Looking at the woman beneath him again, he saw her face completely flushed, both eyes filled with shocked tears, staring at him accusingly, both angry and hateful!

He trembled slightly and immediately stopped all demands—he feared her hatred!

He almost immediately got up. Earlier, in his urgent haste, he had hastily thrown on a robe before lifting her. Now the outer robe hung loosely on his body. His gaze swept over himself and he couldn’t help smiling bitterly, picking up the belt from the floor and casually tying it in a few movements.

After straightening his clothes, he walked back to her side. Seeing her clothes torn open by him, her bellyband askew, exposing large patches of snow-white skin with several red-purple marks on it.

Embarrassment crept across his handsome face. He reached out wanting to help arrange her clothing, but his hand slowly froze in mid-air. She looked at him coldly, hatred flashing in her eyes. His heart felt as if pierced by something sharp—he didn’t like seeing her this way.

He still reached out to touch her collar.

Suzhen bit her lip and retreated. But he acted as if he couldn’t see her hatred and leaned forward again—this time, Suzhen’s whole body trembled as she raised her hand, even more hatred in her eyes, clearly about to strike him.

He said quietly: “If you want to hit me, then hit me.”

As long as she felt better.

But Suzhen ultimately clenched her fist and slowly withdrew her hand. If he felt guilty at this moment, she shouldn’t hit him—hitting him would actually make him feel better. Her heart was full of angry panic, feeling everything before her—family vengeance, love and hate—like a heavy quilt pressing tightly over her, making it almost impossible to breathe. She hated this man!

But her body was then enveloped in a warm, broad embrace.

She thought: Fine, let him like her this way—it would make her work more convenient.

Lian Yu stroked her hair, speaking softly: “Next time, if you show the slightest displeasure, I absolutely won’t touch you.”

Suzhen didn’t respond, only trembling slightly in his arms.

She suddenly raised her neck and asked: “Why do you like me?”

“Because that day I met you in the cave dwelling.”

Suzhen smiled self-mockingly.

If you had met someone else that day, you would have liked them too.

Later, she would learn that meeting at the right time didn’t equal liking—if it hadn’t been that specific person encountered then, there would have been no falling in love. Or if it were the wrong time, meeting might not spark feelings either. Love was just this delicate—right time, right person created opportunity. Get either wrong, and there would be no result. Unfortunately, by the time she truly understood this, it was already too late.

When she woke the next day, Lian Yu was already gone, presumably having rushed back for morning court. Suzhen remembered that last night she had also fallen asleep exhausted in his arms.

White Tiger came in, smiled slightly, and said: “Master said if you like, you can return to the Ministry of Justice today.”

Suzhen was startled, feeling incredible joy, but saw White Tiger’s gaze fall precisely on her slightly open collar. She immediately understood, quickly pulling her collar higher in embarrassment.

White Tiger’s smile deepened, her previous days’ coldness diminishing as she became warm toward her again.

Did this girl think she had served Lian Yu yesterday?

Hurriedly returning to the Ministry of Justice, though she didn’t feel like a lifetime had passed, she was still quite moved.

The five—Leng Xue and the others—were overjoyed to see her, asking if her injuries had healed.

It turned out that after she was taken away by Lian Yu that day, Little Zhou had repeatedly advised them, and they finally gave up fighting, since saving her life was most important. Later, they waited a long time, wanting to go in and see her, but were stopped by Chao Huang and Qinglong leading soldiers on Lian Yu’s orders.

Lian Yu had Huo Chang’an deliver a message saying he would take her away to recuperate.

The five of them were also brought back here.

In that situation, they either had to choose to fight the soldiers and break through to find her, or could only wait for news at the residence!

Little Zhou had them absolutely stay calm—no matter how good one’s martial arts, they couldn’t defeat crowds. Moreover, they had no idea where Lian Yu had taken her. Currently, the priority was not to panic. They’d wait some days, and if there was no news, they’d make other plans.

Later, they stayed at the residence waiting.

“Huaisu, I want to ask—why didn’t you want treatment that day, but instead wanted to leave?”

Zhuiming voiced the doubt that had troubled him for days.

Except for Leng Xue, Suzhen saw the other four all had inquiring expressions. She made a face at them: “I have a big scar on my body and didn’t want people to know. I’m going to rest now—so tired.”

Everyone naturally didn’t believe what she said, but seeing she didn’t want to discuss it, only Zhuiming grumbled about this dead boy not being loyal enough, while the others seemed unconcerned.

Leng Xue soon followed Suzhen inside.

In the room, Suzhen saw him coming and automatically went to nuzzle his arm. Leng Xue’s eyes heated as he fiercely embraced her: “Feng Suzhen, do you know how much you scared me?”

Suzhen soothingly patted his shoulders and back, quietly comforting: “I’m fine, it’s all fine now.”

But Leng Xue’s expression was grave as he lowered his voice further: “The emperor knows you are…”

“Yes.”

Suzhen smiled bitterly. Though Leng Xue had been mentally prepared, hearing this still shocked him slightly: “How could he possibly spare you? Did he discover anything? Did he torture you?”

Suzhen found this somewhat amusing: “Though the knife wound to my heart didn’t hit a vital spot, I was indeed severely injured. If I’d been tortured on top of that, I probably wouldn’t have lived to see you.”

Heavy suspicion flashed in Leng Xue’s eyes as he gripped Suzhen’s shoulders: “Then why would Lian Yu let you go?”

“Do you remember five years ago when we split up to search for superior jade? Later, when you came looking for me, didn’t I have brother pretend to be me bathing in the lake for several consecutive days?”

“Yes, because you said you wanted to stay there longer. You feared the little beggar living with you would discover you were female and it would be inconvenient.”

Suzhen nodded: “Leng Xue, that little beggar was Lian Yu.”

Leng Xue was greatly shocked, staring blankly for a long time before saying: “How could that be? He was the Crown Prince then—how could he go to such a place…”

“Life is unpredictable. He temporarily spared me for the sake of past friendship. Of course, he also wants to use this to investigate the people behind me.” Suzhen spoke lightly, only picking the lighter things to say, not wanting the man before her to worry.

But Leng Xue clearly sensed some distraction in her spirit, his worry and doubt growing heavier. Just as he was about to ask more, Suzhen pulled him to sit down, changing the subject to ask about matters in the national case after she left.

Leng Xue truthfully told her. Scholar Xie had been released, but Mo Chou was no longer with him, instead returning to Guixiang House to work. She, Scholar Xie, and Xie’s parents had all separately come to the Ministry of Justice to express thanks.

Prince and Princess Zhennan and Chancellor Miao had also returned to their country. Princess Zhennan was said to have gone mad, and Pei Fengji was sentenced to autumn execution. Suzhen thought of Mo Chou and Scholar Xie’s romantic entanglements and past grievances, couldn’t help sighing, then remembered someone and asked curiously: “What about Miss Miao?”

“I heard the Empress Dowager invited her into the palace as a guest for some days, but the Empress Dowager’s intentions probably aren’t what they seem.” Leng Xue smiled coldly. Suzhen was startled, then immediately understood what Leng Xue meant.

Leng Xue had questions and wanted to ask more about Suzhen’s recent experiences and the specific situation with Lian Yu, but someone knocked gently at the door.

Leng Xue opened it to see Wu Qing.

He looked at Leng Xue and said flatly: “If you and Huaisu have finished catching up, I’d like to speak privately with Huaisu.”

Leng Xue frowned slightly. Suzhen smiled at him: “I’ll find you after talking with Wu Qing.”

Leng Xue glanced at Wu Qing and slowly walked out.

Suzhen patted the chair beside her, indicating for Wu Qing to sit. Wu Qing nodded, then stared at Suzhen for quite a while. Suzhen felt uneasy and was about to speak when she heard him say: “Are your injuries mostly healed?”

Suzhen raised an eyebrow: “Didn’t I already say so? Nothing serious anymore—no need to worry, Wu Qing.”

Wu Qing nodded slightly again, then continued: “There’s something I want to tell you.”

Suzhen knew Wu Qing must have something to say, but was still somewhat surprised. Having known Wu Qing for some time, she knew this person’s mind was no less sharp than several formidable men at court. But just as she returned, what exactly did he want to tell her?

She leaned forward slightly. Wu Qing said quietly: “Huaisu, you must be careful of the people around you.”

Suzhen was shocked. After a long while, she looked at him and asked: “Who?”

“Can’t say for certain yet.”

Wu Qing’s gaze was somewhat profound.

Suzhen grew even more suspicious. Was Wu Qing’s “can’t say for certain” because he truly didn’t know, or because he had reservations?

When Wu Qing was leaving, Suzhen looked at his back flatly and asked: “What about you—should I be wary of you?”

Wu Qing turned back to look at Suzhen once, said nothing, and left the room.

When lanterns were first lit, her room welcomed another unexpected visitor who said much the same as Wu Qing.

This person wore a half-smile, with delicate features—it was Little Zhou.