“Li Zhaoting not only gave you protective armor, but also taught you my martial arts?”

In the midst of intense combat, Wei Chenghui suddenly roared.

He and Suzhen exchanged a glance.

This cunning girl had tricked the martial arts techniques and mental cultivation methods of Wei Chenghui from Li Zhaoting—he had taught Li Zhaoting.

Though only a few days, these mental cultivation methods were absolutely the key to martial arts, allowing them to know attack points in advance and remain undefeated in the short term.

However, their strength was still far inferior to Wei Chenghui’s, and they would likely lose this battle.

But even if they were to be defeated, this exhilarating fight without shame was still satisfying!

He tried to take most of the attacks, not letting her get injured, but even so, the old thief’s moves were vicious, intending to kill them both, still cutting bloody wounds on her unprotected hands, feet, and shoulder blades!

Her face was pale, but she made no sound, only calmly and occasionally striking with her sword, using her not-too-skilled martial arts but unusually flexible comprehension and movement to disrupt the old thief and create opportunities for him!

Suddenly, Wei Chenghui seemed to lose some composure because his techniques were exposed. A sword thrust toward his abdomen hesitated momentarily, and he was overjoyed, putting all his force into the attack!

With a “puff,” the sword entered flesh. He was ecstatic, but suddenly met Wei Chenghui’s cunning smile. In that instant, the opponent’s palms had already struck his chest and abdomen!

Several of his ribs broke immediately, and he spat out a large mouthful of fresh blood, falling to the ground.

Not good! Wei Chenghui wanted to eliminate one of them first! He was alarmed and regretful, watching Wei Chenghui sneer and snatch his sword to stab fiercely. He gritted his teeth but could hardly move—he was planning to desperately shift position to take the sword in a less fatal spot when he heard Suzhen shout loudly: “Leng Xue, hold on. I can’t let you die. I’m going downstairs to get reinforcements!”

“Good!” Without thinking, he immediately replied.

“Wretched girl! How can this old man let you get reinforcements? Die!”

Wei Chenghui thrust his sword, piercing through Leng Xue’s abdomen, then immediately leaped over him to chase forward!

Leng Xue saw that pink figure quickly condensing into a shadow before his eyes as she ran at top speed. His heart was greatly alarmed—she wasn’t going to get reinforcements but wanted to lure Wei Chenghui away!

Although he had long prepared for both of them to perish together with this man, seeing Suzhen in danger, he still couldn’t bear it. He didn’t know where the strength came from, but he actually managed to get up—

Suzhen’s stamina was insufficient. After running more than ten zhang, she was caught up by Wei Chenghui. Her nose was covered in sweat as she kept backing away… until she could retreat no more, her body pressed tightly against the city wall…

Quan Mansion.

The iron-black sky seemed connected to the residence. Even though the lights inside shone into the courtyard, the yard remained dark and oppressive.

Two people in the courtyard wore casual clothes, one standing and one sitting. Beside them stood more than ten people in tight black clothing.

In front of the black-clothed people stood a youth with red lips and white teeth.

“Master, tonight the young lady followed the imperial convoy to the city tower. Then Noble Consort Miao and Consort Wei took the Empress out separately.”

The youth reported in a low voice.

“Where did Noble Consort Miao go? And Consort Wei?” The seated person straightened up.

“Master, Noble Consort Miao followed the imperial convoy, while Consort Wei and the Empress’s carriages seemed to head toward… Wei Mansion.”

The seated person waved his hand, indicating for him to withdraw, and frowned slightly.

“Big brother, won’t you reconsider this once more?” The man standing beside him couldn’t help asking.

“I’ll arrange for them to go in first. I’ll tell you exactly what to do later—”

The seated man spoke lightly, his lips rarely pressed into a line.

“Big brother, I still don’t approve of you doing this!”

As they were speaking, the steward hurried over again.

“Master, someone outside requests an audience.”

The steward was experienced in such situations, but this time, just like before, his expression was extremely strange.

“Who?”

Quan Feitong also rarely showed a trace of inquiry.

“Lian Yu.”

…

Moments later, lanterns were lit in the courtyard.

The silent yard now had another group of people.

Quan Feitong stood up, hands behind his back, eyes slightly narrowed. After a long while, he said with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile: “That face looks handsome, but this one is more pleasing to the eye. What, has Your Majesty come here to announce a full-scale attack?”

Across from him, the blue-robed young man also smiled lightly.

“I want both the kingdom and my wife.”

“I’ve come for my wife.”

Hearing this, Quan Feitong suddenly sneered coldly: “If you hadn’t let her return in the first place, why would it come to this!”

“Do you know Li Zhaoting captured her!”

Lian Yu’s voice also became heavy: “If you hadn’t insisted she come personally for the medicine, why would it come to this! I naturally know she’s in trouble. When my people lost contact with me, I knew she might have fallen into Li Zhaoting’s or that Wei surname’s hands.”

“Though Chancellor Quan is no gentleman, he’s still relatively forthright.”

Quan Feitong lowered his eyes. After a while, he said: “She knows my temperament. Getting medicine would just be a matter of one more letter. How could I want her to risk danger?”

“But this time it is indeed my responsibility. Li Zhaoting currently claims publicly that she’s a songstress from the capital, hiding her tightly, but I will find a way to rescue her.”

“It’s not that Lian Yu doesn’t trust Chancellor Quan’s abilities, but rescuing her this time might be harder than ascending to heaven. We both know what kind of person Li Zhaoting is.”

“Moreover, there’s Wei Chenghui, that old cunning fox,” Lian Yu said.

Chao Huang quickly said: “Yes, this makes sense. If we force our way in, we might not be able to rescue her.”

Quan Feitong was silent for a while, then looked up at Lian Yu: “What’s your idea?”

Lian Yu slowly said: “Do you know her current situation in the palace?”

Quan Feitong nodded to the youth beside him, who immediately bowed his head and repeated what he had just said.

Lian Yu suddenly said: “You just said Noble Consort Miao followed the imperial carriage out of the palace?”

“What’s she doing out of the palace? Songstress… songstress… So that’s it.” He pondered briefly, then suddenly smiled.

“What does this Noble Consort Miao’s situation have to do with us?” Chao Huang didn’t understand.

Quan Feitong’s brow twitched, but he immediately understood what Lian Yu wanted to do.

“Time is of the essence. While she’s outside the palace, let’s see if we can meet with her. Chao Huang, we’ll dress as your subordinates in military garb and try our luck near the city tower,” he said almost immediately.

Hearing this, Chao Huang hesitated slightly before nodding in agreement.

Beijing streets.

Li Zhaoting’s sudden impulse didn’t make Si Lanfeng and Liang Song any less vigilant, especially Si Lanfeng, who led a group of plainclothes experts to protect him closely, very alert.

Stopping at one place, Li Zhaoting said “this is the flavor” and stopped, saying gently: “Give me some almond cakes.”

“Right away, young master.” The vendor saw the visitor’s luxurious clothing and more than ten servants and attendants, not daring to neglect. He immediately packed them and respectfully handed them over.

Liang Song was about to pay when Li Zhaoting took the money pouch, took out a gold ingot. The vendor was shocked: “I can’t make change for this.”

“No need for change.” Li Zhaoting placed it in his hand. “If the taste is good, I’ll come again tomorrow.”

“Yes, yes, thank you, young master… thank you, young master…” The vendor was overjoyed, saying repeatedly.

He asked with an ingratiating smile: “Young master, is this for a lady you fancy or your father?”

“My fiancée.” Li Zhaoting paused and said softly.

The old eunuch and Xiao Si looked at each other, but knowing Li Zhaoting was in excellent spirits, his lips curved with rippling smiles.

As he spoke, he suddenly pressed his chest. Xiao Si immediately became nervous: “Your Maj— young master, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell somewhere?”

Li Zhaoting didn’t speak immediately. His heart suddenly ached with palpitations, though he didn’t know why. He adjusted his breathing. A young couple walked toward them, and the girl’s eyes were bright as she said: “Zhang Lang, look, look! There’s a shooting star.”

Li Zhaoting looked up and saw a star falling rapidly from the sky.

City tower.

Wei Chenghui sneered as he stepped closer, finally grasping Suzhen’s throat with one hand.

“Thinking you could single-handedly eliminate me with such noble airs? Your father couldn’t accomplish what you think you can do?”

“If you had the ability to charm Li Zhaoting into killing me, I might even look upon you favorably. Do you know how foolish this behavior is?”

“My father couldn’t do it not because he lacked ability, but because you were Li Zhaoting’s right-hand man, and he wouldn’t harm you. Moreover,” Suzhen couldn’t breathe, her face flushed red, but she still spoke with difficulty, word by word.

“Wei Chenghui, to become Li Zhaoting’s sole advisor, you plotted to kill my family. To threaten Lian Yu, you used Lian Xin as leverage. Not to mention half a year ago when you poisoned civilians to win battles. Someone who brings such disaster to the country and people doesn’t deserve to remain in this world.”

Hearing this, Wei Chenghui laughed even more heartily: “You, a mere woman—can your abilities match Xiao’an’s? Can your appearance compare to the palace women? Do you really think that serving as Da Zhou’s magistrate for a few days means you’ll be remembered for centuries? Do you really think you can change a dynasty!”

“Die, Feng Suzhen! After you, Lian Yu, Quan Feitong—all these people must die! If Li Zhaoting also forgets gratitude and dares oppose me, he too…”

His eyes held cold, murderous intent, so undisguised, colder than the present moon and frosty night.

“Wei Chenghui, is this your limited vision? I never thought becoming a female official was such a rare thing. What men can accomplish, women can too—it’s just a matter of time. I never thought about leaving a name behind, but what my father couldn’t accomplish, today I—”

Wei Chenghui could no longer tolerate her words, viciously tightening his grip. Suzhen’s eyes bulged, her throat bone about to crack, but at this moment, her right hand suddenly struck, hitting the city wall beside her!

Sand and stones flew, debris scattered.

Wei Chenghui hadn’t expected it—truly hadn’t expected it. The next moment, he found himself in mid-air.

Behind her, the city wall collapsed, falling into the air. His hand was still on her neck, unable to dodge. Together with her, the two fell in an extremely rapid manner.

In the air with no purchase, he couldn’t stop this falling speed or situation!

For the first time in his life, Wei Chenghui’s eyes showed great panic. He had never imagined, never thought—

“Zhen’er!”

Covering his abdomen and stumbling forward, seeing his hand grasping at empty air, Leng Xue felt as if ten thousand tons were crushing down on him. But this step was still too late. He shouted in terror and was about to leap down after her, but saw her smile at him.

Live on. Li Zhaoting won’t kill you.

She made no sound, but this was what her eyes said.

He wanted to die with her, but at this time, he knew he couldn’t.

He couldn’t let her leave without peace of mind.

But he didn’t know why he was the one left behind…

Tears streamed down his face as he stared blankly at the base of the city tower. In an instant, the moon was dark and stars dim, everything seemed to stop, everything blank.