This was probably the most tender thing Li Zhaoting had ever said to Suzhen.

Even if it was for her father’s sake. Perhaps also because he had struck her, he still felt some guilt in his heart.

Actually, he didn’t need to explain. Toward him, she had long been self-aware—how could she think he would marry her for any other reason? It must be because of the Feng family.

But his willingness to restore their engagement was something she never expected. So she wasn’t unshocked.

Yet besides shock, there was nothing else.

First, she had no interest in competing for favor—none whatsoever. Power and fame were fleeting clouds—what could be more interesting than living with the person you love most? Second, and most fundamentally important, he wasn’t Lian Yu. How could she possibly marry him, much less bear children? Even if she didn’t die in this lifetime, having experienced feelings with Lian Yu—though brief—who else could she love? No one.

Moreover, she deeply hated this man.

Finally, having thoroughly digested his words, she was startled to find herself still in his embrace and tried to struggle free. But his arms were too strong—she couldn’t budge him at all. How had she ever thought him weak? If they fought, he probably wouldn’t be inferior to Lian Yu.

Her shoulder wound had torn somewhat. Not daring to exert more force, she couldn’t act impulsively in her current situation—she had already encountered the worst circumstances. She wouldn’t allow herself to think about her little lotus seed anymore. Speaking slowly, “Young Master Li, thank you for your kind intentions, but Feng Suzhen cannot reach so high. I only want to leave the palace. The Feng family is nearly extinct—only my brother and I remain. People have different aspirations. My brother chooses to stay here and work for you—that’s his choice. If you still remember the Feng family’s kindness, please don’t let Wei Chenghui know his identity and harm him. As for me, if you want to repay me…” She paused here. In her heart, she wanted to say—kill Wei Chenghui—but this was like a fool’s dream. How could Li Zhaoting possibly agree!

So she smiled and only said, “For me, the best way to live is to leave here. This is my own choice. If you fulfill this, you will have fully repaid what you owe the Feng family. Please let me leave with Lian Jie and Lian Qin.”

Li Zhaoting knew she was stubborn and understood that with Lian Yu dying for her, her heart was affected. Too many things currently couldn’t be sorted out, much less feelings.

He suppressed his temper again and said, “You want to die, but I can’t let you die. In any case, you cannot leave this palace.”

His voice was composed but his tone firm.

“You have your willfulness to choose—I have my own righteousness to fulfill. I’ll leave my words here: I absolutely won’t let you go. If you insist on leaving, fine—I’ll execute Lian Jie and the other immediately. Since you’ve destroyed my righteousness, why should I fulfill your feelings?”

His latter words grew increasingly casual but left no room for negotiation.

Having known each other for over ten years, Suzhen knew she could never leave.

She didn’t make a scene.

Making a scene wouldn’t work. She only looked at him coldly and said, “Tomorrow I want to see them, then send them out of the palace.”

“Agreed.” Li Zhaoting wanted to stroke her hair, as if smoothing down sharp horns. In the end, he made no such gesture. He clenched his hands and left without a word, pushing open the door.

He didn’t take his handkerchief, leaving it on the table. Seeing it at a glance, Suzhen searched the room, found another pair of scissors from the medicine box Lian Jie had left, and shredded the handkerchief to pieces.

Finally, she returned to bed, sitting down in this place that was like a cage.

Outside was so quiet you could hear summer insects. Looking at the night, so deep—it must be past midnight. But though her body was extremely tired, she had no desire to sleep.

Having grieved and raged, now clear-headed, she could only suppress everything, leaving only dimness and exhaustion.

She couldn’t fight Li Zhaoting head-on—Lian Jie and the others hadn’t left yet.

With Lian Yu gone, she must protect his brothers well!

Since little lotus seed was gone, and he insisted she stay, she would stay and find ways to take revenge in the palace.

Wei Chenghui, Wei Wujun, Wei Wulei, Wuliang, and him too.

She looked down at her abdomen, still flat as a mirror. Lian Yu was right—her half-baked medical skills were useless. She couldn’t even diagnose herself properly.

Clearly knowing this little one couldn’t possibly still be alive, yet she…

She wiped her eyes.

That night, she kept her eyes open until dawn.

When the sky began to pale, she finally closed her eyes and slept from exhaustion. The next day, she woke with a start, quickly got up to wash, and just opened the door to find someone had arrived even earlier.

“Director Guo?” Suzhen was somewhat surprised.

The hurrying female official stopped and smiled back, “Good morning, Miss Li… Miss Feng. The Young Master instructed that if Miss has any matters, you can find this servant anytime. Oh, and Minister Si too. Minister Si is temporarily residing in the palace now.”

“Where is Li Zhaoting?” Suzhen asked.

Director Guo said, “The Young Master met with Grand Tutor Wei and others early this morning, then left the palace. It’s said he and the Grand Tutor will personally go to the border to… eliminate the remaining rebels.”

Suzhen’s heart jumped, but then she realized these troops weren’t Lian Yu’s forces or Murong’s army, but Chao’s army! Though she had been imprisoned in the Wei residence, she kept track of military affairs, having induced guards to tell her the situation.

The Chao army that had been defeated by Liu’s forces and driven back to defend the border was not small in scale. When Li Zhaoting defeated General Liu’s troops at the border, he must have killed many. Those willing to surrender had been incorporated into Wei’s forces; those unwilling were killed or imprisoned. This army could be said to have been completely destroyed, but Chao’s forces remained at the border.

If the Murong army that had withdrawn from the capital joined with these Chao forces, that would definitely be a threat. With Li Zhaoting’s coronation imminent, how could he allow these people to threaten him?

If not now to eliminate them, when?

That day, Lian Yu hadn’t killed Quan Feitong. She wondered if Quan Feitong could join these forces first. But even if he joined them, with current military strength, they wouldn’t be Li Zhaoting’s match unless the withdrawn main Murong forces could also successfully rendezvous. Then perhaps they could fight while retreating, hiding some strength for the future.

But continued warfare wouldn’t be good either…

“Miss… Miss, is there anything you need this servant to handle?”

Director Guo interrupted her thoughts. She quickly collected herself and thought, “May I ask if you know whether the Wei family’s Second Young Master accompanied the army?”

Director Guo shook her head, “This servant doesn’t know.”

Suzhen said, “Please trouble yourself to take me to find Minister Si.”

She figured Si Lanfeng would become Li Zhaoting’s guard commander like Xuanwu and others. Moving through the palace, she could sense Li Zhaoting trusted him greatly.

“Yes.” Director Guo respectfully agreed.

…

Si Lanfeng seemed not to expect seeing Suzhen. After the eunuch announced her, he came out with some surprise on his face.

“Miss Feng.” He glanced at her and bowed.

Suzhen remembered two years ago when she first arrived in the capital, she had opposed him due to his jealousy toward Li Zhaoting. Later, because he was Lian Jie’s student working for Lian Yu, they could usually exchange words. Who knew it would all be an act in the end.

Seeing her not immediately respond, Si Lanfeng somewhat guessed her thoughts and felt embarrassed, bowing again, “Each serving their master—if Miss blames me, it’s deserved.”

But Suzhen smiled, “Exactly—each serving their master. Success and failure are fate. I harbor no other thoughts. I came today only to ask about some matters.”

Seeing her calm expression with no malice in her eyes, quite frank, Si Lanfeng’s face reddened slightly, feeling somewhat guilty, and quickly said, “Please speak, Miss. The Young Master also instructed that during his campaign, Lanfeng must look after Miss well.”

But Suzhen didn’t accept Li Zhaoting’s kindness, only saying, “May I ask Minister Si, did Wei Wujun accompany the army?”

Si Lanfeng was clever and immediately understood Suzhen’s meaning, answering, “No, he’s also in the palace commanding guards.”

Suzhen nodded, “Good, I understand. Thank you. Now, could Minister Si please arrange for Suzhen to meet with the Lian brothers?”

“Naturally appropriate. Please.”

Shortly after, Suzhen met the Lian brothers in the palace’s underground prison. Si Lanfeng tactfully gave Suzhen the keys, taking Director Guo outside to wait, even withdrawing the guards beyond the dungeon entrance.

The prison environment was extremely poor—dark and rank, with eating, drinking, and relieving all in one place. Food utensils, chamber pots… the smell was awful. Only the two Lian brothers were imprisoned now. But Suzhen seemed completely unaware, walking to the innermost iron gate and bending to open the door.

In the straw pile, two equally dim figures heard the sound and became alert. One laughed, “Come to send us off? Come on!”

“Seventh Brother, Ninth Brother.” Suzhen’s throat choked—this was her first time addressing them thus.

The men inside seemed greatly moved. Iron shackles rang as Lian Jie ran over, and Lian Qin also crawled through the straw pile toward them. His injuries were still severe.

“Huaisu, did they imprison you too? Beasts!” Lian Jie raged, but his foot shackles weren’t long—he could only stop a few steps from the gate. But the weak lamplight from the corridor still let him see Suzhen’s face clearly.

Suzhen’s hands trembling, finally opened the door. She threw aside the locks and shackles, ran a few steps inside, hugged Lian Jie, then bent down to embrace Lian Qin lying on the ground, not avoiding impropriety between men and women.