Suzhen had just finished her meal not long ago when she heard the eunuch outside announce, “The Young Master arrives.”

Suzhen was startled—she hadn’t expected Li Zhaoting to come over. She frowned slightly, her hand instinctively protecting her abdomen as she slowly stood up. The door was kicked open with a bang, startling her. She saw Li Zhaoting enter with angry eyes, followed by Xiaosi and… Aluo.

In Suzhen’s eyes, Li Zhaoting had always been cold toward her, but the times he showed anger seemed countable on one hand. The deepest impression was that time in Minzhou when Aluo performed excellently and she left dejectedly. He came with reproach, telling her to remember that there are always higher heavens and greater people, and seemed to show her some pity. She had been furious then and quarreled with him, and he too had become angry.

Now, Lian Jie and Lian Qin were close to death. If not for the little lotus seed in her belly and her necessary wariness of Wei Chenghui, no matter how angry he became, what concern was it to her!

She smiled coldly in her heart but tried to greet him as calmly and politely as possible, saying “Zhaoting.”

But Li Zhaoting didn’t even respond. He strode before her and grabbed her shoulder with one hand, “Because you asked me, and Wuqing also came to ask, yet I refused to release those Lian brothers, you’re sulking with me and won’t let physicians treat you?”

“I’ve repeatedly shown you mercy for your father’s sake, yet you repeatedly take advantage of my favor and act arrogantly. How dare you!”

His eyes held frost-like coldness radiating outward, the veins throbbing on his forehead—he truly wanted to kill her. Suzhen wanted to laugh—she suddenly really wanted to burst out laughing. Taking advantage of favor and acting arrogantly? Before him, she never had in the past and never wanted to again!

Sulking was even more a term between lovers—how could she behave so toward him?

Her lips moved several times, yet she found herself speechless!

She absolutely couldn’t speak of little lotus seed’s matter. At this time, Aluo slowly spoke, “Magistrate Li, for the Feng family’s sake, Zhaoting didn’t hesitate to offend his important ministers. If I were in your position, I would understand him rather than act this way. He’s no longer your betrothed—please leave him some affection and yourself some pride.”

Suzhen’s heart flared with anger, wanting to kick her in the face, but before Li Zhaoting she naturally couldn’t do anything. She looked at him, “Zhaoting, I was wrong. How about this—I won’t pester about Lian Jie and the others’ matter anymore. Let me see them one last time, then I’ll immediately leave the palace and disappear far from your sight.”

As she spoke, she glanced at him and Aluo with rather meaningful implications. Li Zhaoting’s heart sank, his anger growing even fiercer.

“I don’t grant your request, so you threaten me with leaving the palace? Spurning my good intentions! Fine, since you’re so stubborn and refuse treatment, I’ll force you too—then you’d better not eat or drink either!”

His grip was so forceful it nearly crushed her bones. Suzhen’s wound there had just been bandaged. When Li Zhaoting withdrew his hand, it was covered in fresh blood. He stepped forward and wiped his hand on the bed curtains with a cold smile, then turned and strode out with his arm around Aluo.

Xiaosi glared viciously at Suzhen, “Dead girl, serves you right.”

Suzhen paid him no mind, stepping back to sit by the bed. Her injuries were severe and unhealed. Li Zhaoting didn’t care—if she died, so be it. Lian Yu was dead, so she didn’t care either. But now she absolutely couldn’t afford to—the medicine box was on the bed. She went to find gauze and medicine herself. Xiaosi got no satisfaction, but seeing blood streaming from her shoulder, he was somewhat shocked and felt guilty, quickly turning to leave.

The shoulder wound was difficult to treat. Suzhen removed her inner garment and fumbled for a long time before barely covering the wound, breaking out in cold sweat from the pain.

After leaving the side hall, Li Zhaoting coldly ordered the guards, “If Feng doesn’t repent and agree to see physicians, no matter how many times she seeks audience with me, absolutely don’t relay her messages. Violators will be executed!”

The guards were startled and hurriedly replied, “We respectfully follow the Young Master’s orders and dare not disobey.”

Walking to a place, Li Zhaoting released Aluo, “Go back to your quarters to dine first. I’ll return to the hall to handle some matters and find you tonight.”

Aluo nodded, “Alright. Zhaoting, don’t feel sorry for her—compared to Lian Yu, how is she worth it?”

“I understand.” Li Zhaoting stroked her hair and placed a kiss on her forehead.

Aluo watched his figure disappear with Xiaosi and the guards, smiling slightly in her heart. Though Li Zhaoting wouldn’t cut off the other’s food and drink, his anger this time was truly considerable, and this lunch had lost its mood to continue.

She narrowed her eyes slightly and beckoned a nearby palace servant, instructing indifferently, “Go find someone for me.”

“May I ask whom the mistress wishes to summon?” The palace had always had its rules. Though Li Zhaoting hadn’t yet ascended and Aluo had no official title, anyone with eyes could see who would be favored in the future. The palace maids and eunuchs all called her “mistress” very smoothly.

“Chef Xiao,” Aluo said slowly.

Moments later, Chef Xiao hurriedly arrived at Aluo’s bedchamber.

“Chef Xiao, it’s been a long time,” Aluo sat on the couch, looking at her with a half-smile.

After the palace was broken, Chef Xiao hadn’t left. At that time, leaving the city was impossible. Though she had some gold and silver, unable to leave the capital with people in panic, it wasn’t very useful. Like many palace officials, she had climbed to her current position with difficulty and was even less willing to leave. This imperial city would always welcome its new master, and she would have new opportunities then.

This Miss Gu’s re-entry into the imperial city as the new ruler’s favorite was unexpected, but news had already spread throughout the palace shortly after their arrival yesterday.

She was puzzled about why this young lady had summoned her, but ultimately, though she knew the Empress Dowager disliked her in the past, seeing how much the Emperor cherished her, she had never dared show the slightest displeasure. This summons shouldn’t be settling old scores. Thinking thus, she performed the kowtow according to palace protocols for masters and respectfully said, “Greetings to the young lady. May I ask what orders the mistress has? This servant will certainly do her utmost.”

Aluo sipped her tea and smiled, “You needn’t be formal. Aluo received much care from Director Guo in the palace before and has been thinking that upon returning, if she could speak before the Young Master, she must show proper gratitude. I hear the position of Head Palace Supervisor has been vacant since the previous one died of illness. Aluo thinks Director Guo would be suitable… but,” she paused here, staring at her indifferently before continuing, “I also feel Chef Xiao is quite talented and shouldn’t be too nepotistic. What does Chef Xiao think?”

Chef Xiao prostrated herself, hearing this with both shock and joy. Having been in the palace for quite some time, if she still couldn’t understand this young lady’s meaning, she truly would never get ahead—she wanted her to handle something!

If successful, pledging allegiance to her in the future, this Head Supervisor position would be—

But any gain requires payment first. The price for this good opportunity probably wouldn’t be small! After calculating in her heart, she finally gritted her teeth and said, “Young lady speaks too kindly—this truly overwhelms this servant. Serving the mistress is this servant’s duty. Please give your orders freely.”

“Chef Xiao is an understanding person.” Aluo smiled slightly, “Also, Aluo hasn’t seen you today.”

In the side hall, Suzhen waited for a long time but saw no palace maids bringing food. Her heart sank slightly—Li Zhaoting wouldn’t really have forbidden her meals! She had thought he wasn’t so cruel.

Finally, hungry and thirsty, she touched her belly and could sit still no longer, opening the door to ask.

In the courtyard were seven or eight new imperial guard soldiers. Outside the door in the long corridor were three eunuchs and three palace maids each. Hearing her movement, the guards glanced over but continued their cold, indifferent watch, while the several palace servants showed subtle expressions—unclear whether indifferent or contemptuous—all remaining silent. Her heart grew cold as she spoke again, “Please bring me food. No need for fine dishes—just bring me some leftovers from the kitchen. Thank you.”

The corridor remained silent as death, as if besides her, there were no other living beings—or perhaps among them, she was the one who wasn’t living.

What Li Zhaoting had said earlier was real…

Suzhen swallowed and bowed to the courtyard guards again, “Please, brothers, relay to the Young Master that Feng Suzhen requests an audience.”

She repeated this three times with no response.

Her heart filled with sorrow, yet she still clasped her hands, “Then please help me go to the Six Gates to find Director Wuqing to make a trip to the palace.”

She licked her dry lips. Just as she was about to repeat this a second time, a voice sounded behind her, “Magistrate Li, you… please don’t ask anymore! The Young Master issued a death order—if you won’t first submit and allow physicians, whoever relays messages for you faces death!”

“Also, regarding meals, the Young Master gave orders. When we servants went to the imperial kitchen, Chef Xiao dared not provide them.”

Suzhen slowly turned around to see the speaker was that hesitant, flickering eunuch from before. Now he seemed finally unable to restrain himself and had spoken, while others glared at him coldly.

Magistrate Li—this eunuch called her Magistrate Li. Perhaps he had some impression of her, or maybe had served under Ming Yanchu before. She bowed to him, “Thank you for informing me.”

Everyone expected her to be grief-stricken and angry, to cry and curse. Seeing her so calm, they were all somewhat shocked. Only that eunuch looked at her with full apology, stammering, “I’m sorry. This servant cannot relay messages outside the palace for you. If we find someone to intercede for you… this servant fears…”

Suzhen shook her head and smiled, “I understand. That you could tell me this much is already very good. Thank you, little father-in-law. Huaisu will find other ways for the rest.”

Hearing him call her “Magistrate Li,” she also referred to herself as Li Huaisu. After speaking, she returned inside.

Her body slowly leaned against the door panel, her eyes reddening slightly, yet still no tears came.

“Little one, what should we do?” She stroked her still-flat belly, asking in a low voice.

If it were just her alone, anything would be fine—not eating, she could endure for several days. But she couldn’t let her child go hungry.

Yet she couldn’t see physicians—any doctor with medical knowledge who took her pulse would know she was pregnant.

As night fell, Suzhen curled herself into a ball under the quilt in the corner of the bed. Li Zhaoting wasn’t Lian Yu—threatening him with death would be useless. So before she could think of no other options, she could only reduce her body’s consumption.

But having gone a full day without eating, her shoulder wound ached severely. Combined with hunger pangs, she could barely hold on. She got off the bed to search and discovered on the table a small half-bowl of leftover soup—medicinal broth that Lian Jie had prepared before. Yesterday when Li Zhaoting smashed things, fortunately this bowl hadn’t been broken!

She picked it up and swallowed it in one gulp.

The broth was already ice-cold and had turned somewhat, yet she regretted not savoring it more, regretting drinking it all at once. Wiping her mouth, she crawled back onto the bed.

Outside the window, the moonlight was pale and cold, just like the day Lian Yu left.

She stared blankly, reaching into her bosom to pull out a jade pendant—something that had fallen onto her when he collapsed that day. This jade pendant was one she had given him. Though not valuable, he had always worn it. Her unwanted jade flute, her cheap jade pendant—he had never disdained them… She smiled thinking of this, then quickly shook her head, not daring to think further. She feared she might collapse.

She had to think of a solution before starving to death here!

…

In the middle of the night, Suzhen developed a fever again. She shrank under the covers, shivering with cold. By dawn, she barely had strength to lift the quilt, but she still struggled to get up, pushed open the door, and said to that kind-hearted eunuch, “Little father-in-law, could you please fetch someone for me? Just rest assured—if you follow my words exactly, you absolutely won’t get into trouble. I’ll take responsibility for everything else. I beg you.”

The eunuch saw her waxy yellow complexion and head full of sweat. After hesitating for a long while, he finally gritted his teeth, “Magistrate Li, speak. I recognize you—my relative outside was once falsely accused and imprisoned. You saved his life. I cannot be ungrateful.”

Suzhen was startled, not having expected this eunuch’s connection to her was for this reason. She whispered a few sentences in his ear. After listening, the eunuch nodded vigorously and ran toward the gate.

A tea’s time later, accompanied by multiple palace servants and guards, someone quickly entered the side hall.