Seeing this, Suzhen couldn’t help but feel some admiration for Wuqing. This brother saw things clearly and had long ago grasped the Empress Dowager’s intentions. What kind of person was Xiao’an? When Lian Xin returned to the palace and asked Xiao’an to treat Wuqing, Xiao’an immediately saw that this ancestor’s feelings weren’t as simple as repaying a life debt – she had developed romantic feelings.

Lian Xin was imperial nobility. Never mind that Wuqing’s legs weren’t good – even if he were perfectly healthy, Xiao’an would never marry her daughter to such a minor character. So when Lian Xin had asked Lian Jie to treat Wuqing that day, Lian Jie’s intentional reluctance probably wasn’t inability to treat him, but unwillingness. Lian Jie had long thought of the stakes involved and knew Xiao’an would definitely object.

Xiao’an didn’t want Wuqing’s leg healed – her purpose was obvious. Such a Wuqing would be even less worthy of the Princess, and the imperial family’s reasons for opposition would be even more justified.

Xiao’an told that story to warn Wuqing not to harbor foolish hopes. In the imperial family’s eyes, he was nothing more than a dog. She could give him rewards, but these rewards could never involve the Princess.

Wuqing had accordingly requested rewards, because if he didn’t accept them, the Empress Dowager wouldn’t feel at ease! This way, Xiao’an had finally repaid Wuqing’s favor, and there were no more debts between Wuqing and the imperial family.

This was for the best. Wuqing hadn’t liked Lian Xin anyway, so both parties could be at peace. But why did she still feel apprehensive, with that sense of unease in her heart growing heavier?

Lost in thought, she unconsciously looked at Xiao’an, only to see Xiao’an also looking at her with a gloomy gaze. This was more frightening than the direct killing intent from before.

She pretended not to see and bowed: “Huaisu thanks the Empress Dowager for her profound kindness to the Criminal Investigation Bureau. The Empress Dowager is busy with important matters – Huaisu and Wuqing will take our leave first.”

Wuqing also expressed gratitude again. Xiao’an sighed like a kind elder: “You two haven’t even drunk your wine yet. Very well, take it back to drink. Sister Hong, bestow the wine.”

Sister Hong smiled and replied: “Yes.”

This wine was execution wine – Suzhen definitely didn’t want to take it. But Sister Hong had already had eunuchs place an entire jar of wine in her hands. Suzhen’s hands nearly broke from the weight. Xiao’an was truly ruthless – this wine wasn’t being sent to the bureau by servants, but she had to carry it herself. This way of leaving was not only deadly heavy but truly embarrassing.

Lian Yue laughed: “Chief Li loves wine. Sister Hong, give them a few more jars.”

“You’re the one who loves wine – your whole family loves poisoned wine,” Suzhen cursed in her heart, but outwardly bowed and scraped: “Though I like it, I can’t carry it, haha.”

Sister Hong didn’t care whether she could carry it or not – she added another jar to her hands. Suzhen felt the weight increase and gritted her teeth as she accepted it.

Wuyan and Shuangcheng were quite silent. Suzhen suddenly realized their temperaments were actually somewhat similar. The difference was that Wuyan kept her head lowered throughout, while Shuangcheng continued to watch her with a half-smiling expression.

Suzhen knew that in Shuangcheng’s heart, she was no longer an enemy – because she wasn’t worthy.

Wuqing still knelt straight, as if blind to the humiliation Xiao’an was inflicting.

Watching this, Suzhen’s heart ached terribly.

After leaving the Empress Dowager’s chambers, Wuqing said quietly: “Put your things down first and wait here. I’ll take what I’m carrying out and come back to help you.”

Wuqing moved with difficulty – holding his crutch in one hand and wine in the other was extremely taxing. Her nose stung slightly as she quickly shook her head.

“Fool, what’s so good about being an official? Have you ever thought about leaving this place?” Wuqing suddenly turned his head, his voice slightly hoarse.

Suzhen was shaken. She had never seen Wuqing like this. Wuqing was very loyal, but Wuqing was emotionless.

Wuqing wasn’t pained for himself, but for her.

She nearly cried but still smiled: “I have secrets I can’t tell. For their sake, I must stay. Look, the situation isn’t so bad – there’s even wine to drink. Isn’t that nice?”

Wuqing looked deeply at her, put down his wine, and vigorously rubbed her hair: “If it were possible, how I wish this suffering could be mine alone…”

“Good dogs don’t block people’s way. Are those ahead blind? Can’t you see the imperial presence?!”

A cold voice shattered this brief tenderness. Wuqing quickly pulled her down to kneel. Suzhen’s knees hit the ground, but her body trembled almost imperceptibly.

A group of people approached rapidly following the dark-robed figure ahead. Palace attendants flanked them with fans. Lian Qin, as always, mocked her coldly. Seeing the two wine jars beside her, he kicked them. Suzhen wished this little wretch would kick over this deadly wine. Lian Yu looked coldly stern, but his brow quickly relaxed as he said warmly: “Why are you here too?”

“Your servant obeyed the Empress Dowager’s…”

Suzhen was delighted, but couldn’t finish saying “Dowager’s.” Lian Yu wasn’t asking her. She slowly turned around to see Lian Yu passing by her and walking to Wuyan’s side.

Wuyan’s gaze also softened as she stopped and said: “Greetings, Your Majesty. The Grand Princess came to pay respects, so the Empress Dowager had several of us come together. She asked about Minzhou matters. This whole affair is nearly causing an uproar.”

Lian Yu nodded: “How is Xin’er? I heard she quarreled with Mother.”

Wuyan smiled bitterly: “Your Majesty came because of the Princess? The Princess has been sent back to her chambers under house arrest.”

Lian Jie sighed and said quietly to Lian Yu: “As expected, there’s trouble.”

He looked at Wuqing with disgust. Wuqing bowed low to him. He sneered coldly: “Go back where you came from. All these beasts can’t understand human speech?”

“Beasts” again! Anger flared in Suzhen’s heart as she gripped the wine jar. Wuqing stared at her intently and shook his head.

“Your Majesty, you’ve come!”

Wuyan was looking at Wuqing when Lian Yu’s gaze shifted. He was about to speak when Murong Ai, approaching from the front, interrupted him. She laughed coquettishly and smoothly inserted herself between them.

Lian Yu patted her shoulder and greeted Lian Yue. Lian Yue smiled and curtsied. Lian Yu suddenly paused slightly and asked Wuyan: “Where is Gu Shuangcheng? Didn’t she come or didn’t she come out?”

Murong Ai was immediately displeased and answered before Wuyan could: “Mother kept her behind. Your Majesty is looking for her?”

Lian Yu’s voice deepened: “I do have business with her. Is that not allowed?”

Murong Ai had always enjoyed this cousin’s respect. Hearing this, she was shocked and couldn’t speak for a long moment. But Lian Yu had already bid farewell to Lian Yue and strode quickly toward the Empress Dowager’s chambers.

Murong Ai clenched her fists and said through gritted teeth: “You’re so nervous – afraid she’ll be eaten by the Empress Dowager?”

She then looked at Suzhen mockingly: “What are you looking at? What thing are you? Is any of this your business? From beginning to end, none of this involves you.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Suzhen replied flatly and stood up, gathering the two wine jars into her arms.

“Hey, Li Huaisu, what are you carrying?”

Suddenly someone laughed heartily. A person walked over from the distant flower garden – her old friend… Suzhen felt somewhat helpless, thinking: Just control your wife and don’t let her harm me, and I’ll say Buddha’s name in gratitude.

Huo Chang’an approached. Seeing her bitter expression, he found it amusing and repeatedly asked what was wrong. Lian Yue chided: “Did you come to pick me up? Why are you instead concerned about Chief Li?”

Huo Chang’an laughed heartily, pulled her into his embrace, waved at Suzhen, and strode away. Seeing Lian Yue’s eyes flick backward slightly, Suzhen’s heart already ached terribly, but she couldn’t help turning to look. Wuyan still stood in place, gazing ahead – whether at her, at Lian Yue, or at someone else, she couldn’t tell.

Wuqing patted Suzhen and said gently: “Let’s go.”

Suzhen looked deeply at Wuyan, suddenly took out a handkerchief from her bosom, placed it on a flowering plant, then gathered the wine properly and walked out of the palace gates with Wuqing.

Outside the palace, ten thousand homes were already lit with lanterns. The capital’s night was so enchanting. Suzhen suddenly remembered something and her heart jumped as she asked Wuqing: “What were you trying to tell me earlier?”

Wuqing’s eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze as deep and distant as those lights: “I forgot.”

“No, you were clearly thinking something, wanting to say something.”

Suzhen had a strange feeling in her heart, as if she desperately anticipated this man telling her something. But what that might be, she didn’t know.

Wuqing suddenly smiled: “I really forgot. If I’m truly thinking of anything now, it’s this – people think dogs are just beasts, but they forget that dogs also have things they want to protect, also know love and sorrow, also have deep hatred and enmity. If you push a dog too far, when the dog bites back, people can suffer greatly too.”

As Wuqing spoke, his form darkened. Suzhen was terrified. In a wisp of faint blue smoke, she watched helplessly as Wuqing’s form dissolved, and a vicious wolf-dog lunged toward her…

“Don’t bite me…”

Suzhen bolted upright from bed. Only then did she realize she’d been dreaming. Wuqing wasn’t a dog, and she wasn’t a meat bun. She wiped her sweat, feeling this was truly an incomprehensible dream. She sighed and turned slightly – three jars of wine sat prominently on the table.

Lian Yu, damn you! You bastard, you’re the egg of this rabbit! Damn bastard! Suzhen hated this wine! Malice rose in her heart. She rushed over, grabbed a jar, and was about to smash it on the ground.

“Young Master, Young Master…”

Uncle Fu knocked lightly on the door and pushed it open.

Startled by him, Suzhen nearly smashed the wine jar on her bare feet. She quickly put it down and said fiercely: “Old man, your young master isn’t going to court today! I’ve taken three days’ leave. I’ll only enter the palace in three days to attend the dinner party. Why are you calling so early!”

Uncle Fu’s old face wrinkled into a ball, but he looked desperately urgent: “Someone from the palace has come again, telling you to hurry to this tavern!”

“What person?” Suzhen was somewhat confused. When she saw the letter Uncle Fu handed her, she finally did smash the deadly wine jar right onto her own foot…