“Yes, this minister will strictly follow Your Majesty’s teachings.” Limitless immediately bowed in response, then shouted at Mao and Yu, “Why don’t you thank His Majesty quickly!”

Mao Hui and Yu Jinglun hadn’t expected Suzhen, Wuqing, and Quan Feitong to intervene, turning their achievement into blame. But since the Emperor hadn’t actually punished them, though displeased, they still exchanged glances and smiled, kowtowing, “Thank Your Majesty.”

Li Zhaoting continued, “Wuqing, as the Six Doors Bureau Commander, sheltered former dynasty remnants for personal reasons. Considering his excellent case-solving record since taking charge of the Six Doors Bureau and his military contributions to the court, and that this remnant is not a male heir and poses no threat to our dynasty, he is sentenced to one hundred strokes of the rod, half a year’s salary suspension. The remaining Six Doors Bureau members each receive fifty strokes as a warning.”

“As for Concubine Shu, valuing friendship is good, but one shouldn’t ignore right and wrong and take blame upon oneself. The Six Doors Bureau’s mistakes should be borne by the Six Doors Bureau. This time it ends here, but if there’s a repeat offense, I will certainly punish you. Don’t say I don’t consider our marital affection.”

Wuqing’s temples throbbed, but he quickly led everyone in bowing and thanking for the grace. Suzhen only smiled and made no further movement.

“Your Majesty, if criminals and those harboring criminals are not severely punished—”

Wei Chenghui and his son Wei Wujun spoke simultaneously. Quan Feitong also immediately reported, “Your Majesty’s action shows benevolent governance and virtue, establishing reputation for the court. The people will surely praise it.”

“Don’t you think so, fellow colleagues?”

“Your Majesty is wise.”

He glanced behind him, and Huang Zhongyue and many of the Emperor’s faction immediately responded in unison.

Wei Chenghui’s eyes flashed with sparks of anger, then he withdrew with a flick of his sleeves. Wei Wulei watched carefully—seeing that as Li Zhaoting spoke, his peripheral vision remained on Suzhen throughout, she clenched her hands tightly.

The Prince of Jin’s consort frowned deeply. After all, Li Zhaoting was still favoring Feng Suzhen! But with Li Zhaoting’s resolute gaze, she couldn’t contradict him. Fifteen whispered in Miaoyin’s ear, “Miss, only you are foolish. Look at this Consort Feng’s methods—they’re not small. Now…”

A Luo sneered softly nearby, “Making wedding clothes for others—shouldn’t that have been expected long ago?”

Looking at everyone’s gazes, it seemed as if she had gained something, but this was not the result she wanted at all! But Suzhen knew Li Zhaoting would not change his decision!

“Concubine Shu, this little hussy is no good thing—she’s long since lost her purity. You’d better not worry about her!”

Mao Hui said loudly.

Suzhen clenched her fists and stood, slowly looking at him and Yu Jinglun.

In that brief moment, both men inexplicably felt a bone-chilling sensation. But they saw her walk to Lian Xin, pull her up, and support her.

“Feng Suzhen!”

Li Zhaoting called sternly from behind.

Suzhen didn’t turn back, supporting Lian Xin as she walked out under various gazes.

Li Zhaoting stared intently at her departing figure, his long-suppressed anger almost erupting on the spot!

This Lian Xin being here was connected to her! If they really investigated, she and the Six Doors Bureau would face death today… But he protected her everywhere, even releasing the person for her sake! She was good, truly good!

“Your Majesty…”

His arm was suddenly gripped tightly. He brushed it off forcefully, only to hear a low cry. Looking up, he saw A Luo fallen to the ground, looking at him with a pale face.

He pressed his lips together and helped her up, softening his voice, “It’s my fault. Are you alright?”

A Luo had been wronged for many days. Hearing his gentle words now, her eyes immediately reddened.

Seeing her like this, Li Zhaoting finally felt some pity and reached out to embrace her, then ordered the camp to be broken and return to the palace.

At this moment, though everyone had different thoughts, no one dared say anything more. Fortunately, this Empress had eased the Emperor’s anger somewhat, but the frost between the Emperor’s brows remained clearly visible! Some couldn’t help but be amazed that this Concubine Shu was now so favored—not to mention other things, even her disrespect went unpunished? Many more hoped that after this incident, the Emperor would harbor resentment and gradually grow distant from her!

Lian Xin couldn’t return to the palace with Suzhen. After Wuqing and others received their punishment, they took her away. Before leaving, Suzhen repeatedly urged them to take good care of Lian Xin.

After returning to the Six Doors Bureau, as the only girl among them, Wuming naturally accompanied Lian Xin.

Everyone watched Wuming accompany her into the room. Lian Xin, who had seemed soulless throughout, suddenly spoke, “All of you go. I want to be alone for a while.”

“Wuming, please have the cook heat a bucket of hot water for me. Thank you.”

Wuming didn’t know whether to stay or do as she asked, looking to Wuqing for help. Seeing him nod, she gently said “alright.” Lian Xin clutched Wuqing’s outer robe and slowly turned around.

Gripping the paper in his hand tightly, Wuqing said, “Go in and rest. We’ll bring you medicine shortly.”

Lian Xin didn’t respond and went in directly.

Wuming said, “Boss, your injuries are the most severe. Go tend to your wounds—I’ll have someone heat water and brew medicine.”

The medicine she mentioned was a prescription Little Zhou had left before departing—it was… for contraception.

“No need, I’ll brew it.” But Wuqing turned and walked away.

Everyone was slightly stunned.

When Wuqing said he’d brew medicine, he didn’t mean giving orders to the kitchen, but actually did it himself. He sent all the cooks away.

White smoke curled up as he stood before the stove. What he couldn’t get out of his mind was when he and others later found Lian Xin—the scene of Yu Jinglun getting up from her body.

The girl’s snow-white body, wounds all over, eyes staring at the night sky but seeing nothing, and besides all this, a safety charm clutched tightly in her hand.

He felt the charm paper was somewhat strange yet familiar. Suddenly remembering, it was the safety charm she had gotten for him when they went to the temple together before the great battle began.

She had also gotten one for herself.

“Mine isn’t for myself—I only got yours. People shouldn’t be too greedy. I just wanted us to have something that was the same.” Before leaving, she had smiled and told him.

This was quick-brewing medicine and was soon ready. He reached out to take it, but the touch was scorching hot. He cried out in pain and cursed lowly. The murderous intent that had been fiercely suppressed could no longer be contained. He turned and struck out with a palm, knocking over all the pots and pans behind him…

Shortly after, he brought the medicine out and returned to the courtyard where Lian Xin was staying.

There were guards outside the courtyard—he feared Wei Chenghui might still do something, so he had skilled members of the bureau heavily guard the place. But the courtyard was extremely quiet. He knocked on the door and asked, “The medicine is ready. May I… come in?”

After a long while, there was no response.

He repeated it again.

Still no answer.

His heart suddenly sank, and he kicked the door open with great force!

Inside, Lian Xin lay quietly on the bed, one hand hanging down from the bedside, her whole body covered in blood, with a pair of scissors embedded in the center of her abdomen.

On the wall was a patch of red writing.

I once hurt you, now I return it to you. No longer ask you to forgive my mother empress—I shouldn’t have bound you with this. But what we owed your family, my sixth brother and I should have repaid to you and Susu, right? Being with Vermillion Bird—isn’t that happier than you bearing hatred? People should have chances to make themselves happy. In this life, I regret that I only lived like a princess’s willful arrogance, but couldn’t die with a princess’s nobility and dignity.

Don’t tell Susu—just say I returned to common life.

When Suzhen returned to the palace, Guo Sizhen and others had also returned. Suzhen had no time to apologize to them. After letting the dejected Little Zhou return to her room to rest, she closed her door and collapsed onto the bed.

At such a time, neither she nor Little Zhou could comfort each other.

In her mind, only Lian Xin’s empty, unfocused eyes kept flashing.

After an unknown time, she wearily struggled up and only then saw a letter on the table.

The envelope was addressed to “Li Huaisu.”

The handwriting was vigorous and powerful—she recognized whose hand it was.

Opening it, there were no other words, only saying that he had seen her at the hunting ground, knew she hadn’t been able to leave, so he had sent Guo Sizhen and the others back.

This person was decent. Suzhen smiled briefly, but the smile faded halfway. No matter what, she couldn’t sleep, so she opened the door, wanting to go out for a walk.

The moonlight was cold and clear, with no one in the corridors. However, there was a circle of eunuchs and palace maids sitting around the stone table in the courtyard, chatting quietly about something.

She had always been lenient with palace servants, allowing them not to stand guard all night—they could walk around and sit as they pleased. Over time, the palace servants knew she wasn’t joking and relaxed, becoming “informal.”

“Little Man, aren’t you due to leave the palace tomorrow to visit family? Just in time for your little nephew’s birth—what great fortune!”

“Look what you’re saying—how could it be such a coincidence? My sister-in-law is expected to give birth these few days, but we can’t say exactly which day. I can only go out for two days. Unless we could get a midwife as skilled as the old head physician from the palace before.”

“What does the old head physician have to do with midwives?”

“Don’t you know? I heard that when the former emperor was alive, there was a consort in the palace whose birth month was inauspicious, so they had someone calculate the proper time and had the old head physician induce labor early. If the midwife my family hired had the old head physician’s medical skills, she could manage it within the two days I’m out.”

“Oh my, those princes were born on auspicious days, but didn’t they still lose the kingdom in the end…”

“Can matters of the former dynasty be discussed here!”

“My lady…”

Someone suddenly noticed Suzhen, and in their successive frights, everyone became chaotic.

Suzhen said, “I’m going out for a walk in the courtyard—no need to follow. Just don’t discuss too much about the former dynasty, or you might bring trouble upon yourselves.”

“Yes!” Everyone responded fearfully.

Guo Sizhen had lodgings at the Sizhen Hall, and tonight it wasn’t Little Lu or Chen Jiao on duty. Little Zhou needed to calm down, so Suzhen didn’t have anyone accompany her and slowly walked out of the courtyard by herself.

As she stepped over the threshold, something flashed through her mind, making her tremble slightly. It seemed vitally important, but she couldn’t grasp it. Frustrated, she walked out the door. The imperial guards outside respectfully saluted her. She was about to respond when she suddenly stopped.

In the moonlight, Li Zhaoting stood with Si Lanfeng not far ahead.

For some reason, they hadn’t announced their presence.

Li Zhaoting’s expression was calm as still water, yet harboring deep predatory intent. Seeing her emerge, he seemed somewhat surprised, then fixed an even deeper gaze on her without speaking, making one’s heart race with unease.