Suzhen was startled and said urgently, “Lian Yu, what should we do? Your sister knows I’m a woman. If she tells others, I…”

She got up to chase after her, but Lian Yu looked at her and said, “Don’t move. I’ll go.”

He quickly went out, but it was quite a while before he returned. When he came back, he had already cleaned himself and changed clothes.

“I’ve ordered people to chase after her, and also your magic weapon…” Lian Yu approached her, his eyes glinting with mischief, “I’ve also had little Chuzi prepare it.”

Suzhen’s face heated up. Remembering something, she still frowned with some worry, “When Lian Xin saw I was a woman, she seemed somewhat unhappy. Is it because she feels I deceived her? I should go chase after her and explain.”

“You’re afraid she’s unhappy?” Lian Yu smiled, his eyes holding deep meaning, “Because she’s my sister, so you’re worried?”

Suzhen gave him an eye roll, “I consider her a friend—it has nothing to do with you. You’re overthinking.”

At this time, she didn’t think much about it. Only much later would she realize that everything could be traced. It was easy for Lian Xin to leave the palace, but previously when she returned to the Chief Justice residence, the Empress Dowager had forbidden her from visiting. This time, it should have been impossible for her to sneak out of the palace.

Previously, someone had spoken to the Empress Dowager and gotten permission for her to leave the palace. This time, someone was again secretly helping…

But at this moment, she didn’t think that far ahead, perhaps because she had never deeply perceived Lian Yu’s machinations.

She also didn’t know that Lian Yu’s heart was surging with intense joy at this moment, merely because of her small show of affection, no longer so resistant and hateful toward him. He was just accustomed to maintaining a calm facade that revealed nothing.

Lian Yu stroked her hair and asked if she was hungry, if she wanted to bathe. Suzhen was tired and lazily didn’t want to move, saying they could do it later. He smiled and told her to sleep a while, saying he had already instructed little Chuzi to keep food warm for her and brew hot soup to ward off the cold, which would be brought up shortly. He sat leaning against the bed, wrapped her tightly in the quilt, held her in his arms with his forehead against hers, and dozed lightly, seemingly thinking about court matters.

Suzhen had a dreamlike feeling. Her body was warm, and she didn’t struggle free. She liked this temperature. This feeling… was comfortable. Moreover, this person didn’t seem to like using force, probably to maintain imperial dignity. At least he hadn’t changed clothes here, showing her respect… Were things settled between them?

She suddenly remembered something and patted his hand.

“Mm?” Lian Yu’s voice carried lazy undertones, “What is it?”

“Your subordinates are all bad people who just pick on me. Don’t they think about it—Shuangcheng is Quan Feitong’s fiancée. If I have bad intentions toward you, hers must definitely be good? That Mu San is quite decent—why would she necessarily like you? Maybe she’s here to spy and lure you in.”

She complained.

Lian Yu was startled and somewhat amused, not knowing whether to call her generous or petty. Generous, because she would complain to him when the opportunity arose; petty, because her tone held no real anger—it was pure grumbling.

How could Lian Jie and others not be wary of Shuangcheng? In these extraordinary times, it was just that Gu Shuangcheng was in the open while her background was more mysterious, so they attacked the shield with the spear first. He was about to say a few good words for them when he saw her suspiciously turn to stare at him, “That’s not right. You said earlier that all that was fake, but why did you originally bring Shuangcheng into the palace?”

His heart sighed, but he didn’t want to tell her about Aluo at this time. It was rare for her attitude toward him to soften slightly, so he smiled and said, “I’m at odds with Quan Feitong—this was just to embarrass him.”

“How childish. I thought you had been completely transformed, but you’re still like the old Shitou, throwing tantrums!”

Suzhen couldn’t help but laugh and stretched lazily in his arms.

Lian Yu’s heart grew even softer, and he just held her tightly. His arms were like iron hoops, making Suzhen wince in pain and protest dissatisfiedly. Lian Yu loosened his grip slightly and adjusted to what she preferred.

He didn’t want her to fear him—he wanted her genuine devotion, someday.

He narrowed his eyes slightly. This was exactly the best result he wanted.

When still studying in the upper academy, Gu Shuangcheng had already shown interest in him. He hadn’t accepted because he already had Aluo.

When she was young, her feelings might have been genuine. Now, whether her feelings were real or fake, he would be good to her to make her understand that he was only using her to stimulate Li Huaisu, and she should give up hope. He was willing to take care of her and not let his mother harm her—that was all. She was Aluo’s sister, not Aluo, and he now had the person in his arms. He didn’t have much energy to think about other people and matters—his aim was the empire, and this would be another hard battle.

He slightly furrowed his brows, his eyes slowly showing fierce calculation.

Suzhen didn’t know how she fell asleep. She only remembered being truly comfortable in his embrace. She drowsily heard him calling her to eat and bathe, but she impatiently told him not to disturb her, and then lost consciousness… The rustling sound of clothes by her ear made her whole body stir. She instinctively opened her bleary eyes and saw the room was dim with weak lamplight. Lian Yu stood with his back to her in front of the bed, putting on his outer robe.

She had wanted to ask why he hadn’t woken her—they had ended up sharing a bed so quickly. She couldn’t be completely uninhibited about this. At this moment, seeing his movements, she felt alarmed and suspicious. Before she could speak, Lian Yu had already heard her stirring and quickly turned around.

He reached out to touch her head, his eyes full of indulgence, slightly frowning, “You have a slight fever. Sleep a bit more—there’s still an hour or so until dawn. I’ve instructed little Chuzi that when you wake up, he’ll prepare medicine for you. I’m sorry I can’t personally take care of you. I have to leave for a while. Little Chuzi and my elite guards will escort you back to the capital.”

Suzhen’s heart shook, “Shitou, where exactly are you going?”

Lian Yu’s lips curved slightly, a gleam flashing in his eyes.

Suzhen suddenly understood and said quietly in shock, “Luring the tiger from the mountain—your real destination isn’t Chuhe Prefecture at all. You’re going secretly to Minshan Prefecture. You sent Minister Yan there, ostensibly to support Gao Chaoyi and restrain Li Zhaoting, but actually to give Quan Feitong reassurance. Quan Feitong must have already secretly departed for Minshan Prefecture too, right?”