She came to her senses as if waking from a dream, dried her hair, and changed into clean clothes.

Baihu knocked on the door outside, her voice somewhat impatient, “Are you ready yet? Don’t you see who’s waiting for you downstairs?”

Suzhen pulled at her lapels and walked out, apologizing to Baihu, “I’m sorry.”

Baihu snorted and went downstairs first.

Going down, she saw everyone had already seated themselves at a table by the window. Elite soldiers sat around them, vigilantly standing guard, occupying the entire other half of this suburban capital inn, inevitably drawing curious stares from lodging guests. The Son of Heaven was traveling incognito—if this were a full imperial procession, it would be quite something.

It was a rectangular table. Lian Yu sat at the head, with Shuangcheng accompanying him on the lower left side. Next to Shuangcheng were Baihu and Qinglong. Across from the three were the two Lians and Xuanwu. Xuanwu had removed his usual face covering and applied strange makeup, covering himself with scars and wearing an eye patch, disguised as a one-eyed dragon so no one could see his real appearance. Suzhen sat in the last position next to this feast for the eyes. Yan Da was indeed missing, making her increasingly puzzled. She was about to ask Lian Yu when she saw Shuangcheng wash and warm tea utensils in front of herself, then place them before Lian Yu. Lian Yu smiled and thanked her.

“You’re too kind, Young Master.”

Shuangcheng also smiled and took Lian Yu’s bowls and dishes to slowly wash them.

Suzhen thought, “Aren’t you Mu San’s fiancée? Aren’t you Li Zhaoting’s beloved?”

Then she thought again—this Miss Gu had once pleaded for her, so what was she thinking…

She silently lowered her head and began washing things too.

The innkeeper came over personally with attendants to take orders, all smiles, “What would the honored guests like? Our specialty dishes include wine-braised…”

“Innkeeper, wait a moment,” Lian Jie almost immediately interrupted him, looking toward Lian Yu with a smile, “What would Sixth Brother like to eat?”

Lian Yu smiled slightly, “Just order the expensive ones. One of each signature dish from your establishment.”

“Excellent, excellent! We’ll definitely serve the best for you, Young Master. Guaranteed satisfaction.”

The innkeeper’s eyes crinkled with joy as he cheerfully led the attendants away.

Qinglong and Xuanwu: “Sixth Young Master is wise.”

Lian Qin and Lian Jie: “Sixth Brother is wise.”

Shuangcheng burst into laughter. Lian Yu glanced at her, “Isn’t this nice? Be happy, Shuangcheng.”

Shuangcheng was startled, her hand holding the cup trembling slightly, then gently nodding.

“Come, have some tea, Miss Shuangcheng.”

Baihu warmly poured tea for her. Shuangcheng smiled, “Thank you, Hu’er.”

Suzhen had initially found Lian Yu’s vulgar ordering amusing, but now she couldn’t laugh anymore. All these years, she had spent all her effort trying to make Zhaoting laugh, only to realize no one had ever tried to make her laugh.

Having someone willing to make you laugh was such a joyful thing.

Watching everyone chat and laugh softly, she suddenly felt somewhat out of place.

Lian Jie now turned to serious matters, his expression becoming formal, “Sixth Brother, do you think Gao Chaoyi can control Li Zhaoting?”

“It’s precisely because we fear he can’t that we sent Minister Yan over,” Lian Qin smiled.

Suzhen was slightly shocked by this misdirection… So Yan Da had gone to Minshan Prefecture! Could Li Zhaoting handle it?

Lian Jie said, “Though the Huang Tianba matter is certainly important, I’m not talking about that, but rather the future…”

Lian Qin muttered, “You think quite far ahead.”

Lian Yu looked at him, “Ninth Brother, you should learn from your Seventh Brother. Everyone should have a growth process. If Gao Chaoyi wants to climb up, he must learn methods to restrain Li Zhaoting.”

Lian Jie nodded, then said, “With Minister Yan’s assistance, hopefully this trip goes smoothly. But even if we take down Huang Tianba, Minister Huang won’t be easy to deal with. I fear he’ll harbor resentment in the future.”

“Use him for now. When the time comes, eliminate him.”

Shuangcheng said this slowly.

Everyone was surprised, but saw Lian Yu nod approvingly, “Appropriate.”

Qinglong took the opportunity to flatter, “The young lady is clever.”

Lian Jie also nodded toward Shuangcheng.

“But Sixth Brother, what about Cai Beitang?” Lian Qin frowned, “This time you’ve offended two old neutral faction members consecutively. It’s difficult to handle.”

Suzhen tensed, seeing Lian Yu furrow his brow slightly without speaking. Lian Jie’s expression was also somewhat grave. Though Lian Yu intended to combat corruption, this effect… pulling one thread moves the entire body. But since no one asked her opinion, she kept her suggestions to herself as she watched Lian Yu and Shuangcheng.

At this time, dishes began arriving. Lian Yu said flatly, “Let’s eat first.”

“Yes.”

Everyone responded. Though they were away from home and free from many formalities, Suzhen still found it cumbersome and increasingly felt the insurmountable gap between herself and Lian Yu, her heart feeling heavy.

Nine dishes arrived: aged wine-braised pork shoulder, jade winter melon cups, bamboo shoot braised duck tongue… Though they couldn’t compare to the refinement these masters usually enjoyed, they were all elegant dishes. The wine was home-brewed yellow wine, also sweet and mellow. Unfortunately, Suzhen had no appetite. She suddenly remembered those days with Lian Yu in the brothel, when their simple, almost crude food and wine had seemed wonderful.

Lost in thought, she looked toward Lian Yu, only to see him pick up a piece of chicken with his chopsticks and place it in Shuangcheng’s bowl, saying gently, “Eat more. You’re too thin, and your health hasn’t been good in past years.”

Shuangcheng hummed in response, a smile rippling at the corners of her eyes, smoothing away all the coldness from her brow. Suzhen immediately felt as if someone had stabbed her heart hard. She lowered her head to eat two bites of rice, then saw Shuangcheng serve Lian Yu something, saying softly, “You like eating this.”

Lian Yu seemed surprised, looked at her, and slowly ate it.

Suzhen was startled again. Everyone watched, and except for Lian Qin’s mischievous smile, the others tactfully continued eating, hiding their amusement in their eyes.

Lian Jie looked at her with a half-smile. Suzhen gripped her chopsticks tightly, watching the elegantly dining Lian Yu, thinking “Don’t you have a cleanliness obsession…” She suddenly stood up abruptly and from across the table used her chopsticks to place pork shoulder in his bowl, saying, “You like this.”

Lian Yu looked up, his face cold as he picked the pork shoulder from his bowl and threw it on the table.

Everyone was shocked. Lian Yu’s eyes showed a trace of disgust. He simply threw down his chopsticks and ordered in a slightly stern voice, “Hu’er, have an attendant bring fresh rice.”

“Yes.” Baihu quickly responded.

“Li Huaisu, when the rain stops tomorrow, get lost and go back to the capital.”

Lian Yu stared at Suzhen, his eyes already showing severity. Shuangcheng’s impression of Suzhen worsened, but considering Li Zhaoting, she finally spoke, “Sixth Young Master, don’t be angry. Lord Li meant well—he just didn’t know you dislike greasy food.”

“Lord Li, Sixth Young Master dislikes oily foods. Please be careful in the future, alright?”

She looked toward Suzhen and gave her a meaningful glance, indicating she should apologize to Lian Yu.

That hint of mockery in her eyes… Suzhen simply couldn’t accept this kindness. She clenched her hands and pressed her lips together, refusing to speak.

Shuangcheng took an empty bowl from nearby, filled it with soup, and handed it to Lian Yu. Lian Yu accepted it, his expression finally clearing. Except for Xuanwu whose painted face made his expression unclear, everyone looked at her with the same mockery as Shuangcheng. Suzhen felt as if someone had slapped her face. She almost fled immediately, but remembering her awkward status, she didn’t. She softly said, “I’m finished eating. Please continue,” then ran upstairs.

Back in her room, she quickly packed her bundle.

She found her previous thoughts so ridiculous.

After meeting with Huo Chang’an, she had decided to stay.

Her parents’ injustice had to be addressed. Huo Chang’an said Wuyan and Lian Yu’s marriage was fake—since there was no concern about stealing a friend’s beloved, she could think of being with Lian Yu.

Li Zhaoting had helped her, and she didn’t want to owe him. He said he wanted Gu Shuangcheng. If she got together with Lian Yu and had him release Shuangcheng, she could fulfill both Shuangcheng and Li Zhaoting’s wishes. When her relationship with Lian Yu matured someday, she could tell him her identity and vindicate her parents. Otherwise, as a mere minister, no matter how favored, Lian Yu would never overturn the charges his father Emperor Dejing had originally set for the Feng family!

She had thought about liking Lian Yu the same way she liked Li Zhaoting—she always believed in fairness.

For an ending that would be good for everyone, she could sacrifice all her self-respect. She was originally nobody special. Even if she was willing to shamelessly beg, if Lian Yu had changed his heart and no longer liked her, why should she stay here and annoy him?

“Lying…” she remembered the past and said quietly, “Murong Liu, in the brothel, we didn’t have good food every day. Sometimes we ate fatty pork too, and didn’t you eat it with relish?”

She smiled and slung her bundle over her shoulder. Go back—at least there, if there were cases, someone needed her!

She clattered downstairs, and everyone looked over.

She walked quickly to Lian Yu, “Sixth Young Master, no need to wait for the rain to stop. This subordinate will return now. Forcing you to come out this time was my presumption.”

Lian Yu’s brows furrowed, his gaze several degrees more severe than before, “What trick are you playing now?”

Suzhen shook her head and looked slowly toward Shuangcheng, “Thank you. I will repay your kindness.”

Shuangcheng’s gaze deepened, saying flatly, “No need.”

Suzhen shrugged, said no more, turned and walked away.

“Shameless! What’s your attitude!”

Lian Qin’s eyes flashed fiercely as he reached out to grab her.

Suzhen was prepared. Though her martial arts were far inferior to his, she dodged with a quick movement and ran out of the inn, plunging into the torrential rain.

She was soaked through, her head spinning—she knew she had caught cold earlier. Gritting her teeth, she continued forward. After a few steps, her shoulder was suddenly grabbed by a fierce force.