Black Tortoise looked at her with some surprise. Suzhen suddenly knelt, shocking everyone. Leng Xue strode forward to support her under her arms, looking at her painfully and using a commanding tone for the first time, “Zhen’er, get up! You kneel to Heaven, Earth, and your parents – the Emperor is one thing, but when did you start kneeling to slaves too?”

Azure Dragon and White Tiger were waiting across the street. Seeing Leng Xue’s attitude, how could they not be angry? They immediately walked over. White Tiger looked at Suzhen disdainfully, “You only know these kinds of tricks. What do you think you are? Would Master go? Stop disgusting us here!”

Suzhen remained silent. She didn’t want to argue with White Tiger – this girl was like Lian Yu’s family.

Azure Dragon radiated coldness as he suddenly drew his sword and pointed it at Leng Xue, “I’ve long found you disagreeable. Do you dare fight me?”

Leng Xue had pent-up frustration with nowhere to vent and coldly replied, “Why not?”

Just as the two were about to clash, Suzhen was about to stop Leng Xue when Black Tortoise caught Azure Dragon’s blade between two fingers and shouted to stop him, “Master sent us to deliver the decree, not for other purposes. If she acts foolishly, the Imperial Guards will handle it!”

Azure Dragon tensed and finally slowly lowered his sword. Leng Xue sneered, “Without your master, this is all you dogs can do?”

Azure Dragon was furious beyond measure, but Black Tortoise held him tightly. He glared coldly at Leng Xue, “In three days, you better not leave. Just wait and see if I don’t slice off that tongue of yours.”

Suzhen stepped in front of Leng Xue, “You took my preserved fruit, owing me a favor. You cannot refuse to deliver this message. Once you deliver it, what His Majesty chooses to do is his business. Not delivering it would be breaking faith.”

Black Tortoise’s form stiffened. Before leaving, he stared hard at Suzhen.

The three walked silently. After a while, White Tiger couldn’t contain her anger and finally exploded. She sneered, “Black Tortoise, just you being kind-hearted. See, people have calculated you perfectly! If you dare deliver her message, I’ll never speak to you again.”

Black Tortoise seemed not to hear what she was saying, “Today I finally see clearly – this girl truly has deep schemes. Knowing I stand out from you all and have a different style, she specifically gave me gifts back then, all for today. I’ll never eat preserved fruit again – I’ll switch to something else…”

“You!” White Tiger was furious and turned around, but Azure Dragon gently restrained her, “After all these years, you still don’t understand Black Tortoise? He may be crazy, but he understands propriety better than anyone. Don’t say he might not deliver Feng Suzhen’s message – even if he did, Master wouldn’t go. Didn’t you see Master’s attitude today? Gu Shuangcheng will eventually have her day.”

Hearing this, White Tiger finally relaxed somewhat, though she couldn’t help feeling melancholy. She thought faintly that if it were Gu Shuangcheng… she would still be far, far better than Feng Suzhen.

Others’ love, hatred, and power struggles seemed to exist in a different world from Lian Xin’s. She still had a slight smile at the corner of her lips, humming an unknown tune as she walked back to her own palace.

Only upon entering the palace gates did she realize her foolishness. All her palace maids were trembling as they stood at the door – obviously someone had come inside. And it must be someone she least wanted to see today!

Just as she was about to turn and leave, Aunt Hong had already appeared and, despite her struggles and cries of pain, seized her, “Princess, this slave must offend you.”

In an instant, she was thrown before the woman reclining on the central soft couch. Murong Luo attended at her side.

Lian Xin looked up fearfully and said quietly, “Mother…”

With lips red as flames and brows curved like hooks, Xiao’an looked at her coldly. This sinister and malicious appearance made her shiver. She timidly called again, “Mother.”

“Oh, so you still have me as your mother in your eyes?”

Staring at this worthless, crude daughter, Xiao’an finally spoke faintly, “Lian Xin, you’ve been so bold and reckless that you’ve completely ruined yourself. Tell me, who would dare marry you in the future? Or do you want to marry Chao Huang as a second wife?”

“That won’t happen. How I marry in the future is just a matter of our imperial family’s word,” Lian Xin repeated Wuqing’s reasoning.

Xiao’an became even more enraged. She sprang up and raised her palm high.

Lian Xin cried, “Mother, don’t hit me. You already hit me once – one side of my face is swollen…”

Xiao’an was beside herself with rage, “Perfect, I’ll hit the other side too, so you won’t look so ridiculous. Of course you can remarry – your engagement to a fake prince consort won’t be recorded by Great Zhou’s historians, but civilian scholars will. From then on, Lian Xin’s name will be passed down through the ages, recorded for posterity.”

“By then I’ll be dead anyway, so what does it matter—”

Lian Xin replied quietly, but before finishing her sentence, she immediately received a slap.

Seeing this, Aunt Hong quickly came over to restrain Xiao’an. Though Murong Luo despised Lian Xin in her heart, she pretended to persuade, “Old Ancestor, don’t hit her anymore. The Princess knows she’s wrong.”

Lian Xin had tears spinning in her eyes but didn’t cry or make a fuss, only looked at Xiao’an stubbornly. Seeing her like this, beyond fury, Xiao’an felt heartbroken, “Lian Xin, if you suffer grievances in the future, don’t come crying to me! Remember what I’ve said today.”

Lian Xin covered her face, showing no remorse. She looked at her mother and said word by word, “If you dare secretly harm Li Huaisu, I will never speak another word to you.”

Xiao’an replied, “What wonderful children I’ve raised, what wonderful son I’ve brought up. Good, good, good…”

This iron-willed Empress Dowager laughed aloud and quickly walked out of her daughter’s palace.

Lian Xin stood up and sat dejectedly on the couch. For the first time in eighteen years, she felt a slight pain in her heart. She stared at the exquisite furnishings of her palace and didn’t speak for a long time.

A palace maid timidly called to her. After a long while, she finally said quietly, “Mm, it’s fine. You don’t need to be afraid. Mother has left.”

The palace maids all looked at each other in shock, expecting the Princess to take out her anger on them, but… was this still the Princess?

Xiao’an pressed her hand to her forehead and slowly stopped walking. Aunt Hong asked carefully, “Old Ancestor, this slave doesn’t understand – why is the Princess so devoted to that Feng Suzhen?”

Xiao’an sneered, “Love me, love my dog. Have you forgotten how she looks at that Wuqing?”

“Go, deliver a message to Wuqing for me. I can give him greater power, as long as he abandons the Princess.”

Aunt Hong was startled and couldn’t help hesitating, “Old Ancestor isn’t afraid of… nurturing a tiger that might harm you?”

“There’s an even bigger tiger in the Six Doors. It would be perfect for Chao Huang to fight with him – mutual destruction would be best, and it would also damage Quan Feitong’s influence in the capital.”

Aunt Hong was delighted, “Yes, this slave will handle it immediately.”

Xiao’an hummed in agreement, then said faintly, “A son, after all, wasn’t born of me – I cannot control him. But my daughter was carried in my womb for ten months and obtained with great difficulty – I cannot ignore her.”

Murong Luo heard the sarcasm in her tone and was secretly shocked. She also resented Lian Yu for protecting Feng Suzhen, but he was her husband after all – they shared glory and shame. She wondered whether to offer a few words of advice when someone led a large group of eunuchs hurrying from ahead. Before arriving, his voice already rang out, “Slave Ming Yanchu pays respects to Her Majesty the Empress Dowager and Consort Luo.”

Xiao’an didn’t even glance at him.

Ming Yanchu felt miserable inside, but having reached his current position through more than just loyalty, he naturally had his own methods. Pretending not to see Xiao’an’s coldness, he said with a smile, “Oh my, Old Ancestor, don’t you think His Majesty is strange? He clearly had the imperial kitchen prepare dishes you love, clearly came personally carrying them, then turned around and left again, insisting this slave come and speak with Old Ancestor.”

Xiao’an’s gaze suddenly fell on him.

Ming Yanchu smiled back, secretly breaking into a cold sweat. Heaven and earth be his witness – Lian Yu had never come, and the imperial kitchen dishes were complete fabrication by Eunuch Ming.

Indeed, Xiao’an finally spoke coldly, “Speak then. What message does he want this eunuch to deliver?”

Ming Yanchu quickly said, “His Majesty has dismissed Li Huaisu from office and had her driven from the residence. As for the marriage, he’ll find an excuse to cancel it in a few days. His Majesty also said he won’t flip any tablets these days, saying he misses the pastries Consort Luo makes terribly.”

Xiao’an glanced at Murong Luo, “Fine, stop standing here like a post. Go find His Majesty.”

Murong Luo was delighted, “Yes, thank you, Old Ancestor.”

Xiao’an spoke again faintly, “Luo’er, you’re my family – His Majesty will always show some consideration. That Miss Miaoyin has reported to me about Qixi matters. You should spend Qixi with me in the palace. In the future, when Gu Shuangcheng enters the palace, be more understanding.”

Murong Luo’s face changed slightly, but she finally bowed her head and reluctantly agreed.

Suzhen didn’t want to sit and wait for death. The next day before dawn, she rose to attend court, but upon reaching the imperial city gates, she was stopped by the gate guards and driven away with shouts.

Learning of this, Wuyan personally made the trip, only to be stopped as well.

It seemed Lian Yu had anticipated this move and even banned her from entering the palace to plead.

Suzhen thought of Huo Chang’an – only he could secretly bring her into the palace.

But she came up empty.

The Huo residence gatekeeper said the Marquis had accompanied his wife out to look at jewelry. When she asked when the Marquis would return, the gatekeeper only said he didn’t know. Having no choice, Suzhen left a message saying she would visit that evening.

In the evening, she managed a few bites of rice before hurrying out.

Wuyan shared a room with her and was extremely anxious seeing this, but she couldn’t possibly accompany her to see Huo Chang’an.

After bathing, she leaned against the tub pondering for a long time, deciding to visit Lian Jie’s residence to ask for his help. Though the chances were slim, it was better than nothing. Being decisive by nature, having made up her mind, she immediately got up to dry herself.

Suddenly there was a sound outside. Delighted, she quickly tied her robe while hurrying to open the door, “Huaisu, what did Huo Chang’an say? Should I go find Seventh Prince for help?”

Outside the door, the visitor’s gaze fell in shock on her snow-white neck where her garments hung loosely open. His voice was deep, cold, and hoarse, “I’m sorry to disappoint Your Ladyship. This marquis is neither Li Huaisu nor the skilled, handsome, and romantic Seventh Prince!”