His eyes appeared particularly deep and meaningful. Quan Feitong paused, then resumed his smile as if he hadn’t seen Suzhen in the other’s embrace, walking over with Chao Huang while the person behind them followed.

“Greetings to Your Majesty, greetings to… Noble Consort.” He bowed his head respectfully.

Li Zhaoting held Suzhen with his left arm while his right hand gestured for them to rise, “No need for formality.”

Suzhen’s feelings were complex, but she could only say, “Prime Minister, please rise.”

Quan Feitong raised his head as Li Zhaoting said, “I was just about to return to the imperial palace with the Noble Consort for a meal. Prime Minister and Chao Huang should join us.”

“After the meal, the Noble Consort can rest inside while we discuss business in the front hall.”

Quan Feitong replied, “Thank you for Your Majesty’s gracious invitation. After I report my business, I’ll take my leave so as not to delay Your Majesty and the Noble Consort’s meal.”

“Then we’ll drink together another time. What business does the Prime Minister have?” Li Zhaoting didn’t insist, asking lightly while resuming his official tone.

“I’ve brought someone to pay respects to you.” As he spoke, he and Chao Huang stepped slightly aside. The person behind came forward, and Suzhen was somewhat curious. When the person removed his hat, she understood.

That person greeted Li Zhaoting and spoke a few words. Li Zhaoting stepped forward to pat his shoulder and whispered something. The person then took his leave, glancing at Suzhen before departing.

Li Zhaoting nodded to Quan Feitong, “The Prime Minister did well.”

Quan Feitong replied, “It was Your Majesty’s excellent arrangements.”

“I’ll reward you handsomely later.” Li Zhaoting also patted his shoulder and smiled slightly, “I’ll take the Noble Consort back first. She hasn’t eaten much today and is clamoring for me to accompany her on a few days’ outing. I’m helpless and need to make arrangements quickly.”

Suzhen wanted to bid farewell to Quan Feitong but ultimately decided against it. She wasn’t too afraid of Li Zhaoting now, but feared bringing trouble to Quan Feitong.

Li Zhaoting applied pressure to her waist, and she followed him away.

“This subject respectfully sees off Your Majesty and the Noble Consort.”

Watching the two figures disappear in the distance, only then did Quan Feitong fix his gaze on Suzhen from behind.

“Big brother, you said having you secretly visit Huang Zhongyue, informing him of the emperor’s thoughts and offering positions to his disciples, plus today’s events appearing to be Li Zhaoting’s instructions to you, was actually…” Chao Huang said quietly beside him.

Quan Feitong touched his nose and made an affirmative sound, “She wrote to me beforehand. She said Li Zhaoting would come looking for me, and no one was more suitable than this treacherous minister to be a persuader, especially for someone like Huang Zhongyue who’s experienced in worldly affairs.”

“The new position and anonymous voting were brilliant.” Chao Huang smiled, “How many people recommended themselves or their subordinates in recent days? Today probably more than half cast punishment votes. Anyway, they couldn’t lose face publicly, and Old Wei can’t determine who voted what. Wei Wujun is the old thief’s right hand—temporarily removing him makes our military operations more convenient and severely teaches the old thief a lesson. Though the two-vote difference was risky, Heaven has eyes—the Wei thief even killed his own daughter, so this is retribution.”

“No, I think it’s ‘Heaven helps those who help themselves.’ That person just now—she also had me act as persuader for him. Unexpectedly, it was precisely this extra vote that prevented a tie. She thought of everything she could. Including my junior martial sister—she calculated that in too.”

Quan Feitong curved his lips with a smile, but the cold, sinister look in his eyes slowly became apparent.

“A person like her shouldn’t live in this deep palace like this. If the person beside her were me, I would…” He suddenly punched the corridor pillar beside him. The pillar was completely undamaged, but his five fingers were bright red.

“But I can do nothing.”

“Big brother!” Chao Huang was startled. Just moments ago, facing Li Zhaoting, Quan Feitong had been calm and composed, maintaining perfect decorum, but unexpectedly…

“No, big brother, if you hadn’t bribed the palace maids, she would already be dead.”

“There are a few people I should meet with now. Let’s go.” Before he could finish, Quan Feitong had already turned and strode away.

Big brother. Chao Huang couldn’t help but shake his head with a bitter smile.

Li Zhaoting had been secretly observing Suzhen’s expression. Seeing that her demeanor didn’t fluctuate much when she saw Quan Feitong, he quietly sighed with relief.

Returning to the bedchamber, he personally wrung out his own cloth to wipe her face and wash her hands. During the meal, he served her rice and food, telling her stories from the past. But she remained quiet and didn’t talk much, almost only answering when he asked.

His heart ached painfully. After the meal, he summoned Si Lanfeng and instructed him to take the Noble Consort to the burial site later.

He didn’t want to see her mourn for Lian Yu—he feared that seeing her grieve for Lian Yu would anger him. Allowing her to take the remains for burial was already his maximum tolerance.

“I’ll spend the night at your place tonight.” Before leaving, he told her at the palace door.

Suzhen was alarmed. Today she had been somewhat afraid of the look in his eyes. She smiled casually, “Shouldn’t you go to the Empress to explain things to her?”

Hearing her say this, Li Zhaoting felt uncomfortable. He looked at her, “In my heart, you’re very important. You don’t need to compare yourself to her.”

“Then go to Miss Miao’s place. She’s a good person. She might misunderstand today’s events.”

Seeing her being so “understanding,” Li Zhaoting’s expression changed. He pulled her forcibly back into the palace, kicked the door shut, embraced her, pushed her against the wall, and leaned down to kiss her lips.

He pried open her teeth, his tongue entering to entangle with hers… Suzhen felt uncomfortable but knew they were at the crucial moment of retrieving Lian Yu and leaving the palace. Even though he was accommodating her in many ways now, she couldn’t constantly go against his wishes. She didn’t respond but didn’t struggle excessively either.

Li Zhaoting had experience with women, and since ascending the throne, to distribute his favor evenly, he had been intimate with quite a few consorts besides his favored ones. He had needs but wasn’t particularly lustful. Now, however, he felt feverish all over. He understood that besides wanting to declare some ownership to the deceased Lian Yu, the watching Quan Feitong, and to her, the soft sweetness of her mouth and tongue, and the familiar yet still strange feeling about her body that he had known since childhood, all made him dizzy with desire!

His movements became increasingly intense as he pressed her tightly against the wall. Her collar was casually torn open by him, his lips and tongue reaching her neck… his hands also slowly explored downward, eagerly searching and caressing. Suzhen felt terrible, her heart filled with terror as one hand blocked him!

But he grasped her hand and took her fingers into his mouth, carefully licking and kissing them. That hot, moist tongue wrapped around her fingers while his dark, deep eyes showed hoarse desire.

Suzhen trembled all over, pushed hard, and stared at him with panicked eyes.

In the past, when Lian Yu was passionate in their bedchamber, he often did these intimate things that made her too shy to speak of, but that was Lian Yu… She truly couldn’t imagine this person doing such things to her—this man who had been dignified and elegant since childhood, whom she now hated deeply.

Li Zhaoting was also startled by himself. Though he had been intimate with many women, he had never done such things he considered somewhat lewd to his consorts. He stepped back, his eyes regaining some clarity. He wanted to explain but felt it was natural.

Suzhen saw the dominance in his eyes. Unable to control herself in her anger, she raised her hand and slapped him, then opened the door and quickly left the imperial palace.

She had hit him once before when drunk, and he hadn’t held it against her. But this time she was sober. Li Zhaoting was also angry, wanting to drag her back and give her bottom a few smacks too. Seeing her pull Si Lanfeng from outside the palace door and leave, his heart darkened, but he ultimately restrained himself.

She had said he didn’t like her, yet she still cared for him. But how much of her heart did Lian Yu still occupy!

He closed his eyes, returned to sit at the table, and while reviewing memorials, he saw her snow-white neck in his mind. He took a deep breath, put down the book, ordered Liang Song to give Wei Wulei some rewards as consolation for today’s punishment of the Wei family, while he himself led people to Miaoyin’s bedchamber.

“Your Majesty.” Seeing him arrive, Miaoyin was both joyful and somewhat aggrieved.

He said nothing, picked her up, and walked toward the bed curtains.

Miaoyin thought he was thinking of her and had come to her palace first, shyly wrapping her arms around his neck…

As their clothes were just being removed, he got up from her, saying gently, “It’s broad daylight—I shouldn’t behave improperly, or I’d be no different from a tyrant. I’ll come back tonight to have dinner with you.”

Miaoyin’s face was flushed red as she nodded in agreement.

Returning to his bedchamber, Li Zhaoting coldly ordered Xiao Si, “Bring some water.”

Seeing his gloomy expression and not knowing why, Xiao Si quickly went personally. Li Zhaoting took a cloth and wiped his face, then violently threw it back into the basin. He had actually feared that news of his visit to Miaoyin would reach her ears and increase her disdain for him.

He found this thought ridiculous himself! What was wrong with him? He wanted to be with her, but the idea of not favoring others for her sake was excessive—he was the emperor! He picked up a book from the small table by the bed and opened it. Inside was a letter—one she had written in the past. He wanted to tear it to shreds to prove something, but after a while, he still folded it neatly, placed it back in the book, and gently returned it to the bedside.

He called Liang Song and instructed, “When Lanfeng returns, have him see me immediately. I need to question him.”

Suzhen took Si Lanfeng back to her bedchamber first. Xiao Zhou had already returned and told her that Wuqing had visited. She nodded and brought Xiao Zhou along to the mass grave behind the palace.

This place was almost at the palace’s far end—truly a desolate location with slightly raised grave mounds everywhere. Some had names, others didn’t. Some had paper money offerings, most had none.

Si Lanfeng pointed to one spot. Looking over, Suzhen saw a rotten wooden marker with only the characters “Usurper” written on it. There were no paper money or candles before the grave—nothing at all.

Suzhen stared quietly, motionless, until Si Lanfeng couldn’t help reminding her, “My lady, shall this subordinate have the guards help you dig up the remains?”

Only then did Suzhen speak. She shook her head, “Thank you, I’ll do it myself.”

Si Lanfeng was startled to see her already taking up a spade and kneeling down.

“Could I have some time alone?”

Her voice was extremely low.

Though Si Lanfeng had once been tricked by her, his heart felt compassion at this moment. He nodded and led the guards to a distant spot.

“Huaisu, let me help you.” Seeing everyone leave, Xiao Zhou said with a choked voice.

“No, I’ll do it myself.”

Seeing the determination in her eyes, Xiao Zhou knew nothing she said would be useful. She silently stepped aside, ready to immediately support her if her strength failed.

Suzhen gritted her teeth until clothing appeared in the soil.