Lian Yu slowly released her, his eyes full of laughter. He looked at her deeply for quite a while. Suzhen felt embarrassed under his stare and somewhat angry, pushing him, “I’m asking you a question. Be serious!”

Lian Yu stopped smiling, slowly straightened up, and said slowly, “If I said I couldn’t help myself, what would you do?”

Suzhen froze completely. After a long time, her heart gave a forceful, painful throb. She suddenly stood up and said coldly, “So everything you just said was false. I knew it. Is it fun making jokes of me?”

She trembled all over as she spoke, but said no more. She straightened up and walked forward to open the door and leave, but was embraced from behind by Lian Yu.

Wet against wet, Suzhen immediately elbowed toward his abdomen. Lian Yu let her hit him, taking her punches while low laughter escaped from his throat one sound after another. Her strength was like scratching an itch to his strong body. Suzhen was furious, but he forcefully turned her around. The corners of his eyes were already curved, but his gaze was deeply burning, so deep it seemed to want to draw her in. “I want to say I was indeed joking with you, but only about your last question.”

“That time, I was ill. How do you think I fought with Quan Feitong? In Great Wei I don’t have his connections. I found the prime minister and fourth wife because I spent much time investigating everyone’s interests and relationships. During the day I had to attend court and review memorials. For many consecutive days I didn’t close my eyes, plus I caught cold one night. I’m not a god—how could I not get sick? With so many matters pressing and unable to rest, the illness wasn’t light. That day, you little ungrateful wretch threw out a few words you thought were comforting and ran off. I sat for a while and felt dizzy, so I was about to call Xuanwu to return to the palace. Gu Shuangcheng happened to come over. My body was somewhat unsteady, and she supported me. I could only borrow some strength.”

Suzhen hadn’t thought of these circumstances. The tight feeling in her heart suddenly relaxed, as if something had seeped in. She looked up at him but instead felt somewhat at a loss. Lian Yu saw her innocent expression and found it adorable. His throat tightened, and he couldn’t help bending down to kiss her.

But Suzhen had just reacted, knowing this was another test and tease. Anger rose in her heart, and she bit down hard on his lips, satisfied to see him wince in pain. Lian Yu slightly released her, pretending to laugh coldly, glaring fiercely at her, then taking her lips and sucking hard.

Suzhen couldn’t resist him, making muffled sounds, feeling that tongue invade her mouth, swallowing her saliva… Her body had been cold, but now she felt hot itchiness running up her spine. She didn’t know what to do and just fought him desperately. Lian Yu still let her hit him… After quite a while, she was nearly limp, held tightly by him, when Lian Yu suddenly became aware of something, released her, and instead began removing her clothing.

Suzhen was ashamed and angry, swinging her fists at him. Lian Yu grasped her hands and sighed, “Alright, stop making trouble, little ancestor. Change clothes first, then if you have any petty concerns you want to know about, ask me later.”

Suzhen also felt her body was uncomfortably damp and sticky, and her mood was the same—sour and painful. Now calming down, looking at what was before her, everything felt unreal—

Lian Yu narrowed his eyes slightly, seeing her eyes full of confusion. His heart tightened, and he softened his voice, saying slowly, “Think carefully about what I said to you in the wine house that day. There’s nothing bad about becoming my woman.”

“I can allow you to reinvestigate the Xia family case, as long as the Xia family was truly wronged.”

Suzhen was suddenly startled. He indeed knew she had gone to the Ministry of Justice. He had been secretly watching her movements all along. Did he really believe her identity as Miss Xia?

But she couldn’t ask—asking would certainly expose her.

If someday she wanted to overturn the Feng family case, would he allow it? That was an edict personally issued by his father!

But now, his every expression and movement made her begin to believe he truly liked her…

Even if he still harbored suspicions about her, there was no need to go to such lengths, even involving himself, just to probe her secrets. He was the current Son of Heaven!

Yet faced with this result she most wanted, she was again confused. In terms of talent and disposition, Shuangcheng was no worse than her. In terms of looks, she was only slightly better. Moreover, there were three thousand beauties in the harem…

“Why me?” she asked him quietly.

Lian Yu said calmly, “I’ve already answered you.”

Suzhen remembered—he had said it was because he met her that year.

Because she was lucky enough to appear during a time when he seemed unhappy. She shook her head, still not understanding…

She was still thinking when Lian Yu’s gaze became somewhat dark and condensed.

“If you don’t change clothes, I’ll use force.” He said this pointing to the bed, then extremely quickly turned his back.

Suzhen’s heart warmed as she slowly walked to the bed… On the bed were his clothes, neatly folded. Her clothes had long since been lost somewhere in the rain, and even if retrieved would be wet, so she could only… only wear his clothes.

Though he wasn’t looking, he was still in the room. She couldn’t help feeling embarrassed and angry, “Go out. I’m changing clothes.”

Lian Yu’s voice came with laughter, “I won’t look at you, but I won’t go out either. You can choose not to change—I’ll help you change.”

Suzhen was exasperated, but being cold and damp was indeed uncomfortable. She bit her teeth and quickly removed her clothes, taking his to put on.

Lian Yu seemed to have eyes in the back of his head. The moment she finished changing, he turned around, only to see Suzhen’s face wrinkled into a ball, stammering, “Get me a cloth strip… I can’t go out like this.”

Lian Yu was startled. His gaze followed hers to that pile of “things” on the ground, then saw the uncovered curves on her body. His lower abdomen tightened slightly.

“Sixth Young Master, Lord Li, hot water is here.”

At this moment, someone suddenly pushed the door and entered without announcement.

Lian Yu’s gaze turned fierce. On the bed, Suzhen was also startled. The newcomer stared at her, also changing expression, staring fixedly at her and exclaiming, “You’re a woman?”

Suzhen instinctively grabbed the bedding to cover herself, which only made things more obvious. She never imagined Lian Xin would appear here.

Lian Yu frowned and sternly shouted, “Lian Xin, you’re being presumptuous! Get out!”

Lian Xin cried out in alarm, covered her mouth, and ran out.