Time Travel: The Noble Family-Chapter 1385 - 567: Trump Card (Part 2)

Zhou Shu felt stifled in his heart, but he still agreed and swore a deadly oath in front of everyone: "What is the second request?"

Yueyao glanced at Xiang Wei and then spoke to An Zhichen: "Xiang Wei is skilled with poisons, you surely know that. My request is to have Xiang Wei escort you back to Haikou. What do you think?" Yueyao’s words implied letting Zhou Shu ingest Xiang Wei’s poison and then have her administer the antidote only after the swap was confirmed.

Zhou Shu stared blankly at Yueyao for a long time, as if talking to himself, saying: "You are not her, you are not her."

Yueyao paid no mind to Zhou Shu’s crazed state and merely stated: "If you agree, I will have Xiang Wei escort you to Haikou. If you don’t agree, you’ll die here today!" If An Zhizhuo were to die, it would indeed be her doing. She preferred An Zhichen to be upset with her rather than having him feel guilty for a lifetime.

An Zhichen looked at Yueyao and said: "That’s not necessary." Then he addressed Zhou Shu: "Besides Xiang Wei, I will send six other people to escort you to Haikou."

Yueyao gently held An Zhichen’s hand and said with a smile: "For the sake of our family, I am willing."

Looking at such a warm scene, Zhou Shu’s heart felt as though it was being pricked by needles. Ultimately, he nodded and said: "Alright, I agree."

Yueyao pulled Xiang Wei aside and said: "You send him to Haikou to exchange for An Zhizhuo, and then give him the antidote. Don’t try any tricks. Otherwise, if anything happens to An Zhizhuo because of me, my relationship with An Zhichen will have reached its end."

Xiang Wei indeed entertained thoughts of silently poisoning Zhou Shu, but Yueyao’s words gave her pause: "It shouldn’t come to that?"

Yueyao didn’t want Xiang Wei to act on her own accord: "Do you think my happiness is more important, or doing away with Zhou Shu?" People shouldn’t be fixated on the past; they should look forward.

Xiang Wei hesitated: "Madam, do you truly trust him?" Xiang Wei found the oath unreliable, sensing that Zhou Shu’s death was the only peace.

Yueyao bowed her head in silence for a moment and then said: "In ten years, I’ll be an old woman; do you truly believe he’d still think of me then? Furthermore, even if he returns safely this time, Second Old Grand Master would never let him go." At that time, Haikou certainly wouldn’t be quiet.

Xiang Wei found Yueyao’s earlier statements unreliable, but the latter part seemed plausible: "Then, when I arrive in Haikou, I’ll follow Second Old Grand Master’s lead. What do you think?" Yueyao’s concern was nothing more than the worry that something would happen to An Zhizhuo, implicating her with the An Family’s Second Old Grand Master. If Second Old Grand Master was in charge of this matter, it couldn’t be pinned on Yueyao.

Yueyao nodded: "Alright."

Zhou Shu suggested returning immediately to Haikou. He had no desire to go back to Capital City; who knew what might happen!

An Zhichen looked at Xiang Wei.

Xiang Wei nodded: "Alright." Then, in front of An Zhichen and Yueyao, she handed Zhou Shu a black pill.

Zhou Shu swallowed the pill without a moment’s hesitation.

After Zhou Shu left, Yueyao said to An Zhichen: "Will His Majesty hold us accountable?" After all, Zhou Shu is a wanted criminal of the Imperial Court, they just let him go, who knows what punishment might follow.

An Zhichen shook his head and said: "His Majesty won’t mind this matter." The Elder Uncle is close to the Emperor, and the Emperor won’t leave the Elder Uncle’s lineage without continuity. So even if the Emperor knows about this, he won’t punish us harshly.

As Yueyao was finally relieved, An Zhichen mentioned another matter that left her uneasy: "The journey might not be peaceful, you need to be cautious later."

Yueyao remembered Zhou Shu’s words and asked: "Who were the people who tried to kill me in the alley then?" If it wasn’t Zhou Shu, what sort of grudge is there that’s so great they’d target both her and Kexin?

An Zhichen replied: "They are people from the Barbarian Tribes. They’re here to avenge their leader." This was discovered by the General Secretary Department after interrogating a few captured individuals.

Yueyao asked curiously: "Didn’t you say those people were just a ragtag bunch? How did they become the Barbarian Tribes?" The warlike nature of the Barbarian Tribes was common knowledge in the Great Yuan Dynasty.

An Zhichen was worried about Yueyao being scared, only adding to her unrest due to Zhou Shu’s issues. If she learned about the Barbarian Tribes seeking revenge, she might be terrified.

Yueyao wasn’t frightened, only found it odd: "The excuse given then turned out to be true."

An Zhichen also felt it was too coincidental, but there was no choice, it happened as such.

Yueyao sensed something amiss: "Why have the General Secretary Department not found the Barbarian Tribes hiding in the Capital City?" Even if they’re incompetent, they should at least find out such matters.

An Zhichen revealed a mocking smile: "Someone is aiding them in the shadows. It’s better to resolve it sooner for peace of mind."

Yueyao was puzzled about how An Zhichen was released: "Does the Emperor know already?"

An Zhichen nodded: "The Emperor knew a few days ago, but I felt the timing wasn’t right to reveal it. Upon hearing you went to Zhaohua Temple, I was worried, so I secretly followed."

Yueyao smiled: "I’m fine."

An Zhichen was frustrated, given the circumstances: "By the way, Yueyao, why did you make Zhou Shu swear such an oath?"

Yueyao smiled and said: "If you were unable to sleep every night, tormented by nightmares whenever you closed your eyes, what kind of life would that be?" Things like Eighteen Levels of Hell or ending one’s lineage are concerns for the future. The anguish and torment of sleepless nights are a truer suffering.

Imagining that scenario, An Zhichen shivered: "It’s a clever idea." Though quite terrifying, applied to Zhou Shu, it’s appropriate.

As An Zhichen anticipated, Yueyao indeed faced an ambush while descending the mountain. There were over twenty opponents, but with preparedness and the escort possessing martial skills, they quickly subdued the attackers.

After everything was handled, Yueyao murmured: "The Barbarian Tribes’ leader was captured by the Crown Prince; why seek revenge against you?" The Barbarian Tribes seeking vengeance on An Zhichen was worrying, but not enough to frighten Yueyao.

An Zhichen didn’t explain further; some things were better left unsaid. He changed the subject: "What did you talk about with Zhou Shu for so long up there?"

Yueyao thought for a moment and said: "He said he dreamt of me as his wife..."

An Zhichen hurriedly interrupted: "He’s dreaming. In your past life, this life, the next life, and every life thereafter, you are my wife."

Yueyao smiled softly, immediately embracing An Zhichen’s uninjured arm: "Yes, he’s dreaming. In every future life, I’ll only marry you."

Upon hearing this, An Zhichen felt no anger whatsoever.