Lian Yu and Suzhen walked hand in hand for a while. Though they didn’t speak, their hearts felt warm as spring sunshine. A eunuch approached, quickly bowing upon seeing Lian Yu, also paying respects to Magistrate Li, then lowering his voice: “Your Majesty, Consort Wei’s side is ready.”

Lian Yu touched Suzhen’s cheek: “Go ahead. You two surely have private matters to discuss. I won’t interfere. Come find me at the imperial study when you’re finished.”

Suzhen smiled and nodded as the eunuch respectfully led her away.

Walking to a garden, she saw various famous flowers with luxuriant branches and leaves—green shade like clouds, red powder like satin, flower clusters in brocaded splendor gathered elegantly. Pavilion corners stood gracefully deep within, koi swam gracefully in nearby pools, occasionally stirring emerald waves. Water droplets leaped in bright sunlight, crystal clear, competing in summer’s richness.

In a nearby water pavilion, a brocade-robed man reclined lazily in a chair, appearing indolent and unrestrained, quietly chatting and laughing with several female officials and palace maids nearby. In high spirits, he pulled over a palace maid and kissed her, causing endless squeals from the women.

Suzhen’s eyes nearly fell out—what man dared be so bold in the rear palace! Officials would absolutely never act so wildly. Even if he were royalty, not just ordinary nobles but even Lian Jie and Lian Qin wouldn’t dare be so unrestrained. This was the emperor’s home.

At this moment, the man seemed to hear sounds, glancing over sideways. Suzhen finally saw his face clearly, feeling half helpless and half amused.

He also saw her, spoke to the women beside him, patted his sleeves and walked over: “Li Huaisu.”

Suzhen looked at him askance: “Huo Chang’an, isn’t this embracing left and right a bit too audacious?”

The man raised an eyebrow: “Lian Yu hasn’t said anything to me, yet you’re managing this marquis! Hmm, I understand—you’re now half the lady of the house. That night at the palace banquet, you and Lian Yu… tsk tsk, everyone saw it clearly.”

Suzhen was choked speechless, her face heating up. However, she paused, then smiled instead of getting angry: “Be careful it reaches Lian Yue’s ears, or you’ll suffer.”

Huo Chang’an laughed heartily, pointing in a direction: “The Empress Dowager said she hadn’t seen Lian Yue in some days and asked her to come sit in the palace. Lian Yue is right here—no need to report, she’ll see in a moment. She won’t mind these things. It’s all an act, she understands. I recently took several new concubines at my residence—quite romantic. Do you want to come see?”

Suzhen was stunned, not expecting he was accompanying Lian Yue to the palace, much less that this marquis had recently been enjoying spring success. An act… Thinking of how Wuyan had always cared most about such things, her heart ached. After brief consideration: “The Princess Imperial went to the Empress Dowager’s palace—aren’t you accompanying her?”

Huo Chang’an’s eyes showed some disinterest: “What’s there to listen to or accompany in women’s talk? Speaking of which, instead of having a tryst with Lian Yu, where are you going?”

Suzhen thought: Good question!

“Wuyan is ill—you can’t not know that. I entered the palace today to see her. Do you want to come together?”

Huo Chang’an’s smiling expression turned cold upon hearing this, sneering arrogantly: “What does her business have to do with me?”

Suzhen was provoked by his attitude and lowered her voice: “She’s seriously ill now—won’t you even go see her?”

Huo Chang’an suddenly raised an eyebrow: “Lian Yue and I are planning to have children. If you consider me a friend, don’t mention that woman in front of me again.”

Suzhen was shocked—children… She angrily clenched her fists: “Huo, wasn’t she someone you once loved? Even if you can’t care for each other, why hate her so much? Even if you could only be friends, if you went to see her, she would be hap—”

“What do you understand! She and I can no longer be friends. I was never the person in her heart—just her entertainment when she had no choice. I devoted my life’s energy, yet was mud in her eyes. Lian Yue and I are very good now. You wouldn’t understand.”

After Huo Chang’an spoke coldly, he strode away angrily.

Suzhen smiled bitterly, suddenly understanding that deep down, Huo Chang’an was as proud as Wuyan. With Huo Chang’an’s martial arts, ten of her couldn’t catch up. The nearby eunuch urged quietly: “It’s getting late, sir, please go.”

Suzhen sighed silently and followed him.

In Xiao’an’s bedchamber, Lian Yue was receiving a bottle from Hong Gu.

Lian Yue was puzzled: “Lian Yue is ignorant and doesn’t know what this is—”

Xiao’an, reclining on a long couch, showed a fierce look that quickly disappeared, only saying leisurely: “This bottle contains medicine called ‘Wind and Crane’s Cry.’ People only know of the deadly poison ‘Crane’s Crest Red,’ not knowing there’s another poison also named ‘Crane.'”

“This poison’s recipe has been lost—it’s one of several palace secret poisons with slow onset. Colorless and tasteless, taking small amounts each time, the victim only feels dizzy and weak, completely unaware of poisoning. The most skilled doctors and purest silver needles cannot detect abnormalities. Taking it once or twice by mistake only causes serious illness, but consuming it seven or eight times means certain death within a month. Death involves damage to all five organs, with prolonged suffering lasting several days—not as swift and decisive as Crane’s Crest Red.”

Even Lian Yue, usually alert, only now discovered that somehow all servants had been dismissed from the bedchamber. Only Hong Gu, who knew martial arts, remained beside Xiao’an. Her heart shook as she asked in shock: “Does the Empress Dowager want to bestow this medicine on Lian Yue?”

When Suzhen reached Wuyan’s bedchamber, Wuyan in white cloud satin was already waiting at the door, like a white camellia in the wind—graceful and radiantly beautiful beyond comparison. Seeing Suzhen, her lips curved slightly as she told the eunuch: “This palace has words for Minister Li.”

The eunuch smiled in response: “Your Ladyship, rest assured, this slave understands.”

Watching the eunuch walk away, Suzhen’s heart was filled with mixed emotions as she firmly grasped Wuyan’s hand.

Wuyan smiled: “Come inside quickly. Today when you came, I dismissed all guards, eunuchs, and palace maids, sending even Xiang’er away. After all, you still present as male in public—it wouldn’t be good for people to see us together. Sixth Young Master wanted to take me out of the palace to meet you, but I didn’t want him to go through extra trouble, so I arranged to meet here instead.”

Suzhen’s heart grew heavier. Wuyan was someone who never liked troubling others—what feelings must she have had when asking Lian Yu for help back then? Remembering Huo Chang’an’s attitude earlier, she felt choked up and quickly changed the subject: “Why did you send even Xiang’er away?”

Wuyan sighed apologetically, pulling her to sit: “It’s more convenient for us to talk privately. It’s all my fault—I was angry with you before, and that girl, worried about my concerns, has always resented you. Don’t take to heart whatever she said before.”

Though Wuyan didn’t specify, Suzhen understood. She had dismissed Xiang’er to prevent her from saying inappropriate things that would upset her. She said: “Wuyan, don’t blame yourself. Xiang’er is a good girl—I’ve forgotten whatever she said. But you—are you really leaving the capital?”

“Yes, my mind is made up. I’ll take my mother with me.”

“But will Grand Secretary Wei let your mother leave with you?”

Wuyan curved her lips with some self-mockery: “In the Wei residence, my mother is just an inconsequential person. Using the excuse of quiet recuperation and requesting her company, he has no reason to refuse. Then, with mountains high and waters far, I’ll secretly take her away from the capital. The palace will announce that Consort Wei died of illness outside the palace, confirmed as some contagious disease. To prevent its spread, the body has been burned, saving the palace the trouble of burial, fake corpse vigils, and other complications.”

Suzhen listened with an aching heart. Seeing Wuyan suddenly cover her mouth and cough violently, her cheeks flushed but with an unusual pallor around her eyes, she was even more alarmed: “Wuyan, what’s wrong? Isn’t this supposed to be fake illness?”

Seeing her worry, Wuyan quickly smiled: “It is fake illness. I just caught cold these past days and feel somewhat unwell. Palace physicians regularly check the consorts’ pulses for safety—please don’t worry.”

Only then did Suzhen relax slightly. Suddenly, a voice came from outside the hall: “Is Consort Wei present? The Empress Dowager and Princess Imperial have arrived. Please receive them, Consort Wei.”

The two looked at each other in alarm. Suzhen thought her luck was truly terrible today—encountering everyone she didn’t want to see! Wuyan said: “The Empress Dowager has always been suspicious of your identity and won’t want to see you here. Hide quickly—I can handle this.”

Suzhen naturally understood: “This past year, I’ve hidden like this two or three times already.”

Wuyan had been tense, but Suzhen’s comment made her smile slightly. Suzhen said no more, immediately jumping onto the bed and hiding behind the heavy bed curtains.

Wuyan went out to receive them, soon bringing them inside.

Xiao’an’s eyes were extremely sharp. Sitting down, she almost immediately asked: “Where are your people?”

Wuyan answered cautiously: “This subject has been ill recently. Having people walking around feels noisy, so I dismissed them all, keeping only my personal maid Xiang’er, who just went to the kitchen to fetch medicine.”

Only then did Xiao’an’s suspicions ease, nodding lightly.

Wuyan secretly studied Hong Gu, knowing she knew martial arts. If she heard anything and discovered Huaisu was here, it would be terrible.

Hong Gu’s expression seemed normal, and Xiao’an appeared as usual, but somehow when Xiao’an lowered her head to drink tea, the shadow cast by her eyelashes gave her a heart-pounding feeling.

At this moment, Lian Yue smiled: “I heard you’re leaving the palace tomorrow for recuperation. I came to see you and bid you farewell.”

“Thank Your Majesty and Princess Imperial.”

Though Wuyan didn’t want to see Lian Yue, she maintained proper etiquette.

Lian Yue continued: “After today, we won’t see each other for quite some time.”

“Wuyan will return to the palace once recovered.” Wuyan remained very cautious in her responses, as if she would indeed return, never departing.

Lian Yue took wine vessels from a palace maid, placing them on the table: “You’ll naturally return when recovered. However, Wuyan, this palace won’t be able to enter the palace frequently in future.”

Wuyan didn’t want to engage her much, but seeing her high spirits, politely replied: “Oh?”

“Chang’an says he wants children. Being from a military background, he’s robust and doesn’t know restraint—this nightly exertion… I’ll probably conceive quickly. He says once I have children, I can’t go anywhere.”

Lian Yue smiled, seemingly somewhat shy before Xiao’an, lowering her voice as she personally poured three cups of wine, first passing one to Xiao’an.

Wuyan felt as if struck by lightning. Knowing Lian Yue was deliberately speaking for her to hear, she still felt dizzy for a long while before slowly recovering, saying “Congratulations.”

Lian Yue saw her gaze become somewhat scattered, her already pale face growing even whiter, feeling satisfied. But seeing her tone remain calm, she felt it wasn’t enough—far from enough. Just as she was about to deliver another blow, she caught Xiao’an’s cold glance and was startled, restraining herself. She handed over the wine, saying softly: “Wuyan, toast me. Bless Chang’an and me. You and Chang’an can never be complete in this lifetime, but he and I will be very happy.”

Wuyan suddenly recalled a scene.

It showed lake light and water colors, drooping willows, floating catkins, and her with Huo Chang’an. Huo Chang’an looked at her deeply, saying: “No matter what, I’ll love you this lifetime. I only want children you bear me, only want to grow old with you.”

Something seemed to swell bit by bit in her heart, growing sour and painful.

She thought she hated him, and indeed she did hate him, but still raised her cup, telling Lian Yue: “Wei Wuyan wishes you and Marquis Xiao Yao happiness until old age.”

Hearing this, Lian Yue was somewhat stunned. She had intended to make this woman resentful and painful, but this Wei Wuyan spoke as if she truly hoped for their happiness! Would she believe what she said? She sneered inwardly, her gaze growing darker.

Behind the curtains, Suzhen listened with a heavy heart. She didn’t know how Wuyan could remain so composed drinking this wine. If it were her, she couldn’t drink it, much less speak such words.

She glanced angrily at Lian Yue!

It was this glance that revealed Lian Yue’s flickering eyes, a hint of cruel ruthlessness, and lips curving in a strange arc.

Something was wrong! The wine was probably problematic!

But if Lian Yue was responsible, Xiao’an was present—how could she dare act? If they were working together, they certainly wouldn’t commit poisoned murder at this time. If something happened to Wuyan, could Lian Yu remain unmoved? Besides, what reason would they have to kill Wuyan? Was she overthinking?!