slowly recover. He gave Zu An a look, and then took a few steps toward Bi Qi and Zhao Ruizhi. He said, “King Wu led his men to search and seize the Jiang clan. At first, everything was going smoothly, but then the regent suddenly arrived. Then, King Wu was… turned into a cripple.”
Everyone present gasped when they heard those words. The Jiang clan’s affairs still hadn’t been released to the public, so this was the first time many people were hearing of it in the palace. Even though this person hadn’t spoken about how King Wu turned into a cripple, judging from Zu An’s expression, they could all tell who was responsible.
But… Why is Madam Wu holding hands with Zu An if her husband was just crippled? She doesn’t even look aggrieved at all, and even looks as blessed as a newlywed!
That sight caused many people’s brains to short-circuit.
“Regent, you are quite daring.” Bi Qi was secretly overjoyed.
He was just about to use that matter as a reason to cause a fuss when the guard hurriedly said, “Also…”
“Also?”