Chapter 1980: Impersonation
Zu An immediately began to sweat buckets. He replied, “No way! It’s only because we can’t find the appropriate materials, and I don’t have much experience since we just started, so that’s why there are so many flaws. It’ll get better and better in the future.”
Bi Linglong thus nodded in satisfaction, saying, “I guess it’s fine. You have to give it to me first whenever you have a new model.”
“Alright, sure, no problem,” Zu An replied. He wiped at his sweat and quickly reminded her, “By the way, using this kind of thing to communicate must be kept a secret. You absolutely can't let anyone else see you using it.”
He was even starting to feel a bit of regret. In his previous world, the reason why the trash men of his past world were frequently found out by their women was because they had their phones checked. He had to make sure to prepare against that and emphasize the privacy of their use to discourage these women from having similar thoughts.
“Don’t worry, I understand that much at least. How could I possibly let someone else see the contents?” Bi Linglong replied. She was an exceptionally intelligent woman; midway through her sentence, she realized something and gave him a doubtful look. “Are you scared of me looking at your communication talisman?”
Zu An immediately handed her his jade slip and replied, “What is there to be scared of? It’s just that I don’t want others to know about our relationship, so I’m just giving you a warning.”
BI Linglong didn’t take it from him, and instead secretly glanced at it from the corners of her eyes. She saw that only their conversation was recorded on it and was a bit embarrassed. She said, “Sorry, my good big brother. I was wrong.”
“What good big brother? Call me daddy.”
“...”
Soon after, Rong Mo came inside with a message that the empress dowager had arrived, so the two of them naturally couldn't continue their conversation. Bi Linglong sorted out her clothes before turning around to leave. She recovered her usual high and mighty temperament, even her gait resembling a proud swan.
Zu An thought to himself that with Rong Mo covering them, things indeed became much easier. This woman is surprisingly quick-witted.
…
Liu Ning quickly arrived at his side, with Eunuch Lu standing some distance away to block anyone who tried to get closer.
“What were you chatting with Linglong about that made you so enthralled?” Liu Ning asked, giving him an ambiguous smile.
Zu An said with a smile, “She didn’t seem too used to calling me adoptive father and was throwing a bit of a tantrum.”
“That’s understandable.” A mischievous smile appeared on Liu Ning’s beautiful face as she continued, “So? The mother of an empire is now your daughter. That must feel amazing, no?”
Zu An was speechless. He asked, “Are you doing this on purpose?”
“Of course,” Liu Ning replied, raising her chin. “The way she struts around all proud like a rooster has always been an eyesore; what right does she have to have you treat her with respect all the time? The other way around seems more reasonable.”
Of course, her other intention was that this way, she now had a proper reason to treat Zu An as someone from the same generation as herself. One was the emperor’s empress dowager, and the other the adoptive father. Weren’t they a perfect match?
Zu An’s expression became strange. Even though the battles between women were done in secret, they were still incredibly fierce.
He used the chance to hand her a jade strip, saying. “Your highness, this is for you…” She had also supported him just like Bi Linglong, so he couldn't skip out on her share.
When she heard what he said, Liu Ning was happy and surprised. She remarked, “There’s actually a communication tool this simple and convenient? So the reason why you spent so much money before was to research this thing.” Her fine and slender fingers had already begun to tap on its surface to test out its different functions.
“The good part of this device is that its consumption is much lower than a recording mirror, but if the distance is too far, you won’t be able to immediately receive the message, and it might even just vanish. That's why this item can't be used for major military intelligence yet,” Zu An explained.
“It’s already quite amazing in itself. At the very least, whenever I’m feeling lonely all on my own, I can use it to chat with you,” Liu Ning said, holding it close to her as if she couldn't bear to part with it. Even though with her status, she could use a recording mirror whenever she wanted, the exaggerated consumption of ki stones made even her grimace a bit. How could she dare to use something like that just to chat with her sweetheart?
Liu Ning suddenly thought of something and asked, “You seemed to have given Linglong something similar. Was it this thing?”
Zu An was starting to get a headache, but he knew that he couldn't hide something like that and could only nod. He said, “I started in the Eastern Palace after all, and I recently became closer to you. Together with the adoptive father matter, I had to ease my relationship with her a bit somehow.”
“What is there to ease? Isn’t it easy enough if she wants to become as close to you as me? She just needs to sleep with you, but can she do it?” Liu Ning remarked disapprovingly, and this affair clearly made her feel a bit unhappy.
Zu An chuckled awkwardly and didn’t know how to reply. If she knew that he and Linglong had already been together for a long time, that every part of her had already become his, he wondered just what kind of expression she would have now.
“Should I ask around for you? That woman does seem to have a favorable impression of you. I refuse to believe she would really be satisfied with keeping that idiot kid company for the rest of his life,” Liu Ning asked, as if she were wishing for the whole world to be in chaos.
Zu An almost choked. “Don’t do that!”
If those two really ended up discussing this affair together, he could very well end up dying several times over…
“Hmph!” Liu Ning didn’t really mean what she said either. She couldn't be more familiar with Bi Linglong’s proud and aloof nature, so how could she possibly do something like that?
She suddenly thought of something. Her voice became a bit sweeter too as she asked, “Regent, how about you enter the palace tonight? This one has some new tricks, you know?”
Zu An was stunned, replying, “What new tricks could there be?”
Liu Ning was quite passionate in nature, so she was also more open-minded in playing around with him. She wasn’t excessively reserved like Linglong sometimes was, so the two of them had already tried basically everything once.
“You're used to playing with the empress, but you haven’t tried the empress dowager yet,” Liu Ning said with a giggle.
Zu An was speechless. He felt a wave of heat erupt from his lower body.
This woman really is a seductress down to her very bones.
Not too far away, Eunuch Lu secretly glanced in their direction. When he saw that Liu Ning was full of smiles, her face full of excitement, he thought back to how she had been like the white moon in the sky, aloof and remote. Now, sure enough, she had already been fully subdued by this man.
He felt both jealous, and yet also gratified. After all, he had seen how pitiful she'd been back then. She had been full of bitterness and hatred, and yet he couldn't help her in the slightest. Only now that she had received the nourishment of love could she display the beauty she possessed.
…
On the way back from the throne ascension ceremony, Zu An found the Qin clan’s carriage. He exchanged a few words with the Qin clan’s dukes, then went to the carriage in the back to find Huanzhao and Youzhao.
There were cheers and laughter coming from the carriage. The Chu clan’s three women were happily chatting about something that seemed to be related to Zu An.
Zu An went straight inside. The young women cried out in alarm, but they all relaxed when they saw that it was him. As it turned out, Murong Qinghe was also there. The carriage smelled really good to begin with, and now that the three young ladies'distinct smells were inside too, Zu An felt as if he had entered a garden of flowers.
Qin Wanru had been lying casually in the carriage and rocking back and forth from laughter, but when she saw him, she immediately sat up to preserve her appearance as the mother-in-law.
Chu Huanzhao was the most naive and without restraint. She was the first one to speak up. “Brother-in-law, you're so awesome! You actually became the emperor’s adoptive father! Even the new emperor has to bow to you!”
“It was merely to make it easier to meet with the emperor in the future,” Zu An said with a chuckle, then quickly took out a jade strip. He expressed the reason for his visit this time.
When she learned that she could communicate with Zu An at any time through the talisman, Chu Huanzhao immediately loved it too much to part with. She turned around so that Chu Youzhao couldn't touch it.
Chu Youzhao tried several times but couldn't grab it. She felt angry and panicked; tears began to swirl in her eyes.
When he saw the sisters fight each other over it, Zu An couldn't help but smile. He took out another piece and gave it to Chu Youzhao, saying, “Don’t worry, there’s one for all of you.” A big smile finally returned to Chu Youzhao’s face. She continuously touched the jade strip she got as if it were the greatest treasure in the world.
Zu An was about to bid them goodbye when he saw Murong Qinghe’s sad appearance. He suddenly felt a headache, because he hadn’t expected her to be here too. If he didn’t give her one, perhaps she would feel really terrible.
As such, he took out one and said, “Little sister Qinghe, you should take one too.”
Murong Qinghe was shocked and happy, saying, “Ah, I… I can have one too?” She was going to refuse, but she actually really wanted one. Her tanned skin turned a bit pink.
Zu An chuckled, saying, “You, Youzhao, and other friends can chat with each other more easily now.”
The noble circles of the capital practically already considered her the daughter-in-law of the Chu clan, so they were pretty much one family. Thankfully, he had a few extra for these kinds of situations.
“There can even be other friends?” Chu Huanzhao exclaimed. Her eyes lit up as if she had discovered a whole new world.
Zu An immediately felt a hiccup inside. Oh no, if they all become good friends and chat with each other, wouldn’t that mean a lot of things will become exposed?
As such, he absolutely couldn't let her know that those other people also had jade slips. He quickly said, “It’s just you three who can become good friends in private. This thing is extremely precious, so you absolutely can't let other people know about it. Otherwise, they might try to steal it.” At the same time, he introduced the concept of privacy to them, telling them that they couldn’t let other people read the conversations on the jade strips.
“We understand!” the young ladies replied, all staring blankly after his warning. They nodded like little chicks.
“Big brother Zu, can I add you as a friend too?” Murong Qinghe asked with a reddened face, leaving Zu An stunned. However, she quickly added, “I have a lot of cultivation questions that I want to ask big brother Zu.”
“No problem,” Zu An said, then took out his jade strip and touched it to hers. He then taught them how to add friends.
The young women were immediately awfully happy from playing with their new toy. Zu An thus said his goodbyes and left.
“Cough cough!” Qin Wanru suddenly straightened her back, as if to remind him that he forgot something.
“Did mother-in-law catch a cold?” Zu An asked, looking at her strangely. From the very start, she seemed to have already coughed several times. But judging from her rosy complexion, it didn’t look as if she was sick...
“It’s nothing. You can leave then,” Qin Wanru said, immediately becoming completely cold. Her back wasn’t even as straight anymore.
You have successfully trolled Qin Wanru for +55 +55 +55…
Zu An found it really strange when he sensed her Rage points, but he had too many things to deal with and couldn't be bothered to figure out why she was upset. He quickly left.
Soon after, the Murong clan called Murong Qinghe back for something too.
Qin Wanru finally exploded. “He has no conscience at all! How could he not give me one too?!”
Chu Youzhao didn’t agree with her reaction, saying, “Mom, you’re his mother-in-law, so it’s not appropriate for him to give you one of these.”
Chu Huanzhao said with a simple-minded smile, “Exactly! What kind of secret messages do you even have to exchange with him? Don’t tell me you want to make dad wear a green hat?”
She got along with Zu An and understood his personality. She had seen him gift Sang Qian with a green hat for his wedding and guessed its meaning. The term had already begun to circulate among their small circle, but of course, others had no idea what it meant.
Qin Wanru’s face immediately became red with embarrassment. She cried, “Do you want to get beaten, you lass? I’m going to rip off your mouth right now!”
The carriage soon became noisy with activity. Only after quite some time did it calm down again.
Qin Wanru sorted out her messy hair and eventually answered, “Can’t I chat with him about normal family matters? Even the Murong clan’s miss got one; don’t tell me they could be talking about romantic stuff?”
Chu Youzhao grumbled, “If they really talk about romantic stuff, I'll actually feel relieved.”
Qin Wanru’s brows shot up. She exclaimed, “Are you stupid? Qinghe is your future wife!”
Chu Youzhao sighed, saying, “Mom, you know my current situation too…”
Qin Wanru was speechless. Did I owe that idiot Zu in my past life or something? Not only are my daughters being served in one pot, even my daughter-in-law is going to be thrown in?
When she felt the heavy mood in the carriage, Chu Huanzhao immediately said, “Mom, don’t be mad. I’ll just lend you my jade strip from time to time in the future, okay?”
“Hmph, why would I want something like that?” Qin Wanru retorted as she turned around.
“Your loss,” Chu Huanzhao said, but she immediately regretted saying these words.
“Hmph, if you don’t want it, then I want it!” Qin Wanru immediately panicked and reached out her hand.
Chu Huanzhao immediately panicked and said, “You can use it, but you aren’t allowed to read the messages between me and brother-in-law!”
Zu An had explained a certain hidden function. At the time, she was confused as to why he had even included it, but now, she realized that brother-in-law had acute foresight as expected.
“Fine.”
“Also, you have to say who you are every time. You can’t pretend to be me.”
“But of course. Why would I pretend to be you?”
Even though that was what Qin Wanru said, she was suddenly tempted.
That’s not a bad idea…
If that kid knew it was me, what would there be to even talk about between us? It would be more interesting to pretend to be Huanzhao and chat with him that way. Let’s see just what kind of flowery speech that brat will use to trick my daughters, hmph!