Lian Yu frowned slightly. After a moment’s thought, he said: “Go tell them to let the guards outside stand down, then go rest.”

Xuanwu was greatly relieved: “Yes, this subordinate will handle it immediately.”

On the bed, Suzhen panicked, glaring at him fiercely: “If you want a secret meeting, go out yourself. What’s the meaning of letting her come in here?”

She frantically straightened her clothes and was about to jump down to find somewhere to hide. Lian Yu looked at her with an amused expression: “Who told you to hide? Just stay here openly.”

Suzhen had been quite angry – after all, how could she like her rival visiting? She was particularly jealous, but hearing these words instantly felt healed.

However, looking down at her torn official robe, she lost energy and muttered as she got down from the bed. Lian Yu sighed, kissed her cheek, and commanded: “Lie properly on the bed. Listen or sleep as you wish.”

He quickly got off the bed, put on his boots, carefully drew the bed curtains closed, straightened his robes, relit the lamps, then sat at the table ahead.

The timing was just right.

“Your Majesty, Miss Shuangcheng has arrived.”

Outside, a eunuch carefully announced, gently pushed open the door to bring Shuangcheng in, then tactfully withdrew and softly closed the door.

In the flickering lamplight, Lian Yu’s hair was secured with only a jade hairpin, a few strands hanging down, adding to his handsome appearance. He seemed to have gotten up hastily, but his expression was calm without any sign of being awakened irritably.

Her heart settled somewhat as she approached: “Your Majesty promised to come tonight but later sent someone with a note saying to talk another day. Shuangcheng has something on her mind and couldn’t sleep peacefully, so I presumptuously came to visit. Please forgive me, Your Majesty.”

Lian Yu said: “No offense. Whatever it is, Shuangcheng may speak directly. Also, I have something to tell you. You speak first.”

His expression was unclear, and Shuangcheng couldn’t read his thoughts, but the urgency in her heart made her unable to hold back, pouring out her pressing concerns: “The note Your Majesty sent tonight saying you couldn’t keep the appointment and would talk another day – was it because of… Li Huaisu?”

Lian Yu answered without hesitation: “Yes. She was still ill earlier, so I couldn’t leave.”

Shuangcheng’s heart ached, almost sneering as she asked: “She repeatedly defied you, yet you repeatedly can’t bear to part with her? You don’t love her ability to solve cases or serve the ruler and people. She can’t handle anything now – do you still like her? Then why did you agree to marry me tonight!”

Lian Yu’s gaze showed unusual gentleness: “I like her not only because she can solve cases.”

“I planned to take you as consort tonight because I know you don’t like Quan Feitong, and you had conflicts with him in Minzhou. I couldn’t let you fall into his hands. But that’s all. I’ll arrange for you to secretly leave the palace later so you can live the life you want.”

His tone shifted, his expression becoming serious, showing both concern and distance.

Shuangcheng’s heart immediately grew half cold.

She had just realized that Quan Feitong’s marriage proposal at the banquet was intended to force Lian Yu to take her as consort. Though she didn’t know Quan Feitong’s exact purpose, she still went along, pretending difficulty while watching Lian Yu’s reaction.

Lian Yu had indeed spoken up.

She thought he had feelings for her – after all, she had carefully solved the Minzhou case, and they had cooperated well throughout the process. She believed at least something had changed.

But while he had been chatting and laughing, flawlessly handling Quan Feitong’s attacks, the moment she collapsed, he abandoned everyone else, even rebuked Lian Jie, and carried her away.

That urgent expression couldn’t be faked!

She waited for him in her chambers but received only a note he’d sent. She thought that after a night of commotion sending Li Huaisu away, he was tired and needed rest.

But she still couldn’t help coming, wanting to use tonight’s joy to tell him all her feelings.

Who knew she’d ultimately receive only “that’s all.”

She felt full of resentment and desolation, looking at him as tears streamed down.

“You agreed to meet me at the banquet just to tell me these things, didn’t you? I should have realized sooner. In Minzhou, you played the flute every night – it was actually for her to hear. When I accompanied with the qin, you had someone tell me to stop, not out of pity for my fingers, but because you had no heart to play duets with me. You gave me a cloak, which I treasured and carefully preserved, but you had Baihu take it back.”

Lian Yu pressed his lips without speaking.

Shuangcheng felt as if someone had dealt her a heavy blow – her heart was numb.

She clenched her fists and demanded fiercely: “This Li Huaisu woman has unknown origins and a scheming heart. She doesn’t truly love you – she only loves your power and position. Have you ever seen the efforts I’ve made, the efforts I’ve made because of you…”

Her eyes were completely red, radiating intense sorrow. Though Lian Yu’s heart was hard as iron, he couldn’t help but feel slightly moved.

He couldn’t bear to see these eyes so similar to A Luo’s crying so heartbrokenly, as if abandoned by the whole world. He almost couldn’t help stepping forward to give this woman some gentle words, but the person he loved was right behind him. He hadn’t asked her to hide because he didn’t want her to misunderstand. If he did this, she wouldn’t be happy. He didn’t want her to overthink!

Seeing his brow furrow slightly but remaining motionless, Shuangcheng felt bitter and was about to speak when her gaze suddenly fixed on something.

There was another pair of boots by the bed!

He had summoned a consort to attend him tonight?!

Her heart crashed violently, then she immediately denied it. No, those weren’t women’s embroidered shoes but clearly men’s boots.

Li Huaisu was still here?! They… they…

She felt so pained her chest tightened, almost wanting to rush over and rip open the curtains.

She bit her teeth hard, forcibly suppressing the impulse. Lian Yu’s eyes lifted slightly, seeming to guess her thoughts, but didn’t explain anything. He simply poured tea and pushed it toward her.

His every gesture was that of an elegant gentleman, but the disdainful attitude in his brow reminded her – he was the ruler! He was favoring a woman in his own way!

This nearly destroyed her. She raised her hand without thinking and swung it over.

Lian Yu didn’t dodge.

His handsome face immediately turned red.

She was both shocked and pained – he didn’t dodge? He actually didn’t dodge!

He frowned at her. She shouted fiercely: “This is what you owe my sister – you’ve changed your heart!”

She finally couldn’t hold back and rushed to the bed curtains, yanking them open. Suzhen sat with hair disheveled – actually, before Shuangcheng came over, hearing the wrong tone in the voices, she had already sat up in alarm.

The two women stared at each other. Shuangcheng’s eyes held inky hatred that couldn’t dissolve, while Suzhen’s held only bitterness.

“Don’t you think you’re despicable? Forcing your way into other people’s feelings.”

Shuangcheng spoke coldly, her palm swinging over harshly. Years ago, she had been ten times more willful than this Li Huaisu!

Like Lian Yu, Suzhen didn’t dodge. Lian Yu probably felt quite guilty.

She didn’t feel he owed A Luo anything – he had just understood his responsibilities but was late for the appointment. In this world, everyone has their responsibilities. A Luo wasn’t wrong, and Lian Yue was equally blameless.

And she herself owed A Luo nothing.

A Luo was already dead – Shuangcheng shouldn’t use this to trap Lian Yu.

But if through Shuangcheng’s hand she could reduce Lian Yu’s guilt toward A Luo even slightly, she was willing to do as he had done.

She closed her eyes and said: “Gu Shuangcheng, you have no right to hurt the person she loved in your sister’s name. If I died someday, I’d hope the person I care for could find new happiness.”

Shuangcheng sneered: “You don’t understand what love is at all! Love is unto death without change!”

The expected pain didn’t come. She opened her eyes in confusion to see Lian Yu standing before her, gripping Shuangcheng’s wrist with sharp, intimidating eyes: “I’m the one who owes your sister – it has nothing to do with her. If you dare touch her, I won’t forgive you.”

His eyes revealed cold light, his grip strong as steel hoops.

Shuangcheng felt something snap in her brain with a “crack.” She stared at Lian Yu through tears: “Someday you’ll regret what you’ve done to me. Unless you truly don’t love A Luo anymore!”

She struggled hard to break free. Lian Yu didn’t stop her, immediately releasing his grip.

Shuangcheng stumbled out. Suzhen couldn’t help frowning – the cold look Shuangcheng gave her before leaving made her uneasy.

Warm, strong arms embraced her.

“Don’t take Shuangcheng’s matter to heart.” Lian Yu’s eyes held complex, difficult-to-understand emotions.

How could Suzhen not care? But she cared not about Shuangcheng, but about A Luo. If Lian Yu treated even the sister this way, not blocking that slap, then toward A Luo… But he had rebuked Shuangcheng for her sake. She finally forced that deep unease into her heart’s depths, touching his face with distress: “Does it hurt?”

Lian Yu smiled wickedly, shamelessly saying: “If my wife blows on it, it won’t hurt.”

The gloom in Suzhen’s heart seemed to dissipate with those words.

After more playful tussling, Suzhen, still weak from illness, soon fell asleep in his arms.

But Lian Yu didn’t sleep, gazing deeply at the sleeping face in his embrace.

She still hadn’t let go of that person in her heart.

He smiled darkly.

That day he had unintentionally provoked her, but she was heartless, so he had hurt her in anger.

You truly aren’t as good to me as A Luo. But I… Li Huaisu, are you really asleep or pretending right now?

A self-mocking curve appeared at his lips. He wanted to wake her and question her, yet hoped she’d confess to him voluntarily.

Near the fifth watch, Ming Yanchu personally came to wake them – all the trusted eunuchs knew that though the imperial chambers had announced Li Huaisu had awakened and been sent from the palace last night, she was actually still in the Son of Heaven’s bed. Several personal guards had tactfully not come this morning, and no one dared disturb them, so Ming Yanchu had finally been requested to come.

Lian Yu was quite irritated – he’d been dreaming half the night, two similar yet different faces overlapping and appearing in his dreams. Just as he’d finally fallen asleep, he was awakened again.

He hoarsely replied: “I’m up. Ming Yanchu, stop making noise.”

“Yes.”

Ming Yanchu was also breaking out in cold sweat outside the door.

Lian Yu rubbed his forehead, remembering the familiar face from his dream. His heart clenched sharply, his fist tightened suddenly, his eyes darkening.

However, when his gaze fell on the delicate face beside him, a smile couldn’t help creeping onto his lips.

How did this woman end up sleeping like this! There was even drool at the corner of her mouth, but those small, neat features looked purely innocent, and the faint freckles on her cheeks added charm, concealing her usual cunning and schemes.

Her pink lips pouted slightly, inviting.

His throat tightened as he leaned down to kiss her lips. After the kiss, wanting to wipe the drool from her mouth, he found his sleeve wouldn’t move. Pulling slightly, she frowned and burrowed deeper into his embrace.

Looking down, he discovered his left sleeve was being brazenly used as her pillow.

Amused and exasperated, he could only use his right hand to wipe her mouth.

Suzhen hummed and continued sleeping soundly.

Both annoyed and fond, his heart grew increasingly tender as he gently patted her face.

“Wife, wake up – you’re pinning my sleeve.”

Suzhen frowned and nuzzled deeper into his embrace, mumbling: “Don’t disturb my sleep, or else… quick knife…”

Why did she keep remembering “quick knife”! Lian Yu laughed, seeing the dark circles under her eyes. Wanting to let her sleep more since court attendance was his decision anyway, he used one hand to lift her head and tried to extract his sleeve. But she seemed to be working against him, grasping his sleeve tightly.

He cursed quietly: “Little rascal!”

But seeing her brow furrow with signs of waking, though he was already sweating from the struggle, he decided to give up, stroking her hair and whispering: “Sleep.”

Suzhen seemed to hear him and fell deeply asleep again.

He sighed, tucked her in properly, and said in a low voice: “Ming Yanchu, come in!”

“Yes, yes, this servant is coming.”

Ming Yanchu hurried in. Lian Yu had already lifted the bed curtains. Though Ming Yanchu had expected it, seeing the bed scene still made him blush and stammer: “Your Majesty, should this servant have the Bureau of Palace Attendance record last night’s… ahem… activities between Li… Chief… Miss Li and Your Majesty?”

“No need. Find me scissors!”

“Oh, oh, ah?”