Chu Huanzhao could think of a fair number of retorts. Snow is my big sister’s personal maidservant. Wouldn’t everyone suspect her if you say it in such a pointed manner?
Chu Chuyan frowned under the sudden scrutiny. “I haven’t seen Snow around for quite a while.”
“Men, bring Snow over!” Chu Zhongtian ordered.
He wasn’t going to assume Snow’s guilt just because of what Zu An had said. After all, Snow was his daughter’s personal maidservant. There was a need to investigate this matter properly.
The servants soon returned with news. “Snow is not in the estate at the moment. We aren’t able to find her anywhere.”
Chu Zhongtian’s face darkened. It seemed Snow had managed to escape from the estate after being exposed.
Qin Wanru sat down by the side of the bed. “What happened earlier on? Fill us in on the details.” Her silk dress flowed along the gentle curves of her waist and buttocks, drawing glances from the leader of the second branch Chu Tiesheng.
Zu An briefly laid out his encounter with Snow, though he wisely chose to conceal his abilities.
The frown on Qin Wanru’s forehead tightened as she heard the story. Chu Tiesheng remarked, “Sounds like a load of nonsense. If Snow really intended to kill you, how could a piece of trash… I mean, how could you have possibly been able to fend her off?”
Zu An shot him a searching glance. He wondered if Chu Tiesheng could be the one pulling Snow’s strings. However, if that were really the case, it was foolish of him to speak up for Snow at a time like this.
Chu Huanzhao stood forward and spoke on Zu An’s behalf, “My brother-in-law is more formidable than you know. He suffered several strikes from my Wailing Whip without even letting out a cry, and he even subdued a group of third rank and fifth rank cultivators in the academy earlier today.”
No one in the room believed in her words. It was simply too ridiculous. It was one thing for Zu An to be able to stand his ground against third rank cultivators, but she had roped in fifth rank cultivators as well!
Third branch leader Chu Yuepo burst out laughing. “Lil’ Zhao, you’re simply being too kind! How could he possibly have the strength to deal with a fifth rank cultivator? Would anyone even believe that?”
Chu Tiesheng nodded in agreement. “Indeed. I see that you have been speaking up for Zu An all this while. I think that you should maintain an appropriate distance from him, so as not to encourage any rumors. This is especially important given how the two of you shared a bed during his wedding night…”
Qin Wanru immediately glared at Chu Tiesheng and bellowed, “Watch your mouth! Are these words that should be coming out from the mouth of an elder? She’s still young, and she’s only speaking up for Zu An as a fellow family member. Don’t try to twist her words with that dirty mind of yours!”
Chu Tiesheng turned his head away in a huff, his cheeks coloring in embarrassment. “I was just worried about the Chu clan’s reputation.”
As much as Qin Wanru disliked Chu Tiesheng’s words, she had to admit that there was some sense in what he had said. Her second daughter had indeed been too close to Zu An in recent days.
She couldn’t possibly have fallen in love with him, right?
She dismissed the thought as quickly as it had come. How could that be possible? Zu An doesn’t have a single quality that could win a woman’s heart! How could Huanzhao possibly fall for him?
Qin Wanru knew that her second daughter was a rowdy one, so Zu An’s antics probably just looked interesting to her. After all, Chu Huanzhao hadn’t had anyone to play with in the Chu Estate over the years.
While Qin Wanru doubted that the two of them would ever strike up a serious relationship, she resolved to find some time to talk to her second daughter about this. It was probably best if they kept some distance between them.
Meanwhile, Chu Zhongtian had been examining the marks on the walls. “Based on Zu An’s earlier description, Snow should be a fifth rank wood element cultivator.” he declared in a deep voice.
Wood element?
Zu An recalled how Snow’s hair had wreaked havoc around the room. For a moment, she had seemed like Medusa’s incarnation.
“Fifth rank?” Chu Zhongtian’s statement sparked a huge commotion.
None of them could have imagined that obedient little lass who was often caught snacking on melon seeds was actually a fifth rank cultivator.