Li Zhaoting was staying in A Luo’s sleeping palace. When Suzhen came with Little Zhou, Li Zhaoting had already retired for the night. The night-duty eunuch, knowing she had been quite favored recently, didn’t dare neglect her and quickly reported inside. When he came out, his face was full of displeasure, saying His Majesty ordered Concubine Shu to return—he would not see her!

Mimicking Li Zhaoting’s tone, he sounded quite cold and harsh.

Suzhen had no choice but to return to her sleeping palace first. Fortunately, Wuming soon arrived again, bringing news that Lian Xin had awakened, which somewhat eased her mind. Little Zhou also breathed a sigh of relief.

In the early morning, rain began to fall like flowers.

This day was Li Zhaoting’s birthday ceremony. Originally planned to be celebrated at the hunting grounds, due to the previous unpleasant incident, it was still held at the Stopping Fragrance Hall in the palace according to the original plan.

Suzhen went to attend the banquet but was still blocked by imperial guards.

Li Zhaoting refused to see her!

Suzhen smiled and knelt down outside the hall, saying to Liang Song who came out to check, “If he won’t agree, I’ll kneel until he does.”

Little Zhou knelt behind her.

Liang Song was a sycophant who, seeing A Luo warming up with Li Zhaoting, had become attentive to A Luo again. Hearing this, he said with sarcasm, “Then Your Ladyship can kneel slowly.”

The Prince of Jin’s consort and Li Zhaoting had already arrived first, with others arriving successively. Palace consorts and ministers began entering the hall. The rain grew heavier, and as the consorts entered, they couldn’t help glancing at her, thinking the hunting ground incident had indeed caused another rift between the two, all secretly delighted.

Mei’er held an umbrella as A Luo passed by her, saying softly, “What isn’t yours will never be yours.”

Miaoyin said nothing and went straight in. Wei Wulei also said nothing—she and her father were plotting something to completely destroy the person on the ground. This was a common method used in the palace for thousands of years—vulgar but effective. However, making too many enemies now would be inappropriate.

Quan Feitong said to Chao Huang, “Go give an umbrella to that maidservant.”

Chao Huang was about to nod in agreement when he heard Quan Feitong say, “I’m being foolish—this umbrella cannot be sent.”

He didn’t look further and quickly went inside.

In the hall, there were shouts of “Long live!” as gifts were presented, various congratulations offered, and continuous singing, dancing, and feasting. Li Zhaoting watched indifferently, his hand never stopping with the wine, drinking cup after cup, occasionally chatting with officials about court matters and family affairs. The atmosphere was quite good.

Si Lanfeng said quietly, “Your Majesty, the rain outside is getting heavier. Perhaps you should let Concubine Shu come in first.”

Li Zhaoting’s voice wasn’t loud, “After the banquet, go receive fifty strokes yourself.”

Si Lanfeng was startled and replied with a bitter smile, “Yes.”

A Luo was different from other consorts—her seat was right beside the Emperor. Hearing clearly, she smiled slightly in her heart.

Gradually, except for those with intentions, no one seemed to remember there was still someone outside.

Seeing Li Zhaoting had already drunk two pots of wine, A Luo softly advised him a few times. He smiled, “I am happy today.”

Outside, the rain grew heavier and heavier. Mei’er, thinking of Suzhen outside, couldn’t help feeling secretly pleased and whispered to A Luo, “Mistress, the rain has gotten heavier.”

She said nothing else, but A Luo understood perfectly.

“Your Majesty, this is a gift that the Tongzhou Prefect asked this minister to present…”

At this moment, Li Zhaoting had finished another wine vessel. A minister below was reading the gifts, and Liang Song was about to add more wine when he suddenly stood up and said, “All ministers continue eating and drinking. I’ll go out for a moment and return shortly.”

“Yes!”

He strode outside, with Si Lanfeng and Liang Song quickly following with umbrellas.

“Huaisu, why don’t we go back? I’m afraid you and the young master can’t hold out…”

Outside the hall, Little Zhou said quietly behind Suzhen, rainwater flowing down her cheeks.

Suzhen said, “No, Little Lotus’s matter can’t be hidden much longer. I must quickly… But you don’t need to suffer with me.”

Water drops kept hitting her eyelids so she couldn’t open them. She squinted, looking at the other person with heartache.

“Feng Suzhen, what do you mean by this!”

Suddenly a deep voice interrupted her thoughts. She turned to look and saw Li Zhaoting standing before her with a grim expression. Liang Song beside him held an umbrella for him.

“I only ask Your Majesty to let me leave the palace to see Lian Xin and accompany her for a while,” she said.

Li Zhaoting sneered coldly, “Do you think I would let you leave the palace to accompany Lian Yu’s sister?! Or do you want to use this lame excuse to escape again!”

“Lian Xin attempted suicide last night,” she smiled bitterly.

A flash of surprise crossed Li Zhaoting’s eyes, but then he said coldly, “Even if she died, what does it matter to me? It would be better if she died.”

“This is what I owe Lian Yu. His sister returned to the capital to pay respects and to see me once, then went to the hunting grounds, who would have thought she’d encounter such a thing. I won’t leave—you can station many people outside the palace to watch.”

“I originally thought that if I could clear this debt, then in the future I could peacefully be with you. If you don’t allow it, I have no other way. Anyway, in this lifetime, since you won’t let me leave, I can never exit the palace. Just let me grow old and die here like a prisoner.” She smiled.

“You mean that if I don’t release you, you’ll ignore me and treat me coldly for a lifetime!” Li Zhaoting was furious beyond measure and strode forward to pull her up.

This caused rain to fall directly on him. Liang Song immediately became flustered and came forward to shield him, but Li Zhaoting shouted, “Get away!”

He struck out with his palm, and the old eunuch staggered and fell to the ground.

Si Lanfeng sensibly stepped back to the side, thought for a moment, then walked over to Little Zhou to help shield her from the rain.

…

Rain continuously flowed down both their eyelids and cheeks.

“What exactly must I do to satisfy you! I give an inch, you take a mile! Feng Suzhen, is Lian Yu so important in your heart? So important that you must manage his brothers, manage his sister—if someone who was just a lowly servant by his side appeared today, would you manage them too?!” Li Zhaoting’s eyes sparked with fire as he gripped her shoulders tightly.

“I’ve already become husband and wife with you, yet you two are nothing to each other! I forbid you to manage this!” His eyes were bloodshot, flashing with wolf-like sinister gleams, as if he might tear her apart at any moment!

“You made me into what I am today. If you give me this chance, we’ll be together, and I’ll love you like I did before. If not, this body can accompany you, but without heart.”

Suzhen appeared calmer instead, speaking with a smile.

Li Zhaoting swayed, looking at her, then suddenly smiled too, “How long do you want to leave?”

“Half a year.”

“Three months,” he cut her off, his tone allowing no room for negotiation. “Take it or leave it!”

“Alright.” Suzhen gritted her teeth and nodded.

“Today is my birthday. Accompany me for one night, and tomorrow I’ll let you leave the palace,” he stared at her and said coldly.

“Alright.” Suzhen smiled and agreed, unable to tell if what was in her eyes was rainwater or tears.

Little Zhou stared from behind. Li Zhaoting had already turned and left, returning under the gaze of people in the hall who stretched their necks and looked with surprise and curiosity.

If she hadn’t spoken out of turn! A Luo glared fiercely at Mei’er and gripped her wine cup tightly.

…

Returning to the palace, Guo Sizhen came over. Little Lu and Chen Jiao, who were on duty today, had also come from the palace quarters. Little Zhou only said “I’ll heat water for you, don’t catch cold” and hurried out.

The room was extremely quiet.

She ordered people to bring water in, but didn’t dare follow until three hours later when she brought in dinner. She saw the bucket of water in the room hadn’t been touched and had gone from hot to cold.

Suzhen still maintained the same position as when she returned, sitting on the bed’s edge in wet clothes. The clothes had gone from wet to half-dry from being warmed by her body temperature.

She covered her mouth, not daring to look further. Just as she was about to leave, Suzhen’s voice came from behind.

“Keep some things safe for me.”

Turning around, she saw her remove the pouch she had kept close to her body these past days. Perhaps from not moving for half a day, when she stood her foot stumbled. She quickly went over to help, but Suzhen slowly shook her head and solemnly placed the pouch in her hands.

As she walked out holding the pouch, she cried quietly.

Inside were two pieces of broken jade and a small bottle of her master’s ashes.

The jade had been smashed to pieces by A Luo, and this person had picked up the fragments bit by bit from the ground and put them back.

…

The sky outside the window had completely darkened, and the rain still wouldn’t stop. Though Suzhen felt no hunger in her stomach, looking at the food on the table and thinking of Little Lotus, she still struggled to walk over. Just as she was about to sit down, she heard palace servants greeting someone outside… Her heart jumped.

Someone pushed the door and entered.

She hadn’t expected this person to come so early!

He wore white robes like when he was in Huai County, his eyes deep and dark, so intense they couldn’t be dissolved. Suzhen had just stepped back when his gaze darkened and he came forward to grab her…

He roughly dragged her to the bed, then pressed down on her with his hands and feet, waving his hand to extinguish the lights outside the curtains.

He kissed her fiercely, and she bit his lips until they bled. He let her bite while his hands tore her clothes.

In the darkness, the two almost clawed at each other. When he entered her, she cried so loudly.

The rain outside was so loud, yet it seemed unable to cover the sound.

That sound completely enraged him. He was about to treat her even more harshly than that night at the hunting grounds when he heard her say, “I won’t move, don’t you…”

For the first time, he heard truly pleading tones in her voice.

His mind buzzed. Though he was extremely angry, he found himself only moving slowly with her.

The hands around his neck trembled coldly throughout. Everything about her was still resisting, but he still felt the ultimate pleasure both physically and emotionally. He gasped quietly, sweat falling onto her body… After three or four times, her ice-cold hands finally slid down from his neck. He was startled and clumsily got off her, not caring about kicking over a stool and hurting his leg in the darkness. He lit the candle, only to see her lying there naked and motionless, pale as a corpse, with that kind of look in her eyes that he had seen in Lian Xin’s eyes before, even worse.

Empty, with nowhere to rest.

Her eyes were so red and swollen they looked inhuman, as if they might bleed.

No, there was indeed a trace of red beneath her eyes!

He was greatly alarmed, “I’ll call the imperial physician for you.”

Hurriedly putting on his pants, hair disheveled and barefoot, he ran toward the door.

“No, I’ll be fine after resting. If you’ve had enough, go back.” Her hoarse voice came from behind.

She didn’t want his favor, care, or anything from him! Tonight’s events were only for leaving the palace to comfort Lian Yu’s sister! His hand on the door handle suddenly stopped.

His heart and lungs felt as if someone had carved out a hole—every breath brought pain that cut to the bone!

He slowly turned around, smiling as he spoke bit by bit, “Why should I love you? I should love A Luo, Miaoyin! But I won’t let you leave. You knew early on that wherever you go, I’ll station heavy troops to guard you. But what you don’t know is that from now on, I no longer care whether you return or not. A sovereign’s word is final—since I promised not to kill Lian Xin, I absolutely won’t touch a hair on her head. But after three months, I’ll personally go drive her away. And Feng Shaoying, your maidservant—I won’t kill any of them, but I won’t allow any to remain by your side. Enjoy these three months of happiness, then grow old and die there!”

“Mm.” Suzhen only responded quietly.

She wasn’t hurt by his vicious words, but he was stung by her calm attitude! Li Zhaoting smiled coldly and walked back to the bedside, fishing his outer robe from their tangled clothes, but not to put it on. Instead, he took out a jade flute from within.

“The lonely white rabbit runs east and west. New clothes are not as good as old, but people are not as good as old friends. Since the person is no longer an old friend, why keep this vulgar, foolish old thing!”

“Moreover, this wasn’t the original item anyway—just my obsession.”

He pressed his palms together, channeling his inner force, and the flute immediately turned to fragments in his hands.

On the bed, Suzhen turned her head with some difficulty to watch those fragments dance in the flowing light.

This familiar scene made her instinctively move her lips slightly. That night of the Seventh Festival, that clever fool…

Li Zhaoting saw the smile at her lips, as if his destruction of their “token of love” was exactly what she wanted. He laughed loudly, saying “good” twice, and walked out without looking back.

The door slammed shut with a loud bang.

Little Zhou, who had been keeping vigil outside, hadn’t stood under the corridor to avoid rain like the others but had been standing in the rain. Seeing Li Zhaoting emerge with an expression unlike any before—grim and fierce with clear killing intent in his eyes—she couldn’t help shuddering. Si Lanfeng slightly glanced at the room door and quickly followed with Little Four, holding umbrellas…

Chen Jiao and Little Lu were extremely worried and wanted to go in to check, but Guo Sizhen quietly stopped them, “Let Miss Zhu go in!”

Little Zhou had already rushed inside. The bed was in complete disarray, the air filled with indescribable odors.

A thin blanket covered a body, including the head. Below the legs was snow-white with blue and purple marks, white fluid flowing.

She cried out “wah” and began sobbing.

“Don’t cry, tomorrow we can leave…” A voice hoarse beyond recognition came from under the blanket. “Check my pulse to see if the child is still well, and check my eyes—I can’t go blind yet…”

The next day, word spread that His Majesty’s Concubine Shu had somehow angered the Emperor and was banished to Huguo Temple!

The Emperor even deployed five thousand elite troops from the army to guard around the temple, supervised by two trusted deputy generals from Wei’s army. The place became like a prison with copper walls and iron barriers.

During this time, Six Doors Bureau Commander Wuqing visited frequently. Each time he came, he carried a large bamboo basket filled with seasonal fruits, saying Concubine Shu loved to eat them. This man, known in the capital for his coldness, was no longer like before. He mostly wore a smiling face and voluntarily shared some fruits from his basket with the temple guards.

Afterwards, as if fearing Concubine Shu would be bored, he often brought bureau constables with various living creatures for her to keep in the temple… cats, dogs, birds, and even brought a pair of giant salamanders.

These salamanders were quite large and made sounds remarkably like children, also called “baby fish.”

Seeing his servile appearance, though the soldiers had strict orders not to let Concubine Shu leave the temple area, they treated him relatively politely. Later, they didn’t even search his belongings when he entered and left.

That Concubine Shu rarely came out to move around. Occasionally when she walked outside the temple courtyard, she wore a wide old cloak, appearing shrouded in mist.

Meanwhile, many things happened in the palace and court. Noble Consort Wei’s pregnancy was confirmed as a misdiagnosis by the imperial physician. The Emperor was furious and had that physician beheaded. At the same time, the Empress and a talented lady were confirmed to be carrying imperial heirs. The Emperor became even more devoted to the Empress.

Under the Emperor’s strategies and the Minister’s assistance, court factions began to balance equally.

Meanwhile, floods and plagues broke out in several prefectures across the nation, straining the treasury. Nomadic tribes on the borders also suffered disasters and resumed raiding the frontiers. The state of Chu, which had ambitions to rival Wei and resented the former alliance between Zhou and Wei, was active around border cities with unclear intentions. Minister Quan wanted to open some military warehouses and granaries for disaster relief, while Marquis Wei insisted military supplies absolutely could not be reduced. The dispute continued without resolution.

This reversal of having and not having heirs, these signs of bad people seemingly becoming good—it was like a human comedy.

Days and months in the mountains were long, but autumn eventually came.

On this day, in Suzhen’s courtyard, everyone was still awake at midnight, nervously waiting in the yard.

Against Little Zhou’s advice, Suzhen chose to wait until the third-to-last day of the deadline before allowing her to use induced labor to deliver the child.

Originally, according to Little Zhou’s suggestion, they should have acted ten days earlier. When Suzhen entered the temple, the child was nearly five months along. Now, though the child was small, it was close to eight months—though insufficient, it was barely manageable. Otherwise, when Li Zhaoting came, her weak body wouldn’t be able to cope.

But Suzhen absolutely refused, insisting the child stay in her womb a few more days to grow that little bit more.

Wuqing, Leng Xue, Iron Hand, and Ah Qing guarded outside. Watching Lian Xin and Wuming continuously carry clean water and blood-stained water in and out, they were all anxious but had to speak loudly on purpose.

The temple was quiet—if Suzhen made even slightly loud sounds, it might alert the imperial guards.

After more time passed, the two went in but didn’t come back out.

Everyone was extremely anxious. Wuqing and Leng Xue wanted to rush inside! Suddenly, Wuming came out. This woman constable, known for her courage, showed a trace of panic, “Difficult labor, heavy bleeding. Even Miss Zhu, who is usually so calm, looks panicked!”

Leng Xue’s expression changed and he was about to rush in, but Wuming grabbed him, “From what I can see, Inspector Li means she’ll hold on. She’s already covered in sweat from pain and looks like she can barely make it, but she’s still biting the cloth strip without making a sound. I think she can do it.”

She spoke haltingly, unclear whether comforting them or herself.

Leng Xue and Wuqing looked at each other, both appearing nearly frantic.

Another half hour passed. Just as the two could barely contain themselves, they heard a loud crying sound, both alarmed and delighted. After about the time it takes to burn half an incense stick, Lian Xin’s trembling voice came from inside, “You can come in now.”

Several people practically raced into the room, hit by a heavy smell of blood.

“It’s a little girl, so beautiful. Her eyes and nose look just like Sixth Brother,” Lian Xin held the baby nearby, choking up.

The child slept with closed eyes. Being premature, she looked extremely small, like a newborn kitten, with delicate hands and feet, but her face was rosy, brightening one’s eyes.

Little Zhou cleaned her hands nearby, still shaking, her eyes red-rimmed.

On the ground were basins of bloody water. On the bed, Suzhen lay flat covered by blankets, hair wet with sweat, cheeks and lips pale without a trace of blood. But strangely, her face was turned toward the wall, unlike normal mothers who eagerly search for their children.

“Zhen’er, what’s wrong? Does your body hurt badly?” Before Wuqing could speak, Leng Xue trembled as he spoke.

“Leng Xue.”

Suddenly, Suzhen called softly. Leng Xue shuddered, his eyes suddenly heating! How long since he’d heard her call his name like this!

“About the past… I hate you, but in my heart you’ve always been my brother. Please, for the sake of our friendship of over ten years, help me take the child to live among common people,” she said softly.

“Among common people?” Little Zhou was startled. “Huaisu, aren’t we taking the young master back to Seventh Master and the others? Even though she’s a girl, she’s the master’s only flesh and blood. Everyone will serve her as master! In the future, when raising the flag—”

“No,” Suzhen interrupted. “All love, hate, emotions, and vengeance will end with our generation.”

“Princess,” she finally turned around, looking at Lian Xin with loving eyes, “you should also stay with them first. Think carefully about your future path before choosing.”

Lian Xin held the child tightly, her lips moving as if to say something, but finally held back. She understood this was the moment of final parting!

She thought sadly, but saw Suzhen suddenly grit her teeth and get up. Startled, fortunately Leng Xue was quick to catch this swaying figure about to fall. But she struggled free and knelt down, “Little Zhou, I entrust mine and Lian Yu’s child to you and Leng Xue.”

Little Zhou was greatly alarmed, “Huaisu, what are you doing?”

Suzhen smiled slightly, “If you consider me a friend, please don’t take her back to Seventh Master and them. I don’t want her to repeat Li Zhaoting’s path! My choice is different from Father’s back then. Lian Yu’s child—I want her to grow up happiest and most carefree. This hatred has nothing to do with her. Please don’t tell her who her birth parents were.”

Little Zhou and Leng Xue stared at her intently. Finally, Leng Xue spoke hoarsely, “Alright, I understand. Don’t worry.”

But Little Zhou shook her head, tears falling one by one. This strong girl had cried the most these past days.

“Huaisu, let me stay by your side! The young master has the Princess and Leng Xue to care for her—”

“No, my mind is made up. In this life, Lian Yu and I can never repay what we owe. You cannot stay. Please let me have no worries.”

Suzhen struggled to get up and solemnly placed the pouch that had been at her bedside into her hands again, “I… am sorry to her and her father. This thing has no right to stay with me. When she’s older, give this to her as a keepsake.”

Little Zhou took it, crying uncontrollably. She instinctively leaned toward the person beside her, but Wuqing slightly moved away. Lian Xin glanced over with pity in her eyes.

“Go,” Suzhen saw this but said nothing.

Everyone has their own path.

Even though every bone and drop of blood in her body so urgently longed for each of her friends to be happy and joyful.

At this moment, Iron Hand brought the bamboo basket from outside. Suzhen nodded to thank him. Lian Xin carefully placed the child into it and covered it with the lid. Leng Xue carried it on his back.

“Won’t you hold the child?”

Walking to the courtyard, Lian Xin and Little Zhou couldn’t help but turn back simultaneously.

In the room, Suzhen lowered her eyes, gripping tightly her hands that barely obeyed her, and smiled, “No, Little Zhou worked so hard to get her to sleep with the medicine. I’m afraid I’ll wake her.”

Little Zhou said with red eyes, “Huaisu, after this induced labor, your body will deteriorate daily and won’t last… long. You must… must take care.”

Everyone bit their teeth and quickly turned away.

Watching silhouettes disappear before her eyes, Suzhen’s body, which had needed Wuqing’s support to stand steady, suddenly seemed infused with some power and ran frantically to the corridor, tears finally rolling down endlessly.

Wuqing strode over and held her tightly from behind!

“You should have held the child just then. Why pretend not to look at her?”

“When she came out, I looked at her. This child only cried once at first, then just grinned and smiled. You didn’t see—she smiled at me, so happily. I didn’t dare hold her, I couldn’t bear to…” She turned to look at her brother through tears.

“Then leave with her and watch her grow up. Let me handle the Feng family’s revenge. I believe that given time, with your intelligence, you’ll definitely find a way to leave—” Wuqing squeezed her shoulder with heartache.

“You carry the Feng family’s revenge, but I have many other responsibilities besides our parents. Only if I go back and eliminate all those evil people can Little Lotus and everyone be truly safe.”

“Also, Scholar Tingyu died trying to rush back to help me, dying before he could extend his life. He said that though there are many factions in court, they may not truly serve the people… I might be killed before I can take revenge, but before then, I’ll do as much as I can. I originally planned to leave the palace after giving birth to return and seek revenge, but since the day the Princess was hurt by them, I knew I couldn’t retreat anymore. I must take revenge, and I can’t wait for opportunities outside the palace—I must be inside.”

She slowly walked over and leaned against a corridor pillar.

In the night sky, she seemed to see familiar figures flashing by: Little Chuzi, Qinglong, Zhui Ming, Huo Chang’an, Wuyan…

Finally, a man in blue robes.

Standing with hands behind his back, smiling, refined as polished jade.

Wuqing’s pupils rapidly contracted. He didn’t know that besides hatred, her heart had been hiding so many things! She had taken every dead person’s responsibility upon herself. Even for Tingyu, whom she barely knew, she thought about court matters.

“Zhen’er, you’re just a woman. There’s no need to take all this on yourself. You’ve never charged across battlefields, never held office for years. You won’t be remembered forever or leave your name in history. You could wait in the palace, rest, and there will always be chances to leave…” He looked at her and slowly shook his head.

Moonlight fell on her white-robed figure, so thin she was nothing like before—only bones, no flesh visible.

“I know. If Li Zhaoting discovers the truth and kills me, I won’t even be recorded in writing like Miss Miao and others. But in this life, since becoming an Inspector, I’ve saved thirty-six innocent lives from wrongful imprisonment, met Lian Yu, and had friends with whom I could drink and eat meat and trust with life and death. Though I came to the capital carrying great vengeance and thoughts of competing with Li Zhaoting, I also had a heart for pleading for the people. Though I’ll never be like those capable women in plays who can traverse the world, sweep away thousands of troops, and change heaven and earth, it’s enough.”

Before she slid down from the pillar and fainted, he heard her say this.

Two days later, Li Zhaoting indeed came.

“Feng Suzhen, I’ve done what I said—I no longer think of you,” he said indifferently on the mountain gate steps, looking at her face grown sallow and withered from illness. He then ordered Wuqing taken away and left himself.

Even if everyone feels Suzhen no longer deserves Lian Yu, when it’s time for Lian Yu to return, he must still return…