Everyone was overjoyed beyond expectation, not having imagined she didn’t care about this position at all—simultaneously surprised and admiring.

Lian Jie bowed deeply: “Thank you, sister-in-law!”

Lian Qin quickly followed suit.

Zhuque felt relieved and was about to pat Suzhen’s shoulder when she heard laughter from ahead: “So you sent me away to pacify them?”

That laughter made hearts feel somewhat uneasy. Lian Jie and the others exchanged “not good” glances. Suzhen wasn’t very flustered, turning around to see Lian Yu several steps away with arms crossed over his chest, lips pressed tight, eyes completely cold.

Beside him, Lian Xin looked distressed—it wasn’t her acting skills, but her brother being too formidable.

“Where’s my food?” Suzhen asked back.

“There isn’t any.” Lian Yu answered coldly.

Everyone immediately felt swords clashing and sparks flying. Seeing Suzhen evenly matched with quite an empress’s bearing, they tiptoed backward, preparing to leave the battlefield to the two.

“Your Majesty, what exactly are you angry about?” Unexpectedly, this “fight” seemed unlikely to start. Suzhen smiled and walked over, linking his arm with gentle warmth.

Lian Yu snorted coldly and brushed her hand away. Seeing the situation was wrong, everyone quickly disappeared completely.

“Let’s do it this way—it’s quite good.”

Seeing no one around, Suzhen stopped grabbing his arm and walked to a tree, confronting him.

Lian Yu raised an eyebrow—this person changed faces quite quickly!

“No more ‘Your Majesty’?”

“In front of your brothers and subordinates, I naturally have to give you some face. Now it’s naturally time to argue on principle.”

Lian Yu saw her “look how considerate I am of you” expression and for a moment didn’t know whether to be angry or laugh. He strode over, grasped her hands, and said in a heavy voice: “I can comply with you in other matters, but not this one! You must enter the palace, and without status in the palace, what will others think? What will they say? You might not care about those words, but I do! Without this status to support you, you also can’t suppress Mother and the others. The moment I step away, when they make difficulties, you’ll suffer greatly.”

“If you conceive an imperial heir, the child’s status depends on the mother’s—this also paves the way for our child’s path to becoming Crown Prince!”

Suzhen’s face immediately reddened—he had even thought about children… She had never considered they might have children. If like him, allowing her to bully them, that would be fun too. Thinking this made her feel shy and her heart soften.

Lian Yu saw her spacing out again and really wanted to strangle her. He gritted his teeth: “Li—Huai—Su!”

“Mm…”

She suddenly looked up and kissed his lips. Lian Yu’s body immediately trembled…

Outside the woods, everyone leaned against the carriages, holding their breath with full tension.

“My sixth brother is really—scolding her to death, yet it’s still for her benefit! Will they fight? I should have left Susu a weapon earlier.” Lian Xin muttered.

“Princess, you’re overthinking. If they really fought, it would be Lian Yu getting beaten into a pig’s head.” Xuanwu clicked his tongue twice with complete certainty of “why worry about nothing.”

Lian Qin, Ming Yanchu, and Qinglong said simultaneously: “If you dare say that to your master’s face, we’ll be impressed.”

Xuanwu: “We’re from the same root—why torment each other so urgently?”

Just as he finished speaking, Lian Jie suddenly said “They’re coming out.” Everyone looked to see Lian Yu still stern-faced while Suzhen had both hands around his arm, chattering in his ear. Basically she was talking while he barely responded.

Suddenly, he shook off her hand and walked in another direction.

Qinglong and Xuanwu, fearing he’d take out his anger on them, followed at a distance for protection.

So the negotiation failed! Everyone felt discouraged. Lian Xin quickly played peacemaker, calling: “Sixth Brother, aren’t we leaving? Where are you going?”

“To borrow a pot.”

Lian Yu’s voice came like frost.

Everyone was dumbfounded. Zhuque, fearing Suzhen was unhappy, went over and whispered in her ear: “Don’t be depressed. Look—though he didn’t agree to your request, he’s still thinking about your food.”

Suzhen spread her hands: “Who said he didn’t agree? He’s unhappy precisely because he agreed.”

Everyone was stunned for a while, then cheered successively.

…

An hour later, the carriages continued traveling on the official road as the sky gradually darkened.

Suzhen slept sweetly in Lian Yu’s embrace.

Lian Yu lifted the curtain—the moonlight was clear and cold, reflecting on her face. He gently stroked her cheek, her kiss and words seemingly still echoing in his ears.

“Rest assured, I’ll enter the palace with you. If I lived outside, you’d inevitably worry about my safety and be distracted. I don’t want to and absolutely won’t become your burden. If you want me happy, don’t do things that trouble yourself. When the realm is stabilized, you can return all you owe me.”

She didn’t know that when he heard her say she was willing to be his wife, his heart felt what he had only experienced when ascending to Crown Prince—that surging feeling of seeing the peak of power within reach, feeling everything sacrificed was worthwhile. But hearing her say she didn’t need proclamation to the world or phoenix crown coronation, he was instantly furious with pain.

So very painful.

He held her tighter, looking up at the night sky where the moon seemed to become another face.

A Luo.

He first noticed her because she resembled A Luo, but during those months in the kiln cave, he knew they weren’t alike. For many years after, he never loved anyone else, keeping a place in his heart for dead A Luo. But then she came, and everything became different.

This battle—he absolutely could not lose!

Li Zhaoting had returned to the capital by now.

In the study, Si Lanfeng helped Li Zhaoting sit down and didn’t immediately leave, asking: “Young Master, should this subordinate investigate the black-clothed men’s background?”

Hearing this, Li Zhaoting raised his eyelids: “Lanfeng, don’t you have enough matters at hand? This is Feng Suzhen’s affair—what concern is it of yours?”

Si Lanfeng was startled and quickly said: “They injured Young Master and deserve death—”

“They originally had no intention of hurting or killing me. Everything arose because of Feng Suzhen,” Li Zhaoting smiled sardonically, mockery flashing in his eyes. “Whoever’s hot potato this is should handle it themselves.”

“Yes, this subordinate understands.”

Si Lanfeng dared not say more. He understood Li Zhaoting was subtly mocking Lian Yu. Honestly, he didn’t dislike Feng Suzhen at all, but wasn’t at the point of speaking for her either. He vaguely understood that if Young Master’s great plans succeeded in future, this woman’s fate would likely be miserable.

“Go. I’ll find you and Teacher soon—just waiting for the right wind.” Li Zhaoting waved his hand.

He nodded farewell. The moment his foot crossed the threshold, Li Zhaoting’s mention of Wei Chenghui reminded him of something.

Before leaving the capital, Wei Chenghui had sought him for discussions. At that time, he had inadvertently mentioned going to Huai County to find Feng Suzhen… He wasn’t certain if Wei Chenghui had heard, because the other party had asked a question, which he immediately deflected. Wei Chenghui didn’t ask again, seeming indifferent.

Later, Li Zhaoting found him and said he needn’t travel far—he would make the trip himself. But concerned for Li Zhaoting’s safety, he had still requested to accompany him.

Were these black-clothed men related to Teacher Wei? If so, it was truly an unfortunate misunderstanding—their own people fighting each other! But judging from Wei Chenghui’s demeanor that day, it really didn’t seem like it! The words reached his lips but he quickly swallowed them back. Since Li Zhaoting had gone from remembering past kindness regarding Feng Suzhen to complete indifference, whether Teacher Wei had done this no longer mattered. Otherwise, if Young Master asked for details, he’d be caught in the middle and invite trouble.

Wei Chenghui was currently in his study, again holding secret discussions with his second son Wu Jun.

Wu Jun said: “How can this son share Father’s worries? Last time at Huai County, this son failed to handle matters properly—”

“This has nothing to do with you—it’s simply that man proposes but Heaven disposes.” Wei Chenghui calmly interrupted, patting his shoulder. “You already did quite well!”

He had Wu Jun first notify the Princess of Zhennan, intending to use her hands to eliminate that evil spawn, not expecting two surprise interventions that forced his men to act!

Among them, that mysterious white-clothed man—he suspected was Si Lanfeng. If the other party saw something and reported to Li Zhaoting, it would be quite troublesome, since Li Zhaoting still harbored traces of gratitude toward Minister Feng. Love extending to all related—he still had some feelings for Feng Suzhen.

Wei Wu Jun was delighted. After a slight pause, he heard his father ask: “Tell Father again about that white-clothed man.”

“Extremely high martial arts, precise judgment—this person is not simple.” Wei Wu Jun thought for a moment and said.

Seeing Wei Chenghui remain silent, he added: “Does Father still suspect it’s Si Lanfeng? This son regrets not thinking more then—nearly took his life.”

“Mm, his martial arts are good, and he was sent there—the timing also fits.” He nodded, but in his heart felt this person seemed more extraordinary than Si Lanfeng… His heart sank, thinking of someone, but these days Lian Yu claimed to be inspecting suburban military camps and hadn’t attended court. This person also needn’t attend court—whether he was in the capital was unknown.

Never mind—his second son was quite cautious in his actions and should have revealed nothing. This time, let Feng Suzhen keep her life. Who could have predicted the variable of Lian Yu? Never imagining this boy would be so devoted to Minister Feng’s daughter, fighting for her life and death!

He thought for a moment, ground ink, and wrote a letter, handing it to Wei Wu Jun: “I heard Wu Xia say Noble Consort Gu has left the palace for quiet recuperation. Go—have someone secretly deliver this letter to her hands, absolutely don’t reveal your or my identity.”