Princess Lian Xin was in the midst of her tantrum and shrieked, “I won’t see anyone! I won’t see anyone!”

Brother Lian Yu had even had Baihu remind her not to reveal this matter, or everyone would know she had fallen for a woman. Were her feelings for Li Huaisu so obvious!

She naturally wouldn’t tell—otherwise, how could she face anyone when everyone inside and outside the palace knew!

She gritted her teeth, filled with fury, imagining the teacup in her hand was Li Huaisu and violently smashed it to the ground.

So Brother Lian Yu and Li Huaisu were having an affair… One bad person, one cheap person. She plopped down in a chair and began wailing, feeling full of grievance and anger.

She absolutely couldn’t let Li Huaisu off—it must be her who seduced Sixth Brother! As she bit her tongue and thought this, a pair of hands gently pressed on her shoulders, “What’s wrong with the most beautiful young lady in our palace? Look how your makeup is ruined from crying—that’s not pretty.”

She looked up with teary eyes to see Wei Wuyan, who had entered silently. Her relationship with this sister-in-law was usually good, but she had always been spoiled and probably only feared two people in the world: Xiao’an and Lian Yu. Being in a bad mood now, she couldn’t help but snap, “Who told you to come in!”

Wuyan also had her reasons for coming—having received the message Lian Yu had Baihu bring back. Hearing this, she smiled bitterly, thought for a moment, then bent down and whispered, “Princess, think about it—your Sixth Brother wronged you in this matter. In the future, whatever you request, how can your imperial brother refuse?”

Lian Xin was shocked and asked tremblingly, “You know about this too? Did Brother tell you?”

She suddenly laughed coldly, “And you’re here to persuade me. I don’t believe you’re so magnanimous—who would believe you’re not jealous of Li Huaisu? I know that among all the women in the palace, Brother favors you most, but there’s no guarantee he won’t dote on another woman the same way he dotes on you. Then his love for you will be diluted—wouldn’t you mind? I don’t believe it! I hate pretentious people most of all.”

Wuyan smiled faintly and said, “Princess, think about how many women are in this harem. Three thousand beauties is an exaggeration, but His Majesty does have a hundred consorts. His Majesty is also very good to Consort, isn’t he? And there may be Miss Miao who might be brought in later, and Agu… If this were in the common world, His Majesty would be a distinguished young master who treats all the women he fancies well. Can Wuyan be jealous of so many? If not Li Huaisu, it would be someone else.”

Lian Xin snorted and pursed her lips, “You see things clearly, though I bet your heart doesn’t think so. What, did Brother send you to be a mediator?”

She stood up angrily again, “I’ve thought about this matter for half the day and finally understand. Brother is the most cunning person—how could he not notice I was following him? The few guards I brought—how could they compare to Brother’s Xuanwu and Qinglong? They would discover us immediately. When we got to that broken inn, with so many people guarding below, when I asked, little Chuzi just told me which room Brother and Li Huaisu were in, just letting me charge up there. Everything was clearly arranged by him.”

Wuyan smiled, “Yes, it was arranged by His Majesty. He loves his sister dearly—otherwise, if you fell deeper and deeper for… Huaisu, it would be troublesome. Breaking everything off now is a good thing.”

Lian Xin was surprised, “He admitted it?”

Her face flushed red as she angrily slammed her palm on the table.

“Alright, don’t be angry anymore. Your brother said when he returns, he’ll try to fulfill your requests. Tell him to think carefully about what you want and what you want to do, as long as…” Wuyan hesitated and said softly, “As long as you don’t hate Huaisu.”

“Huaisu isn’t a bad person. She has you in her heart and is also worried about you. No one wanted this to happen, and besides, she didn’t know you liked her.”

Lian Xin said nothing after hearing this.

She remained silent until Wuyan took her leave. Only when she reached the door did she hear Lian Xin’s voice drifting from behind, “Sister Wei, you’re a good person, but good people often can’t hold onto their things.”

These familiar words… Wuyan was slightly shaken and hurriedly left.

She walked quickly all the way to a lotus pond in the imperial garden before suddenly stopping.

She stared at the desolate early spring lotus pond, standing quietly without moving. From time to time palace servants passed by and greeted her, but she seemed not to see them and didn’t smile back as usual.

Beside her, maid Xiang’er’s eyes were red with anxiety as she grasped her arm and said tremblingly, “Miss, look—even Princess Lian said such things. Those who don’t know think Noble Consort Wei is smooth and diplomatic, but you’re not diplomatic—you’re too good to people.”

“Back then, because you and Miss Aluo were close friends, you yielded. You liked His Majesty but never mentioned it. The letters Miss Aluo gave His Majesty were all from you. Later, when Marquis Huo loved you, you said he was a good man who could be entrusted with your life, and that you and His Majesty were impossible. Who knew that later… His Majesty brought you in as Miss Aluo’s best friend to avoid Marquis Huo. Though you and His Majesty had a chance to renew your relationship and His Majesty treated you extremely well, you were unwilling to wrong Miss Aluo… Now, having one Gu Shuangcheng isn’t enough—there’s also a Li Huaisu. You have no one to confide in except me about your heartache. That day when you returned from Guixiang Tower, you told me Li Huaisu’s secret and ordered me not to leak a single word. Miss, look how you’ve treated that Lord Li and how he treats you—no, I should say Miss Li. Li Huaisu betrayed you. She clearly knows you’re His Majesty’s most beloved consort…”

“Xiang’er, stop talking!” Wuyan suddenly interrupted her only loyal maid who had followed her for years, covering her forehead with her hand.

“Miss, didn’t His Majesty allow you to leave the palace anytime to visit Madam at home? Why don’t you take this opportunity to go find His Majesty? Otherwise, once that Li Huaisu’s relationship with His Majesty deepens, it’ll be troublesome!” Xiang’er shook her mistress’s arm and sobbed.

Wuyan curved her lips in a smile, infinite desolation flashing in her eyes as she closed them tightly.

…

That night, a carriage left the palace and entered the Grand Tutor’s residence. Soon after, that carriage quietly left the Grand Tutor’s residence.

The same night, Grand Tutor Wei sent an invitation asking Marquis Xiao Yao Huo Chang’an to his residence for drinks.

Huo Chang’an, who once commanded heavy troops but now rarely left his residence, accepted the invitation and went to the Wei residence.

Grand Tutor Wei personally welcomed him at the gate, smiling, “It’s rare for Marquis Huo to grace our humble dwelling. This modest place is truly honored by your presence. Come, Marquis Huo, please.”