Wuyan glanced at that chess piece. “If you put it that way, it does make sense. But I’m still worried.”

Su Zhen hummed in agreement. “Actually, your concerns are exactly my concerns, otherwise I would have gone to the Ministry of Justice to search for materials long ago. I’m also afraid that if by some chance it really was Dowager Consort Ai who did it, this would stir up a huge mess.”

“Miss, I understand your concerns, but I support Huaisu in reopening the case. Minister Yan is cunning and shrewd – he might not know exactly who the real culprit is, but he very likely knows it wasn’t the Dowager Consort.” Little Zhou jumped out again.

Wuyan found herself in a difficult position. Looking at the others, Wuqing slightly lowered his eyes, seemingly lost in thought. Tieshou was cautious and shook his head in opposition. Zhuiming, however, was absolutely a zealot, righteously declaring, “Of course we should handle it. We can both please His Majesty and let the dead rest with their grievances cleared – what’s not to love?”

Wuyan looked at Su Zhen. “It seems I came at the wrong time. It was originally two against one, now it’s become two against two. What will you do?”

Su Zhen grasped her hand, glancing toward Wuqing. Wuyan had always known Wuqing was clever, and was quite curious about what he would say.

Seeing everyone looking at him, Wuqing raised his head, first nodding respectfully to Wuyan, then turning to Su Zhen: “They say to untie a bell, one must find the person who tied it. This time you’re too concerned to think clearly. The one who tied the bell is Minister Yan, but we don’t need this bell-tier. What we should do is directly ask the bell.”

Su Zhen’s eyes lit up. “Indeed, concern clouds judgment. This time I was being stupid. I’ll go find that person – if he has no objections, I’ll proceed.”

Wuyan and Little Zhou both smiled. What could be better than directly asking Lian Yu!

Tieshou and Zhuiming were silent for quite a while before they understood. Then everyone looked at Wuyan in unison. Wuyan laughed, understanding they wanted to know about the case from years past. She refused quite decisively: “If His Majesty allows Huaisu to investigate, I’ll tell you everything I know at that time. If he doesn’t permit it, then there’s no need for everyone to know about this matter, is there?”

Su Zhen looked at her sideways. “You’re afraid I’ll become obsessed and curious, and regardless of whether the boss permits it or not, I won’t be able to resist investigating.”

Wuyan affectionately ruffled her hair. Everyone hung their heads in disappointment, only Wuqing still smiled faintly. He casually reached for Little Zhou’s hand, but Little Zhou snorted coldly and shook him off.

“Fine, fine, fine. Wuyan, you’re being stingy this time. Who knows, I might learn even more clues from that boy Lian Yu and still need to ask you.” Su Zhen stuck out her tongue, then pulled her aside, her eyes showing worry. “Let’s go inside and talk. I really miss you.”

Wuyan’s eyes grew slightly moist as she nodded. The two were about to walk hand in hand into the inner quarters when Uncle Fu inappropriately entered and called to them: “Young Master, Seventh Prince has come to visit.”

“Speak of the devil, and the devil appears.” Su Zhen laughed, but Wuyan’s expression changed. “Don’t say I’m here.”

“Ah…” Su Zhen was stunned, but Wuyan had already broken free from her and quickly walked into the inner hall.

Everyone was surprised.

“What’s going on?” Su Zhen frowned slightly.

“Huaisu.”

Meanwhile, Lian Jie was a man of action. Saying he was visiting, he didn’t wait for Su Zhen to come greet him and had already walked in.

After bowing to Su Zhen, he completely regarded her as Lian Yu’s woman. Everyone was about to pay respects when he stopped them. His gaze quickly swept around the area, then he addressed Su Zhen: “Didn’t Wuyan come here?”

Su Zhen hummed acknowledgment.

Su Zhen thought to herself that he was truly prescient – how did he know Wuyan had come? But she played dumb: “Seventh Prince, you must be mistaken. How could Wuyan be at my place?”

“Sister-in-law, the Huo residence may be impregnable to me, but I have people watching around it. She left the residence today and came to your place. I know you’re clever, but don’t take me for a fool.” Lian Jie gave her a stern look and strode into the inner hall.

Su Zhen was pleased by being called “sister-in-law,” but caught off guard, she let Lian Jie slip past. After being with Lian Yu, she had become more sensitive to these things and immediately sensed something.

“I’ll go take a look. Don’t follow. Wuqing, you and Little Zhou go out on a date and make up while you’re at it. Tieshou, you all go to the office and see if any official documents have come for me.”

She left these instructions and hurried into the inner hall.

Wuyan reached Su Zhen’s courtyard, thinking Lian Jie couldn’t possibly hear sounds from here. Since he originally didn’t know she had come, she walked to the large tree on the right side and stopped there.

“Are you hiding from me?”

She had just closed her eyes briefly when a husky voice sounded behind her!

She turned in alarm to find Lian Jie standing before her, his handsome face filled with anger, staring intently at her.

Wuyan decided to speak plainly: “Seventh Prince, Wuyan thanks you for your kind regard, but between you and me… it’s inappropriate. We are close friends and confidants, beyond that—”

The anger in Lian Jie’s eyes faded. He sighed, his gaze burning as he stepped forward to take her hand: “Beyond that, can’t there be anything else? Since you know my feelings, I won’t repeat them. You are no longer my brother’s consort – we can discuss marriage.”

“Do you know how I’ve spent these past few days? Each day felt like a year. Several times I couldn’t help but want to lead men to storm the Huo residence and demand you from Huo Chang’an, to take you away! But I was afraid of provoking Huo Chang’an’s evil fire, which would be… harmful to you.”

Wuyan knew what his “harmful” referred to, and her face flushed. Though she remained silent, she turned her head slightly aside.

“Wuyan, has he done anything to you these past two days…” Lian Jie hesitated, then asked again.

His tone was as taut as an arrow on a bowstring!

“No. He’s not that kind of person.” Wuyan answered quickly.

Lian Jie was overjoyed and gripped her hand tightly.

His palm’s burning warmth made Wuyan uneasy. She struggled free forcefully, her voice growing heavier: “Seventh Prince, you’re a good man, but I still have Huo Chang’an in my heart.”

“He’s such a scoundrel, yet you…” Lian Jie’s body shook, his eyes showing both fury and heartache. Finally, he stared at her intently, saying word by word: “Wuyan, you should forget him.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he cupped her chin with one hand and kissed her.

“Seventh Prince, are you inside? I’ve had tea prepared – shall we go out for a cup?”

Wuyan was greatly alarmed, but fortunately Su Zhen’s voice rang out timely at the courtyard entrance. The dark turbidity in Lian Jie’s eyes gradually receded as he held Wuyan’s shoulders, saying in a low voice: “I’m sorry. I’ll go out first. After your mother’s matter is resolved, we’ll talk again. But Wuyan, I will never give up.”

Wuyan’s gaze was very resolute: “No.”

Lian Jie seemed not to have heard, looked at her deeply once more, then turned and walked out.

Outside the courtyard, Su Zhen watched Lian Jie emerge and secretly breathed a sigh of relief: “Seventh Prince, please.”

Lian Jie looked at her with self-mockery curving his lips: “Should I be angry at you for ruining my opportunity, or should I thank you for preventing her from hating me?”

“Either is fine.” Su Zhen said indifferently.

“Sister-in-law, you’re close to her – please help me. During this time, please visit her more at the Huo residence, bring her back to the Court of Judicial Review more often, so I can ease my lovesickness. I’m afraid I won’t be able to resist storming into the Huo residence.”

As he spoke with pleading eyes, he bowed deeply to the ground before leaving.

Su Zhen saw the ruthless glint that flashed in his eyes when he mentioned “Huo,” and her heart sank. She hurried into the courtyard.

Supporting Wuyan, she anxiously examined her thoroughly. Seeing Wuyan shake her head, she finally relaxed somewhat, but Wuyan’s situation still worried her. She said in a low voice: “Wuyan, what are you thinking now? Are you considering Lian Jie at all?”

Wuyan lowered her eyes with a smile: “What, now that you’re his sister-in-law, are you going to plead his case?”

Su Zhen also smiled, then looked at her with pity: “No, I only stand on your side. Of course, he is a refined gentleman – if you consider him, I naturally support it. It’s just that though Huo Chang’an is a scoundrel, you know my friendship with him. Privately, I still hope you can reconcile with him.”

“But actually, you know as well as I do that he and I are impossible now.”

“Wuyan, tell him you still love him, just like you told Lian Jie. Let Huo Chang’an handle it himself.”

“But Huaisu, he no longer loves me like before. Moreover, he and Lian Yue already have a child. In his heart, Lian Yue has long been more important than me. If I tell him, he still won’t choose me, but he’ll be troubled in his heart. Why should I make him suffer?”

“You said… he and Lian Yue have a child?”

When Wuyan returned to the Huo residence, she still remembered the shock and gravity on Su Zhen’s face when she heard about the child, and even the words of comfort died on her lips.

Su Zhen said she would come visit her and told her to come to the Court of Judicial Review often. They agreed that if Lian Yu’s birth mother’s case was reopened, she would come over and discuss the case details together. This was not only Su Zhen’s intention to help her find distraction, but also her own request. She also wanted to distract herself.

The courtyard was quiet – the several women must have gone out. Without thinking deeply about it, she pushed open the door to her room.

“You’re back.”

The person inside slowly stood up.

Wuyan’s heart tightened as she looked at this person warily.

To be precise, this woman.

Lian Yue stared at her, smiling charmingly: “Wei Wuyan, you are the uninvited guest here. If anyone should be on guard, it should be me guarding against you. Why do you have the expression of an aggrieved victim?”

“Do you know why I went out yesterday? The Empress Dowager summoned me and I had no choice but to go, but whether I spent the night at my mother’s place – what difference did it make? I deliberately wanted to fulfill you and Chang’an. I wanted Chang’an to feel guilty toward me. I left in tears, wanting him to think of me while lying beside you.”