She chose to gloss over the matter lightly: “I don’t know either. Probably strengthening defenses everywhere. Can’t rule out that Mao Hui and Yu Jinglun might launch a surprise attack, kidnapping someone more important to trade lives – that would be troublesome. After all, though rescuing the princess has merit, Wuqing and Little Zhou’s lives ultimately can’t compare to the lives of important officials here, like Quan Feitong, Lian Qi, Lian Jiu.”

“Oh, and… Murong Liu.”

“Mm,” Leng Xue was ultimately more worried about her health and didn’t ask further, only urging her to write the prescription quickly: “That Seventh Prince has excellent medical skills – why not have him take your pulse?”

“He’s a prince.” She laughed it off and went to grind ink. At this moment, someone suddenly pushed the door open. Both were startled to see the usually cold Baihu, truly fitting Leng Xue’s words about “threatening manner.” The door guards saw it was the emperor’s bodyguard and didn’t stop her. She actually entered with sword in hand, immediately thrusting toward Suzhen without a word. Leng Xue’s face turned cold as he caught the blade between two fingers while quickly drawing his sword with the other hand, shouting: “What madness is this!”

Baihu said nothing, her eyes seeming ready to shoot fire as she stared intently at Suzhen: “Ask her!”

Her words were full of hatred. Suzhen smiled bitterly: “Leng Xue, withdraw. I’ve offended His Majesty.”

Leng Xue frowned but smiled slightly at the corner of his mouth, slowly sheathing his sword – not because of Suzhen’s words, but because two people behind Baihu seized her – Xuanwu and Qinglong, who had also arrived suddenly. Xuanwu said sternly: “Baihu, Master has ordered you to return immediately!”

The two quickly forced Baihu to leave and also withdrew the soldiers outside.

Besides this, they didn’t say a word to Suzhen, both showing coldness in their eyes and brows.

Leng Xue asked: “Zhen’er, did you quarrel with Lian Yu?”

“Mm,” Suzhen smiled: “You know I meddle in others’ affairs. I wanted to handle the Minshan case, but he wouldn’t let me. I carelessly said something unpleasant and angered him. It’s fine – I can finally plan for our family’s case.”

Leng Xue saw she was unwilling to speak and didn’t force her. Her falling out with Lian Yu suited him perfectly.

After Leng Xue left, she sat on the bed pretending to rest when she suddenly heard movement outside. She opened her eyes in alarm to see a letter lying on the floor.

She immediately realized it had been slipped through the door crack. She quickly got up, walked to the door, and suddenly pushed it open.

But outside was empty – the messenger had silently departed.

She frowned and picked up the letter. Opening it, she read: “Having neither beauty nor talent to rely on, nor illustrious family background, the emperor’s affection is false. I hope you withdraw early for your own good.”

The writing was quite sloppy, intentionally altered, but Suzhen still guessed who had given it to her.

It was Zhaoting.

More precisely, Li Zhaoting had deliberately imitated the handwriting of a calligraphy master from a previous dynasty whom he admired, so she would know.

Her chest felt tight as she pressed her heart hard. Finally, she carefully lit a fire and burned the letter completely clean to prevent it falling into others’ hands.

Afterward, there was no further movement from Lian Yu’s side. He no longer sought her out or pressured her.

Suzhen took medicine and slept, having added sleeping medication to her prescription. She slept for a full day.

Otherwise, with external worries and internal thoughts, she couldn’t sleep at all.

At midnight, she suddenly woke with a start, touching the corners of her eyes to find them wet and cold.

For now, she only hoped Wuqing and Little Zhou would return quickly so she could go back to the capital and begin planning how to handle the Feng family case.

The late emperor claimed treason, but treason also required evidence of what her father had done. She had seen the Ministry of Justice records, which didn’t list specific crimes – she could use this file to request case reversal…

Getting up this day, Leng Xue had already left to continue investigating news of Wuqing. According to reports from city guards, no suspicious people had been seen leaving the city these past two days. With tight security, either Mao Hui and Yu Jinglun had already left the city, or they had found an excellent hiding place within the city.

When leaving, Leng Xue said he’d heard from courier station staff that Lian Yu had sent Commander Shao to begin leading a city search.

Lost in thought, she unconsciously pulled out a small pouch from her chest, opened it, and poured out its contents, playing with them for a while.

They were several green apricots.

She suddenly felt suffocated and thought: “Indulging in trivial pursuits leads to ruin,” quickly putting the items back and opening the door to walk outside.

Entering a courtyard, she heard pleasant laughter and thought how she lacked perception. Though the courier station wasn’t small, space was ultimately limited – you’d see people everywhere.

The other party had obviously discovered her, and retreating was no longer possible. Murong Xi stopped massaging Lian Yu’s shoulders and smiled meaningfully at her: “So it’s Minister Li. Today the sky is clear and the air fresh – perfect for going out together. It’s a pity Minister Li is here on official business, otherwise it would be perfect to go enjoy spring scenery with one’s beloved.”

Suzhen smiled bitterly. Facing this sarcasm, she couldn’t not respond, but what could she say? She glossed over it with “Your Ladyship jests” and “Greetings to Your Majesty, greetings to Consort Xi.”

Lian Yu didn’t even lift an eyelid, only saying to Murong Xi: “I’ll return to my room first. Princess Imperial and the others will come soon – you can go out with them later.”

“Your Majesty should come out with this concubine.”

Lian Yu smiled and shook his head: “Did you forget what Miao Yin said yesterday? If I accompany you, wouldn’t that give them grounds to criticize you? Say it’s unfair?”

“Alright then,” Murong Xi frowned and nodded, quite displeased. Lian Yu, seeing her like this, instructed Qinglong and Baihu behind him: “You accompany Your Ladyship out. Protect her well, understand?”

Both immediately bowed: “This servant obeys and will certainly protect Your Ladyship well.”

Murong Xi stood on tiptoe to lightly kiss Lian Yu’s cheek, then retreated to the side with a completely red face. The young man’s slender fingers touched his cheek, patted her head, and left with Xuanwu.

Though Suzhen kept her head down, her eyes were raised at the corners – she attributed this to… human curiosity.

Her teeth felt like those green apricots – suddenly sour and soft.

She thought their drawing clear boundaries was correct. In places she couldn’t see, he had too much power and women at his fingertips.

Murong Xi’s provocative gaze made her feel like sitting on pins and needles, but he hadn’t dismissed her, so she couldn’t rise.

Praising Murong Liu for having spirit was wrong – this person really held grudges.

“He said when the mourning period ends, he’ll favor me first. A ruler’s word is his bond – do you understand?”

Murong Xi suddenly bent down to whisper in her ear.

Suzhen raised her head and replied: “Congratulations, Your Ladyship.”

Murong Xi was somewhat surprised by her attitude, her eyes darkening.

“Xi sister, prepare to depart.”

A voice came from afar as Lian Yue and others, each leading court runners assigned by Lian Jie, approached. Seeing her kneeling stiffly on the ground, they showed various expressions. Miao Yin smiled: “Your Ladyship, what’s wrong with Minister Li kneeling on the ground like this?”

“Look at my memory – Minister Li was just paying respects to His Majesty when His Majesty had business and left first, forgetting to tell Minister Li to rise.” Murong Xi exclaimed and covered her mouth, laughing.

How could everyone not hear the implication in her words? Lian Yue seemed stunned, then giggled. Shuangcheng’s eyes sparkled lightly as she softly suggested: “Why don’t the two princesses let Minister Li rise?”

Lian Yue waved her hand: “Though His Majesty is my younger brother, he never compromises in business. If this offends his taboos, that would be terrible. Xin’er, the Sixth Young Master dotes on you most – you do it.”

Lian Xin said coolly: “I don’t dare either. What Sixth Brother forbids, how dare I do? Haven’t I learned wisdom from experience? Don’t keep doing brainless things. Minister Li, you taught me this. I understand some of it now – why don’t you understand instead?”

Ungrateful little brat! Suzhen cursed inwardly but only smiled: “The princess teaches correctly.”

Due to the urgent case investigation, they didn’t linger here long and left successively. As Wuyan passed by her, she suddenly said: “Li Huaisu, even if you do this, I won’t be grateful. Once disloyal, never trusted again.”

Suzhen smiled indifferently: “I never expected you to be grateful.”

“That’s natural,” Shuangcheng, walking ahead, suddenly turned back: “Wei Wuyan, you must remember – she’s doing this only to make His Majesty mistakenly think she’s irreplaceable. Men most treasure what they can’t have.”

“It’s just… this might backfire spectacularly.”

Suzhen was surprised she would say such things, turning to ask: “Miss, don’t you usually play the good person? Why this sudden change? Is it because neither His Majesty nor Minister Li are here?”

Shuangcheng smiled slightly: “I was never a good person. I just never do obviously harmful stupid things like last time. Anyway, we’ll see what happens.”

Everyone finally left. Suzhen saw no one around, rubbed her aching knees, and was about to rise when she heard a cold voice: “Who told you to get up?”

She tensed and looked up to see it was Baihu scolding her.

“Your Ladyship told me to stay.”

Damn, Murong Tile Jar, Suzhen cursed inwardly – you hypocritical wretch, truly despicable!

Later, Court Judge Li knelt in the courtyard until sunset when Quan Feitong appeared from somewhere, clearly amused, and told Baihu “His Majesty is looking for Miss.” Baihu left doubtfully, and only then could Suzhen shakily rise. Another moment of kneeling would have crippled her legs.

She thanked Quan Feitong and asked: “Did His Majesty really summon Baihu?”

Quan Feitong shrugged, looked at her with particular disdain, and answered slowly: “Naturally it was false.”