And I—whose substitute am I? Aluo’s? Who should I be?

The same day Lian Xin left the palace, Suzhen went to the Chief Justice office to handle cases. Though everyone usually didn’t go there unless necessary, what was worrying was that this night, she was very late returning.

Everyone was considering going to look for her when a government messenger brought a letter, saying it was left by Lord Li for the young masters.

Wuqing frowned as he opened the letter. Zhuiming muttered, “What trouble is she stirring up now?”

Opening the letter, they saw written: “I’m going away for several days. Don’t worry about me.”

“This Huaisu accompanied the imperial procession out of the palace, then was sent back to recuperate due to poor health. Where is she going now?” Tieshou also frowned, greatly annoyed with this troublesome member of their household.

“Wuqing, say something. Let’s all criticize this Li Huaisu together—does she still consider us friends?” Zhuiming sneered coldly.

Xiao Zhou then turned his fire on Leng Xue, “Hey, ice block, where did Li Huaisu go?”

Leng Xue said coldly, “How would I know? I’m going out to find her. Do as you please.”

Everyone could see Leng Xue’s frosty emotions and his tightly clenched fists at his sides.

Leng Xue almost immediately left the residence and plunged into the vast night.

Xiao Zhou glanced at Wuqing with a half-smile, “Where do you think Huaisu went?”

Tieshou and Zhuiming rarely saw Wuqing smile, but his gaze was extremely cold. Usually he was just distant, seldom like this moment. Both were somewhat shocked as they heard him say, “I was just about to ask Master Zhou for advice.”

…

Later, Leng Xue never returned.

Since Huaisu had disappeared voluntarily, though everyone was concerned about her recently healed injuries, they weren’t too worried. They speculated about her whereabouts and then went to rest. Of course, this “everyone” was mainly Zhuiming talking alone—Wuqing and Xiao Zhou barely spoke, and Tieshou was always the one who listened and worked.

This big family seemed to be developing invisible cracks.

At midnight, lights in each room of the residence went out one by one.

Only Wuqing’s room remained brightly lit.

He leaned against the bed, one leg stretched flat, one leg slightly bent, his beautiful crystal-like eyes slightly opening and closing as if thinking about something important. His five fingers resting on his knee were tightly clenched. The lamp on the table burned brightly, but couldn’t penetrate the thousand-year frost in his eyes.

That was killing intent.

Suddenly, knocking interrupted his thoughts. He said flatly, “Come in.”

The person clearly wasn’t polite, judging from the loud sound of the door being struck.

Xiao Zhou entered, raising his eyebrows slightly at Wuqing, “You’re something—doesn’t this bright lamplight bother you?”

“Did you come to my room in the middle of the night just to say such nonsense?” Wuqing said softly, his tone not without mockery.

Xiao Zhou acted as if he didn’t hear, smiling, “We’re both waiting for the other to leave first. Fine, this time I admit defeat. I won’t waste time with you—I’ll go first. Do you want to come with me? Think about whether it’s better to track me or Huaisu.”

Wuqing was startled, apparently not expecting this person to be so “frank.” Under the lamplight, the young man at the door appeared refined and bright like a flower—an opponent who made one want to destroy him yet feel some regret.

A smile played at his lips, “Track Huaisu? I think you’re the most suspicious person in this residence. What do you think?”

“Oh?”

Xiao Zhou raised his eyebrows, his bright eyes compelling, smiled, and slowly left.

Wuqing smiled coldly, then leaped up, flicked his hand to extinguish the lamp with a “poof,” and followed without any concealment.

Not long after the two left, a servant getting up to relieve himself saw the main gate creak open. Startled and about to shout “Who’s there,” he saw it was Young Master Leng Xue entering.

Leng Xue nodded to him and returned to his room.

The room was pitch black, but he seemed to have eyes in the dark, immediately lighting the lamp to reveal someone sitting by the table with a half-smile.

It was Suzhen, who had been missing for a day.

Suzhen asked with a smile, “How did it go?”

“I was hiding on the opposite rooftop the whole time and saw clearly—they left one after the other.”

“What direction?”

“Northwest.”

“Mm,” Suzhen nodded lightly, “This destination is quite telling. Minshan Prefecture is to the east, Chuhe Prefecture to the south—meaning Quan Feitong is in the east, Lian Yu ostensibly in the south, yet these two went northwest…”

She smiled and rubbed her weary brow, “Troublesome, very troublesome. Both are as slippery as eels. If one of them is Lian Yu’s person and has exchanged information with Lian Yu, they should guess I’m heading to Minshan Prefecture, since I previously suggested to Lian Yu that I wanted to secretly accompany him to Minshan. Good heavens, now both have gone northwest to confuse each other’s vision.”

Leng Xue asked, “You put on this show today, pretending to go to the office then sneaking back through the back door to hide in my room—was it to find out which of them is the spy?”

Suzhen shook her head, “I want to investigate too, but now isn’t the time. I don’t have the energy for it currently. Let them balance each other for now—I learned this from Lian Yu.”

Leng Xue was surprised, “From the Emperor?”

“Yes, Gao Chaoyi and Li Zhaoting are a good example. I led them out first to strike later, advancing by retreating.”

“Advancing by retreating is fine, but what’s the logic behind striking later?”

Leng Xue sneered slightly.

Suzhen smiled slightly, “The Son of Heaven’s strategy—all learned from Lian Yu.”

Leng Xue’s hands suddenly stiffened. He said slowly, “You speak very highly of that emperor.”

“Didn’t I tell you? That matter was done by his father. I don’t harbor so much resentment toward him. Father taught us from childhood that each person is responsible for their own actions.”

Leng Xue’s heart inexplicably sank. He didn’t want her to mention that emperor anymore, and remembering when she was injured, that man had even seen her body, he changed the subject, “What’s your real purpose in luring Wuqing and the other away?”

“Regardless of which of them is Lian Yu’s person, going northwest now is just misdirection to divert the other’s attention. Since this person knows I might go to Minshan Prefecture, they’ll eventually head there. If I go first, I might be tracked and monitored by them. If I follow behind, I’ll be freer instead. Leng Xue, let’s set out. I have a feeling… something big will happen there.”

Leng Xue saw her bright eyes flickering with complexity and suddenly remembered his words from the beginning: Suzhen, don’t change.

But what secretly alarmed him was that this woman was gradually changing.

Suzhen was now straightening her robes, which had become slightly wrinkled from sitting quietly all day, also smiling bitterly to herself: She had once pretended to be jealous of Shuangcheng and begged that person to take her to Minshan Prefecture, but he hadn’t.

But she still had to go.

He would be very angry when he found out.

But, Lian Yu, you don’t like me as much as you claim either, do you? You’ve placed spies in my residence. You’re a man, but also a ruler—I understand.

But she had no choice. She couldn’t rest easy about the outcome of his direct confrontation with Li Zhaoting. If Li Zhaoting lost, he would be charged with the great crime of colluding with Huang Tianba and suppressing the impeachment letter, and would disappear from court completely like He Sai.

Where did He Sai go?

Those who understood knew this former Capital Governor had been secretly executed. Li Zhaoting would also… die.

If Lian Yu lost, what was justice?

How could she achieve a result that benefited everyone?

She had to go and see if she could do something.

The most tragic thing in life is often knowing you can’t change the outcome of something, yet stubbornly participating in it anyway. Perhaps when heaven created all things, giving humans so much wisdom beyond other animals, it also gave them emotions—this was both a blessing and a punishment.

Leng Xue was a man of action. Seeing her determination, he picked up his sword and bundle and called her to leave.

Suzhen suddenly felt great sympathy for him. She probably couldn’t fulfill their once-spoken promise of retreating to the mountains and forests. Overturning the Feng family case, repaying Li Zhaoting’s kindness, returning Lian Yu’s affection—she was gradually being torn into three parts. In youth, one doesn’t know the taste of sorrow, but now she finally understood. What was frightening was that this body might not hold up much longer. Her spirit was decaying and collapsing daily, with only the thought that “she couldn’t fall until the case was overturned” firmly supporting her. She only hoped not to owe anyone anything before life and death.

Her heart ached faintly. Under cover of night, she quietly left with her most loyal brother.

Minshan Prefecture, the prefectural government office.

Gu Shuangcheng had anticipated that for this major Minshan affair, Quan Feitong would very likely secretly come to Minshan Prefecture. Therefore, upon reaching the prefectural government gates, she requested to see Li Zhaoting, since Li Zhaoting was in the open.

She claimed to be Li Zhaoting’s sister, which she essentially was as his fellow disciple. The clerk quickly led her inside.

In the main hall, she unexpectedly saw Yan Da, Gao Chaoyi, Li Zhaoting, and… Quan Feitong! Her senior brother was truly formidable, actually sitting here so boldly after leaving the capital.

Several men were discussing the case situation, with another scholarly, refined-looking man accompanying them in a lower seat.

Yan Da and Gao Chaoyi’s expressions changed upon seeing her, but Li Zhaoting’s eyes lit up slightly, his lips curving gently.

However, the refined man stood first, smiling, “This must be Miss Gu. I am Huang Tianba, unworthy Prefect of Minshan. I’ve long admired your reputation, Miss. Someone, bring tea.”

Without waiting for Quan Feitong’s introduction, he spoke first, which seemed abrupt, but his words and manner were perfectly appropriate. His eyes were exceptionally sharp and intelligent, completely unlike his crude name—truly the son of a distinguished family.

She shouldn’t be meeting everyone here, but this was probably Quan Feitong’s intention. This man’s power was overwhelming, and his boldness matched. With Yan Da and Gao Chaoyi—Lian Yu’s people—also present, along with the elite guards who had escorted her here, they could report to the Son of Heaven that she had come here. Quan Feitong having her brought directly here was probably intended to anger Lian Yu.

She smiled and returned Huang Tianba’s courtesy, greeted Yan Da and others, then looked slowly at Quan Feitong, “Shuangcheng’s presence here may be inappropriate. I should withdraw first and wait until Senior Brother finishes discussing official business with the ministers.”

At this time, perhaps due to her arrival, the men had temporarily paused their official discussion. Yan Da looked at her thoughtfully and asked flatly, “Why has Miss Gu come here? Miss should be with His Majesty en route to Chuhe Prefecture.”

Gu Shuangcheng replied, “Minister Yan, there was heavy rain in the capital earlier, and Shuangcheng caught some cold. His Majesty was considerate and let Shuangcheng rest at the inn without enduring further travel. When Shuangcheng recovered, since Chuhe Prefecture was very far and I didn’t know His Majesty’s route, and it was rare to leave the palace, I came to find Senior Brother Li for sightseeing. I didn’t expect Senior Brother Quan to be here too—what a coincidence.”

“Senior Brother Li?”

Yan Da frowned and glanced at Li Zhaoting.

Li Zhaoting smiled slightly and explained, “Minister Yan may know that Shuangcheng and the Prime Minister are from the same school, but may not know that Zhaoting also studied under Teacher Tingyu in his early years.”

Yan Da didn’t even look at him, clearly conveying the dismissive attitude of “you’re not worthy to speak to me.” He only looked warningly at this ambiguous Miss Gu and sneered, “Unfortunately, Miss has come to the wrong place for entertainment. The Prime Minister and Vice Minister Li are busy and probably have no time to accompany you. Miss should return to the capital quickly to avoid His Majesty’s worry and the Empress Dowager’s concern.”

Gu Shuangcheng sneered inwardly—the old man was using Xiao’an to pressure her. Yes, she feared Xiao’an, but she had been forced to this point.

Quan Feitong chuckled softly, “Minister Yan, when traveling, where are there so many rules? Shuangcheng is mine and Vice Minister Li’s junior sister. If she misses her senior brothers and comes to visit, let her.”

Yan Da’s expression was ugly. He suddenly stood up, “Since Magistrate Huang has given me over ten important documents and I’ve received them, I’ll take Minister Gao and take our leave first to return to the inn and study the documents. After the Prime Minister and Vice Minister Li have finished their reunion, we can return to the inn to discuss together.”