“Moreover, I know you were already acquainted with her.”

“Minister Quan actually knows we’re old acquaintances?” After Sangzhan’s surprised exclamation, he wasn’t greatly alarmed but smiled calmly, “Yes, by fate and circumstance, I once encountered her several times in our tribal lands. I did indeed develop feelings of admiration for her then. But she didn’t accept them.”

At this point, he lowered his voice: “Moreover, I saw her being very close with a man at the time. Later, by coincidence, I learned that man was actually the former dynasty’s emperor.”

“So I gave up hope. Of course, saying I have no lingering feelings would be impossible. But just now it was more surprise than longing. Her face… what Your Excellency saw was truly my shock. But didn’t Sangzhan also see tension in Your Excellency’s eyes? Could it be that Your Excellency also has feelings for Concubine Shu…”

He looked at Quan Feitong with a half-smile.

“Tsk tsk, turning it back on me? I do have designs on her. But the Emperor knows.” Quan Feitong laughed heartily, “That short-lived ghost of a former emperor is gone, and she’s truly close with the current Emperor. You don’t know—they’re childhood sweethearts. You saw just now how the Emperor protects her. The Emperor also knows she has no interest in me, so she and I are truly… nothing at all.”

Sangzhan lowered his eyes slightly, seeming to ponder something.

“I was just joking earlier. Young Master, go back and consider carefully. I’ll await your answer.” Quan Feitong changed his tone, no longer seeming to threaten as before.

“Very well, Sangzhan will certainly consider Your Excellency’s words carefully.” Sangzhan looked up, appearing thoughtful, “It’s just that Sangzhan came here for tribal matters and never thought of dwelling in the imperial court. Of course, if I truly stayed, I’d hope to choose a worthy master. I need time to think. I hope Your Excellency will be understanding.”

Quan Feitong nodded and smiled as he watched him leave.

This answer was within his expectations. If he had agreed immediately, he would have found this person unsuitable and harboring ulterior motives, since he had originally come for mining matters.

However, whether he agreed or not, there was one person he couldn’t covet.

He couldn’t be blamed for bringing up Li Zhaoting. What he had set his sights on naturally couldn’t be desired by others.

Thinking of someone, he smiled self-mockingly.

She was quite ruthless! Sometimes he truly couldn’t understand her thoughts—she had actively requested to leave the palace, yet now requested to return. Had she made up her mind to seek revenge for Lian Yu?

At this moment, someone emerged from behind, “Elder Brother, you intend to recruit this Sangzhan? Can he be used?”

“If he had agreed from the start, he truly couldn’t be used. You know where he’s staying—go see if Li Zhaoting uses the reward as an excuse to have him summoned back again.”

“Yes!”

After Li Zhaoting left, the banquet quickly ended as well. Originally, the so-called autumn banquet was just the Prince of Jin’s consort giving a warning to the returned Suzhen. But Li Zhaoting’s attitude was clear—though uncertain if his feelings remained as intense as before, his protective intent was obvious.

Wei Wulei returned to her palace and smashed several items in anger. Still unsatisfied, she was about to throw more when a middle-aged woman beside her spoke to dissuade her. She looked back, “Aunt, you see, though Father has power now, he’s not the only one with power. The Emperor isn’t a pushover and won’t favor me exclusively. He already liked the Empress, and though they had some conflicts recently, now that she’s carrying an imperial heir, she’s treasured like a pearl again. If Miaoyin also gets ahead of me, I…”

“Now even that Feng Suzhen has returned. Originally, I wanted to blame my fake pregnancy’s miscarriage on her, but her sudden departure from the palace forced Father and me to push the matter onto the physician.” She stamped her feet angrily on the ground several times.

The middle-aged woman smiled instead, “You’re someone who can remain patient, which is why you’ve gone further than your two sisters today. You need to be even more steady now. Those who laugh last laugh best—don’t you know this too?”

“This situation isn’t entirely bad either. Think about it—the Empress will definitely fight with that returned Feng Suzhen. When they’re both wounded from fighting, you can take the opportunity to restore your health and conceive an imperial heir.”

“But Aunt, I can’t get pregnant!”

“You have cold constitution and blood deficiency, making pregnancy quite difficult, but with Aunt treating you, given time it will certainly work.” The middle-aged woman smiled reassuringly.

“Yes, Wulei will listen to Aunt.”

Their conversation wasn’t like that between palace master and servant. Indeed, this woman wasn’t a palace official but Wei Chenghui’s sister, truly Wei Wulei’s aunt Wei Shuang.

Wei Shuang was well-versed in medicine. Seeing Wei Wulei’s long failure to conceive, Wei Chenghui had brought his sister into the palace under the pretext of companionship to treat Wei Wulei.

Though Wei Wulei had calmed down, Wei Shuang frowned tightly as if pondering something, her expression quite strange.

“Aunt, what’s wrong?”

After a long while, Wei Shuang slowly spoke: “I find this Concubine Shu very strange.”

Sangzhan left the palace and returned to the inn, where his friend Ah Qi and two servants, Ah Bu and Ah Nu, immediately approached.

“Master, the matter is settled.”

Sangzhan said calmly, “The first matter is settled. Now we just wait and watch.”

The three were delighted. They had the waiter bring food, though it was quite simple fare.

With many people in the valley, if not for the abundant resources and someone’s great assistance, they couldn’t have sustained themselves. So even though Sangzhan was nobly born, he always insisted on simplicity.

The three stood aside waiting for him to dine, unlike ordinary servants, seeming to observe master-servant protocol more strictly.

But Sangzhan said, “Eat together.”

Seeing his tightly furrowed brow, the three exchanged glances. Ah Nu couldn’t help asking, “Master, are things not going smoothly?”

“No, they’re going well. Wait until the reward-bearers come, then we’ll talk.” Sangzhan said quietly.

After dining, he had everyone return to the adjacent room while he waited for visitors.

Meanwhile, he took something from his chest to examine closely.

It was a small wooden carving.

It depicted a youth with clever eyes and mischievously upturned lips, as if sizing up and calculating something.

Though an inanimate object with imperfect craftsmanship, the features were lifelike.

He slowly stroked the carved face and head, his gaze deep. After a long while, he put the carving back in his chest.

Soon, Chief Eunuch Liang Song arrived with rewards, polite and courteous but not talkative.

He wasn’t anxious either. After thanking him and seeing him off, he waited a while longer before going out.

When Ah Qi and others asked where he was going and wanted to follow, he refused.

After the time it takes to burn an incense stick, he stopped at a small stall selling pot stickers on the street.

Diagonally across was a grand estate with “Six Doors Bureau” written on the gate plaque. Just as he was about to cross over, he suddenly sensed something and glanced toward a side alley, seeing two men dressed as common people standing there with hawk-like eyes.

He no longer went over, just bought some pot stickers and quietly left.

At this time, Chao Huang across from the inn, seeing no one else come, also quietly departed.

Three hours later, as night deepened, someone knocked on his lodging door.

Shortly after, he and the visitor left the inn together and boarded a carriage bound for the imperial city.

Little Lu carried the brewed medicine out of the kitchen. My lady needed to take this medicine morning and evening.

Walking along, he saw a group of medicine boys from the Imperial Medical Academy gathered excitedly around something, shouting. He looked over curiously and accidentally bumped into someone.

“Are you blind!” A palace maid’s scolding voice immediately rang out.

He was startled to see his tray had hit someone dressed as a female official, though the scolding came from a palace maid beside her.

Just as he grew alarmed, he heard the female official say calmly, “It’s nothing, Ying Ge, let’s go.”

“I won!”

He sighed in relief, feeling this female official looked unfamiliar yet seemed recently encountered somewhere. While pondering, he heard someone shout.

In the gaps between people cursing and moving, he saw what was on the table before them.

Gambling equipment!

He usually had no hobbies except this. Seeing it, he couldn’t help but move closer.

Some among them knew him. Seeing him approach, they came to help, placing his medicine cup on another nearby table.

After joining one round, remembering Suzhen, he cursed himself and quickly grabbed his medicine to rush back, not caring about the money he’d lost.

When the medicine was delivered, Suzhen was painting in her room.

Returning today, she had wanted to immediately notify Wuqing to find Sangzhan.

She hadn’t expected Sangzhan to suddenly appear. His appearance, she clearly understood, was to prevent the court from mining in tribal lands, or else the Murong army would be completely exposed to broad daylight. The Sang tribe would also face great disaster for harboring rebels.

She so wanted to meet with him and ask about the Lian family’s situation, yet feared discovery—Sangzhan’s appearance undoubtedly disrupted Wei Chenghui’s plans. If the old fox bore grudges and followed them, discovering their private relationship and reporting to Li Zhaoting, it could bring Sangzhan mortal danger.

After much consideration, she had Chen Jiao deliver a letter to the Six Doors Bureau for Wuqing to forward to Quan Feitong.

Later, Sangzhan’s words were completely unexpected to her!

Both excited and anxious, she sought confirmation from Quan Feitong whether Sangzhan had successfully offered his strategy, while also worrying for Sangzhan.

At dusk, receiving Quan Feitong’s reply, she finally relaxed.

Sangzhan had helped them—she could peacefully do what she needed to do!

Afterwards, for some reason, she suddenly felt like doodling.

Soon, a man in long robes appeared on paper. Under an osmanthus tree, he wore a folding fan at his waist and held a jade flute.

She looked at the painted figure, who seemed also to be looking at her.

From initial deep affection to emotionless calm, just like Sangzhan’s eyes today, then becoming angry and cold…

She startled and her brush slipped. Not daring to look further, she hurriedly drank her medicine and returned to bed.

She couldn’t remain chaste—Lian Yu hated her! How dare she still paint him!

After an unknown time, she fell into restless sleep covered in cold sweat.

In the deep night, a shadow from the slightly open door fell across the floor of the room.