The two exchanged glances, somewhat hesitant.

Suzhen knew they feared Huang Tianba. She glanced at the dark-skinned bailiff and smiled: “You seem more honest – you speak.”

“As for you…” she raised her eyes at the pale-faced one, “you’re dead for sure. I hate dishonest people like you most.”

The pale bailiff’s expression immediately changed, his white face becoming even paler. No longer daring to hide anything, he spilled everything like beans from a bamboo tube: “If we’re talking about ugly ones, there are indeed two or three servants and maids…”

Suzhen carefully asked about the characteristics of these servants and maids, and he described them in detail.

Suzhen smiled slightly, then suddenly pulled out a bottle from her bosom, poured out two pills, pinched open their mouths one by one, stuffed the pills in, and patted their backs to make them swallow. Both were shocked and terrified, staring at her deadly as they said tremblingly: “What did you make us eat?”

“Poison, what else could it be?”

Suzhen answered carelessly, but the two were so shocked they nearly fainted. Suzhen looked at Leng Xue: “Release them.”

Leng Xue didn’t know what medicine she was selling in her gourd, but though still frowning, he followed her words and released their acupoints.

The two bailiffs exchanged glances and ran off, faster than their usual speed when chasing thieves. Suzhen watched with a smile from behind, then suddenly called out: “Do you think I was bluffing about having poison on me? Try channeling energy to impact the Shenting point above your forehead and the Ermen points by your ears – see what you feel. If you feel dizzy and lightheaded, sorry, those are signs of poisoning. No one can cure my poison – feel free to keep running.”

Where would the two listen to her? They quickly disappeared from sight.

Leng Xue had been wearing a stern expression, but now crossed his arms over his chest and burst out laughing: “Those pills smelled fragrant – clearly not poison. They’re the injury medicine you usually take, aren’t they? How did you fool them?”

Just as he finished speaking, he saw those two bailiffs had miraculously run back.

Originally one pale and one dark, now both had turned pale with fright.

He was greatly surprised: “You really did hide poison?”

Suzhen giggled softly: “That really wasn’t poison – it was good medicine from the palace that Lian Yu gave me, for treating injuries and improving circulation.”

“But they…”

“If those two acupoints are simultaneously impacted with internal energy, they’ll experience numbness. I’m half a doctor – you forgot, didn’t you? Books don’t lie.”

Leng Xue didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Feng Suzhen was most capable at these bluffing tricks, and they truly worked every time.

Suzhen raised her eyebrows and said to the two bailiffs again: “Gentlemen officers, our business isn’t finished yet. Pale-face big brother, please bring that maid with the burn scar on her face who’s usually timid and quiet to the inn to find me – do it discreetly. I’m staying in the seventh room. After it’s done – meaning after I successfully steal silver from the Huang Manor – I’ll naturally give you both the antidote. If you two report this to your superior and try to have bailiffs catch me, at most it’ll be mutual destruction. You might consider whether your superior’s money is more important or your lives.”

Hearing this, both bailiffs shook their heads frantically in alarm. The pale bailiff smiled bitterly: “Brother, aren’t you deliberately making things difficult? How can we bring out a maid from the Huang Manor at will?”

Suzhen patted Leng Xue, who understood and lifted her up, using lightness skills to leave.

Back in their inn room, Leng Xue pulled over a chair and sat down, unable to help scolding: “What do you want to do with that little maid? Can those two manage it without arousing suspicion? Didn’t you come here to investigate the case and help that Li fellow? Now you’re doing completely unrelated things!”

Suzhen still smiled cheerfully: “To save their lives, there’s nothing they can’t accomplish. Don’t worry – that pale-face going to pay respects to Old Madam Huang is a regular occurrence and won’t arouse suspicion. As for bringing a girl out of the manor, though he’s only a distant relative, he still benefits from being the young master’s cousin. That maid, seeing it’s him, wouldn’t dare offend him. If he says a few sweet words, why worry about not being able to coax her out? What I want that girl for – you’ll know soon enough.”

At the Huang Manor.

Early spring brought heavy rains. Yesterday’s downpour had triggered Quan Feitong’s old ailment. After saying just a few words to Li Zhaoting, he hurriedly retired, saying that if his health wasn’t good at the crucial moment, Li Zhaoting should handle the matter of dealing with Lian Yu.

Quan Feitong had made many enemies among court officials in his rise to current position. Though these people had now been removed by him – dead or gone – because of past enmities, he had been assassinated several years ago, severely injuring his bones and meridians. Though the wound had long healed, it still ached whenever weather changed, sometimes severe enough to cause near-fainting spells, which had been observed even during their academy days.

He poured himself tea and drank slowly, slightly frowning as he pondered Quan Feitong’s intentions.

What exactly did he plan to do to Lian Yu?

From the moment Quan Feitong revealed his strategy, he had sensed unusual danger.

His five fingers curled slightly.

Having him take action… Though he had long been classified into Quan Feitong’s camp, if he directly confronted Lian Yu and angered him… this Son of Heaven could indeed eliminate him if determined. Take the Huang Tianba case – if Lian Yu obtained evidence, he would be in danger.

Now wasn’t the optimal time for a three-way balance of power – at least, Huo Chang’an hadn’t been turned yet.

He sipped tea thoughtfully, his eyes showing the sinister coldness he never revealed publicly.

“Young Master.”

Xiao Si suddenly called from outside the room.

“Come in.”

He answered slowly. Xiao Si pushed the door open and handed him a letter, saying in a low voice: “A servant delivered this to the post station early this morning, specifically requesting it be given to Young Master. Seeing his nervous expression, the sender must have given strict instructions.”

Without Xiao Si saying so, Li Zhaoting could tell from the sealed wax on the letter that it wasn’t simple.

This type of wax was exclusively used between Wei Chenghui, Si Lanfeng, and himself. If this letter wasn’t from Wei Chenghui, it was from Si Lanfeng. The former had just sent a letter saying he had begun arrangements around Huo Chang’an, using Wei Wuyan to seduce and turn this idle prince.

This letter was most likely from Si Lanfeng. Si Lanfeng was currently accompanying Lian Yu – had he discovered important information?

His heart tightened as he immediately opened the letter and pulled out the paper.

It read:

“Lian Yu will impersonate you or Quan at night to interrogate death row prisoners.”

After reading, his brow furrowed sharply. He lit a fire stick and thoroughly burned the letter, instructing Xiao Si beside him: “Prepare a sedan chair immediately. I need to go to the Huang Manor.”