A moment earlier, in another courtyard adjacent to Suzhen’s room, someone was sneering coldly at this long whistle.

“Sixth Brother, she’s a menace that cannot be kept. Let me go kill her for you.”

The speaker was Lian Qin. At this moment, with the bright moon overhead, no one had gone far. In the courtyard, four men all looked at the blue-robed man in the center.

But the man pressed his lips tightly together, his jawline cold and hard as if carved by a blade, ultimately saying nothing.

Lian Qin was anxious as fire. He looked toward Lian Jie, but Lian Jie was even more urgent than him. Glancing at Qinglong and Xuanwu, the three knelt down together: “Sixth Brother/Your Majesty, Li Huaisu cannot be kept.”

Seeing Lian Yu’s sleeves flutter slightly yet still standing with hands behind his back, gazing at distant mountains, trees, and waters without saying a word, Lian Jie frowned tightly and continued: “Sixth Brother, when have we ever wanted this person’s life? Your subject even initially advised you not to let him enter officialdom, fearing he might lose his life due to his temperament. We too have a heart that cherishes talent! But Ninth Brother and I personally saw Quan Feitong rescue him from Pei Fengji’s hands. Most importantly, before she was wounded, Zhuque had already sent people to Lu County on your orders to investigate her identity and whether she was trustworthy. The result was that there indeed was a Li Huaisu—living in seclusion on a mountain in a remote village in Lu County with one old and one young servant. The old servant occasionally went down the mountain to buy rice and grain. The villagers had hardly ever seen him or the other servant, Leng Xue. After the old servant died, the villagers said this Li Huaisu took the other servant down the mountain to take the imperial examinations.”

“At that time, you were already suspicious. You said a person’s background couldn’t be so clean. With no other clues, you had Zhuque investigate further. Though Zhuque made contact with her, he couldn’t discover anything about her. Because this Li Huaisu, though seemingly careless and daring enough to provoke princesses and heirs apparent, how could his mind not be meticulous? In all his interactions with household members, he never revealed a word about his origins to anyone. Now, learning she has a female body, Zhuque has notified all outposts to take her portrait and search Lu County again, but no such woman exists. This young lady’s identity is once again a mystery. Since ancient times, women cannot enter officialdom. She knowingly committed a capital crime—if it’s not just to display her talents, that’s highly unlikely, unless she has other political purposes.”

“What Seventh Master says is correct! Master, her opposition to the Prime Minister might also be deliberate,” Qinglong quickly added.

Xuanwu thought for a moment, pondered briefly, then also spoke, saying quietly: “Master, even if she gave this servant two packets of preserved fruits and proved that the master isn’t gay, she’s still dangerous. Master absolutely cannot let her go unchecked. At most, after her death, this servant will burn two packets of preserved fruits for her to repay the favor.”

Hearing this, everyone glared fiercely at Xuanwu. Only after hearing him speak sensibly did their expressions slightly clear, though they soon wanted to beat him up again.

At this moment, Lian Yu suddenly turned sideways, his gaze sharp and keen, slowly sweeping over everyone. Everyone was startled, hearing him say flatly: “If she’s a chess piece sent by some political enemy to harm me, on what basis do you think she could harm me? Even if it were any of you whom I trust most, or veteran ministers like Yan Da or my uncle, wanting to move against me wouldn’t be easy.”

Everyone felt a chill upon hearing this, exchanging glances, all knowing this wasn’t Lian Yu’s arrogant boasting. But their concerns remained. Lian Qin, being the focus of everyone’s expectant gazes and targeted by their looks, gritted his teeth and threw caution to the wind: “Sixth Brother, because Li Huaisu, she… she’s somewhat like… A Luo.”

After speaking, his breathing grew heavy as he immediately lowered his head. Five years had passed, and this name had long become taboo among their group. That sorrowful past was Lian Yu’s lifelong pain. Usually, no one dared easily mention this name before Lian Yu.

Lian Jie and the other three were also heavy-hearted and anxious, watching Lian Yu closely. Under the moonlight, Lian Yu’s gaze indeed darkened. Just as they were shocked by this deep, vast gloom and breaking into cold sweats, they heard him laugh long and say in a deep voice: “I am first the Son of Heaven of Great Zhou, and only secondly a man.”

Everyone was startled, suddenly understanding that Lian Yu’s earlier question had been deliberate. He had long seen their doubts—this was the answer he wanted to give them.

“Master Li, where are you going?”

Suddenly White Tiger’s slightly alarmed voice rang out. Almost simultaneously, they saw Li Huaisu with loose hair wearing only an undergarment rush out from the courtyard gate. White Tiger’s pretty face stiffened as she flipped in mid-air and landed, stretching out her arm to block her.

“Tiger, get out of the way!”

Lian Qin shouted coldly, his gaze instantly filled with vicious intent. Lian Jie and the other three also didn’t hesitate. In an instant, all drew their long swords, and together with Lian Qin, four swords stabbed toward Suzhen.

Suzhen was also greatly alarmed, suddenly stunned and smiling bitterly, thinking her life was finished this time.

But then she saw everyone forced to turn their swords back and withdraw toward themselves.

It was Lian Yu in his blue robes who, when the swords rose, leaped before her and used his own body to block all attacks.

In terms of martial arts, Lian Yu couldn’t possibly defeat the four working together, but who would dare strike him with deadly weapons?

“Imperial Brother…”

“Master!”

For a moment, everyone was as shocked as Suzhen, frozen in place.

Having escaped disaster, Suzhen didn’t pay much attention to Lian Jie and the others. Without hatred or blame, she slowly looked at the man standing before her.

Lian Yu still stared at her coldly, his eyes full of mockery. His gaze swept over White Tiger as he ordered: “Take her back.”

White Tiger acknowledged the command. Seeing Suzhen’s eyes bright as fireflies but standing somewhat dazed in place, she reached out to grab her arm, but Suzhen gently dodged away.

Lian Yu’s brow darkened: “Li Huaisu, get back inside.”

“Li Huaisu, you little wretch, this prince will personally take you back!”

Lian Qin was almost mad with rage. He stepped forward and pushed White Tiger aside to grab Suzhen. Suzhen dodged and said softly to Lian Yu: “Let’s find a place to have a good chat, okay? I’ll tell you why I like you. Do you want to hear, Stone?”

As she spoke, looking around and covering her chest, she gathered her energy and leaped lightly onto the roof eaves.

Sunbathing in moonlight—that was what she and that crazy beggar loved to do most back then.

This time, not only Lian Qin but even Lian Jie was angry. What exactly did this woman want? He exchanged glances with Qinglong and Xuanwu, about to advise Lian Yu again, when they heard Lian Qin sneer coldly: “Fall to your death!”

Everyone looked up to see the woman on the eaves swaying slightly, perhaps due to her injuries, seemingly about to fall. Just as their hearts leaped with joy, at this moment they heard White Tiger cry out softly, and a figure had already leaped to the woman’s side, embracing her.