In the main hall, Suzhen personally brewed tea for her and sincerely bowed, saying, “Thank you, Princess, for coming to visit Huaisu.”

Lian Xin stared at him intently, asking with some hesitation, “Li Huaisu, have all your injuries healed?”

Although Suzhen had previously had major conflicts with her and didn’t like her disregard for human life, she also understood that this young lady had quite a temper but wasn’t truly bad-hearted—it was just that her long stay in the imperial palace had distorted some of her views.

At this moment, seeing her face full of concern, she was naturally moved and said gently, “It’s nothing now, don’t worry.”

Lian Xin nodded and said in a low voice, “Actually, I heard yesterday that you had returned, but Mother Empress wouldn’t let me leave the palace to see you.”

Suzhen thought of that woman who looked stern and iron-handed at first glance, and also shivered slightly. But at this moment, she didn’t mind much, thinking that the Empress Dowager was concerned about propriety between men and women—after all, Lian Xin was of royal blood.

She saw Lian Xin point to the gift boxes on the table, her face flushing red as she said in a low voice, “These supplements—some are from me to you, and some are from Sister Wei Consort who asked me to bring them.”

Wuyan? Suzhen was delighted and immediately said, “Please convey Huaisu’s thanks to Noble Consort Wei on my behalf.”

But Lian Xin looked at her with some confusion, “Speaking of Wei Consort, why are you so happy? How do you know her?”

Suzhen found it slightly strange—what was wrong with little Lian Xin? She seemed to have suddenly become displeased.

Since she now knew Wuyan’s identity, she naturally wouldn’t say they met at a wine house that day. After all, she was a “man,” and it might damage Wuyan’s reputation. She said, “Wasn’t it through His Majesty that I came to know her? If I may say so boldly, Noble Consort Wei feels like an older sister to me.”

Lian Xin immediately smiled broadly, “Oh, so you think of her as a sister!”

Suzhen nodded, and Lian Xin casually laughed, “Your Sister Wei Consort hasn’t been doing very well these past few days.”

Suzhen was startled, “What’s wrong with her?”

“Didn’t you notice that day? That Miss Miao from Great Wei has feelings for my Sixth Brother. When Mother Empress invited her to the palace as a guest, what do you think that means? Not only Wei Consort, but Sister Consort is also very unhappy. Oh dear, in short, all the women in the harem won’t be happy.

Brother Lian Yu has even been taking time to accompany her these past few days. But that’s good too—it saves that little wench from the Gu family from having an opportunity.”

Having heard this from Leng Xue before, and hearing it again now, Suzhen felt something strange in her heart. She thought that this Miaoyin was a famous beauty from Great Wei, and most importantly, given her status and her devotion to Lian Yu, if Lian Yu took her as a consort, it would naturally be a good thing.

She had heard that Wuyan was the woman Lian Yu loved most—no wonder! How hard it must be for Wuyan to still spare concern for her at such a time. Thinking of this, she felt that Lian Yu was utterly detestable. Then she suddenly remembered last night when the two of them… Didn’t he love Wuyan the most? How could he still do such things with other women? Well, he was the Emperor, and he naturally had many women—three thousand in the harem… She froze, hurriedly shaking off these irrelevant thoughts. Remembering what Lian Xin had just said, she felt somewhat puzzled and asked, “Is the Princess referring to Miss Gu Shuangcheng from the Gu family?”

Lian Xin’s willow eyebrows shot up, and a trace of disdain flashed in her eyes, “Mother Empress says she’s not a good woman, just like her sister…”

She seemed to remember something as she spoke, somewhat hesitant to continue, “Let’s not talk about that seductress. Isn’t she supposed to marry the Prime Minister? Yet she entered the harem!”

Suzhen clenched her hands slightly, thinking that this matter really had nothing to do with Gu Shuangcheng—it was Lian Yu who forcibly brought her into the palace!

Her heart filled with more hatred for that man. Of course, she wouldn’t analyze Gu Shuangcheng’s situation with Lian Xin, much less defend her.

She was just petty-minded and couldn’t be magnanimous enough to sympathize with the woman who had stolen her lover’s deep affection.

The two continued talking for a while, all revolving around the case from that day. Lian Xin spoke with animated excitement, constantly saying, “Li Huaisu, you’re really amazing!” Finally, when it was time to say goodbye, she glanced at her and bit her lip, saying, “I won’t disturb your rest anymore. When you’re better, shall we go to the outskirts… how about horseback riding? Or do you have any other suggestions?”

“Good, I like horseback riding.”

Suzhen smiled and got up to see her off.

“Don’t see me off, don’t see me off. You go back to bed and rest. I’ll walk myself,” Lian Xin said with a slight smile at the corner of her mouth, leading several maidservants out contentedly. She seemed to remember something and suddenly turned back, saying, “Li Huaisu, you could also come to the harem to find me sometimes. Don’t always make me come to you!”

Suzhen was stunned, but saw little Lian Xin looking at her, stamping her feet, then turning her head and running away like a bird. At the main gate, she bumped into someone’s arms—it was Wuqing, who was walking slowly with a cane. Fortunately, it was Wuqing with his excellent martial arts skills, so he wasn’t knocked over. Strangely, Lian Xin, who usually found Wuqing disagreeable, didn’t scold him much this time. She just cursed “dead cripple” and ran off.

Instead, Suzhen stared intently at Wuqing and strangely discovered that a flash of intense disgust passed extremely quickly through Wuqing’s eyes.

Although Wuqing had always been cold and even quieter than Leng Xue, his temper was actually very good—or perhaps it should be said he was distantly polite. Such strong emotion toward Lian Xin…

Several men followed in. Zhuiming’s eyes flashed with disdain as he sneered, “That willful princess is really a shameless little fool. Doesn’t she think about it—that’s the harem, the harem! Can the noble ladies and young misses in there enter without being summoned?”

“Iron Hand, Wuqing, don’t you think so?”

Xiao Zhou gave him a cold look, “All I know is that trouble comes from the mouth. Look at your own status.”

“Are you looking for a fight?” Zhuiming was furious, but Wuqing turned around and gently pressed him down.

This day, apart from Lian Xin’s visit, nothing else happened, and it passed quickly.

At nightfall, Suzhen was preparing to rest early to gather her strength. Tomorrow she would attend court to show that she had begun working, and after court she would immediately go to the Ministry of Justice to retrieve the case files of the Feng family’s execution. Outside the door, however, came the sudden voice of the steward, Uncle Fu: “Young Master, someone has delivered a letter.”

She was puzzled—a letter, another letter. But this time, who could it be? She quickly opened the door, and Uncle Fu respectfully presented a letter.

Suzhen grabbed it and tore it open. After a long while, she said in a slightly trembling voice, “Uncle Fu, prepare the sedan chair immediately.”

“Yes, Young Master. But where is Young Master going?”

Suzhen slowly replied, “The Quan residence.”