Of course, no one came to save her. That fellow Shi Jianshang had long since fled to who knows which corner in fright.

Call the police, Jianshang—

Suzhen only wailed internally. Seeing the encirclement was complete, she didn’t struggle uselessly and raised her hands: “I surrender.”

Pei Fengji hadn’t expected him to submit so easily. His brow furrowed—his arm still burned from the water splash. Even if he surrendered, he couldn’t possibly let him go. He glanced at his guards: “Bring several pots of hot water. I’ll help Minister Li clean his hands.”

Suzhen’s face changed as she hurried forward. Pei Fengji’s martial arts were far superior to his, so naturally he wasn’t afraid. Knowing he was begging for mercy, he waved for the guards to fetch water: “Kneel and kowtow to me ten times, and perhaps I’ll release you.”

Pei Fengji despised this thin man extremely. He had originally intended to find a way to kill or cripple him before returning to his country. Meeting him now and being injured by him was the perfect opportunity—throughout Great Zhou, no one could say anything against him.

Suzhen naturally knew this. Thinking Huo Chang’an was disloyal, she secretly cursed her bad luck. After brief consideration, she pretended to kneel while saying: “Prince, what do you see on the ground there?”

Pei Fengji knew this person was full of tricks, but this simple misdirection couldn’t fool him. Instead, he watched closely as this person’s eyes glanced toward the side window. Trying to escape from there? He sneered coldly, only to feel sharp pain in his foot—Li Huaisu had stepped hard on his boot. Taking advantage of his pain as he bent slightly, the person had already rushed behind him. The guards were all searching for water at various tables with no one blocking, and this person had already darted out through the window behind him.

Suzhen knew pursuers were behind her and ran desperately. She had aimed for the window behind Pei Fengji—looking at the side window was just to trick him. Fortunately he was naturally suspicious. If he had really looked at the ground as she suggested, she wouldn’t have been able to escape.

After running for a while and turning several street corners, she could barely run anymore. She couldn’t help but smile bitterly—when heaven closes one door, it opens another. She saw two familiar figures ahead. Both shocked and delighted, she used her last strength to run over and hide behind one of them: “Elder Brother Mu, save me!”

These were indeed Quan Feitong and Li Zhaoting. Quan Feitong, being the person he was, quickly assessed the situation and raised an eyebrow: “Why should I save you?”

Suzhen didn’t care and kept repeating: “Elder Brother Mu, Elder Brother Mu, Elder Brother Mu, save me!”

Beside them, Li Zhaoting’s gaze darkened. She was always like this!

Quan Feitong smiled and looked at the approaching Pei Fengji with his gloomy expression: “Prince, has this Li Huaisu offended you again?”

Pei Fengji nodded: “Prime Minister Quan, leave this person to Fengji. Surely Prime Minister Quan wouldn’t protect him?”

Quan Feitong said: “The prince knows what relationship I have with Li Huaisu. It’s just that as court officials, we must show some consideration.”

Pei Fengji’s gaze darkened, but then he heard Quan Feitong step forward and whisper in his ear: “This is Great Zhou after all. Going too far is never good. Please consider the bigger picture, Prince. I just visited the Prince and Princess, and they seemed to be arguing over a letter from a concubine at home. The Prince should return to see what’s happening.”

“Very well, I’ll give Prime Minister Quan face.”

Pei Fengji glared at Suzhen and left with his men.

Suzhen knew he wouldn’t let her off, but this time she’d escaped danger. She sighed in relief. Having always been clear about love and hate, though she detested Quan Feitong for killing and fabricating evidence, she was grateful now and bowed to him: “Elder Brother Mu, thank you. I’ll treat you to dinner another day.”

Quan Feitong snorted coldly: “I seem to remember you saying the same thing in the morgue last time.”

Suzhen said awkwardly: “This time I’ll treat elder brother to two meals.”

Hearing this, Quan Feitong laughed, his face becoming even more radiant. Finally, he looked at her: “I’ll invite you to my residence for a gathering another day. Huaisu, think carefully—following me won’t waste your talents. With your temperament, Lian Yu won’t give you high position. No matter how high this judiciary goes, it’s still just a fourth-rank Chief Justice.”

Suzhen shook her head: “Huaisu only cares about right and wrong when working.”

Quan Feitong smiled mockingly: “Do you think Lian Yu is very clean? This person’s methods are no more merciful than your Elder Brother Mu’s.”

Suzhen was slightly shocked but ultimately said nothing. She bowed deeply, glanced lightly at Li Zhaoting, and took her leave.

Li Zhaoting seemed not to have seen, only saying indifferently: “Senior brother doesn’t dislike Li Huaisu as much as imagined.”

Quan Feitong said: “Liking is one thing—when the time comes, I absolutely won’t hold back. I, Lian Yu, and you—I’m certain we’re all the same.”

Li Zhaoting didn’t answer, but his gaze remained unmoved and firm.

Quan Feitong was satisfied with this answer: “Having rushed to two places this morning, it’s even more urgent now. Let’s go to that important place.”

Li Zhaoting knew what he meant. They’d returned from the palace and visited Prince Zhennan’s lodge. Now it was time to see Lian Yu. He said: “Lian Yu intends to delay. What does senior brother think?”

“He can’t delay much longer. With this delay, which court minister doesn’t understand? He wants to salvage some imperial dignity, but Prince Zhennan is anxious, plus he received a family letter today with his concubine urging his return.”

Li Zhaoting smiled faintly: “This way, Princess Zhennan is displeased instead. It’s this opportunity that senior brother cleverly used to intimidate that Pei Fengji just now. This prince is vicious by nature but not without fears. I heard Prince Zhennan greatly favors his fourth concubine. This woman has a son, so Prince Pei’s position as heir isn’t entirely secure.”

“Exactly. Though Pei Fengji appears ruthless and arrogant, he does have some ability. He sees the situation clearly, knowing our internal politics are unstable and we’d never offend Great Wei over a few commoners. If war broke out now, internal chaos would follow. But as you said, everyone has weaknesses. Let’s go—the more anxious Prince Zhennan becomes, the better it looks for Lian Yu.”

“Senior brother, I have something to say but don’t know if I should.” Li Zhaoting considered briefly before speaking again.

“Speak freely.”

“Though this situation seems beyond salvage, we must still be careful of Lian Yu. The palace examination left a deep impression on me.”

Quan Feitong nodded: “In the palace, I’ve had people watch closely—who he sees, what he does. Outside the palace, he won’t last much longer.”

As the two spoke, Lian Jie and Lian Qin watched clearly from nearby.

However, everyone meeting here at this time wasn’t coincidental.

Originally, when ministers petitioned Empress Dowager Xiao’an, Lian Yu heard and was troubled. During the interval when ministers met with Xiao’an, he took the two out of the palace.

When Xiao’an inquired, Little Chu didn’t dare hide it and said His Majesty went to Hongtu Restaurant on Ning’an Street to drink and listen to opera for relaxation, while secretly sending someone to report quickly. Seeing Xiao’an coming with the ministers, Lian Yu couldn’t avoid meeting them and had the two come down to receive them, only to see Quan and Li.

Lian Qin said angrily: “They came too.”

Lian Jie sneered: “If not now to pressure him, when? Ninth brother, go chase Li Huaisu and bring him to Sixth Brother. I’ll go meet up with Sixth Brother first.”