When Lian Yu returned to his sleeping quarters, before he could enter the courtyard, a black shadow rushed out. Xuanwu was startled and about to leap forward, but suddenly remembering something, quickly stopped his movement. Ahead, Lian Yu had already grasped the person’s hand.

“Why aren’t you asleep yet?” he asked softly, his gaze no different from usual, but with a thin layer of bloodshot veins in his eyes, and his voice faintly carrying traces of exhaustion.

“Lian Yu, I was worried about you.” The lamplight outside outlined the figure – graceful and beautiful, it was A Luo.

Lian Yu led her into the courtyard. When they stopped, A Luo reached out to embrace him, her features showing deep unease.

“Sorry for making you worry about me. It’s nothing, don’t think too much. Mother needs time.” He reached back to hold her, smiling slightly, his brow and eyes showing determination and decisiveness.

Feeling the strength from his embrace, A Luo’s heart settled as she leaned against him.

The one who shares his joy and relieves his worries is me, not you, Feng Suzhen, she thought.

“Master, there’s a message from outside the palace.”

Outside the door, a eunuch’s voice came softly.

Lian Yu’s expression grew slightly stern as he released her. “I’ll step out for a moment. Have Bai Hu escort you back to your sleeping quarters, all right?”

“Could you come find me in a while? I’ve instructed the imperial kitchen to prepare some late-night snacks for you.” A Luo said gently, her face flushing slightly.

Bai Hu was nearby and lowered his head upon hearing this – this clearly meant spending the night. The others looked skyward to avoid embarrassment.

Lian Yu nodded, touched her hair, then quickly left with Xuanwu and the others.

Arriving at the Imperial Study, a guard-like person was already waiting in the courtyard. Upon seeing him, he respectfully said: “Master, the message is that Magistrate Li requests an audience.”

“Didn’t we just return from there? How could she again…” Xuanwu and the other two were somewhat surprised. Qinglong spoke quietly, but heard Lian Yu say calmly: “No audience. Never again in private.”

Everyone found this somewhat unexpected, yet seemed reasonable.

Seeing Lian Yu’s concise but extremely decisive manner, as if he had nothing more to say, the guard dared not ask further questions, immediately nodded, and withdrew.

Lian Yu handled many more official matters in the room before leaving. During this time, no one dared disturb him – today’s events were simply too grave.

When he reached A Luo’s sleeping quarters, it was already the third watch. A Luo had fallen asleep at the table, which was set with various pastries and soups. Mei’er had been punished by Lian Yu before and was quite wary of him. Seeing him wave his hand lazily, she immediately withdrew with Ming Yanchu and the others. Lian Yu went over, gently lifted A Luo, and placed her on the couch. As he withdrew his hand, A Luo seemed startled awake. She smiled shyly, reached around his neck, and pulled him down…

Su Zhen stood in the courtyard, not knowing how long she had waited. She just stared motionlessly at the entrance. Little Zhou, probably sensing something was wrong with her, had called Wuqing and the others to keep watch.

The three saw her condition and dared not speak out. Even Wuqing frowned but didn’t break the silence.

Zhui Ming was nearly bursting with anxiety when he suddenly saw Wuqing’s expression change. He brightened – sure enough, the next moment, Little Zhou came running in. However, her expression wasn’t good.

“What is it?” Su Zhen refused to give up and simply asked.

“No audience. Never again in private.” Little Zhou hesitated, then spoke quietly.

“Do you… need to be so blunt?” Zhui Ming stamped his feet anxiously.

Tie Shou and Wuqing remained silent, their expressions growing more worried.

“Little Zhou, tell me,” Su Zhen said, not seeming as agitated as them upon hearing this, even smiling slightly, “if I were to harm myself and threaten with life and death as before, would he come?”

Everyone was shocked upon hearing this. Little Zhou frowned directly, her eyes showing both urgency and sighs: “He wouldn’t. You didn’t want to die then, so how could you want to die now? However you think, he understands too.”

“True, I indeed don’t want to die, and I won’t use such methods again. I’m tired. You should all go back to sleep too.”

As she spoke, she turned to go back to her room. Before the others could react, they heard a muffled sound – she had collapsed on the ground.

Wuqing was the first to rush forward and lift her up, kicking the door open to enter the room and placing her on the bed. Little Zhou immediately checked her pulse, then said: “Stagnation of liver qi causing blocked blood circulation. Should be nothing serious.”

“I never imagined her feelings for His Majesty ran so deep…” She sighed. “It’s just…”

“Just what?” Wuqing asked calmly, while Zhui Ming and Tie Shou looked over intently.

“I’ve always encouraged her relationship with His Majesty, and His Majesty has been quite good to her. But this time when I went to deliver the message, judging by that guard’s expression and tone, it feels like His Majesty won’t…” She glanced at Wuqing. “Perhaps, as you said, even if she can’t let him go…”

Everyone listened, looking at Su Zhen’s pale face on the bed, all feeling dejected.

Su Zhen fell ill. Su Zhen, who rarely got sick, fell ill again. But even in her sickness, the next day she still urged everyone to pack their luggage and move out of the Ministry of Justice, fulfilling her promise to truly resign.

She neatly folded her official seal, gauze cap, and robes, placing them on the hall table.

Due to the rushed timing, there was no time to look for a house, so she had everyone temporarily stay somewhere.

It was indeed a quite decent place.

Huo Chang’an’s villa. Years ago, they had walked out from here, and now, having experienced all prosperity and decline, they returned here again.

The old servant was still there and was very delighted and welcoming to see them. Never mind rent – even meals were saved.

However, everyone couldn’t be happy because Su Zhen was gradually becoming more seriously ill.

From initial liver qi stagnation to vomiting blood, she began sleeping all day on the bed. Little Zhou, despite her excellent medical skills, found herself somewhat helpless. She personally went to the inner city again, but still received the message of “no audience.” By the tenth day, regardless of whether it would be a thankless effort, except for leaving Little Zhou and Uncle Fu to care for her, the other three all rushed to the imperial city to find Lian Yu.

However, the guards’ message was still “no audience,” even though they cursed that Su Zhen was critically ill and near death.

Everyone was shocked and angry but helpless. Even if they risked their lives, against thousands of Imperial Guards, they definitely couldn’t fight their way in, so they had to return to the villa.

“I don’t understand why Huaisu still wants to see this heartless Emperor. She was fine before – how did she suddenly become like this? Though she’s not exactly dying, if this continues, in less than ten days, she’ll be ready for burial.” Zhui Ming angrily slammed his fist on the table.

After hearing everyone’s account, Little Zhou was also urgently alarmed and wanted to go again, but Wuqing shook his head: “It’s useless. That’s an emperor, moreover a complex emperor. Once he’s made up his mind, he won’t easily change it.”

“If we’re to blame anyone, blame her for being foolish.” As he spoke, he gently tucked in the blanket for the sleeping Su Zhen, his lips curving in a sarcastic yet desolate smile. “She’s finally experienced everything. I’m not too worried – she’s not one of those delicate young ladies. She’ll climb back up herself. Perhaps Lian Yu thinks the same way.”

Little Zhou listened, her gaze falling on Su Zhen’s wax-yellow, sweat-dampened face, remembering how these days when feeding her medicine, she would always pat her awake, and Su Zhen would obediently struggle to sit up, smile at them, and take the bowl to drink the medicine herself – no coaxing needed, no help required, as if she too wanted to get well quickly… She was suddenly stunned into silence.

Just past the second watch, in the palace, Imperial Study.

Lian Yu rose from his desk, stretching slightly to relieve his fatigue. Lian Qin felt as if granted amnesty. These days, Lian Yu had been reorganizing the Murong family’s military affairs, going out daily for inspections, which also made life difficult for their attendants. Due to Marquis Murong Jing’s death, his subordinate generals were angry. Though they didn’t openly resist, their emotions were clearly visible. They had no choice but to follow Lian Yu to the military to familiarize themselves with many important matters. Lian Yu seemed to have made a decision – once the time was right, he might have trusted officials completely replace these people’s military positions. Si Lanfeng, having been appointed Vice Minister of War, seemed quite favored by Lian Yu, who intended to promote him to compete with the neutral faction’s Wei Chenghui.

Si Lanfeng was different from before – his temperament much more restrained. At this moment, he showed no sign of fatigue, respectfully standing up. Lian Jie was also serious, after all, storm clouds were gathering.

On another front, Lian Yu had also ordered intensified efforts to trace Huo Chang’an’s whereabouts.

Bai Hu was nearby and hesitated, blushing as he spoke: “Master, shall this subordinate massage you?”

Lian Yu waved his hand dismissively.

Ming Yanchu felt it was his turn, walked over clearing his throat: “Your Majesty, tonight will you rest at Consort Qi’s or Consort Gu’s quarters?”

He didn’t need to be like those eunuchs during the previous emperor’s time, holding trays with green tablets for Lian Yu to flip through. This master recently only spent nights at these two ladies’ sleeping quarters.

“Consort Gu.” Lian Yu slowly responded.

Everyone understood – in his heart, he pitied A Luo more. In dealing with external threats and internal stability, A Luo had been going daily to pay respects to Xiao’an on Lian Yu’s behalf. Xiao’an naturally ignored her, and yesterday, Xiao’an seemed annoyed and deliberately made A Luo kneel and wait outside the door. A Luo just silently waited there all day until Lian Yu learned of it and hurried over—

A Luo had also caught a cold because of this.

Speak of the devil – A Luo actually appeared, carrying a food basket and knocking on their door.

“I thought you’d still be busy…”

A Luo smiled. Everyone quickly paid their respects. Lian Yu stepped forward, took what she was carrying, handed it to Ming Yanchu, and scolded: “Why aren’t you resting? I promised to return at this hour and I will.”

“Everyone disperse.” He casually glanced around and gave the order.

A Luo smiled shyly. The two were about to leave hand in hand when Xuanwu and Qinglong entered first. Both had strange expressions, exchanged glances, then Xuanwu spoke somewhat resignedly: “Master, Zhu Que urgently requests an audience. Should we trouble you to step out for a moment or…”

Si Lanfeng’s heart skipped a beat, immediately listening carefully. He had long suspected Lian Yu must have Zhu Que guards, and that they must be assigned important duties, but hadn’t expected to see one today.

A Luo was also somewhat curious. When she was still by Lian Yu’s side, Lian Yu only had three guards. Zhu Que should have been trained by Lian Yu after her “death.” She didn’t know whether this Zhu Que was male or female, or what they looked like.

Lian Yu seemed to have no intention of avoiding the topic, saying calmly: “Come in.”

Light footsteps approached as someone quietly entered. Both A Luo and Si Lanfeng were disappointed – the person wore purple clothes, head and face tightly wrapped, leaving only eyes visible. The corners of those eyes were even decorated with gold-colored patterns, creating a design that, while symmetrical to Xuanwu’s, was even more mysterious than Xuanwu’s, making it impossible to discern their appearance.

“Master, please grant Zhu Que’s previous request.” The person paid no attention to others, seeming to only obey Lian Yu, kneeling directly before him.

Their voice even sounded ethereal, impossible to distinguish male from female.

“Impossible. I called you in to tell you one last time – impossible! Get out.” Lian Yu replied coldly.

Everyone was greatly astonished. Though Zhu Que rarely returned, they were most favored by Lian Yu. Unexpectedly, this time, they didn’t know what was being requested, could it be—

A Luo and Si Lanfeng were puzzled when they saw Zhu Que suddenly slowly withdraw something from their chest, holding it high above their head with both hands: “Master.”

One soft word, nothing more.

Everyone looked to see it was a stone. For some reason, it was stained with blood.

A Luo was almost immediately shocked. Among those present, except for Si Lanfeng who didn’t know, everyone recognized this stone. It wasn’t actually a stone, but a piece of raw jade.

“My jade pendant…” A Luo said quietly, involuntarily stepping forward to retrieve it. It was a gift Lian Yu had given her years ago, made into a necklace worn around her neck, but she had placed it on Gu Shuangcheng’s corpse when she “died”… it should have been retrieved by Lian Yu later.

Unexpectedly, though Zhu Que was kneeling, their movements were extremely agile, quickly pulling the object back into their hands and looking coldly at A Luo.

A Luo was surprised and alarmed, her heart sinking. Lian Yu’s gaze also suddenly darkened: “Zhu Que, how dare you!”

“Apologize to Consort Gu,” he commanded.

Zhu Que was silent for a moment, finally lowering their head: “For offending Consort Gu, Zhu Que deserves death.”

A Luo, knowing Lian Yu valued this person, was about to say it didn’t matter, but saw Lian Yu frowning tightly, his eyes flickering. Suddenly, he walked over, snatched the object from Zhu Que’s hands, and strode out the door.