[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou":3,"chapter-the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-263":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Ink Saint of Great Zhou",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2292226,4481,"Chapter 263","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-263",263,"\u003Cp>Lu Yunzhan nodded slightly and said, “You said the Bai family’s ancestor was a marquis; after several generations of hereditary demotion, Bai Feng shouldn’t be a viscount—perhaps he has no title at all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this fantasy Zhou Dynasty, even if you’re a duke, your title automatically drops one rank with each generation of inheritance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re right,” Zeng Wan chuckled. “You’ve surely heard of Shen Kangbo, the richest man in the Zhou Dynasty.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shen Kangbo?” Lu Yunzhan nodded, frowning. “But what does the Bai family’s title have to do with Shen Kangbo? Why bring him up all of a sudden?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zeng Wan spoke with a mysterious tone: “This is something few ordinary people know—Shen Kangbo, Bai Feng, and His Majesty were close friends in their youth.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So after His Majesty ascended the throne, Bai Feng donated a large sum of gold and silver to the Zhou Dynasty, and the Emperor granted him the title of viscount.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, so that’s how it is,” Lu Yunzhan realized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Bai Feng had been granted another title by His Majesty, everything made sense—he’d already thought it unlikely the Bai family was uniquely privileged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He simply hadn’t expected that Viscount Bai Feng had such ties to Shen Kangbo and His Majesty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zeng Wan wore an envious expression. “I heard the Bai family’s current prosperity stems from Bai Feng’s close ties with Shen Kangbo—though whether this is rumor or truth, I can’t say for sure.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But one thing I’m certain of: if you become the Bai family’s son-in-law, your future will be bright as clouds under a clear sky.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yunzhan ignored these remarks and pressed on: “Didn’t you say earlier that Viscount Bai Feng has only one daughter, Bai Yu?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zeng Wan affirmed: “Yes, only her. His wife died in childbirth, and since then he never remarried. You needn’t worry about him—most of the family’s business is now managed by Bai Yu.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Viscount Bai Feng rarely handles affairs anymore; everything is left to Bai Yu. If she takes a liking to you, he won’t object.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s why he agreed to let her host this marriage recruitment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yunzhan nodded slightly. These details weren’t what he sought. He pressed further: “Does the Bai family have any powerful enemies?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why ask that all of a sudden?” Zeng Wan asked, puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yunzhan shrugged. “No reason. I’ll likely become the Bai family’s son-in-law soon—I just want to understand the situation better.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zeng Wan didn’t doubt him and smiled. “Don’t worry. Rumors say the Bai family has ties to Shen Kangbo and His Majesty—no one would be so foolish as to provoke them. Besides, Viscount Bai Feng is kind-hearted and has no enemies.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As for powerful enemies? Even less likely. There’s no conflict of interest here. In this region of North Cliff City, the Bai family is the foremost noble house.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang fell silent. This contradicted his earlier assumptions—the Bai family seemed even more powerful than he’d imagined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed unlikely anyone could threaten the Bai family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then why had she sent him a mental plea for help?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had he misjudged her? Did Bai Yu, offended by his refusal, simply want to play a prank on him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After seeing Zeng Wan off, Lu Yunzhan still pondered this. He felt instinctively that Bai Yu wouldn’t deliberately mock him—someone of her status and pride wouldn’t be so petty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And there was no reason for her to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like people who don’t care about ants crawling on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yunzhan was a man of strong curiosity. Until he understood the truth, he wouldn’t leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The night passed without incident.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next day, at lunchtime.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind the maid bringing the food came Bai Yu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the first time Lu Yunzhan had seen her since yesterday. She looked worn out, as if she hadn’t slept well—dark circles under her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her plain white gown softened her cold demeanor, lending her an air of fragility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In six days, we marry,” Bai Yu said, sitting across from him. “You’re from Jiangzhou, so I suppose you won’t be able to invite your family.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yunzhan murmured an acknowledgment, then silently sent a mental message: “Miss Bai Yu, why did you send me a plea for help yesterday?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Yu stiffened, but quickly recovered. She rose to open his food box and smiled. “You look so pitiable—I can’t help but want to care for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her lips spoke these strange words, but her mental voice whispered: “It’s worse than I thought. I shouldn’t have dragged you into this. Later, act more fond of me—I’ll have the guards lower their vigilance when I leave. Find a chance to escape.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Leave North Cliff City. Don’t come back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Remember—don’t say anything. They might be watching us secretly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yunzhan smiled warmly at Bai Yu. “Are you hungry?” He picked up a chopstick of food and moved to feed her. Though he’d sensed no observers, he decided to follow her advice and play along.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Yu blushed deeply, then boldly opened her mouth to accept the food he offered. She lowered her head, returning to her seat, chewing quietly as if shy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he ate, Lu Yunzhan sent another mental message: “What’s really going on? Can you tell me? It sounds dangerous—I might even be in danger. Don’t I need to know the full truth?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Yu’s mental reply came quickly: “I suspect—no, I’m certain my father is an impostor. But I have no proof. Maybe I’m wrong. Either way, our situations are both dire. Just find a chance to escape.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is Viscount Bai Feng an impostor?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yunzhan slowly chewed, studying Bai Yu’s expression. Though she still smiled, he sensed her unease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His instinct told him she was telling the truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And for some reason, she was certain Bai Feng was fake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can I help you?” Lu Yunzhan said seriously. “Should I go find reinforcements? You seem terrified—your danger is worse than you’ve let on.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Yu: “Thank you, but it’s useless. They’ve sensed something. All the people I sent out have gone silent—I suspect they’ve been secretly killed. They know I suspect.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t know why they haven’t acted against me yet, but if you’ve contacted me and make any move to call for help, you’ll be in grave danger.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And you’re just a wanderer who arrived in North Cliff City yesterday—you can’t find allies, and no one will believe you.”\u003C\u002Fp>",1062,"2026-06-20T03:56:22.339Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","aa37a5d2c2396e079d6ea178ce4f53a33febe1d35b3c09f90f94807252c91186","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-264","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-262",289,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-cover.jpg"]