Ennoblement Second-Class Shangzao

Don't be soft!

Treating me like a soft couch, are you!

Suffering this humiliation, Yang An was furious, but he dared not show it.

He kept hypnotizing himself.

I'm the one taking advantage, I'm the one taking advantage, I'm the one taking advantage...

However, as Princess Anle gracefully sat down.

Feeling her tender and soft touch, smelling her charming body fragrance, Yang An felt something was wrong again!

His breathing became increasingly rapid, and his body was incredibly hot.

Anger steamed up.

There was even an uncontrollable stirring rising faintly in his body!

He incredibly desired Princess Anle's body!

Like a freaking pervert!

Yang An was both shocked and suspicious but had no time to think much. Afraid of being discovered by this dog woman, he hurriedly tightened his stomach and sank his waist down.

But Qin Guo'er glared over at a glance.

Treated as a soft couch, Yang An could only soften his stomach again to let her sit comfortably. Yang An steadied his breathing and said, "Princess, this isn't good, is it?"

"What's not good about it?"

Qin Guo'er playfully propped up her chin.

Yang An suffered in silence and could only look at her pleadingly.

"Could it be that you're shy?" Qin Guo'er giggled and ordered the surroundings, "Turn around."

Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter, Plum, Orchid, Bamboo, Chrysanthemum.

And a group of court ladies serving beside them, all turned their backs in unison, leaving only the backs of their heads.

Yang An: ...

Forcibly suppressing the restless anger and the stirring desire, Yang An continued to talk about Cui Wenyan, trying to distract himself, "Princess, what should I do now?"

"There's no good way."

Qin Guo'er played with her beautiful hair, her tone leisurely: "The person who harmed you has a deep mind and hides very deeply. If the other party's demands are unknown, it will be difficult to find flaws. Just talking about Sun Ming's matter, do you think it ends just like this?"

"It's not over yet?"

Yang An frowned and asked doubtfully: "Sun Ming is dead, could he still cause any trouble?"

Slap!

Princess Anle raised her white and tender little hand and patted his forehead, saying, "Use your brain, don't be fooled by appearances, connect all the things together and look at them."

"Could there be some other deep meaning in this?"

Yang An lowered his head and fell into deep thought.

He was already very handsome, and his appearance of serious thought at this moment.

Added a bit more calmness and solidness.

Qin Guo'er propped up her fragrant cheeks, her eyes falling on his face.

Unconsciously, she laughed.

Her jade finger twined around a circle of black long hair, and whether intentionally or not, lightly brushed past his profile.

This dog woman!

The anger that Yang An had finally managed to suppress began to burn fiercely again. Seeing his uncomfortable appearance, Qin Guo'er hid her pleasure in the bottom of her eyes and advised, "Now the whole Yunzhou knows that you killed Wang Gou'er and Zheng Huaiyi."

As soon as Qin Guo'er finished speaking.

The lust in Yang An's eyes dissipated entirely, and a sudden chill rose from his back. He jumped out of his own perspective, his soul rising into the air.

Looking down from above.

After connecting all the events into a net, he saw countless blood-colored threads strangling his neck like a noose.

"Sun Ming's move is not a random piece!"

"It's the ultimate kill of the endgame!"

Cold sweat rolled down Yang An's forehead, and he suppressed his shock and said, "It's best if Sun Ming can ruin our family! If not, it doesn't matter! Because Cui Wenyan only needs to use him to cause trouble! Making a loud noise and involving me in the Wang Family Bank case is enough!"

"Now the whole Yunzhou knows that the Wang Family Bank case was my doing, which means the news of me killing two ninth-grade masters overnight will be known to everyone!"

"Lin Yeping will also know!"

"Previously, with the disguise of a 'weak scholar', it was impossible for Lin Yeping to think that I killed Lin Hao, but now this disguise is completely broken! Lin Yeping will definitely suspect me of Lin Hao's death!"

Sorting out all the clues.

Yang An increasingly felt that Cui Wenyan was sinister and vicious! Using only a reckless trash like Sun Ming, he unknowingly sent him under the claws of that monster Lin Yeping!

If not for Qin Guo'er's reminder.

He was afraid that when Lin Yeping brought an army and aggressively came to his door, he would still be completely unaware of what was going on! He would die without knowing how he died!

At this moment, the back garden of the Princess's mansion was clearly as warm as a spring day.

But Yang An felt like he had fallen into an ice cellar.

Panicking, he grabbed Qin Guo'er's soft and boneless little hand and pleaded for help, "Princess! I am loyal and devoted to you, you can't ignore me!"

Princess Anle's heart trembled.

She hurriedly pulled her little hand out of Yang An's big paw, glaring at him and saying, "In the future, without my permission, you are not allowed to touch me casually! If you dare to do it again, I'll kill you!"

Then get off me!

Yang An didn't dare to complain.

Decisively admitted his mistake.

Qin Guo'er snorted coldly, changed to a comfortable sitting posture on Yang An's stomach, leaning sideways on his upper body, her little feet crossing in a beautiful arc under the gorgeous skirt.

Swaying back and forth.

Under the sun, they were even more delicate and beautiful than koi fish.

Princess Anle said slowly, "It's not difficult to solve this matter, you just have to suffer a bit of grievance."

Family ruin and death were right in front of him.

Being able to survive was good enough.

Who cared about what grievance!

Just as Yang An was about to agree, he suddenly remembered how terrible this dog woman was, and tentatively asked, "What grievance is the Princess talking about?"

Qin Guo'er glanced at him, "Nothing, just giving most of the credit that should have belonged to you to your brother-in-law surnamed Li."

"What credit do I have? And give it to my brother-in-law?"

Yang An was a bit confused.

...

After leaving Yunxiang Tower.

Sitting in the carriage.

Zhao Guizhen and Little Cui were both a bit silent.

There was no way.

The image of Yang An riding a luxurious bronze carriage speeding past had too great an impact on them.

Even if Zhao Guizhen and Little Cui had repeatedly convinced themselves.

That person absolutely couldn't be Yang An.

The atmosphere in the carriage continued to be oppressive, as if a big stone was pressing on their hearts, enough to suffocate people.

Little Cui wracked her brains.

Thinking of finding something happy to break the deadlock, she suddenly clapped her hands and excitedly said, "Right! In half a month, Miss's noble title will be coming down, right? The young master really dotes on Miss!"

"There's a great disaster in Yizhou. Ordinary officials would at most donate a thousand or eight hundred taels as a token gesture, but Master, in Miss's name, actually donated a full thirty thousand taels of silver! Just to get Miss a title of First-Class Public Scholar! Master loves his daughter so much, Miss is the only one in the entire Yunzhou city!"

Regarding this matter.

Zhao Guizhen also felt quite honored.

The gloom on her face dissipated a bit, and she covered her mouth and chuckled twice: "It's just a title donated by my father, it's nothing."

Little Cui quickly retorted: "You can't say that! No matter how this title came about, it's still a title. Although there are many official ladies in Yunzhou city, apart from a few county princesses, how many people really have titles?"

"Miss being a First-Class Public Scholar is already rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns."

"It's a noble! It's glory!"

"As for someone like Yang An, even if he luckily gets out of prison one day, with a stain on his back, he shouldn't even think about getting a title. He won't be able to mix in a noble status like Miss in his entire life!"

Little Cui said very proudly.

For some reason.

The topic circled back to Yang An again.

But this time Zhao Guizhen was more composed, smiling: "Don't say that either, doesn't Yang An's brother-in-law also have a title? If in the future..."

She didn't finish her sentence.

Little Cui retorted, "His brother-in-law's noble title was earned on the battlefield with his life! Even if it's passed down in the future, it can only be passed to the Li family members. How could someone surnamed Yang ever get a turn? Yang An can't study, and he has been in prison. His life is just going to be like this."

Zhao Guizhen thought about it carefully and felt that Little Cui's words made sense.

The laws of Great Xia were strict.

Yang An had killed someone and gone to prison. His life could indeed be considered a foregone conclusion. She couldn't help but sigh for Yang An, shaking her head in pity.

However, the corners of her mouth were raised.

It was evident that her previously depressed mood had improved significantly.

Just at this moment.

The fine horse pulling the carriage suddenly neighed.

The carriage braked sharply.

The unprepared master and servant were almost thrown against the carriage wall. Even though the interior was padded with soft cushions, their shoulders still ached from the impact, and they nearly fell to the floor.

Zhao Guizhen, who usually lived a pampered life, turned pale with fright. Little Cui hurriedly hugged her, poked her head out the window, and scolded angrily, "You stupid slave, how are you driving the carriage? If you hurt the young miss, stripping off your cheap skin wouldn't be enough to pay for it!"

Hearing these words, the carriage driver felt a surge of anger in his heart.

He cursed secretly, "She's just a maid, why is she acting so arrogant? At the end of the day, she's also a slave, how does she have the nerve to call others slaves?"

He didn't dare to say these words out loud.

After all, "a seventh-rank official stands before the prime minister's door." Although Little Cui was a servant, Zhao Guizhen was an official's daughter.

He couldn't afford to offend them.

The driver hurriedly slapped his own face in panic, "I startled the noble ladies today, please forgive me! It really wasn't my intention to offend, but there are suddenly so many people gathered at the government notice board ahead."

Hearing the driver address her as a "noble lady."

Little Cui puffed out her chest.

The mean and bitter temper on her face also faded a bit. She put on a full posture and reprimanded, "Forget it, a stupid slave like you is just like this. You can't compare to the servants in my young miss's manor!"

After saying that.

Little Cui looked in the direction the driver pointed.

Sure enough, there were about a hundred people gathered at the notice board, discussing animatedly, blocking the entire main road, leaving only a narrow path. Many carriages were stuck here.

It looked like they wouldn't be able to pass for a while.

Little Cui pulled her head back into the carriage, explained the situation to Zhao Guizhen, and asked curiously, "Miss, I wonder what big event is posted on that notice to attract so many onlookers. Should we have the driver go over and take a look?"

Zhao Guizhen also felt curious.

Moreover, the road was blocked, and they wouldn't be able to pass for a while anyway.

She said, "Alright."

Little Cui ordered the driver to go check it out. The driver didn't dare to disobey, hurriedly dismounted, and quickly squeezed into the crowd.

Not long after.

He returned with a glowing red face, full of excitement, and spoke to the two people in the carriage through the curtain, "Miss! Great news!"

"What great news?"

"The notice says that a righteous hero named Yang An killed Wang Gou'er, Zheng Huaiyi, and a group of evil bandits, and has been rewarded by the imperial court!"

Yang An?

Rewarded by the imperial court!?

Wasn't he locked up in the Yunzhou prison?!!

Zhao Guizhen's newly relaxed mood immediately turned sour again. She felt as if this person was a dark cloud looming over her head.

Little Cui also hurriedly retorted, "What nonsense are you talking about! That Yang An is still squatting in prison! How could the imperial court reward him?"

"It's really a reward! The notice says he will be rewarded with a thousand taels of silver! And fertile land! And a noble title!"

"A noble title!?"

"What noble title!!?"

Zhao Guizhen and Little Cui both felt unwell.

Zheng Huaiyi's pharmacies were all over Yunzhou.

Many people had been deceived by him.

The driver had also been fooled before. Now that Zheng Huaiyi had died at Yang An's hands, he felt a great sense of relief, speaking more and more excitedly: "The notice says they will confer upon Lord Yang the title of Second-Class Shangzao! That's one rank higher than a Gongshi lord! Much more distinguished! After so many years, the imperial court has finally done a great deed!"

Second-Class Shangzao!

Shangzao!

A Shangzao, which was one rank higher than a Gongshi!

Zhao Guizhen's chest heaved violently, her blood flow turning chaotic from anger, and she almost fainted on the spot.

Little Cui hurriedly patted her back to soothe her breathing.

She turned her head and scolded the driver, "Are you blind? Can you even read? What nonsense are you spouting here! Don't worry, Miss, this servant will go see for herself!"

Saying this, Little Cui jumped off the carriage.

She forcefully squeezed into the crowd.

Amidst the pushing and shoving, her body was groped a few times by some rogues hiding in the crowd, but she couldn't even bother to be angry.

Finally managing to squeeze to the front row.

She saw the official document posted on the notice board, which clearly read: "Li Yan and Yang An have rendered meritorious service in eliminating bandits such as Wang Gou'er and Zheng Huaiyi. Li Yan, having made the primary contribution, is granted the Third-Class title of Zanniao; Yang An, having made the secondary contribution, is granted the Second-Class title of Shangzao, along with gold, silver, and fertile land to commend his bravery!"

At the signature area.

The bright red official seal of the Yunzhou government looked like a blood-stained dagger, stinging Little Cui's eyes.

And it pierced straight through her heart.

Little Cui, with a pale face, stumbled back to the carriage and sat there in a daze, speechless. Zhao Guizhen shook her shoulders, and it took a long time for her to snap out of it.

Under Zhao Guizhen's hopeful gaze.

Little Cui nodded with a miserable face, "Miss, it's true..."

Zhao Guizhen felt as if she had been struck by lightning.

All the strength in her body was instantly drained. She slumped onto the soft stool, murmuring with lifeless eyes, "So... the white deer carriage we saw in front of the Yunxiang Pavilion... the person sitting inside was also him?"

Who else could it be if not him?

Little Cui nodded slowly.

Digging her fingernails into her palms, Zhao Guizhen bit her lower lip fiercely, biting her bright red lips until they turned white and bled.

Second-Class Shangzao.

The luxurious white deer carriage.

These should clearly be mine to enjoy!

But why...

But why are they all his now?!

Seeing her young miss looking as if she was about to die from anger, Little Cui hurriedly comforted her, "Don't worry, Miss! Yang An's noble title is just riding on Li Yan's coattails!"

"Yang An is just a scholar!"

"He would struggle to even kill a chicken! Where would he find the ability to kill martial artists!"

"Li Yan is an eighth-rank martial artist. He must be the one who eliminated the bandits! That Yang An just tagged along for the credit!"

"A piece of trash relying on his family!"

"So what if he has a noble title! It's nothing glorious!"

"He can't even compare to Young Master Cui in the slightest!"

Hearing this.

Zhao Guizhen caught her breath, and the light returned to her eyes.

Right!

Yang An was nothing but a piece of trash relying on his family!

He had no glory!

He couldn't compare to Young Master Cui!

...

...

...

That's all for today.

See you all tomorrow.