Her mood was already chaotic, so she just told them to eat first and took the letter straight to her room. Everyone saw her strange expression and wanted to follow, but she locked them outside.

She quickly opened the letter.

The letter was again from Li Zhaoting, this time also borrowing Quan Feitong’s name. If Lian Yu suspected, it wouldn’t implicate him—otherwise, both she and Li Zhaoting would be in trouble.

“Du Qing has read the Ministry of Justice documents. I read them earlier. Until now, I have only one word—still my original wish: please leave the capital quickly.”

So he had already been to the Ministry of Justice before!

Suzhen clenched her hands tightly. What should she do now? Her originally clear goals and forward steps had suddenly become completely chaotic.

Li Zhaoting’s letter actually contained unspoken words that she understood implicitly.

He had always thought her bold and reckless, that her identity would be exposed sooner or later.

The world knew Li Zhaoting and Feng Suzhen were engaged, but since Feng Suzhen was already “dead,” the engagement existed in name only. Although Li Zhaoting was under Quan Feitong and currently opposing Lian Yu, the factional struggle was a protracted war. Li Zhaoting was a cautious and intelligent person who definitely wouldn’t get into trouble for some time.

If she continued to stay, with unpredictable events, no matter how careful she was, she could hardly avoid revealing flaws, just like in the Fengjiqiao case, when her momentary compassion exposed her female identity.

Staying with the emperor was like staying with a tiger, especially someone as scheming as Lian Yu. She had seen how he broke opponents’ deep strategies. No matter how deeply she hid, he might not be unable to discover her.

Once her true identity was exposed, it would inevitably implicate Li Zhaoting.

If Lian Yu charged him with the crime of knowing but not reporting, Li Zhaoting would face mortal danger. As a representative figure of the power faction, how could Lian Yu not use this golden opportunity to eliminate him?

Quan Feitong couldn’t protect him either, unless he immediately rebelled.

But no matter how deep the relationship between Quan Feitong and Li Zhaoting, he definitely couldn’t clash with Lian Yu militarily right now just for a junior brother.

Therefore, Li Zhaoting had twice suggested she leave: first for her life, second for his position in the capital.

However, being a proud person, he naturally disdained saying such things directly.

But she still vaguely understood all his thoughts.

Moreover, he feared she still had feelings for him, which wouldn’t be good for him and Gu Shuangcheng.

She could understand him.

But could she just let her parents die innocently?

Their corpses were still in government hands, or perhaps already thrown into mass graves. As their child, how could she watch them suffer such humiliation?

She punched the table. What should she do?

Originally, on her way back, she had thought that if it wasn’t Lian Yu’s doing, things would be much easier.

She still remembered Feng Meiren saying that in her lifetime, she only wished for world peace, no more wars, small bridges over flowing water, watching clouds and admiring stars.

How could such a father rebel?

Moreover, he deeply loved his wife and would never place his wife and children in such irredeemable circumstances.

She could further gain Lian Yu’s trust, have Lian Yu issue a decree to vindicate the Feng family, so her parents, brother, and Hong Xiao wouldn’t have to bear the name of traitors for life. She could retrieve their bodies and bury them properly!

But even if Li Zhaoting had deceived her, his treatment of her was far from heartless. How could she implicate him?

He didn’t love her, but she had loved him for over ten years. It wasn’t something she could let go of easily—he was like her habit.

She could help him love Gu Shuangcheng and willingly cry herself to death, but she couldn’t bear him suffering the slightest harm.

She clutched her hair fiercely, her head splitting with pain.

“Young Master, Marquis Huo requests an audience.” Just as she was tormenting herself until her wounds slightly reopened, Uncle Fu’s slightly aged voice came from outside the door.

She was startled. What was Huo Chang’an looking for her about this late at night? Surely not to watch snow, stars, and moon, and discuss poetry, literature, and life philosophy.

She went out to look and saw Marquis Huo smiling, “Master invites you for drinks, and incidentally to watch snow and stars, and discuss poetry, literature, and life philosophy.”

Hearing this, she almost sprayed fresh blood on his face, then nodded, “Good, this young master was just thinking of drinking.”

Huo Chang’an smiled and vigorously hooked his strong arm over her shoulder, walking outside.

The two casually found a tavern’s main hall to sit down. Both were unpretentious people, unlike those refined young masters like Lian Yu and Li Zhaoting who were so particular.

Huo Chang’an poured her a full cup of wine. Suzhen drank it with her head down. When she raised her cup for a second serving, Huo Chang’an withdrew his hand and glanced at her, “Your complexion isn’t good, and your injuries haven’t healed. One cup is enough for show.”

Suzhen scoffed, “You’re really not generous. You said you’d treat me to drinks, but one cup is it? This wine doesn’t cost you much. Come on, fill it up, fill it up.”

Huo Chang’an’s eyes showed some thin, long smile lines, “As they say, the drunkard’s intention isn’t the wine. Are you really here to drink? Besides, even if you gave me courage, I wouldn’t dare. You’re Lian Yu’s little treasure. If you get hurt from drinking while your injuries haven’t healed, wouldn’t he deal with me?”

“Tch,” Suzhen rolled her eyes and muttered in a low voice, “He has plenty of beauties in his harem. What treasure? I think you’re the one who’s drunk.”

But Huo Chang’an laughed heartily after hearing this, his eyes flashing with mischief, “Hey, I say Li Huaisu, are you jealous? I said you’re his treasure, but I didn’t specify what kind. Treasured minister is also a treasure, treasured woman is also a treasure. Are you considering yourself the latter?”

Suzhen was angry, pointing at him, “Dogs can’t spit ivory from their mouths. Get lost!”

Huo Chang’an slapped her palm, “Alright, I won’t tease you anymore. Look at you getting all embarrassed and angry. Let me tell you, I’m not joking with you. Lian Yu really has taken a fancy to you. I don’t believe that during those days when you were injured and he took you to recuperate, he didn’t express anything to you.”

His eyes gleamed shrewdly as he lowered his voice, “That guy Murong Liu liked you even when you were still pretending to be a man.”

Suzhen felt both annoyed and embarrassed, scolding, “What the hell is your intention, boy? Speak up, don’t keep fooling around with this nonsense.”

“Young master,” Huo Chang’an burst into wild laughter, downed his wine in one gulp, then said leisurely, “I really do have business with you, to fish out some heartfelt words.”

“Isn’t that obvious? You, Marquis Huo, are a busy important person. Would you visit without good reason?” Suzhen put down her cup and gave him a look, “But are the Chief Justice and you really that familiar? You want to fish out heartfelt words from me?”

“Don’t you understand this principle: some people know each other for a lifetime but can never become close friends, while others form deep bonds at first sight? Oh, isn’t that exactly how you and Baiyi are? Who can explain fate clearly?”

Huo Chang’an breathed alcohol in her face.

Suzhen agreed with this statement, thinking friendship was probably like this.

Suddenly remembering Lian Yu telling her that because he met her in that brothel, he liked her, she didn’t believe it. She was good to him, but wasn’t she also good to Li Zhaoting? After more than ten years, they still couldn’t achieve a happy ending, so this theory probably didn’t apply to love.

She spat at him, “Stop being sentimental. You’re just a poor martial artist. Don’t put on literary airs. Say it—what do you really want to say?”

She slowly straightened up and looked at him seriously. Huo Chang’an saw her pair of bright, compelling eyes and hesitated slightly in his heart, suddenly changing the subject, “Why did you disguise yourself as a man to take the imperial examinations, dare to become an official and judge people, and join court struggles?”

Suzhen smiled, “Marquis, then why did you betray Wuyan back then?”

Huo Chang’an’s expression changed, and a sharp gleam suddenly flashed in his eyes. He smiled coldly, “Some secrets you’re better off not knowing. Don’t you know that in this world, the more secrets people know, the faster they die?”

Suzhen laughed heartily, then said quietly, “Exactly. So please allow me to keep a small secret too.”

“Interesting. Cheers.”

Huo Chang’an’s eyes showed a trace of admiration. He poured her half a cup of wine, and the two smiled and drank it all happily.

Suzhen wiped her mouth, “Speak.”

Huo Chang’an’s gaze instantly became deep. Suzhen felt somewhat nervous and heard him say in a low voice, “I don’t know why you do everything you do today, but after all your efforts to obtain scholarly honor, you ultimately must have some request of Murong Liu. He rules this world. Murong Liu likes you—why do you resist?”

Suzhen’s heart sank. She gripped her cup tightly and stared intently at the man across from her, slowly saying, “Huo Chang’an, what exactly do you want to say?”

Huo Chang’an ignored her and continued flatly, “In today’s court, I saw clearly that he didn’t say a single word praising your previous performance. That doesn’t fit his style with trusted ministers. That man is cunning as a fox and won’t neglect any useful minister. You two had a falling out, didn’t you? He’s distancing himself from you, keeping his distance.”

Suzhen was startled, “Distancing?”

Remembering that day—her crying and shouting, his retreat. Her heart felt complex, and she heard Huo Chang’an say softly, “If you could win his favor, what couldn’t you accomplish? It could also help Wei Wuyan, couldn’t it?”

Hearing this, Suzhen’s whole body shook. If her previous words in the villa about hoping Lian Yu would wait for her to slowly come to like him were “perfunctory,” then now, prompted by Huo Chang’an, she suddenly felt a hundred emotions intertwining, her heart trembling slightly.