“Huaisu’s personality is stubborn. She doesn’t necessarily understand you much or think much for you – she only adds trouble for you…”

A voice sounded in his ear. Lian Yu stood by the door, supporting his forehead, watching Suzhen leave until she disappeared from sight. This time, he didn’t pursue her. Every time, he would advance one step and she would retreat one step. He had always thought she possessed fearless courage… but he seemed wrong. And there were some things she had to bear…

Suzhen ran with large strides, running out of the courier station. On the outer street, two people walked toward her, one reaching out to intercept her.

“Huaisu.”

That voice… She saw the man’s face clearly and the characteristic crutch in his other hand, her spirit lifting slightly: “Wuqing, how did you come here?”

“There’s me too, rash young master.”

This gentleman spoke with a smile, and Suzhen punched him: “Little Zhou, you divine stick came too!”

Before her were two men in white robes and dark clothing – Wuqing and Little Zhou, whom she hadn’t seen for many days.

The joy of reunion didn’t make Suzhen happy for long, as doubts simultaneously grew in her heart. Looking at the two, she spoke directly: “No, you shouldn’t appear here.”

“Huaisu, then why are you here again?” Little Zhou scratched his nose, still smiling as he asked.

Suzhen couldn’t let him deceive her, saying coolly: “His Majesty sent me here, but you two… shouldn’t be in Minshan, much less appear before this courier station. You shouldn’t know I’m here. What exactly are you doing here, and what exactly are you two? Who sent you to lurk beside me?”

Speaking thus, she glanced at Wuqing and slowly stepped back, watching both men warily.

Seeing this, Wuqing frowned: “Huaisu, you left a letter at the residence and disappeared innocently. This person also suddenly went out. I suspected he meant you harm and followed. I tracked this person here.”

His eyes swept coldly over Little Zhou.

Little Zhou found this place? Lian Yu’s previous movements were secret – he couldn’t possibly know! Unless he truly wasn’t an ordinary person. Suzhen tensed and also looked at Little Zhou.

Little Zhou remained unhurried, his lips even slightly curved: “Huaisu, when the false becomes true, the true becomes false; when nothing becomes something, something becomes nothing. You’ve heard this saying. I’ve repeatedly told you not to judge things by appearances. Wuqing just looks decent – why don’t you ever remember?”

“After you left the letter and departed, I thought to take this opportunity to draw Wuqing out and see what kind of person he is. I didn’t know you were in Minshan at all. You never said you were going here. If I were truly someone’s spy, wouldn’t coming here expose me?

“Wuqing, why don’t you tell Huaisu that during our chase, I encountered a highly skilled mysterious man in black who threw me a letter saying Huaisu was in danger in Minshan? It was this person who led us all the way here, right to this courier station area.”

Little Zhou said this while staring coldly back at Wuqing.

Wuqing gave a slight cold laugh: “I didn’t tell Huaisu because this person was just part of your Little Zhou’s act. Only this way could you openly come here.”

Little Zhou suddenly laughed, pointing at his nose and cursing: “Wuqing, I finally recognize today that you’re indeed clever, using that black-clothed man to lure me, then pointing the deer and calling it a horse. Huaisu, someday I’ll expose his true face for you to see.”

Suzhen still couldn’t distinguish which of these two was real and which was fake! They probably were never as simple as they claimed to be.

If the black-clothed man was sent by one of them, who would it be?

If this black-clothed man was sent by a third party, who could have ordered it?

Besides Li Zhaoting, who truly knew her identity, who would think to send someone like Wuqing or Little Zhou to spy on her background?

Lian Yu? Or Quan Feitong?

If it were Quan Feitong, that would be understandable.

If it were Lian Yu… Steward Fu Bo was assigned to her by Lian Yu through Lian Qin. She had always been wary, but someone even more deeply hidden was actually still beside her – Fu Bo was just a decoy. If one of these two was arranged by Lian Yu to stay beside her… She looked back at the residence behind her, feeling sinister clouds swirling over those red walls and green tiles.

Besides these two, she couldn’t think of anyone else—

She hoped both Wuqing and Little Zhou had guessed wrong about each other, that both were good people, but honestly, she had never trusted Little Zhou. But was Wuqing, as Little Zhou said, truly trustworthy?

Could it be that the one she trusted was actually the enemy?

Wuqing was cold in manner, yet she instinctively wanted to be close to him – wasn’t this his frightening aspect?

Now, with the Huang Tianba and Feng family cases, she had walked into a dead end, and still had to guard against those closest to her… She looked quietly at both men, actually becoming calmer: “You should go rest first. Tell the people at the courier station that you’re my personal attendants and have them arrange lodging. His Majesty and Prime Minister Quan are both here. I’m going out for a while.”

Both men were obviously surprised and stopped their arguing.

The moment she mentioned Lian Yu and Quan Feitong, Suzhen observed carefully but found both were somewhat shocked – normal expressions. She didn’t know if both were innocent or both were experts at hiding. Her heart sank, and that doubt grew heavier.

Probably seeing her expression wasn’t good, Wuqing was somewhat worried: “Has something happened here? You and Leng Xue disappeared – was it truly by imperial order to come here?”

“Nothing major, just… I have to try the Huang Tianba case.”

Both Wuqing and Little Zhou’s expressions changed.

“I separated from Leng Xue in Minshan Prefecture earlier. He’s waiting at an inn. I’ll go find him. See you later.” Suzhen curved her lips and walked away quickly.

Little Zhou looked thoughtful, his eyes slightly flowing: “Hey, spy, our Huaisu seems to have encountered something not so good.”

Wuqing ignored him, leaning on his crutch and identifying himself to the gatekeeper. The doorman went in to report, and soon Qinglong came out to confirm, leading them inside.

After Qinglong arranged lodging for the two men and left to report back to Lian Yu.

Wuqing didn’t immediately return to his room, walking among the pavilions and towers with his crutch. Little Zhou followed behind him cheerfully all the way. Finally, Wuqing walked to a spot, turned back, and said coldly: “Why are you following me? Shouldn’t you go report to your master?”

“Master, I have no master. You, tsk tsk, handsome when you’re good-looking, even more dashing when you smile – this young master is pleased.” Little Zhou remained cheeky and smiling.

Wuqing paused slightly, then gave a slight cold laugh: “Shameless. I have no interest in men.”

After speaking, he suddenly seemed to sense something, his form flashing as he hid behind a nearby gallery pillar.

Little Zhou was a scholar but also quite agile. Startled, he leaped over.

Just as he concealed himself, light footsteps passed by as someone walked over quietly.

Wuqing indeed had good hearing! Little Zhou thought, then saw the person’s clear, handsome features but cold eyes – wasn’t this exactly the Leng Xue that Li Huaisu had mentioned just moments before?

She said he was at an inn, so how did he suddenly appear here? Had he returned with Li Huaisu?

Just as he was wondering, he saw Leng Xue’s form flicker as he too suddenly hid behind some flowers ahead.

Little Zhou’s heart sank. He smiled and whispered in Wuqing’s ear: “What’s Leng Xue doing here sneaking around? Huaisu got you all wrong – none of you are good people.”

Wuqing’s lips curved: “If you want him to discover us, just speak out.”

Little Zhou indeed fell silent, not for any other reason, but because he saw Leng Xue pull something from his chest, clasping it in his hand while looking toward a distant spot.

Leng Xue seemed to be ambushing someone?

He grew more suspicious when he saw someone throw a stone forcefully, landing in the lake center ahead and creating ripples. Then another person walked out. This time, it was a young woman.

She had a delicate, beautiful face but a sinister expression, bending to pick up another stone and throwing it forcefully into the lake.

Just then, he saw Leng Xue move like lightning ahead, raising his right hand. Those slender, pale fingers clearly held several golden needles between them, cutting through the air with sharp, cold intent.

Leng Xue was going to assassinate this woman?

Just as he realized this, it was too late to do anything – but beside him, Wuqing leaped forward, landing behind Leng Xue. A crutch hooked Leng Xue’s hand, forcibly stopping his action in that split second.

Leng Xue quickly turned, seeing it was Wuqing. His expression clearly changed as he gave a cold laugh and began fighting with him.

The woman finished throwing stones for a while, probably feeling bored, clapped her hands, and left.

Little Zhou slowly emerged from behind the beam, holding his breath and concentrating. Both men before him were experts, having already exchanged three or four moves in an instant. Both wore flowing white robes, their techniques fierce but silent – fallen flowers and leaves, scattered wood flying everywhere. The woman was still throwing stones ahead to vent her anger, completely unaware of the intense battle behind her, not knowing she had nearly been assassinated.

Leng Xue stared coldly at where the woman disappeared, his eyes turning frigid. Wuqing sealed his attack with a killing move and demanded coldly: “Why do you want to harm Lian Xin?”