Unlike Suzhen’s situation, Lian Xin was currently in high spirits. She bounced along to the side hall, where she indeed found Wuqing and others waiting anxiously.

Zhuiming, impatient by nature, immediately asked, “Princess, what happened to Huaisu? Was she detained? Court ended long ago, everyone came out but we haven’t seen her.”

“When we asked where she went, everyone who saw us acted like they’d seen ghosts. Leng Xue went in to look for ages but found no one. Princess, what’s the situation now? Is Huaisu alright?” Tieshou was also anxious. Usually taciturn, he couldn’t help but add a few words.

Lian Xin looked at Wuqing, her lips curving slightly upward. “Cripple, kiss me once and I’ll tell you all.”

Everyone was stunned at her words. Tieshou and Zhuiming blushed, while Xiao Zhou smiled coldly. “Cripple, why aren’t you serving your mistress?”

Lian Xin looked at her somewhat provocatively, then entered the side hall first. The hall’s various family servants had already left with their masters after court, leaving it empty.

Wuqing glanced coolly at Xiao Zhou. “I’ll go and return shortly.”

Xiao Zhou curved her lips sarcastically but didn’t stop him. Seeing Wuqing enter, Zhuiming quickly flattered, “That girl is shameless and willful, killing innocents indiscriminately. What decent family would want her? You’re our proper sister-in-law. Boss only has you in his heart. Now he’s just maneuvering around her – you needn’t bother competing with her.”

Only then did Xiao Zhou’s face show some warmth. Tieshou patted Zhuiming’s shoulder. “Well said.”

Zhuiming smugly brushed his nose. While handling business for Wuqing, the two indeed disliked Lian Xin, even finding her quite detestable. Though Xiao Zhou’s temperament was peculiar, she was far more pleasant than Lian Xin.

Xiao Zhou, being sharp, naturally understood their words were genuine, so she softened somewhat. At this moment, two more people emerged from the side hall together. She raised her eyebrows slightly and quickly approached, saying to them, “Greetings, Your Lordships.”

Zhuiming and the other quickly followed.

Seeing Xiao Zhou’s inquiry, Chao Huang ignored her completely.

The Six Doors had many elites, but he couldn’t use them all. Those to his taste and who knew their place he naturally promoted. Those with their own methods he would somewhat suppress. Unexpectedly, Wuqing, without making a sound, was a formidable character. In just a short time after joining, he’d won over many capable officers whom Chao Huang hadn’t heavily utilized.

But for now he couldn’t be too obvious. After all, Wuqing was an official appointed by Xiao’an. With Lian Yu’s growing power, and his elder brother’s resistance moving from open confrontation underground, he couldn’t go too far either. He just needed to secretly arrange for his removal.

Li Zhaoting was different, asking faintly, “What can I help you with?”

Xiao Zhou looked at him with a half-smile. “How is your legendary fiancée doing?”

Wuqing entered the hall and said flatly, “Stop fooling around. How is Huaisu really?”

Lian Xin had been facing away from him. Hearing this, she turned around, pouting her lips and looking at him with reddened cheeks – half shy, half expectant. She didn’t seem to be joking.

Wuqing’s eyes grew deeper, revealing a hint of evil in his gaze. “Princess, you haven’t yet married. If I truly touched you, even though you’re of noble blood, if word got out, which prince or duke would still seek your hand in marriage?”

Lian Xin’s lips drooped, and her expression became rarely serious – she seldom had such serious moments. She lowered her eyes. “I used the method you taught me to resolve Huaisu’s predicament. Sixth Brother had no choice but to announce the engagement between Huaisu and me. Tell me, who else would marry me?”

As she spoke, the scene from just before the intense confrontation in the hall flashed through her mind.

She’d come like a startled rabbit to bring warning. After taking her leave, he’d followed and pulled her into a small palace room near the side hall.

He looked at her with compelling eyes, slowly uttering just two words: “Help me.”

It seemed like both a command and a plea.

He didn’t say help Li Huaisu, but help him.

So, very strangely, as if bewitched, she agreed almost without thinking.

When she heard his request – an almost absurd method that could resolve the deadly situation in court – she was extremely shocked but still agreed immediately.

“As repayment, you must satisfy my request.”

She also made her demand for compensation.

“Agreed.”

He also didn’t hesitate, agreeing immediately.

Wuqing’s gaze was profound. “Apart from a few uninformed people, most officials today have actually confirmed Huaisu’s true identity. They understand this is merely an invalid marriage. Though it may somewhat affect your reputation, there’s no substantial obstacle. When the time comes, whether to cancel the engagement or remarry is just a matter of the imperial family’s word. Of course, I’m very grateful you helped Huaisu. This truly wasn’t easy – an ordinary woman might not have agreed.”

“But Wuqing,” Lian Xin shook her head, “from the moment I agreed to help you, I never planned to marry anyone else. And you just promised me you’d satisfy my request.”

“I know you like that Xiao Zhou, and she likes you too. But you haven’t married yet, so I still have a chance. Sixth Brother spoke of sincere treatment – I can only do half of that. I can’t just hand you over. I want to compete with her.”

Her eyes sparkled, her delicate face glowing with pride. Wuqing narrowed his eyes looking at her, then suddenly reached out to pull her close, lowering his head to kiss her cheek.

That warm, moist sensation, mixed with pain and a trace of numbness, seemed to lightly scratch something deep within her body. Lian Xin immediately trembled all over. He’d noticed where she’d been hit.

“Thank you for helping me. Since this is what you want, I don’t lose out either, do I?”

His gaze grew even deeper, his low, mellow voice seemingly bewitching her. Lian Xin lightly bit her lip, suddenly remembering their first meeting when he’d twisted her hair and she’d had Chao Huang teach him a lesson. Who would have thought she’d come to like him now… For the first time, her eyes showed the most bashful smile. With her heart pounding nervously, she gathered courage and kissed his lips. At the touch, she quickly separated, her heart beating wildly.

His lip shape was very attractive, though somewhat coolly thin. She stared at him in fascination, thinking this, then said in a hoarse voice, “I want this kind. Just now was only me kissing you – it doesn’t count…”

Wuqing’s brow furrowed sharply, his eyes darkening. Lian Xin panicked inwardly, thinking he must be disgusted. But then he suddenly embraced her, his foot pushing off as he carried her sliding several steps until her back touched a large pillar in the hall. His legs being impaired and currently treated by Xiao Zhou, though gradually improving, still couldn’t stand long without his crutch, so he used the pillar for support. Lian Xin didn’t understand. “Wuqing, what are you—”

Before she could finish, he leaned down and kissed her, his tongue directly invading her mouth, sucking and tasting her lips and tongue greedily. Lian Xin’s mind went blank, but her whole body felt so numb it seemed ready to explode. She clutched his clothes, moaning softly in confusion.

Dimly she thought: Though I forced him, might he also like me a little? I helped Huaisu. I can do anything for him…

She didn’t see the depth and coldness in Wuqing’s eyes.

He smiled coldly inwardly.

Since she’d delivered herself to his door, why shouldn’t he take her? It wasn’t wasted effort on his part to have awakened desire in her young, beautiful body – pure desire.

She was perfect for his use and release.

He thought coldly, indulging his body’s needs, caressing her form and listening to her gasps and moans.

“Wuqing, Minister Li said Huaisu is fine and still in the hall. We can just wait here for him… Oh, sorry, I came at a bad time!”

Footsteps and a cold laugh. Lian Xin startled, and Wuqing also released her, turning to look at the newcomer. Xiao Zhou stared coldly at him while Zhuiming and Tieshou stood agape. Zhuiming muttered, “Last time Boss and Xiao Zhou were caught together by the Princess. Now it’s reversed – is this evening the score?”

As he spoke, someone behind them shouted angrily, “Wuqing, you’re merely a lowly commoner with such audacity to offend the Princess!”

The speaker leaped forward, fingers like claws striking viciously at his face. Wuqing gently pushed Lian Xin aside, his form swift as wind, avoiding the fierce palm strike.

The opponent sneered, “Good skills, but unfortunately you’re a cripple whose footwork can’t be deployed. Die!”

Wuqing remained unmoved, appearing quite calm and unafraid. As the opponent attacked again, Xiao Zhou’s expression changed, but Lian Xin had already rushed in front of Wuqing, spreading her arms to shield him, shouting angrily, “Chao Huang, this is the imperial palace – it’s not your place to run wild! If you dare touch him, I’ll make sure you enter standing and leave horizontally. Get out!”

Chao Huang stopped, veins bulging on his forehead in fury. “Lian Xin, you—!”

He actually called her by her given name directly.

Seeing this, Li Zhaoting intervened, “Let’s go. Master wants us to wait outside – he might come out soon. Don’t delay matters.”

Chao Huang glared venomously at Wuqing before striding away. Li Zhaoting bowed to Lian Xin and followed.

“That monster once sought my hand in marriage, but I don’t like him, so naturally I couldn’t marry him. Wuqing, are you hurt?” Lian Xin explained chattily while nervously checking Wuqing’s arm.

Wuqing’s eyes moved. “I’m fine. You should return first. If the Empress Dowager finds out, she’ll certainly punish the Court of Judicial Review.”

Lian Xin nodded obediently and whispered, “I’ll find a way to leave the palace to see you.”

Before leaving, she made a face at Xiao Zhou.

Xiao Zhou laughed coldly, not even glancing at Wuqing before turning to leave. Wuqing stepped forward to grasp her hand. “I was merely fulfilling my promise to her. If I had anything with her, I wouldn’t do it right under your nose.”

“I’m going to wait for Huaisu.” He left with Zhuiming and Tieshou.

Xiao Zhou couldn’t even vent her anger, nearly grinding her teeth.

After Shuangcheng left, Lian Yu didn’t return to the imperial study. The inner palace gardens had many stone tables and benches. He chose one to sit at and pulled out an object from his robes – something she’d left behind that night when she lay drunk in the dragon bed. He’d mocked her then, saying the hairpin was cheap and inappropriate to wear, giving her a fine jade hairpin instead. She’d happily taken it, no longer wanting the cheap one. So he’d secretly kept it, considering it something she’d given him.